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The LAKER EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
MARCH 25, 2015
PHSC chooses new president By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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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 ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
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June Wentworth went looking for a pleasant walk around the lake on a sunny morning at Zephyr Park and before she knew it, the 83-year-old found herself in the arms of a dance partner who glided her through the bittersweet memories of Garth Brooks’“The Dance.” Gospel singer Kris Pierce had just sold a copy of his CD to Wentworth who was impressed enough to say yes to her surprise of the day – the singer’s invitation to dance. “He’s got a great voice,” said Wentworth, a Maine native visiting Zephyrhills for a couple of weeks. She had stopped at Zephyr Park for that
quiet walk and discovered the Zephyrhills Artsy Farmers’ Market, off State Road 54 at 38116 Fifth Ave. Pierce and his wife, Melissa, were at the market for their second time. The singer is a frequent entertainer at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and Ralph’s Travel Park, both in Zephyrhills. During the farmers’ market, Pierce sang covers and original tunes under the gazebo at water’s edge. His wife Melissa sat at a display table covered with her husband’s CDs, collections that range from gospel songs to covers of Elvis Presley. “I do a little bit of everything,” Pierce said. “Pretty much everything but heavy metal and rap.” He was among about 15 vendors who
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
This Girl Scout project could save lives
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INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Eighty-three-year-old June Wentworth danced with entertainer Kris Pierce as he sang Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” at the Zephyrhills Artsy Farmers Market.
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When most people think of Girl Scouts, they tend to picture little girls selling cookies in front of the local store or singing in a camp sing-along. It’s unlikely they envision a young woman working on a project to improve traffic safety. But that’s exactly what Wesley High School student Samantha Politano is doing. She’s launched a three-year project aimed at making life safer for the students who attend Wesley Chapel High School, Thomas Weightman Middle School and Wesley Chapel Elementary School. She’s not only interested in making life safer for students. She wants to improve the conditions for all drivers — parents dropping off and picking up their kids, bus drivers making their rounds, and faculty members and students who drive to school. In addition to making Wells Road safer, she’s also aiming to spread the message of safe driving habits. She hopes her efforts will encourage drivers to buckle up and put away their cellphones, which will reduce their chance of being injured or having an accident. She also thinks it would be neat to give Wells Road a second, honorary name — Wildcat Way — to pay tribute to the mascot for the elementary, middle and high schools. Politano is tackling the traffic safety issue on a number of fronts and has enlisted the aid of Jeff Novotny, former president of the Greater Wesley Chapel
help because he’s married to her thirdgrade teacher, Amanda, who teaches at Wesley Chapel Elementary. “Mrs. Novotny was one of the most influential teachers, ever,” Politano said. So, why would a teenager take on an issue like traffic safety? In Politano’s case, it’s because she’s striving to attain a Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve. The distinction is based on the completion of a project that focuses on making a difference. Politano said her decision to work on traffic issues was partly inspired by a friend of hers who was injured when a car backed into her in the parking lot. She said she also heard about a freshman who was struck by a vehicle on Wells Road. It’s not hard to see that Wells Road has traffic issues during student arrival and departure times. On one recent afternoon, parents arrived at least 20 minutes before school got out, parking their cars on the edges B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO on both sides of Wells Road. Wesley Chapel High student Samantha Politano With cars flanking both sides of the is striving to attain a Girl Scout Gold Award, the road, passing traffic — including school highest honor awarded to a Girl Scout. Her buses — had to drive close to the middle project is to improve safety traffic conditions of the road, and in some cases over the on Wells Road. centerline. Parents also pulled into a parking lot Chamber of Commerce. at Wesley Chapel High to wait for their chilNovotny is widely known in business cir- dren, reminiscent of the staging area of the cles around Wesley Chapel, but that’s not See SCOUT, page 9A why Politano asked him. She wanted his