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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

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Brian Corley

Early voting ramping up in Pasco and Hillsborough counties

August 9, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Early voting has kicked off in Hillsborough County and is scheduled to begin soon in Pasco County.

Voters who want to cast their ballot in advance of Primary Election Day on Aug. 23 can choose from a number of locations within the county where they live.

This is what the early voting booths look like in Hillsborough County. (Courtesy of the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office)

Other voting options include casting a ballot-by-mail or heading to the voter’s assigned polling place within their precinct on Primary Election Day.

Both Brian Corley, supervisor of elections in Pasco County, and Craig Latimer, supervisor of elections in Hillsborough County, said they haven’t experienced any problems attracting poll workers and other personnel during this election season.

“That was a huge concern I had going into the 2022 cycle,” Corley said, citing national reports of poll workers being hassled in other localities.

The Pasco elections official continued: “Whenever we have orientations with prospective poll workers, I’ll ask: Why do you want to be a poll worker?”

Many of the poll workers are volunteers who tell Corley they want to give back.

“They’ll say, I had a good career, I want to give back.

“Younger people just want to (be a poll worker), for the love of country and democracy, and the county, quite honestly.

“It just blows my mind that people step up and do that. It’s a tough job, but we’re blessed to have such a loyal group of hardworking folks,” Corley said.

Latimer said his operation is ready, too.

“We are well-staffed,” he said.

“People can still apply on our website to be poll workers. They may go on a standby list,” Latimer said.

But he noted, those on the standby list could be called upon, if someone drops out. Plus, they’ll be gearing up for the General Election, in November.

Corley noted: “We had an excess, what we call our alternates —  in the bullpen, as we say, but just yesterday, one of my chief deputies reached out: ‘We’re losing some.’”

The top reason for poll workers dropping out is because of COVID, Corley said.

Anyone wanting to learn more about applying to work during the Election 2022 season in Pasco should call 800-851-8754, Corley said. The pay rates vary, based on position.

To find out more about voting in Pasco County, visit PascoVotes.gov; in Hillsborough County, visit VoteHillsborough.gov.

Early Voting*
Pasco County: Early voting in Pasco County starts Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 20. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting sites:

  • Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
  • East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., Dade City
  • Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
  • New River Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
  • Pasco County Utilities Administration Building, 19420 Central Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
  • Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel
  • Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel

Hillsborough County: Early voting in Hillsborough County began Aug. 8 and will end Aug. 21. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting sites:

  • Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa
  • Keystone Recreation Center, 17928 Gunn Highway, Odessa
  • New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa
  • Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Hill Drive, Tampa
  • University Area Community Center, 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa

* These Early Voting locations are in, or near, The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Source: The websites of the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections and Hillsborough County Supervision of Elections offices.

What to bring to the voting site
Please bring one or two forms of identification that include your signature and photo. Without proper identification, you may still vote a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility. Any of the following forms of photo identification are acceptable:

  • Florida Driver License
  • Florida ID Card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • U.S. Passport
  • Debit or Credit Card
  • Military ID
  • Student ID
  • Retirement Center ID
  • Neighborhood Association ID
  • Public Assistance ID
  • Veteran Health ID (issued by VA)
  • Concealed Weapon License (issued pursuant to s. 790.06)
  • Government Employee ID (If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.)

You also should bring your sample ballot to the polling place with notes on how you plan to vote. By making your voting decisions before going to the polling place, you help keep the lines down.

Source: Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office

Published August 10, 2022

Political Agenda 07/22/2022

July 19, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Central Pasco Republican Club
The Republican candidates for Florida House District 55 — Gabe Papadopoulos, Brad Sollberger and Kevin Steele — will be featured at the July 25 meeting of the Central Pasco Republican Club. Join us to learn more about the candidates and their vision for the district.

The meeting is open to the public and the club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend.

The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6 p.m., with the business meeting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 813-996-3011.

Endorsements
Pasco County Schools Superintendent and Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano have endorsed the Pasco County School Board’s referendum seeking a tax increase of up to 1 mil, to support increased salaries for teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative employees of Pasco County Schools.

