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Taking aim at traffic woes

September 14, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A transit study will take a regional approach in trying to identify a solution to unsnarl Tampa Bay’s traffic congestion, and, qualify for federal aid.

Jacob Engineering will conduct the 24-month study for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The approximately $1.5 million cost will be paid for by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, commonly called HART and the Florida Department of Transportation, called FDOT for short.

A transit study will seek solutions for congestion problems in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. One logjam motorists often face is at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. (File Photo) — A transit study will seek solutions for congestion problems in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. One logjam motorists often face is at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.
(File Photo)

Consultants are expected to begin work on Oct. 1, following expected approval of the contract by HART on Sept. 12.

Commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid transit service and express bus service will be among transit alternatives reviewed in the study.

“Tampa Bay is one of the very few large regional areas that does not have premier transit service to connect its region,” said Steve Feigenbaum, HART’S director of service development. “This is a truly regional study, a three-county study, for transit options for our region.”

Feigenbaum made a presentation on the study to members of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s board on Sept. 8 in Dade City.

About 50 percent of Pasco residents commute to jobs outside the county, he said. “Where are their transit options?”

In the past year, Pasco residents have been asked their views on a range of transportation issues, most often focused on traffic congestion in high growth areas such as State Road 54 and State Road 56.

A slew of road projects are under construction or under review to reconfigure or widen roads and highways throughout the county.

Commuters heading south on Interstate 275 daily confront road lanes jammed with motorists trying to get to work.

Recently, FDOT held public meetings to gain support for the Tampa Bay Express, a controversial road project to widen portions of I-275 and Interstate 4.

Only limited bus transit links Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Feigenbaum said the study will recommend a single project that is doable, links all three counties and would qualify for funding from the Federal Transit Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Other options will be included in the study, along with reasons why they didn’t make the final cut.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano wondered about the feasibility of purchasing CSX rail lines for future passenger rail service.

The Land O’ Lakes area often is mentioned as an area where rail stops would boost local commercial and residential development. The area includes CSX rail lines crossing through the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54.

But, Feigenbaum cautioned against thinking that the study would focus on CSX.

“It’s not a CSX study,” he said. “That will be a component of it.”

The cost of buying the rail lines would only be a starting point, he said.

The rail lines were built for freight and would have to be upgraded to handle passenger service. “There’s still going to have to be some consideration of construction and cost. It’s an important component, but it will be included with everything else.”

Feigenbaum said the FTA looks to fund projects that boost economic development and show a return on investment.

“Without those particular elements, it becomes just another shelf piece,” he said. “Some (prior) studies have so much dust, they are growing corn. But, that’s another story.”

Initially, consultants will look at those previous studies, whether they produced transit projects or not, and compile them into a unified, coherent report.

“We don’t want to invent the wheel,” Feigenbaum said.

There also will be public outreach with town halls, telephone town halls and other events to gather community opinions.

Once the initial study is completed, environmental and design work will be done before an application can be submitted to the federal transit agency.

It could take up to five years to qualify for a fully funded grant, Feigenbaum said. “It’s an arduous process.”

Published September 14, 2016

Effects of Hurricane Hermine lash Tampa Bay area

September 7, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Recovering from the storm and bracing for the next one
Blasts of rain, high winds and flood waters hit the region last week as the effects of Hurricane Hermine swept in, causing Tampa Bay residents in many communities to retrieve what they could, and discard what was lost.

Trees crashed into roofs. Cars flooded. Water seeped into homes.

In some parts of the region, residents had to be rescued by boat.

Coastal areas often feel the greatest brunt from a hurricane, as walls of water crash into nearby structures and high winds carry debris — which in turn causes damage when it lands. (Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net) — Coastal areas often feel the greatest brunt from a hurricane, as walls of water crash into nearby structures and high winds carry debris — which in turn causes damage when it lands.
(Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net)

Patients at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson were evacuated on the evening of Aug. 31, after the hospital in Hudson experienced what it believes was a lightning strike on a main power feed on the hospital’s roof, disabling the hospital’s ability to run a safe switch for generator backup.

A brief fire broke out on the roofline, but no one was hurt.

The hospital evacuated all of its 209 patients to other hospitals in the region, through a cooperative effort that included its sister HCA West Florida Hospitals, 70 EMS ambulances, 10 engines companies, three ambulance buses, two task forces, 10 sheriff’s units and the Pasco Emergency Command, according to a statement issued by the hospital.

Hermine was still a tropical storm as it made its way toward Tampa Bay, but it was upgraded to Hurricane Hermine on the afternoon of Sept. 1 and made landfall at St. Marks on Sept. 2, becoming the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida in 11 years.

While it is obviously too late to prepare for the wrath of Hermine, this may be a good time to take stock of your preparations and fill any gaps before the next big storm hits.

Here are some pointers, gleaned from a plethora of sources, intended to help you to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.

First things, first: Prepare
• Be sure to have an evacuation plan for your family. Everyone in your family should know the plan, and it’s a good idea to occasionally do practice drills, to avoid confusion if a time comes when you need to use it.

• Know your evacuation zone. Do you need to leave or can you shelter in place?

• Is there someone living nearby that you know will need assistance? Maybe you can help, or suggest another source of assistance.

• If you have a pet, have a plan for it. If you will need to evacuate, know where you can take your pet with you. Be sure to prepare a hurricane kit for your pet, including food, any medicines, toys, a bed and so on.

