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Martin Luther King Boulevard

Cemetery complaints addressed

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The Dade City Commission has approved a landscaping contract, after grievances aired in recent months about the upkeep of the Dade City Cemetery.

Commissioners have approved a contract with a landscaping company to maintain the grounds of the 17-acre cemetery, at 38151 Martin Luther King Blvd.

The agreement is with Gotha-based JDMF LLC, and it calls for landscape management services from April 1 through Oct. 31, at an annual cost of $37,200.

The Dade City Commission approved a contract with landscaping management firm JDMF LLC, to maintain the Dade City Cemetery during the rainy season from April through October. The cost of services is $37,300 annually for the seven months of work. (Kevin Weiss)

The seven months of work coincide with the area’s rainy season when grass grows more quickly at the site nestled in the Mickens-Harper community, on the northeast side of town, across U.S. 98.

Two other bids received for cemetery landscape management came in at $61,446 and $179,746, respectively.

The city originally budgeted $36,000 to hire an additional public works/park employee who would have shared duties between the cemetery and downtown grounds maintenance.

However, city administration felt it more prudent to outsource the cemetery workload instead.

As explained in a city memo dated Dec. 8: “Contracting out the cemetery landscape management will eliminate the current need to hire an additional employee and provide the current downtown and parks employees the help that is needed to maintain a park-like setting in our city’s downtown area. During the dry season, city employees will maintain the cemetery.”

Dade City Public Works Director Bryan Holmes also deemed the workload “too great for one employee to maintain during the rainy season.”

Funding for the contract services will come from the parks department’s operational budget. The cost for outsourcing the work will be offset by the cost of hiring an additional employee and the vehicle costs associated with maintaining the grounds, officials say.

Split decision
The decision to go with the landscaping firm was divided among commissioners, narrowly passing by a 3-2 vote at the Dec. 8 meeting.

Mayor Camille Hernandez, and Commissioners Scott Black and Knute Nathe voted for the contract. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive and Commissioner Normita Woodard voted against.

In dissenting, Woodard expressed concern about the number of tasks the municipality has been outsourcing — as opposed to finding solutions in-house with city workers.

“It seems like anytime we meet any type of adversity, the solution is contracting someone from the outside,” Woodard said. “I personally feel like our solution should not always be to contract out.”

She added: “It seems to be that we are consistently setting a precedent that when we can’t do the job, we are immediately going outside, and I don’t like it.”

Shive made similar points. He preferred adding another a full-time employee to handle the grounds and other areas for 12 months, instead of “turn over control of the cemetery with contracted people” for seven months of the year.

“I just want to remind everybody this is $37,000 for seven months. What is going to happen for the other five months when they’re not here to do the job?” Shive asked.

“I have a problem paying $37,000 for seven months when we can hire a full-time person that can work for the cemetery and the CRA (the Community Redevelopment Agency special district) — and we’re actually creating a job for somebody.”

The mayor pro tem, too, noted the city previously hired a contractor to maintain parking lots downtown, which led to unsatisfactory results.

The other commissioners, however, supported the city staff’s recommendation for various reasons.

Over the last handful of years, some 175 gravesites have been installed across the city’s 17-acre cemetery, sparking the need for more groundskeeping assistance. Some local residents have complained about the upkeep of the site in recent months.

“For smaller municipalities like Dade City is, sometimes you can’t do everything in-house,” Nathe reasoned. “Sometimes it is more cost-effective to hire out and go to a third party to maintain something that we don’t have the resources to do ourselves.”

He continued, “I don’t care whether it’s somebody directly employed by the city who does it or a third-party contractor.

“If staff’s telling us, ‘Listen, it’s more efficient to get a third-party contractor to do this, so that it frees up the cemetery groundskeeper to go help out in other parts of the city,’  — and I’m sure they need help during the rainy season — then I say let’s do that.”

Meanwhile, Black pointed out the firm JDMF had strong references from the cities of Lakeland and Bartow, as well as Pasco and Lake counties. Also, he surmised the contractor is set to bring in an experienced multi-person crew with their own equipment to spruce up the cemetery, likely to be more effective and efficient than any one person.

“The fact remains that we’ve got a problem that we need to take care of, and this does seem like a cost-effective way of doing it,” Black said. “You’re getting a team that comes in, that works and does this for other municipalities and a couple of counties, and I think we’re needing to do something different here, and if it doesn’t work out, then we can go back and find another way to do it, but this does sound like this could be a very good solution for us, and hopefully we can go back and break the cycle of the problems that we’ve been having of late.”

