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MARCH 25, 2015
PHSC chooses new president By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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. 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 Timothy Beard 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 rehabil-
itation 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.
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Visitors and vendors at the Zephyrhills Artsy Farmers Market say they enjoy the beautiful setting at Zephyr Park.
Farmers market offers fruits, veggies — and a dance By Kathy Steele
quiet walk and discovered the Zephyrhills Artsy Farmers’ Market, off State Road 54 at 38116 Fifth Ave. June Wentworth went looking for a Pierce and his wife, Melissa, were at the pleasant walk around the lake on a sunny market for their second time. morning at Zephyr Park and before she The singer is a frequent entertainer at knew it, the 83-year-old found herself in the the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and arms of a dance partner who glided her Ralph’s Travel Park, both in Zephyrhills. through the bittersweet memories of Garth During the farmers’ market, Pierce sang Brooks’ “The Dance.” covers and original tunes under the gazebo Gospel singer Kris Pierce had just sold a at water’s edge. His wife Melissa sat at a discopy of his CD to Wentworth who was im- play table covered with her husband’s CDs, pressed enough to say yes to her surprise of collections that range from gospel songs to the day – the singer’s invitation to dance. covers of Elvis Presley. “He’s got a great voice,” said Wentworth, “I do a little bit of everything,” Pierce a Maine native visiting Zephyrhills for a cou- said. “Pretty much everything but heavy ple of weeks. metal and rap.” She had stopped at Zephyr Park for that He was among about 15 vendors who
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Eighty-three-year-old June Wentworth danced with entertainer Kris Pierce as he sang Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” at the Zephyrhills Artsy Farmers Market.
set up tents and displays under the cathedral canopy of oak trees near the park’s entrance. The market got its start downtown in Times Square Park on Fifth Avenue with just a few vendors about a year ago. In October, the market moved to the larger and more tranquil setting of Zephyr Park. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the second Wednesday and fourth Saturday of each month. Beginning April 25, the market will become a fourth-Saturday-only event. The market, staged by Largo-based Simply Events, needs more vendors. Owner Sonya Bradley hopes to eventualSee MARKET, page 9A
Pasco commissioners approve a study for Wiregrass Sports Park By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County commissioners are in a quandary about the fate of the proposed Wiregrass Sports Park. Should they try again to work a deal for a world-class sports complex or build a district park for local sports teams? Commissioners voted 4-1 on March 10 to take a wait-and-see approach with a feasibility study that will gauge the market for a sports complex with the potential to draw national tournaments, and yield millions in tourism tax dollars. The results also could show that the county’s money is better spent on a park that caters to local sports teams. The study is intended to give county officials, residents and potential park operators an idea of what will work at the park site, located near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard off State Road 56. “We think we’ll get the ability to expedite (the process) because people will understand it better, and we think the quality of applications will improve,” said Richard Gehring, the county’s planning and development administrator. Johnson Consulting Inc., a sports consulting firm with national and international clients, will be paid $35,000 for the study, expected to take less than 12 weeks. The study will include marketing and needs assessments as well as recommendations on development costs, operating and financial responsibilities, and funding options.
FILE PHOTO
Commissioner Jack Mariano
“I think it’s time to move forward,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “It’s a positive. People in my district want to see it sooner rather than later.” Commissioner Jack Mariano voted against the study. Instead of spending money on a study, he said county officials should explore why the deal with Pasco Sports LLC to build a multimillion-dollar sports complex fell apart. “I’d like to find out why he (Gary Sheffield) didn’t like the contract,” Mariano said.“We could look at that first.” In December, commissioners dropped plans to partner with Pasco Sports to build a sports complex on 100 acres near The Shops at Wiregrass regional shopping mall. The land is part of more than 200 acres do-
nated to the county by the Porter family. Partners James Talton and former major league baseball player Gary Sheffield had proposed to build 20 ball fields and dormitories on the site. They had envisioned a youth baseball camp that would attract national tournaments and deliver more than $300 million annually in economic impact to the county. According to the agreement, the county would commit between $11 million and $14 million in tourism dollars to the project. But Talton and Sheffield let a deadline pass without delivering on a pledge to provide $3 million for the complex’s design. Other projects, both rumored and real, are competing with the proposed sports complex. Z Mitch LLC had a groundbreaking in February for a major ice hockey and sports complex off Interstate 75 at the State Road interchange in Wesley Chapel. The facility is expected to open in fall 2015 with four fullsize rinks. But the 150,000-square-foot facility will accommodate a wide range of sports including soccer, lacrosse and basketball. Rumors also persist that Hillsborough County may be in line for a new sports facility. Most Pasco commissioners agreed the feasibility study would be a valuable tool in sorting out the county’s options. “It will either validate or invalidate the marketing of the complex and what’s needed in this area,” said Chairman Ted Schrader. “It will give us the confidence to go forward with some sort of park project.”