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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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A legacy built for a King

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Christopher King hails from blues music royalty.

His grandfather, B.B. King, is the legendary blues musician, and while Christopher is not a musician — he spent much of his life around it.

Zephyrhills resident Christopher King has spent a decade blazing his own trail and shying away from the spotlight that shined bright on his grandfather, legendary blues guitarist B.B. King. He did spend time working for his grandfather before he passed in 2015, but Christopher has branded himself as an anti-human trafficking advocate by starting a nonprofit called The Gentlemen’s Course. (Mike Camunas)

But the 40-year-old Zephyrhills man devoted himself to a different passion.

He has spent a decade raising awareness about human trafficking and has become a champion for proper etiquette and human rights.

He’s created his own brand — a program called The Gentleman’s Course — and uses lessons learned from B.B. King, such as: “The knowledge you learn, people can’t take from you.”

“He taught me that they can take your house, car or guitar, but not your knowledge, and the application of knowledge is wisdom,” Christopher elaborated. “It’s the things he taught me and applying it that has made my brand because I wanted to blaze my own path and help people.”

The Gentlemen’s Course, a 501c3 nonprofit, focuses on educating youth in proper etiquette and manners in association with Human Rights Education and Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts. It also helps those who have survived human trafficking to reintegrate into society.

Christopher has helped human trafficking victims, raised awareness about the evils and devastating impacts of the exploitation, and provided programs to help those who have suffered and survived to move forward.

“I don’t lead with (I’m B.B. King’s grandson). It’s — it’s not in my introduction,” Christopher said. “I tell people because they usually end up asking about my (B.B King) pin (I always wear) to keep him with me. I still have my brand and it’s not something I lose if I break a finger and can’t play guitar.

“I’m proud of my brand because of how many people it has helped.”

Learning on the road
Christopher has been on tours.

He spent 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a combat veteran.

Christopher King, a combat veteran, served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. (Courtesy of Christopher King)

Then, he became an assistant road manager on tour with B.B. King.

Being on tour with his grandfather gave him a chance to learn the business side of the entertainment industry and, of course, to sell the King brand.

It was an opportunity to learn and soak up knowledge that would come in handy later. An experience he had at the White House inspired him to create The Gentleman’s Course.

“We get to dinner with this whole formal setting, and I say, ‘Pop Pop, I don’t know what any of this is,’” Christopher said.

He decided to change that.

“I started to take protocol classes to learn that and more about fashion, which is important to me,” he said. “It all helped me build the platform of what we teach to those we want to help.”

When B.B. King passed, at 89, in 2015, Christopher needed to find work.

“The (tour) bus wasn’t moving anymore,” he explained.

Initially, he leaned heavily into his knowledge of the fashion side — selling and marketing high-end clothing.

Christopher King, and his grandfather, legendary blues guitarist, B.B. King are seen here back when Christopher worked as his grandfather’s assistant road manager before the musician’s death in 2015.
(Courtesy of Christopher King)

At one point, he was asked to host a fashion show that would benefit a Tampa group home for those victimized by human trafficking. He was profoundly moved when he learned all of the models in the show were residents at that home.

But he had not found his calling, nor felt fulfilled or happy.

Tina Cox, his manager at the time, suggested he might want to transition into something that gave him a chance to give back and help kids.

He decided to volunteer at the same group home.

Through research and his first-hand experience around human trafficking victims, he learned about how pervasive and destructive human trafficking is in Florida.

He wanted to make a difference.

He decided to help people who had been trafficked to learn social and life skills to help them become functioning members of society. Soon after, people started asking: ‘What about the children in the community who could use etiquette training?’

So, he created courses and began doing speaking engagements to reach youth that might not gain that kind of knowledge in school or at home.

“I had one women ask me, ‘Why does my daughter need to know how to tie a tie?’” Christopher recalled. “A lot of women in the world today are single mothers and have a son, but no man to teach the son to tie a tie. It’s a sad thing, and we’re not promoting single-parent homes, but we live in a world where it exists.

“Also, women like wearing ties, too.”

Teaching on the road
Christopher is now involved in public speaking engagements across the state of Florida, focusing on proper etiquette and human trafficking awareness. He also touches on the importance of knowing life and social skills, such as those taught in The Gentlemen’s Course.

Christopher King visits schools and universities across Florida, giving talks to increase awareness about human trafficking and to share how his programs aim to help survivors of trafficking. (Courtesy of Florida Memorial University)

People who are rescued from human trafficking are also suffering mental trauma, said Kimberley Michele, the Gentlemen’s Course purpose coach. “Helping them reintegrate back in (to society) is about how I can help them find their independence.”

She also helps them understand the traumatic experience they survived does not define them. It’s just one chapter in their story, she said.

Michele said she loves working with “a powerful organization” that “can shape this generation.” She said it’s fulfilling to teach “young men and women how to walk with purpose.”

“We’re teaching them how to carry themselves as young adults,” she added.

Christopher has brought his program to Pasco County and partners with the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center in Zephyrhills. He soon will work with the center’s junior mentors.

“Chris is going to do The Gentlemen’s Course with our junior mentors and coaches and make them become better leaders,” center executive director Nick Walton said. “If we can help Chris raise awareness (of human trafficking) in Zephyrhills and Pasco that exists right here in our backyard, then that’s a great added value to our junior programs.”

Responsible for the road ahead
Christopher feels responsible to educate people on the 30 human rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights created in 1948 by the United Nations. One of those rights, Human Right No. 26, is the right to education. That right leads to Human Right No. 29: Responsibility.

Christopher believes his nonprofit has a responsibility to help others learn about all 30 human rights.

“He doesn’t do it for fame — nor does he do it while saying who his grandfather is,” Michele said. “He’s always in the community and standing up for (ending) human trafficking. He does it for the people, and even though he’s in a small town, he  makes sure the word gets out.”

In the end, playing a guitar doesn’t chase Christopher’s blues away — helping people does.

“I meet a lot of people and kids who I can help,” he said. “It began by raising awareness about human trafficking, but it has grown so far beyond that. We’re actually affecting people’s lives and bringing back the person they either were or supposed to be.

“And, I truly love it.”

The Gentlemen’s Course
Details: A 501c3 nonprofit that focuses on educating youth in proper etiquette and manners in association with Human Rights Education and Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts. It also helps survivors of human trafficking to reintegrate into society. The program includes lessons on proper attire and etiquette, strengthening social skills and the toolkit needed to help land a job.
Info: Visit TheGentCourse.com.