Hernandez — who was the favoring swing vote — acknowledged being “really torn” with the decision.

The mayor emphasized that the city’s public works supervisors must have regular follow-up with the landscape company. Moreover, the contractor better give ample attention to weed-eating around headstones and gravesites, she said.

“I just want to make sure that we’re doing our work, that this gets done,” Hernandez said. “As we get ready to do all this marketing of our town and not only the cemetery, but all of those things that we’re doing, that everything is looking in a way that people are proud of, especially when they’re going to pay tribute to their loved ones who’ve passed.

“We all realize this is important for people with gravesites. It’s in a lot of ways very emotional and very sentimental, as well as being something that we need to take care of.”

In recent months residents have levied ongoing complaints on the growth of weeds, and damaged graves and headstone decorations, making comments on social media and during commission meetings.

It came to a head during a September meeting when residents, including Mario Jenkins, spoke up about the conditions.

Jenkins told commissioners when he last visited his mother’s grave, he discovered some of the decorations—including a memorial cross — had been destroyed.

“Every time I go there, I seem to be disappointed,” Jenkins said. “The upkeep on the grounds is very poor.”

Cemetery duties increasing
For many years, the city was able to have a single groundskeeper maintain the entire cemetery parcel, officials say.

But, apparently that’s no longer the case.

One explanation may be the surging demand of marked graves and installed headstones over the last several years.

Dade City Clerk Angie Guy is responsible for selling cemetery spaces and when families want to have headstones installed for loved ones.

Guy explained that more than 175 graves have been added to the cemetery during the last six years.

The increasing number of gravesites has increased the workload for maintaining the cemetery, she explained, as more man hours are needed to mark the grave, install headstones, landscape surrounding areas and so on.

“The workload has increased substantially, so that’s another part of the issue,” Guy told commissioners at the meeting. “It’s not just marking the grave and that’s it. Now there’s a headstone that (residents) want installed, that (worker) is going to have stop mowing, stop weed-eating, and install the headstone, and make sure it’s installed correctly. If there’s any problems (with the headstone install), then they go back and forth…”

Published December 30, 2020

Residents call for upgrades to Naomi Jones Park

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First, it was the Washington Heights community that weeks ago raised various concerns with Dade City leadership, asserting their local neighborhood and subdivision has been neglected in funding and resources.

Now, the Mickens-Harper community has come forward to levy complaints to the city, particularly for what they view as inadequate amenities and upkeep at Naomi S. Jones Park and the James Irvin Civic Center, at 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez (File)

Over a handful of middle-aged residents from the predominately Black neighborhood stepped forward during a Sept. 20 virtual city commission meeting, sharing written letters and making statements during a public comment period.

Many of the speakers expressed how the park and its recreation center have fallen in disrepair, and is a shell of its former self decades ago.

Citizens called for additional features to be installed at the park — including more pavilions; a covered playground area with new exercise equipment; more picnic tables and seating, upgraded lighting; and more routine landscaping, like edging and weeding, among other upgrades.

They also outlined various issues with the civic center building. They said the roof is leaking. There’s mold and it needs a new coat of pain. They complained about limited space in the kitchen, and outdated appliances and furnishings. The building needs expansion to accommodate larger events, residents said.

Chloe Senia recently moved back to Dade City after being away for about 45 years.

She recalled fond memories at the park when she was growing up as a youth decades ago, but was troubled to see the park’s conditions upon return to her hometown.

“I am very excited to be back in the City of Dade City, but it was very disturbing to walk out to and see the upkeep, and the condition of the park and the recreation center. …To see that there have been no improvements to the building, was pretty sad.”

She, too, pointed out the city recently upgraded other parks, such as Price Park on Magnolia Avenue, while Naomi Jones Park seemingly has been ignored: “When I look at other parks, it makes me wonder, ‘Where is the funding for Naomi Jones?’”

Those sentiments were summed up in a letter by Ella Mae Hamilton, who has been in the city the past 22 years.

While she complimented the city for funding a new bathroom/concession stand at Mickens Field and planning out a downtown community splash park, she said more needs to be done at Naomi Jones Park. She specifically requested shading for playground equipment, another pavilion and an updated kitchen: “I pray that these projects will be met for the betterment of the citizens of this city. After all, we pay taxes like everyone else.”

Meanwhile, long-time resident Anita Blake shared a recent negative experience at the park and civic center.

