The Laker-Land O' Lakes-March 15, 2017

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Quest continues for Ridge Road permit By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County officials are hoping a letter of support from Gov. Rick Scott, and an executive order from President Donald Trump, could finally lead to a permit to build the Ridge Road extension. For 19 years, the county has pursued the permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for an approximately 8-mile road extension that would cut through a portion of the Serenova Preserve. The road extension is a high priority for the county to give residents an additional evacuation route during hurricanes.

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But, critics of the project vow to fight an extension of the road. Clay Colson, chairman of the nonprofit Citizens for Sanity Inc., said development, not a hurricane route, is behind the county’s efforts to extend Ridge Road through the preserve. “The county had this idea of entitlement,” he said.“They think they are entitled to the permit.” A county delegation, including Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker and Pasco County commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano, went to Washington D.C., in early March, to lobby for the project.

During an unexpected meetup with the governor, Baker asked him to write a letter supporting the project. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis also wrote a letter of support and sent it to President Trump. According to the president’s executive order, the White House Council on Environmental Quality would have 30 days to respond to the governor’s request for priority status for Ridge Road. Scott’s office has not responded to The Laker/Lutz News to inquiries about the letter. The president’s executive order directs See PERMIT, page 13

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Soul Circus Cowboys were the headline act at the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

COURTESY OF SUZANNE BEAUCHAINE

Local festival offers music, car show, food By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Things didn’t go exactly as planned. The permanent stage event organizers had hoped to use remains under construction. There were also some pre-event traffic snarls. And, electrical problems threw off the schedule, precluding Stonegrey, the first musical act, from being able to perform. Those at the festival had the chance to hear performances by The Higgins Brothers, Shalyah Fearing, City Groove and Soul Circus Cowboys. The event was presented by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, as a way to give back to the community. David Gainer, the event chairman and president-elect for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, was disappointed things didn’t go as smoothly as planned. “With all the pre-planning and walkthrough the day before, we somehow still

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Gloria Dale and Rosie Heim were working a booth to try to drum up support for Heim, who is campaigning to become the new Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Dale is the deputy honorary mayor a title she’s been given for life.

who was working at the AARP Land O’ Lakes Chapter’s booth to raise awareness about the organization.“People seem happy, and I see children with balloons. Everyone loves the food.” Rosie Heim was at the festival trying to garner support for her bid to be the next See FESTIVAL, page 13

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had a couple of issues. It was disappointing not to have Stonegrey open the show. We sincerely apologize to them and, more importantly, their fan base who came out to see them,” he said. Overall, though, those attending the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival seemed to be having a good time. People were checking out the vintage Cadillac and old-school Nova, the Teslas, and the other vehicles that owners were showing off at the Al and Ida Silver Memorial Car Show. Event-goers also were grabbing a bite to eat, including barbecued meals served by Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, hot dogs from D&R Specialty Dogs, and food and drink from other vendors. And, the mood was generally upbeat, as people strolled up and down vendor aisles, checking out displays and picking up freebies at the March 11 event at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center and Park. “This is a great day,” said Phyllis Bross,

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COURTESY OF AMANDA FAINT

The Land O’ Lakes High School Science Olympiad Club has advanced to the Florida Science Olympiad State Tournament, on March 25 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The club is sending two teams (of 15 students each) to the competition. During Science Olympiad, the teams will engage in hands-on, interactive, inquiry-based activities that are lab-based, research-based, or pre-built. There are 23 different events, with subjects ranging from physics, chemistry, earth space science, biology and engineering.

Local science club reaches state finals By Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

The Land O’ Lakes High School Science Olympiad Club has reached the state finals for the third year in a row. Moreover, it’s the first year that two of the club’s teams — consisting of 15 students each — have advanced to the Florida Science Olympiad State Tournament. This year the event is set for March 25, at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The club’s achievements are notable, par-

ticularly considering that it is just four years old. Team Exdee and Team Natural Selection, made up primarily of International Baccalaureate (IB) students, will compete against 40 teams from across Florida. Both Land O’ Lakes squads qualified after finishing in the top six in a field of 47 regional teams at the Western Regional Science Olympiad, held Feb. 4 at Hillsborough Community College-Brandon. A third team — Andromeda — finished 11th at the regional event.

Land O’ Lakes High School is the only public high school in Pasco County to reach the state competition this year. Now, with multiple teams in the fold, the club is eyeing the possibility of a better showing than its 11th place finish last year. “I think it’s about improvement,” said Amanda Faint, the club’s sponsor, who teaches chemistry at Land O’ Lakes High. “We know how we did at regionals. We know states is tougher, so if we can...stick at See SCIENCE, page 13


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