Published May 10, 2023

Pastor retires from Land O’ Lakes church, after 31 years

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When Pastor Dewey Huffstutler first laid eyes on the Land O’ Lakes Church of God, he wasn’t terribly impressed.

At that time, the church building consisted of four trailers that had been pushed together, under a roof of plywood, joined together by tar.

The parsonage was a single-wide trailer.

Pastor Dewey Huffstutler has retired from leading the Land O’ Lakes Church of God. Being a pastor was never a job, he said. It was a calling. (B.C. Manion)

Huffstutler and his wife, Jennie, had visited the church to consider a future there, and as Huffstutler drove home to Brooksville, he recalls telling God: “I deserve better.”

After all, he’d already devoted much of his life to Jesus.

He grew up in the Church of God in Dade City.

“I sang with my family, gospel music. I started at the age of 14,” Huffstutler said.

He and his wife married in 1963 and moved shortly after to Brooksville.

“We just weren’t happy going to church over there because we loved Dade City.

“We drove back and forth (to Dade City) for many years, but then finally started back to church again in Brooksville, so our kids could bring friends to church with them, if they wanted to,” he said.

He recalls praying for spiritual direction, while attending church in Brooksville.

“There was a spot in the church, where I would go stand and pray, and I would beat my head on the Wall of God: ‘I will do what you want me to do. I will go where you want me to go,’” he said.

Then, there was a pastoral change at the Brooksville church.

“The second week the pastor was there, he came up to me and said, ‘God’s told me to tell you something. God told me to tell you that it’s not too late to get in the ministry,’’” the pastor said.

Huffstutler was 46 at the time.

That conversation prompted him to go through the process of becoming a minister, which later led to that first visit to the Land O’ Lakes Church of God in 1992.

“I had known for a long time that there was a calling on my life,” said Huffstutler, whose official title is ordained bishop, in the Church of God.

Throughout his life, he’d served in various roles, as a teacher, in bus ministry, as music director and Sunday school.

When he became pastor at the Land O’ Lakes Church of God in 1992, it was the first time he led a church.

He never left, that is until his recent retirement on April 30.

“There was never a dull moment,” Huffstutler said.

“People say, “All that a pastor does … is preach Sunday and Wednesday night. That’s all they have to do,’” he said.

But he offered this reality check: “You’re on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Just this month, I think I’ve only had two, maybe three days off.”

Motorists speed by this church sign for the Land O’ Lakes Church, at 8337 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Pastor Dewey Huffstutler, who recently retired after leading the church for 31 years, said all were welcome at that church.

Being available to listen, to help
The role of a pastor  involves praying over the sick, consoling people in grief, assisting with funeral plans and helping those who are troubled, or in trouble, to find a way forward.

“There’s something going on all of the time. It takes a lot of patience, understanding, hard work,” Huffstutler said.

“Sometimes you get a call, people don’t know what to do with their children.

“You get talking with them. You hear all of the dysfunctions of the family and you’re supposed to put it back together. All you can do is lead them, but putting it together is up to them.

“You spend hours on the telephone, or in my office counseling them, and praying with them. “Then, you see a change,” he said.

There may come a Sunday when the family walks in and it’s obvious the couple is rededicating their lives to the Lord and to their children, he said.

The problems remain, but they’re working on them, he added.

Pastors help people experiencing sorrow.

He recalls helping a young minister who had recently lost his father.

He cited passage after passage from the Bible, offering spiritual comfort.

The young minister asked: “How can you do that?’

“I said, ‘What do you mean?

He said: “(Remember) All those scriptures.”

I said; “You’ve got to study. You’ve got to read the word. The Bible will tell you that the Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance what you have studied, but you’ve got to study it first.”

Huffstutler also recalls the request of a mother for him to remain in a hospital room with her, as the life-support machines keeping her 22-year-old daughter alive were unplugged.

“She wanted me in the room. Just me and her. I was there.

“Now, because of that, we have several families in the church today.

“I did the funeral here in the church. People got to know us, got to see the church,” he said.

Over the years, he’s frequently presided over funerals at his church, for people who were not members.

He recalls another minister saying that he wouldn’t do that.

Huffstutler responded: “That’s my mission field. I get to go into people’s homes — that don’t come to my church. And I get to tell them about Jesus. And then, I get to do a service for their family member or friend … And I get to tell a whole bunch of people about Him (Jesus).”

In one case, a funeral for a non-church member attracted busloads — bringing hundreds of people to his church.

Following Jesus’ example
The pastor also recalls making an out-of-town trip to help a young man to deal with criminal charges that were pending against him.

Ultimately, the charges were dropped — giving the young man a clean record and fresh start.

He said some questioned why he would do that.

Even those entering the Land O’ Lakes Church of God for the first time were greeted with the words, ‘Welcome Home.’

“The way I look at it, Jesus didn’t cull the people that he helped and dealt with and blessed. If I am going to be like him, I’ve got to help others,” Huffstutler said.

Over the years, the pastor estimates he’s been involved in a total of about 500 funerals, weddings, baptisms and other special services.

When it comes to baptisms, he’s pretty much seen it all.

“When people come to know the Lord, we baptize them in water.

“I have been to ponds, where you watch for alligators. I’ve been to people’s houses and baptized people in swimming pools. I’ve been to other churches that allowed us to use their baptismal pool,” he said.

For the past 15 years or so, he’s used a portable baptistry that can be moved into the sanctuary. It allows the pastor to stand beside it, while dunking the person who’s being baptized.

While helping others through difficulties, Huffstutler said he’s faced his share, as well.

“The most challenging time for me, personally, was the changes I had to make when my wife passed away,” the pastor said.

She was his wife, his confidant and closest friend.

She would accompany him to visit people, and was a source of emotional support, he said.

She died in 2017.

“Since then, the load has been totally on my shoulders,” he said.

As he prepares for retirement, the pastor said he plans to spend a lot more time fishing,

He’s excited to introduce church members to the new pastor, Rick Fowler, who will offer his first service at the church on May 7.

“Rick and (his wife) Wanice grew up in the Church of God, in Dade City,” Huffstutler said.

“I was his Sunday School teacher when he was 8 years old.”

Published May 03, 2023

A novel idea on tap

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They’re pouring over these books.

At Novels on Tap — an adult book club run by Pasco County Libraries — readers are given the chance to grab a new book every month, and discuss it, while also grabbing a drink.

