The Laker-East Pasco-Jan. 21, 2015

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The LAKER

ee r F

EAST PASCO EDITION

LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

JANUARY 21, 2015

Pasco government could shift gears By B.C. Manion

county should shift to a government governed by a charter. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano A discussion is underway that could lead thinks that’s a horrible idea. to massive changes in Pasco County governAnd, a majority of Pasco County commisment. sioners said they want to know more about State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ it before making any kind of commitment Lakes, is advocating that Pasco voters be al- on the issue. After hearing from Corcoran lowed the option to vote on whether the and Fasano at their Jan. 13 meeting, they de-

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

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cided to hold off on taking any action until getting more information about the implications of a charter government. Corcoran told commissioners that letting voters decide the way the county should be governed gives them greater control. When voters have more control, the fuSee PASCO, page9A

Housing sales likely to improve expert says By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Most of the time when you hear what Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors has to say — it’s during a congressional hearing or on the national news. But last week, Yun made an appearance before real estate professionals gathered for a meeting of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors. He offered plenty of food for thought about the housing market’s condition. “The bottom line is that we have encountered some degree of recovery. I think we will continue the recovery over the next two to three years, and then subsequently, the recovery may well change into expansion,” said Yun, who frequently speaks at conferences for real estate professionals around the country. “Now, you are just trying to get back to the prior principal in terms of prices. It may take an additional two to three years to get to where it had been in 2005-2006,” Yun said. When it comes to home prices, he said, Florida has a key advantage: Its warm winter weather. Through the years, people have moved to Florida from colder climates in northern states. “It sort of came to a halt during the housing market crash. People up North just could not sell their home, or they were somewhat underwater,”Yun said. The market recovery has put them in a better position to move, which is good

B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO

Lawrence Yun is the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. He’s predicting a continued recovery for two to three years, and then possibly an expansion.

“There’s more people working in the Tampa region, so there’s more potential homebuyers.” –Lawrence Yun news for Florida, he said. “So, you will regain that flow of new residents coming into Florida. Florida has been No 1, consistently, during normal years in attracting new residents,”Yun said. The housing market had generally experienced a two-year recovery in 2012 and 2013, but then stalled in 2014, Yun said. So

people are wondering what will happen next. “A two-year-and-out situation would be highly unusual, if one looks at the past,” Yun said. He considers it an anomaly and predicts that there will be a continued recovery See HOUSING, page9A

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B PIGZ IN Z’HILLS INSIDE, PAGE 1B

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAINT ANTHONY SCHOOL

This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students.

Bishop to dedicate Saint Anthony’s new building By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Students, parents and staff from Saint Anthony Catholic School are looking forward to a Feb. 9 celebration, where the Rev. Robert N. Lynch, bishop of the St. Petersburg Diocese will bless the school’s new building. A celebration of the Mass is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and it will be followed by the blessing and dedication of the new building. Festivities also will include an open house and light refreshments. The event marks the latest milestone in a history that dates back to 1883. San Antonio was founded in 1882 as a Catholic colony. The following year, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children. When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. She reportedly responded that the “minds of the children now here, can’t wait.” With that, the widow began teaching 14 children, including six of her own, in her kitchen. Saint Anthony School officially was established in 1884. It is the oldest parochial school in the

November 1884. Students and teachers are now situated in their new classrooms in the new school building. There was a time, not so many years ago when the future was anything but certain for the school. Attendance had dwindled to 153, and there was talk of closing Saint Anthony School. But parents and other supporters rallied. They used their ingenuity, coming up with various ways to spread the news about FILE PHOTO their school, including a 15-second spot This school building, erected in 1922, shown at the Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley remains. A new school building has been Chapel. constructed behind it. The school will conThe school’s enrollment improved. It tinue to use the historic building for some of now has more than 200 kindergarten its functions. through eighth-graders coming from San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, diocese, as well as one of the oldest Catholic Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and other comschools in Florida. munities. Generations of families have been eduIn a previous interview, School Principal cated in a three-story brick structure that Sister Alice Ottapurackal attributed the was built in 1922. school’s increased enrollment to “God’s speThat building will continue to be used cial blessing.” for some functions. “Truly, I believe, it’s the power of prayer,” The new 17,905-square-foot building is she said at the time. the fourth in the school’s history. The 1922 Much has changed on the campus, but current building replaced a two-story struc- the school’s core mission remains the same. ture built in 1899. The original building was It continues to emphasize academic exa 12-by-24-foot structure constructed in cellence while teaching the Catholic faith.


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