The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco tourism ‘booming,’ officials say

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Tourism is “booming” in Pasco County and shows little signs of slowing down.

That was the message delivered by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and Pasco County Tourism Director Adam Thomas during a recent appearance at a Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, right, and Pasco County Tourism Director Adam Thomas were the guest speakers at a Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce September meeting, at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills. Their talk centered on the county’s tourism efforts. (Kevin Weiss)

“We’re at the highest (tourism) levels ever,” said Moore, who joined Smith, as the featured speakers at the chamber’s September breakfast at the Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

While Pasco County is not Orlando, Moore said it has much to offer.

Besides being a great place to live, to work and to play, it’s also a great place to visit, Moore said.

The speakers shared a number of tourism-related figures from January through June of this year. The figures were compiled with the help of Tallahassee firm Downs & St. Germain Research, which conducts the county’s quarterly and annual visitor profiles.

Here are some findings from that six-month period:

  • 451,000 people visited Pasco County, spending a combined $234 million
  • The stays represented 487,000 room nights
  • Hotel occupancy is up nearly 3 percent in Pasco County compared to last year, with hotels now averaging 75 percent occupancy
  • Tourism yielded $23 million in taxes, with $15 million in state and federal taxes, $8 million in local taxes
  • Tourism provided $83 million in income, with 3,645 jobs sustained by tourism in Pasco, representing 5 percent of all income and 7 percent of all jobs in the county
  • Tourism contributes $250 in state and local taxes, for each Pasco household

Those visiting the county apparently had a good experience.

Ninety percent of those responding to a survey said they would return, and 99 percent said they were satisfied with the county’s offerings.

Moore, who is chairman of the Pasco Tourist Development Council, is bullish that those promising figures will continue, noting that there are several projects and initiatives coming online the next few years.

Specifically, Moore mentioned the forthcoming Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, a $44 million, 98,000-square-foot facility that broke ground in June.

The complex, expected to open in late 2019, will be able to host other sporting events and recreational activities, such as martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics, curling, badminton, soccer, lacrosse and pickleball. It will even play host to “unconventional sports tourism,” such as the World Championship of Cornhole.

Besides the indoor facility, the complex will have seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground.

Once complete, the facility will be one of the county’s “great assets,” Moore said.

“We’re going to have thousands of people come on the weekends for multiple tournaments, whether it be cheerleading or wrestling or volleyball or gymnastics — people from all over the nation, sometimes maybe even all over the world,” Moore said. “It’s exciting. We’re excited about that.”

Meanwhile, other future sports-related endeavors in Pasco include the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills and the Christopher N. Chiles Aquatic Center in Land O’ Lakes, each of which could become a magnet for hosting regional and national tournaments.

Smith said those facilities, plus the Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, which opened in January 2017, make Pasco an attractive sports tourism destination.

“The heartbeat of tourism right now is our sports,” Smith said, noting his office’s target audience is young families with children. “That’s our bread and butter.”

Smith, too, suggested the county’s inshore and offshore fishing offerings, as well as hiking, biking and walking trails all help create a bevy of other family friendly activities for those visitors who travel in for various sporting events and tournaments.

“We’re an outdoor recreation, ecotourism, adventure travel destination,” Smith said. “We have a lot to offer that a lot of other destinations don’t have, so we want to differentiate our product and sell what’s unique about our destinations.”

Another future selling point for Pasco is the return of scalloping, the speakers said.

For the first time since 1994, state waters off Pasco County were open to bay scallop harvest for a 10-day trial season in late July. Harvest areas included all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, as well as all waters of the Anclote River.

Moore said there may be additional scalloping days next year and a full scalloping season by 2020.

Moore also noted that without the scallop trial season, families would have otherwise traveled north to Hernando County, all but bypassing Pasco. “I’ve never seen that many boats in the water in Pasco County in my life. It was packed,” the commissioner said of the 10-day trial season.

Smith coined the popular family friendly activity “an underwater Easter egg hunt.”

“It’s a great opportunity for folks, not only around Florida or the southeast region of the United States, but all across the nation, to get in our waters, to explore our aquatic life and to have this experience to take home with them. …That’s the memories that we’re trying to create here for our guests and families — to come in and experience some of the things that we have on an annual basis,” Smith explained.

Aside from sports and outdoor activities, the tourism director said there’s also been a renewed emphasis to lure annual conventions and shows and corporate retreats, taking advantage of large meeting space at Saddlebrook Resort, Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel, and eventually the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex.

Published September 12, 2018

Swearing-in ceremony draws a big crowd

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Dade City has a new police chief, but he has a familiar face.

James Walters — who has been the acting chief for more than six months — became the department’s official leader at the Aug. 28 Dade City Commission meeting.

Walters is replacing former chief Ray Velboom, who retired after a decade of service.

The occasion drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 community and business leaders, government officials, and representatives from other local law enforcement agencies.

City Clerk Angie Gay swears in James Walters as chief of the Dade City Police Department. Walters, who’s been with the agency since 1995, has been acting chief since February. (Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Friends and family members traveled from as far away as California, Wisconsin and Virginia to share in a moment marking what Walters’ described as the pinnacle of his career.

As he addressed the crowd, Walter said being named the city’s police chief is both humbling and an honor.

“I am so proud of all the members of the Dade City Police Department, my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and the amazing work that they do in this community every day,” said Walters, who has been with the department since 1995. “We have a great team.”

Walter also used the public platform to outline several of his priorities for the department going forward. Those include:

  • Seeking department accreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation
  • Redeveloping its strategic plan “to identify the needs of our department and our community” for the next five years
  • Maintaining and ensuring safety in local schools
  • Creating a plan of professional development and succession for police department personnel to “ensure stability, viability, and professional preparation in training” and “instill a tradition of continued and guaranteed success for generations”
  • Upholding the fundamental values that serve the agency’s mission and vision—respect, integrity, professionalism and service

“There’s a lot of challenges ahead,” Walters said. “We have a tremendous amount of growth on our doorstep and so we’re going to have to be ahead of the curve.