Novels on Tap attendees enjoy discussing the reading selection at Wicked Pour in Odessa during the monthly meetup that gives readers, 21 and over, a chance to get together and give their thoughts on the book over a few adult beverages. The book club, which is based out of the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, provides the reading material and meet-up location once a month on weekends. (Mike Camunas)

Formed out of the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, registered participants will meet once a month on the weekends after reading the selected book and passionately, and sometimes hilariously, discuss whether or not they enjoyed the book, answer discussion questions and, of course, have an adult beverage or two.

“I inherited this book club from another librarian who is no longer at our branch, but Novels on Tap was her brainchild,” said Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center librarian Danielle Davis, who runs the monthly meetups and distribution of books out of the Odessa branch. “We were looking for a fun way for adults to get together outside the library walls, because not everyone can come to the branch during the week, during hours — so, she said, ‘Why not have it at a taproom on the weekends and have a drink or two, if you like?’

“And it’s been going very well,” Davis added, “because registration has been maxed out for the most part and everyone seems to enjoy it a lot.”

Like most everything else out of any branch of Pasco County Libraries, participating in the Novels on Tap comes at no cost, as the Starkey branch will provide the books — about 15 or so hard copies. Davis says apps such as Libby and Hoopla can be used to get the e-book version for free, as well.

From left, New Port Richey residents Kelly Gorbett, Betsy Hernandez and Linda Trent look on and discuss the book they read for Novels on Tap, an adult book club organized through Pasco County Libraries and the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center in Odessa.

The only thing that costs is the drinks, which are readily available at Wicked Pour, a pour-yourself taproom in Odessa where this book club meets monthly, usually on Sunday afternoons.

“Everyone has a lot of fun at Novels on Tap,” Davis said. “It’s all about the company of people who really enjoy getting together and having a drink, or not, and really getting a chance to discuss the novel with other people.

“And we explore different genres, especially since doing that will get readers to, maybe, go outside their comfort zone (of books they would normally read).”

Davis said the club purposely does that not only to push readers to try something new, but also to encourage the discussions, which can get lively. The club also will have occasional themed months, such as a horror book in October or a young adult genre book.

In April, participants met to discuss “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett, which is a multi-generational family saga set between the 1940s to the 1990s and centers on Black, identical twin sisters. Racism was heavily discussed in the historical fiction novel.

It was a theme also heavily discussed by the participants, their adult beverages nearby.

“It does get you out of your shell of books you might never read,” Linda Trent, of New Port Richey, said. “Because I’m reading books that I would have never read if I hadn’t come to this, and that’s good because that’s what book clubs are for. … Sometimes you get a book you can’t put down, other times you get one that you don’t know if you can even get through, but that’s the point of a book club. … Then we meet and discuss it and maybe have a drink. That’s definitely the fun part.”

The drinking book club has drawn readers from all over the county, including those from the Pasco County library system. Land O’ Lakes Branch librarian Robyn Powers says she is trying to get Novels on Tap to expand to her branch, which would then have its meetings at In The Loop Brewing, also in Land O’ Lakes.

Kelly Gorbett, of New Port Richey, enjoys a beer during Novels on Tap book club at Wicked Pour in Odessa on April 16.

“I love this club and meeting up to discuss books with a drink,” Powers added. “If we get one in Land O’ Lakes, I would expect it to be very popular.”

Novels on Tap
When: May 21, 2 p.m.
Where: Wicked Pour, 12263 State Road 54, Odessa
Next book: “Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn
Details: Readers age 21 and over can join this monthly book club as they discuss the book provided by the library over a few adult beverages. The club can provide upwards of 15 of the next book being read and discussed, and might be available at the local branch. Library officials also said apps such as Libby and Hoopla can be used to get the e-book version for free.
Registration is required to attend. Masks are recommended but not required. To register or for more information, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Published April 26, 2023

Scouting for little libraries

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Krishna Chundi is interested in engineering.

The Land O’ Lakes High School senior got a taste of it during the community service project he completed in pursuit of becoming an Eagle Scout.

Krishna Chundi, a senior at Land O’ Lakes High, built four book boxes in about a year and then worked with the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department to have them installed in parks across the county, including this one installed at the playground at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. The initiative was his community service project in his quest to become an Eagle Scout. (Mike Camunas)

The 18-year-old, who plans to attend the University of South Florida, spent a year building four book boxes. Then, he coordinated with the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department to have them strategically placed in county parks in communities where a high population of children from low-income families could benefit from his project.

The little libraries provide a place where people can borrow and exchange books.

The project cost about $800, which Chundi raised, or which was donated.

“When I was little, I really had a great interest in reading, but luckily I had a library (the Land O’ Lakes Branch) real close to me,” Chundi said. “Not everyone has a library that close. … So these (boxes), they’re in good locations to provide kids, or anyone, with books they can borrow.”

Krishna Chundi was able to stock the book boxes with donated books through a book drive at Land O’ Lakes High.

To build the boxes, Chundi said he consulted one of the best places for do-it-yourself projects, YouTube. But he couldn’t find a video that offered step-by-step instructions, so he turned to his family and scout leaders for their help in figuring out the best way to complete the build.

And he had to make adjustments as the project progressed — just like an engineer would.

“We had to improvise as we went along,” Chundi said. “The box was easy, but working on and installing and problem-solving the door was difficult because we had to make adjustments to make the doors fit better and the right way.”

He also made an ingenious move to keep the elements from damaging the books by installing a magnet latch to keep the door tightly closed.

Throughout the build, Chundi coordinated with the Lowe’s in Lutz, which donated some supplies and gave him a “Scout discount.”

He also worked closely with Pasco’s parks department.

Parks and Recreation Manager Brian Taylor said once Chundi contacted the department, it identified sites that didn’t have book boxes, which are also known as little libraries.

The parks department agreed to paint and install the boxes.

One of the four book boxes built by Land O’ Lakes scout Krishna Chundi, who then worked to have the boxes placed in county parks, such as this one in Starkey Park in New Port Richey.

“He did 99% of the work,” Taylor said. “He’s a really great, upstanding kid, and he did a really great job for just a teenager. I mean, it takes work just to achieve Eagle Scout status, but (a project like this), it promotes all the different things such as education, sharing, reusing, repurposing — and they look nice!

“He did such a great job on something that is very popular no matter where they get placed.”

Chundi’s boxes were installed at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill and Little Lisa Park and W.H. “Jack” Mitchell Park, both in New Port Richey. The fourth box was installed by the playground in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, also in New Port Richey. (See accompanying box for addresses)

Also, the box at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park is near the StoryWalk® the Parks Department opened in 2022.

