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OCTOBER 7, 2015
Dade City joins Pasco’s 911 system By Kathy Steele
But, a deputy who needed assistance just outside city limits might be sent backup from 10 miles away, when a Dade City poDade City Police Chief Ray Velboom lice officer was a few blocks away. could see the need for better communicaCritical time can be lost and the safety of tions between his police officers and police officers jeopardized,Velboom said. deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff’s On Oct. 5, a consolidation of the Dade Office, on a daily basis. City 911 Center and Pasco County’s Public Each agency had 911 centers operating Safety Communications addressed that on different radio frequencies. problem. “We’re surrounded by the county. We inTwo staff members from Dade City comteract with them every day,” said Velboom. pleted weeks of training with the new
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consolidated system and transferred to Pasco’s Emergency Operations Center in New Port Richey. The consolidation had been under discussion for two years as a way to increase both public safety and efficiency. “It just made sense,”Velboom said. The consolidation also reduces duplication because Dade City police officers now will file police reports on the county’s sysSee 911, page13A
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONICA QUIMBY
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After her skiing accident, Monica Quimby got a bachelor’s in biology, a master’s in teaching, and now teaches an online course for Southern Maine Community College.
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Disabled, but not discouraged
Those things, in themselves, make for an impressive resume. But, there’s much more to Quimby’s story. She competed in her home state’s wheelchair pageant and became Ms. Wheelchair Maine in 2011. She went on to finish third runner-up for Ms.Wheelchair USA. Still, something was missing. By Michael Murillo A natural athlete, she didn’t want her dismmurillo@lakerlutznews.com ability to prevent her from playing sports. She tried kayaking and cycling (using hand When Monica Quimby was in college in pedals), but eventually found sledge hockey. 2006, she wanted to get a degree in molecuSledge hockey — also known as sled lar biology and to become a successful hockey — is hockey played on a sled, and athlete. requires incredible balance and upper body Then a skiing accident left her paralyzed strength. She tried it, and fell. And fell again, from the waist down. She was in the hospimore than a dozen times in all. But, she tal for nearly five months as she recovered loved it. Soon, Quimby became a talented and tried to adjust to a newer, more difficult defender. way of life. And the former Ms. Wheelchair Maine, Many people would have adjusted their who once wore a tiara and a sash, discovgoals lower. Some might have given up altoered that she really liked hitting people gether. Instead, Quimby got a degree in while defending the ice. molecular biology and became a successful Quimby is an adjunct professor, an athlete “It feels so awesome. It’s incredible,” she for the USA Women’s Sledge Hockey Team athlete. said. “I’m the one that’s smiling after I hit “I think the biggest thing is that even and was Ms. Wheelchair Maine in 2011. you.” though my physical form changed, my perIn just 18 months, Quimby has immersed sonality didn’t,” said Quimby, now 29. Science in Molecular, Cellular and herself in the game. She plays in local recreThe degree came first. Developmental Biology and a Master’s ational leagues, as well as the Florida Sled After the accident, she missed only one Degree in Higher Education. Bandits, the state’s elite sledge hockey team. Now, she lives in Wesley Chapel, and semester at the University of New And if that was the extent of her athletic Hampshire, and she was published for dis- she teaches an online Anatomy and accomplishments, it would be an admirable covering maternal ancestors of the Physiology course for Southern Maine strawberry. Quimby received a Bachelor’s of Community College. See DISABLED, page13A
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Planting seeds for Pasco food policies
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B INSIDE, PAGE 2B
By Kathy Steele
Community gardens, backyard chickens, food deserts and agricultural tourism are on a short list of future policy ideas a citizen’s advisory council will tackle in Pasco County. The Pasco County Food Policy Advisory Council met on Sept. 30, in its second meeting since the Pasco County Commission appointed nine panel members in June. Pasco County is the only county with an active food policy council in the Tampa Bay region, according to county officials. Statewide, similar councils exist only in Duval, Miami-Dade and Orange counties. The group’s first goal is to complete a food assessment to identify resources, needs and challenges within Pasco’s food production and delivery system. Members also are working on a draft of an urban agricultural ordinance to recommend to Pasco County commissioners. Regulations for community gardens, backyard chickens and beekeeping could be part of the proposed ordinance. “It gives an opportunity for citizens to have a voice, and a powerful voice,” said Dell DeChant, who encouraged county officials to create the advisory council. “They (food policy councils) are at the cutting edge right
now of agriculture in the nation.” Others who helped establish the council were Kathryn Starkey, a member of the Pasco County Commission; Todd Engala, a planner for Pasco County; Deanna Krautner of Pasco County Department of Health; Travis Morehead, a farmer and business owner; and Whitney Elmore, director of Pasco County Extension. In the past, agriculture meant big corporate farms, but there has been a shift in recent years to agricultural activities that are small, local and often urban, said DeChant, a professor at the University of South Florida. As the council moves forward, the longrange goal is to develop policies to improve access to “culturally appropriate, nutritionally sound and affordable food produced in Pasco County,” according to a mission statement.
The council will have a public workshop on Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. until noon, at the West Pasco County Government Center in New Port Richey. Council members will review five urban agricultural ordinances including ones adopted by New Port Richey, Dade City and Boston, with a goal of recommending a draft ordinance for adoption by Pasco County commissioners in 2016. General meetings will be held quarterly. Members have a range of issues to review. Some municipalities, including Tampa, allow residents to raise backyard chickens, with restrictions on how many can be kept. The idea of having chickens in residential neighborhoods may not appeal to everyone, but it is an idea that Morehead hears frequently. “There’s more people looking for backyard chickens than anything in this area,” he said. “I think it’s important to at least present it, even if it gets shot down.” The issue of backyard chickens could be crafted as a stand-alone ordinance. The issue of food deserts also will be addressed. Food deserts are areas where residents lack access to grocery stores, farmers’ marSee SEEDS, page13A