“As far as I’m concerned, law enforcement is no different than any other infrastructure—it’s no different than a water line or a road or what have you. We have to be prepared for the growth that’s coming, and we have to have systems in place and be ready to deal with the increase; we could easily double in population in the next decade,” the chief said.

In 23 years of policing, Walters has worked on patrol and criminal investigations, as well as handling administrative duties. Most recently, he served as administrative sergeant, a role he held since 2003.

Walters is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in criminology and a master of science in criminal justice administration from Saint Leo University.

He also holds a certified instructor ranking, in both general and high liability areas, from the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Additionally, he holds a number of certifications in firearms, investigations, field training, crisis intervention, line supervision, middle management, police internal affairs and so on.

He has also served as an adjunct instructor at Pasco-Hernando State College and at Saint Leo University.

During his time at the department, Walters has received numerous decorations and awards, including a unit citation, community service award, education ribbons, hazardous incident team, chief’s award, and employee of the month.

Besides his work for the police department, he also has served the Dade City Police Retirement Board, YMCA Advisory Board and PHSC Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board.

The police department currently has 44 employees, including 33 sworn officers.

In his new role, his starting salary is $69,143.

The city’s website outlines the chief’s responsibilities. They include managing the department’s day-to-day operations and preparing the department’s annual budget. The chief also must attend weekly staff meetings, bimonthly city commission meetings, and events throughout the year.

The chief also functions as the department’s official liaison with various community groups, media outlets and law enforcement entities.

City Manager Billy Poe said Walters’ experience, knowledge and law enforcement connections made him an ideal candidate for the post.

Poe also mentioned Walters’ philosophy on community-oriented policing and increased community involvement as another reason he was selected.

Said Poe: “I think Chief Walters understands our direction that we want to go as a city and as a police department, and I think he has a firm grasp on it to take us to the next step.”

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez offered her approval of Walters, saying he’s “shown nothing but the most outpouring of love and affection and safety for everyone.”

The mayor also said she’s “so proud and privileged” to have Walters as chief, noting his “outstanding staff and amazing leadership.”

Walters’ appointment coincides with the promotions of Lieutenants Bill Rowe and Brian Uppercue to oversee the department’s operations and administration divisions, respectively.

“I think all three are great individuals,” Poe said, noting they have different strengths that work well together.

Published September 5, 2018

Community mourns couple’s passing

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The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club was already grieving the death of its former president, Edwina Kraemer, when the club received word that Edwina’s husband, David, had died a day later.

Those who knew Edwina describe her as capable, dynamic, organized and giving. They said she was a woman who held leadership roles in the woman’s club, was passionate about raising money for Canine Companions for Independence; was involved in her church, First United Methodist Church of Lutz; and, was devoted to her family.

David and Edwina Kraemer share a smile. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

David had been battling health problems for some time, and Edwina had been hospitalized in recent months, several sources said.

Friends were shocked that the couple died just one day apart.

The couple is survived by their son and his family, Keith, Pam and Gwen Vickery, of Brandon.

Even though Edwina was known for not calling attention to herself, she was widely known in the community because of her leadership and good works, several sources said.

She was president of the woman’s club during the years 2010 to 2012. And, she was named Lutz Guv’na in 2006, an honorary title secured by raising money to help community causes.

“Edwina was one of the most generous people you’d ever run into,” said Nancy Fisher, who has known Edwina since 2005.

She was a good friend, too.

“Anyone that was sick, down, whatever — she had a cake there. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen her take cakes to people,” Fisher said.

“She was a wonderful baker, fantastic cook. Her home was always open to have events for the woman’s club,” Fisher added.

Edwina and Fisher worked closely together to raise money for Canine Companions for Independence, a service dog organization.

“She headed DogFest for three years,” Fisher said, noting Edwina was instrumental in raising more than $130,000 for service dogs. “It would not have gone (on) without her. She put her whole heart into it.”

When the woman’s club holds a BowWow Bingo Fundraiser on Aug. 30, it also will honor Edwina, Fisher said.

“I’ve asked everyone to wear pearls. She always had pearls — a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, something,” Fisher said. “We want to remember her.”

Pat Serio, another woman’s club member, met Edwina through the club.

“I remember Edwina showing obvious signs of leadership from Day 1, and she lost no time in immediately accepting duties, club offices,” Serio said, via email.

“Family, her strong faith and service to her community meant everything to her.  We, in the club, have missed her terribly during these past 5 months of her illness and will continue to feel the void for a long while,” Serio said.

“Edwina’s beloved David survived her by only one day, and we rejoice in that they are now reunited for eternity. RIP dear friends, Edwina and David,” Serio said.

Mike Mullins, a friend of David’s since 1971, recalled that the couple met when they were supervisors in the Youth Conservation Corps program.

Both of them were science teachers, said Mullins, who met David during a teacher conference on Sanibel Island. David taught at Eisenhower Junior High School and Jefferson High School, Mullins said.

“He was the kind of guy that would go out and bring in stuff for the kids to see. He was a very interactive teacher.”

David also loved to cook out, was involved in karate, was a firearms expert and instructor, and enjoyed spending time on his lake, Mullin said.

Rick Cabot, the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Lutz, said Edwina was involved in many ways at the church.

She helped with the massive project to relocate the church from its former site on Lutz Lake Fern Road near U.S. 41, to its current location, on Lutz Lake Fern near North Dale Mabry Highway.

It was a huge undertaking, involving the acquisition of land, design of the building and scores of other details, Cabot said. Edwina also helped raise money to pay for the project, which Cabot estimated at between $5.5 million and $6 million.

Additionally, Edwina was dedicated to preparing communion for the congregation.