“It’s a perfect spot by StoryWalk,” Taylor said. “We expect kids to take a book after leaving the trail.”

Chundi agreed: “I thought that was a really good place to put that box.”

The county also provided some books, but Chundi provided most of the books that were collected through a book drive at Land O’ Lakes High.

Land O’ Lakes High senior and local Boy Scout Krishna Chundi said it took him about a year to construct four book boxes that were then put into Pasco County parks. (Courtesy of Krishna Chundi)

“When we had the book drive at our school, and they didn’t know what to do with a lot of them, so I said give them to me for the boxes,” Chundi said. “I was able to put in a variety of books, with plenty for kids and young adults, even some cooking books in there, too.”

Chundi wants to get the word out, so people can take advantage of the new little libraries.

“Advertising these book boxes is crucial,” he added, “so I’m glad to get the word out, that way (everyone) gets the most use out of the boxes and (they) make a greater impact on the community.”

Book Boxes Built by Krishna Chundi
Details: Land O’ Lakes High senior and soon-to-be Eagle Scout Krishna Chundi built four book boxes to be installed in Pasco County parks.
Locations:

  • Starkey Wilderness Park, 1115 Wilderness Park Road, in New Port Richey
  • Crews Lake Park, 16739 Crews Lake Drive, in Spring Hill
  • Lake Lisa Park, 7021 Maplehurst Drive, in New Port Richey
  • W.H. “Jack” Mitchell Park, 4025 Little Road, in New Port Richey

Published April 19, 2023

Pasco School Board puts cell tower issue on hold

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The Pasco County School Board tabled a request relating to a cellphone tower after it ran into a slew of complaints from parents and opposition from Al Hernandez, who sits on the board.

The board had been scheduled to vote on Pasco County’s request for an access and utilities easement to a cell tower planned on county park land.

Pasco County Schools and Pasco County have a joint-use agreement involving Starkey Ranch K-8, the library and the county park, and it has always been contemplated that there might be a cell tower on shared-use property, according to district background materials.

A study was conducted in 2010 relating to the cell tower at John Long Middle School. The Pasco County School Board wants to know if the tower now has any 5G antennas on it. If it does, they’d like an updated study, to see how it compares to the previous findings. (Mike Camunas)

The information also says that Pasco County has negotiated a cell tower ground lease agreement with Vertex to place a cell tower on shared-use property on the south side of the football/soccer field. 

The revenue from the cell tower lease is intended to  go to the shared escrow account to help to maintain the shared-use facilities, according to district materials.

Parents appeared during the public comment portion of the April 4 meeting, urging a “no” vote.

Serena Arnold, who lives on Burdick Loop, told the board: “According to American Cancer Society, RF (radiofrequency) waves from cellphone towers have not been proven absolutely safe. Most expert organizations agree that more research is needed to help clarify this, especially for long-term effects.

“People, we can’t say they’re (cell towers) safe,” added Arnold, who has children attending Starkey K-8.

“Please understand that more than 240 scientists published an appeal to the United Nations to reduce public exposure and called for a moratorium on 5G, citing established adverse biological effects of RF radiation.

“Peer-reviewed research has linked a myriad of adverse effects to wireless, radio frequency radiation, including headaches, cancers, DNA damage, tumor promotion, impaired growth and so many more.

“At best, we can say that a ‘yes’ vote today is an iffy decision. More research is needed, especially for long-term effects,” Arnold said.

Another parent told the board that more than 680 people had signed a petition in opposition.

Alex Hamilton, another speaker, said: “Nobody can tell you 100% if this does, in fact, cause some sort of issue.

“We just don’t want it to be too late before we find out this was the wrong answer.”

Hernandez told his colleagues: “I feel extremely concerned, and it makes me pause, to have a (cell) tower” near a K-8 school.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin, however, said  the district already has cell towers at numerous schools and she thinks they’re needed for safety reasons.

She said that she’s heard that the Starkey Ranch area has patchy cell coverage and she wants to ensure it has good communications.

Her primary concern is the ability to communicate, in the event the unthinkable occurs, she said.

“That weighs extremely heavily on my mind. That’s why I would lean toward having a tower, to boost that communication. I’m very concerned about the communications piece, during a crisis,” Beaudoin said.

One parent noted that in response to a request for information, the school district responded by citing a study that was done in 2010.

That was before 5G was developed, the parent noted.

School board member Alison Crumbley said she wants more information.

“We don’t have studies on 5G,” Crumbley said. “There’s an exponential difference between 3G and 5G.

Pasco County Schools has cell phone towers on several of its campuses, including Wiregrass Elementary School.

“I’m concerned about the years of exposure, from pre-K and up, not only to the students, but to the neighborhood and to our staff who work there,” Crumbley said.

Armstrong noted that even if the board rejected the county’s request, it wouldn’t kill the cell tower project. The county could seek another way to access the property.

She said she wants to work cooperatively with the county, and she said the public needs to understand that the county has the final say on the cell tower.

Hernandez responded: “Even providing easement, I just don’t feel comfortable.”

School board chairwoman Megan Harding said she sees both sides of the issue.

Chris Williams, the district’s planning director, said the study done at John Long Middle School was conducted in 2010, before 5G was developed.

“They took readings before the cell tower went live and then also after the cell tower went live.

“Actually, the highest reading was measured before the cell tower went live,” Williams said.

“That radiation, if you will, is already in existence from a variety of sources,” the planning director explained.

The highest reading recorded at the school was 6.3% of the level the FCC considers safe, and that was recorded before the tower went live, Williams said.

The study — commissioned by the school district — was conducted by an independent engineer, who is an expert in the field, Williams said.

Since the school board’s vote isn’t the final word on the cell tower, Superintendent Kurt Browning suggested the board table the issue until after the county board’s April 18 decision.

A majority of board members agreed and tabled the request.

Meanwhile, Armstrong suggested the district see if John Long Middle has any 5G antennas on its tower, and if so, to seek additional measurements to compare against the previous study.

“That makes sense,” Beaudoin said.

Hernandez said if the county approves the lease and the issue comes back to the school board that his position will not change.

“I don’t think that (cell) towers should be at any schools that are K-plus,” Hernandez said.

Published April 12, 2023

Sprung up from the railroads

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Escape. Engage. Explore.

That’s what is expected from visitors — who eventually end up doing just that — at Bonnet Springs Park, located in the heart of Lakeland.

The state-of-the-art, open-air, world-class park opened in October 2022 and has become a hot new destination not only in Polk County, but in Central Florida, too.

Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, was an abandoned rail yard before it was transformed into 168 acres of free public park. It features several amenities, including a Welcome Center, a cafe, coffee and gift shops, event venues, playground, nature centers, a children’s museum, a tree house, boardwalks, botanical and butterfly gardens, and more. (Mike Camunas)

And rightly so.

Bonnet Springs Park is massive, with amenities on top of amenities. It’s a perfect place for family outings, but also for a picnic date. It’s also an excellent choice for an afternoon stroll with your dog, or more adventurous outings.

The expansive property, with its exceptional options, is just outside downtown Lakeland. It was a long time in the making, but the public park is now open daily — and word has spread about its terrific offerings.

It definitely is worth the trip.

Explore the past
It was abandoned in the early 1980s. 

It was an extensive rail yard, even claimed to be all but forgotten by resident Lakelanders. Until a group of community investors and developers stepped in to bring new life to the historic site.

Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland features a 200-year-old grandfather oak tree that partially shades the Crenshaw Canopy Walk. The boardwalk, which is 1,500 feet long and 24 feet high, winds through the 168-acre park, which previously was an abandoned rail yard.

Local developer David Bunch, retired Lakeland Parks and Recreation Director Bill Tinsley, and Carol and Barney Barnett worked together to create the now exciting Bonnet Springs Park. They purchased the rail yard and the more than a dozen adjoining properties and began the master plan and design for the park in 2016.

The site is situated between West Memorial and George Jenkins boulevards.

Remediation work began on the site in April 2019, unearthing the ecological impacts of the railroad’s steam and coal era’s transition to diesel locomotives.

The park embraces its railroad history. 

Trains run next to the park, with their blaring whistles, while several park amenities feature railroad themes. There’s a playground — shaped like a train — near the Hollis Family Welcome Center. There also are displays within the center offering details about the site’s railyard days.

A popular spot at the park is Florida’s Children’s Museum. The 47,800-square-foot facility offers indoor and outdoor opportunities for science, discovery and play.

It has two floors of galleries with interactive experiences. 

Bonnet Springs Park also features extreme height changes and undulations throughout. It has a slide to go down a hill and a playground that has loads of  climbing obstacles and small streams, where visitors can splash around.

The Crenshaw Canopy Walk is one of the many amenities at Bonnet Springs park in Lakeland and it is roughly 1,500 feet long and 24 feet high, at its tallest point. It provides a bird’s-eye view of the park, as well as circling a 200-year-old grandfather oak tree.

Engage in the view(s)
One of the main attractions at Bonnet Springs Park is the Crenshaw Canopy Walk.

At roughly 1,500 feet long and 24 feet high at its tallest point, it’s perfect for a bird’s-eye view of the park and is partially shaded by the 200-year-old grandfather oak tree in the park.

The canopy walk is just a small stroll from the Kiwanis Kid’s Treehouse, which is a fun hangout to explore, as well as a place to host events, such as birthday parties.

Both these attractions are also near the Ann and Ward Edwards Boathouse, which sits on the Blanton Family Lagoon, a 6.5-acre lagoon.

The 2,600-square-foot boathouse provides a place to rent paddleboats or grab a quick snack. Around the lagoon, there are more boardwalks that give visitors nature views.

Other amenities include the GiveWell Community Foundation Nature Center, the Depot Café, a greenhouse and a butterfly house. The event center features a ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 guests and features a ballroom, terrace, and an outdoor kitchen, overlooking the botanical gardens.

With its careful planning, its expansive offerings, its everyday features and its special events — Bonnet Springs Park, in Lakeland, is a gem.

It truly is a place with something for everyone.

Bonnet Springs Park
Where: 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland
When: Open daily from 6 a.m. to dusk.
Coffee Shop in the Welcome Center: Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Depot Cafe: Open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Rooftop Garden Bar: Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: A once-abandoned rail yard, from the 1980s, was idle until a group of community investors and developers came together to bring new life to the historic site. The park, which opened in October 2022, represents a collaboration of local developer David Bunch, retired Lakeland Parks and Recreation Director Bill Tinsley, and Carol and Barney Barnett. The redeveloped site is a 168-acres park just outside of downtown Lakeland, between West Memorial Boulevard and George Jenkins Boulevard on the east side of Lake Bonnet.
It features several amenities including a Welcome Center, a cafe, coffee and gift shops, event venues, play areas, nature centers, a children’s museum, a treehouse, boardwalks, botanical and butterfly gardens, and more. The park is dog-friendly.
Info: Visit BonnetSpringsPark.com.

Published April 05, 2023

The Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Rooftop Bar is near the Children’s Museum, inside Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland.
Mable the Mosaic Owl is a playground and workout station within Bonnet Springs Park, in Lakeland.
Nestled between large trees with a view of the Blanton Family Lagoon, the Kiwanis Kid’s Treehouse offers a place to visit for adventurous fun, or a venue for birthday parties and other events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ann and Ward Edwards Boathouse, inside Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, sits on the Blanton Family Lagoon. The 6.5-acre lagoon showcases the flora and fauna of Bonnet Springs Park. The 2,600-square-foot boathouse provides a place to rent paddleboats or to grab a quick snack.
A small playground, with spongy ground, honors the rail yard history of the 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park, in Lakeland. The playground is near the welcome center.
Teahouse Path leads to this pavilion, which is inspired by Japanese architecture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find out the park’s history and information about the 168-acre park’s features at the Bonnet Spring Hollis Family Welcome Center.
The Crenshaw Canopy Walk provides a shaded stroll through Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, while the trees also provide ample spaces to relax in hammocks.
Bonnet Springs Park also features nature boardwalks through low-lying marsh.

Painting with a little bit of paws

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It’s hard to paint with cuteness running around.

Luna Ortiz, of New Tampa, tightly grips a cute puppy while trying to decorate a dog bowl, at the first Painting with Puppies adoption event at B Creative Painting Studio at The Grove at Wesley Chapel on March 23. The Mercy Full Project, a nonprofit dog rescue out of Tampa, brought puppies to run around while participants painted dog bowls and strongly considered taking one of these puppies home. (Mike Camunas)

But that’s what people tried to do at B Creative Painting Studio at the Grove at Wesley Chapel on March 23, when they came to paint dog bowls, but were easily distracted by the throng of cute puppies running around and playing at their ankles during Painting with Puppies.

The Mercy Full Project, a nonprofit dog rescue out of Tampa, brought puppies to run around while participants painted dog bowls and strongly considered taking one of these puppies home. It was the first time the studio hosted the cuteness-overload event, and it doesn’t sound like it will be the last.

