The Laker/Lutz News

Cypress Creek Middle School

A Guide for Summer Camps in Pasco County 

By

Summer break is quickly approaching and organizations throughout Pasco County are offering camps for children of all ages. Looking to enroll your child in fun interactive activities? Check out these local summer camps!

(Courtesy of Cypress Creek Middle School)

Camping at the Creek Summer Basketball Camps
Cypress Creek Middle School is offering “Camping at the Creek 2022” basketball camps, for students entering fifth grade through 10th grade. Students will receive a camp shirt, dribbling and shooting instruction, play games, perform drills, compete in scrimmages, etc. This is a great opportunity for students to learn some basketball fundamentals, make new acquaintances, and sharpen their basketball skills!

Camp times are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Camp dates are: Session I June 6-9; Session II June 13-16; Session III June 20-23. The camp cost is $75 each week. Checks can be made out to CCMS (Cypress Creek Middle School), and either brought into the school office or with campers on their first day of camp. Completed registration forms must be submitted prior to attending and may be emailed to .

Cypress Creek Middle School is at 8845 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. Click here to access registration form

(Courtesy of Camp Idlewild)

Camp Idlewild
Camp Idlewild of Florida’s program model was developed for children ages 6 to 17 who have the following super-powers: Autism Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger’s Syndrome), Sensory Processing Disorders, Down Syndrome and Developmental Delays. The camp also offers Young Adult Camp (YAC) programs for 18 to 30 year olds, on select dates. Check out the website for more information. 

Camp Idlewild is the perfect venue for small retreats (up to 48), family reunions, birthdays, weddings, showers, and holiday parties, corporate meetings, scouting, camping (five full hookup RV sites), business expos, and much more. They offer affordable all-inclusive packages including lodging, meals, a meeting space, and many outdoor activities including waterfront activities, sports, nature exploration (hikes), and other recreational activities. Your group may be as active as you wish, or take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the peacefulness of being away from the general hustle and bustle of everyday life! Check out the Rates for Group Retreats on the website.

Camp Idlewild of Florida, Inc.
7602 Henry Drive
Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
813-996-1226
www.campidlewildofflorida.com 

Camp Cost: $650/Day Camp; $800/Overnight
Summer Camp Dates: June 12 through August 5
Weekend Camp Cost: $300
Weekend Camp Dates: TBD 

(Courtesy of Pinot’s Palette)

Pinot’s Palette
Ages 6 to 12 can join Pinot’s Palette’s summer camp, Little Brushes, and spend their time in a fun-filled party atmosphere. Little Brushes fosters a friendly and collaborative environment while giving little artists the opportunity to have a creative outlet. During this camp, Pinot’s Palette will provide everything they would need to bring out their creative spirits. Expect your child to do crafts, paint, and create so much more.

If you’re interested in your child joining Pinot’s Pallete’s Little Brushes summer camp, call 813-428-6590, or email .

 

 

(metrocreativeconnection.com)

Fundamental Minds Education Services
Fundamental Minds Education Services, one of Tampa Bay’s best tutoring services, is offering summer classes from June 20 to July 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are three class topics to choose from: Academic, Spanish, and Coding & Art.

Academic is for K-12 and AP tutoring, Spanish is for elementary and middle school students, and coding & art is for K-12 taught by certified teachers. In-person and virtual classes are available.

Fundamental Minds understands that each student has a unique learning style and study habits, which is why its tutoring services cater to the particular needs and circumstances of each individual. The tutoring company believes in empowering students with the study skills and learning resources they need to excel academically and ignite their passion for learning.

Fundamental Minds’s teachers have a minimum three years of classroom experience and will collaborate with your child’s teacher to better understand their learning needs. Most importantly, the company believes that learning should be FUN, so every session is taught in an engaging manner, with ample opportunities for students to interact with their tutor and/or peers in their groups.

 

Fundamental Minds Education Services
26809 Tanic Drive, Suite 102
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
813-428-6564
www.fundamentalminds.com

(Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School)

Steinbrenner High School
Come have fun with members from Steinbrenner High School girls’ and boys’ varsity soccer teams at its Youth Soccer Skills & Fundamental Camp! Learn the fundamentals of soccer with specific training on techniques and skills. Campers will be placed in groups, so all of the athletes will be challenged during each skills training and competition.

All playing abilities and positions are welcome. Beginners who are new to the sport and simply want to learn more skills also are invited to join. And, this camp is perfect for experienced players who are looking to keep their skills sharp during their off-season.

Entering ages for the camp are boys and girls 5 to 13. Players are grouped by age and ability. The camp runs from June 27 to June 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost to register is $125 and includes a T-shirt and evaluation feedback form. All campers are expected to bring a bag lunch.

All checks need to be made out to Steinbrenner Athletic Booster Club (SABC), then sent to Steinbrenner High School, Attn: Shannon Aitken. 

Steinbrenner High School
5575 W Lutz Lake Fern Rd
Tampa, FL 33558

 

Like these kinds of articles?

Let us know what we should cover next! Send your ideas to .

Arts center deemed ‘jewel’ in community

By

It’s grand-opening celebration may have been delayed, but enthusiasm for Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) Instructional Performing Arts Center was riding high during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility.