Supervisor of Elections updates
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has provided some updates regarding the upcoming Aug. 23 Primary Election, via news releases.

Corley has announced that on July 14, more than 116,000 vote-by-mail ballots for the Aug. 23 primary election were mailed to voters who had requested vote-by-mail. Ballots to uniformed and overseas citizens went out on July 8.

Voted ballots must be returned to the elections office by 7 p.m., on Aug. 23.

Corley reminded voters to be sure to allow sufficient time for first-class delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, or to hand deliver the ballots to any of the three Supervisor of Elections’ Offices in Pasco County. Voted ballots also are accepted at early voting sites, but may not be turned in at the polls on Election Day. Information on office locations and early voting sites is available at PascoVotes.gov.

Corley also noted that eligible voters who did not previously request a ballot can still receive one by calling the elections office, by submitting the request in writing, or by using the online request form on PascoVotes.gov.

Requests must include the voter’s Florida Driver’s License number, Florida ID number or last four digits of their Social Security Number; date of birth; and, Pasco County residence address.

Written requests also must include the voter’s signature.

Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded but can be mailed to a temporary mailing address if outside of Pasco County.

Voters are encouraged to confirm their mailing address when ordering a vote-by-mail ballot. Requests are fulfilled immediately, with ballots being mailed daily. The deadline to request a ballot to be mailed is 5 p.m., Aug. 13.

Written or telephonic requests for vote-by-mail ballots must come from the voter, an immediate family member, or legal guardian on behalf of a voter.

Voters may pick up ballots at any of the three elections’ offices until Aug. 14.

Those picking up ballots on behalf of someone will need a written request from the voter, designating them as the person authorized to carry out the ballot. The designee will be asked to provide a photo ID and to complete an affidavit before a ballot will be released to them.

Corley also has announced that sample ballots are available for the Aug. 23 Primary Election. The ballots are available at PascoVotes.gov.

The ballots will be emailed to Pasco County voters on July 28.

Voters are encouraged to look over their sample ballot and familiarize themselves with the candidates and issues before going to the polls.

To expedite the voting process, voters are encouraged to bring their completed sample ballots with them when early voting or on Election Day.
To view sample ballots online, voters should know their precinct and party of registration. Florida is a closed primary state, which means the candidate choices on your ballot will be candidates of the same party affiliation. All voters, including those registered without party affiliation or with a minor political party, will have non-partisan races on their ballot, such as school board candidates, judicial races, and a local referendum.

The direct link to sample ballots is https://www.pascovotes.gov/Elections/Sample-Ballots.

The Precinct Finder option is available to voters who are unsure of their precinct number, at https://www.pascovotes.gov/Precincts/Precinct-Finder.

If your voter registration is not up to date with a current address, you will not receive your sample ballot in the mail. Sample ballots are mailed to the address of record on file. To update your address, call 800-851-8754, or go to https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home.

Published June 20, 2022

Political Agenda 07/06/2022

July 5, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Precinct lines changed
The Pasco County Commission recently approved changes to some precinct lines that were brought forward by Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

The following precinct lines have been modified:

  • Precinct 9 and Precinct 76: Precinct 76 was split by a Florida House District line. The portion of Precinct 76 lying west of the House District line will be combined with Precinct 9.
  • Precinct 90 and Precinct 101: Precinct 101 was modified to accommodate additional census blocks pertinent to its respective Community Development District from District 90 to meet the census block requirements in accordance with state law.
  • Precinct lines of 011, 031, 36 and 095 were modified to include the census block requirements under state law and to conform to new congressional lines. No voters are affected by this change.

Democratic Club meeting
The East Pasco Democratic Club is set to meet remotely, via Zoom, on July 18. The speaker will address the referendum on raises, which voters will decide on the primary ballot. Socializing begins at 6 p.m., with the meeting starting promptly at 6:30 p.m. Email , or call 813-383-8315 for details.

Pasco Republican Party
The Pasco Republican Party of Florida recently had a ribbon-cutting at its second office, at 14341 Seventh St., in Zephyrhills. A celebration was held on June 14 to mark the office’s opening.

