The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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St. Joseph’s Hospital-North undergoing $75 million expansion

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St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is the midst of a $75 million expansion that will double the hospital’s capacity and support additional services.

Crews are currently working to build out four additional operating suites, in shelled spaces that were included during the original construction in anticipation of future need.

Ryan Bittner, project superintendent on a $75 million expansion project at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, explains the complexity of the construction drawings needed for the project.
(B.C. Manion)

The operating suites are expected to be completed in September, said Sara Dodds, director of operations.

Meanwhile, work is underway to prepare for a two-floor expansion.

That portion of the project is expected to begin in July, said Ryan Bittner, who works for Barton Malow and is the project superintendent for the hospital’s expansion.

“We’ll start with the concrete sheer walls first, like the stairwells, the structural concrete portions that we’ll tie all the steel into. Once that’s up, our steel contractor will come in and erect. That’s when you’ll see the biggest change because you’ll see all of the steel framing go up, the floors being installed, all of the decking,” he said.

The additional floors, which will each have 54 patient rooms, are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2020, Dodds said.

Although the expansion of the facility at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, was always planned, the need came faster than initially expected, Dodds said.

“The growth rate around us is higher than the state of Florida and higher than the nation. If you drive around, there’s more than 1,000 homes and apartments going up, just within 1 mile of us,” she said, adding, “we are regularly now running at capacity.”

Sara Dodds, operations director for St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, is overseeing the expansion of the hospital, which she said was anticipated when the hospital opened in 2010, but came faster than expected because of area growth.

When the expansion is completed and the patient rooms are full, the hospital expects to add around 200 positions, including clinical staff and support services.

The expansion will allow the hospital to double the number of beds it has in its intensive care unit from 12 to 24, by converting 12 existing progressive care beds into intensive care beds.

The 108 beds being added will consist of 48 beds for patients receiving progressive care and 60 beds for those receiving medical surgical care.

Progressive care beds are for patients who are not typically as ill as those needing critical care, but require more specialized attention than a general patient recovering from surgery.

When the expansion is completed, the hospital will have 12 dedicated private rooms for infusion services, Dodds said. Currently, those services are provided in a shared space.

Before work began, the hospital reached out to its neighbors to share its plans, Dodds said.

“One of the things that there was concern about was the path of the deliveries and the construction crews, and we addressed that,” Dodds said, noting those deliveries and crews will not be cutting through residential areas.

The construction team will do what it can to minimize noise, but there will be noise, Dodds said.

“We’ll work with every patient that comes to make sure they understand there may be some noise,” she said, adding that the hospital will give patients earplugs, if they need them.

Crews are preparing to do the framing for the ceiling in four operating suites that are being built out at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. The shells for the rooms were included in the original construction, in anticipation of future need.

“Whenever possible, we will minimize whatever work needs to be done at night,” she added.

If the project is finished on time, it will roughly coincide with the hospital’s 10-year anniversary.

When it opened, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first new hospital that had been built in Hillsborough County for 30 years. Before that, area residents had to drive for miles to get to the nearest hospital.

Dodds vividly recalls opening day on Feb. 15, 2010.

She was a charge nurse at the time and remembers gazing out of the third-story window to see the hospital’s first patient approaching the building. It had 2,918 discharges that first year.

In 2011, its first full year of operation, the hospital had 4,831 discharges. That compares to 7,814 last year, which is a 61 percent increase since 2011, hospital officials note.

The larger hospital will address the community’s growing needs, Dodds said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, by the numbers

  • 7,814 discharges
  • 404 births
  • 4,467 outpatient surgeries
  • 42,869 emergency department visits
  • 463,414 lab tests
  • 799 team members
  • 156 physicians

These figures are for 2017, the last complete year that statistics are available.

Published July 4, 2018

Raises unlikely this year in Pasco County Schools

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Pasco County School Board members have expressed a desire to give teachers a raise, but according to Superintendent Kurt Browning, there’s no money available to make that happen.

Browning’s remarks came during a budget workshop last week in the board room at the district’s headquarters in Land O’ Lakes.

Olga Swinson, the district’s chief financial officer, provided a run-through of budget numbers for board members — noting that these numbers will change before the board’s next budget workshop, which is set for July 24.

However, based on what the district knows now, there’s a projected deficit of about $1.2 million, she said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning
(Randy Underhill)

Based on that, the district will have to find cuts to balance the budget before the board takes its first vote on the budget July 31, Browning said.

“I think what we’re all looking for here is where we can find money for teacher raises because we all said that was a priority for us,” said board member Colleen Beaudoin.

Swinson responded: “Obviously, we didn’t get enough money for salary raises.”

Beaudoin noted: “I’m concerned that we’re losing good people.”

The district needs to look at such issues as how much it costs to hire, onboard, train and support new staff when it loses current employees, Beaudoin said.

“What’s our risk/reward? What’s our return on investment?” the school board member asked.

The district also needs to consider issues such as “the time it takes to get someone to their peak performance,” Beaudoin continued. “Not increasing salaries is hurting us in other ways.”

Board vice chairwoman Alison Crumbley agreed: “It has a snowball effect.”

Browning said: “I would love to find money for salary increases for instructional, SRPs, administrators, everybody.”

But, the superintendent said the state did not provide enough money to make that happen.

He noted that Hillsborough County’s school district is providing large salary increases, but it is cutting hundreds of jobs to cover the costs.

“I, as a superintendent, am not ready to make a recommendation to this board that we start cutting positions, critical positions in the schools, to give raises to remaining staff,” Browning said.

“We’re not cutting positions this year. Everybody, and I’ll just say it, ought to be thankful they have a job, based on the funding we received from the state.

“It’s unfortunate that they did not provide the dollars that we needed in order to continue to improve salaries,” the superintendent said.

State lawmakers claim that they provided record funding for school districts, Browning said, “what they stop short of saying is they’re also telling you how to spend it.

