The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Wilson ousted by Wells, Moore heading to November

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There hasn’t been an incumbent victory in Pasco County Commission’s District 4 seat since 2002. And that streak will continue through at least 2018.

PoliticalAgenda-Mike Wells Jr
Mike Wells Jr.

Henry Wilson Jr., who surprised everyone four years ago to unseat incumbent Mike Cox, was no match for Mike Wells Jr., who took the election in the open primary Tuesday, and will become the newest member of the county commission later this year.

With all precincts reporting by 9:32 p.m., Wells had 68 percent of the vote, while Wilson finished with 32 percent.

Wells is the son of former county commissioner and current property appraiser Mike Wells Sr., and raised a little more than $86,000. Wilson far exceeded his collections of 2010, bringing in donations of $40,000.

Everyone was able to vote in that commission race since there was no November challenger, and the winner would take his seat on the commission.

Mike Moore
Mike Moore

In the other county commission race, Mike Moore took the first step in his bid to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri in District 2.

Moore took 55 percent of the vote to slide past former state Rep. Ken Littlefield and Zephyrhills financial analyst Bob Robertson. Once again, money talked, with Moore topping the $100,000 mark in donations, far ahead of either competitor.

“I am humbled by the support our campaign has received from so many people from across Pasco County,” Moore said in a statement. “Now we look forward to the general election in November, and I am excited about the opportunity we have to share our campaign message with even more voters in the coming weeks. We are focused on creating jobs and building a better future here in Pasco County, and I look forward to seeing each of you on the campaign trail.”

Moore will now face Erika Remsberg in the general election. Remsberg, running as a Democrat did not have a primary opponent.

Modem trouble caused the winners to have to delay their celebrations a little bit, as the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office had to wait nearly 30 minutes for the final six precincts to start providing their finished reports. Beyond that, counting was quick, and returns flowed in rapidly — most within the first 30 minutes after polls closed.

In the lone school board race, Steve Luikart easily brushed off a challenge by former Pasco County Department of Health director Marc Yacht to win re-election. Luikart had 73 percent of the vote, compared to 27 percent by Yacht.

Pasco County Commission, District 2
Mike Moore –      12,080 – 55%
Ken Littlefield –     6,015 – 28%
Bob Robertson –   3,721 – 17%

Pasco County Commission, District 4
Mike Wells Jr. –      29,009 – 68%
Henry Wilson Jr. – 13,553 – 32%

Pasco County School Board, District 5
Steve Luikart – 29,721 – 73%
Marc Yacht –    11,150 – 27%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 1
Susan St. John – 25,787 – 66%
Laura Snell –       13,522 – 34%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 2
Alicia Polk –                  22,274 – 55%
Ken Lark –                    11,769 – 29%
Alan Scott Rosenthal – 6,472 – 16%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 16
Kim Sharpe –       22,072 – 54%
Brian Battaglia – 18,622 – 46%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 21
Phil Matthey –     21,437 – 53%
Amanda Colon – 18,908 – 47%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 35
Bruce Boyer – 25,371 – 65%
Jon Newlon –  13,936 – 35%

It’s time to vote! Primary election day is here

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Precincts all over Pasco and Hillsborough counties as well as the rest of the state are welcoming voters today as candidates find out whether they’re moving on to November, winning their seat outright, or packing up and going home.

Whether a Democrat, Republican or independent, there is a ballot for everyone, at least in Pasco County where at least one race — Pasco County Commission District 4 — is an open primary race between Republicans Mike Wells Jr. and Henry Wilson Jr. That means all registered voters can choose between the two, no matter what their party affiliation, or lack thereof, is.

The winner of that race will earn a four-year term. Wells, son of former Pasco County commissioner and current Pasco County property appraiser Mike Wells Sr., is looking to win his first election in his first try. Wilson is trying to become the first incumbent to win re-election in District 4 since Steve Simon in 2002.

All voters also will have a chance to decide a school board race between Marc Yacht and incumbent Steve Luikart. Yacht is a former director with the Pasco County Department of Health. Luikart is a former educator and school administrator, and is seeking out his second term.

Democrats and Republicans will have a chance to make their selections for governor. On the Republican side, incumbent Rick Scott is in a primary race against Yinka Abosede Adeshina and Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder. For the Democrats, it’s former governor Charlie Crist against Nan Rich.

Republicans will have one other race to look at, the primary for the District 2 county commission seat to see who will run in November to succeed the retiring Pat Mulieri. Ken Littlefield, Mike Moore and Bob Robertson are all looking to get that nomination, with the winner facing Democrat Erika Remsberg in a couple months.