Be ready to vote
Here are some reminders from Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, to help you to be sure you are ready to vote. (These pointers are excerpted from Corley’s Corner, a column posted on election supervisor’s website).

  • In addition to registering to vote, make sure your voter registration is up to date with your current name, address, party affiliation, and signature. Address changes can be done by telephone, online, or by written notification. Failure to update your address prior to Election Day could result in delays at the polls.
  • Check your voter registration online at PascoVotes.gov or by calling 800-851-8754. Don’t wait until Election Day to make sure you are registered and your registration is in good standing.
  • In addition to partisan contests on the Primary Election ballot, nonpartisan races, such as school board members and judges, are elected at large and are on every voter’s ballot. These offices are assigned specific geographical areas, but are elected by all voters.
  • Use your sample ballot to help expedite voting at the polls. Mark your sample ballot and take it with you, so you can copy your choices onto your official ballot.
  • Due to redistricting and facility agreements, some polling locations have changed. Once redistricting is complete, all voters will be sent a new voter information card that will list their new districts and their assigned polling location. We anticipate mailing the new information cards around the middle of June. If you have not maintained a current address with my office, you may not receive your new card.
  • Information relating to voter registration deadlines, closed Primary Elections, polling places,
    early voting, voting by mail, etc. can be found at PascoVotes.gov.

Endorsement
The American Association of Senior Citizens has endorsed Gus Bilirakis, who is running for reelection in Florida’s 12th congressional district, according to the Bilirakis campaign.

Pasco elections supervisor issues warning about mailer

March 22, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley is putting the county’s voters on alert about a mail campaign being launched in the county.

“The Voter Participation Center (VPC) & the Center for Voter Information (CVI) has again launched a voter registration mail campaign targeting Pasco County voters which have previously contained inaccurate information that voters have reported as alarming and confusing,” according to a news release from Corley’s office.

“In the past, these mailing have been sent to family members who are deceased, their pets, underage children, and adult children who no longer reside or never resided in the household or the state of Florida. The mailings which aim to reach eligible voters often arouse suspicion because they are already registered and feel that their registration has somehow been compromised,” the release continues.

“Our experience has been that VPC and CVI mailings further erode voter confidence at a time when the security of our elections is in the forefront. Please know that these organizations are in no way affiliated with my office and that there are reliable tools already in place for Pasco citizens to register to vote, update their voter registration, and to check their voter registration status,” the release adds.

For the most accurate information regarding your voter registration:

  • Register to vote or update your voter registration address using the online voter registration form at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov/home.
  • Check your voter registration status online at Registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus
  • Or, call Corley’s office at 800-851-8754 for help.

For grievances regarding the mailing, Corley’s office asks voters to contact the VPC using the information provided on the mailing.

Published March 23, 2022

Chalk Talk 03/02/2022

March 2, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Panel discussion
Saint Leo University’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies will host “Theological Perspectives on Nationalism, Antisemitism, and Racism in the United States Today,” on March 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., via Zoom.

The discussion will include religious scholars from three faith traditions, on the topic of the impact of each ‘ism’ in the U.S. today.

The program is sponsored by Congregation Kol Ami, Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation, and St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz.

Admission is free. Registration is online at SaintLeo.edu/theological. Once registered, the participant will receive a Zoom link.

For information, email Matthew Tapie at .

College career fair
Pasco County Schools will host a virtual College Career Fair on March 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., for middle and high school students and their families.

The event will be beneficial for families planning for college entrance and/or careers after high school.

Presentations and a live Q&A will include:

  • ACT/SAT Test Programs
  • Career Exploration Resources
  • College Admissions Process
  • Collegiate Athletics
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Florida Bright Futures Program
  • Selecting Mathematics Courses for Your Future Pathway
  • Options After High School
  • Resources for Students with Disabilities

For details and to register, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/oll/page/college-and-career-fair.

Teachers Tour
The Florida Forest Service is inviting educators statewide to apply for the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour scheduled for June 21 to June 24, according to a news release.

