School Board Approves Rezoning Plan: New Tampa Families Brace For Changes

Note: This story has been updated since it was written for the May 19 printed issue of Neighborhood News.

The Hillsborough County School Board met on May 16 and approved a rezoning plan that has had many parents up in arms and many others pleased since it was announced in March.

The plan will shift hundreds of students currently attending Pride, Heritage, Hunter’s Green and Clark elementaries for the school year that begins in August, 2018.

After nearly 20 speakers addressed the Board (14 speakers in favor of rezoning and 4 speakers opposed), the Board discussed the proposal at length before voting 6-1 in favor of the rezoning plan. While acknowledging the inconvenience to some parents and the discomfort of change, the Board ultimately chose to move forward with the plan.

Prior to the vote, school district representatives discussed implementation plans that were released online May 4, allowing many families who don’t want to leave Pride Elementary an option to stay there.

• Students who want to move to their new school early, for the upcoming 2017-18 school year (instead of 2018-19, when the changes are proposed to take effect) will have a special choice application to do so between July 11-20, if capacity is available.

• Students currently in 3rd grade (who will be in 5th grade when the plan is implemented) will be allowed to remain at their current school by completing a special choice application.

• Because capacity is expected to be available at Pride, students currently in grades 1-3 at Pride will be eligible to enter a special lottery to remain at Pride for the 2018-19 school year. The lottery will be conducted based on available capacity (estimated 150 seats) and will likely be held next spring or summer.

• No preference will be available for younger siblings of students who fit the above categories.

• School choice will be closed for all schools involved in this proposal for the first year of implementation, with the exception of the special choice applications listed above and hardship applications, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Transportation is generally not provided to students who are “grandfathered” into their current school or those who choose to opt in to their new school early.

“At Pride, we know we’ll have some space available for some period of time while K-Bar Ranch is being built out,” says Lorraine Duffy Suarez, Hillsborough County Public Schools general manager for growth management. “As long as we have space to accommodate people, we try to, if it doesn’t have a negative effect somewhere else down the line.”

The update provided on May 4 also outlined a slight revision to the original proposal. Students who live in the Addison Park apartments at the corner of Cross Creek Blvd. and Kinnan St. will be moved from Heritage to Pride, to better balance the enrollments at those two schools.

This is in addition to the previously released changes, which make room for expected growth in K-Bar Ranch over the coming years by shifting students in the following ways:

• More than 550 students who are currently bused to Clark and Hunter’s Green from the area surrounding the University of South Florida move to schools in their neighborhood.

• More than 550 students move from Pride to Hunter’s Green (Arbor Greene and Cory Lake Isles residents)

• Nearly 200 students move from Hunter’s Green to Clark (residents of the Morgan Creek apartments)

• About 200 move from Heritage to Pride (K-Bar Ranch and Addison Park residents; Easton Park residents will stay at Heritage)

More information about the proposal and implementation strategies are on the school district’s website at sdhc.k12.fl.us/doc/251/growth-management/resources/boundary/.

Bell Schedule Changes

At its meeting on April 25, the Hillsborough School Board voted to approve changes to the bell schedule for the 2018-19 school year, giving parents time to adjust to new start and end times for most schools.

School superintendent Jeff Eakins says the changes are necessary to allow time for buses to get kids to school on time. The new schedule will add 15 minutes to the school day at the elementary level, which is expected to be filled with additional time for art, music, and physical education. Middle school students lose 15 minutes and high school students lose 32 minutes. Both middle and high schools will keep their seven-period schedules, but may see the elimination of homeroom, a shorter time for lunch, and class periods may be reduced by a minute or two.

For New Tampa elementary schools — including Chiles, Clark, Heritage, Hunter’s Green, Pride and Tampa Palms — the school day will start at 8:35 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m. beginning in the fall of 2018. At Benito and Liberty middle schools, the school day will start at 9:15 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m. At Freedom and Wharton high schools, the day will start at 7:15 a.m. and end at 2:10 p.m. Monday will continue to be an early release day, with students being dismissed one hour early.

For students at Turner/Bartels K-8 school, bell times for the 2018-19 school year are still “to be determined.” The District will survey parents this fall and release information about new bell times during the next school year.

Sheriff’s Office Releases Pictures Of Mosque Fire Suspect

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for the person they say set fire to the New Tampa mosque Masjid Daarus Salaam, and released pictures from surveillance video Tuesday morning.

