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Mettler Toledo breaks ground for new plant

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Swiss manufacturer, Mettler Toledo, broke ground on a 250,000-square-foot manufacturing plant that will bring about 185 new jobs to Pasco County.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey was among dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking for Mettler Toledo’s 250,000-square-foot plant in North Pointe Village, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway.
(Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

More than 300 people attended the ceremony on Jan. 14. Among those present were Viggo Nielsen, general manager of Mettler Toledo Safeline; Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey; Pasco County Planning and Development Administrator Richard Gehring; and, Bill Cronin, president of Pasco Economic Development Council.

Mettler Toledo is relocating its current facility from Town ‘N Country, in Hillsborough County, to Northpointe Village, off State Road 54 at the Suncoast Parkway.

The company is a global supplier of precision scales and services used in research, and the packaging and production of food and pharmaceuticals.

The new facility will be part of the product inspection division for Mettler Toledo Safeline.

Gehring said a substantial amount of work from Mettler Toledo and county staff members preceded the groundbreaking.

He updated the Pasco County Commission on the project at the commissioners’ Jan. 24 meeting in Dade City.

“It was a great performance to see the result and to see $25 million in (investment) is going into the ground,” he said.  “It’s a major, major, major effort. When you walk out there, and see smiling faces and kids of families who will work there, it’s a very positive reinforcement to that effort.”

In addition to the new jobs, the company anticipates about 320 current employees will transfer to the new site. Besides closing the Town ‘N Country location, Metter Toledo also will close a plant in Ithaca, New York.

Annual average salaries for all jobs created at Mettler Toledo are pegged at more than $51,000.

Dignitaries use golden shovels at the groundbreaking for Mettler Toledo’s new plant at North Pointe Village.

Gehring said Pasco officials rolled out a welcome mat recently for some of Mettler Toledo’s employees who plan to relocate.

Pasco EDC staff members organized guided tours, with introductions to community leaders at area chambers of commerce and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, as well as school district employees.

The county previously rolled out its own financial welcome mat to the company itself.

Pasco County commissioners approved a $7.6 million incentive package in September that includes a payout of about $1.9 million for creating nearly 500 jobs.

Mettler Toledo also will get a property tax break of about $1.7 million for 10 years, if 80 percent of its jobs are retained annually.

Pasco County will contribute about $3.5 million to build an extension of Northpointe Village Drive, through its Penny for Pasco program.

A reimbursement of about $1.2 million will be sought from state road funds. If that’s approved, the county’s incentive package then would be reduced to about $6.4 million.

Published February 1, 2017

Monologue honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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What would Dr. Martin Luther King have to say if he was alive today?

One distinguished scholar has a theory.

Saint Leo University hosted Dr. T. Leon Williams on Jan. 16 for a presentation he called: “The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Say Today?”

Williams is a North Carolina minister and former multicultural affairs director at Elon University.

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Saint Leo University hosted Dr. T. Leon Williams, who presented ‘The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Say Today?’ In his speech, Williams said America is still struggling with many of the same issues that confronted the nation decades ago. He referenced racial tension, gun violence, black-on-black crime, police brutality and poverty, among other systemic problems.
(Courtesy of Amanda Topper, Saint Leo University)

He began a series of monologues in 1999, in the vein of MLK — with the hope of educating students on the life and legacy of the celebrated civil rights leader.

Though it’s been nearly 50 years since King’s assassination in 1968, Williams said America is still struggling with many of the same issues that confronted the nation a half-century ago.

Williams cited numerous systemic problems, including racial tension, gun violence, black-on-black crime, police brutality, and poverty.

Because of the continuing issues, Williams said the country is still in the midst of the civil rights movement.

“If (King) was here today — based on what we see today on TV — I think he would just be devastated,” Williams said. “I think Dr. King would be saying, ‘America, we have fallen apart, and we’ve got to get it together.”

During his hour-long presentation, Williams assumed the persona of King, reflecting on the historical relevance of America’s progress on race divisions.

During the talk, Williams claimed injustice and inequality has drawn a line of division in race relations and the distribution of wealth in America.

The speaker later challenged the audience to accept a moral and social responsibility for promoting peace and harmony.

He urged them: “Ask ‘What is my responsibility in reshaping the world?’”

The biggest challenge, however, is for members of the audience to love another — regardless of race or class.

“The problem in our world today is that we have very little remembrance of what love is,” Williams said. “Love is caring for homeless and those less fortunate. Love is feeding the hungry. Love is obedience over sacrifice. Love neutralizes the weapons of hate.”

Williams, too, advised the audience to open themselves up to new ideas. He encouraged them to read information that might differ from their current point-of-view.

In studying King’s legacy, Williams said he was inspired by King’s internal struggle of “loving a country that intentionally — publicly — didn’t love him.”

“It had to be very troubling for King to love on America, ask supporters to stand with him, and be attacked daily,” Williams explained.

Since embarking on a nationwide speaking tour over 15 years ago, Williams said race issues have experienced numerous “peaks and valleys.”

He believes the country, unfortunately, is currently in a one of those “valleys.”