Pasco-Hernando State College Dr. Timothy L. Beard, along with Celyse Dahdal, president of the PHSC Student Government Association, share the over-sized scissors during the Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) ribbon-cutting. Marilyn Pearson-Adams, center, chair of the PHSC District Board of Trustees, Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, provost Porter of Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore were among other dignitaries and special guests. (Fred Bellet)

The performing arts facility, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, opened quietly in the summer of 2021.

It provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers in the performing and technical arts. It also offers a venue for performances and creates a new place for the community to enjoy the arts.

The center’s grand-opening celebration was held on Jan. 7 — belatedly because of COVID-19 concerns.

The event included a ribbon-cutting, a reception and tours of the facility.

It also featured remarks from numerous speakers, including Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College; Mike Moore, the District 2 representative on the Pasco County Commission; Cynthia Armstrong, chairwoman of the Pasco County School Board; Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools; Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, provost at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Celyse Dahdal, president of PHSC’s student government; and, Lauren Murray, executive director for the Instructional Performing Arts Center.

Bringing the project to fruition involved the efforts of many people.

Armstrong, however, singled out college leadership and the school district’s deputy superintendent Gadd for “thinking out of the box.”

An obviously happy Lauren Murray, executive director for the Instructional Performing Arts Center, makes her way to the microphone to talk about the important role that IPAC will play in students’ lives.

Gadd was persistent in the pursuit of the project, she said, noting he wanted to know: “How can we make this a reality? How can we find a place to build it? How can we incorporate it into our school system?”

For his part, Gadd recalled the supersized role played by former Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford.

Gadd recalled: “Speaker Weatherford called me on the phone one day and he said, ‘Ray, we need some kind of performing art theater or arena in Pasco County. Can you help me out?’”

The Instructional Performing Arts Center is an eye-catching sight.

Gadd said he went about collecting floor plans from various performing arts venues and estimating costs.

He gave Weatherford a breakdown: “This is what we can get for $20 million. This is what we can get for $30 million, this is what we can get for $60 million…”

In the end, Pasco County Schools donated a 6-acre parcel to PHSC, on the campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School.

And, the state college covered the cost of the $20 million project, and PHSC also is responsible for the facility’s operations.

Gadd praised Harvard Jolly and Creative Contractors for using their combined talents and expertise to create a facility that he calls “a beauty.”

“This is a jewel in this community,” Gadd said.

Wiregrass Ranch High School students Marissa Adams, 16, and Alieah Diaz, 15, both members of the Principal’s Quartet, listen to Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, as he addresses the crowd.

The deputy superintendent added: “This is an example of what happens when government works together.”

Armstrong told the crowd she toured the building last year and left feeling impressed.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, played a key role in bringing the vision of the performing arts center to fruition. He described the facility as a ‘jewel’ in the community.

The design is both creative and cost-efficient, she said.

“You walk into the classrooms, and you see how they convert into dance studios and music studios and bigger practice areas. It is just truly amazing that the students that go here can get all of their education, including their specialties, right in one building.

“And then, the theater itself is just amazing,” she said, referring to the 444-seat Weatherford Theater.

The facility not only enhances the school district’s performing arts programs, Armstrong said, but also gives students who are interested in those pursuits an opportunity to remain local, if they wish to continue their education in the arts.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore took a little trip down memory lane, as he addressed the crowd.

“This hits home with me because I was a communications major at Polk Community College, which is now Polk State College.

“I actually interned at a facility very similar to this. I spent my time learning how to work lighting, do the soundboard, being a stagehand and helping those performers behind the scenes.”

Saying there is no other facility like IPAC in the immediate area, Moore thanked area lawmakers for helping to secure the funding for the project.

Speakers from PHSC also shared their enthusiasm about the opportunities that IPAC presents.

The facility offers three Associate in Arts (AA) performing arts curriculum pathways for students who plan to transfer to a Florida public university to complete a bachelor’s degree in dance, theater or music.

It also offers an Associate in Science (AS) degree in digital media and multimedia technology with six college credit certificates.

The 36,000-square-foot facility includes a fully digital system, with the latest in lighting and sound support.

Freelance photographer Fred Bellet contributed to this report.

Published January 26, 2022

Celebrating history, through art

By

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) kicked off 2022 and the first celebration of PHSC’s 50th anniversary, with the unveiling of the college’s first commissioned artwork.

Artist S. Blake Harrison explains the process he used to create a mural commissioned by Pasco-Hernando State College that incorporates much of Wesley Chapel’s history, during an unveiling of the piece at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. (Fred Bellet)

A reception and ribbon-cutting were held to showcase “Double Branch,” a 4 foot by 16 foot work, by artist S. Blake Harrison.

The program featured Dr. Timothy Beard, college president; Dr. Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Madonna Jervis Wise, a local historian and author; Dr. Lisa Richardson, executive director of the Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation; Andrew Beman-Cavallaro, associate director of libraries for the college; Janet Schalk, a PHSC librarian; and Harrison, the mural artist, who is based in Micanopy.

The college’s foundation paid for the mural, which honors the history and progress of Wesley Chapel, and commemorates PHSC’s golden anniversary.

Local historian Madonna Jervis Wise gave the audience a glimpse of Wesley Chapel’s colorful history. She included a photograph of Bruce B. Downs, the man for whom a now-heavily traveled road in Wesley Chapel was named. At one point, long before the community’s burgeoning growth, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard was known as ‘the road to nowhere.’

