The LAKER
ee r F
EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
NOVEMBER 23, 2016
Zephyrhills bans fracking By Kevin Weiss
representatives of several environmental groups who were present at the Nov. 14 meeting. The City of Zephyrhills has Several Pasco County residents banned fracking, a controverspoke in opposition to fracking, a sial practice of extracting oil or process of pumping chemically natural gas. treated high pressure water The Zephyrhills City into a drilled pipeline to break Council voted unanimously to through rock formations to tap prohibit the use of land for hyinto oil or natural gas redraulic fracturing, or fracking, serves. within the city’s limits. Janice Howie, conIn taking the action, the city servation chairman for is following the lead of other the Nature Coast Florida municipalities. Native Plant FILE ART The council’s vote re- The City of Zephyrhills banned fracking Society, called ceived an ovation from on Nov. 14 the Zephyrhills
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
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fracking ban “a really bold initiative.” “I don’t think any good comes from fracking,” said Howie,“especially not here in Florida with our aquifer.” “People in Florida don’t want fracking,” said Pat Carter, a Dade City resident and member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. “A big problem with fracking is what to do with that polluted water.There’s just no safe way to dispose if it,” Carter said. The Zephyrhills ordinance says that fracking wastewater, or “flowback,” contains several known contaminants, including naturally occurring radioactivity, heavy metals, hydrocarbon and brine. See FRACKING, page 19A
Career educator joins Pasco County School Board By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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The newest member of the Pasco County School Board believes the perspective she brings to the board will aid in its deliberations. Colleen Beaudoin, a career educator, said her background in the field, coupled with the experiences she’s had as a mother of children in the system, will help her to ask the right questions when issues come before the board. “I didn’t set out with this goal of being on the school board,” said Beaudoin, who was unopposed in her bid to replace Joanne Hurley. Hurley, who has served eight years on the board, retired from her post this week. Beaudoin said she felt encouraged to run because of some experiences she’s had in the past couple of years. “In the spring of 2015, there were two different things going on,” she said. “My youngest has Tourette’s Syndrome,” she explained. “I started getting involved with the national association. I’m on the educational advisory board.That was when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was up for reauthorization,” she said. She encouraged people to write their lawmakers. “People responded. I started meeting with different people, advocating for kids,” Beaudoin said. “At the same time, there were some changes at the (Pine View) middle school that I was concerned about,” she said. That was when Pine View was getting ready to seek to become an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Candidate School. “It’s a good program,” Beaudoin said. “I
B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO
Colleen Beaudoin, who joins the Pasco County School Board this week, thinks her background as an educator and as a mom of a student in the district, will equip her well to ask pertinent questions in her new role.
was concerned about the implementation of the program. “I had some questions. I went to the school board meeting, just as a mom, and spoke and was well received.We had meetings.We worked together with the school. I felt like I was able to make a positive impact,” she said. “Then, I found out that Joanne Hurley was not going to run again. I spoke to her and started asking more questions and talking to different people.A lot of parents that I’ve known in the community said, ‘You should do this.’ “So, I started looking into it more,” said Beaudoin, who has two sons who are graduates of Land O’ Lakes High School and one son who attends Pine View Middle. “I think it’s helpful that I bring that perspective to the board — of a parent with a
student that is currently in the system,” Beaudoin said. After she decided to run, Beaudoin began regularly attending school board meetings and workshops. “I know I still have a lot to learn, but I know it’s been a luxury to have this time to prepare myself,” she said. As she assumes her seat on the board, Beaudoin has identified some key issues she wants the school system to address. She’d like to see better communications between the district and families. “I think we have a lot of great programs in Pasco County, and parents don’t know about them. We’ve got to make sure that people can make informed decisions about their children,” she said. See EDUCATOR, page 19A
New tennis center on tap for Zephyrhills By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County residents longing for greater tennis opportunities soon will have that wish granted. Todd Vande Berg, planning director for the city of Zephyrhills, unveiled plans for a two-story, outdoor tennis facility, designed to United States Tennis Association (USTA) standards. The Zephyrhills City Council gave Vande Berg a consensus to proceed with an engineered site plan and an architect plan, at its Nov. 14 meeting. The facility, presently known as the Zephyrhills Tennis Center, will be COURTESY OF THE CITY OF ZEPHYRHILLS located on 4.7 acres of donated land This rendering of the Zephyrhills Tennis Center shows 10 courts (eight clay, two hard surface), three at The District at Abbott’s Square, a new real estate development situat- mini-courts and one exhibition court. The tennis center is also expected to feature a pro shop, a ed north of Dean Dairy Road and multifunctional community room, and two office spaces. A second level, if added, will contain an observation deck, players lounge, and concessions. west of Simons Road. The estimated $2.19 million project will likely include 10 courts (eight clay, two hard surface), three mini- majority clay courts.” only Zephyrhills, but all of Pasco County,” he courts and one exhibition court. Though ground has yet to break on the said. The tennis center is also expected to fea- forthcoming project, the planning director “You could bring in probably 50 to 100 ture a pro shop, a multifunctional has already received several inquiries for its kids and their families that would be staying community room, and two office spaces. use. the weekend to play in tournaments,” he A second level, if added, will house an “A lot of interest is out there,”Vande Berg added. observation deck, players lounge, and con- said.“I’ve gotten calls from people in New Vande Berg said the tennis center will be cessions. England who want to run the facility. We funded over the next two fiscal years. He The facility was initially expected to fea- have colleges asking if it’s going to be avail- noted that recreation impact fees from The ture a “50-50 mix” of five clay and five hard able this summer for training.” District at Abbott’s Square and other develsurface courts. However, the USTA advised The facility, too, opens the door to host- opments should total about $2.13 million, Vande Berg to plan for additional soft sur- ing local and regional USTA-sanctioned all but financing the entire project. face, clay courts. events. Other possible funding sources include: “Most people prefer playing on a soft “We could bring in some pretty good USTA grants, Florida Recreation court,” Vande Berg said. “Wherever you go sized tournaments,”Vande Berg said. See TENNIS, page 19A now, most courts in Florida are going with a “It will be an economic draw for not