“If you look at that, almost $4 million is going to the safe school allocation and the mental health,” he said.

Plus, about $5.3 million of the state funding is going to charter schools.

Browning said the district’s salaries have improved in recent years, but the funding is not there to improve them again this year.

But, he acknowledged Beaudoin’s and Crumbley’s concerns.

“We know we’ve got to get our salaries competitive. I know that,” Browning said.

Published June 27, 2018

HART rolling out regional bus service

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The debate over building and operating a tri-county bus rapid transit system on Interstate 275 won’t be settled for months.

But, on July 1, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, known as HART, will launch a new limited express bus service down I-275 from Wesley Chapel to Tampa.

Connections also can be made to existing routes operated by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority with services to Largo, Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, HART, will launch a new bus route between Wesley Chapel and Tampa. A HART bus is shown here at Marion Transit Center in Tampa.
(Courtesy of HART)

The 275LX route will be a first for regional transit in the Tampa Bay area. It also will be a test of the regional potential for bus transit.

Funding for the new route is from about $1.2 million in grants from the Florida Department of Transportation. Funds are expected to cover operating expenses for 18 months.

“We’re very excited about this service,” said Steve Feigenbaum, HART’s director of service development. “We have very high hopes for it.”

Route 275LX largely will follow Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Interstate 275.

Feigenbaum said this service is separate from a proposed “catalyst” project for a bus rapid transit system that would travel on dedicated lanes built on the shoulders of I-275.

The Florida Department of Transportation funded a study that prioritized a 41-mile bus rapid transit system from Wesley Chapel to St. Petersburg. Initial construction estimates were nearly $455 million.

Supporters hope that bus rapid transit can jumpstart a long-range transit vision for the area. Opponents say the project is too limited, too expensive, and won’t, by itself, address traffic gridlock.

A decision on bus rapid transit is expected in the coming months.

Meanwhile, major stops on HART’s limited express service will include Tampa International Airport, the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, the University Area Transit Center, the Westshore business district, and the Marion Street Transit Center in downtown Tampa.

According to a HART news release, residents and businesses, especially in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, asked for the bus route. It is considered a boon for employees commuting to and from work across county lines, and for area residents who want to visit dining, shopping or entertainment destinations in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

HART estimates about 123,000 residents live within the service area.

Transportation from Pasco to the veteran’s hospital in Hillsborough is an especially important benefit to the area, said Kurt Scheible, director of Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT).

“I get requests all the time on how can we get people down to the veteran’s hospital,” Scheible said. “I think this is a great step forward.”

The July 1 start is a soft opening, with an official ribbon cutting at Tampa International Airport scheduled for July 13.

HART buses will pick up passengers at the Route 54 bus stop operated by PCPT. The bus stop is located at the Wiregrass Park-n-Ride, at 28222 Willet Way, near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The Wiregrass bus stop is the “backbone” of Pasco’s transit system, with the kind of ridership that makes it a perfect fit for HART’s new route, said Scheible.

HART’s operating hours will be seven days a week, generally from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with buses leaving hourly. Bus fares will be $2 each way. Free WiFi is available on the bus ride.

PCPT’s Route 54 operates only six days a week, with no buses running on Sundays. Weekday hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., for east/west service from Universal Plaza in New Port Richey to Zephyrhills.

Major stops are at Medical Center of Trinity, The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets.

However, the Wiregrass Park-n-Ride is open seven days a week for residents taking a ride on HART’s buses.

New services are coming in the future, including the expansion of Flamingo Fares, a mobile application for regional bus passes, Feigenbaum said.

It is available from HART and the PSTA. In the next months, Pasco and Manatee County’s transit systems also will provide the mobile app and regional bus passes.

“It will be seamless, built into all the systems,” said Feigenbaum.

Published June 20, 2018

Bellamy Brothers are stars of reality TV show

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More than 40 years after releasing their chart-topping country pop hit, “Let Your Love Flow,” recording 20 No.1 hits and selling 40 million albums, The Bellamy Brothers show no signs of slowing down.

They’re touring worldwide upward of 150 days a year.

They released an autobiography, “Let Your Love Flow: The Life and Times of The Bellamy Brothers.”

They’re a few harmonies shy of releasing their 30th studio album.

Howard and David Bellamy take a break in-between shooting scenes for their reality show, Honky Tonk Ranch. (Fred Bellet)

And, that’s not all for the 67-year-old David Bellamy and 72-year-old Howard Bellamy, who were born and raised in Darby, and graduated from Pasco High School in the 1960s.

They’re also in the middle of filming a new reality television show, “Honky Tonk Ranch” on The Cowboy Channel, an American cable television network airing in 25 million homes.

The reality show follows the international country music icons through their misadventures of a demanding tour schedule and life back home at their family’s 200-acre ranch, outside of Dade City.

The first season premiered April 8 and wraps up with the 13th episode season finale on July 1.

In the series, David, Howard and the Bellamy family open their doors to cameras illustrating how they balance ranching, recording, world touring, running a record label, as well as guiding the careers of the next generation of Bellamy music aspirations.

The Laker/Lutz News recently had an exclusive look into the filming of an episode at the ranch.

As part of the day’s hijinks, the Bellamy Brothers and their crew try to round up a 7-foot-long alligator nesting at one of the ranch’s ponds.

Another scene that afternoon involved David and his wife of 25 years, Susan, bantering about hoarding. “What I tell her is, it’s not hoarding if it’s cool stuff,” David quipped.

Such storylines have helped make the show an instant hit, in both the U.S. and overseas.

It’s become the No.1 rated show on The Cowboy Channel, which is owned by Rural Media Group Inc.

Available in 28 countries, it’s also been the network’s most-streamed show.

One sign of the show’s success and The Bellamy Brothers’ global fame: 100 people in China pay $10 a month to subscribe to the show, according to Chris Shaheen, the duo’s business manager.