The video, recorded at approximately 2 a.m. on Feb. 24, captured a male subject entering the property of The Islamic Society of New Tampa on Morris Bridge Rd. just north of Cross Creek Blvd., on foot.

The subject. according to the HCSO, was carrying a large container and rope.  The subject moved to an exterior entry door located on the northeast side of the Mosque, where he fashioned the rope as a trailer to
the large container.

He was then seen attempting to ignite the rope, which was sprayed with an ignitable liquid accelerant and apparently set to act as a fuse. After the rope failed to sustain fire, the subject poured a trail of what appeared to be an ignitable liquid accelerant on the sidewalk and successfully ignited the sidewalk.

The fire, however, failed to effectively ignite the large container.  The subject then moved out of view of the camera. He was able to successfully ignite the large ignitable liquid accelerant container, which in turn caused damage to the Mosque.

The subject then fled toward Morris Bridge Rd. undetected.  Laboratory results confirmed gasoline was present at the fire scene.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the HCSO at 813-247-8200, or anyone with any information regarding the identity and whereabouts of the suspect and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the HCSO P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones, iPads and Droids.

You must call Crime Stoppers first to be eligible for a reward.

 

Bilirakis Office In Wesley Chapel Now Open

U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (photo) has opened a district office in Wesley Chapel. Bilirakis represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which covers northern Pasco and Pinellas counties.

The office is available to serve as a resource for constituents seeking assistance with a federal agency, those who have questions about federal (not State of Florida) legislation, or people who would like to meet with the Congressman and/or a member of his staff. The office is located at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., inside the same building that is home to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC).

Bilirakis’ Wesley Chapel office is open every Wednesday and by appointment the rest of the week. Constituents interested in attending office hours should call ahead to confirm a time at (727) 232-2921.

“I’m proud to announce the opening of my new office space in Wesley Chapel,” Rep. Bilirakis says. “Here, my team and I will be able to better serve the people of central and east Pasco, and make sure we are accessible to all parts of Florida’s 12th District. The Wesley Chapel office is ready to assist you, and I encourage local residents to come by and say hello.”

Debbie & Robert Marvin Now At Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Long-time New Tampa-area Realtors Robert & Debbie Marvin are now with Coldwell Banker’s office in the New Tampa Center.

Conventional sales principles may be based on the ABCs of “Always Be Closing,” but the real estate team of Debbie and Robert Marvin, of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in New Tampa, opt for what might be termed the “ABHs,” or “Always Be Helping,” approach to doing business.

With 54 years of real estate experience between them, the married couple have built their business reputations and raised their profiles in the local real estate industry by working hard for their clients who are investing their money and lives in a home. Debbie says they know selling or buying a home can be an emotional time for people, and proceed accordingly.

“It’s always stressful when buying or selling a home, so we try to keep that to a minimum,” she says.

Robert adds that relationships form the foundation of a successful real estate deal.

“From the first meeting, you have to develop a sense of comfort and trust that things will come out the way you want them to,” he says.

After getting acquainted, the Marvins say the hard work begins of making sure a buyer ultimately moves into a house they’ll be happy to call home, or a seller receives the maximum financial return possible.

And, Debbie says, being there, and on time, for the client, whatever the hour, is part of their routine.

“Real estate doesn’t work 9 to 5, and it works weekends, too,” says Debbie. “We’ve gotten calls at 2 a.m.”

Robert adds that there are a lot of occasions when it’s important for the real estate agent to be present, to ensure a deal goes smoothly.

“Every transaction has a life of its own and we’re hands-on from start to finish,” Robert says. “Besides showings, you’ve got to show up for appraisals, inspections and when vendors come to make repairs.”

The Marvins say they each have their strong points and interests. They combine them to meet client needs and expectations.

“We do work as a team, and we each have our strengths,” says Debbie, who moved to Tampa from Maryland in 1990. “I love the listings and marketing side, interacting with the agents and telling them about the house.”

Robert, who lived in Ohio before coming to Tampa in 1974, says keeping an eye on the details is what he focuses on.

“Understanding the contract and negotiating from start to finish (is paramount),” he says. “There are times you have to negotiate repairs at closing time.”

The goal, Robert adds, is for everyone to leave the closing table feeling satisfied with the deal. “It has to be a win-win situation where the buyer, seller and the agent all feel good.”

He also notes that getting to the closing table requires flexibility.

