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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Brooksville

More programs, initiatives, on tap at PHSC, provost says

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Pasco-Hernando State College — which recently has been recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for its return on educational investment — continues to add new programs and initiatives.

That was the message that Dr. Stan Giannet, the college’s provost, delivered to a crowd at a recent Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Golden Corral.

Pasco-Hernando State College provost Dr. Stan Giannet was the featured guest speaker at the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce July 5 monthly breakfast meeting at Golden Corral. He discussed some of the new programs and initiatives the state college has in the works.
(Kevin Weiss)

The state college received notification from the Department of Education last month that it was one of the top schools for affordability in bachelor’s degree programs.

And, earlier this year, WalletHub, a national economic magazine, ranked PHSC among the top three community colleges in the nation for return on educational investment, out of more than 800 candidate schools. The WalletHub study took into account student learning outcomes plus the cost.

“We’re a major state power in higher education,” said Giannet, who has been at PHSC for more than 27 years.

Giannet, also PHSC’s vice president of academic affairs, said the college has “exceeded every metric” from employability, to test score passage rates in workforce programs — suggesting over 95 percent of PHSC students who graduate with associate of science degrees or receive technical certificates find employment in their chosen career field.

“There’s nothing worse for a college to do than to have a degree program where students invest money, invest time, get out in the workforce and (find) they’re not employable in the industry or the career of their choice. We don’t have that,” he said.

The state college provides training for more than 30 careers in business, health, industry and technology, and public service through new bachelor’s degree, Associate in Science degree and certificate programs.

And, while he’s proud of the institution’s growth and achievements over time, the college has much more on tap, Giannet said.

The state college has more than 15,000 students and 500 faculty and staff members across its five full-service campuses in Brooksville, Dade City, New Port Richey, Spring Hill and Wesley Chapel.

Giannet told the crowd: “We have a lot of things in the pipeline.”

The state college is building a $15.5 million performing arts instructional center, expected to be complete by Aug. 2020.

The facility will be built on a 5.5-acre tract of land donated by Pasco County Schools on the campus of Cypress Creek Middle High School, off Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Expanding its program and degree offerings
The state college plans to develop an Associate’s of Science degree in digital design and graphic multi-media technologies, and, Associate’s of Arts degrees in dance, music, and theatre. Several accompanying technical certificate programs also will be offered through the arts center.

The arts center will be shared with Pasco County Schools, and will be a venue for various community events.

“It’s going to be fantastic,” Giannet said.

The college also is working on other degree offerings, he said.

Pasco-Hernando State College boasts 5,000-plus students and 500 faculty members and staffers across five full-service campuses in Brooksville, Dade City, New Port Richey, Spring Hill and Wesley Chapel. (File)

The college offers two four-year degree programs currently, and is working to identify a third, Giannet said. The current four-year degrees, introduced in 2014, are for a bachelor of science in nursing and a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management. The college also is working with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to develop an A.S. degree in crime scene technology and forensics.

That program will likely be offered at the Dade City campus, with clinical training opportunities at the Adam Kennedy Forensics Field “body farm” on the grounds of the Pasco Sheriff’s detention facility in Land O’ Lakes.

The college also is gearing up for several contract and corporate workforce training programs that are set to come online.

Among them are a 911 training program for the Hernando Sheriff’s Office; a child protection services leadership program for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office; a medical scribe exclusive online training program; and, a childhood education certification program for the Pasco and Hernando school districts.

Elsewhere, PHSC is expanding its welding technology program to the west side of the county.

The welding program has been offered on the Dade City campus.

Now, Giannet said night classes will be available Marchman Technical College in New Port Richey, thanks to a developmental partnership between the college and Pasco County Schools.

That expansion is much needed due to an increased demand for certified welders and lack of programming the county’s west side, the provost said.

“We have a huge waiting list for welding on this (east) side of the county,” Giannet said. Our welders, when they graduate from our college, they’re snatched up by the industry. “It’s a win-win situation for our community,” he added.

Giannet also talked about the college’s new aviation program, which debuted last year.

The college offers four aviation-related associate degree programs — professional pilot technology, aviation administration, aviation maintenance administration, and unmanned vehicle systems.

Several PHSC students have already become certified pilots — including a female pilot in what is “a traditionally male-dominated industry,” Giannet noted.

He expects the program to skyrocket in the coming years.

“Aviation is going to be the hottest industry in the nation, with the impending shortage and retirement of all these aviation professionals…so we’re really excited for that program,” the provost said.

The college is next looking to create more aviation partnership, with facilities such as the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.

It already has an existing partnership with American Aviation Flight Academy, at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport, he said.

Published July 11, 2018

 

 

DuJuan Harris patiently awaits next NFL shot

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Once or twice a week, a veteran NFL running back can be found training at Wesley Chapel District Park, readying for another shot to play on Sundays.

“I’ll get that call soon. I know how the game goes,” he says.

Indeed, Brooksville native DuJuan Harris knows pro football all too well.

Since 2011, the 29-year-old has bounced around to eight NFL franchises across both coasts, in various capacities.

Since 2011, the 29-year-old Brooksville native has bounced around to eight NFL franchises across both coasts, in various capacities. That included a stint with the Green Bay Packers, from 2012 to 2015. (Courtesy of NFL.com)

It has included multiple stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2011, 2017), and stops with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2012), Green Bay Packers (2012 to 2014), Minnesota Vikings (2015), Seattle Seahawks (2015), Baltimore Ravens (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2015 to 2016).

He’s spent just weeks with some teams, and months with others. He’s been on practice squads and active rosters. He’s even been a starter multiple times.

For Harris, it’s all been a “blessing.”

“I’ve bounced around to a lot of different places, but I got to meet a lot of great guys. I played side by side with some future Hall of Famers and some Hall of Famers now, so it’s been amazing. It’s been tough, but I wouldn’t try to change it for anything; every team has been fun.”

More recently, Harris spent preseason and training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, until he was released in September.

It’s not the first time he’s been cut, and it surely won’t be the last — should another NFL opportunity arise.