Stock up on water so you’ll be ready, if a big storm hits. (File Photos) — Stock up on water so you’ll be ready, if a big storm hits.
(File Photo)

• Prepare a hurricane kit for your family. It should include one gallon of water per person per day for several days; nonperishable food items including juices, crackers, breakfast and protein bars, canned and dried fruit, peanut butter and bread; utensils for eating, including paper cups and plates, plastic utensils. Plan to be able to eat and drink for several days without the use of electricity, in case power gets knocked out and roads are impassable.

• Stock up on hurricane supplies. These should include flashlights, batteries, self-powered portable lights, waterproof sheeting, a nonelectric food storage cooler, a portable generator and reusable ice.

• Have personal items readily available. These should include blankets and pillows; hygiene supplies, moisture wipes and toilet paper; waterproof and seasonal clothing; reliable shoes; a first-aid kit and special medications; tools; and, cameras.

• Protect your documents in a watertight plastic bag or waterproof container.

• Fill your gas tank and have plenty of cash on hand, in case the storm knocks out power from gas pumps and ATMs.

• Move your car as far inland as possible and on higher ground, to protect it from possible flooding, but do not park it next to a tree.

• Stay away from windows during the storm.

Protect your property
• Well before any major storm hits, be sure to review your insurance. Be sure you have the proper amount of coverage to protect your home, business and belongings.

• Use permanent storm shutters or plywood to protect your windows. Be sure the protection is securely fastened.

• Remove items around your home that could act as projectiles in high winds. Such objects include potted plants, barbecue grills, garden gnomes, chairs and garbage cans.

• Safeguard your boat: Strap down your boat, when ashore, with proper straps rated for the proper weight. If your boat is in the water, remove your boat from water and store it on high ground. If using a dry dock facility, be sure it was built after Hurricane Andrew.

If going anywhere after the storm, be safe
• Be sure to have an evacuation plan for your family.

• Learn the quickest evacuation route and shelters. Learn the quickest evacuation routes and shelters. Bring an emergency kit. Have mobile phones or radios to maintain communications.

Before a hurricane hits, it’s good to know if you live in an evacuation zone; and if so, what evacuation route you will take. (Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net) — Before a hurricane hits, it’s good to know if you live in an evacuation zone; and if so, what evacuation route you will take.
(Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net)

• Use caution when driving. Don’t drive through moving or standing water. Water that is 2 feet deep can disable most vehicles, and vehicles can be carried away.

• Observe detours and barricades. They are there for your protection.

• Be careful around downed power lines. Always assume they are live.

• When traffic lights aren’t working, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

• If walking, avoid standing water. Floodwaters may contain fecal matter, bacteria and viruses.

• Be aware that metal fences, mailboxes, poles and even nonmetal objects, such as wood and standing water, become conduits for electrical lines, so use care when assessing damage to your home and car.

Recovering from the storm
• Contact your insurance agent to report any covered damage to your home, apartment or vehicle.

• Take photographs because conditions sometimes change. Be sure to have detailed photographs, so you can submit them with your claims.

• Save receipts for all dining, hotel, medical, hygiene and even entertainment. Some of these items may be eligible for reimbursement. Save the receipts from the time you leave your home until you return to live in it.

• Remember that even spoiled food items, up to a limit, may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.

• Be sure to use plastic sheeting to cover roof damage and/or broken windows, to keep water from entering your home or business.

• Before trimming trees, check to be sure there are no power lines nearby. If there are, hire a professional.

Don’t be scammed
• Watch out for scams and unlicensed contractors. Verify the contractor’s business license and insurance. Do not accept verbal quotes. Make them put it in writing.

• Hiring an unlicensed contractor can pose many dangers. An unlicensed contractor may be uninsured, may lack the proper qualifications, could do poor quality work or could leave before the work is finished.

• Hiring an unlicensed contractor can also put the homeowner on the hook for personal injury to others. Most homeowner insurance policies also require work to be performed by a licensed contractor and provide no coverage for work that is not.

• Consumers can verify professional licenses that fall under the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s jurisdiction by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com, calling (850) 487-1395, or downloading the free DBPR Mobile app available in the iTunes and Google Play app stores.

• Information on services requiring a state-issued professional license from DBPR and how to report suspected unlicensed activity is available online at tinyurl.com/zre9zky.

Sources: Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Boatsetter, and Tree Care Industry Association.

Published September 7, 2016

Costco will provide up to 275 jobs

August 31, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A February opening is planned

Blame the rainfall, but Costco Wholesale fans will have to enjoy the anticipation a bit longer.

The membership-only warehouse giant is expected to open the doors to the Costco experience in Wesley Chapel in early February.

The fall opening of Costco Wholesale, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, will be delayed until early February due to rain delays to the construction schedule. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — The fall opening of Costco Wholesale, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, will be delayed until early February due to rain delays to the construction schedule.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Company officials had hoped for a November opening, but this summer’s rainfall slowed down construction by a few weeks. And, Costco doesn’t open stores in December and January, choosing through the holidays to focus on sales and customer service at existing stores.

However, by November, Costco will begin hiring for about 275 positions. Some slots will be filled with Costco employees transferring from other stores, but most will be new hires, said Hector Mencia, Costco’s general manager in Clearwater.

“We are very excited to come into this area,” said Mencia, who spoke at the Aug. 25 economic briefing luncheon sponsored by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “It’s going to be a great location.”

Costco also will be opening a store in Citrus Park in Tampa about the same time. These are the first stores in the Tampa Bay area in about 15 years.