The 4 foot by 16 foot mural is believed to the largest mural in Wesley Chapel, O’ Farrell said, in his opening remarks at the Jan. 5 ceremony. It is displayed on a wall in the fourth-floor lobby of Building D, on the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, at 2727 Mansfield Blvd.

The provost said much research and thought went into the creation of the mural, which includes elements inspired by “Images of America: Wesley Chapel,” a local history book written by Madonna Jervis Wise.

The author said that unlike Zephyrhills and Dade City — which both have city governments, historic buildings and established town centers — Wesley Chapel offered no clear place for her to begin her research.

So, she relied on her background in genealogy to help her find descendants of families with deep roots in Wesley Chapel.

She began her quest by tracking down Marco Edward Stanley, of Gainesville, who arranged for Wise to interview his mother, 95-year-old Lillie Sapp Stanley.

That interview led to others, and ultimately Wise was able to tell the story of the community. Her book chronicles the various names the community has been known by through the years; its turpentine, lumber, moonshine and ranching industries; where the residents attended church, where they went to school and what they did for fun.

Dr. Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus, discusses some of the elements featured in the mural. The work was done on plywood, using acrylic paint.

“We relied so heavily on Madonna’s work and her historical research, and that really inspired Blake to take those images and take those concepts and put together something that is as beautiful as this large, 4-by-16, piece of commissioned art,” O’ Farrell said.

Andrew Beman-Cavallaro, associate director of libraries, credited librarian Janet Schalk for working closely with Harrison on the project.

The artist expressed gratitude to Schalk for her guidance and to Wise for her work to preserve local history.

He said the mural’s panels reflect a narrative through art, featuring the area’s natural beauty, including trees and wildlife; its industry, including moonshine and trains; and its educational history, including the Porter campus and the college’s new Instructional Performing Arts Center, known as IPAC.

Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, a featured speaker during the celebration, praised the mural created by artist S. Blake Harrison, extolling its size, vibrant colors and its potential to be a source of inspiration for others.

The college president was enthusiastic about the result of Harrison’s work.

“This is just an awesome piece of art,” Beard said, marveling at its size, vibrant colors and ingenuity.

“This event is the very first event associated with our 50th anniversary, to be celebrated officially July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023,” Beard said.

“Certainly we’ve come a long way,” the college president continued, “from having classes in backrooms, storefronts and churches.

“At PHSC, we promote and support many innovative, worthwhile programs that advance health, science and technology. But most recently, we have also embraced the arts, as never before,” Beard said.

He pointed to the college’s newly opened IPAC, as an example, of that new commitment.

The facility is dedicated to instruction in the performing arts, including music, theater and dance, as well as instruction in the digital arts.

It, too, is located in Wesley Chapel — next to Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School — at 8657 Old Pasco Road.

Published January 19, 2022

IPAC: A place to sing, to act, to learn and entertain

By

When Lauren Murray heard about the opportunity to assume the leadership role at Pasco-Hernando State College’s new Instructional Performing Arts Center — she immediately recognized the possibilities.

She knew the position would give her a chance to use the knowledge and experience she’s accumulated through her professional life.

This sweeping roof is at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center, also known as IPAC, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. In addition to being a teaching facility, it is expected to offer a variety of performances for the community to enjoy. (Fred Bellet)

And, she understood the center’s enormous potential.

Not only will it prepare students for future careers in the performing and technical arts, but it also will provide a venue for performing arts groups and it will create a new place for the community to enjoy the arts, said Murray, a Tampa native with more than 20 years of administrative and academic experience in higher education and the performing arts.

To say she’s excited about her new job would be putting it mildly.

Although it will take some time to get the facility operating in full gear, the college has been giving tours to offer visitors a glimpse of the center’s features and talk up its potential uses.

Photographer Fred Bellet represented The Laker/Lutz News on one of those tours and Murray provided details about the facility for this story.

Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, offers details about the facility during a media tour. In the background, on stage, 16-year-old Brooke Herrera prepares to play guitar and sing. Herrera is a dual-enrolled high school and college student at PHSC.

The center, at 8657 Old Pasco Road, shares a campus with Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School, in Wesley Chapel.

The $18 million project includes the 36,000-square-foot facility, complete with furnishings and state-of-the-art equipment, Murray said. It’s a fully digital system, with the latest available technology in lighting and sound support.

“It gives our students the opportunity to experience very new platforms and the things that are just being brought out right now. These will be the kinds of systems that they’ll be expected to know how to run when they’re out there in the real world,” she said.

The campus includes the 444-seat Weatherford Theater, named for former Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford, who played an instrumental role in obtaining funding for the facility.

A spacious music studio gives music director Justin Baggett plenty of room for students. Here, he leads a quintet practicing a piece by Mozart.

Murray is pleased with the size of the theater.

“We can get a decent crowd in there, but it’s pretty intimate, so every seat is terrific,” she said.

It also has excellent staging capabilities, and a projection screen that can be used for movies and presentations.

“This is going to be a real performing arts program, where we’ll have instrumental and vocal ensembles. We will have theater productions. We will have dance recitals and productions, as well,” Murray said.

The center’s dance studio has sprung wood floor, a sound system and video system and full wall of mirrors and barres.

