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Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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McKitrick Elementary School

Simulation teaches a real-life history lesson

March 4, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Second-graders at McKitrick Elementary School had a chance to gain a greater understanding of what life was like for immigrants arriving at Ellis Island during the early 1900s.

The school, at 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Road, created an event that allowed children the chance to walk through the paces that immigrants faced when they arrived in America.

Volunteer Deanna Okun, left, administers a medical exam inside the Medical Detainment room, to student Jyles Morales. Students were asked such questions as, ‘Have you been sick lately? And, ‘Do you have any allergies?’ The exam and questions asked were the same ones used at Ellis Island in the early 1900s. (Christine Holtzman)

The Feb. 27 simulation involved 180 second-graders and 68 volunteers, many dressed in period clothing.

Bilingual volunteers spoke to the students in Turkish, Russian, Greek and Arabic, to show students how it would feel to arrive in a new country without knowing its language.

Students prepared for the experience by taking virtual trips to Ellis Island, where they listened to audio recordings of interviews from people who actually came through Ellis Island.

They also had a chance to video chat with a museum curator, via Skype.

To prepare for their trip, students were asked to construct a cardboard suitcase and use it to hold five prized possessions, such as family photos, a favorite book or other treasured items.

Each student remained in character as they completed the activity, which took two hours to three hours to complete. They carried out the steps that were taken by actual immigrants: They waited in long lines for customs, upon departure and arrival. They were crammed into a boat. They were sprayed with ocean mist and doused with water, to simulate delousing measures taken when immigrants arrived.

They provided fingerprints at the registry, were subjected to searches at baggage claim, and forced to undergo medical and psychological exams.

After arriving by boat, students are seen standing in the long line at the customs area of McKitrick Elementary School’s Ellis Island. The students had the chance to find out what it may have felt like for immigrants who experienced long waits just to gain entry into Ellis Island. From left: Wyatt Montgomery, Zion Karp, Eric Vargas and Ben Friedman.

They also participated in interviews and had to pass a citizenship test.

And, they faced real dilemmas, such as being separated from family members or having to pawn their possessions for money.

After each group finished, they were sworn in as American citizens — by a judge, portrayed by McKitrick Principal Allison Cline.

The event, now in its third year, is the brainchild of former second grade teacher Liisa DiTarando, who is now the school’s Social & Emotional Learning Resource teacher.

It takes about three months to organize the annual production.

In addition to great content, the activity teaches kids critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which allows them to rise to the occasion, DiTarando said.

Every year, she said, she receives emails from parents that tell her how their child could relate a connection in their own lives to the content that was taught in this program. Parents also share that it has given their child the ability to empathize with what their relatives may have gone through.

Published March 4, 2020

Volunteer Carine Pyree, left, administers a simulated medical exam to student Olivia Ebel. Using actual examples from Ellis Island, Pyree asked Ebel to walk in a circle with her eyes closed.
After waiting in a long line, second-grade students Gabriel Gonzalez, left, and Rosie Vona, arrive to the customs area, at McKitrick Elementary School’s simulated Ellis Island. The pair, along with all the other arrivals, had to present proper documents before being permitted inside the registry office.
Second-grade student Giulia Longo, left, comes to collect the baby (a doll) that is under her care, that was found unattended inside the Citizenship and Testing room, by Gary Camacho, the McKitrick Elementary School’s security officer. Longo played a young girl whose uncle forced her to come to America, so she could care for his child, because his wife died. The woman behind this event, Liisa DiTarando, is on the right.

Filed Under: Education, Top Story Tagged With: Allison Cline, Ellis Island, immigration, Liisa DeTarando, Lutz, Lutz Lake Fern Road, McKitrick Elementary School

State champion gymnast has bigger dreams in sight

October 10, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Zachary Myers’ gymnastics talent became apparent early on.

When he was just 3, he was doing flips on the couch and performing perfect cartwheels throughout the family’s Lutz home, his parents said.

He’d even tumble around the fields at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex during his Lutz Little League baseball days.

“We could see the natural ability in him,” said his father, Andy Myers. “He’s just got freakish ability.”

Zachary Myers, 10, of Lutz, has won three state titles and two regionals titles as a Level 4, 6 and 7 gymnast. On Oct. 13, he’ll compete in the 2018 Region 8 Future Stars and Technical Sequence Evaluation at Evo’s Gymnastics, in Sarasota. (Courtesy of the Myers family)

During four years of organized gymnastics, the 10-year-old has racked up his fair share of accolades.

He’s captured three state titles and two regional titles as a Level 4, 6 and 7 gymnast, along with winning numerous other local events.