“Every year you’ve got to prove yourself, so it’s a grind,” Harris says. “It’s a different kind of life, definitely. It’s been a struggle throughout my career…”

The average NFL career is 3.3 years, according to the NFL Players Association.

It’s undoubtedly shorter for undrafted free agents, like Harris.

“You can make the same mistake as a first-round guy, and (coaches) are going to pat him on the back and say, ‘Oh, it’s OK.’ You make that same mistake (as an undrafted player), you’re going to be gone,” Harris explains.

The circumstances entering the league don’t matter anymore to Harris.

Instead, he bides his time, relishing the chance to prove himself once again as a veteran player.

“It’s something that I hold my head up for when I go to new teams,” he says. “I don’t get nervous about anything. I feel like you see someone new come in that door, you’re going to have to worry. That’s how it is in the NFL. That’s what I tell some younger guys, ‘Don’t get down when you get released.’”

Whatever the reason, Harris consistently has been overlooked as a football player.

Despite starring at Central High School in Brooksville — where he recorded 3,000 career rushing yards and 45 touchdowns, and holds a Hernando County record for the most yards in a single game with 363 yards and five touchdowns — Harris only had offers from Troy (Alabama) University and Florida A&M University.

And, after a prolific four-year college career at Troy — nearly 3,200 scrimmage yards and 32 touchdowns — Harris didn’t receive an invite to the NFL combine.

Perhaps it’s his stature. He stands at just 5-foot-7.

It’s certainly not his athleticism or aggressive running style.

At 206 pounds, the chiseled Harris recorded the highest vertical leap (41.5 inches) and fastest 40-yard dash time (4.37 seconds) on his college team.

But, an eye-opening pro day workout wasn’t enough to have Harris’ name among the 254 chosen during the 2011 NFL Draft, either.

“I didn’t mind even not getting my name called on draft day,” Harris says. “I really just wanted to hear my name called for my family. Just for them to hear it and for them to cheer about something. Other than that, my mindset is, ‘I’m going to play football anyway. I’m going to be in the NFL, I’m going to get my respect one way or another, if I’m going to get picked or not.’”

He’s done that year in, year out.

In 38 career NFL games, Harris has tallied 590 rushing yards, 244 receiving yards and three touchdowns. In regular season action, he’s proven to be a productive back, averaging a career 4.1 yards per carry, and a reliable pass-catcher, with 21 receptions.

Harris, meanwhile, is confident he can still make plays, at 29 years old — aging by NFL standards.

“There’s older guys that can still do it, and I feel like if they can, then I can, too. It’s doable,” he says.

His newfound athletic trainer, Bebe Roberts, also shares the sentiment.

“He’s amazingly fast, but I didn’t know he was that fast,” Roberts says of observing Harris in a recent workout.

Roberts is a former Wesley Chapel High School track star. He’s worked out other NFL hopefuls through his athletic training company, Fast Sprint Quick Performance LLC.

His relationship with Harris dates back to high school, when they went head-to-head in local track meets — where Roberts beat the NFL player in the 100-meter dash. “He brings that up all the time,” Roberts jokes.

Roberts’ job is to maintain the NFL veteran’s speed and flexibility, through hip stabilizers and other routine running back drills.

“He’s a running back, so we don’t want him to get tight, especially in the offseason,” Roberts explains. “I did a lot of research on him, so I could help make him a better athlete.”

Those personalized workouts are critical to Harris, who’s fighting to stay in the sport that skews young.

“Every year since my rookie year, it’s been the same thing. Just pretty much trying to work on everything. In this league, you learn something every year—and people get better every year,” he says.

“You just got to stay prepared. You could have a skill set that’s pretty good, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you all the time. You’ve got to keep working at it.”

Harris has temporarily settled in Wesley Chapel with his family, while he awaits his next football opportunity.

With ample downtime, he’s been assisting in his wife’s custom wig business, DarVida by Keysha.

“She makes the wigs, and I take care of everything else; we make a good team,” says Harris, noting he developed the professional website.

Interestingly, it’s not the first non-NFL job he’s had.

Harris garnered national headlines in the 2012 season, when he went from working at a Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership in Jacksonville to the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, eventually working his way onto the active roster as a starter.

That year, Harris took the sales job to supplement his income, as he awaited his next NFL roster spot.

Harris recalls the unique circumstance:

“I’m not a big spender, but during the offseason there’s only so far that your money can stretch. I didn’t have enough to get me through an offseason and some of the season, so I had to get up and work. I couldn’t just sit around and wait for something to happen.
“The process of getting a job was new for me. I never had to go in for an interview, dress nice and everything else. It all was new to me. I was only there for a week —didn’t sell a car, but came close on a couple.

“It was fun, and I was thankful for them giving me the opportunity. I was doing workouts in between, got a call from Green Bay, and they asked me if I wanted to fly out the next day.”

Now Harris hopes for a similar call, from any of the 32 NFL franchises — or even the Canadian Football League.

It may come sooner than later, as injuries mount and wide-eyed rookies make mistakes.

“In this game, if a young guy’s not doing too well, they’re going to go to a vet, no matter what. I’ll get my name called soon,” he said.

Additional Q-and-A with veteran NFL running back DuJuan Harris

On having his No. 20 jersey retired at Central High School’s Sept. 29 Homecoming game:
“It didn’t hit me until I got on the field. I was thinking, like, ‘Wow, nobody in this school is ever going to wear my number again.’ It kind of just hit me. My wife was trying to ask me, ‘Did it really set in yet?’ She saw, once I kind of got some tears in my eyes.”

On the challenge of bouncing from various NFL franchises, with a family at home:
“That’s when it got hard. When I was by myself it was simple. …Just bouncing around from place to place, sometimes I’ve got to leave my wife, and for her to take care of things on her own—I hate having to do that. When you get to a new city and she has to go, now she’s in a new place by herself. So, that’s another thing that I’ve got to try to worry about on top of all the new (stuff) I’ve got to get ready for. So, it’s difficult, but it is what it is. We’d rather go through all of it now.”