The music studio has two acoustical sound rooms, where the acoustics of the room can be adjusted. It also has recording capabilities for practice sessions, so singers can listen to themselves to evaluate how well they are performing, said Murray, who herself is an accomplished oboist and most recently served as the music chair at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center in Tampa.

The high-gloss surface of the baby grand piano in the new Weatherford Theater reflects the image of prospective student Dale Master, of Tampa. Master took the public tour of the new IPAC and was invited to play the new instrument. The theater has 444 seats.

The drama studio features a large rehearsal space, which can be used in many ways, Murray said. Additionally, there’s a stage, a full costume studio and two full dressing rooms.

“Our lighting in our dressing rooms is LED, instead of those old bulbs that are 1000 degrees, so that‘s nice — so, your makeup doesn’t melt off,” she said.

The digital production studio has a full lighting grid, state-of-the-art cameras, a sound board, a lighting board and multiple computers.

And, there are two computer classrooms — equipped to prepare students for both the Mac and PC worlds.

In addition to providing opportunities for students, the community also will benefit from being able to enjoy a professional theater experience without having to drive downtown, Murray said.

Kevin O’Farrell, provost of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, right, stops by the technology lab and converses with students Cinthia Morrabal, of Port Richey, left, and Gretchen Samter, of Spring Hill.

Much work remains to bring the programming vision to life, she said, adding: “We’re still building our curriculum.”

She expects it to take about a year before students will be staging public performances.

But there will be public rentals for outside performance groups, and that’s expected to begin around September, she said.

The college also is likely to bring in outside performers for a ticketed series, and Murray looks forward to creating multicultural programming, as well.

Future plans also call for staging some outdoor performances.

Beyond what’s happening at IPAC, Murray expects opportunities to develop for its students to land internships or part-time jobs, on their path to careers in the arts.

Murray is delighted with the prospects of what lies ahead.

“It’s quite a thing to open a performing arts center. It’s expensive. It’s different. There’s a lot of new things that you have to figure out,” Murray said.

Jonathan Tietz, assistant professor of digital media, sets up the production booth, which is part of the facility’s video production lab.

“A lot of places are like: We can’t do that. We don’t have time for that. We don’t want to fund that,” she said.

That’s not true for PHSC’s commitment to IPAC, she said.

“The support that this place and these programs have here is so exciting. It is going to make it a great program because everybody is on board,” she said.

She’s thrilled about the opportunities the center is creating for students.

“The arts are a viable place to make your living. You do have to work and you do have to be creative to find different ways to make a living in the arts, but it’s still a wholly viable living,” Murray said.

Want to know about available classes? Visit PHSC.edu/academics.

Published June 02, 2021

Growth pressures being felt on Old Pasco Road

By

The Pasco County Commission voted last week to continue a hearing on a rezoning request by Victorious Life Assembly of God Inc., for a 122-unit subdivision off Old Pasco Road, 250 feet south of Overpass Road.

The application — which was accompanied by a request to deviate from some of the county’s land development code — received pushback from county board members.

Commissioner Mike Moore wants to know when Old Pasco Road will be widened. He’s concerned about the amount of new development happening along the two-lane road.

Commissioner Mike Moore made a motion to continue the hearing until June 8, after technical problems made it impossible for commissioners to understand what the applicant’s representatives were saying — as they attempted to participate remotely.

Moore said he didn’t understand why the developer’s representatives were not present at the meeting, since in-person appearances are no longer prohibited due to concerns about COVID-19.

“I think this item should be continued until we can have the applicant sitting right in front of us, so we can go back and forth and have a conversation, because right now, we can’t,” Moore said.

Moore’s remarks followed testimony by a woman who spoke on behalf of her son who lives near the proposed rezoning.

“I think we need to put the brakes on this project, at least until we get that red light and get the infrastructure done,” the speaker said.

She pointed to a new industrial park project that is being built near the proposed subdivision, plus the ongoing construction of a new interchange to Interstate 75, at Overpass Road.

Both projects are creating a significant amount of construction traffic, she said.

And, that’s on top of traffic created by Cypress Creek High School, Cypress Creek Middle School, she said. Plus, Pasco-Hernando State College now has a new Instructional Performing Arts Center on the road, she added.

Moore agreed that the two-lane Old Pasco Road is being overloaded.

He said he’s very familiar with the road because he has a child attending Cypress Creek Middle School and another child attending Cypress Creek High School.

“I drive it on a regular basis. The amount of school buses going on Old Pasco Road is incredible, and some of those areas with blind spots and the turns, with no shoulders,” he said.

“I have concerns.

“There’s a ton of development that’s currently going in on Old Pasco Road. There’s a lot of proposed development, along Old Pasco Road, as well,” Moore said.

“One of the things that we agreed upon when we did the industrial park is that that industrial park cannot receive its CO (certificate of occupancy) until that portion of Old Pasco (Road), that sits in front of the industrial park, is widened.

“Nobody’s given me a set date of when the rest of Old Pasco Road is widened,” Moore said.

“I think we need to research that road. I think staff needs to come back to us and say, ‘This is exactly when Old Pasco Road is going to be widened,” Moore said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano balked at the proposal for a park that is nine-tenths of an acre, versus the 1.2-acre park that’s required by code.

Planners supported the request, noting Wesley Chapel District Park is nearby, plus the developer agreed to dedicate a larger amount of land than required for right of way for the Old Pasco Road widening.