She was typically there by herself early on Sunday mornings, Cabot said.

“She would have the biggest smile on her face,” he said, and as she filled each communion cup “it was like she was concerned for that person that would be partaking it. She just did it with so much love.

“Edwina’s heart for people and heart for God were simply incredible,” Cabot added.

“I just can’t say enough kind things about her.

“The biggest thing is how she made people feel when she was around them: Loved and cared about, that they were important,” the pastor said.

In a previous interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Edwina said she wanted to join the woman’s club because it was genuinely determined to serve the community.

She also offered her impression of the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes community.

“Lutz and Land O’ Lakes have this old town flavor,” she said. “I grew up in a little town in Brevard County (Cocoa), so it takes me back to my youth. There are a lot of great traditions in this area.”

When the woman’s club was celebrating its 50th anniversary, Edwina, then president, described the group as purposeful, empowered women. She said she was attracted to the club because of its focus on service.

“I was raised with the idea that you are not a burden to your society and that you give back,” she said.

Apparently, those lessons stuck.

A dual Celebration of Life service is planned for the couple on Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lutz, 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

Published August 29, 2018

Local astronomy club promotes stargazing

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A group of amateur astronomers have gathered at New Port Richey’s Starkey Park for 15 years, toting their telescopes to help the public get an intimate glimpse at planets, star clusters, meteors and galaxies.

The space enthusiasts’ latest gathering held particular meaning.

The Pasco Astronomers celebrated its 15th anniversary on Aug. 11 with a free public stargazing event the park.

The Pasco Astronomers have hosted public stargazing events at Starkey Park for the past 15 years, to promote science and astronomy. Many club members bring their own telescopes for the public to use at monthly showings.
(Kevin Weiss)

It was an evening where four planets — Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus — were each in prime viewing position.

The event, too, coincided with the first time the group met 15 years ago — a day when Mars was last closest to Earth, otherwise known as perihelic opposition.

Pasco Astronomers was established in 2003 by Joe Colontonio and Tom Wade, after a few county park officials requested some astronomy-related activities.

Since then, the club has sought to promote science and astronomy through public outreach programs, by providing telescopes and general space knowledge.

“It’s kind of nice to have people look through your telescope, and see the awe and the wonder that they experience,” said Wade, a retired pastor who studied astronomy at the University of South Florida. “The first time they see things up close — the craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn — some of them are speechless.”

Added Colontonio: “We’re not really here for ourselves. We’re just here to enlighten people, give them something to do that’s cheap,” he said.

Plus, he noted: “It’s a good thing to have something free for kids to do, other than sit at their computers.”

Pasco Astronomers club member Carl Wight, right, assists Greg Shimp with properly setting up a telescope. The club recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a free public stargazing event at Starkey Park in New Port Richey.

Ward and Colontonio have since handed the club’s reins to Mark Hardies, mathematics and physics professor at St. Petersburg College, who’s had an interest in amateur astronomy going on 30 years.

Since he’s taken over, anywhere from 300 to 500 people — and as many as 1,200 — show up for monthly stargazing events, or “Star Parties,” as they’re colorfully called.

“I just enjoy that our whole purpose is to do this for the public,” said Hardies, who joined the club about 12 years ago.

He added: “It’s nice to be here to help the public see what’s available, to get them interested in (astronomy) and to give them a chance to see through a telescope, because quite frankly, most people don’t get that chance.”

As well as Pasco, club members venture from as far as Brandon, Lutz, Largo and Spring Hill.

And, many happily supply telescopes they’ve made from scratch.

Colontonio, for instance, brought along his own 10-inch truss-tubed Dobsonian he built 15 years ago inside a mirror lab at the St. Pete Astronomy Club.

“I just kind of winged it,” he said. “It took me like six months to grind the mirror.”

His personal interest in astronomy piqued 20 years ago after he bought his wife a telescope. “I got addicted seeing the planets,” he said.

But, nowadays, the club’s original co-founder mainly prefers to impart his astronomy wisdom to others, detailing subjects like Messier 37 and the Ring Nebula, all through the lens of his scope.

Dozens of families gathered for the Pasco Astronomers’ 15th anniversary stargazing party at Starkey Park in New Port Richey. At the Aug. 11 event, space enthusiasts were able to view four planets — Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus— through the lenses of telescopes and binoculars.

He explained: “I like to show the real dim stuff. People get a kick out of that because you don’t see anything but black sky, and then when you look through the scope, there’s something there.”

Jack Brockhurst, another astronomy enthusiast and club member, also supplied his own handmade scope — a 13-inch Dobsonian weighing over 130 pounds.

The New Port Richey resident said he’s been building telescopes for 40 years.

A machinist by trade, Brockhurst first constructed a small 3-inch scope. He eventually progressed to larger Dobsonians and German Equatorials measuring over 10 inches in diameter.

His collection of handcrafted scopes is now up to 11.

“I got what they call light bucket fever. I had to build bigger ones,” he said, jokingly.

Brockhurst still regularly likes to experience “what’s out there” in space.

But, like Colontonio, he also gets a kick from sharing his passion for astronomy with others. “My best reward is when I hear the oohs and aahs from the parents and the kids,” he said.

Aside from the regular club-goers, the 15th anniversary event drew several first-timers, like Tampa’s Raj Reddy and his group of friends.

“We just wanted to see the meteors,” Reddy said, “and, I also think it’s cool that you can watch other planets today.”

New Port Richey’s Greg Shimp and his son, Kevin, also were among the newcomers.

Besides peering at Mars and the other planets — “That’s something that we wanted to see,” Shimp said — the father and son learned to properly navigate an 8-inch refractor telescope purchased last year. “Mostly, we’re here for the help, kind of getting the (scope) set up,” Shimp said.

For information on the Pasco Astronomer’s Club, visit their Facebook page, Facebook.com/Pasco-Astronomers-169098913172928/.