On the feeling of getting released:
“You might feel like you’re an outcast when you leave ‘here’ and get released ‘here,’ and you might feel a little embarrassed, and you want to be in your shell. But, when you get a call from another team and go there, there’s guys in that locker room that are going to worry because, ‘Hey, they just brought in a new running back, who’s going to go?’ And in this league, it’s a numbers game. You just can’t really think about all the negativity in the league because there’s a lot. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

On what he misses most about the NFL:
“Just pretty much being in that (locker) room. Just that atmosphere itself, it’s amazing, and it’s something that a lot of people wish they could be apart of. If I get another opportunity to prolong my career, it would be a blessing…”

On the difficulty of learning an NFL playbook, especially in a short period of time:
“It’s definitely not like the video games. You’ve got to learn a new language pretty much. It’s a little difficult. One word might mean something for one team and it means something else for another. And then the routes, they call the routes a little differently. But, it’s a copycat league. Everything you pretty much learn from other teams, you end up running that same play. …I go to one team, and I just try to learn the basics and then go from there. You’ve just got to put in the time. There’s a lot more to it than people think.”

Published October 25, 2017

The Ice Dreammm Shop scoops ice cream and nostalgia

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Ice cream dreams bring back sweet memories to Joe Schembri.

There were family trips to what he remembers as “Roger’s Place” on State Road 52. Later on, ice creamy treats came from a shop near a Home Depot, known affectionately as the “Home Depot” ice cream.

“All we did was ice cream every week,” said Schembri, who lives in Land O’ Lakes. “That was family time and we loved it.”

Nearly three months ago, Schembri opened his own shop, and his first business – the Ice Dreammm Shop – in a small plaza at 23912, Suite 2, State Road 54, in Lutz.

The shop will host a “customer appreciation day” and grand opening on Oct. 22 from 1 p.m. to 3

Ice Dreammm owner Joe Schembri spreads the message “sharing is caring” at his new shop off State Road 54. (Kathy Steele)

p.m.

The triple “m” in the name is part of the shop’s signature logo, and a reminder of yummy ice cream cones from childhood.

The menu of specialty flavors for children and adults add a non-traditional punctuation to the shop.

Just plain vanilla won’t do.

Instead, flavors include creamy vanilla bean, rice pudding, sweet corn, cotton candy, and an overload of Oreo cookies in cookies n’ dream.

The newest recipe, available for adults only, is pecan bourbon neat. Other adult flavors are the tried and true favorites of Rum Haven and whiskey-laced Fire N Ice.

Still, Schembri hasn’t forgotten what he loved about the ice cream experience. The Ice Dreammm Shop is a very traditional family place, a throwback to the old days.

Chess and checkers games are laid out on tables.

Children can pick from more than 20 games like pick up sticks and dominoes.

A flat screen television tunes into children’s programs.

A sofa and chairs in the entry way are a comfy, living area. The restroom has a baby-changing area.

If students or professionals want to settle in with computers, and hang out for a while that’s the idea, said Schembri.

Families are welcome to linger, too.

“Parents can sit and eat while the kids play,” he said. “Everyone can relax. I see parents showing kids how to play chess, and kids showing parents how to play chess.”

Schembri began laying the foundations for his shop nearly two years ago. He researched on the Internet. He watched videos all about ice cream machines. He talked with ice cream shop owners to find out about the challenges.

Schembri quickly learned about the community of small business owners, especially ice cream shop owners.

Everyone seemed willing to share advice and experiences including David Alima, co-owner of the Charmery in Baltimore.

Schembri got excited when he found a dealer in Brooksville who sells ice cream machines.

“This is in my back yard. It must mean something,” he said.

Schembri also went to an ice cream “boot camp” at The Villages, a retirement community near Orlando.

“We got to play with the machines, making recipes,” Schembri said. “I loved it.”

He worked for months making up recipes in his garage and testing them with friends at parties.

“All good things start in a garage,” he quipped.

His girlfriend, Brooke Purvenas, helped him scout locations and found the storefront at the plaza off State Road 54, near Highland Oaks Preserve subdivision.

Purvenas works days at Ice Dreammm.

Schembri takes over in the afternoon after he leaves his job at Bisk, a company that partners with nonprofit universities to promote online learning programs.

Schembri also partners with local companies, such as In the Loop and Craft Life Brewing. “We put their beer in our ice cream,” he said.

Coffee is from the Hemp & Coffee Exchange in Tampa.

He is constantly dreaming up new flavors and he’s also open to suggestions from his customers. They jot down potential flavor combinations and he considers them.

Cherry pineapple, apple tart, flan and blue cheese and walnuts have their fans. And, one day they could be on the menu.

A recent addition is chocolate bacon toffee.

It may not seem like a combination that would work, but it’s the perfect blend of sweet and tart, Schembri said.

“Why not have something unique?” he asked.

That sentiment — of being one of a kind — seems to fit right in with Ice Dreammm Shop’s general theme.

Revised Oct. 12, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Ice arena offers plenty of room, action

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There’s no shortage of activities — or room— at the newly minted Florida Hospital Center Ice.

From learning to skate, to playing hockey and curling, there’s plenty to do at the much-ballyhooed facility, which measures 150,500 square feet.

On Jan. 28, during the facility’s opening weekend, hundreds of youth and adults packed into what has been described as “the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern United States.”

During a water break, Mason Cessna, 9, of Valrico, gets a quick swig during the 9- and 10-year-old session. Coaches were watching the individual abilities of each participant in the ‘Squirts’ division.
(Fred Bellet)

Patrons came from as far away Brooksville, Valrico and Lithia to check out the complex, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., which is off Interstate 75 at the State Road 56 interchange in Wesley Chapel.

Others visited from nearby Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and New Tampa.

And, while two of the complex’s five rinks remain under construction, there were plenty of options to accommodate ice enthusiasts of all kinds.

The Olympic rink, which measures 200 feet by 100 feet, was fully occupied with public skaters and learn-to-skate participants.

Two NHL-sized rinks (200 feet by 85 feet), meanwhile, were teeming with hours of youth recreational hockey evaluations and adult pickup games.

During breaks in ice action, spectators marveled at the fully stocked pro shop and other amenities at the two-story facility.

Gordie Zimmermann, managing partner of Florida Hospital Center Ice, is one contented man.