“It shows that the economic status over here is going very well,” said Mencia. “We’ve been trying to get in here for quite a bit in this market.”

Rosina Yeo will be the store’s general manager. She currently is assistant warehouse manager for Costco in Jacksonville.

The 184,000-square-foot warehouse is under construction in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56.
“It will have all the bells and whistles on it,” Mencia said.

Mencia began working at Costco while in college in 1989.

It’s a great place to work and has a low turnover rate among employees, he said.

Entry-level pay for hourly wage earners starts at $13 an hour, rising to $22 an hour on average over time. After six months, employees are eligible for benefits.

Mencia said the opening of an Indiana store attracted about 22,000 applicants.

By November, a storefront will be opened where people can file applications in person.

Memberships to Costco will be available about six weeks before the store’s opening date.

Mencia said on opening day about 2,000 shoppers are expected. Inside and outside the store, employees will be ready to process membership applications.

The store’s retail model is to price low and sell in very high volumes. Shoppers browse aisles filled on average with about 3,800 items, but on a regular basis about 1,500 of those items are rotated out.

“We create the treasure hunt atmosphere,” said Mencia. “They need to buy it then and not wait a week. It will be gone by then.”

In other words, as comedian Rosie O’ Donnell explained in a Costco video, you can walk in with a list but leave with a trampoline and a case of Corn Nuts.

Costco sells nearly everything: wine, clothes, groceries, gas, jewelry, electronics, tires, glasses, hearing aids, vacation packages, cars, home improvement services, hardware, pharmaceuticals, and since 1985, $1.50 hot dogs.

In fiscal year 2015, Costco sold 55 million wieners in a bun. Worldwide shoppers also bought $4.1 billion in produce; $4.2 billion in USDA inspected prime beef; and $888 million in pastries and breads from its bakeries.

Mencia said Costco has about 76.4 million Costco cardholders worldwide.

The wholesale warehouse club is the largest retailer in the world, behind Walmart.

But, its global reach doesn’t keep Costco from connecting locally with area businesses and the community.

Costco plans to join the Wesley Chapel chamber. And, chamber members are ready to pitch in and help as the company prepares for its opening.

“We’ll do anything we can to welcome them with a hug,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s executive director. “It’s refreshing to hear that they are going to join the local business community, and they understand the importance of chambers.”

Mencia said Costco does a lot of outreach “behind the scenes” locally and worldwide.

For instance, bakery items, including bread, have short shelf lives in order to sell only the freshest. But, these and other food items not sold are donated.

“We give them to nonprofit organizations,” he said. “They pick it up every day.”

The company also donates school backpacks to area schools annually and, in May, collects donations for the Children’s Miracle Network.

About 2.5 million local farmers in Africa supply Costco with cashews. The farms typically are smaller than 2 acres and are family operated.

Costco also supports farmers’ training, donates school kits and provides AIDS awareness education.

In Mexico, a similar program employs fishermen, and in Mozambique, farmers supply vanilla.

“I’m very proud of what we do,” Mencia said.

Published August 31, 2016

Land O’ Lakes High will stay open during renovations

August 24, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Land O’ Lakes High School will remain open during a massive renovation project that is scheduled to begin next June.

Superintendent Kurt Browning had planned to shift the Land O’ Lakes High students to a new high school, known as “GGG”, being built on Old Pasco Road.

Land O’ Lakes High School will stay open during a massive renovation project that is set to begin next June. By keeping students on campus, the project will take two years to complete rather than one. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Land O’ Lakes High School will stay open during a massive renovation project that is set to begin next June. By keeping students on campus, the project will take two years to complete rather than one.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

But, he changed his mind after opening-day enrollment figures at Wiregrass Ranch High School revealed that 2,478 students showed up to a school built for 1,633 students. John Long Middle School’s opening enrollment was 1,810 students, at a school built for 1,327. Both school’s opening day enrollments exceeded district projections for the entire year.

Other schools in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel also exceeded projections, Browning said, in an Aug. 16 letter sent to parents of Land O’ Lakes High and Pine View Middle students.

The district had been considering three options relating to the Land O’ Lakes makeover.

One option was for students to stay at Land O’ Lakes High, the second was to put Sunlake High School on double sessions and the third was to send the students to “GGG.”

Browning said he now believes “that the least disruptive solution is to keep students at Land O’ Lakes High School during the renovations.”

That being said, Browning noted “it still will not be ideal.”

Keeping Land O’ Lakes High open during renovations will delay the project’s completion by a year and will reduce the scope of work to account for the added cost of extending the length of the project by a year, Browning wrote.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Culinary Academy will be able to continue operations, while Land O’ Lakes High School undergoes a makeover. The massive remodeling project is set to begin next summer.

“The school will be a construction zone, and we will have to place dozens of portable classrooms on and around the campus. We won’t have practice fields and will reduce the number of parking spaces. There will be utility disruptions and construction dust,” Browning added.

There are some bright spots, though, the superintendent noted.

The school’s students will stay together on one campus, culinary students will be able to use their culinary academy and agriculture students will be on the same campus as their animals, Browning wrote.

He also noted that sporting events will take place at the school.

Browning said the district “will take every precaution to ensure that the construction project does not impact student safety.”

The superintendent also assured parents “this decision was not made lightly and was not made without significant input from staff.”

Pasco County school board member Cynthia Armstrong said the decision to keep the students at Land O’ Lakes High School during construction is the best choice available to the district at this time.