When heading out to the polls, Pasco County elections supervisor Brian Corley says to remember that Florida law requires two forms of identification at the polls containing a signature and a photograph. A driver’s license, which has both, would be enough to satisfy the requirement, Corley added.

Those without proper identification will be given a provisional ballot. In order for that ballot to count, however, the voter will have to show proper identification no later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.

The Laker/Lutz News, honored earlier this year by the Florida Press Association for its local government coverage, has extensively covered the Pasco County elections. To get caught up, click on any of the links below.

Nearly 6,000 turn out for early voting – 8/23/14
Wilson still collecting checks from development community – 8/22/14
Moore tops $100,000, makes district race most expensive – 8/22/14
Littlefield not ready to retire from public service just yet – 8/21/14
Moore brings big voice to Pasco, but is ready to listen too – 8/21/14
Community service morphs into government service for Robertson – 8/21/14
Campaign Crunch: Candidates reveal where their dollars are coming from – 8/14/14
Wells seeks next generation of leadership on commission – 8/14/14
Wilson depending on divine hand in re-election quest – 8/14/14
Let them go? – 8/7/14
County’s vo-tech program needs some TLC, Luikart says – 8/7/14
Yacht says school district needs protection from itself – 8/7/14
Corley warns of ‘misleading information’ from voter group – 7/18/14
Simple ways offered to make voting hassle-free – 7/17/14
Voters are mad, and it could affect turnout this November – 7/3/14
Littlefield challenges experience of his commission opponents – 7/3/14
Mulieri endorses candidate to replace her – 7/2/14
Voters can ride the bus for free to polls – 6/26/14
Commission race an open primary, other candidates qualify – 6/26/14
Paperwork snafu costs Diaz chance for Tallahassee – 6/20/14
Voters to decide between Wells, Wilson in August – 6/20/14
Moore tops Wells in monthly campaign financing – 5/13/14
Wells comes out swinging in commissioner race – 5/8/14
Altman officially files for school board re-election – 5/7/14
Mike Wells challenges Henry Wilson for commission seat – 4/4/14
Commission candidate among those appointed to planning council – 4/1/14
Commission candidates (mostly) avoid elevated toll road debate – 3/7/14
Wilson not convinced Pasco needs elevated road – 2/6/14

Moore tops $100,000, makes district race most expensive

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With just days before voters will choose just one of three candidates to represent the Republican ticket in the Pasco County Commission District 2 race, Mike Moore will clearly take the fundraising title after a final push this week put him over $100,000.

Mike Moore is a Wesley Chapel-based entrepreneur that says he can bring his business experience to the Pasco County Commission. He faces a primary against Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson in an effort to succeed the retiring Pat Mulieri on the commission. (Courtesy of Mike Moore)
Mike Moore

Combined with the efforts of fellow Republicans Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson, the three candidates have raised $134,348, already making it the most expensive District 2 race in the past decade. It tops the $121,111 raised in the 2006 election, and the $116,669 collected in 2010 — both won by Pat Mulieri. And those numbers included the general election.

Moore goes into the primary election day with just under $103,400, picking up $4,400 between Aug. 9 and Aug. 21. That includes $1,000 from the political action committee HCA West Florida Division, and $1,500 from Orsi Development and Springfield Homes in New Port Richey.

In all, Moore has spent just under $100,000 of that, with less than 45 percent of those funds — or $44,376 — staying inside Pasco County. Moore spent nearly $50,000 on advertising, all but nearly $3,000 of it, however, with a Ponte Vedra Beach company called Majority Strategies Inc. He also spent more than $15,000 — or about 15 percent of his money — with an Odessa company called Capital Consulting.

Robertson picked up a little more than $2,000 in his final two weeks of campaigning ahead of the primary, bringing his total to just under $15,600. That includes $500 each from Dobies Funeral Homes in Holiday, as well as listed Tampa property manager Lloyd Riales and also Eric Gilbertson, a volunteer director with the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills.

Bob Robertson has stayed closely involved in the community, and wants to continue being the public advocate Pat Mulieri was on the board. In fact, the Zephyrhills financial analyst earned an endorsement from Mulieri heading into the Aug. 26 primary. (Courtesy of Bob Robertson)
Bob Robertson

Robertson has spent $14,270 of those funds, half of it locally. However, business cards and signs, among other things, were purchased outside the county — and sometimes the state — including $921 to a Texas company called Signs on the Cheap, and just under $2,300 to Delivery Signs of Orlando. Robertson, however, did do social media and other work locally with the Wesley Chapel company The Busy Buddy to the tune of $1,155.

