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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

Ceremony honors Vietnam veterans

July 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

It was a day set aside to honor veterans of the Vietnam War, and their loved ones.

More than 100 veterans of the Vietnam War, and their families, gathered inside the East Pasco Adventist Academy’s gymnasium on June 27 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Veteran Air Force Sgt. Robin McIntosh, of Zephyrhills, shows off the lapel pin acknowledging service during the Vietnam War. (Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley) — Veteran Air Force Sgt. Robin McIntosh, of Zephyrhills, shows off the lapel pin acknowledging service during the Vietnam War.
(Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Veterans at the ceremony received lapel pins acknowledging their service. Tribute was paid, as well, to the 58, 307 service members who died in the war, as well as the 1,167 still considered missing in action.

In his remarks to the audience, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis thanked the veterans for their service and for their sacrifices.

Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th District and is vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said two lessons learned from the controversial Vietnam War continually stand out to him: To leave no one behind and to honor the commitment to support war veterans.

“The members of the armed services who faithfully served with courage and honor were caught in the crossfire of public debate regarding the nation’s involvement, and did not receive the welcome home that they deserved,” Bilirakis said.

“Our veterans are our heroes — not our movie actors, not our athletes and certainly not our politicians; Americans need to continue to thank veterans on a daily basis,” Bilirakis said.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis thanks veterans for their service. Others at the ceremony, included Jack Mariano, a Pasco County commissioner; Frank Jones of the Pasco Veterans Center; Arthur Hibbard, a U.S. Marine Corps corporal; and, Danny Burgess, a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Within the past three years, Bilirakis has introduced two pieces of legislation (COVER Act, PROMISE Act) to help veterans get better access to primary medical care and to address the prevalence of mental health issues amongst veterans.

Estimates show that 22 veterans a day commit suicide, with many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

A survey conducted by the Veterans Administration revealed that some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from the condition.

Rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction are also markedly higher among veterans.

“It’s awful; we must do something about it,” he said about the staggering suicide figures. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country that it is up to us to provide them with the care and benefits they need, and have earned and deserve.”

The congressman said that serving veterans will continue to be his top priority in office.

The ceremony’s featured speaker was U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Art Hibbard, who served in the war from 1968-1969.

Hibbard choked up with tears as he reminisced the moment when all U.S. troops were withdrawn from the war in 1973 and the subsequent negative treatment they received upon arriving in America.

Jim Shultz, Rod Rehrig, Trevor Gray, all of Zephyrhills, and Tom Conely, of Dade City, listen to a speech by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

“There were no ticker tape parades, no triumphant marches as it were in the first two World Wars,” Hibbard said. “American Vietnam veterans returned home to silence, or worse,” he said, for having served their country during a controversial war.

Hibbard said he often gets asked about when he served in Vietnam. His response is the same each time: “Man, I was there just last night.”

For Hibbard, not a day goes by where he doesn’t think about his experiences in the Vietnam jungles.

“Every day for the past 40 years,” he said, “I wake up with it. I go to bed with it. I can’t stop thinking about it; I never will.”

The pungent odor of the bloodshed of war still haunts him, too.

“I’ll never forget the way blood smells,” he said. “You didn’t want to make a lot of friends when the possibility of dying is that real; we were in the business of death, and death was with us all the time,” Hibbard said.

Vietnam War (1954-1975)
U.S. Troop Statistics:
8,744,000 – Total number of U.S. Troops that served worldwide during Vietnam
3,403,000 served in Southeast Asia
2,594,000 served in South Vietnam

The total of American servicemen listed as POW/MIA at the end of the war was 2,646.

Death Toll
58,307- Total U.S. Deaths (Average age of 23.1 years old)
1.3 million – Total military deaths for all countries involved
1 million – Total civilian deaths
–Figures compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Defense

Published July 6, 2016

It’s time for Fourth of July fun

June 29, 2016 By B.C. Manion

People who enjoy celebrating Independence Day will find plenty of choices both locally and across the Tampa Bay region this Fourth of July weekend.

As usual, the community of Lutz will have a slate of activities geared at giving families a taste of old-fashioned Fourth of July fun.

The day kicks off with a 5-k for runners, and a 1-mile family fun run and walk for those who are geared to life at a slower pace. Other festivities for the day include a flag-raising ceremony, a parade, booths, a cake auction and the election of the new honorary Lutz Guv’na.