Williams pointed to rampant gun violence, particular in cities like Chicago, which experienced 762 murders in 2016. He also noted the rise of ambush killings of police officers, which rose to 21 last year, up from six in 2015.

“There are a lot of shining moments, then last year was a horrible year. It was just a rough time,” said Williams.

“Even after having a black president elected, we still have a ton of issues.”

Williams said he remains uncertain about the direction of race relations under the presidency of newly-elected Donald Trump.

“I don’t see a strong presence of a civil rights mindset; it is a corporate mindset,” Williams said, referencing Trump and his Cabinet nominees. “There’s…some energy and hostility from his campaign already generated. We don’t know where this is going now.”

Notable quotes Dr. T. Leon Williams’ monologue

  • “I believe this generation, unlike no other generation, is prepared and ready to lead the nation toward freedom every day. You’ve labored in love instead of malice; concern instead of resentment.”
  • “This generation, unlike the former, is willing to be on the receiving end of the water hose. This generation…is willing to contest police brutality by standing between the billy club and the usual suspects. This generation…is prepared to heal itself.”
  • “It is my belief that one of the reasons why America has failed to reconcile racial tension is because America has coerced the victims of racism and discrimination to view brokenness as life.”
  • “In order for this nation to take the next step toward greatness, reconciliation must be the first order of business for the oppressor.”
  • “When I think back to the ’60s, fiery eyes and frown brows reflected courage and hope. Since then, many of us have campaigned for reconciliation, despite truth. And as a result, our courage and hope has turned into anger and hopelessness.”
  • “Nonviolence is not a retreat from confrontation, but rather a confrontation in the form of disobedience.”

Published January 25, 2017

Sunlake student earns college degree

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Technically, Madison Riggle is still a high school student — but she’s a college graduate, too.

The 17-year-old received her Associates of Art degree from Pasco-Hernando State College on Dec. 13, while still enrolled at Sunlake High School.

The feat was made possible through the Collegiate High School program, a partnership between PHSC and Pasco County Schools.

Riggle has been accepted to several universities, and is still deciding where she wants to attend. She plans to become a pharmacist. (Courtesy of Aileen Gocek)

Riggle was one of the first students chosen for the dual-enrollment initiative, which began during the 2015-2016 school year.

A lottery process is now used each year to select students to fill up to 60 available seats.

To qualify, junior and senior-level students must meet several criteria, including traditional Dual Enrollment participation requirements — 3.0 GPA and College Ready PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test) assessment scores in all areas.

For Riggle, the achievement was a long time coming.

In seventh grade, she drew up several long-term goals.

One was to earn an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree prior to graduating high school.

Mission accomplished.

In fact, Riggle accumulated enough credit hours  — at least 60 — to graduate a semester early, another notable achievement.

According to the school district’s website, the Collegiate High School program allows students to earn an AA/AS Degree or a Cape Certification while also earning their Standard High School Diploma. Students in the program attend class full-time at PHSC campuses, and don’t take any courses on the high school campus. However, they are still considered a student of their zoned school, and are able to participate in their zoned school athletics, student activities and graduation ceremonies.

For Riggle, it “was a great opportunity.”

“The great thing about this program,” she said, “is that…it pays for your college, it pays for your books, it pays for your lab fees, and everything else that comes with college.”

Riggle attended Sunlake High School for her freshman and sophomore years. In the summer leading up to her junior year, however, she exclusively took classes at PHSC.

She was just 15.

Elder PHSC classmates, unsurprisingly, were dumbfounded once they discovered Riggle was just a teenager.

“They were all amazed,” Riggle said, with a chuckle. “Most people actually thought I was a lot older than I was.”

Even so, she was ready for the challenges higher education entails.

At 17 years old, Melanie Riggle earned an Associate in Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando State College. It was made possible through the Collegiate High School program, a joint partnership between PHSC and the Pasco County school district.
(Courtesy of Melanie Riggle)

“You definitely have to be a lot more independent and more mature than in high school,” Riggle explained. “You have to designate your own study time, because you might not get all the information in class. You just had to work harder and study more for those classes than high school.”

That’s not the only key difference from high school, though.

“The thing that amazes me the most, was that you can just get up and leave out of class. You don’t have to ask to go to the bathroom or anything,” Riggle said.

She added there’s also less “busy work” than in typical high school classes.

“I like college a lot; I will say that.”

While she favors the college atmosphere, Riggle acknowledged she occasionally misses seeing friends roam the halls at Sunlake.

“I don’t really get to see them as much,” Riggle said, “because when they’re in school, I’m either working, or when they’re out of school, I’m working or in school.”

Nevertheless, the aspiring pharmacist said she couldn’t pass up the prospect of getting a jump on her postsecondary education.

Riggle, who’s still taking classes at PHSC, figures it’ll take somewhere between two to three years to earn her bachelor’s degree, prior to enrolling in pharmacy school.

“It definitely gave me a major head start, because I don’t have to take all basic classes that everyone else has to take,” Riggle said.

For her associate degree, Riggle took a combination of introductory classes — religion, humanities — alongside “upper level” math and science courses.

“I really liked anatomy,” she said. “I just found it really interesting how the human body works.

“I also really liked biology a lot.”

To Riggle, participating in the program was preferable to simply graduating from high school early.