When it came to advertising, Robertson spent far less than Moore, just $233, or less than 2 percent of his total expenditures.

Despite Friday being the deadline for final primary campaign reports, Littlefield did not file his financials by 6 p.m. with the Pasco County supervisor of elections office. Before that, he had raised $10,450 — about half of what he did four years before in his primary against Mulieri. That includes about $7,600 Littlefield put in of his own money, and not including about $9,000 in a listed in-kind donation on his own behalf for what he said was printing and postage.

Ken Littlefield, during his years as a state lawmaker, giving a speech on the floor of the state House in Tallahassee. Littlefield wants to continue serving government at the Pasco County Commission. (Courtesy of Florida House)
Ken Littlefield

Littlefield spent $10,300, with 57 percent — or $4,967 — taking place locally. Most of his non-local spending was done through Gulf Coast Imprinting in Largo.

After being asked by The Laker/Lutz News about why there was a delay in filing, Littlefield said via email that he was just getting home from work, and planned to file “after dinner.”

Republican voters will have a chance to choose from among the three candidates Aug. 26. The winner will face Democrat Erika Remsberg in the general election.

Robin Williams’ suicide sparks important conversations

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While the death of Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams has prompted expressions of sadness from around the globe, some local grief and suicide prevention experts said the loss also has stimulated important conversations.

Suicide-depression-r100When news hit that Williams had taken his own life Aug. 11, the celebrity’s death sparked discussions about suicide, mental illness and grief.

Williams’ death is tragic, but it has focused attention on a topic that many people would prefer to avoid, said Betsey Westuba, chairwoman of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition.

“When I say the word ‘suicide,’ I find people will change the subject. I call it the ‘S-word,’ because people want to run away from it,” said Westuba, who also facilitates a group that meets in Lutz for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. “The point is, it’s real. It’s out there.”

To help combat the problem, people must become more alert to signs that others are thinking about suicide, and must be willing to step in to do what they can to help, she said.

Jason Tompkins, a licensed clinical social worker, said the death by suicide of a well-known personality, such as Williams, can serve as a catalyst to raise awareness to help prevent suicides.

“A high-profile suicide starts a lot of conversations with people who would not be having this conversation,” said Tompkins, who coordinates the annual International Survivors of Suicide Loss Conference.

While Williams’ death has received worldwide attention and prolonged media coverage, there have been hundreds of suicides around the country that have occurred since Williams died, Tompkins noted.

Up to 39,000 people die by suicide in the United States each year, Tompkins said. That works out to more than 100 people a day.

Deaths by suicide tend to raise many questions, Tompkins said.

“A lot of the questions that I hear in the aftermath of suicide: ‘Why did they do it? How come we couldn’t stop them? Didn’t they know that we loved them?’” Tompkins said. “Those are the types of questions that, years later sometimes, people wrestle with.”

Grief is a common reaction to deaths of all kinds, said Grace Terry, founder of Grief Resolution Resources of Tampa. It’s not uncommon, either, for people to feel a certain measure of regret for things they should or shouldn’t have done before their loved one passed away. Those regrets can be magnified when the death is by suicide.

“I believe that friends and families of those who die by suicide have a particularly difficult grief challenge,” Terry said. “No matter what the circumstance or situation, people who have loved ones die by suicide have a crushing sense of guilt.”

People wonder how someone like Williams — who was talented, rich and famous — could reach a point where he would end his life.

“When someone is incredibly depressed, it doesn’t matter how wealthy they are or how much fame they have,” Terry said. “Really, none of that matters if someone is clinically depressed.”

There are ways to help people — both those who may be considering suicide and those who are coping with the loss of a loved one through suicide — the experts said. Treatment is available, Terry said. And in many cases, those who seek professional help can get better.

“Depression can be mild, moderate or severe,” Terry said. There are times when it becomes life-threatening and life-ending, she added.

If you suspect someone needs help, it’s important to respond, Terry said.

“Express your concern in a loving way,” Terry said. Offer to go with them to see a doctor or attend a support group.

Be direct, Westuba said. If you suspect someone is suffering through depression, ask, “Are you suicidal? Are you having suicidal thoughts?” Then help them find professional help.

There are some actions to avoid, Terry said.

“Do not nag. Do not scold. Do not shame people,” she said. “Do not tell people, ‘Get a grip. Get over it.’ Or, ‘Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.’ That does more harm than good.”