“We’ve exceeded our expectations from the get-go,” Zimmermann said. “Like participation for the Learn to Skate, everything’s almost double of what we thought it would be coming out of the starting block, so it’s been terrific.”

That, too, applies to registration figures for the center’s adult hockey leagues.

Florida Hospital Center Ice has attracted a large number of skaters, taking to the ice.
(Fred Bellet)

The initial eight-week “reduced” session has 25 teams signed up, consisting of beginner, intermediate and advanced leagues.

“We thought we would maybe get 10 teams in the first adult (league),” Zimmermann said. He’s elated with the current registration figures.

Additionally, more teams are anticipated to sign up once 12-week sessions commence.

Besides recreation league offerings, the center also will be home base for several other area-based teams and organizations.

The Wiregrass Ranch and Freedom high school club teams have signed up. The same goes for the University of South Florida Ice Bulls, of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

The Tampa Bay Junior Hockey Club, an elite training development program, also has jumped aboard.

Consequently, a bevy of regional and international tournaments and camps are in the works, Zimmermann said.

One of the more intriguing on the docket is the World V-Red Prospect Advanced Camp, from July 16 through July 21.

Labeled as Canada’s No. 1 hockey program, it’s the first time ever the weeklong event will be hosted in the United States.

“The biggest thing that we’re doing,” Zimmermann said, “is that we’re bringing in major tournaments through the summer, and we’re going to bring in another one that’s going to be huge for the area for hockey.”

Rob Passante, left, of Wesley Chapel, has the duty of tying ice skates for 10-year-old Tucker McKinney, of Seffner, as Tucker’s brother, Luke McKinney, 4, looks on. Tucker is friends with Passante’s son, Dominic.
(Fred Bellet)

The complex, too, has drawn the eyes of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who’ve signed on as program rink sponsors.

No plans are in the works for the Lightning to relocate their practices from the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, however.

Other visiting NHL teams, though, may practice at the Wesley Chapel complex during their road trips to Florida; multiple NHL organizations have already expressed interest in doing so, Zimmermann said.

Still, there will be ample ice time for everyone — even the average skater or recreational hockey player.

“We can do a lot more…and still keep our public skate and our learn-to-skate program going; we don’t have to cancel it,” Zimmermann explained.

Other key features of the complex, interestingly, don’t even require ice.

Rinks can be converted to accommodate large corporate events and dry floor sports, such as basketball, volleyball and box lacrosse.

“We have a sub-floor that goes over the ice,” Zimmermann said, “and a sport court goes on top of one of the NHL rinks. We can put it on any one, and we can also do it on the mini-rink.”

There’s also a six-lane, 90-yard running track, and a 2,600-square-foot fitness facility.

All those features, Zimmermann said, set the facility apart from other complexes.

Kim Payne, communications director at Florida Hospital Center Ice, watches a practice session from an observation area on the second-floor.
(Fred Bellet)

“Really, there’s nothing comparable to this south of New York all the way through the West Coast,” Zimmermann said. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Shari Klutz, skating the center’s program director, agrees.

“I love this facility,” said Klutz, who previously served as figure skating director at the Ashburn Ice House in Virginia. “They thought of a lot of key things, and made it unique. It has every training aspect you could need.”

The ice complex has been a long time coming for the area.

Previously, many Pasco and north Hillsborough residents would trek to Brandon to get their hockey and skating fix. Others may have used the Clearwater Ice Arena or the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar.

Florida Hospital Center Ice was expected to open in October 2015. However, various permitting and technological setbacks stalled the $28 million capital investment project.

Zimmermann pointed to a lengthy commissioning period, balancing of the building and “other things out of our control.”

“I wouldn’t say they were necessarily delays,” Zimmermann said. “It’s a very complicated building.”

He added: “We would have loved to be open before the (Christmas) holiday, but we’re going to be here a long time, so we wanted to do it right.”

With a relative dearth of ice complexes in the Bay Area, Center Ice is forecasted as an economic driver for both Wesley Chapel and Pasco County.

The county already has five hotels in development, including two directly adjacent to the complex.

Officials believe the massive facility will attract 1.5 million to 2 million visitors annually, with 40 percent coming from outside Tampa Bay.

Though open and operable, the entire complex is still not fully complete.

Finishing touches are still being made to the fitness center and two rinks. The full-service restaurant, Top Shelf Sports Lounge, is slated to open sometime this month.

Published February 22, 2017

Resolve to have fun in 2017

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Maybe 2017 is the year that you’re going to have more fun.

But, perhaps you want to improve planning your activities, and to get a better handle on your spending, too.

The Laker/Lutz News is here to help.

Whether you’re new to area, or have lived here for decades, this guide is intended to help you plan fun activities for you and your family, without breaking the bank.

January
Raising Cane, a sweet & spicy event
When: Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
How much: Admission: $5 per person
Details: Cane syrup making, cane syrup competition, chili cook-off, salsa competition, greased pole climbing, iron skillet toss, entertainment and vendors

This blues band is keeping the crowd entertained at the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues fest. (File Photos)

Seventh annual Pigs in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues
When: Jan 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 5200 Airport Road, at the new community venue
How much: Free admission; $10 parking
Details: Mouth-watering barbecue, blues music, classic car show, aircraft displays, World War II museum, beer and wine, gift vendors, business showcase, kids zone and more
For information, call (813) 782-1913, or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

 

12th annual Suncoast Arts Fest
When: Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Jan. 22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
How much: Free admission and parking
Details: More than 125 fine artists and craftsmen; live entertainment; emerging artist booth, featuring work of area middle and high school students; street painting; roaming entertainers; and, free art projects for the kids

Dade City’s annual Kumquat Festival
When: Jan. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City
How much: Admission and parking are free; free shuttles for satellite lots
What: Local entertainment, antique cars, arts and crafts, activities for kids, vendors, health and wellness, kumquat pies, kumquat products, quilt challenge and more
Several events are held leading up to the festival, visit DadeCityChamber.org for information.