Blake detailed how she organized a birthday party for her 5-year-old granddaughter in November, but discovered the civic center’s kitchen oven was inoperable when she tried heating up food. Moreover, she ordered tables and chairs from the city, but they weren’t delivered on time, forcing her to scramble to make other accommodations.

This was all after she had paid designated permit and rental fees to the city, she said.

“The city knew some of this stuff was not intact, and they were still OK with me paying the whole payment,” Blake told commissioners, adding she’d have been better off renting out the Alice Hall Community Center in nearby Zephyrhills for the same price, surmising they offer better service and amenities.

She later underscored how the park’s features haven’t been upgraded since she was in school many years ago: “If you go out there to the park, the swings that are out there are the (same) swings when I went to Mickens.”

In response to all the concerns and demands, Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said the matter is being addressed by department heads, who will be performing site visits and coordinating a priority improvement list. City workers might be able to make some of the improvements, the mayor said. Other upgrades “are much bigger line items that need to be put on some type of list so we can get those accomplished,” she added.

Hernandez said she appreciates residents for bringing the issue to the commission’s attention.

“We take this matter very seriously,” Hernandez said. “We’ve heard your pleas to address this area, the importance of it, from not only the community and the heritage and the legacy of those families that have preceded us, but the importance of the future of our children that are there in our communities,” Hernandez said.

Meantime, the city is already in the works of applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to install sun shade covers over the playground equipment at Naomi Jones Park. Grant funding also is being requested to install an inclusive and ADA accessible playground apparatus on the proposed downtown community park on 10th Street, and install ADA compliant playground apparatus in Watson Park on 19th Street.

Published September 30, 2020

Complaints arise about cemetery upkeep

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When Mario Jenkins went to visit his mother’s grave at the Dade City Cemetery, he discovered that some of the decorations — including a memorial cross — had been destroyed and had to be replaced.

He recently took his concerns about the shoddy conditions of the grounds at the cemetery, at 38161 Martin Luther King Blvd., to city officials and members of the Dade City Commission.

“Every time I go there, I seem to be disappointed,” Jenkins said. “The upkeep on the grounds is very poor.”

He added, “I have a landscaping business, and if I were to treat any of my customer’s yards like that cemetery, I would be out of a job, and I’d have to pay for quite a few items that are damaged along the way.”

Jenkins had aired his concerns with city officials and then presented them at the Dade City Commission meeting.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said Jenkins’ comments “definitely got our attention” and said city staff had been directed to facilitate an action plan for the cemetery.

Some cleanup has been completed, Hernandez said, “but by no means do we consider that a done deal. This is our community, and we want to make sure that we are hearing your needs and moving forward.”

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter said short-term and long-term strategies are being developed, with the help of interim public works director Bryan Holmes. The plans include additional regular deep cleaning and perhaps adding more manpower to assist the city’s full-time groundskeeper.

“We did fall short,” Porter said of cemetery conditions. “I would like to say, though, that I don’t think it’s a reflection of the individual we had dedicated out there to the upkeep.”

The cemetery is within the Mickens-Harper community, which generally borders Irvin Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard, and stretches from First Street to Taylor Avenue, among other areas.

During the Sept. 10 commission meeting, residents from the Washington Heights neighborhood complained about flooded streets and stormwater deficiencies; poor road and sidewalk conditions; and, a general lack of code enforcement presence to address trash, debris and parking issues involving a slew of nearby rental properties.

That community is generally bordered by Gaddis Avenue and Whitehouse Avenue, and includes 10th, 11th and 12th streets, among other areas.

The city has begun to take action. For instance, the Dade City Police Department has stepped up with additional patrols and enhanced its community policing efforts in the area.

Additionally, code enforcement has put in requirements that shorten the turnaround time for repeat offenders to resolve blight.

In other city action:

  • Commissioners approved a $17.7 million budget for fiscal year 2020-2021, based on a 7.14 millage rate.
  • Commissioners approved a $20,000 bid (plus disposal costs) from Sanford-based Hydro International Settled Solids Management for tank cleaning services at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The cleaning service will be performed while the tank stays in operation and will not require draining or removing from service, officials say. The work is expected to increase the facility’s effectiveness and efficiency, and increase the lifespan of its mechanical equipment.

Published September 30, 2020

Dade City budget is decreasing in 2020-2021

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The Dade City Commission has adopted the city’s tentative budget for next year, and it represents an 8.2% decrease from this year’s budget.

Commissioners had the first reading of the ordinance and first hearing on the proposed $17,710,000 budget in a virtual meeting on Sept. 10. Commissioners gave first-round approval and will have a second reading and final public hearing before the new budget takes effect on Oct. 1.