“You have to go wherever the fire is,” he says. “Sometimes you have the day all planned and something comes up.”

However, Debbie says that’s not necessarily a bad situation.

“It’s what keeps it exciting, and that’s the good thing about having the both of us working together,” she says.

Repeat business from satisfied customers is one indicator of success in any business and the Marvins have their share of clients who call upon them as their go-to real estate team.

Reinaldo and Cassandra Jara of Wesley Chapel have sold three homes and purchased two using the Marvins as their agents and are in the midst of another house-hunting venture with them.

Reinaldo summarizes his reasons for doing business with them in three words: “Reliable, professional and caring,” he says, adding that Robert, “is a straight shooter who works hard for his client and is always available. He listens and lends his expertise.”

Debbie says that the couple has even worked with succeeding generations of families, as some of their clients’ children also have used them to buy or sell a home.

“We’ve sold to their kids, grandkids, cousins and business partners,” she says.

The Marvins, who live in Wesley Chapel, are members of the National Association of Realtors and are now affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center shopping plaza at the intersection of New Tampa Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

They are designated Luxury Home Specialists with Coldwell Banker but, as Debbie says, they work for clients throughout the housing spectrum. “From the low 100s to over a million dollars,” Debbie says, “with room for horses, on the water…we list it all.”

Managing Broker Karen Krotki says the Marvins are vital assets to Coldwell Banker’s New Tampa office.

“We’re proud to have them here,” Krotki says. “They’re a top-selling and top-listing team that provides a high level of service to their clients.”

As part of the Coldwell Banker organization, the Marvins are able to list homes to a global audience of potential buyers and can likewise access homes for sale from New Tampa to the United Arab Emirates and most everywhere in between. Coldwell Banker also has resources such as mortgage, title and closing services available to clients.

And, while the firm’s reach is global, Coldwell Banker and the Marvins also have a commitment to doing good things locally.

The Marvins hosted the Tampa Bay CaresWalk 2017 through its charitable foundation, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Cares.

Tampa Bay CaresWalk 2017, held in April, benefitted the Gramatica (as in former Tampa Bay Bucs kicker Martin and his brothers) Family Foundation, which partners with builders and developers to provide mortgage-free housing and other assistance to disabled military veterans.

The Marvins have each been working in real estate for more than two decades —  Robert for 30 years and Debbie for 24 — all in the New Tampa area.

When each of them began their careers in the business, BBD had more deer crossings than traffic signals. It was the City of Tampa’s Frontier Land, but they saw the potential and became involved in the New Tampa housing market from the beginning, going with the flow of brokerage openings, closings and mergers before signing on with Coldwell Banker in December.

Debbie attributes the growth of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas to a mixture of location and investment.

“We’ve got it all here,” she says. “It’s convenient to downtown and the airport and we have a lot of restaurants and businesses that attract people.”

Not surprisingly, technology used by real estate agents also has changed during their careers. Debbie says that today, her cell phone is one of her favorite tools.

“My phone is always with me, so I’m always accessible,” she says. “Whatever they need, such as a copy of a contract, I’ve got it with me.”

The Marvins also have a website, DebbieSellsTampa.com, and a Facebook page, (search “Debbie Sells Tampa”) that offer real estate tips as well as current listings.

Even with all of the advantages that technology offers to work more efficiently, the Marvins stay connected to what they say really matters in their business.

“You still have to have that personal interaction,” says Robert. “You have to have that voice conversation.”

Debbie concurs. “You need to be hands-on with people and have a relationship with them…not just a Tweet.”

To find out how Debbie and Robert Marvin can help with your real estate needs, call them directly at (813) 892-3917, or at the New Tampa Coldwell Banker office at 19026 BBD Blvd. by calling (813) 977-3500.

Arbor Greene Girl To Chase Hockey Dream In Elite Program In Pittsburgh

Lilly has taken some hard hits while playing with the Jr. Bulls boys travel teams that are based at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon.

Lilly Hartnell has been playing hockey for four years, and has evolved into one of the top players around while earning a reputation for her skills as a defender and proving she’s as hard-nosed as they come.

And yet, 14-year-old Lilly has never played a hockey game against girls.

That will change this summer, when Lilly reports to Pennsylvania to join the girls AAA team in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite hockey program, one of the top youth hockey programs in the country.

“It’s going to be different,’’ she says.

Lilly, however, is ready.