Yet, she cautioned the program “isn’t for everyone.”

“I completely recommend it, if you are ready to be a bit more independent while still being in high school,” she said. “If you like the high school environment, enjoy the four years of high school, by all means. But, for me, I was just ready to expand myself…and be more independent.”

Though she no longer attends Sunlake, Riggle still makes it a point to partake in school-related activities, like prom and Homecoming Week.

She’ll also walk across the graduation stage, come May.

“I did powder puff and skit, and all that fun stuff,” Riggle said, “so I definitely try to stay involved in high school — I just don’t have any classes on campus.”

Meantime, Riggle is considering several universities — the University of South Florida, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University.

She admits she still has “no clue” where she’ll wind up.

“I’m still trying to figure out how my cards will play out over the next couple of months,” Riggle said.

Published January 18, 2017

 

Raising awareness about human trafficking

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A spotlight is being cast on the issue of human trafficking this week in Wesley Chapel.

A symposium, co-hosted by Pasco-Hernando State College and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, is set for Jan. 12.

Two days later, a 5k and 1-mile walk/jog, followed by a concert, are scheduled for Jan. 14.

Edie Rhea said she spent several years of her life as a victim of human trafficking, being sold for sex, from the time she was 10 until she was 17. She now leads Healing Root Ministry, which aims to help victims of human trafficking restore their lives. Rhea will be speaking at a symposium on human trafficking on Jan. 12 in Wesley Chapel.
(File)

The symposium will be held on Jan. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass, 2727 Mansfield Blvd. The gathering will be in the Conference Center, building B, room 303.

The symposium will feature Cpl. Alan T. Wilkett, of the Sheriff’s Office and Edie Rhea, of Healing Root Ministry.

Wilkett will cover the criminal enforcement aspects of the issue, and Rhea will share her personal story of being trafficked.

Wilkett has served as a chief deputy, captain, commander, and director of public safety in a public service career that spans 22 years.

During his career, he has handled a wide array of positions and developed specialties in such areas as property crimes, major crimes, cold case, narcotics, child abuse and more.

Rhea works to help restore the lives of fellow survivors. She works in crisis intervention for children and women going through the aftermath of sexual abuse and human trafficking.

She is the founder of Healing Root Ministry, a nonprofit organization advocating for victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

Those attending the symposium will be able to obtain information from a number of agencies that provide services involving this issue.

The event is part of the state college’s ongoing Community Awareness Series, and is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.

Human Trafficking Symposium
What: Pasco-Hernando State College and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are co-hosting a Human Trafficking Symposium in Wesley Chapel.
When: Jan. 12, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Porter Campus at Wiregrass, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in the Conference Center, Building B, room 303.

What: Light Up the Night Radiant 5k and 1-mile race
When: Jan. 14 at 4 p.m.
Where: The race, which aims to shine the light on the problem of human trafficking, will start at 4 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.
The race will be followed by a concert, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Shops of Wiregrass and will feature Shalyah Fearing of NBC’s The Voice 2016.
The 5k and 1-mile jog/walk are family friendly. Dogs are welcome, too. Strollers also are welcome.

Published January 11, 2017

There’s no such thing as ‘managing’ time

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Maybe you’ve decided that this is the year that you’re going to do a better job of ‘managing’ your time.

But, if you listen to Richard Dutton, a retired professor of Managerial Behavior & Organization Studies from the University of South Florida, it is impossible to “manage” time.

“Time cannot be managed. It is completely independent of us,” Dutton said.

“We can use time. We can’t replace time,” said Dutton, formerly of the Muma College of Business at USF.

Richard E. Dutton, a retired professor of Managerial Behavior & Organization Studies in the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida, recently spent a little of his time talking about the value of time. He presented a free lecture through the university’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, known as OLLI for short.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

It’s also impossible to “save time,” added Dutton, during remarks he delivered as part of a free lecture series offered through the university’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, also known as OLLI.

When people — especially college students — think about their personal resources, they tend to consider money to be their scarcest resource, Dutton said.

But, he said, that’s not true.

“Time is your scarcest resource. Today will never ever happen again. So, how you use your time today is critical. You can make more money. You can work more hours. You can’t make more time,” he said.

There are, however, ways to be more efficient and to make better use of your time, Dutton said, during his talk at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library.

Here are some ways Dutton suggests to help you make better use of your time:

  • List your objectives
  • Rank the objectives based on importance
  • List actions that you need to take to achieve your objectives
  • Prioritize those actions
  • Schedule your time based on your priorities.

It’s important to have a manageable list, Dutton said. He suggests a list averaging five items. Avoid making lists that have more than nine items, he said.

It’s also important to know when you are most effective, Dutton said. Be aware of your personal productivity cycle. Some people wake up raring to go; others fare better later in the day.

It’s also important to discern the difference between being busy and being effective, Dutton said.

“We need more focused thinking,” he said.  “When we prioritize things well, we do the right things, not just the obvious things.

Schedule your most difficult tasks during your peak productivity periods, Dutton said.

Be sure to protect yourself from interruptions when you are doing your most difficult work, he said.