Kachunga alligator handlers Chad Wright and Chad Wright Jr., of Dade City, along with David Bellamy, Noah Bellamy and Howard Bellamy size up the situation on what it takes to capture a 7-foot alligator in a pond on The Bellamy Brothers Ranch in Darby.

“One of the reasons we thought the show would be successful is because we have a pretty good world audience,” David said.

Throughout the first season, several scenes have been filmed in and around Dade City, like Charlie’s St. Joe Market on St. Joe Road.

“We like to expose the local people and local things and Central Florida as much as we can,” Howard said. “It’s a really cool place and, after (touring) 72 countries, it’s still a unique place here.”

Yet much of the show revolves around the family ranch in Darby. Located just north of Tampa, the working ranch is home to purebred Brahman cattle, crossbred cows, quarter horses and three generations of the Bellamy family. The ranch was purchased in 1870 by the Bellamy’s great-great-grandfather, Abraham, and has been the family’s homestead ever since.

Between the fruit trees, ancient oaks and crepe myrtles, the series follows the chaos from one household to another on the ranch’s lush land.

The property — and rural Darby — offers a sanctuary of sorts for the Bellamys. It’s the one constant in their frenetic showbiz schedule.

“This is the recharger right here — this old place,” Howard said while gazing at the ranch. “It’s where it all started, and I suppose it’s where it’ll all end, right here.”

Added David: “Just some place we could come home to, and just relax and take it easy. We still do quite a few dates a year and so it’s nice to have this. In the winter it’s nice because we mainly play weekends, so we’re home during the week, and it’s nice to lay back.”

Other regular cast members on the show include H.C. Young, Howard and David’s cousin and ranch hand; Randy Hiebert, The Bellamy Brothers’ longtime guitarist, David’s sons, Jesse and Noah Bellamy; and Melanie Owston, a family friend from Texas.

Besides the ranch, the show also followed the duo outside of central Florida — one episode was filmed in New York City, where the Bellamys were doing a media blitz to promote their new book.

The brothers tried to get a reality show for years while they were in contract with a handful of media companies, their business manager explained.

They originally shopped it to other major stations like A&E and the History Channel before winding up with Rural Media Group and The Cowboy Channel.

Said Shaheen, “Those people just couldn’t grasp it without seeing it and that was kind of the issue. They’ve had a relationship Rural Media Group for a while, and they just got into talks and decided that was probably the best route to take.”

With the show’s success, the Bellamys and their representatives are now in talks for two more seasons. Future episodes will likely focus more on the road.

The cameras have been rolling since January, a few months after the TV deal was inked.

“I just try to ignore  ‘em,” David jokingly said of having omnipresent filming crews.

Between breaks in action, the younger Bellamy noted the season finale will feature appearances from fellow American country music stars Mickey Gilley and Tanya Tucker. David and his wife also will renew their vows in the episode.

David pinned the show as “just a combination of all sorts of things.”

“We’ve done pretty well so far,” he said. “Everybody’s had fun.”

Honky Tonk Ranch airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m.

For the full program schedule and more information, visit TheCowboyChannel.com or BellamyBrothers.com.

In addition to their new reality television show, the Bellamy brothers casually touched on other topics, including today’s country music scene and what it was like growing up in Darby, in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News:

On today’s country music scene and the industry in general:
Howard Bellamy: “Musically, it doesn’t excite me. And, of course we cut our teeth, we worked with (Merle) Haggard and (George) Jones in our early days, so we’ve seen the best there was and, after that, everything’s a little bit of a disappointment. It’s not as creative as it was in the ’70s and ’80s, musically. Songs aren’t as creative, I don’t think. They get a little redundant, lyrically and musically. But, that’s not because of the artists. There’s a lot of talent out there. It’s because of the business itself. Everybody plays it safe, finds formulas of things and sticks to those formulas. And, the same with movies. The real creative stuff, I kind of miss that. …If anybody can make a living in this business, more power to them.”

On life in Dade City and how it’s changed over the years:
Howard Bellamy: “It’s amazing how you can sit here and feel pretty removed from things. Now in 15 minutes you can literally be into a mall, the next exit up, which is kind of cool in a way, as long as we can keep ‘em at bay. It has changed in that respect. And, of course, technology’s changed so much, so you can have everything everybody else does. It’s really great living in the country, but you don’t have to go far to get into a traffic jam.”

On their favorite places to perform over the years:
David Bellamy: “It’s a little hard to pinpoint the favorite spots. We’ve been to places that I’d never thought I’d see that are pretty cool and we’ve done interesting things. We played for presidents, royalty and all kinds of stuff like that, but I think our favorite stuff to do is, as far as still playing concerts, is to play out where people really like the music, because there’s still places like that. I mean a lot of cities are kind of jaded musically. There’s just so much and so many, and it’s just all the time. And, not that there aren’t good shows there. Like, when we were (recently) out in Texas, it’s like the whole town, the whole city shows up. That’s a lot of fun when you get places like that. We’ve played places overseas like that, like Sri Lanka and India, Australia. …Those are kind of the most fun things because those are the people who really appreciate it.”

On what people can expect from the new autobiography, “Let Your Love Flow: The Life and Times of The Bellamy Brothers.”
David Bellamy: “Some of my favorite stories and some of the old stories about growing up here were about family. I think there’s a lot humor and a lot of things that were fun to us, but other people, I think, they’ll like some of our road stories after we got a couple hits and got going on the road, started traveling. Some of the weird things and funny things that happen or some of the acts that you play with — I think in the book we say we’ve played shows with or done television with or recorded with everybody from Abba to Conway Twitty. I mean in the ’70s we were working with acts like Abba and Bonnie Tyler and Boney M., Dr. Hook. …So we had all that, and then we’d come back here and we had a whole country career going on, as well as a pop career…so I think that kind of makes the book more interesting.”