Published August 22, 2018

America’s Finest Beach is in Clearwater

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Standing on baby-powder white sand, starring out at the gentle lulling of the Gulf’s waves, I realized how lucky we are here on Florida’s West Coast to live so close to Clearwater Beach.

It’s the ideal beach to swim, stroll for shells, watch birds and people, eat in some really good beach restaurants, or just sit on a beach towel and read a good book.

A lifeguard stand on Clearwater Beach adds a whimsical touch to one of the world’s best beaches. It came in seventh in the world in the 2018 TripAdvisor Best Beaches Contest, the only American beach on the world list. (Karen Haymon Long)

If you want to, you can go fishing on Pier 60, rent a Jet Ski or a paddleboard, or soar over the water in a parasail pulled by a boat. You can even cruise past the beach aboard a pirate ship.

All this and more made Clearwater Beach the No. 1 beach in America in 2018, thanks to TripAdvisor’s annual poll of those who visit the popular travel website. It came in a powerful seventh in the world among beaches. And, it was the only beach in America on this year’s world list.

Sometimes tourists find the beach more often than locals do, thanks to its prominence on travel websites, in newspapers and guidebooks.

USA Today ranked it the second-best beach in Florida in 2015. (First: Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola). Two years earlier, the newspaper called Clearwater Beach the best beach town in Florida.

Ironically, Clearwater Beach is not a town at all, but part of the city of Clearwater, whose logo proudly proclaims “Clearwater Bright and Beautiful Bay to Beach.”

The beach is definitely something to be proud of: TripAdvisor recommends 93 things to do in Clearwater. Going to its beach comes in first.

Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, on Clearwater Beach, has been offering beachgoers good food, music and spectacular sunset views since 1926.

Lots of changes have come to the beach in the last decade. You’ll notice them right away if you haven’t been in a while.

New upscale, pricey hotels — Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, Opal Sands Resort, Sandpearl Resort, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa — have all joined what used to be mostly mom and pop motels.

The picturesque Clearwater Beach Walk, a broad promenade lined with palms, billowing grasses and outdoor showers with comical green turtle sculptures on top, now skirts the beach from Pier 60, at the western end of State Road 60, heading south a half mile.

It’s a fun place to people-watch and to ride a bike or skate, when it’s not too crowded. Otherwise, it makes a nice path for walking along the beach, or to go to lunch or dinner in a nearby bar or restaurant.

The restaurants also make Clearwater Beach a great place to visit. They are numerous and varied, and many offer tasty grouper sandwiches, fish spread and other fresh seafood.

Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60 is a popular place for fishing, bird-watching and Sunset Celebrations, which happen every day all year around. If you don’t fish, you can rent a Jet Ski to take a spin in the Gulf.

Frenchy’s alone has four restaurants, all with excellent food and service, and all within a short walk to the beach.

Heilman’s Beachcomber Restaurant, opened in 1948, is a longtime favorite of old Clearwater families, who have spread the word to younger generations.

And, Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, with its inn next door, has long been a popular spot for good food, live music and unparalleled sunset views. It opened in 1926 and has been owned by the same family for 44 years.

If you want to get an idea of why Clearwater Beach got its name, go to VisitStPeteClearwater.com, and look at the webcam “Live from Clearwater Beach.’’ You can see in the photos just how clear the water really can be and how green or blue, depending on the sunlight.

You can see the wide swaths of powdery white sand and little kids skimboarding, digging in the sand with beach shovels or flying kites.

Act like a pirate and take a cruise on Captain Memo’s Pirate Ship that goes into the Gulf of Mexico in front of Clearwater Beach. The ship offers sunset and daytime cruises, as well as children’s parties and activities. Visit CaptainMemo.com for prices and times, or call (727) 446-2587.

If you go yourself – and you really should if you can – you can rent a colorful beach umbrella or a cabana and chairs, or bring your own, and your own cooler, too. Just don’t bring alcohol. It isn’t allowed on the beach.

We like to park in the paid public lot between Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar and Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, off Rockaway Street. We lay our towels on the beach and walk north, where it’s quieter and fewer people go. Homes, some opulent and others more modest, face out to the Gulf on this part of the beach that has limited parking, unlike farther south.

If you walk south, you’ll likely pass Pier 60, where anglers fish day and night for redfish, snook, Spanish mackerel, trout, snapper, flounder and even sharks.

The 1,080-foot fishing pier has a bait shop, sells drinks, food and souvenirs, and offers Gulf glimpses from telescopes.

Two hours before and after sunset every evening, the pier puts on “Sunset Celebrations,’’ drawing crowds to see colorful sunsets, listen to music, watch street performers and buy local crafts.

But, the Gulf is the star here and the main reason many come from all over the world. Its waters near shore are shallow, its waves usually gently lap onto the sugary sand, leaving treasured shells for everyone to find and take home.

Tips for the Trip
How to get there: State Road 60, or Court Street, in downtown Clearwater, heads west over the Clearwater Memorial Causeway straight to the beach. The main beach drags are Gulf Boulevard to the south and Mandalay Avenue to the north.

The Jolley Trolley offers daily shuttles from a few downtown Clearwater paid parking lots. Trolley tickets are $2.25, or $5 for daily passes. For details, visit ClearwaterJolleyTrolley.com, or call (727) 445-1200.

If you drive, check out where to park on a detailed map at MyClearwater.com/parking, or call (727) 562-4704. It is best to go early to find a good spot. Parking machines take credit cards, cash and coins.

Boat racing event: If you like speedboat races, go see the 10th Annual Hooters Clearwater Super Boat National Championship Sept. 30 off Clearwater Beach. Events start on Sept. 28 and run through the day of the race, with a parade, food trucks, music and more on downtown Cleveland Street and nearby Coachman Park. Watch the races from Pier 60 for $20, or $10 for children. Free viewing from the beach. See the race schedule at SuperBoat.com, and click on Clearwater.