The annual tour brings educators from throughout the state to Northeast Florida for an inside look at the state’s largest agricultural commodity.

The tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the industry meets the needs of the state’s communities and environment, from clean air and water to home goods and other wood products.

“The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is one of the best tools we have to make the next generation aware of the important of Florida’s forests and the career opportunities they provide,” said Erin Albury, state forester and director of the Florida Forest Service, in the release.

Educators of all subjects and grade levels are encouraged to apply.

All lodging, meals and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Project Learning Tree of Florida, and Friends of Florida State Forests.

The four-day event earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units.

Deadline to apply is March 11.

To learn more, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour.

Saint Leo earns honors
Saint Leo University earned honors in five categories for providing the best online bachelor and master programs in the United States, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs edition, a news release said.

Saint Leo received recognition in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in Psychology (36th); Best Online Bachelor’s Programs (tied for 101st); Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans (84th); and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in Business (tied for 98th).

In addition, Saint Leo was named one of the Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs (tied for the 65th-85th rankings).

Many online students are looking to advance in or change their careers, and online education appeals to working adults, too.

U.S. News & World Report assessed universities and colleges based on four categories: Engagement; Services and Technologies; Faculty Credentials and Training; and Expert Opinion.

Saint Leo also is designated as a National Security Administration/Department of Homeland Security National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

To see the rankings, data and methodologies for the Best Online Programs edition, visit USNews.com/online.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Applicants must be at least a junior in college; be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and have at least a C average or above for the previous year; have been a resident of Florida for two years; and demonstrate a financial need.

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Applications, as well as additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information, can be found online at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2022 FSASE Scholarship Application under the Newsworthy tab on the homepage.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will be personally interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Action board scholarships
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board Scholarships are now available to Hillsborough County students who want to continue their post-secondary education.

The scholarships can be used at trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of tuition.

All applicants must follow specific criteria.

Interested students should read through the full Community Action Board Scholarship Application Package (visit tinyurl.com/2p95vwc6) before applying online, to ensure all documents are complete and requirements are met.

A full list of required documents can be found in the online package.

Students can apply online at tinyurl.com/yc46uy6p, once all the information and documents have been collected.

Applications are due by March 18.

For information and questions, call 813-272-5074, ext. 55316.

5 for 5 Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco (RPOP) Scholarship Committee will host the return of its 5 for 5 Dinner on March 24, at Timber Greens Golf & Country Club in New Port Richey.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco will be the master of ceremony, and Chef Adam and Sous-Chefs Sen. Danny Burgess, Rep. Randy Maggard, Clerk of Court Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, and Pasco Commissioners Ron Oakley and Kathryn Starkey will prepare a five-course meal.

Sponsorships and single tickets are available. The money raised will benefit the RPOP Scholarship Fund to award five $1,000 scholarships to seniors applying from any Pasco high school, private, charter or home-school.

Students must attend an accredited Florida college, university or technical/vocational school.

Applications are online at PascoGOP.com/rpop-scholarship/, or at the student’s school Career Resource Center office.

Deadline for application submission for review is March 25.

Scholarships will be awarded in the spring.

For more information on applications, tickets or sponsorships for the dinner, call the Republican Party office at 727-863-5400; Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011; or Jean Nathe at 813-783-4364.

Chalk Talk 01/26/2022

January 25, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Family Fest & Health Fair
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host a free Family Fun Festival and Health Fair at the school’s New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road, on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Festivities will include music, food, campus tours, children’s activities, crafts, games, prizes and giveaways.

Information on PHSC programs, financial aid, scholarships, student activities and athletics also will be provided; and application fees for college admission will be waived for prospective students in attendance.

Students under the age of 18 interested in applying at PHSC must be present along with a parent or guardian.

The free event, sponsored by the Musunuru family, will be hosted in recognition of Pasco County’s Rao Musunuru, M.D. Day, established on Feb. 1, 2014 by the Pasco County Commission to honor the nationally renowned, Hudson-based cardiologist and his many initiatives to support community health.