“It’s not the ideal situation, but it seems like with the choices we had, it was just the best solution that we could come up with,” Armstrong said.

Wiregrass Ranch High School needs relief, and double sessions at Sunlake High was not a good option because the school day would have to start too early and end too late.

Armstrong also noted: “I think the community, the parents and the students are going to be happy with this solution.

“The Land O’ Lakes students are going to get to stay together as an intact unit. They’re going to get to be Gators their senior year. They are going to get to play in their own stadium. It’s not going to disrupt the culinary arts,” she said.

Plus, the school’s agriculture and child care programs will be able to continue, she noted.

To accommodate construction, half of the school will be in portables one year, and then half will be in portables the next year.

“That, at first was not a preferred method because essentially it was going to cost more money and more time. That wasn’t one that we were really excited about,” Armstrong said.

A parent meeting will be set this fall to discuss the details of the plan. Meanwhile, the district also will post updates at Pasco.k12.fl.us/renovations and on the district’s social media sites, and Land O’ Lakes High School will keep parents informed on its website and social media sites.

Published August 24, 2016

Sister Helen’s secrets to a good life: Work hard, love people

August 17, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Laurina Lange was still a teenager when she traveled by train from Texas to San Antonio to pursue the religious life — by joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.

The year was 1930, and she was accompanied by four of her cousins — Irma Multer, Pauline Block, and Rosaria and Rosanna Matthiesen. They, too, had decided to answer God’s call.

Now known as Sister Helen Lange, the 102-year-old recently shared a few of her memories during remarks at the 125th birthday celebration for the Town of St. Leo, held at Saint Leo University.

Sister Helen Lange, who turns 103 on Sept. 28, enjoys every minute of life. Many of the experiences of her life are conveyed in a memoir she wrote called ‘Kicking the Habit.’ (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Sister Helen Lange, who turns 103 on Sept. 28, enjoys every minute of life. Many of the experiences of her life are conveyed in a memoir she wrote called ‘Kicking the Habit.’
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She told the audience that despite her age, she still enjoys every minute. She also noted that while she began her religious vocation in San Antonio, she was fortunate to travel extensively and do many different kinds of work along life’s path.

She told the crowd about a memoir she wrote, called “Kicking the Habit.” It records experiences during her life, in 10-year increments.

The title of her memoir doesn’t refer to her kicking the habit of smoking — rather it relates to the time when the requirement was lifted for nuns to wear a style of dress, called a habit.

In her memoir, she describes growing up on a farm in Olfen, Texas.

Her parents, Joseph and Helena Matthiesen Lange, had five boys and three girls — and all of the children were born at home.

It was a family where faith and hard work were cherished values, she writes in her memoir.

“Living and growing up on a farm taught us to be very responsible,” the memoir says. “We were taught to be independent and thrifty.”

She has many fond recollections about growing up in a family which prayed often, enjoyed making music, and had frequent gatherings with friends and relatives.

One of her favorite times of the year was Easter.

“Holy Week was truly Holy Week. There were no radios, no running around, no dancing or partying,” her memoir says.

“On Holy Saturday, all of us kids were sent out to pick flowers to build Easter nests for the bunny to come. While we were out hunting the flowers, little did we know that mom was busy dying the eggs — which we never saw until Easter morning.

“We made small nests with the wildflowers we picked out in the fields.

“On Easter Sunday morning, we all tumbled out of bed to see what the Easter bunny had brought. There were eggs of all colors neatly laying in our nest of flowers. What a beautiful day!”

The ‘Spirit’ calls in strange places
She enjoyed shopping days with her mother, her memoir reports.

Once the necessary items for the household were purchased, the two of them would stop by the drugstore for an ice cream soda.

“They only cost 25 cents back then,” her account says.

“Another favorite treat was a chocolate bar with marshmallows and nuts. This was called a Tango. It was only five cents,” the memoir adds.

Of course, living on a farm required hard work.

This photograph was taken on the 25th anniversary of these five nuns joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. They traveled together from Texas to begin their religious vocation in San Antonio. Back row: Sister Irma Multer and Sister Rosanna Matthiesen; and, front row: Sister Rosaria Matthiesen, Sister Helen Lange and Sister Pauline Block. (Courtesy of Holy Name Monastery) — This photograph was taken on the 25th anniversary of these five nuns joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. They traveled together from Texas to begin their religious vocation in San Antonio. Back row: Sister Irma Multer and Sister Rosanna Matthiesen; and, front row: Sister Rosaria Matthiesen, Sister Helen Lange and Sister Pauline Block.
(Courtesy of Holy Name Monastery)

There was “cotton to chop, cotton to pick, maize to head, tractors to run, cotton to haul to the gin, repairs to be done. Too many chores to mention,” the book recounts.

She believes her family’s deep faith influenced her decision to pursue the religious life.

“Family prayers and Sunday obligations, plus monthly confession and communion, were never neglected,” she said.

Her Catholic education played a role, too.

“I think the seeds of my vocation were planted in fifth grade,” she writes.

“The Mother Superior visited our school quarterly,” she adds.

As Mother Superior doled out report cards, she would ask the students: “How many of you are going to be priests or nuns when you grow up?”

While growing up, she also spent a fair amount of time in the church, putting her musical talents to use.

“I played (the children’s) daily mass when I was in in fifth grade,” she recalls in her memoir.

But, it wasn’t until she was older that she actually decided to become a nun.