Dade City Commissioners on Sept. 10 approved a $17,710,000 budget for fiscal year 2020-2021, based on a 7.14 millage rate. It represents a decrease of about $1.58 million, or 8.2% from current budget.

The 2020-2021 budget represents a decrease of $1,576,935 from this year’s budget.

The proposed budget is based on an approved 7.14 millage rate, accessed on the taxable value of property within the city.

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Capital outlay and debt service represents about 44% of the budget, anticipated to total $7,825,733. Major capital projects include construction of the Dade Oaks retention pond; Howard Avenue stormwater improvements; installation of the Tank Hill well, storage tower and booster station; Morningside Drive design, acquisition and construction project; construction of the visitors information center; and other various utility, sidewalk and road improvements projects.
  • Personnel costs represent about a third of the budget, totaling $5,807,341 — and an increase of $144,221 from the current budget. That’s a result of funding four new positions, increased health care and workers compensation premiums, 3% cost of living adjustments, years of service increases, reorganization within the police department, increased wages and benefits through the negotiation of the police union contract, and associated retirement.
  • Operating costs make up about 23% of the budget, at $4,076,925. Changes include funding for a website revision, conversion from a part-time IT consultant to a full-time IT manager (staff position), projected increases in solid waste collections, and additions to a utility renewal and replacement fund.

The city organized six budget workshops throughout July, August and September to hammer out the fine details, with the help of new interim finance director Andrew Laflin.

Newly elected Commissioner Knute Nathe said he was “very proud” the town was able to pass the budget without having to raise taxes on residents — maintaining a millage rate that’s been in place the past several years.

Washington Heights residents raise community concerns
Several Washington Heights residents weighed in during the public comment period of the virtual meeting — expressing their disappointment with city leadership, asserting their local neighborhood and subdivision has been neglected in funding and resources.

The Washington Heights community is generally bordered by Gaddis Avenue and Whitehouse Avenue, and includes 10th, 11th and 12th streets, among other areas.

More than a handful of residents spoke up, complaining of flooded streets and stormwater deficiencies; poor road and sidewalk conditions; and, a general lack of code enforcement presence to address trash, debris and parking issues of a slew of nearby rental properties.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

Harriett Craig, who’s lived on 10th Street since 1979, called out commissioners for appropriating “millions and millions of dollars” toward park improvements and other projects in other parts of the city, but overlooking various infrastructure issues of her local neighborhood.

“The city commissioners are here to serve the entire city, not certain parts of it,” Craig said. “I, as a resident of the City of Dade City, feel like our voices are mute when it comes down to expressing what our needs are in the city,”

She continued her point: “If Howard Avenue can be upgraded so homes won’t be flooded, why can’t 10th Street get the same treatment? I don’t understand it.”

Anita Blake, who lives in Oakview Circle adjacent to Washington Heights, also levied harsh words to commissioners: “We can’t even get the road paved, we can’t get the ditches paved. At some point, it’s like, why are we even paying taxes?”

Eunice Penix, a former longtime commissioner who lives on Wilson Street, also shared her dismay with the community seemingly being brushed aside: “I’m kind of upset. It seems to me we have selective code enforcement. …We shouldn’t have to call the city every time something needs to be done when we have workers all over the city riding and looking; they should look to see what’s wrong with the grounds.”

In response to all that, Dade City Manager Leslie Porter told residents she’ll collaborate with department heads to inspect the area and formulate an action plan in coming weeks.

“We care about all the communities in the city,” said Porter, “and it’s good for us to know when there is a problem, if there’s somewhere where we may be falling short, so I do thank you all for being here and letting us know what your concerns are.”

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez assured Washington Heights will be met with a detailed response and action from city staff, saying she is “very, very disturbed” by residents feeling neglected.

“This is embarrassing, and it should not be the case,” Hernandez said. “It’s our town, everyone pays the same taxes and should be treated the same, so we expect a plan.”

In other city business and happenings:

• Dade City Clerk Angelia Guy has been selected to serve on the Florida League of Cities’ legislative policy committee

• A neighborhood community cleanup is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 8 a.m., at Naomi Jones Park, 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd. Volunteers can register at KeepPascoBeautiful.org/coastal-cleanup

• The Mickens Field concession stand/restrooms building is progressing, as the 672-square-foot structure is vertical and bearing a roof. The $89,750 project, at 14318 Canal St., is on track to be complete by the end of October.