Gulf book: University of Florida history professor Jack E. Davis recently won a Pulitzer Prize for his highly readable “The Gulf – The Making of an American Sea.” To learn the fascinating history of this watery treasure, read this book, now out in paperback. It will make you want to get into your car and head to the Gulf of Mexico, and maybe even to take a stand to protect it.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published August 15, 2018

Panel offers formula to help struggling teens: Judge less, listen more

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Those working in the front lines of mental health, drug prevention, drug addiction and recovery heard firsthand last week from a panel of youths about strategies that can help young people who need help in those areas.

The panel made up of members of STAND (Safe Teens AgaiNst Drugs) convened at the community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, under the auspices of the monthly coalition meeting of the Pasco Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.

A panel of youths recently shared suggestions about taking aim to reduce drug abuse and mental health problems. For starters, they said, it would help to have more counselors on campus who have time to listen to them. From left: Ormand Derrick, panel moderator, and panelists Mariah Morales, Ariana Santillana, Mia Cuasey and Annabelle Durff. (B.C. Manion)

The room was filled with professionals, and the youths— who have experienced firsthand the issues of addiction, attempted suicide, losing a loved one to drug abuse or being shuffled between foster homes —  had plenty of ideas to share.

There needs to be better access to help, said panelist Annabelle Durff.

Services are available sometimes, but they’re across town, she said.

“That’s not going to help. It’s too far away,” Durff said, noting many students don’t drive or have a way to get a ride.

Paying for therapy is another issue, she said.

Lack of parental support is a problem, too, she said, noting that some parents refuse to help their kids get help.

“I think if you have more school programs that are right (there), direct for the kids, that’s going to help,” Durff said.

It’s not enough to simply have counselors available, the staffing needs to be adequate, panelists added.

There are guidance counselors on campus, but they are pulled in too many directions.

“If I’m having an issue, or a mental breakdown, I have to wait until next week because they (other students) want to talk about their test scores.

“There’s nobody there just for the students to talk to,” she said.

More creative approaches are needed to teach young people to avoid using drugs and alcohol, said panelist Ariana Santillana.

She thinks that people tend to minimize the dangers of alcohol abuse. In her opinion, it’s the biggest substance abuse problem in Pasco County.

“I feel like it’s been so normalized. Nobody really thinks it’s a big deal,” she said. Plus, it’s easily available in many homes.

She advocates coming up with new strategies to reach kids, instead of simply pulling out a Power Point presentation and repeating the common refrain “drugs are bad, don’t do them,” she said.

There needs to be a new attitude when helping people who have substance abuse or mental health illnesses, panelists said.

“Offer your support, instead of punishment,” Santillana said.

Panelist Mia Causey agreed: “We need to show kids we are here for them. If they need help, we’re there to help them, instead of passing them off to somebody else.”

Drug prevention efforts usually last for about a week and generally involve free pencils, wrist bands, stickers and posters, the panelists said.

Durff asked: “What about the kids that are already doing drugs?”

She added: “What about kids (whose) parents are already doped up?”

It doesn’t help to tell people that drugs are bad, she said.

“They probably already know that, but they don’t have the strength to stop it themselves,” Durff said.

Talk about issues, don’t hide them, panelists say
Mental illness, substance abuse and suicide are issues that need to become part of the public conversation, panelists said.

“The thing about STAND is that we’re not afraid to bring light to the problem,” Causey said. “How do you expect to solve the problem, if we don’t bring light to it?”

Getting help to end drug use or to cope with mental health issues shouldn’t be taboo topics, she added.

An appointment for a therapy session should be viewed in the same light as going to the doctor for an ankle injury or to treat a cold, Causey added. “It should be a normalized thing.”

Helping kids find their passions and a positive outlet could go a long way in reducing drug use and promoting positive mental health, panelists added.

Causey: “If you have passion for something, take what you already know and take your already given talents and apply it to that. I love talking. I also am really good at writing poetry, so I do spoken word. I speak at all sorts of different events.”

Santillana noted: “Schools offer sports and band. I’m in band, and I’ve got a zillion things to do every day, so what time do I have for drugs?”

Mariah Morales, another panelist, said she immerses herself in art. “That has really helped me through everything I’ve been through. Art is my way of getting out my feelings and expressing myself. It really does help.”

The panelists also said they believe having a 12-step program in schools would be helpful.

Finally, they believe that sharing their stories can help other youths who are going through challenging times.

“We need to step up, and talk about it and say, ‘If you are going through these things, I got past it. I got through it, and it’s not the end,” Durff said.

Causey agreed: “Saying ‘No’ for yourself is the first step. Helping somebody else say ‘No’ is the next step.”

Safe Teens AgaiNst Drugs (STAND) is a team of youth leaders determined to end youth substance abuse in Pasco County by providing education to teachers, police, businesses and other community members.

Priority Issues:

  • Change youth perspective of drugs
  • Reduce accessibility of drugs
  • Reduce marketing of drugs to young people
  • Create an environment where young people in recovery can thrive

Published August 8, 2018

Pay raises elusive in Pasco schools

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Pasco County school officials are still searching for ways to provide some sort of raise for district employees — although the prospect did not appear promising at a board meeting last week.

At the board’s July 24 meeting, numerous teachers and other support personnel took turns urging the Pasco School Board to make employee pay a budget priority.

The current budget proposal does not include pay raises for any district employees.

Christine Goddard, a Spanish teacher at Land O’ Lakes High School, urged the board to make salary increases a budget priority.

Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin

She loves teaching in the district, she said, but is disappointed that her salary hasn’t improved much in the past couple of years.

“You can’t put your students first, if you continue to put your teachers last, in budget considerations,” Goddard said.

Sue Jenkins, a bus driver who lives in New Port Richey, said she loves her job and the kids she drives, but has to work two jobs.