“Our mind is not good at solving problems that are complicated or difficult when we only have little splinters of time to work with,” he said. “We need chunks of time to solve complicated problems.”

When people are zoned in on a problem, their concentration can be broken by an alert they receive on their Smartphone, he said.

So, be sure to minimize disruptions by insulating yourself from telephone calls or people popping by for a chat, he said.

He also recommends grouping less important tasks together and doing them at the same time. That may mean reading through emails, returning telephone calls or doing busy work that has to be done but is not as important as other work you need to accomplish, he said.

Technology is useful, but needs to be used wisely, Dutton added.

“Sometimes we make ourselves busier than we should be. When you send out an email, you get an email back, right?

“Now you have to send another email.

“This is a never-ending cycle.

“Can’t we just talk?” Dutton asked.

One of the downsides of technology is the constant interruptions it creates, he said.

“I want to be the master of that phone. I don’t want it to interrupt me,” he said. “It’s my phone. I turn it on when I think I need it.”

Another way to accomplish more with our time is to master the art of delegation, Dutton said.

“Multiple yourself by letting other people have a part of the project, have a part of the action. You can help develop them, and, in the future they may be more and more and more helpful,” Dutton said.

Tips for having effective meetings:

  • Have a time limit
  • Have a written agenda
  • Consider conducting the meeting in a room without chairs — that tends to speeds things up.

 

Tips for choosing which line to wait in:

  • Get behind a single shopper with a full cart, rather than several shoppers who have fewer items.
  • When there are a series of lines, choose lines to the left. People tend to choose lines to their dominant side, so be sure you are giving all lines a fair shot.
  • Look for female cashiers, they tend to be faster in processing details.
  • Avoid chatty cashiers, regardless of gender.
  • Look at what people have in their carts. Don’t get behind people who have items that can complicate the transaction, such as someone who has lots of produce that must be weighed, or someone who has lots of coupons.
  • When there is a choice between a single line that leads to one cashier, or a line that leads to several cashiers, choose the one that has more cashiers. People tend to be more concerned about how long the line is than they are about how fast it is moving.

Published January 4, 2017

 

 

Sugarcane festival adds spicy twist

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For the seventh straight year, the Raising Cane Festival returns to the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.

The sweet celebration, however, now comes with a spicy twist.

The one-day festival, which highlights the traditional method of milling sugarcane into syrup, will include its first-ever chili cook-off.

The event is set for Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

A flat-belt tractor with steel rollers is another way sugarcane stalk is transformed into cane juice. One is shown here during a previous Raising Cane Festival.
(Courtesy or Richard Riley)

The International Chili Society (ICS), an organization that sanctions nearly 200 chili cook-offs worldwide each year, will sanction the cook-off, expected to feature at least 10 professional chili competitors.

The contest was added, in part, to help boost attendance, said event coordinator Brenda Minton.

“I was always looking for something else to add to it that might bring in a different crowd — along with the ones that we had,” Minton said.

Furthermore, she said the cook-off “adds credibility” to the annual Raising Cane Festival.

“People come from all over to participate in it,” Minton said, referring to the chili cook-off competitors. They do that, she said, “because they want to get points, so that at the end of the year they can win prizes from ICS.”

The ICS cook-off includes three categories: Chili Verde, Salsa and Traditional Red Chili. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category.

Local chili-makers, too, will get a chance to display their culinary talents.

They’ll compete in a separate cook-off, battling for the Steve Otto’s People’s Choice Award, where festivalgoers cast votes for their favorite recipes.

Meanwhile, the staples of the sugarcane festival remain.

In addition to a homemade cane syrup breakfast, attendees can partake in a syrup-tasting contest, where samples from 24 different manufacturers are judged on taste, color, pour and clarity.

Other planned activities barrel train rides and a petting zoo, as well as cane pole and iron skillet tossin’.

Also, live entertainment will be provided by the Crackerbillys, the Sara Rose Band and Those Unscrupulous Sunspots.

Yet, the event’s main course is still the old-timey cane-making demonstration, hosted by museum experts.

Wilbur Dew, who’s produced cane syrup for more than 20 years, is one of the scheduled demonstrators.

The 83-year-old said sugarcane is often cut this time of year, because “cool weather causes it to sweeten up.”

Using a technique that dates back several hundred years, the entire syrup-making process takes about six hours to complete, he said.

Sugarcane is first grinded into cane juice, using either a mule or tractor-powered mill.

“We have a mill that looks a little bit like a washing machine ringer,” Dew said. “It’s two or three steel rollers that the cane stalk is pushed through.

“The mill may be a vertical mill that’s powered by a mule walking around in a circle, or it may be a horizontal mill that’s powered by a flat-belt tractor.”

Once squeezed, cane juice is then boiled in the museum’s 80-gallon kettle.

The process usually yields 8 gallons to 9 gallons of syrup, Dew said.

To create a desired texture, Dew noted the ideal boiling temperature is around 227 degrees Fahrenheit.

“The temperature determines viscosity,” he explained. “Whereas maple syrup pours real thin, we want cane syrup to be a little thicker. Some would say: ‘We want it to stand up as tall as a biscuit on a plate.’”

And, unlike some other sugary substances, Dew said cane syrup is “an all-around good sweetener.”