Published September 16, 2020

Dade City projects progressing, others delayed

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As coronavirus disease-2019  (COVID-19) affects how municipalities and government entities operate, the City of Dade City is striving to keep day-to-day duties relatively intact, while following various safety procedures and precautions.

Not unlike its municipal neighbor Zephyrhills, which is 9 miles down the road, Dade City has gone about minimizing the number of personnel at City Hall or out in the field — incorporating rotating shift schedules and allowing others to work remotely. The city, for example, is limiting the number of staffers inside City Hall to no more than six to 10 at a particular time, Dade City Manager Leslie Porter told The Laker/Lutz News.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter (File)

Porter acknowledged the pandemic has presented some logistical challenges, but added “the majority of us have been able to be fully functional, whether we’re remote or in the office.”

She continued: “We’ve been doing our best to keep business moving forward.”

So, while municipal offices on Meridian Avenue are emptier than usual, several projects and initiatives are progressing, albeit with slight delays, Porter said.

For instance, the city recently was able to put two construction projects out to bid:

  • A new concession stand and public restroom building at Moore-Mickens Field, 14318 Canal St. The city has budgeted $150,000 for the project.
  • A visitor’s information center building at the Hardy Trail trailhead, near property that later will be developed into a multi-use splash park/bike hub. The Pasco County Tourist Development Council allocated $250,000 for the information center.

Moreover, the $2.3 million downtown stormwater improvement project is nearly completed and is on track to meet its summer deadline, Porter said.

The scope of the project generally takes underground piping through multiple downtown streets into an existing conveyance system into a reconfigured Irwin Pond, just past U.S. 98 and the CSX railway.

All downtown roadway construction work is done, while “final pieces” of the pond component are underway, Porter said.

There were “a few delays” because of COVID-19, she said.

Other city plans are facing longer postponements, however.

The multimillion dollar Tank Hill wastewater facility improvement project has been put on hold, until on-site pre-bidding meetings can be scheduled, something necessary because it’s a larger-scale project, Porter said.

Also, the splash park/bike hub project is facing indefinite delays. A public draft conceptual presentation was originally scheduled in mid-March, but canceled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, and has not yet been rescheduled.

A visioning meeting would have allowed residents to provide input and ideas on wanted amenities for the new downtown park, located on a 2.23-acre parcel that borders the Hardy Trail on Church Avenue.

Other updates from the city manager:

  • City Hall remains closed to the public, so utility billing payments are being accepted online, over the phone, or through drop box. The city is absorbing the cost of credit card transaction fees for utility bills.
  • Playgrounds and public restrooms are closed, but city parks and trails remain open with the exception of Naomi Jones Park at 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd., due to challenges associated with users not obeying social distancing protocols.
  • Dade City Commissioners Eunice Penix and Nicole Deese Newlon, who are not seeking re-election, have agreed to remain in their legislative roles up until the rescheduling of the Pasco municipal elections. The elections have been delayed per an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis
  • The Dade City Police Department is temporarily pulling back on some of the in-person, community policing efforts, to minimize face-to-face contact in the wake of COVID-19.
  • The city is releasing a quarterly newsletter on its website and becoming more active on social media, to better engage citizens on various happenings and initiatives.

City to begin virtual meetings
Dade City will start holding virtual city commission meetings by teleconference, the first coming on April 28 at 5:30 p.m. The virtual format will continue “as long as necessary to keep business going and keep everybody safe,” Porter said.

Porter added the city also is prepared to hold other noteworthy meetings virtually — such as planning commission board — should stay-at-home orders extend indefinitely. “We don’t want to hold up progress,” she said.

The city had to cancel multiple in-person commission and planning board meetings in March and April due to COVID-19, and needed additional time to explore how to best go about a virtual meeting setup.

Persons wishing to participate in virtual meetings:

  • Call +1 (517) 317-3122
  • Enter access code 342-617-085(Mute your phone unless you wish to speak during public comments)

Comments about items on the agenda will be solicited and heard during the meeting by telephone or communications media technology.

General public comment (limited to 3 minutes) unrelated to an item on the agenda should be e-mailed no later than 60 minutes before the start of the meeting to . If received in a timely manner, the mayor or city staff will read the public comment at the meeting.

For more information on the setup, call (352) 523-5052, or visit DadeCityFl.com.

Published April 29, 2020

Pasco schools add feeding sites for students

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Pasco County Schools planned to expand its number of student feeding sites from its initial seven locations up to 25 school sites, effective March 31, according to a school district news release.

