The LAKER
ee r F
EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
MAY 20, 2015
Ice rink complex gets name By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
A short drive. Short wait times. When you have an emergency, you want to be seen as soon as possible. Bayfront Health Dade City is here to help with a full range of services close to home, in an ER that works hard to keep wait time to a minimum. Get the care you need, when you need it, right away.
A naming contest for the ice rink complex under construction in Wesley Chapel drew some 200 suggestions. And, the winner is: Florida Hospital Center Ice. The name and logo were unveiled May 14 by Florida Hospital representatives and Gordie Zimmermann whose company, Z Mitch, is building the 150,000-square-foot ice rink and sports complex. The name is fitting, said Zimmermann, because so much takes place in a rink at center ice. That includes face-offs over hockey pucks and figure skaters waiting for their PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIDA HOSPITAL CENTER ICE music cues to begin their programs, he said. “It truly is a center for sports. It has a Hockey fans watch from the sidelines in this interior rendering of Florida Hospital Center See ICE, page 9A
Ice, an ice rink and sports complex under construction at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.
BayfrontDadeCity.com If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. • Bayfront Health Dade City is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.
FREE Hearing Consultation with University of South Florida degreed Audiologist PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTS IN MOTION
The cast of ‘Seussical’ has been rehearsing at The Alliance Church of Zephyrhills, but performers will bring the production toPasco Middle School this weekend. From left to right are Josh Corjay, Melanie Kender, Roman Ricardo and Rhett Ricardo.
813-782-5395 Zephyrhills www.GardnerAudiology.com
Arts in Motion’s new musical is ‘Seussical’ By Michael Murillo
mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS LAW FIRM, PLLC HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights”
813-868-1887 OR
352-597-0009
B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
When Arts in Motion presents “Seussical” at Pasco Middle School this weekend, the audience will recognize Dr. Seuss’ famous characters and stories that have entertained children for decades. And they’ll also experience something that sets the play apart from many musicals: A lot more music. “It is honestly, let’s say, 97 percent music,” said director Craig Hartfield. “There’s very few lines, and even those lines are in verse, because it is Seuss.” Having that many musical numbers presents challenges from a production standpoint. But Hartfield brings extensive experience to the job. He has been directing acting for decades and has directed “Seussical” before, but this is his first play with Arts in Motion. And, as a play for Arts In Motion — a local nonprofit dedicated to cultivating arts
actor. Most actors also perform in more than one role. That format requires a tight production with actors knowing what role to play and where to be at any given moment, Hartfield isn’t worried. He’s happy with his cast and the support he’s received from Arts in Motion. “They’re very organized. It’s very important to them that there’s a strong level of support for me and the kids in the show,” Hartfield said about Arts in Motion. While most of ‘Seussical’ involves singing, Having multiple roles gives the cast a the cast also faces plenty of acting and chance to get in a lot of work, rather than dancing challenges, too. learning one character’s lines and waiting around for their speaking role. education and youth theater — all the charSome actors will be speaking or singing acters are played by actors ranging in age as one character and then dancing as anothbetween 5 and 18 years. er. In “Seussical,” the age of the average perWhen it comes to “Seussical,” there are former is just over 10. many moving parts. The actors also have a little extra work, The play has nearly 50 cast members too. playing more than two dozen important “Seussical” is double-casted, meaning the See SEUSSICAL, page 9A major roles are played by more than one
Charter panel’s first meeting sparks controversy By Kathy Steele
that a court order would be needed to shut down the meeting. Former Pasco County Commissioner Sparks flew at the first meeting of a char- Michael Cox will lead the charter panel and ter review panel that could recommend business owner Randy Maggard will serve as major changes in how the county operates. vice-chairman. The meeting was called to take care of “I don’t personally believe county govhousekeeping chores, such as by-laws and ernment is broken,” Cox said. “Can we make scheduling decisions, but it got underway it better? That is my hope.” with a jolt. Speaking during the public comment Clay Colson interrupted Pasco County portion of the meeting, Colson said, “I Chairman Ted Schrader’s introductions to don’t feel represented by a single one of declare a “point of order” and challenge the you. None of you has my best interests at panel’s right to meet. heart.” Colson argued that the May 11 meeting Colson also told the panel he and others date failed to satisfy a 30-day deadline set by plan to gather the required signatures to escounty commissioners when they approved tablish a charter commission that would the panel and appointed its members. include members that reflect Pasco’s diversiSchrader threatened to have a deputy ty. sheriff remove anyone disrupting the meetSince its appointment in April, the panel ing. And Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey has come under criticism because all 15 Steinsnyder said the date was chosen by members are white, and only one member consensus among panel members. He added is a woman.There are five alternates.
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco’s five commissioners each made two appointments. The five members of Pasco County’s legislative delegation rounded out the panel, with one appointment each. Under state law, either a majority of commissioners or a petition signed by 15 percent of the county’s registered voters – about 45,000 signatures – can create a charter commission. Once a commission is created, it must complete a charter that Pasco voters would approve or reject. However, the Pasco commission created a panel, rather than a commission, to allow an option of recommending no change to Pasco’s government. If a charter were recommended, a vote likely would be scheduled in 2016. The panel will consider issues such as whether the county should have singlemember districts, whether commissioners See CHARTER, page 9A