February
Farm Fest & Quilt Show
When: Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Florida Pioneer Museum & Village,15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
How much: $10 per day, or $15 for both days.
What: Draft horse pull on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Bring your own lawn chair, limited seating); quilt show, activities, music and more
For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Florida Ranch Days
When: Feb. 11 and Feb. 12
Where: Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road, Dade City
How much: Free admission; parking, $10 for cars and $25 for RVs
Details: Live entertainment on multiple stages; guided ranch tours on hay wagons; swamp buggy rides; trading post; food roundup; children’s area; and more
For information, visit RanchDays.com.

Third annual Snowbird Palooza
When: Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
How much: Free parking and free admission
Details: Entertainment, speakers, coffee and donuts social, Bingo tent, live magician, art classes and more
For information, email .s.

Pasco County Fair
When: Feb. 20 to Feb. 26
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
Details: Midway, fair food, entertainment, competitions
For a schedule of events, admission charge and other information, visit PascoCountyFair.com.

March
Flea Market at the Old Lutz School
When: March 3 and March 4
Where: The Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N.
How much: Admission is free.
Details: Thousands of items for sale to generate funds for causes supported by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Fest
When: March 11, noon to 8 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
How much: Early bird $10 general admission, $15 at the gate; Early bird $25 reserved seating, $30 at the gate; $5 parking.
Details: Live music, car show, bounce houses, obstacle course, video games, food and drink vendors, business and arts & crafts showcase. No outside food or coolers allowed. Event will be held, rain or shine.

Founders’ Day Parade in Zephyrhills
When: March 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Main Street Zephyrhills District
How much: Free admission
Details: A parade to celebrate Founders’ Day in Zephyrhills. This year’s theme is classic board games.
For information, visit MSZI.org.

Savage Race
When: March 18 and March 19
Where: 17951 Hamilton Road, Dade City
Details: Twenty-five obstacles, mud in your underwear, chip timing, T-shirt, beer, action photos, camaraderie, memories
For information, visit SavageRace.com.

Dogs Day in Dade City
When: March 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Agnes Lamb Park, in downtown Dade City
Details: Dog wagon parade, dog costume contest, canine got talent, ice cream/yogurt eating contest and more

Zephyrhills Pie Festival
When: March 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
How much: Free admission and parking; $10 all-you-can-eat pie buffet, from noon until 3 p.m.
Details: Pie bakers and vendors, slices of pie and whole pies for sale; pie-eating contests, a pie buffet, local business showcase, kids’ area, DJ entertainment and other activities

Gran Fondo Florida
When: March 26, start time 8 a.m.
Where: San Antonio
Details: Bicycle road race through the rolling hills of Dade City and San Antonio. Cyclists can choose to ride three distances: 30 miles, 60 miles or 100 miles, and are timed on certain stretches of the race.For information, visit GranFondoNationalChampionshipSeries.com.

April
Jelly Bean Fling
When: April 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Details: Easter bunny, Easter bonnet parade, egg hunt, face painting, bounce house and more
For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Easter Sunrise Service
Where: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
When: April 16, 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
How much: Free admission
Details: Live Christian music, an inspirational message, a live dove release and free refreshments. Seating is limited and lawn chairs are encouraged.

 

 

 

 

Wesley Chapel Boat Show
When: April 21 to April 23
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
For information, visit TheShopsatWiregrass.com.

June
Third Annual Zephyrhills SummerFest
Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
When: June 24, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How much: Free admission, free parking
Details: Live entertainment; bounce houses, slides, a rock wall, trampoline and other kids’ activities; vendor village of arts & crafters; pet friendly; fireworks at sunset
For information, contact .

July
What: Lutz Fourth of July
When: July 4, parade starts at 10 a.m. (There’s a race and other festivities before and after the parade). More details will be available closer to the event.
Where: Downtown Lutz, near the Train Depot
How much: Admission and parking are free.

November
29th annual Florida Bug Jam
When: Nov. 11 and Nov. 12
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
For details, visit FloridaBugJam.com.

 

 

 

December
Lutz Arts & Crafts Show
When: Dec. 2 and Dec. 3|
Where: Keystone Preparatory High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa
Details: Hundreds of arts and crafts vendors and food booths in an annual show that draws tens of thousands of shoppers

Christmas in the Park
When: Traditionally held on the first Sunday in December
Where: City Park, 12202 Main St., in downtown San Antonio
How much: Free admission, free refreshments
Details: Annual lighting of giant Christmas cards, old-fashioned carol singing and other nostalgic touches.

Tampa Tour de Clay
When: Dec. 9 and Dec. 10
Where: Stops at area pottery studios
How much: The tour is free.
Details: Those making the tour will have the chance to watch kiln openings, talk with nationally known ceramic artists and perhaps do a bit of shopping.
For details, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Church Street Christmas
When: Traditionally held on select dates in December
Where: Historic Church Avenue in Dade City
How much: Admission is free
Details: Enjoy carolers, musicians and other entertainers along a street where the sidewalks are lit by luminaries and the houses are brilliantly decorated.

Old Lutz School Christmas House
When: Traditionally held on select dates in December
Where: 18819 U.S. 41 N.
How much: Free admission; donations of toys and nonperishable foods are encouraged
For details, visit OldLutzSchool.com.

Festival of Lights on Main Street
When: Traditionally held on the first Saturday in December
Where: On Fifth Avenue, from Seventh to 10th streets in downtown Zephyrhills
How much: Admission is free
Details: The event includes food, entertainment, holiday activities and a Christmas parade.

REGIONAL EVENTS
These events are beyond The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, but may be of interest to our readers.

Gasparilla Parade of Pirates
When: Jan. 28, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: The parade goes from Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards, and continues on a route through downtown Tampa, ending at Cass Street and Ashely Drive. (People begin gathering hours before the parade begins; parking can be difficult to find).
Details: The parade includes 130 units, including floats, marching bands, pirates and more.

Florida State Fair
When: Feb. 9 through Feb. 20
Where: Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N.
Details: Fair foods, midway, entertainment, competitions
For information, visit FloridaStateFair.com.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival
When: Weekends, Feb. 18 through April 2
Where: 11315 N. 46th St., Tampa
How much: $17.95 adults, $9.95 children; free parking
Details: Step back to medieval times, with live jousting, and old time foods and shops.
For information, visit BayAreaRenFest.com.