While wearing an N95 mask for her safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, Linda McCabe, of Dade City, confirms the amount of food bags needed for one of the cars that showed up for the Pasco County school district’s free lunch program, at the Pasco High School site on March 26. McCabe is the school’s registrar and volunteered for this program that is handing out hundreds of free food bags daily. The school district since has expanded the number of food distribution sites and changed its delivery strategy. (Christine Holtzman)

Pasco also will add feeding sites at 16 bus stops throughout the county.

There are other significant changes in the way Pasco County Schools is getting food to students. The drive-thru sites and the bus deliveries will take place on Tuesday only, and the food provided will include food for five days for each student, the release adds.

A family with two children would receive 10 lunches and 10 breakfasts on Tuesday.

The student, or students, must be present to receive food.

Here is the list of Pasco sites, in and near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, where meals will be delivered:

School bus deliveries, on Tuesdays only:

  • 11 a.m.: Wilson Street grass lot, 13800 Wilson St., Dade City
  • 11 a.m.: Zephyrhills YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills
  • 11:20 a.m.: Hilltop Landings 37611 Colina Drive, Dade City
  • 11:25 a.m.: Crystal Springs Community Center, 1655 Partridge Blvd., Zephyrhills
  • 11:45 a.m.: Trilby United Methodist Church, 37504 Trilby Road, Dade City
Pasco High School employee Diane Salas, of Dade City, passes out lunch bags to three of Ithzi Diaz’s children on March 26. Diaz, a single mother of four children, said that she is so grateful that the school district is offering this program because it helps while she tries to stretch out her food stamps until the beginning of next month. Pasco High School was one of the district’s sites that was distributing free breakfast and lunch foods to school-aged children, while area schools remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drive-thru student food distribution sites

Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road, Dade City
  • Chester W. Taylor Elementary School, 3618 Morris Bridge Road, Zephyrhills
  • Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
  • New River Elementary School, 4710 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel
  • Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City
  • Pasco Middle School, 13925 14th St., Dade City
  • Quail Hollow Elementary School, 7050 Quail Hollow Blvd., Wesley Chapel
  • San Antonio Elementary School, 32416 Darby Road, Dade City
  • West Zephyrhills Elementary, 37900 14th Ave., Zephyrhills
  • Zephyrhills High School, 6335 12th St., Zephyrhills

Published April 1, 2020

Volunteers spruce up Moore-Mickens campus

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Volunteers put a little shine to the campus of Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center in Dade City.

They swept the parking lot, raked and bagged leaves, pruned the greenery and cut the lawn.

Inside, they cleaned up the kitchen and refrigerators, and wiped down walls.

Dade City resident Quantabia Maner serves on the Community Enrichment Committee for the Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center. She helped organize a Saturday cleanup at the school.
(Fred Bellet)

Future projects include interior painting and a pressure washing for the exterior of the school’s buildings.

For now, the cleanup efforts were done just in time for summer activities.

“It looks so much better,” said Marilyn Hunter, president of the Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center, at 38301 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

Many of the volunteers who showed up for work duty on May 26 are former students who wanted to give back.

Some of those who turned out also serve on the school’s advisory board or its junior board.

“This is a legacy,” said Warren “Snapper” Godbolt, a director on the advisory board and a 1968 graduate of the school. “It’s been a life saver in a lot of ways to a lot of people. The teachers here made a lot of difference in our lives. They were like second parents for us.”

Dade City resident Guy Wright brought his ride-on mower to Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center to help spruce up the campus.

Moore-Mickens is a historical landmark in Dade City as the first public school for blacks in Pasco County. It began as Moore Academy, but later operated under the Moore and Mickens’ names as elementary, middle and high schools, and lastly as the education center.

The school’s name honors its founding educators, Rev. Junias D. Moore and Odell Kingston Mickens.

Pasco County Schools closed Moore-Mickens in 2016, citing the expenses of repairs and upkeep.

Nearly a year ago, a coalition of community activists accepted the keys to Moore-Mickens from the Pasco County school board. There is a 30-year lease, at a cost of $10 a year.

School administrators and its board of directors are revitalizing Moore-Mickens as a learning center and social hub for the community.

Dade City resident Ed Reed clipped overgrown palms to help beautify the landscape at Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center.

“We want this to be a new beginning,” said Godbolt. “The first priority is education. If you can save anyone’s child, you’ve done something.”

In recent months, the school has begun afterschool tutoring and General Equivalency Diploma classes. This summer, the school is partnering with a Gainesville-based nonprofit, Mega Social Enterprise Inc., to offer job training skills to youth, ages 14 to 21.

