The LAKER
ee r F
EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
JULY 15, 2015
Growth spurs school construction By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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When Pasco County School Board member Alison Crumbley considers anticipated growth along the State Road 54/56 corridor, she said, she is “taken aback.” She worries about the school district’s ability to provide schools for all of the students who will be moving into the new communities that are taking shape along that corridor. Superintendent Kurt Browning shares that sentiment. “That 54 corridor concerns me greatly,” Browning said, during a recent school board workshop on the district’s construction plans. “Our need certainly outpaces our resources,” the superintendent said. “When you look at the 54 corridor, from really, Little Road to just beyond Wiregrass, that’s Curley Road — there is so much growth and projected growth.
“Nor, do I want to build new schools and, the next thing you know, you see portables being pulled up on those school campuses,” Browning said. The lack of revenue has prompted the school district to launch an impact fee study, which could lead to higher school impact fees paid for new construction of residential properties in Pasco County. Meanwhile, the district is engaged in numerous construction projects and have others planned in the near future. B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO Chris Williams, director of planning, outCrews at Sanders Memorial Elementary lined those projects during the board’s School work to ensure that the county’s first workshop. He also provided additional demagnet school opens on schedule in August. tails during a separate interview. Sanders Memorial Elementary School is “Even up on Curley, there’s master- getting a massive makeover — and the Land planned communities. O’ Lakes Elementary School is getting more “As superintendent, it concerns me, be- than a brand new look. It is also becoming cause I know moms and dads don’t want Pasco County’s first magnet school. their kids in crowded classrooms. And I When Sanders opens in the fall, it will don’t want their kids in crowded classrooms. See SCHOOL, page 11A
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INSIDE, PAGE 1B FRED BELLET/PHOTO
Zephyrhills resident Ron Hancock stays hydrated as he waits for judges to look over his 1985 Ford 4x4 pickup truck at the Shops at Wiregrass’ Cruisin’ at Wiregrass Classic, Custom & New Car Show. Hancock has been showing the prized truck for 14 years. He said he’s a regular at the Dade City Cruise-In.
Pasco company expects to expand to new markets By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
KeriCure Inc., a Wesley Chapel company, has secured a patent that is expected to open new doors for partnerships with pharmaceutical and medical device companies. “Our foundation of the company was actually built around this nanoparticle drug delivery technology that I helped to create at the University of South Florida,” said Kerriann Greenhalgh, who operates the company from her Wesley Chapel home. The company, which launched in 2011, has been offering consumer products to help promote the healing of cuts and wounds on people and pets, through liquid bandages sprayed on the skin. The polymer retains its elasticity, protecting the wound and allowing the cut to heal. The products for people are sold under the names Natural Seal Liquid Bandage, Natural Seal and Natural Seal on the Go, and are available at Publix, Kroger, Price Choppers, Marsh and Meijer, and in natural product stores throughout the United States.
cal, burn, wound care and post-surgical applications. With a patent granted in June, Greenhalgh expects her unique polymer to be used in a much broader array of applications. The patent “gives us the opportunity to talk to larger pharmaceutical companies — who have products, drugs, bioactives that they want to deliver topically — and tell them we have a great, FDA-cleared system in place now, and that we can incorporate their drug into and provide very sustained release with our product,” Greenhalgh explained. “One area that we’re looking at is in the anti-cancer area,” she said. “We would incorporate a very wellknown anti-cancer drug into our polymer system,” she said. Or, her product could be used to apply radiation seeds topically. Patients could benefit from her company’s product, she said. B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO “The beauty of this is that they wouldn’t Kerriann Greenhalgh shows off the products have to be getting exposed to massive her company has developed which are sold amounts of radiation. It would be extremely online and in stores. She expects a much targeted,” she said. “So, you would get rid of a broader array of uses for her product, now lot of the side effects that happen with radithat she has secured a new patent. ation. “That is a very serious opportunity,” she The pet products are known as Tough said. Seal for Pets and Champion Seal, and are KeriCure is currently talking to various available online and at some feed stores. companies that have an interest in its techThe company also has a professional line nology, Greenhalgh said, including 3M. “They of liquid bandage products, under the name have a couple of projects that they’re interof KeriCure’s Advanced Seal — Rx for ested in having us collaborate on.” Medical Use. That formulation is used by See COMPANY, page 11A physicians in various cosmetic, dermatologi-
Zephyrhills is crowing about clean neighborhoods By Kathy Steele
said Gail Hamilton, director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Area. The focus area for the cleanup is beRocky Rooster isn’t out to ruffle any- tween Seventh Street and 11th Street, and one’s feathers. He just wants to crow about 11th Street and Sixth Avenue, near downstrutting through clean neighborhoods in town. Zephyrhills. Fliers are being mailed to property ownOn July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rocky ers. Code enforcement officers are Rooster will be the mascot and booster of personally delivering fliers to residents livneighborhood pride at the first city-spon- ing within the cleanup’s focus area. sored neighborhood cleanup day. The campaign slogan is “Make our city “We’re really trying to get the word out,” something to crow about.”
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The program emerged after City Manager Steve Spina asked city department heads to discuss how to improve code enforcement. Organizers want to convey the message that the city and residents can work together to clean up the neighborhoods. “We just thought some people are overwhelmed and don’t have vehicles to haul junk to the landfill,” said Hamilton. “It’s like a See CLEAN, page 11A
COURTESY OF CITY OF ZEPHYRHILLS
Rocky Rooster wants to know if you’ve ‘Got Trash?’