Organizations providing health care, mental health services, diet and fitness programs, or any service related to community wellness can reserve a free table for the event’s Health Fair online at tinyurl.com/ya6cfur2.

To register for the event, visit PHSC.edu/about/events.

Open House
Land O’ Lakes Christian School, 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house on Jan. 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The school encompasses PK3 through 12th grade.

It has full accreditation, affordable tuition, character training, college prep classes, fine arts, and athletics.

For information, call 813-995-9040.

Student achievements
These students were named to the fall 2021 Dean’s List at their respective schools:

  • Madison Nichols, of Odessa, Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
  • Laurie Schlosser, of Land O’ Lakes, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
  • Timothy Williams, of Lutz, Wheaton College (Illinois)

Afterschool craft
New River and Hugh Embry library staff will visit Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Dade City, on Feb. 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., for an afterschool craft.

For information, call the New River Library at 813-788-6375.

Flexible-start classes
Registration for Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) spring flex-start semester is underway, with an offering of more than 1,000 classes.

The flex-start schedule offers a variety of start dates, times and modalities, including on campus, online, and live online, to ensure that students have the flexibility they need.

Students can earn credits applicable to any of HCC’s associate in arts and associate in science degrees, college credit and postsecondary adult vocational credits.

Tuition assistance also is available.

Flex-start semester dates are: Feb. 7 (12-week classes); Feb. 14 (10-week classes and five-week classes); March 8 (eight-week classes); and March 29 (five-week classes).

For information, visit HCCfl.edu/flexstart.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Applicants must be at least a junior in college; be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and have at least a C average or above for the previous year; have been a resident of Florida for two years; and demonstrate a financial need.

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Applications, as well as additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information, can be found online at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2022 FSASE Scholarship Application under the Newsworthy tab on the homepage.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will personally be interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Chalk Talk 01/19/2022

January 18, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Loan repayments postponed
Borrowers who were able to pause their federal student loan repayment will see their repayments postponed until May 1, according to a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEEA) news release.

The federal government had intended to have borrowers resume payments in February, but have decided to wait until May because of the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, the release says.

KHEAA advises borrowers to make sure their loan servicer has their current contact information. To find your loan servicer, log into your account at StudentAid.gov, and visit the “My Loan Services” section.

The loan servicer can help if you have trouble restarting repayment of the loan, and help to find a repayment plan that fits your finances.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college, as well as to provide information about financial aid and financial literacy, at no cost to students and parents.

Visit KHEAA.com for more information.

Homeschool program
The Pasco County Library Cooperative’s Mobile Makerspace will join the Elementary Homeschool Program at Starkey Wilderness Park on Jan. 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The park’s team members will teach about native plants and the library’s team members will lead a gardening activity using native plant cuttings.

The program is free, but space is limited.

Registration is required for all who will take part, including parents/guardians and children.

Do not register unless you plan to attend; and please cancel the reservation if you no longer can attend.

For information and to register, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Flexible-start classes
Registration for Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) spring flex-start semester is underway, with an offering of more than 1,000 classes.

The flex-start schedule offers a variety of start dates, times and modalities, including on campus, online, and live online, to ensure that students have the flexibility they need.

Students can earn credits applicable to any of HCC’s associate in arts and associate in science degrees, college credit and postsecondary adult vocational credits.

Tuition assistance also is available.

Flex-start semester dates are: Feb. 7 (12-week classes); Feb. 14 (10-week classes and five-week classes); March 8 (eight-week classes); and March 29 (five-week classes).

For information, visit HCCfl.edu/flexstart.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Applicants must be at least a junior in college; be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and have at least a C average or above for the previous year; have been a resident of Florida for two years; and demonstrate a financial need.

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Applications, as well as additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information, can be found online at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2022 FSASE Scholarship Application under the Newsworthy tab on the homepage.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will personally be interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Student achievements

  • Sydney Fleeman and Andrea Lefebvre, both of Odessa, were named to the Dean’s List at Valdosta State University in Georgia.
  • Brianna Pearson, of Lutz, earned a place on the Dean’s List at The College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York.
  • Dylan Schaffer, of Lutz, was named to the Dean’s List at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri.
  • Allie Ungerecht, of Lutz, was recognized to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University , Manchester.