“I’m too old to work two jobs for very long, so please make us a consideration,” she said.

Cheryl Vinson, of Lutz, noted that Pasco’s pay is not keeping pace with its neighboring counties.

“At my school alone, we have lost seven teachers who have moved to go back to their home states of New York, of Ohio, have gone to other districts because they can’t afford to live in Pasco County anymore. I have numerous friends who work second jobs.”

Beth Vogel, of New Port Richey, who works as registrar for the district, urged board members to take another look at the pay rate for registrars. She said the starting pay for them is $9.25 an hour.

“Our pay does not reflect the work that we do,” Vogel said. Registrars have extensive responsibilities, handling massive amounts of confidential information.

“It’s an endless, endless task. We are not compensated for what we do,” Vogel said.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, called for the union and school district to work together to seek solutions.

“I implore all of you to be creative and innovative in your thinking this year, as together we seek to provide meaningful salary adjustments for all employees,” Peace said.

“I would also like to ask for the district to consider forming a joint task force with USEP to investigate the possibility of a ballot initiative and to investigate the processes needed to accomplish that task.

“We should be partnering together to message our legislators both here in the district, who obviously have not been working for us, and also in Tallahassee, to implore changes to public school funding, and to educate the public on the need for properly funding public schools and programs,” Peace said.

School board members Colleen Beaudoin and Alison Crumbley responded to the speakers.

“Your pleas are not falling on deaf ears,” Beaudoin said.

“Every board member here, we did set our priorities months ago, and every one of us said that salaries is our priority,” she said.

“We all know that the quality of the people we want to keep is paramount, and it needs to be commensurate to the pay. We want the best people teaching our kids. We know people are leaving. I was heartbroken last week when somebody asked me for a reference to leave the county,” she added.

“I’m sorry you’re in this position, that you are coming here feeling that you have to beg,” she said. “We’re trying. Staff is working on it.”

Crumbley thanked those who came forward to address the board.

“We’re very determined to do what we can and get employee raises,” she said.

“We know this is essential. We know, from the bottom of our hearts. This isn’t over,” she added.

New safety, mental health programs required
It remains unclear how the district would pay for an employee pay raise.

It costs about $4.1 million to provide a 1 percent raise for district employees, said Olga Swinson, the district’s chief finance officer.

The district won’t know its total enrollment until October, at which point it can take another look at the numbers, she said.

There’s a chance enrollment could exceed projections, or that projected enrollment at public charter schools could be lower-than-expected.

In either case, the district revenue picture would improve.

It is true that this year’s student allocation was at its highest rate, but that figure fails to account for inflation, according to Swinson’s budget presentation to the board.

In 2007-2008, the base allocation per student was $7,306. That compares to a base allocation per student of $7,408 for 2018-2019.

When cost-of-living increases are included, however, the allocation per student needs to be $8,528, Swinson said.

Superintendent Kurt Browning also noted that the Florida Legislature tied local districts hands by refusing to allow growth to pay for itself.

The required local effort, which was certified by the state, is 4.031 mills, Swinson said. That’s a reduction from the 4.317 mills that it was last year.

If legislators had allowed local districts to keep the same millage rate for required local effort as they had last year, the district would have $8.2 million more to use to support pay raises, Browning said.

That would essentially equate to a 2 percent pay raise for district employees.

Also, although the Legislature provided more dollars to local districts, they also mandated that most of that new money be spent on school security and mental health services, district officials said.

The school board is scheduled to vote on the tentative tax rate for schools at its July 31 meeting at 6 p.m., after The Laker/Lutz News’ press deadline.

Based on the proposed tax rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption would bay $627.90 in school taxes in the 2018-2019 fiscal year. That compares to $656.50 for 2017-2018, a decrease of $28.60. If the Legislature had allowed districts to levy the same millage rate as they did last year, Pasco County would have generated an additional $8.2 million in revenues.

Published August 1, 2018

Turnout might break record in August primary

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Midterm elections typically get a low voter turnout.

But, there are signs of energized voters for the 2018 primary set for Aug. 28 and the general election on Nov. 6.

New voter registrations are up somewhat, said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley spoke at the monthly luncheon of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. (Kathy Steele)

A bigger indicator of voter interest is the more than 62,000 ballots mailed to local residents and military personnel, Corley added, in remarks at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn.

That is a record for mailed out ballots, and if most or all of the ballots are returned, Pasco could set a historical record for total voter turnout in a primary.

About 60 percent of Pasco’s total votes comes from absentee or early voting. Pasco has been promoting both methods of voting to reduce lines on election day.

Corley’s remarks centered on voter turnout and cybersecurity threats from hackers.

“The threats are real,” Corley said. “My job is to be neutral, but facts are stubborn things.”

He cited the federal charges filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller against 12 Russian intelligence officers. They are accused of interfering in the 2016 election through phishing attacks, money laundering and hacking into state election boards.

Corley said he was a target of phishing in 2016 from an email that appeared to come from a vendor. He said he didn’t click to open it, and security measures would have quarantined the email, if he had.

Corley noted that he later learned from court documents (prior to the recent indictments) that the email came from a hacker in Moscow.

Other reports of Russian interference also have emerged since the 2016 election, he said.

About 65,000 Americans apparently responded to social media invitations from Russian hackers to political events that weren’t real.

Also, about 6 million people “liked” or “didn’t like” postings on Facebook from bots. There were postings both for and against Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter.

“They were playing both sides, hedging their bets to get people fired up,” Corley said.

Measures are in place to ensure the reliability and security of Pasco County’s elections, he said.

The elections office works closely with the FBI, Homeland Security, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office regarding potential threats, especially from cyber attacks.

In a worst-case scenario, Pasco would have a backup plan, with a paper trail to secure the vote’s accuracy.

“You can’t hack paper,” Corley said.