But Mariano said: “There’s no reason it can’t stick at 1.2, which is our code. Those kids need somewhere to play.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey wanted to know why the plans fail to indicate any kind of future trail. She said that county planners must start including that, to provide for the possibility of people getting from place to place, without relying on vehicles.

County Administrator Dan Biles responded: “We’ll have to check, but I think Old Pasco Road probably has a multi-use path, as part of the design for Old Pasco Road and I think Overpass also has one.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley supported Moore’s suggestion to continue the hearing.

The delay will enable the board to receive information it needs on when Old Pasco Road will be widened, and to find out more about the possibility of trails in the area, Oakley said.

Published May 26, 2021

Celebrating some of life’s big moments

By

If ever there was a time when joy was needed, 2020 was the year.

Here’s a look, in condensed form, at some of the stories revealing big moments and happy times in The Laker/Lutz News region, during the year that was.

(File)

Soaring into the wild blue yonder
Olivia Jenkins flew her first solo flight from Tampa North Flight Center in Lutz, aboard a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, on Sept. 23. In doing so, she achieved a personal goal to fly solo before even getting a license to drive a car. She intends to get her private pilot’s license when she turns 17, on Feb. 10. She has big plans after that, too. She will seek a congressional nomination to a military service academy, and one day hopes to fly for the U.S. Air Force or perhaps to fly helicopters for the Army.

Superheroes give boy an epic parade
David Castle — an 8-year who loves superheroes, WWE, Fortnight, motorcycles, fast cars and

fishing — had a very special Halloween when hundreds of people joined in to put on an epic parade for him. Superheroes dropped by and bikers threw up smoke, giving David a day to get his mind off cancer and just enjoy being a kid. He’s had a hard battle — but on this particular day, he was surrounded by people who wanted to make him happy, and they did.

Making birthdays happy, despite COVID-19
When Kynlee Kuberski wasn’t able to celebrate her 11th birthday at Universal Studios, her mom, Jessi, took to social media inviting people to drive by to wish her a happy, socially distanced birthday. People responded, making the day a treat for Kynlee, who lives in Connerton. Kynlee, center, reacts as a Pasco County Fire Rescue truck drives by — adding to the fun. Her mother, Jessi, stands to her left, and her older sister, Kalyn, is on her right.

 

When original plans for Evelyn “Ev” Furman’s 99th birthday were canceled, her daughter came up with Plan B.
The plans were all set. Furman’s family planned to travel to Land O’ Lakes and to take her to the Rusty Pelican to celebrate her 99th birthday.
A birthday lunch with friends was planned, too.
Neither happened, thanks to COVID-19.
Instead, her daughter, Debbie Storts organized a party — inviting people to drive, walk or bicycle by the house to help Ev celebrate.
Storts used a 6-foot tray to hand out cupcakes. Those bringing gifts left them at the edge of the driveway, where they were collected and sanitized, before being delivered to the Birthday Girl.
Although the original plans fell through, Ev didn’t mind.
“It was the best party I ever had,” she said.

 

The Rev. Harold Thomas, and his wife, Bermice, enjoy lunch, during the “Birthday King’s” surprise birthday party.
Members of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, in Dade City, wanted to do something special for the Rev. Harold Thomas, who was turning 85.
So, they threw him a surprise celebration, complete with a drive-by parade with police sirens, and a luncheon with social distancing.
The finishing touches were a red robe and crown, for the “Birthday King.”
The pastor has led the church for 37 years.

 

Faithful woman has a national role
Michele Bowman, who lives in Zephyrhills, has achieved something attained by only three other Floridians in 117 years. She’s been elected as one of nine national directors for the Catholic Daughters of America.
The organization promotes spiritual growth, charitable giving, community service and sisterhood.
She wants to expand the membership and to attract younger members.
“It’s a problem when your membership starts to age out” she said, in a Laker/Lutz News interview. “We may have to change the way we approach things, and I’d like to have a voice in this because I believe it’s a big issue. We should be proactive.”

 

Gesture honors a Marine’s service
Otis Felder, a retired U.S. Marine, was already having a pretty good Veterans Day — even before he made his daily trek to the dog park at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, off Collier Parkway. But when he arrived, it got even better. That’s when he was surprised by a new bench at the park, which his friends had dedicated to him. ‘Holy mackerel,’ the 84-year-old said, when he saw the bench. ‘I never expected anything like that.’

 

 

Military veteran Francis Xavier O’Connell salutes the flag during a ceremony in his honor.

Venue changes, but dignity preserved
A date had been set to honor Francis Xavier O’Connell — a decorated military veteran and a former prisoner of war — during the legislative session in Tallahassee, but that couldn’t occur because of COVID-19.
So, new plans were made to provide a socially distanced ceremony at Angels Senior Living at the Lodges of Idlewild, in Lutz, where O’Connell lives.
Because of the COVID-19 lockdown, he had to watch the ceremony through glass doors, as it was performed outside.
O’Connell’s niece, Carolyn Matthews, who was involved in arranging the tribute, said members of two veterans groups stepped forward to help create a meaningful and dignified event.