His biggest achievement so far came last November.

That’s when he made the USA Gymnastics National U10 Development Team, after a 14th place finish at the Future Stars National Championships at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Only the top 16 finishers earned a spot on the development team.)

Zachary’s next big event comes Oct. 13, when he’ll compete in the 2018 Region 8 Future Stars and Technical Sequence Evaluation at Evo’s Gymnastics, in Sarasota.

Scoring at least a 76 will again get him to the Future Stars National Championships.

A trip back to Colorado Springs is well within reach.

Zachary recently posted an 82 at the Florida Future Stars Evaluation — the highest mark in the state.

He’s shooting for an even higher score at the region qualifier, as he fine-tunes his training at LaFluer’s Gymnastics, in Tampa.

Said Zachary: “My goal is to get an 85 at regionals. That is a 9.2 average. My coach also wants me to get that to try to make that my goal.”

The young gymnast doesn’t have to look far to see where he gets some of his talent.

His mother, Deanna Myers, herself is a former gymnast and a two-time member of the USA Women’s Junior Olympic Team.

Forced to retire at 18 due to nagging wrist and ankle injuries, she coached and judged gymnastics throughout nursing school.

Deanna, however, was always hesitant about putting Zachary into gymnastics, understanding the  commitment and dedication required for success.

She finally agreed after Zachary’s relentless pleading to get lessons.

Deanna explained: “I didn’t want Zachary missing out on things. When he first said he wanted to do gymnastics, I just kind of brushed it off. But, he consistently asked me for six months straight and then I was like, ‘OK, maybe I need to go ahead and take him.’”

Zachary’s passion for gymnastics remains strong
Though he sometimes misses playing baseball and time for other activities, he wouldn’t trade gymnastics for anything.

“I mean, I really like doing it. It’s just really fun once you get like really good at it,” Zachary said, noting he gets a lot of support from his fellow teammates at LaFleur’s.

His favorite event is the pommel horse, an apparatus fitted with a pair of curved handgrips, used for a gymnastic exercise consisting of swings of the legs and body.

“I like the agility if it. I get to move around and use my arms,” he said. “I used to play baseball and I used to have a lot of arm strength, and I like pommels because I can use my arms.”

That strength — combined with his mental focus and flexibility— has molded him into an elite gymnast for his age group.

LaFleur’s Gymnastics instructor Steven Schmerber said Zachary’s success is a “combination of a lot of things.

“He just kind of has this natural ability,” said Schmerber. “Even though all our other kids (at LaFluer’s) are still doing really well, he kind of has that little extra ‘oomph’ that just kind of pushes him a little bit.

“He’s a tiny dude—very flexible, very strong— so his strength to weight ratio is very big,” the coach added.

Hard work is also part of the equation.

Zachary practices six days a week, for more than 20 hours per week.

During the summer, he’ll practice as much as five hours per day.

When Zachary’s not perfecting his gymnastics routine, he’s buried in his studies.

As a fifth-grader at McKitrick Elementary School in Lutz, Zachary is a member of the National Elementary Honor Society. He has made the principal’s honor roll multiple times and he serves on the school’s safety patrol.

“He doesn’t need any push,” Deanna said. “He does everything without us asking him, so he’s self-motivated on his own. We don’t have to give him any pep talk. We don’t have to remind him to do anything. We don’t have to be concerned or ask him, ‘Hey, did you do your homework?’ because we already knows it’s been done.”

Deanna, meanwhile, is happy to see her son flourish in the sport she also loves. She’s his biggest fan and cheerleader.

“It’s exciting,” she said, “but I have to say, I’m more nervous watching him than when I ever was when I competed. My nerves are more watching him because I have no control, and I can’t go out on the floor.”

While many boys his age are wrapped up in video games and other toys, Zachary is mapping out his gymnastics future.

He’s shooting for a scholarship at Stanford, Michigan or Oklahoma universities.

He dreams of qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics and following in the footsteps of his idol, Sam Mikulak, a five-time U.S. national all-around champion and two-time Olympian.

His plan to achieve those lofty goals?

“Try my hardest,” he said, “and don’t give up.”

For information on Zachary’s fundraising efforts to nationals, visit tinyurl.com/ydhwpoxc.

Published October 10, 2018

Filed Under: Local Sports, Lutz Sports Tagged With: Andy Myers, Colorado Springs, Deanna Myers, Evo's Gymnastics, Future Stars National Championships, LaFluer's Gymnastics, Lutz, Lutz Little League, McKitrick Elementary School, National Elementary Honor Society, Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, Sam Mikulak, Steven Schmerber, Summer Olympics, USA Olympic Training Center, USA Women's Junior Olympic Team, Zachary Myers

Birchwood Preserve in Lutz Opens Phase II

May 23, 2018 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

It has only been a year since Pulte Homes opened Birchwood Preserve in Lutz, and there has been so much demand that the community’s second phase is opening ahead of schedule this summer.