Those who take their own lives generally have impaired judgment, said Terry, who at one point in her life was clinically depressed and considered ending her life.

“People who attempt to complete suicide are usually in so much emotional pain that they have no capacity to consider what pain their action might cause someone else,” she said.

The death of a comic genius that brought so much joy to others illustrates what a pervasive and potentially deadly force depression can be.

“What comes out of all of this is that we never know when someone is suffering suicidal thoughts,” said Westuba, who facilitates a group called Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide. “It’s a very complex situation.”

The group meets at Suncoast Kids Place in Lutz, which is part of Van Dyke Church. Westuba leads a group for adults, but another group for teenagers is expected to begin meeting in September.

Such settings can be helpful for people who are coming to terms with their loss and their grief, Tompkins said.

Even if there are no easy answers, he added, “It does seem very helpful and beneficial to be able to have a place to ask those questions.

“I think that it’s important to remember that grief is a process,” he said. “It’s not like a light switch” that can be easily turned off and on. “For many survivors, the sad part lives on for a long time.”

Suicide Hotline: (800) 273-8255
Local 211 hotline: Visit 211.org and enter your ZIP code to find help for all sorts of issues.

WHAT: Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide
WHO: Adults, 18 and older
WHEN: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the first and third Wednesday of each month
WHERE: 17030 Lakeshore Road, Building G, Lutz
COST: Free
INFO: Suncoast Kids Place, (813) 990-0216

Warning signs
People who die by suicide often show one or more of these warning signs before they take action:

• Talk about wanting to kill themselves, or say they wish they were dead
• Look for ways to kill themselves, such as hoarding medicine or buying a gun
• Talk about a specific suicide plan
• Feel hopeless or having no reason to live
• Feel trapped, desperate, or needing to escape from an intolerable situation
• Feel like they’re a burden to others
• Feel humiliated
• Have intense anxiety or panic attacks
• Lose interest in things, or lose the ability to experience pleasure
• Experience insomnia
• Become socially isolated and withdrawn from friends, family and others
• Acting irritable or agitated
• Show rage or talk about seeking revenge for being victimized or rejected, whether or not the situations seem real

Those showing these types of behavior should be evaluated for possible suicide risk by a medical doctor or mental health professional.

Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

August 20, 2014

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Arthur Kirk Jr. retiring from Saint Leo

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Saint Leo University is bracing to lose a longtime leader as president Arthur Kirk Jr. says he will retire after the 2014-15 academic year.

“While presidents often get credit for success, I am most proud of those at Saint Leo who embraced our mission, practiced our values, and pursued our vision, never fearing change, and working tirelessly to create a successful and sustainable university for the 21st century,” Kirk said, in a release. “The faculty, staff, trustees, alumni and friends have all been an integral part of what stands today as the third largest Catholic university in America.”

Arthur Kirk Jr.
Arthur Kirk Jr.

When Kirk first joined Saint Leo as its president, it was known as Saint Leo College, and had a student body of a little more than 7,400. However, in his nearly 18 years, that number has more than doubled to 16,450 students served by more than 240 faculty members, and offering 48 degree programs, from the 22 available when Kirk first started.

Kirk’s tenure also included the founding of the Center for Online Learning, which serves students all over the world. The physical campus itself continues to grow as well, with 11 new buildings over the years, and three renovated buildings, adding 70 acres and nearly 1 million square feet of new facilities.

Retiring was not an easy decision for Kirk, according to a release. And he said he would miss the students more than anything else.

“They stand as role models by practicing our core values while on campus, and then living them in the world as alumni,” Kirk said. “Saint Leo University is not about a president; it is the collective seeking each day to go from good to great. I will miss leading and working with such a wonderful collection of men and women with purpose.”

Saint Leo’s board of trustees already has contracted with an executive search firm, Witt/Keiffer, to help find a successor to Kirk. The search, they said, will be nationwide.

“The board of trustees takes seriously its role in finding the next leader for these dedicated people, and most importantly for our students,” said Cindy Brannen, the board’s chair, in a release. “The university can never repay Dr. Kirk for all he has done at Saint Leo, but we will start by working diligently to appoint a president who shares the university’s commitment to its mission, values and vision, and embraces his legacy of hard work and dedication.”

Kirk became the eighth president of Saint Leo in 1997 after serving as president of Keuka College in upstate New York. He had begun his administrative career at Kean University in New Jersey where he served as assistant director of the division of college development, and director of alumni affairs. He also served as director of development and planning for Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey, and directed the college’s off-campus, non-credit and curriculum development programs.

