ee r F
The LAKER WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS LAW FIRM, P.L. HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY 813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights” 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
Walk-Ins Welcome
®
Advance Tickets ON SALE NOW! www.flstrawberryfestival.com lstrawberryfestival.com
©
Royal Fun for Everyone! March 3 –13, 2016 • Plant City, FL
CALL TODAY FIXED TODAY!
SEE INSIDE FOR GREAT COUPONS! A/C LICENSE #CAC1816647
DECEMBER 16, 2015
Pasco County goes super high-tech By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County could soon be zooming through the 21st century’s technology revolution at lightning speeds as the nation’s first smart gigabit community. More than 7,800 acres in central and eastern Pasco County are slated to become a state-approved special development district, overseen locally and focusing on a land use plan that will embed state-of-the-art technology into future residential and commercial developments. The district is known as a connected-city corridor. Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley Road and Overpass Road border the district. The unifying link would be UltraFi, a COURTESY OF CRYSTAL LAGOON CORP. Bright House fiber-optic cable network with Pasco County will become a connected-city corridor, providing the nation’s fastest Internet See HIGH-TECH, page13A
access within a special development district. A 7-acre, man-made swimming pool, known as a crystal lagoon, will be featured in the Epperson Ranch Town Center, which is within the district.
Honoring the memory of Jaret Harshman By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Members of Wesley Chapel High School’s cross-country teams led a solemn procession around the school’s track on Dec. 11 to honor the memory of Jaret Harshman. The 15-year-old died from injuries sustained in a Dec. 9 car accident. Shortly after the accident, his father, Mike Harshman, shared the news of his son’s death on Facebook. After first apologizing for the shocking nature of the post, Mike Harshman, of Wesley Chapel, wrote: “This evening on his way to church with friends, our oldest son Jaret was killed in a fatal car accident. He was just shy of his 16th birthday on Dec. 28. Kristi and I are numb and distraught - it seems surreal to us. We love Jaret, and are so proud of him - a terrible hole will be felt in our family forever, and we are still in shock over this. But we take great comfort in our faith, believing he was welcomed home into the arms of Christ.” In the post, Mike Harshman, who is a preacher, also asked for prayers for the two boys that Jaret was riding with, Ryan and Michael Miller, also of Wesley Chapel. Michael Miller “was in surgery for hours and appears to have a long recovery from his injuries,” the post says. It also notes that Ryan Miller “will have to deal with the emotions he will face. We love those 2 boys like our own sons, and will continue to embrace them as this will be a difficult road for them as well …” According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, 18-year-old Ryan Miller was driving a 2006 Chevy Aveo north on Culbreath Road, approaching a stop sign at the intersection County Road 572 (Powell Road) around 6:18 p.m., on Dec. 9. Meanwhile, Christopher Reed Russell, 25, of Spring Hill was driving his 2014 Dodge Ram on County Road 572.
B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTOS
Members of the cross-country teams at Wesley Chapel High School led a solemn procession on Dec. 11 to honor the memory of Jaret Harshman. The 15-year-old was described as a dedicated runner, who was kind to others.
COURTESY OF WESLEY CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL
Jaret Harshman, shown as the lead runner here, was a devoted member of the crosscountry team at Wesley Chapel High School. He died from injuries sustained in a Dec. 9 car accident.
Miller failed to stop at the stop sign and traveled into the pathway of Russell’s vehicle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report. Charges are pending. During the memorial at the school, members of the cross-country teams carried a paper banner containing hundreds of tributes to Jaret. The messages were printed in tiny letters, or scrawled in giant cursive. They were written with markers or pens in
Mike Harshman thanked everyone who has offered their support, in the aftermath of a Dec. 9 traffic accident that claimed the life of his 15-year-old son, Jaret.
green, red, black, blue and pink. The posts expressed sorrow at Jaret’s death, gratitude for having known him and hope for him to have a new life in heaven. Here’s how Nicole put it: “Jaret, you always brightened up my day and lit the whole room up with your smile. You were one of the best people I ever got to know. Love you J. Harsh.” See JARET, page13A
Wish list for the holidays: Food, blankets, toothbrushes
PLUMBING LIC. #CFC1428982 ELECTRICAL LIC. #EC0001103
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Winner 2012, 2013, 2014
Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Electrical
CornerstonePros.com
813-949-4445
Guide
holiday
2015 gifts, eats and entertainment
INSIDE, PAGE 6A
Helping children who are in need is nothing new for the staff members at Centennial Middle School – they’ve been doing that for years. But, in recent years, Marty Pekarek, who chairs the Dade City school’s Assist, Believe and Care program, has noticed that children are asking for life’s essentials. “They ask for food and clothing,” she said. Their families need blankets, too, said Pekarek. Children in homes without heat have told school staff that they pile clothes on their bed to stay warm on cold nights. Sometimes, a child’s request can be heartbreaking, Pekarek said. “I think the saddest one I had one year was a little boy who said he just wanted toothbrushes, because all five family members were using the same one,” said Pekarek, a learning coach at the school. Like other Pasco County schools, the ABC program at Centennial Middle, 38505 At left, Marty Pekarek lays out angels for Centennial Middle School staff members to pick up, as the school gears up to brighten the holidays for students in need at their school.
B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTOS
Centennial Middle School helps families in need during the holidays, and also at other times of the year. This is some of the food in its pantry.
Centennial Road in Dade City, is funded by voluntary contributions from school district employees. “It’s to help needy families. Sometimes during the holidays and sometimes other times when families have issues — they need food or clothing or something for children,” Pekarek explained. “It’s not a government-funded program. It’s just teachers and staff members that donate money to it,” Pekarek said. In previous years, teachers and staff members would “adopt” a child for See HOLIDAYS, page13A