“Since we opened our sales center last May, we’ve sold close to 80 homes out of 120 available in our first phase,” said Vince Kuntz, Pulte’s sales consultant in the community. “The demand has been so good, that we’ve sold most of our 60-foot home sites in our Elite home series, and have a waiting list of buyers wanting larger lots in our second phase.”

Birchwood Preserve’s second phase offers another 76 home sites, many with conservation and water views. Like the first phase, 60-foot lots are reserved for homes with three-car garages, and 50-foot lots for homes with two-car garages.

The community’s second phase is also introducing Pulte’s Classic series of homes, which are designed to be more affordable, with prices beginning at $310,000 for 1,851 square feet.

“Homes in our Classic series meet Pulte’s high quality standards, but offer finishes that are less expensive to make homes more affordable, especially for first-time homebuyers,” said Kuntz. “By comparison, homes in our Signature series on 50-foot lots begin at $333,990 for 1,904 square feet.”

Birchwood Preserve’s new Classic series has eight floor plans, ranging from 1,851 to 4,274 square feet. Pulte is building a new model home for its Classic series, the 2,855 square-foot Citrus Grove. This two-story home offers 4 to 5 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths, an owner’s suite on the first floor and a large game room upstairs.

“This is very much a family community, and our large, two-story homes are most in demand,” said Kuntz. “Our most popular floor plans are those with four and five bedrooms with over 3,000 square feet of living area.”

Birchwood Preserve’s biggest draw is its outstanding A-rated schools. It is the only new, single-family home community in Lutz that is zoned to all three schools at the highly desirable public school complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road — Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.

“When people walk in the door at our sales center, the first question they ask is about our schools, and 95-percent of the time, when they learn all grades are assigned to these A-rated schools, they are sold,” said Kuntz. “Nothing is more important to our buyers than being zoned to some of the best schools in Hillsborough County.”

Kuntz adds that while other new, single-family home communities in the area may be zoned to Steinbrenner High, none are also zoned to top-rated Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.

“We even have families with babies moving here, because in a few years they want their child to go to McKitrick,” said Kuntz.

After schools, the second top reason families are choosing Birchwood Preserve is because of the community’s convenient location, a half mile west of Dale Mabry Highway and just south of Sunlake Boulevard where Geraci Road dead-ends.

“We’re less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway, and just as close to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, and all the grocery, dining and retail on Van Dyke Road,” said Kuntz. “With our quick access to the Veterans, it’s easy to get to Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District, International Plaza and the Gulf Coast beaches.”

Homeowners in Birchwood Preserve share a fabulous amenity center in the heart of the community. This facility is already built and includes a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas and hammocks, a multipurpose clubhouse with kitchen, and a children’s exploration climbing dome playground with swing set and other discovery play equipment.

“Birchwood Preserve already has an active family lifestyle with many things to do for families with children of all ages,” said Kuntz. “Our residents quickly connect with one another, and have organized playgroups and their own online community network.”

When built out, Birchwood Preserve will have just 196 homes. Because of its small size, there is no CDD. Owners help support a beautifully landscaped gated entrance and the amenity center with an affordable HOA.

Most buyers are coming from surrounding neighborhoods in Lutz and Carrollwood, as well as Westchase and Citrus Park.

With its new second phase, Birchwood Preserve will offer a total of 18 unique single-family models, which range from 1,851 to 4,600 square feet, and offer three to six bedrooms, two to six bathrooms and two- or three-car garages.

Pulte’s Sales Center at Birchwood Preserve is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Please stop by to visit Kuntz and his associate, Amanda Barningham, at 18709 Birchwood Groves Drive, Lutz, Florida 33558

They can be reached at (813) 804-5705. You can also visit the website at
Pulte.com/birchwoodpreserve.

Published May 23, 2018

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: Amanda Barningham, Birchwood Groves Drive, Dale Mabry Highway, Geraci Road, International Plaza, Lutz, Lutz Lake Fern Road, Martinez Middle School, McKitrick Elementary School, Pulte Homes, St. Joseph's Hospital-North, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake Boulevard, Tampa International Airport, Van Dyke Road, Veterans Expressway, vince Kuntz, Westshore Business District

Mother of twins dies after casino boat fire; donations sought

January 24, 2018 By Kathy Steele

A GoFundMe account has been set up to aid the children of Carrie Dempsey.