Although some students have signed up, additional applications are being accepted, Hunter said. The program will provide stipends during training, and will seek to find hands-on work opportunities in the community.

Sprucing up the campus was a kickoff to a busy summer.

Quantabia Maner is in charge of the Community Enrichment Committee for the school and helped organize the cleanup day.

Pam Roberts, a junior board member, attended sixth grade at the school. She was in charge of lunch for the volunteers – hot dogs, chips and drinks.

“It was a great experience for me,” she said of her brief time at Moore-Mickens. “I have great memories.”

Dade City resident Arthur Whitehead, 80, was among the first volunteers to show up on a recent Saturday morning to clear leaves and sweep the parking lot at Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center.

Arthur Whitehead, 80, was an eager volunteer. He was born in Tampa but lived most of his life in Dade City. He pushed a broom to sweep up leaves and dirt from the parking lot.

“I’ve lived here longer than Tampa, and I wanted to help out,” he said.

Mack Brockington operates Soul Refreshing Outreach in Zephyrhills. He wants to expand services and open a food pantry at Moore-Mickens. “We’re trying to move in this direction (to Dade City),” he said.

A friend and fellow church member, Guy Wright, brought a ride-on mower to clip the lawn, especially the tall grass between classroom buildings.

Ed Reed is a custodian for Pasco County Schools. He went to elementary school at Moore-Mickens. His father, Freddie Reed, worked on the construction of Moore-Mickens’ buildings.

Baron Bloodsworth, of Dade City, signed as a volunteer, ready for cleanup duty at Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center. Bloodsworth attended the school in the late 1990s.

And, Ed Reed’s wife, Ella, was a majorette and student there.

“I’m glad I’m part of it,” said Reed, who pruned palms from planters, and in the landscaping outside the buildings.

Baron Bloodsworth attended middle school in the late 1990s. He grabbed a rake and went to work. “It made an impact on the community,” he said. “Anything I can do to help.”

Edele Graham had appointments that day but made time to give an hour or so to the cleanup. She attended middle school. “I just want to see it stay and thrive,” she said.

For information on Moore-Mickens or the Mega Social Enterprise summer youth program, call Marilyn Hunter at (352) 807-5691 or Saundra Coward at (352) 467-0313.

Published June 13, 2018

Adding a new chapter, in a family legacy

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Joanne Kassebaum made a decision nearly four decades ago that has become a Kassebaum legacy.

The Book Shack opened next to the Dade City post office about 37 years ago, selling mostly used paperbacks. It shifted later to a shop on Martin Luther King Boulevard. And now, it is relocated again to 14145 Seventh Ave., across from the historic Pasco County Historic Courthouse. It is situated between Lunch on Limoges and Kiefer’s Village Jewelers.

Joanne Kassebaum, left, is handing off The Book Shack’s legacy to Kristy Kassebaum, her granddaughter-in-law. The bookstore opened 37 years ago in Dade City. (Courtesy of The Book Shack)
Joanne Kassebaum, left, is handing off The Book Shack’s legacy to Kristy Kassebaum, her granddaughter-in-law. The bookstore opened 37 years ago in Dade City.
(Courtesy of The Book Shack)

Kristy Kassebaum – married to Joanne’s grandson, Kyle – is the new proprietor. Like her grandmother-in-law, she is passionate about books and reading.

When she knew Joanne Kassebaum was ready to retire in October, the timing seemed perfect.

“I’ve always wanted to own my own business,” she said. “To keep it in the family name is a fun bonus.”

And, Joanne Kassebaum isn’t going anywhere – just yet.

On weekdays, she operates the shop until mid-afternoon when Kristy Kassebaum finishes her job as a learning design coach with the Pasco County School District.

There is symmetry at work.

Joanne Kassebaum started her bookstore career when her sons were young; now Kristy Kassebaum is doing the same, with her children, Natalie, 4, and Nolan, 2.

Kristy Kassebaum said her husband, Kyle, has fond memories as a youngster hanging out among the shelves and shelves of books at his grandmother’s store.

“It’s cool to think my kids might have those memories, too,” she said.

But, first, years ago, there were 91 cartons packed with books that arrived in Dade City, shipped by Joanne Kassebaum’s sister-in-law from her Milwaukee bookstore.

She said it would work out great to open a bookstore, and start off with some of the extra books the Milwaukee store didn’t need.

“My boys were at the age I didn’t feel I could work full-time,” said Joanne Kassebaum. “But, this way I was the boss. If I had to leave, I could leave. It worked out beautifully. I never believed I’d stay 37 years. Never guessed it.”