Filing for student aid
After completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can take other steps to ensure they receive as much money for college as possible, according to a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) news release.

Once students submit the FAFSA, it takes several days for the application to be processed.

Students should receive and review a Student Aid Report (SAR) that recaps the information from their FAFSA, to be sure it is complete and accurate. If changes need to be made, visit StudentAid.gov and click on Apply for Aid.

The SAR is sent to each college a student lists on the FAFSA. Students should check with the financial aid offices at the schools to which they’ve applied to verify the SAR was received and if the school requires more paperwork.

After completing the FAFSA, students should contact the schools if their family situation changes in a major way.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college, as well as to provide information about financial aid and financial literacy, at no cost to students and parents.

Visit KHEAA.com for more information.

Groups sending mailings to Pasco voters

October 5, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced that The Voter Participation Center (VPC) and the Center for Voter Information (CIV) were expected to begin sending voter registration application mailings to Pasco County voters last week.

In a news release, Corley said that in the past these mailings have confused and angered Pasco voters who received them for family members who are deceased, persons no longer residing or whom never resided in their household or the state of Florida, and even for their pets and underage children.

The mailings also often arouse suspicion from already-registered voters who believe their registration has in some way been compromised, according to Corley’s release.

“After many years of lobbying by myself and my fellow supervisors, the legislature passed a bill, which was signed by Governor DeSantis that allowed Florida to join the multi-state compact known as the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC),” Corley said, in the release.

“This allow us to compare the voter rolls with many other states to ensure the integrity of our voter rolls. Also, it allows the State of Florida to identify Eligible But Unregistered (EBU) persons, and last September over 2.2 million Floridians were notified with information on how to register to vote. This historic initiative makes the VPC/CVI mailings even less necessary.”

Corley continued: “Unfortunately, our experience has been that VPC & CVI tactics further erode voter confidence at a time when the security of our elections is in the forefront.”

Corley went to explain that the organizations sending out the mailing are in no way affiliated with his office.

He also assured Pasco voters that there are reliable tools in place for Pasco citizens to register to vote, update their voter registration, and to check their voter registration status.

To register to vote or update your voter registration address using the online voter registration form at https://registertovoteflorida.gov/en/Registration/Index.

To check your voter registration status, go to https://registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus

Or, call 800-851-8754 for assistance.

For grievances regarding the mailing, contact the VPC, using the information provided on the mailing, the news release advises.

Published October 06, 2021

Supervisor of Elections Office not visiting voters

September 21, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Office has become aware that individuals have begun and will continue to go to registered voters’ homes seeking information from voters.

Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has issued a statement announcing that his office is not involved in those efforts.

“Our office has been made aware that individuals have begun and will continue to go to registered voters’ homes throughout Pasco County to inquire and verify information for voters at that particular address and possibly inquiring if those person(s) voted in the 2020 General Election,” the release says.

“Pasco County voters need to be aware that these individuals are not affiliated with the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Office. These activities are also occurring in other Florida Counties and we have received information from another Supervisor of Elections Office that an individual went to a voter’s home and misrepresented themselves as being with that county and/or the Supervisor of Elections Office,” the release adds.

“Additionally, in spite of lobbying by Florida’s Supervisor of Elections, voter’s personal information from their voter file (e.g. name, address, phone number, email address, designated political party, which elections you voted in) is public record,” the release continues.

“Voters often contact my office with concerns about their personal information being publicly available. Voters shouldn’t have to choose between protecting their personal information with exercising their constitutional right to vote,” Corley says in the release.

Third-party groups have a legal right to voter information, but Corley wants the public to know that his staff will not come to your house to ask about your voting history.

Through the release, Corley makes this request: “If an individual indicates they are with ‘Pasco County’ or the ‘Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Office,’ please contact us at 800-851-8754.”

Published September 22, 2021

How Pasco Schools is navigating through COVID-19

November 10, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Heading up one of Florida’s largest school districts is certainly a tall task on its own merit — let alone when a world-altering pandemic shocks the system from March onward.