A prime concern continues to be low voter participation, particularly in midterm elections.

Typically, about 20 percent of registered voters turn out during primaries, Corley said.

“That’s sad when you think about it,” he said. “We should be the benchmark for having elections in a democracy,” the elections supervisor said.

While a high volume of absentee ballots was requested, Corley said, on average, about 40 percent are returned.

Other countries fine nonvoters or give cash prizes via lotteries to voters.

For example, Corley said Australia fines voters $50 for not voting.

If that were done in Pasco, about $8 million, on average, could be collected. Statewide, about $300 million would be handed out in fines, Corley said.

Residents who want to vote in the primary must register by July 30. Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Democrats and Republicans can participate in their party primaries.

Residents registered, for example, with no party affiliation will be excluded from the primaries. However, Corley said people can change their registration to Republican or Democrat in order to vote on Aug. 28.

“They can always change back later,” he said.

Every registered voter is eligible to cast a ballot in the Nov. 6 general election.

Voters on that date will have choices in local, state and federal races, including county commissioners, state legislators, a governor’s race and a United States senator’s race.

Voters also will decide on 17 referendums, including constitutional amendments, and four local bond issues to fund programs for public safety, fire rescue, parks and libraries.

The elections office managed to put everything onto one page — using the front and the back of the ballot.

Even so, Corley said, “It’s going to be a very, very lengthy ballot.”

Deadlines for voter registration
The last day to register for the August 28 primary is July 30.
Florida is a closed primary state. Only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary; only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary.
The last day to register for the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 9.
For information, visit PascoVotes.com.

Published July 25, 2018

‘Bots’ help fight sex crimes

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is using a new cyber sting program to combat human sex trafficking.

The agency has joined forces with the Tampa-based U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking (USIAHT), to use an approach that attacks the demand-side of sex trafficking by targeting and identifying online sex buyers through the use of intercept bots.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking (USIAHT) on a new cyber program that uses intercept bots to disrupt the online sex buying process. The bots are used to create fake sex ads that are posted online as part of a cyber sting operation. The new anti-trafficking program launched July 9. From left: USIAHT Florida Regional Manager Stephanie Costolo, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco and Pasco Sheriff Cpl. Alan Wilkett. (Kevin Weiss)

Here’s how it works: The bots are used to create fake sex ads that are posted online as part of a cyber sting operation. A bot, posing as an individual looking to receive money for sex, communicates directly with all responders to the ad. During communication, the bot collects data from the sex buyers and sends it to law enforcement, eventually ending the conversation by informing the sex buyers that they have been communicating with a robot, that law enforcement has their information, and sends them resources for rehabilitation programs.

Data collected about the sex buyer may contain their name, phone, address, cell carrier, place of employment city, zip code and additional information.

From there, the sheriff’s office will seek to arrest and prosecute known offenders, particularly those that search out underage victims for sex.

The new program was introduced at a recent news conference.

“We’re going to know who you are,” said Pasco Sheriff Cpl. Alan Wilkett, referring to the potential sex buyers.

“If you’re going to buy sex in Pasco, this is your buyer-beware warning. Instead of engaging a victim and preying upon their vulnerabilities, you might be talking to us,” said Wilkett, who heads up Pasco’s human trafficking task force.

The bot program officially launched countywide July 9.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is believed to be the first agency in Florida to utilize the technology to combat human sex trafficking.

It is being funded privately by the USIAHT through donations from a group of foundations and individual donors.

The USIAHT approached the sheriff’s office nine months ago about implementing the program.

The Microsoft-developed bot technology was first introduced on the west coast by an anti-trafficking organization called Seattle Against Slavery.

Officials with USIAT suggest the bots can communicate with thousands of buyers simultaneously.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the technology should save his agency time, money and other resources. Deputies no longer will have to spend the time to set up fake sex ads and communicate with buyers through cyber sting operations.

“It makes us much more effective to go after people,” the sheriff said, adding cyber sex stings are “intensive operations” for law enforcement agencies.

Sex trafficking an issue in Pasco, Tampa Bay
Before the program was implemented, the USIAHT performed a case study in Pasco and Tampa to determine the scope of sex trafficking and prostitution.

The findings were staggering.

Stephanie Costolo, USIAHT’s regional manager for Florida, said her team discovered more than 32,000 local ads on sex-selling sites across a two-month period.

The organization also counted hundreds of websites, apps and secret social media groups “dedicated to the purchase and sale of sex.”

“We have a lot of sex buyers here in Pasco County,” said Costolo.

For the next 45 days to 60 days, the USIAHT will deploy the bots to collect even more information on the landscape of human sex trafficking in Pasco.

They hope to get better estimates on the number of sex buyers in the county and to determine how aggressively they pursue minors for sex, among other data.

Many of the bot profiles, at least initially, will be set up as minors looking to sell sex — allowing the sheriff’s office to better target “the worst of the worst” offenders.

“We’re looking for repeat callers. We’re looking for people who are continuing to hit these ads,” Wilkett said.

Florida typically ranks third in the nation for calls about incidents of human trafficking, behind California and Texas, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Tampa Bay usually ranks fourth in the state for the number of such calls.

Officials say the region’s attraction as a tourism destination, along with having international airports and deep-water seaports, “increase vulnerabilities” for human sex trafficking. Hosting large sporting events and conventions also lends to the problem: “We have a lot of potential (sex) buyers that come in when those kinds of things happen,” Wilkett said of major events.

Meanwhile, the intercept bot technology is part of a larger initiative through the USIAHT called the Trafficking Free Zone program. In addition to trying to reduce the demand for sex trafficking by arresting and prosecuting sex buyers, the program also focuses on educating the community on sex trafficking and offering resources for victims, as well as those struggling with sex and/or porn addiction.

“We have to get educated to understand what sex trafficking looks like in our community,” Costolo said. “We have to get enraged that this is happening to our children — and we have to get engaged.”