“I mean, they are so cute,” B Creative owner Bernadette Blauvelt said. “Of course we want to do it again — how could you not want to take them all home with you?

“We might need to adopt one for a studio dog!”

The Mercy Full Project was founded in October 2019 as a nonprofit that takes in helpless animals from all different situations, such dogs facing euthanasia at shelters, behavioral cases that need longer and special training sessions, owner surrenders, emergency cases of injured or abused animals, and strays from all over the state.

“We get a lot of people from Pasco (County) and this area about adoption,” Mercy Full Project Founder Heydi Acuña said. “We come out to the KRATE (at the Grove) a lot and work with Pasco Animal Services a lot, too. It’s all to help the animals.”

Mercy Full Project always has animals to adopt, both young and old, and is always looking for volunteer help.

To learn more about the Mercy Full Project or inquire about adoption or volunteering, visit MercyFullProjects.org.

Published March 29, 2023

A rescue puppy stands over his brothers to absolute cuteness during Painting with Puppies, a dog adoption awareness event at B Creative Painting Studio at The Grove At Wesley Chapel.
Tampa resident Nery Leon finishes up her designs and paint work on a bowl for her dog, Max, at Creative Painting Studio at The Grove At Wesley Chapel.
From left: Beth Alfonso, Jen Jones and Bernadette Blauvelt hold puppies they might just not let go of, during Painting with Puppies on March 23.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rescue puppy lovingly enjoys the attention from Wesley Chapel residents Brandy Poblete-Scaglione, left, and Jen Poblete-Scaglione at B Creative Painting Studio at The Grove At Wesley Chapel, during Painting with Puppies.
Stella Cirillo, of Wesley Chapel, just won’t let go of a cute puppy from the Mercy Full Project, a nonprofit dog rescue out of Tampa, at B Creative Painting Studio at The Grove At Wesley Chapel, during Painting with Puppies.
A couple of older rescue pups pose for pictures during Painting with Puppies at B Creative Painting Studio at The Grove At Wesley Chapel.

Construction crews busy at work on local and regional roads

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No regional transportation solution is in sight for Tampa Bay, but construction crews are busy on projects aimed at increasing roadway capacity and improving traffic flow.

David Gwynn, secretary for District Seven of the Florida Department of Transportation, shared highlights of work that’s been recently completed, is underway or is planned for the future — during a recent North Tampa Bay Chamber luncheon, in Land O’ Lakes.

David Gwynn, secretary for District Seven of the Florida Department of Transportation, briefed a luncheon gathering of the North Tampa Bay Chamber on numerous local and regional road projects. (B.C. Manion)

“Central Florida and the Tampa region seem to be the fastest-growing in the state right now,” Gwynn said.

Within FDOT’s District Seven, Pasco County is growing at a faster clip than Hillsborough, Pinellas, Citrus and Hernando counties, Gwynn said.

District Seven and Pasco County have collaborated on a number of projects in recent years and because of those partnerships, several projects have been completed, or are underway, Gwynn said.

A number of additional improvements also are planned for the area, Gwynn said.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

Completed projects

This aerial view shows an improvement aimed at easing congestion at the State Road 56/Interstate 75 interchange. (Courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation, District Seven)

The Diverging Diamond interchange, at State Road 56 and Interstate 75
 This project creates a new way for motorists to enter and exit I-75 and to make their way across State Road 56, which is a primary artery providing access to shopping malls, restaurants, businesses, residences and schools.

Gwynn told the luncheon crowd: “I sweated this out for a long time, when the contractor defaulted. I was like, ‘How are we going to get this thing built?’

“I know it was painful for people out there, and the businesses,” he said.

But he added: “It appears that it is working well. I think it moves a lot of traffic.

Overpass Road interchange at I-75
“One thing unique about this project is that it was paid for by Pasco County,” Gwynn said, while FDOT completed the engineering and provided oversight for the construction.

“It was a great partnership on that project,” Gwynn said.

Pasco County and FDOT collaborated on a project to build a new I-75 interchange at Overpass Road. Pasco paid for the project and FDOT provided the engineering and oversight of the construction. (Courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation, District Seven)

Projects in progress

Realignment of State Road 52, from Uradco Place to U.S. 301
The first two lanes (one heading in each direction) recently opened and work continues on the other two lanes. The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The old alignment took motorists along a meandering path past San Antonio, through St. Leo and through Dade City. The new alignment offers a more direct route.

With the opening of the new alignment, the former State Road 52 has been renamed County Road 52.

State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road
“That project was another one where the contractor defaulted. It took us a little longer to get a replacement contractor on that one. That should be completed later this year,” Gwynn said.

Planned improvements

U.S. 41 and State Road 54
This major intersection has been congested for years, as motorists head north and south through Land O’ Lakes on U.S. 41, and east and west through the community, on State Road 54.

Currently, FDOT is looking at building a bridge over the intersection to reduce congestion.

“We’re not sure if it is (State Road) 54 over (U.S.) 41 or (U.S.) 41 over (State Road) 54. That still has to be determined,” Gwynn said. “What that will do is really increase the capacity of that intersection.”

No funding has been earmarked for the project yet, but once a decision is made on the final plan, the district will be trying to move that project forward, Gwynn said.

State Road 56 southbound exit to I-75/I-275
As it stands now, motorists heading south from State Road 56 have to weave across lanes of traffic, if they want to head south on I-75. The improvement will make it easier for motorists to head either toward I-275 or toward I-75.

That project is currently in design, with construction expected in a few years.

“If we can advance it, we will. I think that will help improve the traffic flow and crash history in that area,” Gwynn said.

State Road 52, from U.S. 41 to Bellamy Brothers Boulevard
Funding has been secured, Gwynn said.

“We’re designing it and buying the right of way and then we’ll start construction on that in a few years.”

Traffic signal at Lake Patience Road and U.S. 41
That project is expected to be constructed this summer.

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard improvements
Another local project involves improvements to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard that include the installation of a new traffic signal at Eagleston Boulevard, as well as median and turn lane improvements. The completion date on that work was estimated for Spring 2023.

Plans also call for resurfacing Bruce B. Downs to south of Eagleston Boulevard, expected to occur around 2026.

Regional outlook
The district secretary also shared some big-picture plans to improve transportation in the region. Those projects that are planned or underway include a new bridge for the Howard Frankland Bridge; rebuilding the Westshore interchange; and, increasing the capacity and accessibility at the I-275 and I-4 interchange.

Published March 22, 2023

Winter never seems to come to King’s Landing

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At King’s Landing, there are two ways to paddle.