“I much prefer it to maple syrup,” he said. “You can put it on pancakes, your biscuits. It’s really anything that you would use brown sugar on — some people use it in their ham preserving process.”
Museum experts say cane syrup was a routine part of pioneers’ diets, especially those settled in southern states, like Florida.

“In the Deep South, sugar was a commodity that you had to buy,” Dew said, “but you could make syrup and it would sweeten your coffee, or your tea.”

“It was just, in general, a common sweetener,” he added.

Event admission is $5 per person, with free admission for children age 5 and younger.

The Pioneer Florida Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s pioneer heritage. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the event, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org., or call Brenda Minton at (352) 206-8889.

Published December 28, 2016

Traffic relief coming to I-75 and State Road 56

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Motorists stuck in long lines of traffic at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 interchange could get relief sooner rather than later.

It will come in the form of a new interchange known as a diverging diamond – a design gaining popularity nationally as a solution to traffic jams at major crossroads.

Aerial photo of I-44/Kansas Expressway Diverging Diamond Interchange in Springfield, Missouri. First of its kind in the U.S. (Courtesy of Missouri Department of Transportation)

The Florida Department of Transportation is moving the approximately $18.5 million road project up by two years. With funding in place, construction is set to begin sometime in fiscal year 2018, which runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

Previously, the diverging diamond got priority status on the FDOT’s five-year work plan, but had a fiscal year 2020 start date.

“I am grinning ear to ear. I am so excited that the diverging diamond is moving up to 2018,” said Pasco County Chairman Mike Moore. “This is going to be one of the most innovative methods of relieving traffic. It’s going to be so beneficial, not just for that area, but for the entire region.”

Moore and other county commissioners got a presentation on the diverging diamond and other proposed road projects during a Dec. 6 meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization in Dade City.

The state transportation department’s five-year work plan of joint state and county road projects is updated annually with local input.

The I-75 interchange is a gateway in and out of major commercial developments on State Road 56, either already open for business – Tampa Premium Outlets – or under construction – Cypress Creek Town Center.

Longhorn Steakhouse and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse are among the newest restaurants to open. Others include Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chick-fil-A and Culver’s. More eateries are on the way.

Construction will soon be completed west of the interchange on a 150,000-square-foot sports complex and ice rink, known as Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Vehicles stack up daily at the interchange and bring traffic to a crawl, as motorists seek to go shopping, run errands, get to work or head home.

Peak traffic hours are a daily nightmare for motorists who get stuck in long lines at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 interchange.
(File Photo)

Details are pending on how traffic will be routed through the busy intersection during construction.

But, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said, “We’ll take the pain for the progress.”

Pasco County could become the second municipality in the state to have a diverging diamond. Sarasota is the first, with a diverging diamond interchange currently under construction at I-75 and University Parkway. It is expected to open in 2017.

The City of Jacksonville is considering a diverging diamond on Interstate 95.

In the diverging diamond interchange, multiple lanes of traffic from opposite directions crisscross from one side of the roadway to the other, and then switch back, guided by road signs, marked lanes and traffic signals.

Supporters of the design say it eases congestion, prevents wrong-way entry onto ramps and reduces crashes. The interchange also accommodates pedestrian crossings and bicycle lanes.

Other projects included in the five-year work plan are:

  • County Road 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard) from north of State Road 54 and State Road 56 to Progress Parkway; right-of-way to be purchased in 2018.
  • State Road 52 realignment from Uradco Place to west of Fort King Road; right-of-way to be purchased in 2018; construction in 2019.
  • S. 301 from State Road 56 (proposed) to State Road 39 (Paul Buchman Highway); preliminary engineering in 2018; right-of-way to be purchased in 2021, 2022.

For complete list of proposed projects and their descriptions visit D7wpph.com.

Comments on projects should be submitted by Dec. 27, either online or mailed to: Ed McKinney, Florida Department of Transportation, 11201 N. McKinley Drive, MS 7-500, Tampa, Florida, 33612.

Published December 21, 2016

 

Rally sheds light on risks of impaired driving

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For one drunk driver, it took going blind to finally see.

That’s the message Derrick Jenkins shared during A Rally to Prevent Impaired Driving, on Dec. 5 at John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel.

Three years ago, Jenkins was just a “normal kid.”

But, the St. Petersburg resident’s life changed forever on Nov. 5, 2013.

Derrick Jenkins was the guest speaker during A Rally to Prevent Impaired Driving on Dec. 5. Jenkins lost his eyesight three years ago after an impaired driving accident.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Jenkins, then 21, attended a local car show with a few buddies. His intention was to get drunk. He did.

“Being 21, I was thinking, ‘Sweet, we can get trashed legally.’ That was my mindset at the time,” Jenkins said, addressing a group of parents and their children.

That November evening, an intoxicated Jenkins chose to ride his motorcycle home. He wasn’t wearing a helmet.

He did not make it far.

He trekked about a “a block down the road” before he and his motorcycle collided full-force into a stationary construction truck on U.S. 19.

The fallout was catastrophic.

“I hit the truck so hard my eyes literally popped out of my head,” Jenkins said, “My eyes were literally hanging on my cheeks.”