Strawberry Festival
When: March 2 through March 12
Where: 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City
Details: Strawberry shortcake, entertainment, festival rides, contests, fair foods, competitions and more.
For information, visit FlStrawberryFestival.com.

Chasco Fiesta
When: March 24 through April 1
Where: Downtown New Port Richey
Details: Chasco Fiesta is a nine-day festival with events ranging from a Native American Pow Wow, to a street parade, to a boat parade to shows, a carnival, a fiesta and more.
For information, visit ChascoFiesta.com.

Florida Blueberry Festival
When: April 22, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and April 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Historic downtown Brooksville
How much: $10 for adults (over 18); $5 for ages 13 to 17; free for those 12 and under; $5 in designated parking areas. The event is pet friendly.
Details: Entertainment, fresh blueberries, kids zone, arts and crafts, beer, wine, food and more
For information, visit FloridaBlueberryFestival.org.

Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races
When: April 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Contachobee Fort Brooke Park, 601 Old Water St., Tampa Bay
Details: Rowing teams compete
For information, visit PanamDragonBoat.com, and click on “Events.”

GeckoFest
When: Sept. 2, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: 3101 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport
Details: The theme of the 17th annual GeckoFest will be Geckostock, a celebration of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, as was hippies and the “Peace and Love” generation.

Published January 4, 2017

Tracing the development of early Lutz

By

Once one of the most active stops for wood-burning locomotives, Lutz was settled with just a handful of homesteaders.

William Paul Lutz was a railroad engineer. He and his brother, Charles, played a pivotal role in the history of Lutz, a community north of Tampa. (Photographs courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)
William Paul Lutz was a railroad engineer. He and his brother, Charles, played a pivotal role in the history of Lutz, a community north of Tampa.
(Photographs courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)

There was a store and a couple of houses there in 1907, and once the Tampa Northern Railroad was extended from Brooksville to Tampa that same year, the Concord Stagecoach Line went out of business.

But, that news didn’t discourage two brothers from West Virginia — William Paul Lutz and Charles Henry Lutz.

That’s because one of the largest sawmills in northwest Hillsborough County was the Gulf Pine Lumber Company — which was south of Odessa and owned by Charles Lutz.

In 1909, Charles Lutz built a tram track to carry his lumber 10 miles to the east, connecting his sawmill to the Tampa Northern Railroad at what is now Lutz Lake Fern Road and U.S. 41.

William Lutz — Charles’ brother — was the railroad engineer.

Most of the area was “nothin’ but sand,” according to the recollections of Dorothy Lutz Jones, stepdaughter of William Lutz.

“Then from there on to Tampa, there was nothin’ until you got there, down to the city,” Jones is quoted in an account published by local historian Susan A. MacManus, a professor at the University of South Florida.

First Lutz United Brethren Church was built in 1914. Before that, church members met at Lutz School.
First Lutz United Brethren Church was built in 1914. Before that, church members met at Lutz School.

MacManus and her mother, Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, wrote “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters and Crackers: Life in Early Lutz and Central Pasco County.

William Lutz is reported to have witnessed “strange events” as he engineered his train through such a remote countryside.

“It was not uncommon to come across public hangings and to see some unfortunate soul with his neck still in the noose,” the local history book notes.

According to his wife’s journal, William Lutz sold cars on the side and would take orders for a vehicle, and then strike one on the tracks with his locomotive.

“The railroad would pay for the damaged car, Lutz would buy it, have it repaired, and then sell it to his customer,” according to a published account.

William Lutz exhibited a better side of his nature to the family of Ella McDowell in December 1912. Ella had received a handwritten note thrown from the train by Lutz inviting her to ride with him to Tarpon Springs and spend Christmas with his family.

Trains like these helped pave the way to Florida’s future. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay History Center)
Trains like these helped pave the way to Florida’s future.
(Courtesy of Tampa Bay History Center)

The year — 1912 — was also a memorable year for the local residents demanding their own post office.

That was largely because the investors of the North Tampa Land Company.

C.E. Thomas, the company’s president, had been busy marketing “…a vast settlement where folks could buy tracts of land to farm and raise orange groves,” according to the MacManus’ book.

Thomas would eventually build the new post office, and donate land for the wood-frame schoolhouse, cemetery and church. He even provided jobs with his nursery.

But, when postal officials named the new post office “Lutz” on March 27, 1912, they helped cement the memory of the contributions of the two Lutz brothers, in an area still generally known today as North Tampa.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published November 9, 2016

 

The sweet sound of savings

By

Hernando Music Fest

Music festivals can be fun. You get to experience an entire day (or weekend) of diverse musical styles and groups, enjoy the atmosphere and do something different outside. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend.

It’s not really a cheap way, though. Festivals can be expensive. It’s not unusual to spend $20 or $30 to get in. And that’s just one day. A festival that runs two or three days can cost $50 to $80.

And that’s just for one person. Oh, you weren’t planning on going by yourself? Better empty your wallet.

Or, find a better festival. Let me suggest the Hernando Music Fest, which will take place this weekend at Tom Varn Park, 306 Darby Lane in Brooksville. It’s the first year for the festival, and the schedule includes a lot of music, some extra activities for children, and a price point that will make your heart sing.

But, first things first.

Jenny Rimmer performed at last year’s Pasco Music Fest, where she was an opener for the Marshall Tucker Band. She’ll bring her country songbook to the Hernando Music Fest on Saturday and Sunday. (Courtesy of Jenny Rimmer)

A music festival, naturally, will feature music. And the Hernando Music Fest will have nearly 15 acts spread out over two days, representing talent from area counties.

It’s not just one music style, either. Whether you like jazz, rhythm and blues, country, or swing, there’s someone for you scheduled to perform. And, even if you prefer one style to another, an event like this is made for experiencing different genres and appreciating an array of musical talents. You might surprise yourself and find you like something different, after all.

So, there are plenty of performances to enjoy, but the music theme isn’t limited to the stage. A music activities tent will feature an instrument “petting zoo” for children, meaning they’ll get some hands-on experience with instruments they might have never even seen before, including the keyboard, harmonica and saxophone. There also will be art projects, giving them something to take home.