The 42-year-old woman, who lived in Lutz, died Jan. 14, hours after a fire engulfed a casino shuttle boat ferrying about 50 passengers to a casino ship in the Gulf of Mexico.

She was the sole fatality among about 15 passengers who needed medical attention, according to news reports.

Carrie Dempsey
(Facebook.com)

Dempsey leaves behind 12-year-old twins, Chad and Megan. Dempsey’s husband, Joseph Dempsey II, died in 2011, at the age of 33, according to an obituary.

The children are being cared for by their grandparents.

“We are reaching out to raise funds for Chad and Megan’s care and education, that their grandparents may not have been financially prepared for,” according to a written statement on the GoFundMe page. “Chad and Megan are two kind-hearted, athletic and academically gifted children who deserve a bright future. They have incurred so much loss and heartache in their short lives.”

Bridget Verrecchia is listed as the fund’s organizer. She is vice president of the ways and means committee of the PTA executive board for McKitrick Elementary School, according to the school’s website.

Segal Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.

According to an obituary, Dempsey moved to the Tampa Bay area in 1985 from Cleveland, Ohio.

She will be “remembered for her sense of humor, quick wit and infectious laugh, but mostly as a devoted and loving mother,” the obituary states.

Graveside services are scheduled for Jan. 25 at 2 p.m., at Gan Shalom Cemetery, 3527 E. County Line Road in Lutz. In lieu of flowers, a college fund will be established for Dempsey’s children.

The cause of the fire aboard the Island Lady is under investigation, according to a spokesman with the U.S. Coast Guard.

About 50 people were aboard as the shuttle, operated by Tropical Breeze Casino, steered toward the gulf, and a casino ship in international waters.

The boat’s captain noticed the engine was overheating, and prepared to return to shore when a fire broke out, according to news reports.

The reports said the captain ran the shuttle aground in the Pithlachascotee River, about 100 yards from shore in Port Richey.

Passengers and crew had to jump into chilly waters. Rescuers included nearby neighbors, Port Richey police, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Fire Rescue, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The boat burned down to its hull, reports added.

For information, visit GoFundMe.com/the-dempsey-family.

An online guestbook is available at SegalFuneralHome.com.

Published January 24, 2018

Filed Under: Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Bridget Verrechia, Carrie Dempsey, County Line Road, Gan Shalom Cemetery, GoFundMe, Lutz, McKitrick Elementary School, Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Pasco Fire Rescue, Pithlachascotee River, Port Richey Police, Segal Funeral Home, Tropical Breeze Casino, U.S. Coast Guard

She can’t beat the commute

March 18, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Melissa Huston used to spend 90 minutes each way, getting back and forth from work.

She lives in Lutz and was commuting to a job in St. Petersburg.

“It was debilitating, mentally,” Huston said. “There were days that were awful driving there.”

When Melissa Huston wants to get some work done, she steps into her home office to tackle assignments. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
When Melissa Huston wants to get some work done, she steps into her home office to tackle assignments.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She and her husband, Doug, have two children. Tyler attends McKitrick Elementary School and Brandon is in preschool.

Besides getting stuck in traffic, Huston had the additional stress of not being sure she’d be able to pick up her children from child care on time.

“You’re trying to get to your kids at night, and you’re watching the clock and you’re sitting in it (traffic) — and God forbid, there’s an accident and you’re panicking.

“I don’t miss any of that,” said Huston, who has been working at home for Dell, since July 2013.

Huston had worked for Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg for many years and made the switch to a Tampa company, which announced that it was moving to St. Petersburg.

At the time, Tyler was getting ready to start kindergarten, and Huston decided she would look for a stay-at-home job.

“When they’re in preschool, they don’t have homework. They don’t have as many activities,” Huston said.

But she knew she wanted to be able to help with homework and attend school activities, and couldn’t think of a way to do that and still have a long commute.

So, she began looking for stay-at-home work opportunities.

She had heard about the scams involving work from home jobs.

“That was my big concern: Are they legitimate?” she said.

She had reason to worry.

The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to be skeptical when checking out work-at-home opportunities. Many of them require an upfront investment, and many fail to live up to their claims.

As Huston was researching stay-at-home jobs, she came across a website called FlexJobs.com.

The company, which is a 100 percent, virtual remote company, was founded in 2007 in Boulder, Colorado, by Sara Sutton Fall, according to Kathy Gardner, the company’s PR Manager, who is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

FlexJobs.com essentially offers a subscription service to provide information about available jobs to job seekers. The fees are $14.95 a month, $29.95 for three months and $69.95 for 12 months.