And no, this is not located in Westeros, nor has very little relation to the (spoiler alert) fictional city that was destroyed in the last season of HBO’s megahit, “Game of Thrones.”

It is, however, one of the most popular paddle launch spots in Central Florida, and it allows adventurers, day-trippers, tourists and even weekend warriors to take two very distinctly different trips — while allowing for hours and hours of water exploration.

King’s Landing — in Apopka, not Westeros — is located on Rock Springs Run, which is part of the Wekiva River. It offers miles of exploration of lush Florida tropical hammocks and wildlife, plus paddling upstream to Emerald Cut, known for its clear water and jungle-like surroundings. (Mike Camunas)

So load up your dragon — er, paddleboard or kayak, and get ready to set sail on one of the most beautiful destinations in Florida that’s free of any Lannisters and Targaryens, as well as the Iron Throne. It’s definitely worth the trip.

You know nothing
Most likely, one has heard a lot of talk or hype about King’s Landing. Especially if you’re an avid paddler. It truly is high on the list of places to launch and visit and explore.

In fact, King’s Landing is just the launch area, which offers an easily accessible dock, self-guided tours, kayak and paddleboard rentals and guided tours, too.

There is a small shop with some snacks and drinks, plus souvenirs or necessities, but bringing a lunch is recommended. Also, pets and tubes are not allowed.

However, once out on the water, King’s Landing allows access to Rock Springs Run, which is part of the Wekiva River — and its crystal clear, 72-degree, gorgeous freshwater, with 26,000 gallons pumped out of the ground every minute.

After a short paddle to Rock Springs Run, paddlers can take one of the two trips.

On the Rock Springs Run part of the Wekiva River in Apopka, paddleboarding is a prominent activity year-round, allowing visitors and tourists to explore the miles of crystal clear water, lush vegetation and Florida wildlife.

They can go left, which will take them 8 ½ miles on a self-guided day adventure, exploring the scenic turns and lush Florida tropical hammocks and wildlife. A shuttle will bring them back to King’s Landing.

Or they can turn right, which is going upstream, but well worth the effort because it takes you through the Emerald Cut on Rock Springs Run.

Blue meets bluer with this water, and it’s about 45 minutes upstream until a bridge barrier at nearby Kelly Park stops you.

After that, and enjoying the hangout area at the Emerald Cut, all one has to do is sit back and take the 30-minute natural lazy river all the way back to King’s Landing.

The things you’ll do for love
Rock Springs Run, with its Emerald Cut, is an incredible, but also incredibly popular destination because of its beauty, serenity and, of course, its location in regards to Orlando (less than 30 minutes) and the Disney World area (less than an hour).

So expect tourists, even in large groups. Which is not a knock on King’s Landing. Nor the tranquility and exceptional time one will have on the water.

King’s Landing has a small tortoise habitat for visitors to see before or after paddling on Rock Springs Run and the Emerald Cut.

It’s just a fair warning, as they’re open daily, even during the rainy season that sees the river rise quite high. And over time, some of the hurricanes that have hit Florida have made certain parts of the river inaccessible, especially on the 8-mile run downstream.

That, however, has helped to protect some wildlife, especially the fish.

As Littlefinger said on Game of Thrones, “Chaos isn’t a pit — it’s a ladder,” and the chaos of water levels and some weather destruction has only helped King’s Landing, Rock Springs Run and Emerald Cut climb that ladder.

Play this game and win
All television show references aside, King’s Landing is a must-see, and launch destination for any and all avid paddleboarders and kayakers. 

It is on par with several other freshwater, spring-fed destinations, such as Weeki Wachee State Park, Three Sisters Springs, Seven Sisters Springs, Ginnie Springs and more.

However, King’s Landing has something that those don’t — more seclusion and less property intrusion, meaning through all those miles of serene paddling, lazy river floating and quiet isolation, there won’t be any structures or backyards and motor boats to ruin it.

It truly is a pristine destination, as if built for kings — and queens.

King’s Landing
Where: 5722 Baptist Camp Road, Apopka
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Details: Considered one of the top paddling destinations in Florida, King’s Landing, located on Rock Springs Run, is part of the Wekiva River. It offers activities including self-guided rentals, adventure tours and nightly escapes. Paddleboarding and kayaking are common on the water, camping at the Eagle Boy Scout Camp and Wekiva State Park are options, too.
Info: Visit KingsLandingFl.com.

Published March 15, 2023

King’s Landing offers camping at the Eagle Boy Scout Retreat Campground, which is just steps away from Rock Springs Run and the launch site.
Kelly Park is just south of King’s Landing and also is situated on Rock Springs Run. It offers swimming, trails, paddling and a launch site.

 

King’s Landing in Apopka provides a docking area for those who bring their own paddleboards or kayaks, but also offers guided tours and rentals.

 

 

Working in tandem for 40 years

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Bill Morissey is the mayor of Skydive City.

He doesn’t wear a sash to that effect, but it’s evident when the longtime, now retired, skydiving instructor walks the grounds at the adventure-seeking staple in East Pasco.

Even with an 82 Airborne hat pulled down low, and large Aviator sunglasses covering his face and distracting from his large, gray handlebar mustache —  everyone at Skydive City recognizes this 84-year-old Zephyrhills man.

Zephyrhills resident Bill Morissey isn’t just a fixture at the world-famous Skydive City — he’s a legend in the world of skydiving. He helped to develop tandem skydiving, a technique that allows an experienced skydiver to jump out of a plane, strapped to an inexperienced diver throughout the jump. Now, tandem skydiving, the standard for the recreational skydiving experience for novices, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. (Mike Camunas)

They stop what they’re doing — packing shoots or watching jumpers land — to greet a living legend.

Humbly, Morissey shakes their hands, or high fives them before a quick chat.

“Not a lot of people can say they’ve jumped with a legend,” said Chelsea Hylton, of Tampa, whom Morissey has taken a shine to. “And, when he does talk to me, it’s not even about jumps — it’s about what’s going on in my life. That means a lot that someone like him takes the time to ask.”

“I mean, I’ve known Bill since I was 6 years old,” said Cam King, manager of Skydive City. “To me, he’s just Bill, but, yeah, he’s a legend and he’s walking around here in Zephyrhills. It’s hard to put into words what he did for the sport.”

That’s because Morissey is one of the “fathers” of tandem skydiving.

An idea from the sky
It was 1975 and Morissey was talking to his friends, Gloria and Pete Chace.