Jenkins, now completely blind with no eyes, had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury from the crash.

As a result, he now suffers from diabetes insipidus. It is a rare disorder that causes an imbalance of water in the body and is marked by intense thirst and heavy urination.

He is also unable to regulate his body temperature, and is stricken with short-term memory loss because of dead spots scattered across his brain.

“They all affect me on a daily, hourly basis,” he said of his existing medical problems.

The incident was a long time coming, Jenkins said, considering his proclivity to excessively drink at house parties since he was in high school.

“I’m surprised it didn’t happen to me sooner,” he said, candidly. “I let what other kids think of me affect my decisions.”

For Jenkins, the dangers of driving impaired serve as a constant reminder.

“It only takes once,” he said.

December is National Impaired Driving Awareness Month.

To spread the message, several organizations — the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), and Safe Teens AgaiNst Drugs (STAND) — teamed up for a panel discussion on issues related to drug and alcohol abuse, especially involving youths.

Much of the 30-minute dialogue centered on causes and impacts of underage drinking and drug abuse.

Shawn Crane, a Pasco Circuit Court Judge, said curbing youth substance abuse starts with choosing the right friends.

“The people you surround yourself with are absolutely critical to remaining drug free and alcohol free,” Crane said, during the roundtable. “If you want to fit in with that group that goes to the house parties, that is going to be the root that brings you down.”

Alexis Escalante, a MADD program specialist, said children with self-esteem issues are more at-risk of being pressured into drug and alcohol use.

“Kids can fall into that trap when they have low self-esteem,” Escalante said, “and they are looking for acceptance…wherever they can.”

That’s why, Escalante said, parents need to talk to their children about substance abuse at an early age.

“We have found that kids start forming their own opinions about drugs and alcohol as early as 8 years old,” Escalante said, “so it’s up to the parent to determine whether or not they’re getting correct information.”

She added, “The earlier you start talking about it, the more manageable it’s going to be.”

Ariana Santillana, a freshman at Ridgewood High, agreed, noting youth are heavily influenced not only by their peers, but what’s presented in movies, music and television.

“Drug use and alcohol is being promoted everywhere,” Santillana said. “Youth are like sponges—they soak up all the information they get about drugs.

She added: “It seems like parents are scared to talk to their kids about alcohol and drugs, and the effects it can have on them.”

Those effects are multiple and long-term, panelists concurred.

Besides the risk of motor vehicle accidents, there’s a possibility of stunted brain function, said Christina Roberto, a master social worker at BayCare Behavioral Health.

“When you’re underage, your brain is still developing,” Roberto said. “It doesn’t stop until you’re 25 or 26 (years old), so when you add all these extra substances…it’s causing it to not fully develop.”

Incarceration is another possible outcome, even for those under 18.

Natalie Scruggs, an assistant state’s attorney for Florida’s Sixth Judicial Court, said juveniles can be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) manslaughter, a second-degree felony equating to 15 years in prison.

“That stays on your record pretty much forever,” Scruggs said. “The consequences can be very, very horrible.”

Panelists also agreed that substance abuse—and impaired driving — could create significant financial hurdles, from legal fees and court costs, to exorbitant medical bills to skyrocketing insurance rates.

“The cost is really difficult to measure,” Crane said, “because it is so vast.”

Published December 14, 2016

Developing life skills, one student at a time

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Amy Gordon’s mission is clear.

She wants to ensure every student reaches his or her full potential, and becomes a productive member of society.

That’s why she created Life Skills in ACTion in 1995, while still an elementary school teacher in the Tampa Bay area.

lifeskillsIt started with humble beginnings — with Gordon working out of her house. Through parent word-of-mouth, her supplemental learning service expanded — quite rapidly.

“My part-time (gig) turned into an explosion in three months,” Gordon said.

With offices now in Wesley Chapel and Lutz, Gordon and her staff of 11 experienced certified instructors help students ranging from elementary to college. The youngest client is 5 years old. The oldest is 28.

Fundamentally, the learning center assists students who are struggling — in or out of the classroom.

Gordon and her staff focus on individual-based tutoring and personal development, too.

“We break down that barrier that everybody has a stigma, ‘My child can’t do this or my child struggles,’” explained Gordon, the director of Life Skills in ACTion.

In addition to basic study skills and note-taking classes, there are social etiquette seminars, which focus on themes such as personal grooming, proper manners and how to relate with others.

“There’s really no place around here that does what we do,” Gordon said.

“It’s not like I have a curriculum that I buy. We meet with the family, and we build a program around what their needs are — whether it be studying, time management, or tutoring,” she said.

Approximately 80 percent of Gordon’s clients are what she calls “busy kids,” frequently referred to by others as hyperactive.

Those students, she said, often are misunderstood.

“Their brain processes in such a way that they have to have a physicality in their learning,” Gordon explained. “They come in with notebooks that look like a dog ate them, and it’s because they’re sitting there and peeling them, and they do that because they have to feel focused to learn.”

To aid those students, Gordon and her staff conduct a personal profile to identify how each learns best.

“You tell us what your child needs, and we will figure out what resources we have to help you,” Gordon said. “Schools are so busy with workloads, and they can’t help kids the way they want to, and (they) don’t have the resources anymore.”