Published June 13, 2018

Fallen officer cherished for leadership, love, and laughter

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The countless who knew Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison, say they’re better people because of it.

And, the superlatives flow freely when people describe what he was like.

Here are just a few of those descriptions: Hero. Christian. Father. Brother. Husband. Friend. Leader. Coach. Servant. Great Officer. Integrity. Honorable..

Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison was the highest-ranking black officer for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Harrison was gunned down on June 1, 2003 — just two weeks before he was scheduled to retire from a 31-year law enforcement career. Prior to his law enforcement career, he served in Vietnam as a U.S. Army paratrooper.
(Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

He was “a servant-leader who made a difference to every man, woman and child who came in contact with him,” said Pastor Deundrick Reed of Living Waters United Church in Dade City.

Reed served as master of ceremonies for the Bo Harrison Memorial on June 1 at the Boys and Girls Club.

The event has been held each year since Harrison’s watch ended on June 1, 2003 — the day he was killed in the line of duty.

“He walked it, he talked it, and he lived it,” Reed said. “He motivated and inspired. He sacrificed himself for others, no matter what. He was a man who was an example how we all should live our lives today.”

Harrison, then a lieutenant, had served with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office for 31 years. It was just two weeks before he was scheduled to retire when he was shot and killed while on surveillance near a nightclub on U.S. Route 301 in Lacoochee around 2 a.m.

He was 57.

According to reports, several deputies who were across the street heard a gunshot and went to investigate. They located Harrison in his patrol car suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was transported to Dade City Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Harrison had been shot with a high-powered rifle by a sniper who was in the nearby woods. The shot went through the trunk of the car and struck him in the back.

A 19-year-old suspect turned himself in two days later and was charged in connection with Harrison’s murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

Harrison, the highest-ranking black officer in county history, was posthumously promoted to captain.

He left behind a wife and three children.

Before his law enforcement career, Harrison served in the Vietnam War as a U.S. Army paratrooper.

Dozens of law enforcement officers and officials from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Dade City Police Department and the Zephyrhills Police Department attended the memorial service.

Family, friends and members of the east Pasco community also attended, “honoring the memory of a man who answered the call to serve his country and community.”

The two-hour long gathering and reception also featured some of Harrison’s favorite gospel songs from his parish, St. John’s Missionary Church, in Dade City.

Harrison was mainly recognized for his impact to the community; serving as one of Pasco’s first black deputies; and for his life growing up in Dade City, where he was a sports star for the local black high school, Mickens High School.

Hazel Wells, 70, grew up with Harrison. She graduated high school with him in 1965 and remained friends long after.

In her words, Harrison was “a heroic, outstanding, God-fearing man.”

Last month, Wells wrote a proclamation to the Dade City Commission to forever make June 1 known as Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison Day in Dade City.

Back in 2015, Wells successfully petitioned Dade City officials and neighbors to rename 11th Street as Charles “Bo” Harrison Street.

Wells also recalled Harrison for his upbeat, positive nature and athletic prowess.

“He was just a happy person,” Wells said, “and he loved sports.”

“I can still hear (people) on the Mickens ballfield yell, ‘Run Bo’ because he would run so fast. Any kind of sport, he excelled in,” Wells said.

Another lifelong friend, Willie Broner, 69, still cherishes fond moments with Harrison.

A crowd exceeding 100 people turned out for the annual Bo Harrison Memorial on June 1 at the Boys and Girls Club, in Lacoochee.
Dozens of law enforcement officers and officials from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Dade City Police Department and the Zephyrhills Police Department were among those attending.
Many family members and friends and members of the east Pasco community also attended, “honoring the memory of a man who answered the call to serve his country and community.”
(Courtesy of Richard Riley)

Both played on the same sports teams growing up and also served together in Vietnam. While serving in the war, Broner was caught in enemy territory when Harrison risked a 20-mile trek “all by himself” to help rescue his childhood friend.

Broner went on to become a longtime educator in Pasco County and a successful basketball coach at Pasco High School, where he recorded more than 300 career victories.

“I will always remember Bo,” Broner paused, “as long as I live.”

“He will always be remembered in my heart. …I will always remember a great man; a great, great, great friend,” Broner said.

Harrison, known as “BoBo” by those closest, was also reminisced for his radiant smile, his great sense of humor, and his distinguished, boisterous laugh.

Such a laugh would often echo through the hallways of the sheriff’s office, said Pasco Sheriff’s Det. Johnny Windsor, who worked under the fallen deputy early in his career.

“If you knew Bo,” Windsor said, smiling, “you knew the laugh that he had. …You always knew when Bo was in the building.”

Windsor, himself now set to retire after a 30-year law enforcement career, shared several stories and tales about working with Harrison.

One that still holds meaning: Harrison welcomed Windsor and family to his church and to share a meal as part of law enforcement appreciation week.

For Harrison, race was never an issue, said Windsor, who is white.

“It’s something for somebody to want to invite you to their church,” said Windsor, “when you’re not the same color as they are.”

Added Windsor: “He did not see color and it didn’t matter. This day and age that’s important. It should be important to all of us.”

Also oftentimes “the happiest guy on earth,” the veteran detective recalled Harrison as someone he could reach out to for help at anytime.

“He was a guy that was very approachable,” Windsor said. “You could walk up to him and have a conversation with him. You could talk about work issues. You could go to him about personal issues. At that time there were very few people in the agency that I would go to with personal issues, but I will tell you Bo Harrison was one of them. I was proud to know that man. I was proud to say he was my friend.”

Windsor also said Harrison was a major influence on his career.

Looking back in his early days as a deputy, Windsor remembers thinking Harrison as “the guy I want to be like.”

“I believe that Bo Harrison probably made me the deputy sheriff that I am today and I thank him for that,” he said.