If you want to start celebrating before July Fourth, you may enjoy a musical program on July 2 at 6 p.m., or July 3 at 10:30 a.m., at CrossPointe Church, 919 Debuel Road in Land O’ Lakes.

A new tribute is planned this year in Land O’ Lakes by the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club, Land O’ Lakes Satellite.

The group will be displaying red, white and blue patriotic banners along U.S. 41, from July 1 through July 8, as a way to celebrate the nation’s independence and to honor military personnel who have given much to protect the country’s freedom.

Meanwhile, the community of Connerton, 21100 Fountain Garden Way in Land O’ Lakes, will host its National Celebration Independence Day Party on July 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities will include live music, food, children’s activities, local crafters, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing, a beer garden and fireworks.

Last year, more than 3,000 turned out, and event organizers are expecting even more this year. People are encouraged to bring out blankets and lawn chairs. The fireworks are scheduled at 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, on the east side of Pasco County, organizers of Sparklebration are gearing up for a full day of festivities at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, at 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. Gates open on July 4 at 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for those age 12 and older; parking is $5. Eating contests, bounce houses, petting zoo, games, skydivers, live entertainment, and fireworks which are expected to begin at 9:15 p.m.

Skydive City, 4241 SkyDive Lane in Zephyrhills, will be staging an event that includes live music, food and a fireworks display. Gates will open at 6 p.m.

Admission will be $5 for those 12 and older, and free for those younger than age 12.

Festivities include live music from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Barbecued meals will be available for $10 a plate. Fireworks are planned for 9 p.m. Bring your own chair, blanket or cushion.

Those looking for something to do earlier during the holiday weekend may want to check out Tunes on the Lagoon at Tampa Premium Outlets, at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz.

The concert, featuring Summer Train, will be on July 2 and will kick off a series of concerts scheduled for every Saturday in July, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The July 2 event also will feature deals from retailers, family entertainment and food trucks.

Meanwhile, those who have attended Freedom Fest and watched the fireworks at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel in previous years, should make alternate plans this year.

The regional shopping mall decided to stop hosting the festivities because the event outgrew the venue, said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass.

Lenners said he always knew that would happen at some point, but he didn’t expect it to be so soon.

“It was logistically impossible,” Lenners said, noting safety was the paramount concern.

With so many people and so much traffic, the regional mall didn’t want to take a chance on someone getting hurt, he said.

Local events
Some events happening in the local area:

Celebrate America, CrossPointe Family Church, 919 Debuel Road in Lutz, July 2 at 6 p.m., and July 3 at 10:30 a.m. Program includes the Celebration Choir, the Kidzstreet Children’s Choir, Salute to the Military multimedia productions, the CrossPointe Dance Company, your favorite patriotic music and a presentation of colors by the North Tampa Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
Nation Celebration Independence Day Party at Connerton, 21100 Fountain Garden Way in Land O’ Lakes, July 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities include games, slides, bounce houses, a balloon artist and face painter. There also will be live music, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing, crafters, a beer garden and a food truck rally, as well as fireworks at 9 p.m., sponsored by Benedetto’s Italian Ristorante.
Lutz Independence Day, at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Festivities kick off with a 5k, followed by a 1-mile fun run. Other highlights include a baking contest, a flag raising ceremony, booths, an old-fashioned community parade, the swearing-in of the new Lutz Guv’na, and a cake and pie auction. The event is slated to start at 8 a.m.
Sparklebration, Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 on July 4. Gates open at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 12 and older; parking is $5. Eating contests, bounce houses, petting zoo, games, skydivers, live entertainment and fireworks which are expected to begin at 9:15 p.m.
Fourth of July at Skydive City, 4241 Skydive Lane in Zephyrhills. Gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 12 and older. Live music, barbecued meals for purchase and fireworks at 9 p.m.

Regional events
Here are some events happening across the region:

4th of July at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St., in downtown Tampa on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Costumed re-enactors will be representing several eras of American military history.
Fourth of July Celebration at Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Live music, entertainment and family friendly activities.
Fourth of July at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive. Enjoy the Splash Pad and extended hours at the aquarium, which will be open until 9:30 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m.
Clearwater Celebrates America at Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., in Clearwater. A free family celebration featuring music, family activities, live music, food and drink for sale, local vendors, and fireworks starting between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Fireworks Across the Bay Celebration in St. Pete, 612 2nd Ave., N.E. Fireworks start at 9 p.m., at St. Pete’s Spa Beach Park.

Published June 29, 2016