Though she hasn’t been playing as long as many of her future teammates who start at much younger ages in the Midwest and Northeast, Lilly has been playing on the boys Jr. Bulls travel team out at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon since she began.

One thing is for sure – she’s plenty tough enough. “When she was playing Pee Wee division (11-12 year olds), there was no hitting allowed,” said her mother, Valerie. “This one here, she’s so aggressive, she led the league in penalty minutes.”

She might just be the hardest-hitting freckle-faced, braces-wearing girl around. An Arbor Greene resident and eighth-grader at Terrace Community Middle School, Lilly’s story may be unique locally, but it’s not entirely uncommon. Because there is only one elite travel hockey team in the state — the Lady Vipers in Lakeland — there are few opportunities for girls players to hone their craft against other girls.

So, they do what Lilly does — play for boys travel teams, which is rare, or move north in search of better opportunities and competition.

Lilly has Division I-A college hockey aspirations, and knew she would eventually have to find a girls’ program to play for. Last summer, while competing at a Team USA developmental camp in Kent, OH, she made friends with a number of players who are in the Pittsburgh Penguins youth program. They encouraged her to apply for a tryout, and others suggested the St. Louis Blues and Dallas North Stars programs as well.

In April, Lilly got her tryout, along with 70 others. After the first two days, she anxiously checked her cell phone, hoping not to receive the dreaded “You did not make it” email.  After refreshing her screen, and those on her parents phone and laptop, “a few million times,” the email never came. Lilly had survived another cut from a field of 40, before playing herself into one of 16 spots on the team.

“It was nerve wracking,’’ she says. When she got the good news, her family celebrated in their hotel room with screams, hugs and tears.

That’s pretty heady stuff for a player with only four years of hockey experience, but succeeding on ice is in her blood.

Her father Sean and his twin brother Stacey, born in Kamloops, British Columbia, both played collegiately for Ohio State. Her grandmother was a figure skater who taught kids to skate for decades in Canada, and her grandfather owns a rink. And, her cousin, Scott Hartnell, is in his 16th NHL season as a left wing for the Columbus Blue Jackets after stints in Nashville and Philadelphia.

But, don’t ask Lilly her favorite hockey team — she says she has to like her cousin’s Blue Jackets, her hometown Tampa Bay Lightning, the Blackhawks (since she was born in Chicago) and the Penguins because she will be playing in their elite youth program.

“I’m a mash-up,’’ she says, laughing. 

While her three older sisters never expressed any interest in hockey — twins Lauren and Layne play college soccer at Division II West Liberty University in Wheeling, WV — Lilly asked to play when she was nine and instantly loved it.

“The second day I got off the skates, I told my dad I was going to be the best I could at this,’’ Lilly says.

Just a few months ago, Lilly thought for a moment she might be done with hockey. During a February travel game, Valerie says her daughter took an intentional cheap shot from a 6-foot-2, 200-pound opponent, sending Lilly into the boards and out of the rink on a stretcher.

“He literally tried to hurt me,’’ says Lilly, who is accepted and protected by her male teammates, she said, but occasionally, an opponent doesn’t take too kindly to being stopped by her on defense.

“I about had a heart attack,’’ Valerie says. “It was scary.”

Sean was coaching the team, and he rushed out to tend to Lilly, while an assistant coach immediately said to call for an ambulance. Her parents had decided last year that this spring would be Lilly’s last season, as the boys she played against had reached puberty and were growing bigger and stronger.

There is no open ice hitting allowed in the women’s game, although things can still get a little chippy when players get tangled up near the boards.

Like a true hockey player, though, Lilly returned to the ice a week later. She finished out the season with the Jr. Bulls, which ended in Nashville the first weekend in May, at a tournament.

Now, she impatiently is finishing out the school year while she waits for her golden opportunity in Pittsburgh. Lilly and her mother will soon start looking for an apartment, where they will stay for the upcoming Pens AAA season while keeping their home in Arbor Greene.

The schedule isn’t out yet, but last year’s AAA team opened the season with a Toronto-Boston-Vermont road trip, and also played games in Prague and Italy. Lilly doesn’t know what’s in store for 2017-18, but she can’t wait to find out.

She is confident this coming year will get her one step closer to her goal of playing collegiately at Ohio State, and then in the Olympics.

“I feel like this is definitely going to help me grow as a person and as a hockey player,’’ she says. “While I’m going to miss my teammates (at the Jr. Bulls), this is going to be great.”