Published July 18, 2018

Wesley Chapel couple launches tourism-themed podcast

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Wesley Chapel’s Andy and Shannon Herbon love exploring Florida — then sharing those experiences with anybody who’ll listen.

As often as they can, the Herbons and their two young children venture across the state to visit theme parks and state parks, beaches, springs and waterfalls, hidden gems and other attractions.

Andy Herbon, left, and Shannon Herbon recently created a Florida tourism-related podcast, ‘Sunshine State of Mind.’ From hidden gems and state parks, to beaches and theme parks, Shannon and Andy discuss, review and debate all the wonderful (and occasionally weird) destinations and tourism news throughout the state.
(Courtesy of Andy and Shannon Herbon)

From the Florida Panhandle, to St. Augustine, to Miami — they’ll go just about anywhere to seek out fun, meaningful adventures.

“We live in paradise, so take advantage of it,” Shannon said.

The married couple’s interest in traveling the state recently sparked the idea to create a Florida tourism-themed podcast called, “Sunshine State of Mind,” that focuses on activities, events and destinations around the state.

The free, weekly podcast launched in April and has 18 episodes to date.

“We’d always be doing stuff on the weekends and friends would ask us for tips…and we kind of got to be real pros at what do around Florida, and we said, ‘Well, why don’t we do a podcast about this?’” Andy explained.

The couple got the extra motivation they needed to start recording as Shannon was wrapping up her master’s degree in digital media this spring from University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

She figured a podcast would make for the perfect thesis project.

They’ve been recording ever since, making it a regular part of their weekly routine, from their home studio. “After you do it, it kind of gives you a little buzz, like, ‘Yeah, that was fun,’” Andy said of podcasting.

In each episode, which run about 40 minutes, Shannon and Andy discuss, review and debate destinations and tourism news throughout the state.

Podcast topics have included “Our Summer 2018 Bucket List,” “Ten Amazing Places Floridians Don’t Want You to Know About,” “Ten Tips for Saving Money at Walt Disney World,” and “Florida Tourist Trap Alternatives.”

Said Andy, “People love lists. It’s a way to break it down easy – easy to digest.”

Other episodes have been reviews of entertainment venues such as TopGolf, Legoland Florida and other spots along the Interstate 4 corridor.

Yet, the podcasters don’t just focus on major tourist attractions such as Disney World, Busch Gardens or Universal Studios, nor the state’s collection of well-known beaches.

They also like to dive deep into lesser-known locales, such as Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy, known for its bison and wild horses; Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, a contemplative garden and bird sanctuary; and, Devil’s Den Spring in Williston, where divers, swimmers and snorkelers travel in an underground spring inside a dry cave.

Locally, they’ll share tips and ideas about some of their regular adventure staples like Hillsborough River State Park and Lettuce Lake Park.

Sometimes the banter comically spreads to other Florida-related topics, such as to whether the state truly can be considered part of the South.

Andy and Shannon happen to be at opposite ends of that debate.

“It’s the south, geographically, but culturally it’s not the South,” says Andy, who moved to Tampa from Chicago in 2001.

Shannon quickly counters, as a sixth generation Floridian born in Tampa and raised in Land O’ Lakes: “My argument is that just because all of the northerners came and invaded doesn’t mean that those of us from Florida aren’t Southern.”

This podcast is picking up listeners
Lighthearted quibbles aside, “Sunshine State of Mind” has steadily grown in popularity.

Sunshine State of Mind, a Florida tourism podcast that focuses on fun and exciting things to do throughout the state of Florida, was launched in April by Wesley Chapel residents Andy and Shannon Herbon. The free, weekly podcast is available for download on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean and TuneIn.

After telling several friends and family members about the podcast, word-of-mouth eventually spread to complete strangers, many who’ve come to use it as a resource for upcoming vacations to Florida.

The podcast has a 5-star peer review rating (the highest possible rating) on iTunes among 34 reviewers.

Each episode has averaged anywhere between 150 to 200 downloads, Shannon said.

The most popular episode is “Ten Tips for Saving Money at Walt Disney World” with more than 300 downloads, closely followed by “Our Summer of 2018 Bucket List.”

Also, the podcast’s official Twitter page has nearly 3,000 followers and YouTube page has more than 1,400 subscribers.

“It’s been a lot more successful off the beginning than we thought,” Andy said, noting the number of listeners increases each week.

Shannon added: “Every once in a while when we do hear from strangers it’s like, ‘Wow, people are actually listening! What a thought?’ It’s kind of surreal because it’s only been a couple of months.”

Living in a subtropical state where others vacation is something the Herbons try not to take for granted, especially Andy, who came from the cold Midwest.

He explained: “Up there you’re stuck indoors six months out of the year and you really can’t do anything, and here, the festival season is great here during the winter time; there’s just so much to do all the time.”

Added Shannon: “(Andy) kind of opened my eyes to, ‘Wow, we really do have amazing things here,’ because to him, it was all new…”

They try to instill the same mindset into their kids, who are ages 10 and 11.

Said Shannon, “We don’t want them indoors, on their screens all day. We want them outdoors, experiencing Florida, having fun and being active…”

For families looking to get their kids out of the house this summer, Andy and Shannon highly recommend a visit to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, in Spring Hill.

The park, which opened in 1947, is renowned for its live mermaid shows, river boat cruises, animal shows and Florida’s only spring-fed water park, Buccaneer Bay.

“I feel like it’s so underrated,” Andy said of Weeki Wachee.

“It’s such a great park,” Shannon added. “It’s very ‘Old Florida’, like ‘Old Florida’ nostalgia. They have the waterpark, which is included with the admission, and you can swim in a spring; it’s beautiful.”

For information on Sunshine State of Mind, visit SunshineStatePodcast.com or email the Herbons at

Published July 11, 2018