Published June 6, 2018

Decision coming on solar farm permits

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A decision on how and where to permit solar farms in Pasco County is headed for a vote on June 5 at 1:30 p.m., in Dade City.

Pasco County commissioners will consider an amended ordinance for the land development code on regulating solar farms. The ordinance had a first public hearing on May 22 in New Port Richey. No vote was taken at that hearing.

The matter has produced heated debate since plans for the Mountain View Solar Project were filed with Pasco County earlier this year.

Some residents in northeast Pasco County say they will lose scenic views if a solar farm is built off Blanton Road. (File)

Tampa Electric Company, known as TECO, is proposing to install about 464,000 photovoltaic solar panels on about 350 acres, on both sides of Blanton. The solar panels are expected to produce about 53 megawatts of power, which will be fed into TECO’s power grid.

Previously, the Mountain View Solar Project received approval from Pasco County Planning Commission for a special exception permit. However, a final decision from Pasco County commissioners is on hold after two appeals of that decision were filed in May.

The ordinance to be heard in Dade City, if approved, would codify the county’s future approach to permitting solar farms.

Currently, the land development code doesn’t specifically list where “solar electric power collection facilities” are permitted.  As a result, decisions regarding TECO’s proposal were based on a section dealing with uncertain classification rules.

The proposed ordinance would permit solar farms as special exceptions in agricultural zones, and permitted use in some commercial and industrial zones. Also, decisions on permitting would be left to county staff and the planning commission.

Pasco County commissioners wouldn’t directly vote on the permits, but would hear appeals.

At the May 22 hearing, about a dozen opponents spoke against the ordinance and the solar farm project, including two attorneys representing area homeowners.

Attorney Gordon Schiff represents Kathleen and Gordon Comer, who own a home and farm on property off Platt Road. Schiff filed the appeal of the planning commission’s decision on May 8, on behalf of the Comers.

Attorney Susan Johnson Velez represents a group of homeowners in northeast Pasco, including Sandra Noble. Noble filed an appeal of the planning commission’s decision, also on May 8.

Both attorneys raised objections to the county’s interpretation of sections of its land development code that were used to craft the proposed new ordinance.

Schiff said the county was treating solar farms as compatible with neighborhoods when they “are industrial in nature.”

TECO’s proposal should be held to tougher standards than the county is applying, he said.

The proposed facility “is not a substation, not commercial farming or agricultural activity. It’s a power plant,” said Schiff.

Johnson Velez said the county was ignoring its policies on protecting rural areas, including the natural views of rolling hills.

“I’m not sure how you protect scenic vistas from nearly half-a-million solar panels,” she said. “I think that should be addressed.”

Area residents also spoke in opposition. No one spoke in favor.

“Solar is a wonderful thing in the right place…but not in people’s backyards,” said Nancy Hazelwood.

If approved, the ordinance would apply countywide, not just in northeast Pasco, she said.

Some counties put solar farms in industrial areas, and others have created special districts for solar farms, she added.

Hazelwood asked that the county hire an outside consultant, not connected to the power industry, to study solar energy.

In the meantime, the ordinance would be put on hold, she said. “It’s too important to your citizens.”

Noah Kaaa, who lives on Platt Road, agreed.

What works in Hudson might not work in Trilby or Zephyrhills, he said.

“It’s too broad of a paintbrush to use across the entire county,” he said.

Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, tried to address some of the resident’s concerns.

Research on other counties has been done, she said.

Hillsborough and Polk counties issue conditional use permits, and largely allow the decisions to be made at the staff level. Solar farms are allowed in agricultural zones in those counties, she said.

Applications for solar facilities would be handled on a case-by-case basis, said David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney.

Because planning commission decisions can be appealed, he said, “Ultimately, the board of commissioners does have final say.”

Published May 30, 2018

Little authors are celebrated in a big way

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It’s not every day that someone becomes a published writer — and that’s especially true of second-graders.

So, staff members at Land O’ Lakes Christian School weren’t about to let the moment pass by without a good bit of fanfare.

These second-graders in Christy Hoynoski’s class wrote a book called ‘If I Were An Animal.’ The children are, (front row, from left): Savannah Wrenn, Laurelai Marano, Kylie Matkin, Sarina King, Kinsley Wooles and Esteban Lowe. The others (back row, left to right) are Hadasa Smith, Keenan Morais-Silva, Maya Vidal, ErikSebastien Capellupo, Isabelle Loscalzo, Colin VanderVere and their teacher, Christy Hoynoski. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

The children in Christy Hoynoski’s class were celebrated in a big way at a party in the school’s lunchroom on the day their book, “If I Were An Animal,” arrived at the school at 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes.

There were balloons and a red carpet that was bedazzled by stars — each bearing the name of a child author.

Each of the 7- and 8-year-olds stood at a podium, reading their stories and showing off their illustrations.

Parents and grandparents came to the school to honor the children’s accomplishment, and the party featured a book-shaped cake and snacks with literary themes.

It was a big day for the second-graders, and the glow was still showing weeks later, when they talked about the stories they wrote, with a visiting reporter.

Mrs. Hoynoski, as the children call her, came up with the idea of creating the book after hearing about a free publishing kit offered by Studentreasures Publishing.

This is the cover of the book written by students in Christy Hoynoski’s second grade class at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

The idea was to make writing more fun, the teacher said.

The children considered a variety of possible books they could do, such as “Second Grade Inventions,” “If I were a President” and “When I Grow Up.”

In the end, they voted to create a book about animals.

Besides allowing the second-graders to practice their handwriting skills and showcase their artistic abilities, the project also gave them a chance to exercise their lively imaginations, too.

For instance, in this book, there’s a zebra with rainbow-colored stripes and a white bunny with black polka dots.

The animals have interesting diets, too. There’s a pig that eats candy, a whale that eats broccoli, a horse that eats grapes and an owl that eats ice cream.