Kirk moved on to become the executive vice president and chief financial officer of College Misericordia in northeastern Pennsylvania, before getting the nod to lead Keuka College in 1984.

He received his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree in administration from Kean University. He earned his doctorate from Rutgers University, writing his dissertation on small college survival strategies.

Campaign Crunch: Politicians reveal where their dollars are coming from

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Erika Remsberg has not raised a lot of money for her bid to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission — and she never expects to.

Mike Moore, left, and Ken Littlefield have run nearly polar opposite campaigns for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, at least when it comes to fundraising. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Mike Moore, left, and Ken Littlefield have run nearly polar opposite campaigns for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, at least when it comes to fundraising.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Through July 25, the lone Democrat seeking a spot on the commission has collected $4,425 on direct donations, better only than the $2,350 raised by Ken Littlefield — one of three people Remsberg may face in the November election. And it’s practically pennies compared to the nearly $162,000 both Mike Moore and Mike Wells have combined to raise for their own races so far.

But Remsberg isn’t worried. While other candidates are getting the $1,000 maximum from many donors, she is averaging far less than $100 per contribution. And that’s a proper grassroots campaign in her eyes.

“I have been at a financial disadvantage since I started,” Remsberg said. “I had to make careful decisions about how I spend money.”

More than 80 percent of Remsberg’s donations have come from people living inside Pasco County, according to campaign finance records, maintaining what she says is her commitment to find support first among county residents. But not everyone has taken that approach, like one of the Republicans seeking Mulieri’s seat, Bob Robertson.

The financial analyst from Zephyrhills has raised a little more than $10,000 in donations in his primary fight against Littlefield and Mike Moore. But less than 20 percent of that has come from the county, or even from Florida, for that matter.

“I think part of what that says is that my sort of boundaries of life are a little broader than Pasco County,” Robertson said. “These are people who know me, who believe in me, and really have nothing to gain from me personally. They are just interested and being supportive of what I’m doing and what I believe.”

Many of those donations have come from Robertson’s native Maryland, and have consisted of smaller donations — well below the $1,000 maximum — from people Robertson has called friends and family. He would prefer his local amount of donations to be higher, but his focus has been more on making sure he doesn’t collect money from those who have business with the county, especially developers.

Robertson, in fact, has only collected $250 — or less than 3 percent — of his donations from those who work in land development or sales directly associated with it. That was a check from contractor Terry Cradick of Pepper Contracting, who Robertson told The Laker/Lutz News last week that he’s actually returning, because he since has found out Cradick does business with the county.

It’s keeping his hands clean from those looking to make money with the county that has kept Littlefield away from not only those donations, but most contributions in general. The former state legislator has practically bankrolled his entire election, with just minimal support from donors.

“I’ve made sure that any money that I’ve taken, that they didn’t have the potential of appearing before the board” of commissioners, Littlefield said. “I certainly can’t speak for them, but I’m sure those donors are looking for a foot in the door, and I’m not giving them one.”

That philosophy is different with the remaining commission candidates, however, including the lone incumbent looking to keep his seat — at least by actions, if not by rule.

Henry Wilson Jr., is trying to stave off a challenge to his seat from Mike Wells Jr., the son of county property appraiser Mike Wells Sr. The open primary Aug. 26 will let anyone choose between the two, regardless of the voter’s political affiliation.

In a candidate forum last week in Dade City, Wilson tried to distance himself from Wells by telling the audience he wasn’t collecting money from developers and real estate agents.

“The first time around (in 2010) they didn’t support me, and the second time around (in 2014) they still didn’t support me,” Wilson said. “Those builders and developers are not Pasco County residents. I need to be business-friendly with them. But my support, I want it to come from our residents here.”

Except Wilson is getting support from the developer community. More than $10,000 of his donations, or just under 30 percent, come from that group. That percentage is close behind both Wells and Moore, who each have had about a third of their campaign funded by those in the developer community.

When presented that statistic, Wilson clarified his earlier statement, focusing instead on where geographically the money came from.

“I have some local people, some local developers, who gave to me,” he said. “But the national firms, the national companies, they’re the ones who aren’t giving.”

But of the developers who have contributed to Wilson, less than 15 percent listed addresses from Pasco County, according to an analysis of campaign finance records.

These developers are small businesses that can’t be ignored, Moore said, in an email.

“It’s humbling to know that so many people and small businesses believe in our cause, and have been willing to make phone calls, knock on doors, donate funds and put up yard signs,” he said.