The job seekers, who are the company’s clients, pay the fee to gain access to its postings and are guaranteed that the site is 100 percent free of scams and advertisements, Gardner said.

Huston said the service helped her find her job.

FlexJobs.com has helped more than 1 million people in their job searches, Gardner said. And, according to a recent analysis of its data, it turns out that Florida ranks fourth in the nation for recruitment by companies for telecommuters, Gardner added.

Huston said the site offers listings on all types of jobs, ranging from contract work to part-time to full-time salaried positions.

Before signing up for the service, Huston said, she had not thought to look for a telecommuting opportunity on Dell’s website.

Huston, whose background is in marketing analytics, has the kind of job that lends itself to working remotely.

“My job is all computer-based,” she said. “There is some face-to-face talking, but it’s predominantly data driven.”

She works with a team stationed around the globe.

“We have the ability to share our screens. Through our instant messaging tool, we can share our desktops, so, if I’m looking at this and I want to explain something with this spreadsheet, I can share it.

“We utilize that a lot to talk through things.

“It’s amazing what you can accomplish,” she said.

Still, since they don’t share the same physical space, the working relationships that occur naturally in an office have to be nurtured, she said.

“You have to make an effort to stay connected with your colleagues,” Huston said.

Working from home is not for everyone, she noted.

The key to working at home, she said, is to establish a schedule.

“It can’t just be work whenever you feel like it, because this is a regular job. You have to establish a good routine of when you start your day and when you end it, too,” she said.

While some people working at home might tend to slack off, others may be too intense.

It’s easy to work 80 hours or more because you’re literally always at the office, she said.

It’s important to find a balance and to maintain it, Huston said.

There’s a lot to be said for being able to check on a project or share information after normal working hours by popping into your home office and spending 5 minutes to take care of a task, Huston said.

Besides having a regular work routine, it’s important to have a separate space designated for your office, she said. It’s important to be able to close the door and focus on work.

“It’s a corporate job. It is a big company. There are demands,” she said.

Huston loves being able to eliminate the long commute and focus on her work and family.

She’s been able to be involved in some volunteer work at McKitrick Elementary and she’s nearby, if there’s ever an emergency, she said.

In fact, she added, “my youngest, actually, broke his leg at his pre-school, and I was there in 2 seconds because it was around the corner.”

Working at home is not for everyone, Huston said. But she added: “For the place that I’m at in my life, it’s a good fit.”

Working at home is not for everyone
Melissa Huston, a Lutz mom who works at home, offers this advice for people who work at home:

  • Be sure to establish a routine.
  • Set up a separate office space — you need to be able to close the door, to work uninterrupted.
  • Be aware that while you have more flexibility, you still must meet work demands.
  • Know that working at home is not a good idea if you’re not a good time manager.
  • Be prepared to make an extra effort to stay in the loop with your colleagues.

The FTC’s advice for avoiding work-at-home scams
Of course, when it comes to business opportunities, there’s no such thing as a sure thing.

Promises of a big income for work from home, especially when the “opportunity” involves an upfront fee or divulging your credit card information, should make you very suspicious, advises a consumer protection article on the Federal Trade Commission’s website.

It doesn’t matter where you saw the advertisement or heard about the offer, the FTC warns. Research the opportunity and be skeptical.

Here are some examples of work-at-home opportunities that often turn out to be scams:

  • Envelope stuffing: For a “small fee,” you can make lots of money stuffing envelopes at home, but it turns out that there’s no work and the only way you can earn any money is by persuading others to pursue the same envelope-stuffing opportunity.
  • Assembly or craft work: This promises that you can make money assembling crafts or other products at home. But first you have to invest money for equipment and supplies. Then, after you’ve spent lots of hours producing goods for a company that has promised to buy them, they reject your products because your work is “not up to standards.”
  • Rebate processing: The offer says you can earn money by helping to process rebates. Then it says the fee for training, certification or registration is nothing compared to what you’ll earn processing rebates from home. What you’ll receive are useless training materials and no rebates to process.
  • Online searches: This opportunity promises that you’ll ear $500 to $1,000 a week, or even up to $7,000 a month, by running Internet searches on prominent search engines and filling out forms. In this case, the scammers are not connected to well-known search engines. They’re trying to trick you into handing over credit or debit car information. If you pay even a tiny fee online, they can use your financial information to charge you recurring fees.
  • Medical billing: This offer promises a substantial income for full- or part-time work processing medical claims electronically — no experience needed. These opportunities often require a substantial investment for software, list of potential clients and technical support. But the software may not work, and the lists are often outdated. If you decide to pursue this type of opportunity, be sure to obtain a lengthy list of previous purchasers for references. Be wary if the list just has a couple of names on it, because they may be shills that have been hired to say good things.