“The Spirit does call in the strangest places,” she notes in her memoir. “We were at a dance when Sister Irma (Irma Multer) came dancing by and casually stated to me, ‘Guess what? I’m going to enter the convent in a short time.’ My surprise reply was, ‘Wait for me! I’m going with you!”’

So, that’s how she and her four companions wound up on that train to Florida.

A life on the move
Over the years, Sister Helen would be a teacher, a band director and a principal. She would oversee a hostel for visitors from other countries. And, later she would work in elder care.

She also moved around quite a bit. Her first assignment took her back to Texas, but she also worked in New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, and in various parts of Florida, including San Antonio, Venice, Sarasota, North Miami, Ocala and Jacksonville Beach.

Generally, she didn’t know where she would be teaching until shortly before the school year began, she said during a recent interview.

“We were given a little piece of paper in August,” she said, indicating where she would be going.

And, it wasn’t always easy to leave the place where she’d been living, she said.

“You become attached to the people, to the families,” she explained.

But, then she found that she would form the same kind of attachments at the next place she went, she said.

“I loved every one of them,” said the former educator who taught everything from kindergarten to sixth grade, and served as a principal, too.

“The sixth grade was the most joyful. There were a lot of boys in the class. I loved teaching boys,” she said.

She was a tomboy, at heart, she explained.

When she was asked,as a young girl, if she wanted a doll for Christmas, her response was: “No, I want a baseball and bat.”

Now approaching her 103rd birthday, which is on Sept. 28, Sister Helen still manages to find joy where she is.

As she walks down the corridors at Heritage Park Care and Rehabilitation Center in Dade City, she greets residents, asks how they are and takes time to listen.

As she reflects on her life, she said she “has no regrets whatsoever” about boarding that train to join the Benedictine Sisters of Florida more than eight decades ago — to follow her spiritual call where it led her.

“I’d do it all over again,” she said.

Published August 17, 2016

Wiregrass Elementary revving up for first day

August 10, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Crews are kicking it into high gear at Wiregrass Elementary School to ensure the school is ready to open for students on Aug. 15.

Music teacher Christine Reed is clearly excited about the musical tools that children at Wiregrass Elementary School will get to use. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Music teacher Christine Reed is clearly excited about the musical tools that children at Wiregrass Elementary School will get to use.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The new school, at 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, will have its “first” first day of school, and Principal Steve Williams said he and his staff can’t wait.

“This is going to be a fantastic school. It’s going to be an outside-the-box kind of school. It’s going to be a school that doesn’t necessarily do things the way everybody else does, because we are pushing for incredible outcomes. Intentional outcomes,” Williams said.

The school was built to relieve crowding at other nearby schools. As of Aug. 4, its enrollment was 505 students, but that number has been increasing every day, the principal said.

“We certainly anticipate that this is going to be a growing school. There’s a lot of subdivisions being built,” he said.

Williams said the school has features he thinks will help to make it special.

There’s an area called Wiregrass Court, an inclusive play area for children and a park.

There are other differences, too.

Principal Steve Williams and teacher Maria Pita chat, while the teacher sets up her new classroom at Wiregrass Elementary School.

“We’re trying to push what the definition of learning spaces look like. So, we don’t have a media center. We have what we call The Wiregrass Innovation Factory. That’s where you have the large space with technology and books, and opportunities to collaborate and create,” the principal said.

Each grade level team also has its own “Local innovation Factory,” tailored to each age group.

“It looks different. It feels different. It’s got great technology in it. In addition, it’s got some furniture. It’s got a maker space. It’s got some instructional materials. Ultimately, you’ll have two 65-inch TVs, plus an interactive whiteboard, all with wireless technology,” Williams said.

The school’s staff was set to report to work on Aug. 8, but some teachers dropped in earlier to unpack boxes and arrange their classrooms.

“We’ve opened these past two days — yesterday and today — for staff that wanted to move in,” Williams said on Aug. 4. “For most of them, this is their very first time being on this campus. They’re here to drink it all in and to move stuff,” he said.

Heather Crouch, music teacher at Wiregrass Elementary School, knows a thing or two about shaking a tambourine. — Heather Croucher, music teacher at Wiregrass Elementary School, knows a thing or two about shaking a tambourine.

“They’ve been very, very excited and I understand it, because I’ve been excited, too,” the principal added.

Robin Kestenbaum, who teaches first grade, loves the idea of helping to launch the new school.

“I honestly felt like a little first-grader, getting ready for the first day of the school,” she said.

Kestenbaum, a teacher for 17 years, said she has taught in Massachusetts and Tennessee, and on the east coast of Florida. Most recently, she taught at Pine View Elementary.

The beginning of every school year is exciting, she said, but that’s especially true this year.

“I have to be honest with you, this is one of the most exciting for me, personally,” Kestenbaum said.

Third-grade teacher Maria Pita brought a crew along to help her move in. Her husband was there, and so was her daughter and her daughter’s friend. And, another daughter was expected to arrive to join in, too.

The teacher previously taught at Pasco Elementary.

“It’s going to be a whole new adventure,” Pita said, who taught at Pasco Elementary last year.

Wiregrass Elementary is outfitted in all of the latest technology, but will also be using traditional teaching tools, too.

Music teachers Heather Croucher and Christine Reed are also delighted to help open Wiregrass Elementary. Croucher, who taught at Denham Oaks Elementary, will be at Wiregrass Elementary five days a week. Reed will be Wiregrass Elementary for two days a week and Pine View Elementary for three days a week.

“We’re excited about all of the new stuff that we have,” Croucher said. The music department also has two rooms, she said. “This is our music suite.”