 

 

First Day, learning in-person
Beyond requirements for masks, social distancing and frequent hand-washing, the first day of school in the 2020-2021 school year will stand out for Principal Tim Light for another reason, too. It was his first ‘First Day’ leading Cypress Creek Middle School in its newly opened home on Old Pasco Road. He’d been planning for the day for months, and he was ready. ‘I’m very excited,’ Light said. ‘Honestly, I never thought this day was going to get here.’

First Day, learning remotely
Five-year-old Brooklyn Holtzman, of Land O’ Lakes, had her first day of kindergarten at home — learning remotely through Pasco County Schools’ MySchool Online. She’s enrolled at Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School. She even had a special hat for the day.

 

Celebrating the Lightning’s Stanley Cup
The Tampa Bay Lightning injected joy and excitement in the midst of a global pandemic by defeating the Dallas Stars, to bring home the Stanley Cup.
Amelie Arena was open for a limited number of spectators and outdoor watch parties were socially distanced. Spectators wore masks. (They’re not masked up in the photo, but once the picture was taken they put their masks back on.)
When the Lightning won the cup, euphoria erupted.
Mary, David and Kimberly Eberhard are loyal Lightning fans.
When she’s not cheering on the Lightning, Mary’s financial acumen helps keep The Laker/Lutz News running smoothly.

Pasco County School Board approves $1.5 billion budget

By

The Pasco County School Board has adopted a budget of more than $1.5 billion for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

That’s an increase of more than $122 million over last year’s budget, Superintendent Kurt Browning said, during the board’s Sept. 15 meeting.

Browning outlined some key points about the budget.

It includes:

  • $704.3 million in the general operating budget
  • $401.4 million in the capital budget

The total tax millage is 5.922 mills, a decrease of .179 mills. Under the proposed rate, a homeowner of a $175,000 house, after the deduction of the $25,000 homestead, would pay $26.85 less per year than last year.

The general operating budget increased from $666.6 million to $704.3 million. The district received additional funds totaling $24.1 million in state funding.

Out of the $24.1 million:

  • $10.1 million is set aside for School Choice, that is charter schools and scholarships
  • $4.9 million for retirement increases
  • $1.3 million for insurance increases
  • $3.4 million for 68.91 personnel allocations for schools and 5.17 personnel allocations for the district
  • $1.2 million for the continuation of costs related to Project Rise, general paper and dual enrollment
  • $500,000 for property insurance, utilities and school resource officer contract increases

The operating budget includes costs for allocations and operating costs for Cypress Creek Middle School and the midyear opening of Starkey Ranch K-8.

The budget also includes $4.7 million to implement the teacher salary increase allocation. The district will use that allocation, along with funds from fiscal year 2019-2020, of $7.3 million for the Best and Brightest program, to increase the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers to approximately $45,000 per year.

The budget also includes raises of approximately 1.5% for all remaining staff.

The proposed capital budget of $401.4 million includes:

  • Construction of Starkey Ranch K-8 and Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
  • Major renovations to Northwest Elementary and James M. Marlowe Elementary
  • Construction of a new bus loop at San Antonio Elementary School
  • Cafeteria renovations, replacement of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and infrastructure upgrades at various schools
  • Lease-purchase computers and school buses
  • Completion of the remodeling of Zephyrhills High School

The budget does not reflect the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security, CARES funds, totaling more than $14.4 million, which is being used to pay for expenses related to COVID-19.

There was no public comment or board discussion about the budget, which was approved unanimously by the board.

Published September 23, 2020

Ringing in the 2020-2021 school year

By

Students streamed back to Pasco County school campuses last week to begin the 2020-2021 school year, while Hillsborough County students headed to that district’s campuses this week.

The beginning of a new school year often is steeped in tradition, but this year is a year of new routines — in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students are arriving on campuses wearing masks, and teachers standing near open classroom doors to greet them are wearing masks, too.

Ten-year-old Veronika Patterson walks with her family to Bexley Elementary School. She’s accompanied by her mother, Melissa, her father, Mike, and her little sister, Izzy. (Randy Underhill)

Lunch tables have been moved outdoors, to reduce crowding in cafeterias and to accommodate outside classes.

Signs remind people to keep their distance, and bottles of hand sanitizer are within easy reach to encourage everyone to keep their hands clean.

And, there are protocols.

Lots of protocols.

They spell out what schools should do when there’s a confirmed case of COVID-19 and what to do when one is suspected.

In Pasco County, a partnership has been forged between the school district and the Florida Department of Health’s Pasco office.

Health department staff members are working in two portables on school district property, so they can respond quickly to COVID-19 cases.

The district also has spent substantial money, time and energy to prepare campuses for the arrival of students and staff; and, it has ramped up cleaning schedules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Hillsborough County school district also has increased cleaning efforts, to reduce potential spread of the virus.

Both districts also are using special care to disinfect school buses.

Pasco County Schools activated its dashboard last week, and as of 11:30 p.m. Aug. 28, the district had reported three student cases, one each at Fivay High School, Gulf High School and Moon Lake Elementary; and one employee case, at Lake Myrtle Elementary. (For more recent information, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/news.

Hillsborough superintendent Addison Davis said that the district also will have a dashboard to keep the public informed.

The district just opened campus, on Aug. 31, so it was still too early to tell what kind of impact in-school classes would have, when The Laker/Lutz News went to press

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, an educational professional for decades said: “This is definitely my first year like this.

“I think we’re going to have a great first day,” Gadd said, as he showed off Cypress Creek Middle School, on its inaugural opening day for students.