Gordon knows that all too well.  After teaching in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas school systems for 22 years, she encountered her fair share of “busy kids.” Yet she could only do so much.

“I couldn’t give them the time that they needed because I had 20 other students,” she said. “I was leaving school every day emotionally drained because it was frustrating to not be able to do what I knew they needed.”

At Life Skills, she’s been able to do that.

Inside the Wesley Chapel office, there’s a comfortable, welcoming feel. Students gather in vibrant rooms with kitchen roundtables, as opposed to wide-open, sterile classrooms.

“We try to keep everything small,” Gordon said, “so its more personal to their learning and their interests. They feel like they’re at home when they’re here.”

That contrasts with how students are typically taught in school classrooms, which tend to be more sequential and lecture-based. That doesn’t work for every student, Gordon said.

For example, some students are visual learners. Others might be kinesthetic learners, whereby they learn best by through hands-on experience.

Gordon said there are eight learning types in total.

“Most of the kids that come here have their little traits,” she said. “We take what they have to learn—biology, history—but personalize it so they can retain it and learn it. They kind of learn how to make their traits work for them, as opposed to against them.”

She continued: “The fact of the matter is that every kid has it within them; we just have to figure out how to help them do it.”

It can happen in as little as eight weeks, Gordon said.

“Kids get out of here, and they feel like they know their purpose, and what their strengths are,” she explained.

The response has been positive, from both students’ parents and schoolteachers.

“Teachers are seeing how we’re impacting the kids at school,” Gordon said.

“They don’t feel threatened that they’re not doing their job because we all know they are,” she added.

Since starting Life Skills in ACTion over 20 years ago, Gordon has been “overwhelmed” by the number of families seeking help.

“I didn’t think it was as many as it is,” she said. “It’s just simple principles: putting the child first.”

Gordon noted she may eventually open an office in Pinellas, and would one day like to expand operations nationwide.

“I’ve just always loved working with kids,” she said. “It’s very gratifying.”

For more information, visit LifeSkillsInAction.com.

Life Skills in Action
Wesley Chapel office: 2026 Ashley Oaks Circle, Suite 102
Lutz office: 18125 US 41 North, Suite 208
Contact: (813) 575-9100 or 

These are the services offered by Life Skills in Action: Tutoring; Study Skills and Personal Development; Notebook 101; Social Etiquette; Cyber Life; Parent Advocate; Project Support; and, Parent Online Seminar.

Published December 7, 2016

There’s no shortage of holiday cheer here

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The Thanksgiving turkey and all of the fixins’ — and all of the leftovers — are gone.

The lighted entryway at the Florida Botanical Gardens sums up the sentiment of many holiday events in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area and the Tampa Bay region. (File Photo)
The lighted entryway at the Florida Botanical Gardens sums up the sentiment of many holiday events in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area and the Tampa Bay region.
(File Photo)

Lucky for you, you’ve got a whole month of holiday happenings available for your enjoyment.

Here’s a look at just some of the free and low-cost options being offered in the The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, with a few other regional events tossed in that we thought would give you some holiday pleasure.

 

Lutz

  • 37th annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show, on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keystone Preparatory High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa. The event is free, but there will be a $5 parking charge to benefit the school. Event organizers expect about 355 vendors, and between 30,000 to 40,000 festival-goers.
  • 20th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, on select evenings from Dec. 8 through Dec. 27 at the school, 18819 N. US 41 in Lutz. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Dec. 8, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 22, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27. Admission is free, but there will be barrels to collect nonperishable food items and toys for families that are less fortunate. The building is decked out for the holidays, and there will be entertainment, too.
  • Breakfast with Santa at the Old Lutz School, on Dec. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the school, 18819 N. US 41. There is a $4 charge for breakfast, and a visit from Santa Claus.
  • Handbells & Friends, a free holiday concert on Dec. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., at First United Methodist of Lutz at 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. The public is welcome to this concert which will feature handbells, vocals and other instruments.
  • Tampa Bay Tour De Clay, a free family friendly, self-guided tour of four local pottery studios, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes: Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogle Lane in Palm Harbor; Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchinson Road in Odessa; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Wirley Road in Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio. (San Antonio Pottery will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 10). For more information, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

North Tampa

  • CABA tree lighting, Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Elmcroft at Carrollwood, 2626 W. Bearss Ave.
  • Build a Toy with Santa at the Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa. Children will be able to come to the museum’s Idea Zone creativity lab to make a toy to take home. Santa Claus will drop by the workshop to share pointers on holiday cheer. The workshop will be open through Jan. 3. It is included in the normal museum admission charge. For more information, visit MOSI.org.
  • Christmas in Song, free concert on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., in the sanctuary at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa. This free, family friendly concert features the church’s chancel choir, orchestra and handbells.
  • “Simply Christmas,” Christmas Eve services at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave. The evening will include a Spontaneous Christmas Pageant at 5 p.m.; a contemporary Christmas service at 6:30 p.m.; lessons and carols at 8 p.m.; and, traditional communion services at 11 p.m.

