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LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
AUGUST 19, 2015
Big changes in store for Pasco schools By B.C. Manion
complete, but district officials don’t expect the work that’s yet to be done to disrupt the Transportation issues? opening of school. Pasco County Schools has set up a speA lot of change is in store for Pasco At Pine View Middle, students and staff cial Transportation Call Center during the County Schools during the 2015-2016 will be embarking on a quest to become the first week of school. If you have a problem, school year. first school in the district to be designated call the numbers listed below, on Monday Students arriving at Sanders Memorial as a Middle Years Programme by the through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Elementary STEAM Magnet School will find International Baccalaureate Organization. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. not only a new campus, but a new way of It typically takes a candidate school (813) 794-2500; (727) 774-2500; learning, too. about three years to meet the requirements or (352) 524-2500 They’ll be attending classes in the Pasco to receive the designation. school district’s first magnet school proAcross the United States, there are 45 prigram, with an emphasis on science, vate and 538 public MYP programmes, technology, engineering, the arts and mathe- undergone a massive makeover — replacing including 65 in Florida and four in the matics. the formerly “open” space with traditional Tampa area, including Carrollwood Day Students arriving at Quail Hollow classrooms, with doors and windows. See SCHOOLS, page11A Elementary School, will find a school that’s The school’s makeover isn’t entirely
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This rendering shows what the front of the hospital will look like, after the expansion.
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Public campaign launched to raise $17 million By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel always knew that it would be expanding, but it didn’t expect to be doing so 2 ½ years ahead of schedule. Hospital officials, local dignitaries and invited guests celebrated the beginning of a $78 million expansion project at a Aug. 12 gathering, that also marked the beginning of a public campaign to raise $17 million to support the project. Florida Hospital and Adventist Health are committed to $61 million of the project’s cost, but the rest will come from a fundraising effort chaired by Tom Dempsey, owner of Saddlebrook Resort, which helped put Wesley Chapel on the map more than three decades ago. Speakers praised the hospital for the
COURTESY OF FLORIDA HOSPITAL WESLEY CHAPEL
When people talk about infrastructure, they’re usually talking about government projects, State Rep. Danny Burgess said. But he added, hospitals are perhaps the most important infrastructure a community can have.
quality of its care, during the event that included hors d’oeuvres, live music, muffins, parfaits, juice and coffee. They noted the hospital’s reputation for excellence and said that, along with growth in the surrounding communities, have fueled the need to expand much sooner than initially expected. “Wesley Chapel and Pasco County are on the rise,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who lives in Wesley Chapel, told the crowd. “We’re on the rise because community partners like Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. “After only 2 ½ years, they’re moving forward with an expansion of this hospital.
This was scheduled to be done in five years. That’s incredible. “These things don’t happen by themselves, ladies and gentlemen. They only happen when you can build the trust and support of the community that surrounds you,” Moore said. State Rep. Danny Burgess agreed. “This is no coincidence that this is happening so quickly, only halfway through the projected five-year expansion timeline,” Burgess said. “What we have here is nothing short of an incredible facility, an incredible hospital, See HOSPITAL, page11A
Park expansion signifies big day for Land O’ Lakes By B.C. Manion
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Passersby on U.S. 41 likely didn’t notice the event taking place under a covered pavilion at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park on Aug. 14. After all, there were no marching bands or fireworks. But the ribbon cutting for the Land O’ Lakes Community Park project COURTESY OF TERRI DUSEK marked a big day in the Dignitaries and park supporters gathered for a ribbon cutting to mark the completion of a $2.3 million project community’s history. The $2.3 million park to improve Land O’ Lakes Community Park. improvement project includes the installation of a Bermuda grass an amazing facility.’ But this isn’t the end. Conover thinks the stage will add a new practice field, a Bermuda grass football field Thanks to the efforts of the Heritage Park dimension to happenings in Land O’ Lakes. and a 300-foot Bermuda grass softball field. Foundation, Sandy Graves and her team, “I envision it to be a very busy place,” he It also includes a concession building there’s going to be a bandstand here that’s said. with restrooms and a meeting room, a main- going to have concerts and other performGraves sees the stage as a way to foster tenance building, open space, two shelters, ances. That’s going to be another great thing the kind of community life she enjoyed new parking lots, a new playground and a for this park that the community has need- when she was young. remodeled patio area. And, there’s also a ed for so many years.” “So many of you see it as a new park four-tenths-of-a-mile walking trail. The stage, to be constructed next year, is today, but I see good memories,” Graves said, “This is an exciting time for Land O’ being funded through a $250,000 grant during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Lakes. I know the community is going to from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. “I remember the brand new park, back enjoy this park for years to come,” said Pasco It’s taken a long time to get the funding in the ’60s. I remember dance events. And County Commissioner Mike Moore, a speak- for the stage, noted Sandy Graves, who has coming to the community center for the er at the ribbon cutting. pushed relentlessly for the project. Miss Land O’ Lakes pageant,” she said. “I re“This celebrates progress. Not just the It took three governors to finally get the member my brother playing Little League progress of Pasco County, but for Land O’ state’s support, Graves said. Gov. Jeb Bush games here.” Lakes and the community that surrounds and Gov. Charlie Crist rejected the request, She said she’s grateful for the people of this park. It’s an effort, in my mind, for the but Gov. Rick Scott said yes. Land O’ Lakes who saw a need for a comrevitalization of this great community,” Kurt Conover, a longtime supporter of munity center and park way back then, and Moore said. the project, said it didn’t hurt to have sup- for their support of “a place that added to “This isn’t the end of it,” Moore added. port from members of the local legislative See PARK, page11A “You look around and you say, ‘Wow, what delegation.