Wells is not ashamed of the support he’s received, adding that everyone deserves a voice, especially when they are contributing more than $350 million in new construction to the county.

“Contractors, builders, Realtors, road builders, etc., are playing a major role in fueling our county’s economic engine,” Wells said, in an email. “These business people have invested heavily, and have a real interest to see their county run properly.”

Developer/Real Estate Contributions
The percentage of each candidate’s total donations through July 25 for each Pasco County Commission candidate related to new property development, including contractors, engineers, real estate agents and the people who represent them.

Mike Moore – 36.6% ($32,600)
Mike Wells – 31.6% ($23,050)
Henry Wilson – 29.0% ($10,400)
Bob Robertson – 2.5% ($250)
Ken Littlefield – 0.0% ($0)
Erika Remsberg – 0.0% ($0)

Source: Pasco County campaign finance records

Local Contributions
The percentage of each candidate’s total donations through July 25 for each Pasco County Commission candidate where the source of funds was from within the county.

Ken Littlefield – 91.5% ($2,150)
Erika Remsberg – 80.8% ($3,575)
Mike Wells – 66.7% ($48,645)
Henry Wilson – 56.1% ($20,135)
Mike Moore – 55.4% ($49,303)
Bob Robertson – 19.5% ($1,972)

Source: Pasco County campaign finance records

Published August 13, 2014

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Soaring above life’s everyday routine

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When people see a colorful hot air balloon gliding across the sky in Land O’ Lakes or Wesley Chapel, or other nearby places — chances are the beauty of the balloon is what captures their attention.

But that’s a mere glimpse into the stories that play out every week in the hot air balloons operated by American Balloons, based in Land O’ Lakes.

Balloon pilot Tom Warren shoots flames into the interior of a balloon, to heat the air in the balloon. The hot air is what gives the balloon its lift. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Balloon pilot Tom Warren shoots flames into the interior of a balloon, to heat the air in the balloon. The hot air is what gives the balloon its lift.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Just a few weeks ago, a couple got engaged during a flight that Tom Warren piloted out of Zephyrhills. After the groom-to-be popped the question, the balloon operator guided the balloon to a landing in the middle of the fiancée’s family’s property in Dade City where a big group was waiting.

During another recent week, the balloon operator piloted three engagements and a wedding.

American Balloons has flown hospice patients who wanted to fulfill a final wish, and has taken up wounded warriors so they could experience the freedom of flight, said Jessica Warren, the company’s owner.

It has helped people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and retirements. It has played a role in solemn events, too, as people bid a final farewell to a loved one.

The couple, who have operated the business for 17 years, enjoys sharing the tranquil experience that ballooning offers.

And, they never know whom they’ll be flying next.

Some passengers travel from far away places to catch a ride on the wind, while others come from just around the block. So far, their oldest passenger was 97, while the youngest were infants.

Their balloons, equipped with doors, can accommodate people who use wheelchairs and have other physical limits.

Passengers have different reasons for boarding the balloon. Jessica Warren was sitting in the lobby one morning at the Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa in Wesley Chapel, checking passengers in.

“This guy came downstairs and began asking questions,” she said.

When she explained the flight, the man wanted to join the group. And he could, because there was room — two scheduled passengers had failed to show up.

It turns out the man was from Puerto Rico and was suffering from a brain tumor, the balloon company owner said. He was traveling the world while he could, dipping into as many new experiences as time would permit.

Whether it’s from a sense of adventure, a penchant for romance, or a matter of mere curiosity, the company attracts enough passengers to fly more than 150 flights a year. It would fly more, but many flights are cancelled because of weather conditions.

One recent Thursday morning, a group of seven passengers gathered at the hotel before dawn to check in for their flight. They came from Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Lake Magdalene, Carrollwood and Tampa.

There was an air of anticipation as the group traveled by van to a field in New Tampa, where the flight would depart.

At the field, the Warrens and their three-member crew sprang into action. They quickly unloaded the massive fabric balloon and spread the envelope flat on the ground. They rigged the balloon’s vents and set up giant fans to inflate the balloon.

Finally, they shot propane flames into the interior to heat the air, which is what causes the balloon to rise.

Within minutes, it was time for passengers to board. Some used footholds to climb into a compartment, while others stepped through an open door into the other side of the basket.

As they prepared to launch, Tom Warren — who has flown balloons all over the world — began his commentary.

The 10-passenger balloon, which stands 90 feet tall and 55 feet wide, is fueled by propane, he said. It can heat up to 208 degrees near the top of the balloon, and that heat is what keeps the balloon aloft.