Land O’ Lakes

  • Christmas Holiday Bazaar at Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free to this event, which features a free photo with Santa, a bounce house village, a candy trail, holiday shopping, food trucks, giveaways and games. Those attending also will have a chance to meet the Mascot “Blue” from the Tampa Yankees. Plus, there will be resources for families affected by autism, including sensory-friendly activities for children.
  • Heritage Holiday Card Walk, sponsored by the Wesley Chapel Land O’ Lakes Satellite Rotary, from Dec. 3 to Jan. 7 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The event will have around 30 full-size cards on display, ranging in size from 6 feet by 4 feet to 8 feet by 4 feet. Cards can be placed on Dec. 3 between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. For information, call (813) 996-3011.

  • 23rd annual Flapjack 5k and 1-mile run, on Dec. 11, at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway. The 5k starts at 8 a.m., and the 1-mile starts at 8:45 a.m. A flapjack breakfast follows the race for each runner; non-runners can donate $5 for breakfast. Santa will be there for photos, too.

Wesley Chapel

  • CalAtlantic Homes presents Symphony in Lights, with shows on the hour between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., through Dec. 31 at The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. The show features snow, sparkle and sounds of the season. For more information, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.
  • Movies under the stars, Holiday Movie Marathon at Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz. See TampaPremiumOutlets.com for dates and times. The outlet center also will have community holiday entertainment, on select days and times through Dec. 24, and also will have a Community Gift Wrap through Dec. 24, with local organizations benefiting from donations.

Dade City

  • Country Christmas Open House, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event offers free admission to the attraction, with the donation of an unwrapped toy that will be given to a local Dade City charity. The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity to come out and visit the museum’s charming history, do some holiday shopping with its vendors, listen to some Christmas music and hear the Solid Gold Barbershop Quartet. Bring the kiddos out to see Mr. Tommy Presents. He will have two performances at 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be here from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and we will offer complimentary photos by photographer Christina Strong. The barrel train also will give rides, and there will be a train show in the Mable Jordan Barn. The museum will serve punch and cookies, and hot dogs and hamburgers will be available at the concession stand. For more information, call (352) 567-0262 or (352) 206-8889, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.
  • Country Crafters third annual Arts and Crafts Fair, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Country Aire Manor Clubhouse, 10249 U.S. 19 in Dade City. This event features a wide assortment of locally produced items, which are available for purchase.
  • The Market Place, on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Seventh Street and Bougainvillea Avenue in downtown Dade City. The market will feature unique holiday presents, the jazz band from Pasco High School and musician Derrick Tucker. Vendors will be offer homemade cookies, honey, jams, handmade soaps, jewelry, garden accessories, fresh produce, Scentsy, Thirty-One, handmade baskets/gourds, hand-designed coasters, artwork and more. The Market Place is free and pet friendly. It is sponsored by the Dade City Youth Council.

Zephyrhills

•   Festival of Lights on Dec. 3 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., in downtown Zephyrhills. Free photos with Santa will be offered at 38439 Fifth Ave., courtesy of Goin’ Postal. Santa will take a brief break at 6 p.m., to appear in the lighted nighttime parade.

  • Jingle Bell Boutique & Bake Sale, on Dec. 3 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills Clubhouse, 38545 Fifth Ave., in downtown Zephyrhills. In addition to the customary bake sale, this will be the first year for the Jingle Bell Boutique, which will feature several women’s home-based businesses or showcase their handiwork of hobbies gone wild, and will give shoppers a chance to buy local. Proceeds from the bake sale and vendor fees will support the woman’s club’s projects.
  • Tampa Bay Tour De Clay, a free family friendly, self-guided tour of four local pottery studios, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes: Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogle Lane in Palm Harbor; Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchinson Road in Odessa; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Wirley Road in Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio. (San Antonio Pottery will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 10). For more information, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Downtown Tampa

  • Free screening of the movie “Elf” at Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., in downtown Tampa on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m., for a cocoa and cookies social in the theater’s lobby. A big announcement will be made at 7 p.m., followed by the movie. Admission is free and open to the public; however, guests are asked to visit TampaTheatre.org/events/Elf and click on the “Buy Tickets” link to print their complimentary Eventbrite ticket for guaranteed entry.

West Pasco

  • River Lights Boat Parade and holiday festival. The West Pasco Business Association is joining New Port Richey Main Street on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 in Sims Park, near downtown New Port Richey, for the free “River Lights Boat Parade” and a holiday festival. The movie “Polar Express” will be screened on Dec. 2 in the park. The boat parade begins at 7 p.m., on Dec. 3.
  • Sixth annual “How the Grinch Saved Christmas” will be on Dec. 9 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey. The West Pasco Business Association is hosting this event, which includes members of the association and the community.

Tickets are available online at WPBA.biz for $45. For more information contact Maria Johnson at (727) 934-0940 or "> .

Largo
More than than 750,000 lights have transformed the Florida Botanical Gardens, at 1250 Ulmerton Road in Largo, into a holiday wonderland. Visitors can stroll through the gardens from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31. A donation of $4 is suggested for those 13 and older, while children 12 and under, and parking, are free.

For more information, call (727) 582-2117 or visit, FBG.Org.

Published November 30, 2016