“I think our schools are well-prepared, and we’re looking forward to getting started and making the best of it,” Gadd said. But, he added, “I’d be lying, if I didn’t say I wasn’t worried about Day 2, Day 3.”

There were complaints about buses and technology on the Pasco school district’s Facebook page, but overall the district seemed to be off to a relatively smooth start.

Face-to-face instruction began this week in the Hillsborough school district, after a week of online only.

Parents line up in both directions, to drop their kids off on the first day of school at Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd.

Based on social media chatter from last week, it looks like there were some complaints about problems with technology.

This week offers the first real test of the district’s preparations, as it welcomes the arrival of students and staff.

Hillsborough plans to work closely with its medical partners at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital, the superintendent said, during a recent school board meeting.

Like Pasco, Hillsborough has adopted numerous protocols intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to respond to known or suspected cases that arise.

Both Hillsborough and Pasco delayed their initial opening from Aug. 10, until Aug. 24.

Pasco chose to offer all three of its educational options on Aug. 24.

Hillsborough’s reopening plan shifted.

Initially, the school board adopted the superintendent’s plan to offer three learning options, starting on Aug. 24.

Then, after listening to a panel of medical experts, the board voted on Aug. 6 to delay implementation of Davis’ already state-approved plan, and instead offer online learning only for the first four weeks of school.

State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran reacted to that plan by telling the district that it had to justify any closing on a school-by-school, grade-by-grade and classroom-by-classroom basis, or jeopardize state funding.

Davis went to Tallahassee, in an attempt to find a compromise. The state rejected his proposals and, ultimately, the district opted to open online for one week and then to offer all three options, including brick-and-mortar instruction, at all of its schools beginning Aug. 31.

But then, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled on a lawsuit brought against the state by the Florida Education Association, which was consolidated with other lawsuits brought against the state.

Dodson agreed with FEA’s contention that the state’s action — to require districts to open all brick-and-mortar schools by Aug. 31, was unconstitutional. Dodson said local school boards should have the power to make that decision.

The state appealed Dodson’s ruling, which automatically stayed his injunction, unless he decided to lift it. Dodson did lift it, essentially giving decision-making authority back to local school boards.

That decision prompted an emergency meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board on Aug. 28. Board members voted at that meeting to rescind their previous decision to open online only for four weeks, and instead to proceed with Davis’ most recent plan.

Meanwhile, the case between the FEA and the state continues on, and another lawsuit, filed by the United School Employees of Pasco, is pending.

Published September 02, 2020

Cypress Creek Middle has ‘first’ First Day

By

When school bells rang in a new school year in Pasco County on Aug. 24, the day had special meaning at Cypress Creek Middle School, 8845 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

It wasn’t the first time middle school students had attended the Cypress Creek campus on the Old Pasco Road, but it was the first time they were heading to classes in a school built specifically for them.

Cypress Creek Middle School Principal Tim Light was eager to welcome students to the school he leads, on Old Pasco Road. Middle schoolers had been on the campus before, but this was the first First Day of School in a school built especially for them. (B.C. Manion)

Middle school students began attending classes at a shared campus for middle and high school students in 2017, because the district couldn’t afford to build both a high school and middle school — as it had originally intended.

Construction began on the $43.5 million middle school building in 2019, and now the middle schoolers have a place that’s their own.

The enthusiasm that typically accompanies a new school opening was muted this year, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The school is following strict safety protocols.

They include:

  • Everyone on campus must wear a mask.
  • Parents drop off students at a specific place.
  • Students are directed to walk one-way down hallways, in the main classroom building.
  • Desks and chairs are spread out in classrooms.

Other safety steps include encouraging social distancing between people, placing some lunch tables outdoors to prevent cafeteria crowding, and turning off the water fountains — except to fill water bottles.

The district also kept parents off school campuses, because of concerns about COVID-19, and it kept media off, too, with the exception of allowing a special tour of Cypress Creek Middle on its opening day.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd escorted representatives of The Laker/Lutz News and The Tampa Bay Times around the new school’s campus.

Principal Tim Light shared a few thoughts, as he stood in front of a giant painting of a coyote, the school’s mascot.

“I’m very excited,” Light said, noting he’d been planning for the school’s opening for months.

Unlike other middle schools in Pasco County Schools, this one boasts a black box theater, which will give students a chance to develop their imagination and creativity — and offer a venue for some community shows, when the pandemic lifts.

“Honestly, I never thought this day was going to get here,” Light said.

“I just want to see what the day is going to bring. Get these kids in here and get them going,” Light said.

Gadd was clearly delighted, as he showed off the district’s newest school.

“It’s really a beautiful school, the way it’s laid out,” the deputy superintendent said.

Cypress Creek Middle has the capacity of 1,600 students. Its opening reduces crowding at John Long Middle School. It also provides relief to Wiregrass Ranch High School — as Cypress Creek Middle students previously on campus shift over to the new middle school, creating more capacity at Cypress Creek High.

Beyond the normal features found at middle schools, this one has a black box theater and a suite of dance, chorus and orchestra rooms.

“It’s a space like no other in Pasco County,” said Peter Nason, the school’s theater teacher. “It is a jewel in the crown of this county, I think.