He controls the balloon’s direction by raising and lowering the balloon, to ride the wind, which blows in different directions and at varying speeds, depending on the altitude.

Every flight is unique, the balloon pilot said.

“We’re not going to go very far today,” Tom Warren said. “There’s not a lot of wind. It’s the kind of crapshoot that God gives you every day.”

On this particular day, passengers can see stands of cypress, shimmering ponds and a gorgeous sunrise as they glide above New Tampa.

They can see the downtown Tampa skyline in the distance and can check out The Shops at Wiregrass, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, and subdivisions nearby.

The balloon pilot has seen some interesting sights through the years. He’s seen boars the size of cows on land within Wiregrass Ranch. He’s seen marijuana being cultivated in a field behind apartments. He’s seen nudists on their back porch in Caliente, a clothing optional community in Land O’ Lakes.

During this particular flight, though, the winds were calm, the wildlife was hiding and the balloon didn’t travel far.

As they disembarked, passengers said they’d had a great time.

“It was so calm. I’m afraid of heights and I wasn’t afraid at all,” said Kathy Rizzo of Wesley Chapel. “It wasn’t at all frightening. It was a very smooth landing.”

“It was quiet and peaceful,” her husband Tom said, noting he especially enjoyed experiencing “the beauty of creation.”

Jimi Gillespie of Carrollwood acknowledged she was bit nervous before the flight.

“I’m a little afraid of heights,” she said, but it turned out that the ride was smooth and not at all intimidating.

Gillespie enjoyed seeing the world from a different perspective.

“It’s a vantage point you don’t typically get, so that was interesting,” she said.

Brian Bernhard of Lake Magdalene has a pilot’s license, so he’s no stranger to flight. But this was his first time up in a balloon.

“I loved it,” Bernhard said.

Jim and Kathy Appleby of Lutz both said they enjoyed the flight. After six cancellations by the balloon company, and three cancellations from themselves, the couple was finally able to go on a ride.

Now, Kathy Appleby said, she can scratch that off her bucket list.

She complimented the balloon pilot and crew.

“We’ve done a lot of this stuff and I thought they were very informative,” she said. “They were very professional.”

The pilot was entertaining too, Tom Rizzo added, noting it’s an outing he’d highly recommend.

American Balloons typically offers more than 150 flights a year, based on weather. The company also handles a wide variety of special events.
For more information or to book a balloon, visit AmericanBalloonRides.com, or call (813) 243-9507.
Flights cost $189 per adult and $125 for children, ages 5 through 15. Discounts are available for groups of six or more.
The company also offers private exclusive flights at $525 per couple. The price includes a hot air balloon ride, a crew to inflate and pack up the balloon, a professional pilot and a traditional champagne toast and breakfast, following the flight.

Published August 6, 2014

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Pasco schools to keep valedictorians, salutatorians

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A seemingly unpopular idea to remove valedictorians and salutatorians from graduating classes in Pasco County Schools is now gone.

Superintendent Kurt Browning issued a letter to the media Tuesday night, saying he is abandoning any further efforts at this time to explore the place singling out the top academic performers in each class has in education overall.

“After much reflection and discussion, I have made the decision to preserve the valedictorian and salutatorian titles while we look at the underlying issues with our grading and grade weighting processes,” Browning wrote. “The (student progression plan) the school board will consider at next Tuesday’s final public hearing will not include the original recommendation to remove the val/sal titles.”

Browning said his position on the matter was mischaracterized on a local television station, which generated a number of emails coming out against it. The interview took place after the school board’s first public hearing on revisions to the student progression plan, which at the time included removing valedictorian and salutatorian titles.

“I want Pasco principals, school leaders and teachers to know that I still think changing how we honor our best and brightest is the right thing to do,” Browning said, “I believe there is a better way to recognize the highest achievers, encourage more students to strive for excellence, and eliminate the practice of recognizing only two students per school … year.”

Browning, however, wanted to make it clear that he did not advocate “giving a trophy to every student.”

The issue might be dead for now, but Browning said he plans to resurrect it next year when it comes time to talk about the 2015-16 school year. By then, he is hoping that a panel of academic experts will have weighed in with recommendations for improvement.

In the meantime, principals at Pasco schools have the flexibility to determine how valedictorians and salutatorians will be recognized and who will speak at graduation, Browning said. He also encouraged those principals to consider using titles similar to what colleges use like cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude, which he had advocated in his student progression plan.

The board will meet once again on the student progression plan Aug. 12 at 9:30 a.m., in Land O’ Lakes.