The focus on educating and inspiring youth isn’t surprising, since the event is presented by the Hernando County Arts Council, the Hernando Jazz Society, and Stir Up The Gift Talent Organization.

There also will be a food court at the festival, with wine and beer available to purchase. Coolers aren’t allowed, so that’s where you’ll go for refreshments throughout the day.

So, it seems like a full day of entertainment. Two days, actually. And that’s exactly what the Hernando County Fine Arts Council had in mind.

“Our whole goal is to give back to the community what they give to us, and in the meantime to spread the arts,” explained Jan Knowles, project coordinator for the council. If this festival goes well — like their annual Art in the Park that has been a success for many years and draws thousands — they’d like to make it an annual event, she said.

There is one thing missing, though: A famous name.

That’s what usually anchors a music festival, and that’s what accounts for a festival’s high cost.

Neither exists at the Hernando Music Fest, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of great sounds coming from the stage. They’re locally based acts with a lot of talent and some pretty impressive resumes as well.

One of those artists, Jenny Rimmer, performed at last year’s Pasco Music festival, where she served as an opener for the Marshall Tucker Band. If you like country music, from Patsy Cline to Carrie Underwood, you’ll recognize a lot of Rimmer’s songs. She represents several eras in country music, and will perform both days at the festival.

So the variety is there, and the talent is there. What’s not there is the price.

The Hernando Music Fest is absolutely free. That’s no admission cost either day.

The way the sponsoring organizations make money is through the parking fee, which is a paltry $5 donation. Throw in whatever you choose to eat and drink, and it’s still a pretty cheap way to enjoy a couple of days full of music. Just look at what other music festivals are charging, and you’ll see what I mean. This one isn’t too far from home, provides more than a dozen acts, features various styles and like, I said, there’s no admission charge. That’s music to my ears, and my bank account.

So, bring a chair or blanket, and have a great time.

The Hernando Music Fest runs Nov. 7 from noon until 8 p.m., and Nov. 8 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. No dogs or coolers are allowed on the premises. For more information and for a lineup of music acts, visit HernandoArts.org, or call Knowles at (352) 279-5182.

What: Music in the Park/Hernando Music Fest
Where: Tom Varn Park, 306 Darby Lane, in Brooksville
When: Nov. 7 from noon until 8 p.m.; Nov. 8, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Who: The public is welcome
How much: No admission charge, parking is $5
More info: Visit HernandoArts.org, or call Jan Knowles at (352) 279-5182.

Published November 4,  2015

Historian sheds light on German POWs in Dade City

By

The recent death of Eva Martha (Goddard) Knapp has sparked memories of the work she did to trace the history of German prisoners of war who lived and worked in the Dade City area during World War II.

Knapp, who died on June 20, 2015 in St. Petersburg, was a noted historian in the Pasco County Historical Society.

This photo was taken during the 1995 dedication of a historic marker to record the fact that German prisoners of war lived in Dade City during World War II and served as laborers. They were paid the prevailing wages, but the U.S. government deducted money to cover expenses for housing and feeding them. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)
This photo was taken during the 1995 dedication of a historic marker to record the fact that German prisoners of war lived in Dade City during World War II and served as laborers. They were paid the prevailing wages, but the U.S. government deducted money to cover expenses for housing and feeding them.
(Courtesy of Fivay.org)

She was particularly known for the research she did about the German POW camps, including a camp housed in an area now known as Pyracantha/Naomi Jones Park.

Knapp donated many of her materials to the University of South Florida, according to local historians Madonna Wise and Eddie Herrmann, who put together some background information about Knapp, following her death, which they shared with The Laker/Lutz News.

According to their research, a biographical excerpt on Knapp in the USF collection details Knapp’s involvement in collecting information about the German POWs.

The USF excerpt says that during the 1991-1992 school year, Knapp was teaching English at Hernando High School in Brooksville, and her 10th-grade class read Betty Greene’s novel, “The Summer of My German Soldier.”

Eva Martha Knapp, former president of the Pasco Historical Society, did extensive work to trace the history of the German prisoners of war who lived in Dade City during World War II. (Courtesy of Madonna Wise)
Eva Martha Knapp, former president of the Pasco Historical Society, did extensive work to trace the history of the German prisoners of war who lived in Dade City during World War II.
(Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

After reading the book, Knapp’s students interviewed family members and acquaintances that were old enough to remember World War II to see if they knew if German prisoners of war had been held in Pasco County, the excerpt says.

During those interviews, they heard that some German prisoners had worked at the Pasco Packing Company, the excerpt adds.

So, two students visited the company and learned from company executives that German POWs indeed had worked there.

The class also was able to locate some of the men who had been prisoners in Florida camps, and who had remained in Florida after the war.

The class received a letter from a former prisoner, detailing some of his experiences.

Ludeke Herder, a prisoner who was a Protestant, shares his memories of one Christmas in a letter dated Jan. 9, 1992.

Because it was Christmas, the prisoners were allowed to go to a “Protestant-Lutheran Church in Tampa,” he writes.

“Our guards were inside the church too, without guns. After the worship, our guard told us to leave the church through the same door, like we came in, but the vicar told us to go through the door at the side of the church. Our guard was mad, but allowed us to take the other door,” he adds.

The story of the German prisoners of war who lived in Dade City is recorded on this historic marker. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)
The story of the German prisoners of war who lived in Dade City is recorded on this historic marker.
(Courtesy of Fivay.org)

As they came through a small door, he continues, “the people gave us cakes, candy and coffee and it was a wonderful Christmas day and I never can forget such a kind gesture.”

Letters such as this one are the types of items contained in the collection at USF, which resulted from the students’ and Knapp’s research efforts.

The archive also contains photocopies of material gathered by Knapp during her research, including copies of official documents from the National Archives, correspondence with former German prisoners of war, photocopies of Der P.O.W. Zeit-Spiegel (a publication) and other materials.

Knapp worked extensively with Herrmann to archive the information.

Herrmann shared some of his knowledge about the German prisoners during a recent interview.

