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Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O Lakes, Zephyrhills, and Odessa

Featured Story

Saving the Blue in Our Backyard

Picture a summer afternoon less than a tank of gas from Wesley Chapel, water so clear you can count the shells on the bottom, a steady 72 degrees even in August. That is a Florida spring, and it is in trouble. Fertilizer and septic runoff feed algae. New pavement blocks rain from soaking back into the ground. Shifting weather and rising seas strain the system. Central and North Florida hold at least 1,000 of these springs. They feed our rivers and the Floridan Aquifer that supplies most of our drinking water.

The issue is local. Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills both draw from the aquifer, and growth here means our water choices matter.

What can we do right now?

• Use lawn fertilizer sparingly, follow labels, and skip it before heavy rain.
• Fix leaks and install water-efficient fixtures to cut demand.
• Maintain septic systems on schedule.
• Choose native or Florida-Friendly landscaping that needs less water and fewer chemicals.
• Support projects that protect open space and recharge areas, and be a respectful visitor when you head to the springs.

Protecting springs is not only about weekend swims. It is about clean water at the tap and a quality of life that keeps this region special. If you have a favorite spring, a tip that works at home, or a photo that shows why these places matter, send it our way so we can share it with your neighbors.

Around The Town

Pasco’s Path on Book Reviews

Across Florida, some school districts began pulling books from shelves this summer without a formal review. That move followed pressure from the State Board of Education on Hillsborough County for carrying materials board members labeled harmful to minors. Reactions in Hillsborough were mixed, and the fast response raised a larger concern. If districts act before a formal objection is filed, public evaluation rules could be sidestepped and decisions made unilaterally.

Pasco is taking a different route with its latest set of questioned titles. After receiving an informal email from a parent in mid-August about four books, the district chose to treat the note as if a formal challenge had been submitted. Committees that include teachers and parents are being convened to read and evaluate each title under state law and district policy. The four books are “Speak Up” by Rebecca Burgess, “A is for Activist” by Innosanto Sagara, “Elle Campbell Wins Their Weekend” by Ben Kahn, and “The Beautiful Something Else” by Ash Van Otterloo.

The review work is expected to finish by the end of the first semester, likely sooner. The school board does not vote on individual titles in this process. It is also important context that, under a lawsuit settlement reached last year, books in school libraries are not considered classroom instruction, so the Parental Rights in Education Act does not apply to them in the same way it applies to lessons.

For Wesley Chapel families, the takeaway is simple. Pasco is opting for a transparent, committee-based process that brings educators and parents to the same table. That approach gives the community a clear record of what was reviewed, how decisions were made, and why.

Libraries and school collections work best when families, educators, and students are part of the conversation. Pasco’s process keeps that conversation in the open, which is exactly where it should be.

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Community shines when we take our time, smile often, and care deeply.💛

The Folks Behind The Curtain

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