Special needs recreational classes struggling to stay afloat

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Megan Burgess loves to paint and sing.

She looks forward to her weekly art and music class, designed for people with special needs, which are Thursday evenings at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway. But if it doesn’t get more support, she might lose that opportunity.

Megan Burgess paints at her weekly art class at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex with art teacher Angela Dickerson looking on. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Megan Burgess paints at her weekly art class at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex with art teacher Angela Dickerson looking on.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

And that loss would be felt by both Megan and her mother.

“It would be horrible. You want the kids to be socializing,” Violetta Burgess said.

Her daughter Megan, 21, has low-functioning autism. She has trouble communicating verbally, but her enthusiasm for the class is clear: When Violetta tells her it’s time for art or music, Megan goes to find her shoes. She knows where she’s going that night, and has a fun time singing, using percussion instruments, painting and participating with everyone else in the class.

The problem is that “everyone” was just five students this past session. And for VSA Florida, the state branch of Very Special Arts — an international nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding art opportunities for people with disabilities — five is simply not enough.

“It does put the program in jeopardy, because if we don’t keep our numbers up, we’re not able to keep it going,” said Wendy Finklea, VSA Florida’s director of programs. “We aren’t at the point where the class is sustaining itself.”

The class requires at least seven students to break even, but really needs a steady roster of 10 or more students to be financially viable long-term. The $40 per month that participants pay not only compensates the teachers who direct the classes, but also covers a nominal fee the organization pays the recreation complex.

Since classes moved from the University of South Florida to Land O’ Lakes in January, attendance has ranged from four to eight students. Those figures have required VSA Florida to keep it going with other funds, Finklea said. They also provide scholarships based on need for families who cannot afford the monthly cost.

While the class is caught in a numbers game, Finklea said the benefits go way beyond the balance sheet.

“They learn self confidence, they learn teamwork, collaboration, tolerance, understanding,” she said.

And since the students are often asked to describe or explain their art, they learn to express themselves in a variety of ways.

While the Land O’ Lakes class attendance is troubling, that location isn’t alone. Many of their locations struggle with attendance, Finklea said. She believes there are several reasons why the programs don’t always gain traction, from a lack of societal emphasis on the arts, to scheduling conflicts, to parents not even knowing the classes exist.

But the ones who attend appreciate the program, and Finklea said the training the teachers receive to work with special needs students contributes to the positive feedback.

While Finklea and VSA Florida are disappointed with the turnout so far, they aren’t giving up. VSA Florida will continue advertising and promoting the classes, and is working with a consultant to find other opportunities to get the word out to the community.

After a scheduled summer break in August, the classes will begin again in September, and Finklea said they’ll have roughly six months to get the program running at a higher capacity before some tough decisions have to be made.

Right now she believes many people with special needs are missing out on the benefits of the class, and if it has to be cancelled or relocated, the existing students will join them.

“They’re probably missing out on a huge chance for creative expression and probably a chance to enhance their cognitive and social outcomes, which ultimately develops a stronger quality of life,” Finklea said.

That outcome would disappoint Megan, and her mother would have a tough time replacing the activity and the enjoyment she gets out of it.

“My daughter would lose out because I don’t know what I would do,” Violetta said. “She’s older, and it’s hard to find something for her that’s close.”

Siblings of special needs students also are encouraged to join and participate with them in the classes. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about VSA Florida, call (813) 974-0715, or visit VSAFl.org.

Published July 30, 2014

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Wesley Chapel, New Tampa chambers talk merger

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Both are young chambers of commerce compared to the ones with deeper roots that surround them. But there is a possibility that the two could become one.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce has opened up talks with the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce with the idea that the two could explore “integrating membership” of the two chambers. The goal, Wesley Chapel chamber executive director Hope Allen said, would be to “build a strong organization focused on membership development, community development and economic development in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area.”

The Wesley Chapel chamber’s board of directors have appointed a task force to explore the logistics and benefits of a merger, and are now conducting a due diligence review, Allen said.

“While discussions are still in their infancy, we are always interested in reviewing partnerships that enhance our business community,” Allen said in a statement. “After the task force completes its review, the next step is to engage a broader pool of people in the discussion, including current chamber members and community leaders.”

The New Tampa chamber, founded in 2009, has a little more than 100 members. The Wesley Chapel chamber was founded in 1998, and maintains about 460 members. It’s not clear how big a new combined chamber would be, since some businesses are members of both chambers.

A decision is expected to be made by October.