The men lived in the Dade City camp, but went out to do jobs, Herrmann recalled.

“They went out every day. They rode a bus to go to work in Brooksville,” he said. They dug lime rock at a mine that was used in building construction.

“They worked in the orange groves,” Herrmann added. “They got to be friendly with people. They even worked in people’s yards.”

Additional details of the prisoners’ experiences in Dade City are contained on a historical marker Branch Camp No. 7, placed there in 1995 by the Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee.

The marker explains that the demands of World War II created a shortage of agricultural workers here at home.

To reduce that problem, the United States Army established about 500 prisoner-of-war camps to supply laborers.

Camp Blanding, near Starke, was headquarters for the 22 camps in Florida, with the Dade City camp being designated Branch Camp No. 7, according to the marker.

The Dade City camp began in March 1944 and housed about 250 men, many who had been involved with Rommel’s famed AfrikaKorps.

The camp was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It had a three-tent mess hall, which was also used for church services, classes and movies.

It also had a canteen attached to a small day room; a larger day room with table tennis and a piano; sleeping quarters and latrines, according to the marker.

The prisoners handled a variety of jobs, according to the marker. They worked at the McDonald Mine in Brooksville, where they made limestone bricks for Pasco Packing Building No. 7, and at Cummer Sons Cypress Mill in Lacoochee.

The prisoners’ spiritual needs were attended to by a minister of the Zion Lutheran Church of Tampa and by priests from nearby Saint Leo Abbey.

Knapp developed lasting friendships with the prisoners and even traveled to Germany to visit them.

She was long-time member of the Pasco Historical Society, where she served as president of the society in 2002.

She presented to the society in May of 1995 on her research about the prisoner of war camp and Pasco Packing.

She also participated as a costumed docent, demonstrating, and teaching spinning and weaving skills at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village.

She is survived by two sisters, Margaret Allen and Jane McDavitt; three children, Diana Neff, Roberta Stalvey and Howard Knapp; eleven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pasco Historical Society or the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village.

More information is available at EastPascoHistoricalSociety.com/pascomurals.html or WarLinks.com/memories/knapp.

Published July 22, 2015

Pasco-Hernando State College chooses new president

By

Timothy Beard has been selected to become Pasco-Hernando State College’s fourth president.

The PHSC District Board of Trustees announced its choice at the conclusion of its presidential search, on March 18.

Timothy Beard has been selected to become the fourth president of Pasco-Hernando State College. In choosing Beard, the college’s board went with someone who already knows the college and is ready to build on its strengths (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
Timothy Beard has been selected to become the fourth president of Pasco-Hernando State College. In choosing Beard, the college’s board went with someone who already knows the college and is ready to build on its strengths
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Beard, vice president of student development and enrollment management at PHSC in New Port Richey, was among a field of four finalists. The other finalists worked at Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls, Oregon; West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Parkersburg, West Virginia; and, St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg.

They decided to promote Beard to replace Katherine Johnson, who is retiring on June 30.

Beard’s appointment becomes effective July 1, pending the successful outcome of contract negotiations.

“We are pleased to extend an offer for the presidential position to Dr. Beard,” Ed Blommel, PHSC District Board of Trustees and presidential search committee chair, said in a release. “As a senior administrator at PHSC for the past eight years, he is already familiar with the college and has an understanding of its strategic goals and mission.”

Beard is delighted to be stepping into the college’s leadership role.

“This is a surreal opportunity,” said Beard, who has worked for the college since 2007 and expects to build on the good work that has been accomplished there.

Before joining PHSC, Beard was vice president and dean of student affairs at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, and director of student affairs and enrollment management at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

He earned his doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling, with a special emphasis in higher education administration, from Florida State University in Tallahassee. He also has a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from FSU.

Pasco-Hernando State College has more than 15,000 students and about 700 employees, including adjunct faculty.

Pasco-Hernando State College awards certificates, diplomas, associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees.

The college has campuses in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Spring Hill and Brooksville.

Beard said he plans to pursue an initiative that would enlist the help of faith communities and other organizations to help support students, through scholarships and in other ways.

He is looking forward to strengthening the ties between PHSC and the communities it serves.

“I really want to bring the community into the college and the college into the community,” Beard said.

Published March 25, 2015

Bishop to dedicate Saint Anthony’s new building

By

Students, parents and staff from Saint Anthony Catholic School are looking forward to a Feb. 9 celebration, where the Rev. Robert N. Lynch, bishop of the St. Petersburg Diocese will bless the school’s new building.

A celebration of the Mass is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and it will be followed by the blessing and dedication of the new building.

This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students. (Courtesy of Saint Anthony School)
This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students.
(Courtesy of Saint Anthony School)

Festivities also will include an open house and light refreshments.

The event marks the latest milestone in a history that dates back to 1883.

San Antonio was founded in 1882 as a Catholic colony. The following year, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children.

When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. She reportedly responded that the “minds of the children now here, can’t wait.”

With that, the widow began teaching 14 children, including six of her own, in her kitchen.

Saint Anthony School officially was established in 1884.

It is the oldest parochial school in the diocese, as well as one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida.

Generations of families have been educated in a three-story brick structure that was built in 1922.

That building will continue to be used for some functions.

The new 17,905-square-foot building is the fourth in the school’s history. The 1922 current building replaced a two-story structure built in 1899. The original building was a 12-by-24-foot structure constructed in November 1884.

Students and teachers are now situated in their new classrooms in the new school building.

There was a time, not so many years ago when the future was anything but certain for the school.

Attendance had dwindled to 153, and there was talk of closing Saint Anthony School.

But parents and other supporters rallied.

They used their ingenuity, coming up with various ways to spread the news about their school, including a 15-second spot shown at the Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel.

The school’s enrollment improved. It now has more than 200 kindergarten through eighth-graders coming from San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and other communities.

In a previous interview, School Principal Sister Alice Ottapurackal attributed the school’s increased enrollment to “God’s special blessing.”

“Truly, I believe, it’s the power of prayer,” she said at the time.

Much has changed on the campus, but the school’s core mission remains the same.

It continues to emphasize academic excellence while teaching the Catholic faith.

Published January 21, 2015