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The LAKER LAND O’ LAKES EDITION
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SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
Hermine’s effects lash Tampa Bay Recovering from the storm and bracing for the next one By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Blasts of rain, high winds and flood waters hit the region last week as the effects of Hurricane Hermine swept in, causing Tampa Bay residents in many communities to retrieve what they could, and discard what was lost. Trees crashed into roofs. Cars flooded. Water seeped into homes. In some parts of the region, residents
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had to be rescued by boat. Patients at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson were evacuated on the evening of Aug. 31, after the hospital in Hudson experienced what it believes was a lightning strike on a main power feed on the hospital’s roof, disabling the hospital’s ability to run a safe switch for generator backup. A brief fire broke out on the roofline, but no one was hurt. The hospital evacuated all of its 209 patients to other hospitals in the region, through a cooperative effort that included its sister HCA West Florida Hospitals, 70 EMS amSee HERMINE, page 11A
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By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Former insurance professional Barbara Brekke didn’t have an ideal childhood. The Land O’ Lakes woman said she grew up in a small town outside of Chicago in a household rocked by domestic violence. When Brekke was 15, her mother suddenly announced that in two days she would be leaving the family to go live with another family in Chicago. The teenager felt heartbroken. In retrospect, however,“that really was a good change,” Brekke said.“It just didn’t feel like it.” She went on to secure a high-ranking position in the insurance industry, overseeing large projects. For the last 10 years of her job, she commuted between Florida, Chicago and other places — overseeing employees and projects. It was a job she loved and didn’t want to leave. But, she knew she would never be able to pursue her other dreams, if she stayed in that job. So, she spent a year finishing projects and training her replacement, then she set off to pursue new ventures in Florida. Namely, she wanted to be a public speaker and a published author. But as time went on, she also discovered the desire to become a certified life coach. Brekke, who lives with husband Mark Dewlow, is already a public speaker.
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Barbara Brekke left a job she loved to pursue her dream of public speaking and writing. The Land O’ Lakes woman has written a book, ‘Dream Weaver, Goal Achiever,’ which provides inspiration and practical advice for people who want to change their lives.
She has written one book, “Dream Weaver, Goal Achiever,” and still aims to write a memoir and children’s books. Her “Dream Weaver” book offers a stepby-step approach to help people convert their dreams into reality. But, it’s not just about helping people’s dreams come true, Brekke said. It’s also about helping people who feel stuck to dislodge themselves from whatever is
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weighing them down. Throughout her 15-chapter book, Brekke combines inspiring thoughts along with practical suggestions. For instance, she urges readers to be true to themselves: “Honor and respect your dreams, regardless of the thoughts and opinions of others,” she writes. See AUTHOR, page 11A
New commission on women forms in Pasco County By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
boundaries for the new schools, boundary committees will meet, parent meetings will be held and the school board will make the final vote. Meanwhile, the school board has begun the naming process for the schools. In its school naming policy, the board welcomes suggestions from the public, students and educators. The board prefers to name schools after the general location, features of the area, or historical information about the school’s location. The suggested name must be brief and descriptive. The board will consider naming schools after individuals, but those individuals should be of a person of prominence recognized for his or her outstanding civic or educational contribution. The board also will consider naming a school after an elected official or a school district employee, but only after that person has been deceased for two or more years, or has left public office or employment with the district two or more years ago. Once the name is adopted, it is consid-
Two years ago Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey and attorney Michele Hintson met by chance at a symposium on empowering women in politics and leadership. They were the only two women at WeWill Tampa Bay from Pasco, but quickly bonded around a singular goal: To form a Commission on the Status of Women. Hintson joined county staff members on Aug. 23 in presenting a plan to launch the commission. The Pasco County Commission unanimously approved the concept. “This is a historical day for women in Pasco County,” Starkey said. The final vote and nominations to the 15-member commission are expected on Sept. 13. Each county commissioner will appoint a member to the women’s commission. Other community organizations, mostly nonprofits, will recommend nominees to fill out the remaining 10 slots.The county commission will make the final selections. Participating organizations include Metropolitan Ministries, Sunrise of Pasco, Pasco-Hernando State College and Saint Leo University. “The commission hopefully will be able to provide research and resources to develop opinions and make recommendations to (Pasco County) commissioners about certain needs in the community for women,” said Hintson, a Land O’ Lakes resident and an attorney with the Tampa-based law firm, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick. Issues might include equal pay, human trafficking, affordable housing, women’s health care and the needs of children. Research by Pasco County’s legal staff re-
See SCHOOL, page 11A
See COMMISSION, page 11A
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COURTESY OF PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS
Construction activity is well underway on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school.
Ideas sought for Pasco school names By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County School Board is seeking suggestions from the public for names for two schools the district plans to open in the fall of 2017. One school, now known as Elementary B, is being built in Bexley Ranch, north of State Road 54 and east of the Suncoast Parkway. The new elementary school is expected to help reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools. The other school needing a name is now known as High School GGG. It is currently under construction on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. Initially, it will be a school for grades six through 12. The new high school is expected to affect the boundaries for Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and potentially Sunlake high schools. The new middle school is expected to affect the boundaries for Weightman, John Long and potentially Rushe middle schools. Before any decisions are reached on the