Second-graders make their way into the school lunchroom at Land O’ Lakes Christian School to celebrate the publication of their book, ‘If I Were An Animal.’

The kids also thought outside of the box when naming their animals. There’s a wolf named Snowflake, a bird named Jewel, a bobcat named Rosie and a cobra named Cutey.

The students said they enjoyed writing their stories and drawing their pictures, and, of course, they were pleased to see their work in print.

It’s a project the second-grade teacher said she’d recommend to other teachers.

“It really got them excited about writing,” she said.

Writing is an important skill, the teacher added, because it’s a skill her students will need throughout their lives.

Published May 23, 2018

ErikSebastien Capellupo shows off his illustration of a story he wrote about a cheetah, named Lightning, that can run 1 million mph.
Hadasa Smith shows off one of the stories she wrote and illustrations she did for ‘If I Were An Animal.’ She wrote about a zebra with rainbow-colored stripes and a bobcat named Rosie.
Savannah Wrenn reads one of the stories she wrote for a book created by Christy Hoynoski’s second grade class at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

 

Continued growth expected for Pasco’s housing market, expert says

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Pasco County is in a rapidly growing region, so more growth is expected, a national real estate expert said last week at an event organized by the Central Pasco Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors, made his first visit to Pasco County, to address more than 150 real estate professionals gathered at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Lawrence Yun
(Courtesy of National Association of Realtors)

Yun anticipates moderate growth in national home sales, forecasting 3 percent to 4 percent in most parts of the country, and slightly greater increases in Florida.

There are a number of factors contributing to Florida’s strong real estate market, and Pasco County, in particular, Yun said.

Florida continues to attract foreign investors, Yun said.

Canadians come to the Sunshine state to escape the cold. British are very dominant in purchasing property in Orlando. Germans like areas such as Fort Myers and Naples. And, Latin Americans are attracted to the Miami area.

“Many Puerto Rican residents are seeking better opportunities here in Florida,” he added.

“Greater Tampa, including Pasco, has not had a large global exposure, but you are getting more of it,” Yun said.

He predicts Florida will continue to see an acceleration in population growth, especially in light of recent changes to the tax code.

“The end result, it is an additional tax burden for people living in the New England states, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York,” he said.

“People will be seeking: ‘How do I lessen some of the burden?’ One way to do that is coming to Florida,” Yun said.

He also noted that the current housing recovery is on healthy footing.

The nation certainly doesn’t want what happened in 2005, when the housing market was hot: “Anyone with a heartbeat was somehow able to get a mortgage and buy a home,” he said.

“I’m fairly confident that this increase will not lead to another decline because the fundamental backdrop is different. We’re in a job-creating environment,” he said.

And, perhaps most importantly, underwriting standards are tough.

Much higher credit scores are required to get a mortgage, he said, noting that, if anything, underwriting standards may be too stringent, especially for people who are self-employed.

More residential construction activity is needed to boost housing inventory — which will moderate prices and attract more potential buyers into the market, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors. (B.C. Manion)

“Home sales are rising, but in a very moderate way,” he said. “We are nowhere back to the 2005 ‘easy lending’ days.

“There is no bubble, even with the strong price recovery, because we don’t have that easy subprime lending,” Yun said.

However, he noted that rising home prices are beginning to hurt affordability.

“We hope that price increases do not become 8 percent, 10 percent every year. Your clients will diminish, if this was to continue.

“The ideal solution in the future, in the upcoming years, price growth to match similarly to wage and income growth,” he said, noting a 3 percent to 4 percent annual price increase would be ideal.

A shortage of inventory is having a negative impact, he added.

“Contract signing appears to be flattening out,” he said.

Buyers want more choices when they are shopping for a home, Yun said.

“You need more inventory,” he said.

“We just don’t have enough inventory because homebuilders have not been building aggressively, or even (a) normal amount, for 10 straight years,” Yun said.

Yun said efforts are being made to provide regulatory relief to community banks, which have been a primary lending source for small homebuilders.

“For many years in America, most of the homebuilding was done by Mr. and Mrs. Jones Homebuilding Company. They’d do about 10 homes a year. They’re not in the game today. They have challenges entering the game,” Yun said, noting that’s because of regulatory restraints on small community banks.

Yun also urges local governments to do their part to get more housing permits approved.

When more houses are built, prices moderate and consumers have more options.

When prices moderate, “middle class families who want to own a home have a better chance to own a home,” he said.

Yun noted there’s a huge mismatch between the percentage of increase in home prices and percentage of increase in incomes.

“Home prices, ideally, should rise in relation to people’s income,” Yun said.

Published May 16, 2018

Dr. Susan A. MacManus retires from USF

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When Dr. Susan A. MacManus recently headed to the front of Room 128, in the Social Science Building on the University of South Florida campus — it was to deliver the final lecture of her 47-year teaching career.

Her regular students were there, but there were visitors, too — former students who wanted to be there to share the moment.

MacManus offered her thoughts about the coming Mid-Terms, and when she concluded, she announced: “That, my friends, is my last lecture ever,” with her voice cracking a bit.

One student immediately rushed forward to give MacManus a hug.

Dr. Susan A. MacManus, known nationally for her knowledge of Florida and national politics, stands near her home in Land O’ Lakes. (B.C.Manion)

Another declared: “You’re going to make me cry.”

Those gathered finished out the period eating pizza and cake, and picking up political buttons, reporters’ notebooks and additional trinkets MacManus had collected along the political trail.

Being a teacher was always part of the plan, said MacManus, who grew up in Land O’ Lakes.

“I knew very, very early that I was going to be a teacher. I loved school. I really enjoyed my teachers.

“Sanders (Memorial Elementary) had a lot of really good teachers,” MacManus said.

She graduated at 16 from Pasco High School and initially was a double major, in political science and physical education at Florida State University.

It didn’t take long, though, for MacManus to discover that politics were her true passion.