Ask Questions

If you’re thinking about following up on a work-at-home offer, do your homework. Before pursuing a stay-at-home work opportunity, ask:

  • What tasks will I have to perform? Be sure you have a list of every step of the job.
  • Will I be paid a salary or paid on commission?
  • If the job involves purchasing some type of program, ask what is the basis for your claims about my likely earnings? What documents can you show me to prove your claims are true before I give you any money?
  • Who will pay me? When will I get my first paycheck?
  • What is the total cost of this work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment and membership fees? What will I get for my money?

Where to Complain

If you are unable to resolve a dispute with the company, you can file a complaint with:

  • The Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov/complaint
  • The Florida Attorney General’s Office
  • The Better Business Bureau
  • Local consumer protection offices

Published March 18, 2015

Filed Under: Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Better Business Bureau, Dell, Doug Huston, Federal Trade Commission, Home Shopping Network, Kathy Gardner, Lutz, McKitrick Elementary School, Melissa Huston, Sara Sutton Fall, St. Petersburg

Applicants reduce size of proposed Lutz school

February 11, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Applicants for a charter school in Lutz have reduced the proposed enrollment for the kindergarten through eighth-grade school, but opponents say it’s still too big.

Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton has amended its request for a private charter school at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard.

The public hearing on a request by Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton to allow a charter elementary and middle school on 7.4 acres at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard has been scheduled for March 16, marking the fourth time a public hearing date has been set on the request. (File Photo)
The public hearing on a request by Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton to allow a charter elementary and middle school on 7.4 acres at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard has been scheduled for March 16, marking the fourth time a public hearing date has been set on the request.
(File Photo)

The proposed charter school, Sunlake Academy, would be developed in two phases.

Initially, the applicant asked for permission for up to 1,020 kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

After significant public opposition, the request has been scaled back to a maximum of 870 students, with 670 students in phase one and 200 in phase two.

The request would be subject to the applicant’s ability to secure the necessary water and sewer permits, and would require an updated traffic analysis before the second phase would be allowed, according to revised conditions of approval provided by Michael Horner, a professional planner representing the applicant.

A public hearing on the application originally was scheduled in December, was scheduled again in January and then again in February.

Now, the hearing date is scheduled for March 16 at 6 p.m., at the Fred B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

In addition to reducing the potential enrollment, the applicant would use staggered start and dismissal times to avoid off-site traffic impacts, would provide substantially greater buffering than required by county regulations, would agree to a number of improvements to facilitate access into and out of the school site, and would meet various other conditions.

The charter school request is facing considerable opposition from area residents.

When a community meeting was held on the issue at a hall across the street from the proposed school site, more than 90 people showed up.

The meeting was primarily an opportunity for those gathered to learn how the hearing process worked and to decide whether they wanted to create a legal fund to fight the project.

After the meeting, the legal fund was created and people took to the streets to circulate petitions in neighborhoods near the proposed school.

Mike White, president and founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who has played a primary role in organizing the opposition, said that the scaled-back plans are still too intense for the location.

Horner said the delay was sought to ensure that the applicant has all of the information needed for the land use hearing master, who decides whether to approve or deny the request.

A number of area residents, community organizations and homeowner associations have gone on record against the request, sending emails to county staff, outlining their objections.

In a Dec. 23 email to the county, Todd Caroline, who lives in Lake Fern Villa, notes that the project would back up to his property line.

“It is already a struggle to get out of our community morning, afternoon and evening due to a poorly built intersection at Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake (Boulevard). Ever since Steinbrenner (High School), Martinez (Middle School) and McKitrick (Elementary School) have opened, it has only gotten worse,” Caroline wrote.

James Lather, another opponent, said the Lutz Citizens Coalition vehemently opposes the application because of the inappropriate size, scope and density of the project for the proposed location.

Area resident Joanne Plazza noted that she’s lived in the area since 1987 and has never objected to any previous project. But, she said, this school would add traffic to an already congested area.

Opponent Sharon Bard, of 22232 Yachtclub Terrace, put it like this: “I am very much against this. I travel Lutz Lake Fern often and the added traffic would be horrific.”

White said opponents don’t object to schools, just schools that are proposed for unsuitable locations.