They were recounting how they tried a tandem jump — a skydive from 15,000 feet out of a Cessna 206, with the two strapped together.

Bill Morissey, 84, stands in the landing field at Skydive City in Zephyrhills, watching as divers come in from a jump. Morissey, a resident of Zephyrhills, helped develop the tandem skydiving technique in 1983. He’s a retired longtime tandem instructor, but he still makes jumps and has tallied more than 7,300 jumps so far. (Mike Camunas)

Gloria wanted to jump, but had no experience. Pete didn’t have much more experience, but agreed to it by sharing the harness and Jerry-rigged a chest strap extender by cutting out a seatbelt from the plane.

It wasn’t the most pleasant of jumps, but the couple survived.

Gloria told Morissey all about it.

“I got so excited about (a two-person parachute apparatus) and I wanted to tell someone about it,” Morissey said. “Luckily, I knew Ted Strong.”

Strong was a parachute manufacturer and owner of Strong Parachutes Inc., based out of Orlando.

It would be seven years before the two friends would get together, after Morissey’s marriage ended in New York, in the early ’80s.

The two friends met at Chi-Chi’s Restaurant in Orlando, with Strong sketching an idea of the two-harness tandem system on the back of a placemat. The idea was to have an experienced instructor attached to a student jumper.

“He said, ‘As long as we have an instructor with a student in the harness, we’ll never lose another jumper,’” Morissey recalled. “And then he gave me a big hug because he was so excited.”

Strong, who Morissey called “a real genius” when it came to building rigs, put together the new harness.

Bill Morissey, left, and Ted Strong, right, gear up and strap together in one of the early tests of tandem skydiving in 1983. (Courtesy of Jen Sharp)

On Jan. 15, 1983 in Eustis, Florida, Strong completed a tandem skydive with Ricky Meadows, who helped sew together the parachute.

In October 1983, Strong took Morissey out on a couple jumps in his tandem rig, which was a work in progress. Strong then hired Morissey to be the first-ever tandem instructor and examiner — just after two tandem jumps.

“I really had to figure this (new system) out — on how we were going to do it,” Morissey said. “Because it was not as smooth (a jump) then as it is now, for pretty obvious reasons.”

Coming in drogues
Morissey learned the hard way that the tandem system still needed perfecting.

In November 1983, while at the Turkey Meet at Skydive City, in front of hundreds of other skydivers, Morissey made his third tandem jump, this time with Anibel Dowd, a licensed jumper

However, in the early days of the tandem rig, parachute openings were extremely hard due to the extra weight of the jumpers and faster freefall speeds. On this jump, Morissey and Dowd saw significant damage to the parachute, with all but two of the lines to the canopy breaking and attachment rings stretched into an oval shape.

Morissey had to pull the ripcord to the reserve chute.

“I’m not a religious person, even though I was raised Catholic, but here we are and the parachute exploded. So, I looked up to God and said, ‘If you get me out of this one, I promise to be a good boy,” he said.

Bill Morissey coming in from a jump at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Jen Sharp)

A higher power must have been listening, because the reserve opened and both jumpers, while injured, still walked away from the hard landing.

“After that, Ted started putting drogues on the tandem rigs,” Morissey said.

A drogue parachute is designed to deploy from a fast-moving object, similar to what is seen to slow down large planes. Adding this to the tandem system proved to be another one of Strong’s genius moves.

In late 1984, after test after test now employing the drogue, Morissey did a test tandem jump with Jon Stark, another experienced jumper, who is now the director of aviation maintenance at Skydive City.

Jumping from 14,000 feet, Morissey and Stark had a freefall that felt as natural as it would be for a single jumper.

“We were blowing parachutes up and hurting people and it really wasn’t pleasant,” Stark said: “It was exciting, trying new things, but we didn’t know what was going to hurt us or kill us. It was all experimental at that time, but the drogue experiment proved to be the right one.”

Bill Morissey, center in black cap, stands with Skydive City crew and jumpers on Jan. 15, when the center celebrated the 40th anniversary of the tandem skydiving technique. (Courtesy of Brina Berge)

Jumping around the world
After other modifications, such as moving the handles for better access to the instructors, tandem skydiving was invented and, by 1986, it was gaining popularity.

Morissey became the go-to instructor for tandem. He traveled the world demonstrating and teaching it. He even became the person who decided that for someone to become a tandem instructor, it would require a 10-jump certification though the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA), the governing body that issues skydiving licenses.

“We would have discussions about how we should teach (tandem), and I’m not saying we just made it up as we went along, but thought that was a good number (of jumps) and that’s what USPA approved,” Morissey said.

Tandem skydiving would be a game changer in the industry. It would bring in hundreds of thousands of people to the sport, allowing an adventure seeker to jump from 13,500 feet, just like the many of the annual visitors at Skydive City.

Morissey would be one of the foremost tandem instructors until he retired from Strong Enterprises Tandem Jumping in 2000. During that time, he taught more than 650 tandem instructors and 113 tandem examiners, and made more than 3,300 tandem jumps.

Zephyrhills resident and retired tandem jump instructor Bill Morissey looks over a jump pack that is designed for a tandem jump, allowing for two jumpers to be strapped to each other for the entire descent. Morissey helped develop the technique 40 years ago. (Mike Camunas)

“Ted Strong deserves every bit of the credit,” Morissey said humbly. “But, yeah, I guess we did (change skydiving) to, a little bit, of what it is today and what you see here (at Skydive City). Certainly, when we started doing it back (in 1983), we weren’t thinking about how it would.”

Legend of the freefall
Tragically, Strong died in a skydiving accident in 2011.

When Morissey recalls his longtime, dearest friend, tears well up in his eyes behind those Aviator sunglasses.

“He was a beautiful, wonderful man,” Morissey says in a low, mournful voice.

However, nothing — not his friend’s death, retirement or age — has stopped Morissey from jumping out of planes.

With more than 7,300 jumps under his chute, Morissey jumped at Skydive City about a month ago and doesn’t plan to stop ever since getting hooked on it as an Army paratrooper in 1959.

Morissey, or D-516 — which is a skydiver’s license level and call number — estimates he still does nearly 100 jumps a year.

So, the 2016 International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame inductee will continue to be mayor of Skydive City, for as long as he can pack his own chute and get on a plane to take him thousands of feet above Zephyrhills.

“I can remember my first jump like it was yesterday,” Morissey said. “I still get a thrill out of (skydiving). A jump last week or last month is still as exciting as it was in 1959 or in 1983. I know that’s never going to go away.”

Published March 08, 2023