“That’s S-W-E-E-T,” Reed added.

“We’re looking forward to doing lots of musicals here,” Croucher said, including “maybe a xylophone group, and maybe even utilizing that outdoor area for some recitals.”

The school has four things it is focusing on, Williams said. Those are: Safety pursued. Learning focused. People valued. And, outcome driven.

“All of our conversations and all of our systems are all based around those four things,” he said.

First-grade teacher Robin Kestenbaum is sorting out some books for the bins in her classroom.

In learning focused, for instance, “this first year we’re doing a lot of conversations about students owning their own learning and what does that look like?” the principal said.

“How do we help our student to own their own learning? Of course, that looks different at kindergarten than it does at fifth grade,” the principal said.

Helping kids “own” their own learning can mean that different kids will be doing different things in the room at the same time — aiming for the same learning goal, but coming at it from different paths, he explained.

The goal is to prepare students leaving the elementary school to be successful in middle school, said Williams, who previously was the director of teaching and learning for Pasco County Schools. Before that, he was the principal at Sunlake High School and worked in other roles.

When the opportunity to lead Wiregrass Elementary came along, Williams said he was pleased to accept the role.

“One of my professional goals was always to open a school as principal,” he said. “This has been the chance to cast a vision, to hire the staff, to buy the materials, to do everything from the ground up.”

Published August 10, 2016

Shoppers can save during sales tax holiday

August 3, 2016 By B.C. Manion

It’s commonly called a Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, but the truth is that any Florida shopper can skip the sales tax on a multitude of items from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7.

The sales tax exemption starts a minute after midnight on Aug. 5 and ends a minute before midnight on Aug. 7.

Back to school shopping is an annual tradition for many families.

Nationally, back-to-school spending is expected to reach $75.8 billion this year, according to a survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics for the National Retail Federation.

That’s up from $68 billion last year, according to a story on consumer trends posted on the NRF’s website.

If current trends continue, The Shops at Wiregrass is expecting to have a very good back-to-school shopping season, according to Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for the regional mall. Shoppers can enjoy a break from state and local sales taxes on certain items, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. (Courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass) — If current trends continue, The Shops at Wiregrass is expecting to have a very good back-to-school shopping season, according to Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for the regional mall. Shoppers can enjoy a break from state and local sales taxes on certain items, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7.
(Courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass)

Locally, Tampa Premium Outlets has kicked off its back-to-school season, with a campaign targeted at teens that features three seasonal trends inspired by ’80s and ‘90s fashions — Off-Beat, Modern Utility and ’90s Nostalgia.

“Back-to-school shoppers spend more during this season than they do during Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day combined, so we want to make sure the experience is a pleasurable one that appeals to students and parents alike,” Stacey Nance, general manager at Tampa Premium Outlets said, in a news release.

“Our campaign celebrates the fashion trends of the past and today — the evolution of fashion and mixing the old with the new to ‘Find your style,’” added Nance, whose center opened last October, off State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Tampa Premium Outlets also is hosting a sidewalk sale during mall hours, Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. It also has the GAP spend-and-receive gift card promotion. When a guest buys at least $150 worth of any Gap family brand gift cards, the guest receives a $30 Simon Visa gift card. That special runs July 29 to Aug 26. Check with Guest Services for more details.

Not far away, off State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, The Shops at Wiregrass also is gearing up for the sales tax holiday.

“If the current sales trend continues, we are expecting to have a very good back-to-school season,” said Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for the regional shopping mall, via email.

The mall is having a special deal during the sales tax holiday. Shoppers who spend $200 in a single day, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7, can get a $20 mall gift card. The shopper must bring same-day receipts to the mall’s Guest Services to receive the gift card. Department store and restaurant purchases cannot be counted toward the $200, and gift cards will be given out only as long as supplies last.

The Florida sales tax break applies to a multitude of items, but there are some exclusions, too.

Clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item, and certain school supplies selling for $15 or less, are generally exempt from state and local sales taxes — but, there are many exceptions to that rule.

It can get a little tricky to interpret.

For instance, dress, garden and work gloves sold for less than $60 are exempt, but athletic gloves are taxable because sporting equipment is excluded in the definition of clothing, according to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website.

Here’s the way the state defines clothing: “’Clothing’ means any article of wearing apparel, including all footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades and skates) intended to be worn on or about the human body. Clothing does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, or handkerchiefs.”

Here’s how the state defines school supplies: “‘School supplies’ means pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunchboxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rules, computer disks, protractors, compasses and calculators.”

Exclusions to the sales tax holiday include:

Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
Any school supply item selling for more than $15
Personal computers and computer-related accessories
Sales of clothing or school supplies in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

It’s also important to remember that the exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not the total sale amount. So, it’s possible to buy three $59 dresses at the same time and still get the exemption, because each item meets the requirement of having a selling price of $60 or less.

Another thing that’s good to know is that there is no limit on how many tax-exempt items can be purchased during the sales tax holiday.

According to the National Retail Federation’s survey, families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade expect to spend an average of $673.57 on apparel and accessories, electronics, shoes and school supplies, according to the survey. That’s up from $630.36 last year.

College students and families with children in college plan to spend an average of $888.71, according to the survey. That’s a slight dip from last year, when the average was $899.18.

For more information on the state’s sales tax holiday, visit the Florida Department of Revenue’s website at DOR.MyFlorida.com.