“It has space for the kids to be creative. For them to learn. For them to realize, really, what theater is, and it goes beyond the classroom,” Nason said.

Gadd is delighted by the opportunities the theater program will create.

“I first saw one of these, probably in a school 10 years ago. I’ve been dreaming about building one since then,” Gadd said.

“It’s an incredible space. It’s a dream space,” Nason told Gadd.

Gadd said: “I look forward to the first show.”

Nason responded: “I look forward to you seeing the first show.”

Two new public charter schools
Cypress Creek Middle was the only new traditional public school opened in Pasco County for the 2020-2021 school, but two new public charter schools also opened. Innovation Preparatory Academy opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 7800 Avery Scope Way in Wesley Chapel. Pinecrest Academy also opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 33347 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Published September 02, 2020

COVID-19 complicates school start

By

Students in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are set to begin a new school year on Aug. 24, but not all of the students will be headed to campus.

In Pasco County, students have three options for learning — amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Some students are expected to arrive at Pasco campuses on Aug. 24, while others opt for two versions of online learning. In the mySchool Online version, students are connected virtually to their assigned schools. With Pasco eSchool, they have more flexibility in the schedule and pace of learning.

In Hillsborough County, classes begin on Aug. 24, with all students beginning the school year through online learning only, until campuses open for students on Aug. 31. Like Pasco, Hillsborough is offering three learning options — face-to-face instruction and two virtual approaches.

Pasco and Hillsborough county students are set to return to school on Aug. 24, either in-person or virtually. (B.C. Manion)

Of course, there’s nearly a week before school begins, so it’s not inconceivable that these plans could change again.

As of press deadline for The Laker/Lutz News, there were two legal actions pending over whether school districts must comply with Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s Emergency Order that requires a face-to-face learning option on public school campuses.

The school year is already starting later than initially planned, with both Hillsborough and Pasco starting on Aug. 24, rather than Aug. 10.

The Hillsborough County School Board then voted to begin the district’s school year with four weeks of online-only instruction.

That decision came after a panel of medical experts advised against reopening schools until the COVID-19 positivity rate declined to about 5%.

Corcoran, however, rebuffed Hillsborough’s temporary online-only plan.

Corcoran said Hillsborough’s new plan was inconsistent with the reopening plan the district previously had submitted to the state that had been approved.

Hillsborough Superintendent Addison Davis then took a trip to Tallahassee, to seek middle ground.

That didn’t work.

After Davis returned, the district announced that “state leaders rejected two different phased-in models our district proposed that would have delayed our brick-and-mortar opening while ensuring our most vulnerable student populations were served in a face-to-face capacity.”

So, Hillsborough’s school year will begin with one week of online, with brick-and-mortar campuses opening on Aug. 31, for students choosing that option.

Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the school district plans to follow its Aug. 24 opening plan.

However, the United School Employees of Pasco has filed a lawsuit, seeking return to online learning only, until the COVID numbers come down, per the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and the Pasco School Board have stood behind the district’s reopening plan. Not following that plan, they have said, would jeopardize state funding.

The Florida Education Association’s motion for injunctive relief from Corcoran’s Emergency Order has been scheduled for mediation Aug. 18, and if necessary, for court hearings on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20.

The decisions being made at the state and school board levels have caused parents and teachers to make a variety of personal decisions.

Ben Langston, of Long Lake Ranch in Lutz, said he and his wife, Rene, decided to enroll their children, Connor and Avery, in a private school.

The Langstons had been planning to send the children to Oakstead Elementary, but switched those plans because of the uncertainty with what will happen with public schools.

They want Connor and Avery to have an in-school experience, rather than online, because they believe it offers a superior form of learning.

Cindy Smith, an art teacher at Land O’ Lakes High School, on the other hand, has made a different decision: She’s retiring after 31 years in Pasco County Schools.

“It was very difficult. It took me months to decide it,” said Smith, who taught Art 1 through Advanced Placement.

“I didn’t feel like it was wise to go to school and expose myself to the possibilities of COVID, at my age,” Smith said.

She doesn’t think that virtual teaching is effective for secondary art classes, although she said it would be a safer option until COVID-19 cases decline.

The teacher said she’ll miss teaching and her students.

“I’m sad about it. I’m sad for my friends. I’m sad for my students. How horrifying to think any one of them could die because of one person, or a few persons’ decisions,” Smith said.

She added: “I’m concerned that parents may not be taking this seriously enough.

“I don’t think they understand the hazards and the dangers and the concerns that we, as teachers, have. We love our students, we love our jobs, but to put us in a danger, death-threatening kind of situation is unreasonable,” Smith said.

Despite the focus on COVID-19, there also are other developments associated with beginning the 2020-2021 school year, and that includes the opening of Cypress Creek Middle School.

The new school, on Old Pasco Road, will serve students in grades six through eight.

Students who have been housed in a portion of Cypress Creek High School now will be moving to Cypress Creek Middle.

Other students previously assigned to John Long Middle, will join them, providing long-needed relief from crowding at John Long Middle.

Students from Wiregrass Ranch High also have been reassigned to Cypress Creek High, but the full effect of that boundary change won’t be immediately felt because the school district grandfathered the junior and senior class at Wiregrass Ranch.

Two new public charter schools also are opening this year, in Wesley Chapel — Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel and Innovation Preparatory Academy in the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel.

Published August 19, 2020