So, it’s understandable if Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning tries to bring some levity to the whole situation.

His humor showed through at a speaking engagement before the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce Oct. 20 breakfast meeting.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was guest speaker at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting last month at Scotland Yards Golf Club. (File)

“I always look for positive things. I think, ‘You know, I could be the supervisor of elections…’,” quipped Browning, before a crowd of dozens at the Scotland Yards Golf Club in Dade City.

Booming laughter, of course, ensued.

Browning held the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections position for 26 years, from 1980 to 2006.

He later joked and shared an anecdote how he once heard current Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley discuss his various responsibilities and lengthy work schedule.

Browning retorted to Corley: “I don’t ever want to you hear you talk about how hard you work, until you run a school district. You don’t know what hard work is, until you run a school system.”

More seriously, though, Browning told the crowd that the past six months or so have unquestionably been a stressful period for administrators, teachers, parents and students alike. “We have had a rough go,” he said.

The superintendent shared his personal experience of contracting the coronavirus in June.
The moment he received word of his positive COVID-19 test, Browning said, “it was all downhill from there.
“Probably the sickest I’ve ever been, sickest I’ve ever been in my life,” said Browning, noting he still feels some lingering fatigue even today.

“It was bad. It was bad, bad, bad. …I was too sick to even worry about what was going on in the office,” the superintendent said.

He discussed the hurdles that the district overcame to get teachers and students either back in the classroom or learning virtually.

The district gave families three learning options for the 2020-2021 school year:

  • Traditional brick-and-mortar campuses
  • Pasco eSchool virtual education program
  • mySchool Online, a hybrid virtual learning model where students follow a standard school schedule and bell times

One of the most challenging aspects of the first quarter has been the continuous indecisiveness by parents on which learning model to use for their child, he said.

Parents initially choosing a virtual model would flip back to traditional, and vice versa, mainly based on the latest news reports of whether COVID-19 cases were spiking or slowing.

“As we got closer to school, I mean people were just ping-ponging back and forth,” Browning said.

He said he had to plead with parents: “Don’t do that. Just pick a model and stick with it, because it’s not good for your student to keep going back and forth, because they’re going to lose instruction.”

Parent indecisiveness has “settled down a little bit,” but some parents are still “ping-ponging.”

The superintendent also noted that parents who intend to send kids back to brick-and-mortar campuses next semester need to inform his office soon, as preparations are already underway. A hard date for those second semester decisions will be set relatively soon.

“Keep in mind, it’s not as simple as moving kids into a classroom,” said Browning, the changes affect teachers and scheduling, too.

Other school district challenges amid COVID-19
Browning also touched on other challenges brought about by the start the pandemic, such as creating drive-thru sites to provide free meals for needy families.

The district served over 1 million meals, from March through the beginning of the school year in August.

Pasco Schools distributed over 1 million meals to needy families from March through the beginning of the school year in August, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of families who needed help increased drastically, Browning said, particularly among the district’s 36 Title 1 schools — campuses with large concentrations of low-income students.

Many of those students rely on school-provided breakfast and lunch, as oftentimes it’s their only meals of the day, “so it’s important we get the food to them,” Browning said.

The superintendent added the 1 million-plus meal figure is “much higher than we’ve ever served meals before, and I think a lot of that was due to folks having lost jobs, not being able to provide food for their kids.”

And, as students moved to remote learning, technology became a big challenge.

The district issued about 20,000 laptops and iPads to students for virtual learning purposes.

The school district primarily uses Apple equipment, but district leadership decided to distribute Dell laptops — in order to distribute more laptops. The district could buy three Dell laptops for the cost of one Apple laptop, Browning explained.

“We learned very quickly, if we’re going to get where we need to be with devices for our kids, we’re kind of switching over to Dell devices,” Browning said. “They’re not as sturdy as an Apple, but if a kid drops a Dell and breaks it, throw it in the garbage and buy another one. With an Apple, you have to fix it, and the investment’s too great to do that with.”