Published February 11, 2015

 

Filed Under: Education, Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Charters Schools Inc., Fred B. Karl County Center, James Lather, Joanne Plazza, Kennedy Boulevard, Lake Fern Villa, Lutz, Lutz Citizens Coalition, Lutz Lake Fern Road, Martinez Middle School, McKitrick Elementary School, Mike White, Sharon Bard, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake Academy, Sunlake Boulevard, Todd Caroline

Opponents to charter school gearing up to do battle

January 15, 2015 By B.C. Manion

About 90 concerned residents turned out to a strategy meeting on Jan. 8, as opponents gear up to battle a proposed charter school for up to 1,050 kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Lutz.

Charter Schools Inc., of Boca Raton is seeking permission from Hillsborough County to allow a school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard.

Sam Calco, a member of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said the rules for public hearings on zoning and land-use issues can be confusing. He said it’s important to know the rules, so residents can protect their interests. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Sam Calco, a member of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said the rules for public hearings on zoning and land-use issues can be confusing. He said it’s important to know the rules, so residents can protect their interests.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The operator of the school would be Charter Schools Association of Coral Gables, according to the application filed with Hillsborough County.

The proposed Sunlake Academy would operate on 7.46 acres. A 1-acre outparcel at the site represents a potential child care center in the future that is already permitted by existing zoning.

A public hearing on the request is set for Feb. 16. The meeting begins at 6 p.m., but the precise time this request will be heard won’t be known until that evening because there generally are a number of items on the agenda.

The hearing has already been delayed twice and there’s a chance it could be delayed again, Mike White, president and founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition told area residents and interested parties who gathered at J.F. Swartsel Masonic Lodge, 3109 Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The application for the project shows two phases.

The first phase includes a two-story building with 33 classrooms, and the second phase calls for a two-story building with 20 classrooms.

The plans also show a storm water pond, a playground, and areas for parking for both vehicles and bicycles. Plans also call for basketball courts.

Since submitting the original plans, the applicant has revised the plans to include a number of changes, including a larger buffer area and setback from residential lots to the west of the proposed school, double tree plantings and fencing.

The plans also include revised plans regarding how vehicles will be able to get in and out of the proposed school.

Area residents and organizations have submitted letters objecting to the proposed school — citing concerns about traffic congestion, potential flooding and negative impacts on their quality of life and property values.

Todd Caroline, who lives in Lake Fern Villa, notes that the project would back up to his property line, according to a letter objection he submitted to Hillsborough County.

“It is already a struggle to get out of our community morning, afternoon and evening due to a poorly built intersection at Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake (Boulevard). Ever since Steinbrenner (High School), Martinez (Middle School) and McKitrick (Elementary School) have opened, it has only gotten worse,” Caroline wrote in a Dec. 23 email to Hillsborough County staff.

Other residents are on record objecting to the size, scope and density of the project.

They note that Sunlake and Lutz Lake Fern are two-lane roads and are not equipped to handle the additional traffic this project would generate.

The hearing officer must consider “substantially competent evidence” in determining whether to grant the special use permit, White said.

So, while it may feel good to complain about the potential negative impacts, it is crucial to provide the hearing officer factual data, White said.

“You don’t have to be a traffic engineer. You don’t have to be an attorney,” White said, but residents must meet certain benchmarks for their testimony to be considered by the hearing officer.

He recommended “fighting fire with fighting” and “fighting data with data” by hiring an attorney and a traffic engineer to protect opponents’ interests.

A legal defense fund has been set up to collect contributions to cover costs for an attorney and traffic engineer.

Residents also plan to fan out in their neighborhoods to collect signatures opposing the proposed charter school.

Filed Under: Education, Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Boca Raton, Charter Schools Association of Coral Gables, Charter Schools Inc., Hillsborough County, J.F. Swartsel Masonic Lodge, Lake Fern Villa, Lutz, Lutz Citizens Coalition, Lutz Lake Fern Road, Martinez Middle School, McKitrick Elementary School, Mike White, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake Academy, Sunlake Boulevard, Todd Caroline

Charter school faces opposition

January 8, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Opposition is heating up against a proposed charter school for up to 1,050 elementary students in Lutz.

Charter Schools Inc., of Boca Raton is seeking permission from Hillsborough County to allow a school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard.

Residents living near a proposed private charter school in Lutz say the project would create even more traffic problems on already congested roads near the school. (File Photo)
Residents living near a proposed private charter school in Lutz say the project would create even more traffic problems on already congested roads near the school.
(File Photo)

The operator of the school would be Charter Schools Association of Coral Gables, according to the application filed with Hillsborough County.

The proposed Sunlake Academy would operate on 7.46 acres, according to Michael Horner, the applicant’s representative. A 1-acre outparcel at the site represents a potential child care center in the future that is already permitted by existing zoning, Horner said in an email.