Published August 3, 2016

Pasco grapples with marijuana dilemma

July 27, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners want to extend an existing moratorium on the growth, sales and distribution of cannabis until the end of the year.

The delay would give the county’s legal staff time to craft an ordinance to ban those activities in the future. As a backup, the county would approve regulations to restrict those activities to industrially zoned locations, with conditions.

The ordinance also would update police powers in making arrests for illegal possession of marijuana — which is derived from cannabis.

A one-year ban on cannabis production activities is set to expire on Sept. 2.

But, a Nov. 8 referendum on medical marijuana, if approved, could quickly change the regulatory landscape both statewide and at the local level.

Title State law currently permits, in some instances, a non-euphoric form of marijuana, known as Charlotte’s web, for medical use by patients with epilepsy, seizure disorders or who are terminally ill. Only one organization is approved to dispense the product so far, with the first delivery of medical marijuana going to a resident of Hudson.

The state referendum proposes to broaden when medical marijuana is allowed and open the door for new dispensaries.

No dispensing sites have been approved in Pasco, but county officials said they have received inquiries about future retail sites within the county.

At a July 19 workshop in New Port Richey, the county’s attorneys sought guidance from commissioners on how to tackle the evolving marijuana issue.

They offered several options, including a total ban on dispensaries, which some counties are choosing to do.

The ban also would establish regulations as a backup to legal challenges.

“I call it a dry county kind of option,” said Kristi Sims, senior assistant county attorney, in outlining Pasco’s choices. “You can expect probably some litigation. It does carry with it the obligation to defend it, if it is challenged.”

Another option would allow dispensaries in commercial areas and calls for regulating them like pain management clinics.

Public hearings would be held before commissioners vote on the ordinance.

In recent years, 25 states have opted to approve medical marijuana, decriminalize its use or allow recreational use.

Supporters say legalizing marijuana benefits people with illnesses that haven’t responded to traditional medicines. They also say it fills state coffers with tax revenues, and reduces incarceration costs related to arrests for sale or possession of marijuana.

Opponents say medical marijuana will only open the door to recreational uses, addictive behaviors and increases in crime.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s office provided commissioners with data on crime and marijuana use in states, such as Colorado and California, where marijuana is legal in some form.

Colorado has fully legalized marijuana use. About 7,000 reported crimes occurred within 1,000 feet of some dispensaries in the first six months of 2012 and 2013, according to a report from the Colorado Police Chiefs Association.

Based on federal banking regulations, dispensaries offer cash-only sales for medical marijuana. That’s affecting crime rates, the association’s reporting shows.

“The problem with this is they (dispensaries) obviously are very easy sitting targets,” said Chase Daniels, spokesman for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

California is a medical marijuana state, also operating dispensaries with cash only. Police reported about 200 percent increase in robberies and 130 percent increase in automobile burglaries largely, Daniels said, “because so much cash is on hand.”

“It’s really caused quite a bit of problems,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. “Statistics on crime are horrible.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said she’d read about families relocating to Colorado specifically to obtain legal marijuana for their ailing children.

But, Starkey also noted that the crime data is of serious concern and should be considered in deciding how Pasco should proceed.

Commissioner Mike Wells said he wanted more information on how medical marijuana helps people, especially children. “I’d still like to hear how others see this as a help. What’s the economic impact? We still need to be open to it. We have some time.”

County attorneys, in crafting the new ordinance, have an array of conditions that can be applied to dispensary permits.

Those conditions can include advertising limitations, no vending machines, no co-location with other medical facilities, a ban on sales of marijuana-related paraphernalia, regulations on sale of edible products, and an annual registry.

Legal staff urged commissioners to approve the ordinance prior to the Nov. 8 referendum to establish some “grandfathered” rights for the county, in the event the ordinance is at odds with what the state finally approves.

“It may get a little more respect if it’s in place prior to,” said Sims.

Published July 27, 2016

Permit granted for Raymond James

July 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Raymond James is a step closer to building a campus in Wesley Chapel, according to J.D. Porter, whose family has a pending contract on a land sale to the financial services giant.

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the permit needed for the project last week, Porter said. “It covers the entire Raymond James project,” he said.

The project, which would be built near State Road 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Boulevard, ultimately could have 1 million square feet in office space.

J.D. Porter addressed members of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations in March, talking about various projects in Wiregrass Ranch, including a campus for Raymond James, the financial services giant (File Photo) — J.D. Porter addressed members of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations in March, talking about various projects in Wiregrass Ranch, including a campus for Raymond James, the financial services giant
(File Photo)

“The process from here on out is that we’ve got to go back before the Board of County Commissioners and ratify the deal, update timelines, because it took a little while to get the permit in. And then, after that, per their contract, they have 30 days to close,” Porter said.

Steve Hollister, a spokesman for Raymond James, offered no timetable for when the project will proceed.

“Raymond James continues to evaluate occupancy needs as part of the firm’s long-term growth strategy. We believe the Wiregrass Ranch property is a good future development opportunity and expect to close on the property within the next three months, but cannot commit to a specific construction schedule at this time,” Hollister said, via email.

Still, the Corps’ approval is a significant milestone for a project, which has been described by leading Pasco officials as “a game changer” for the county.

The Pasco County Commission enticed Raymond James to locate in Wesley Chapel by providing about $10 million in roadwork and tax breaks. The state also provided about $4 million in incentives.

Before the county approved the deal in 2011, the Pasco Economic Development Council commissioned an independent analysis of the potential economic impacts.