She graduated from FSU with a bachelor’s degree in political science and went straight to the University of Michigan for a master’s degree. She was attracted to its Survey Research Center, and it was there she developed an interest in polling.

After that, she landed her first job as an instructor at Valencia Community College.

She was 21.

An early interest in government financing
While teaching at Valencia, she took advantage of a program that allowed her to be paid to go

back to school to expand her expertise. She went to FSU where she studied urban planning and political science, under Thomas Dye, who ultimately turned out to be her major professor and mentor.

After returning to Valencia, Dye called her out of the blue and offered her the chance to become his research assistant, allowing her to pursue her doctorate at FSU.

For her dissertation, MacManus examined the revenue patterns of cities and suburbs across the United States. She coded data for multiple decades for 600-plus cities and suburbs across the country.

“From the beginning, understanding the financing of state and local governments has been a terrific asset to me as a political scientist,” she said.

Her first big university job was at the University of Houston, she said. “It just was the right fit for me. The city was exploding.”

Dr. Susan A. MacManus has amassed a large collection of political buttons while covering the campaign trail as a political analyst. Some were on display during her recent retirement reception. (B.C. Manion)

Next, she was recruited by Cleveland State, in Cleveland, Ohio, which also was a good fit professionally and personally.

Her sister, Lou, and her brother, Cameron, were both practicing medicine there and both had young children — allowing MacManus to bond with her nieces and nephews from their infancy.

After four years in Cleveland, she returned to Land O’ Lakes.

“I had left home when I was 16,” she said. “Basically, I hadn’t been able to experience rich time with my parents.”

Coming back to the community where she grew up gave her a chance to work at USF, learn about the family’s citrus business, and to help her mom write two local history books about Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

“I look back on it, and it all fits together,” she said.

Beyond her influence on students, MacManus also became widely known for her deep knowledge of Florida and national politics.

During the 1990s, she began providing political analysis for News Channel 8.

That started at the encouragement of Bill Ratliff, who had interviewed her for his political show and told her: “You ought to think about doing this. You’re good at it because you can talk to everyday people.”

MacManus replied: “Well, I’m a country girl, you know.”

She agreed to give it a try, if Ratliff would show her the ropes.

She went on to become part of the television station’s coverage team for national political conventions, presidential debates and inaugurations.

And, for decades, she has been a prolific speaker providing her insights to hundreds of civic groups, statewide associations, political and government groups.

Beyond that, she has frequently shared her knowledge in television, radio and newspaper interviews.

She also provided analysis of political conventions during the past two presidential elections, and coverage of the 2016 presidential election for The Laker/Lutz News.

Those experiences of providing political analysis for the media and speaking before myriad groups required her to stay informed, she said.

“It’s absolutely made me keep on top of things. It made me a far, far better teacher,” she said.

The connections she made were invaluable, too.

“I cannot tell you how many internships and jobs that my students have gotten as a consequence of people I have met, on both sides of the political aisle, at major political events,” she said. “You don’t get those kinds of opportunities for students, sitting in your office.”

Hashing out opposing views
MacManus believes her personal background prepared her for her future career.

“I grew up with differences of opinion about politics and lots of family bantering, especially at our large-extended family events.

“But, when it was time to eat and have fun, that was put aside.

Dr. Susan A. MacManus stands in front of a bus parked at the first 2016 presidential debate. The bus is touting CNN’s coverage of the 2016 race for president between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton. (File)

“That has been one of the greatest gifts I was given — for being an analyst — was growing up in that kind of environment. I don’t get to the point where I can’t talk to somebody because they think differently,” she said.

She praised her last crop of students at USF for being able to hold widely divergent views, while maintaining civility.

It’s an art, she fears, that’s being lost in society today.

Communication has changed, too.

“Candidates and parties, and everyone else, you have to go to multiple platforms,” MacManus said. “You cannot any longer rely upon one source of information.”

As she was winding up her final class, she paused to thank her students.

“I’ve learned far more from you than you’ve learned from me. Your generation is the most interesting one we’ve had, in a very long time,” she said.

“Thank you for being a wonderful, wonderful class,” MacManus said. “I couldn’t ask for a better end to my career than you all. Thank you.”

What people are saying about Dr. Susan A. MacManus
Dr. Judy Genshaft, president of the University of South Florida, and Dr. Liana Fernandez Fox spoke during a retirement reception for Dr. Susan A. MacManus at the University Club of Tampa. During the event, sponsored by USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, the women offered these comments — made by others — to honor MacManus:

  • “Besides my parents, no one has had as much impact on me as Dr. MacManus. She is an incredible teacher. She has a story about everything, and is so generously willing and giving of her time and knowledge to students who want to work.” — Anthony Cilluffo, former research assistant for MacManus and current research associate with the Pew Research Center in Washington D.C.
  • “Susan is as much of an institution in Florida politics, as ambitious candidates embarrassing themselves at the Possum Festival, or sipping Cuban coffee in Little Havana. Besides the sheer depth of her knowledge, she happens to be one of the nicest people on the political scene.” — Adam Smith, the Tampa Bay Times political editor
  • “The views of Susan MacManus have always been welcomed, eagerly sought — about both Florida politics and national politics. Susan is a gifted academic, whose work my own team has cited many times. What makes Susan even more special is her remarkable ability to translate her work, as well as her colleagues’ findings, for the benefit of the news media and the general public. A keen observer of the political scene for decades, Susan will, no doubt, be called upon frequently in retirement. We continue to need her voice.” — Dr. Larry Sabato, founder and director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Some 2018 Mid-Term insights
Dr. Susan A. MacManus, distinguished professor of political science, offered these observations during her final lecture at the University of South Florida:

  • Lawyers will be busy.

“This is going to be a very litigious, contentious election. Lawyers are going make a lot of money this election cycle because you’re going to have a lot of voting rights’ issues being litigated.”