A public hearing — initially set for Dec. 15, then delayed until Jan. 20 — has been delayed again, this time until Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.

Horner said the delay for the hearing was needed because the county requested additional traffic information, which has been completed but not yet reviewed by county staff.

Horner noted that the applicant has submitted a revised site plan that includes a number of changes, including a larger buffer area and setback from residential lots to the west of the proposed school, double tree plantings, fencing and extensive left-turn lane improvements at both entrances, in response to the county’s mandate for no direct left turns into either entrance.

The proposal now includes only U-turns at the intersection, as well as dedicated right turn lanes on both Sunlake Boulevard and Lutz Lake Fern Road.

It’s not clear whether the proposed changes will make a difference to opponents to the school, who have made it known that they are concerned about traffic congestion, potential flooding issues and negative impacts to their quality of life, as well as property values.

Opponents are planning to have an informational meeting about the proposed charter school on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m., at the J.F. Swartsel Masonic Lodge, 3109 Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The application for the project shows for two phases.

The first phase includes a two-story building with 33 classrooms, and the second phase calls for a two-story building with 20 classrooms.

The plans also show a storm water pond, a playground, and areas for parking for both vehicles and bicycles. Plans also call for basketball courts.

Records submitted to Hillsborough County show that residents, area homeowner associations, The Lutz Citizens Coalition and the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club oppose the request.

Todd Caroline, who lives in Lake Fern Villa, notes that the project would back up to his property line.

“It is already a struggle to get out of our community morning, afternoon and evening due to a poorly built intersection at Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake (Boulevard). Ever since Steinbrenner (High School), Martinez (Middle School) and McKitrick (Elementary School) have opened, it has only gotten worse,” Caroline wrote in a Dec. 23 email to Hillsborough County staff.

James Lather, another opponent, said the Lutz Citizens Coalition vehemently opposes the application because of the inappropriate size, scope and density of the project for the proposed location.

Area resident Joanne Plazza noted that she’s lived in the area since 1987 and has never objected to any previous project. But, she said, this school would add traffic to an already congested area.

Opponent Sharon Bard, of 22232 Yachtclub Terrace, put it like this: “I am very much against this. I travel Lutz Lake Fern often and the added traffic would be horrific.”

Mike White, president and founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said the school is being proposed in an inappropriate location.

Both Sunlake and Lutz Lake Fern are two lane roads and are not equipped to handle the additional traffic this project would generate, White said.

Published January 7, 2015

Filed Under: Education, Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Boca Raton, Charter Schools Association of Coral Gables, Charter Schools Inc., GFWC Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club, Hillsborough County, J.F. Swartsel Masonic Lodge, James Lather, Joanne Plazza, Lake Fern Villa, Lutz, Lutz Lake Fern Road, Martinez Middle School, McKitrick Elementary School, Michael Horner, Mike White, Sharon Bard, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake Academy, Sunlake Boulevard, The Lutz Citizens Coalition, Todd Caroline, Yachtclub Terrace

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01/23/2021 – Adult craft

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a virtual craft at home for adults on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. Participants can learn to make fireworks in a jar. To view the video, visit Facebook.com/cplib. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Adult craft

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Cook-a-Book: Soup” on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. This month the book, “Dumpling Soup” by Jama Kim Rattigan will be featured. Participants can hear the story and then learn to make a kid-friendly dumpling soup. For information and to see the presentation, visit Facebook.com/regencyparklibrary. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Dumpling soup

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a Hobby Circle on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m., for anyone who wants to share a hobby or learn about a new one — from a work of art to a new recipe, to a favorite video game. The group will meet via Zoom. For information, email . … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Hobby Circle

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The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, will host a Star Wars Family Night on Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for ages 7 and older. Guests can take part in intergalactic adventures and hands-on activities, such as build-your-own lightsaber and train in the art of dueling. Participants also can control a droid through an obstacle course, learn about traveling to other planets in the Saunders planetarium, and navigate through exhibits. There also will be a game called Beat Saber on the Oculus Rift. Preregistration is required. For information and tickets, visit Mosi.org. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Star Wars Night

01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer an adult fizzy bath bomb craft, through curbside pickup only. The kit will include lavender Epsom salt, citric acid, a reusable mold, instructions and more. Pickup is from Jan. 25 through Jan. 30. Registration is required through the calendar feature on the library’s website, or by calling 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

01/25/2021 – Lego building

Mr. John from Bricks 4 Kidz will show participants how to become a Lego Master Builder with an online class that teaches various building methods and techniques. The program will be presented on Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m., for ages 5 to 12. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Lego building

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