That analysis, conducted by Impact DataSource, of Austin, Texas, estimated that the Raymond James campus would lead directly or indirectly to 1,200 jobs, providing total salaries of more than $600 million and would yield approximately $135 million in additional taxable sales within the county.

Raymond James is a diversified financial services holding company, with subsidiaries engaged primarily in investment and financial planning, in addition to investment banking and asset management, according to the company’s website. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company has more than 6,700 financial advisors who serve more than 2.7 million client accounts in more than 2,700 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas, the website adds. Its total client assets are approximately $500 billion.

The company’s name came from merging companies run by Robert A. James and Edward Raymond, the website says.

Published July 20, 2016

Lutz robotics team already gearing up for next season

July 13, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

It’s been less than three months since the Lutz-based Trinity Dragons had a strong showing at the 2016 Vex World Robotics Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, yet the club’s high school team is already strategizing for next year’s robotics season. While other robotics clubs may take some time off to regroup and recharge their batteries, that isn’t the case for Team 6430.

The team —Braeden Adams, 15; Sean Carr, 17; Maddie Jones, 16; and, RJ Walters, 17 has been working diligently in hopes of building off last year’s achievements and again reaching the world championships.

The members of the 2015-2016 Team 6430, from left, RJ Walters, Braeden Adams, Addie Adams, Sean Carr, Maddie Jones and Ross Edwards. (Courtesy of Ray Carr) — The members of the 2015-2016 Team 6430, from left, RJ Walters, Braeden Adams, Addie Adams, Sean Carr, Maddie Jones and Ross Edwards.
(Courtesy of Ray Carr)

“We try to tell them to take a couple months off, but it never works,” said Ray Carr, robotics coach for the Trinity Dragons. “They just start building again as soon as the (robotics) parts show up.

“It is nonstop,” the coach said.

The group often spends 30 hours a week building a Vex robot from scratch, and then methodically attempts to optimize it for a particular Vex robotic challenge. The process is arduous. It consists of designing a robotic prototype from a combination of intricate software, and mechanical equipment and sensors.

“Software makes a big difference, and how you run control systems and stuff like that,” said Ray Carr, the chief technical officer for OccamMD, a leading engineering services firm. “That’s where they’ve excelled — getting their controls working and their software working, and making it different than just a robot that can drive (itself).”

This past season, Team 6430 won the Florida Vex Robotics State Championship and finished ninth among 500 teams at the world championships, which consisted of more than 16,000 participants from 37 nations.

The 2016 competition, called “Nothing But Net” required teams to construct robots that could essentially score as many balls into goals during a two-minute span.

A replay of the 2016 Vex Robotics World Championships will be airing on ESPN2 on July 20.

Competing —and teaming up — with elite teams from other countries inside the 1.2 million square-foot Kentucky Exposition Center proved to be a fulfilling experience, team members said. They interacted with students from nations like Canada, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

“The human element is the most important part,” Ray Carr said, “because it gives them exposure to managing teams and managing people. They’re learning about real-world applications and real-world interfaces; it’s been really good for them.”

“I have a lot of friends that I actually met online through this stuff, and then we got to go to Worlds and I (was able) to meet them,” Walters said.

Team 6430 is already building their robot for next season’s Vex robotics challenge, ‘Starstruck.’ (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) — Team 6430 is already building their robot for next season’s Vex robotics challenge, ‘Starstruck.’
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Admittedly, Team 6430 has come a long way since the club formed about four years ago. Then, they were only involved with “real simple stuff,” often not standing a chance against more polished robotics teams.

“We were getting ourselves killed,” Ray Carr candidly acknowledged. “They really struggled when they started; they’ve really kind of progressively learned.

“We’ve always stressed during their development to keep it simple,” he added. “The fact that (the robot) even turns on and runs each time is a big deal.”

For them, the process of putting together a high-functioning robot — including the countless batteries and motors they’ve burned through — is what ultimately creates a sense of accomplishment.

“It’s a very satisfying feeling when something actually works for once,” Jones said.

“It’s fun to put all this time into something and actually see it work in a competition,” Adams said.

While the Trinity Dragons’ Team 6430 ranks as the top robotics team in Florida, the coach insists the group’s merit isn’t based on the number of tournaments they win, or how many awards they rack up.

Instead, it’s more about following three interlocking pillars: faith, family and fun.

“We’re a Christian-based team; character is really most important,” Ray Carr said.

“We never started it to win. It’s just they’ve done well, but it’s never, ever been about that,” he added.

“Some teams will check MCAT scores, SAT scores or you have to try out, but we never did that. We just had families that got together and started,” the coach said.

This year’s Vex robotics challenge, named “Starstruck,” will be played on a 12-by-12 square field, in which two alliances consisting of two robotics teams each, compete in matches consisting of a 15-fifteen second autonomous period, followed by 1 minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled play.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by having each robot place “stars” and “cubes” in designated zones, and remotely hanging robots onto a hanging pole.

Team 6430 will constantly tweak their robot — which they’ve already assembled — to master the art of “Starstruck,” as they compete in monthly regional tournaments, beginning in September. The team’s goal is to again qualify for the VEX World Robotics Championships, and to have another strong performance.

“Throughout our season, we’ll try a lot of things,” said Sean Carr, the coach’s son.

“It’s like your little baby the whole season,” Walters said. “You’ve got to take care of it.”

Students interested in joining the Trinity Dragons robotics team can reach Ray Carr at (813) 679-1795.

Published July 13, 2016