  • The ballot will be crowded.

“We’ve got everything under the sun, up for election this time.”

Besides U.S. Senate and Governor, Floridians will be choosing congressional representatives, state lawmakers and local elected officials. There’s 13 proposed constitutional amendments, too.

  • Lots of new faces will be on the political scene.

“We’re already seeing a record number of new people who have never run before filing to run for office in Florida, at every level.”

  • A coming Blue Wave?

“As an analyst, I’m not seeing it yet. It could happen, but it’s not there yet.”

  • Expect a close finish.

“The last four elections, two governors, two presidential — 1 percent margin of victory for the winner. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Susan’s Four Fs
Dr. Susan A. MacManus never got an F in anything, except for Home Ec, according to her sister, Lou MacManus, who spoke at Susan’s retirement reception at the University Club of Tampa, on the 38th floor of One Tampa City Center.

She said these are the four Fs that have been a constant in Susan’s life: Family, friends, faith and fun.

The reception reflected that. Some former students drove down from Gainesville. Another former student flew in from Washington D.C. Her best friend traveled from Michigan. Her cousins came from Land O’ Lakes. And, scores of others were there, too, to celebrate Susan’s accomplishments.

Lou ribbed her older sister, sharing little-known details about her — including Susan’s fascination for insects when she was young and her runner-up finish a Pasco County beauty pageant. (Actually just in the top 10, Susan says).

University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft praised Susan’s academic contributions.  Genshaft also noted: “I would venture to say that Susan is among the most sought-after political analysts in the country.”

The room was decorated with photographs of Susan pictured with prominent political figures, and all sorts of political buttons on display. There was even a polling booth, from the 2000 presidential election — the year of the infamous “hanging chad.”

Susan’s long-time friend, Dr. Liana Fernandez Fox, said the party was exactly Susan’s kind of celebratory gathering.

“We filled this room with family and friends, good friends — and, with mementoes of Susan’s fabulous and fun career, of educating students, voters and the media,” Fox said.

Published May 9, 2018

Corley discusses voting system reliability, security

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With primary and general elections on tap later this year — and the recent completion of the municipal election — Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley wants local residents to know their vote always counts.

His message: “Sleep well at night; we’ve got it covered.”

Corley was the featured speaker at the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s recent monthly meeting, where he spoke extensively about the reliability and security of the county’s voting system.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley spoke extensively about the reliability and security of the county’s voting system during the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s monthly meeting. (Kevin Weiss)

Corley, who’s served as the county’s elections supervisor since 2007, explained the elections office has been working closely with the FBI, Homeland Security, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies to vet any potential threats, particularly of the cyber variety.

Additional security precautions have been taken since the 2016 Presidential Election and measures are in place for “every possible scenario,” Corley said.

In a worst-case scenario — such as the PascoVotes website getting compromised — Corley explained the county’s elections office would have the ability to recreate the election. That’s because its headquarters has “multiple redundancies” to preserve the county’s voter registration database.

“If there was any kind of issue, there’s backups of the voter data,” the elections supervisor said.

Corley referenced a website called Norsecorp.com, which analyzes real-time cyber  attempts to hack networks. To underscore the reinforced security of the county elections office, Corley made an analogy of would-be election hackers to a car thief attempting to unlock cars in a parking lot: “In our office, our doors are locked — and you can’t get to the car.”

Corley explained the Dade City-based elections service center “couldn’t be any more secure” should someone attempt to hack its internal servers, steal electronic poll books or other data.

The Category-5 hardened building is equipped with security cameras and multiple levels of physical access control systems, Corley said.

Furthermore, to even activate those voting machines or poll books, Corley said the elections office has multiple sets of unique passwords.

“You’d have to physically drive a Mack truck through the wall, and I don’t think a Mack truck can even get through that wall, to be honest,” he said.

Corley also said his office always conducts a post-election audit — physically counting ballots from a randomly selected race and a certain percentage of precincts, to be sure of factual results.

“We reconcile everything that we do,” Corley said. “We always have 100 percent accuracy,” Corley said.

The elections supervisor also addressed other voting-related matters, including voter fraud.

He acknowledged the existence of voter fraud in Florida and elsewhere, but doesn’t feel it’s as widespread as some believe.

“Respectfully, I don’t really think it’s as bad as the president says it was,” he said.

Corley suggested many fraud cases occur through voters registered in multiple states, such as Florida and New York. “When you vote in two states, that’s when it becomes problematic,” he said.

The dilemma may soon be alleviated once Florida and its 14 million voters officially join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit consortium among 20 states and the District of Columbia. The consortium shares voter registration information to improve the accuracy and integrity of voter lists.

The consortium was designed to improve the integrity of voter rolls by matching millions of voter records from one state with those of other participating states. The data matches can identify voters that have registered in two states, voters that have moved between states, and those that have died.

“It’s an absolute no-brainer,” Corley said of the ERIC system. “We’re obviously very, very excited about that.”

Meanwhile, Corley shared some details about the upcoming Aug. 28 primary election.

He branded the one-page midterm ballot “very, very busy” with its Florida Constitution Revision Commission amendments, as well as several other state and county amendments.

“We’re going into a crazy midterm,” Corley said. “It’s like the election in 2016 never ended. It has that feel to it. It’s going to be a lengthy battle.”

He said the elections office is doing more to service absentee voters.

More voting days will be added to the schedule, and there will be three additional voting precincts — Pasco County Utilities building, in Land O’ Lakes; Alice Hall Community Center, in Zephyrhills; and Odessa Community Park, in Odessa.

With a population of nearly 500,000 and a voter registration roll of about 340,000, Pasco County is divided into 109 precincts.

Absentee or early voting accounted for about 60 percent of all votes cast in the 2016 election, Corley said.

“Early voting seems to kind of be the way to go,” he said. “We’re not expecting that to change.”

Published May 2, 2018