Books made sense as an avocation.

As a youngster in Milwaukee, Joanne Kassebaum said, “I grew up reading. For a nickel, you could ride the bus uptown. We had a big library up there. I could get my books and take them home.”

Beginning at the age of 9, she made that journey weekly.

“I will read anything that has a good story line,” she said.

Her bookstore is a haven for readers who want to hold a book and feel it in their hands. She specialized in paperbacks and stocked the store with every genre, including paranormal romance, thrillers, Westerns, mysteries, military fiction and nonfiction.

Prices range from $1 to $10, depending on the original price list for the book. And, customers can get paid a few dollars for books they sell to the shop.

The reading range surprised Kristy Kassebaum.

“We have so many genres I didn’t know existed. Paranormal romance. You need a whole shelf for that. Yes, you do,” she said. “I had no idea people loved Westerns so much. There is something here for everybody.”

The new shop is a bit smaller than the space on Martin Luther King Boulevard, but it is in a prime spot for foot traffic.

Kristy Kassebaum is making a few changes, but she checked first with Joanne Kassebaum for approval.

Despite less room, there now is a special corner for children’s books. Gift items, including candles and children’s toys, have been added.

An inventory of the shop’s books is being uploaded into a computer to help customers search for specific books.

For Joanne Kassebaum, stepping away has been hard.

She knows the children, grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren of her customers, who are like friends to her.

“I loved that. That was wonderful,” she said. “I get emotional about it.”

The Book Shack is a “little piece of (Joanne’s) heart and soul,” Kristy Kassebaum said.

Published November 30, 2016

Parent input sought for grant application

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Pasco County Schools is seeking federal grant money for a before- and after-school program for some students at Cox and Quail Hollow elementary schools, and wants to hear from parents during the process.

The application requires community input, said Tony Harroun, a senior grant writer for Pasco County Schools.

So, a community night is planned for March 3 at 6 p.m., at R.B. Cox Elementary School, at 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City.

Quail Hollow’s community night was set for earlier in the week, on March 1.

The idea is to give parents a chance to weigh in on what they would like to see offered as part of the program, Harroun said.

The emphasis of the before- and after-school program will be on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, he said.

But, children may be interested in specific topics in science or other subjects, and the district would like to hear parents’ suggestions, Harroun said.

If the district receives the grant, he estimates that the program at Cox and at Quail Hollow possibly could accommodate about 50 children each.

The district hopes to receive funding for both schools, so it can provide additional ways to engage children in learning and make it more interesting and fun for them, Harroun said.

The district already has this program at one elementary school and at an afternoon program at three middle schools, including Stewart Middle School, Harroun said.

The application will be submitted for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.

The program it would fund is called STAR, which stands for Success Through Academic Readiness.

Children from private schools also are eligible for the before- and after-school program, but the school district would not be able to transport them, Harroun said.

Parents of private school children who are interested in learning more about the program and who would like to offer suggestions about the programming are invited to the community meeting, he said.

What: Community meeting
Why: To solicit parent input on a potential before- and after-school program.
Where: Cox Elementary School, 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
When: March 3 at 6 p.m.

Published March 2, 2016

Super snacks coming to select Pasco schools

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Pasco County is getting the chance to test a new after-school meals pilot program with the new offering of a “super snack” at select schools in the district.

A component of the Child Care Food program, it’s designed to provide nutritious snacks and meals to children in after-school programs. It’s funded through the U.S. Department of Health — unlike the school meal program, which is done with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the new “super snack” program is primarily same as the existing snack program, the select schools will now be able to offer five components for a snack, instead of two, according to a release. That’s because schools and the district’s food and nutrition department felt that the smaller snack was not enough for many of the kids at schools where more than half the students already receive free or reduced lunches.

Those who can participate in the snack program must be enrolled in an approved after-school or extended-day program. Snacks are available at no separate charge to children at the following sites:

• Anclote High School, 1540 Sweetbriar Drive, Holiday
• Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
• Crews Lake Middle School, 15144 Shady Hills Road, Spring Hill
• Gulf Middle School, 6419 Louisiana Ave., New Port Richey
• Gulfside Elementary School, 2329 Anclote Blvd., Holiday
• Hudson Middle School, 14540 Cobra Way, Hudson
• Lacoochee Elementary School, 38815 Cummer Road, Dade City
• Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City
• Smith Middle School, 1410 Sweetbriar Drive, Holiday
• Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., Zephyrhills
• Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road, Zephyrhills
• Woodland Elementary School, 38203 Henry Drive, Zephyrhills