Getting remote internet access to students was another necessity and challenge — particularly at the end of last school year.

“You know how many kids in 2020 do not have internet service? A lot,” Browning said.

To solve the problem, the district equipped school buses with hotspots and set them up in school parking lots in remote areas with no internet service, such as Crystal Springs, Lacoochee and Shady Hills.

The concept allowed families to park their cars into school lots for several hours and have children complete necessary schoolwork from there.

“We bought hotspots by the hundreds,” Browning said.

New technical high school underway
Browning went on to discuss the district’s forthcoming technical high school — Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, being built at 9100 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel.

The Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation is being built at 9100 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel. The 184,000-square-foot technical school is expected to serve 1,000 students and is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 school year. The school will prepare students for high-salary, high-skill careers in high-demand areas, such as digital multimedia, engineering and robotics, biomedical sciences, building construction, and cyber security, according to district officials.

The 184,000-square-foot technical school is expected to serve 1,000 students and is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school will prepare students for high-salary, high-skill careers in high-demand areas, such as digital multimedia, engineering and robotics, biomedical sciences, building construction, and cyber security, according to district officials.

A groundbreaking ceremony was celebrated in early September.

Browning believes it’ll be a win for the school district, underscoring the importance of technical and vocational training programs, as well as dual-enrollment opportunities.

“We want our kids to have options, we want our kids to be successful,” said Browning. “We want them to be exposed to diesel mechanics. You know what a good diesel mechanic is paid? You know what a great welder gets paid? Sometimes six figures.”

The school, Browning said, is being constructed “with a lot of non-fixed walls” to allow for ever-changing learning programs that may require more or less space in the future.

“It’s going to be a very functional facility for our kids, and I believe East Pasco deserves that and needs that for our kids,” Browning said.

Kirkland Ranch will primarily pull students from Pasco, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools, but also will be available to “any other kid” from the county that wants to take advantage, Browning said.

Published November 11, 2020

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08/11/2022 – Food distribution

Farm Share, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff Charities, The Gentlemen’s Course, and the Pasco County NAACP will host a free food distribution on Aug. 11 starting at 9 a.m., at the Big Lots parking lot, 4840 Allen Road in Zephyrhills. Food will be handed out rain or shine, on a first-come, first-served drive-through basis, until the items run out. … [Read More...] about 08/11/2022 – Food distribution

08/11/2022 – Yarn for a Cause

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host Yarn for a Cause on Aug. 11 at 6:15 p.m., in the Meeting Room. This group creates projects such as blankets for nursing homes, and more. Participants can learn new techniques and show their own projects. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/11/2022 – Yarn for a Cause

08/12/2022 – Monuments tour

The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum will host a “Monuments By Moonlight Tour” at the Dade City Cemetery, 38161 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, on Aug. 12 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Participants can learn about founding families, notable citizens, and the stories ‘in the stones.’ This tour is on grassy pathways and uneven surfaces; open-toed shoes are not recommended. Twilight time brings heat, bugs, and sometimes rain, so be prepared. Water will be provided. Guests should meet at the cemetery gate. Parking is available across the street. The tour will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Dade City Cemetery and the Dade City Heritage Museum. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at EventBrite.com. … [Read More...] about 08/12/2022 – Monuments tour

08/12/2022 – Smart Driver Course

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will offer the AARP Smart Driver Safety Course on Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for ages 50 and older. Space is limited. Registration is required. Call Bev Cogdill at 813-907-3908. … [Read More...] about 08/12/2022 – Smart Driver Course

08/13/2022 – Ask a Gardener

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will host “Ask a Master Gardener” on Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. and at 10 a.m. A master gardener will be on hand to answer questions. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 08/13/2022 – Ask a Gardener

08/13/2022 – Belly Dance Show

The American Belly Dance Studio will present “We Come to Belly Dance,” a gala belly dance show, on Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. This is a fun, family oriented show featuring a variety of belly dance styles and costumes. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at AmericanBellyDance.com, and at the door if available (limited seating). For information, email , or call 813-416-8333. … [Read More...] about 08/13/2022 – Belly Dance Show

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