power struggle

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PRSRT STD U S POSTAGE PAID MID-FL, FL PERMIT NO. 133

****ECRWSS** POSTAL PATRON RURAL BOXHOLDER OVIEDO, FL 32765

July 5 - 11, 2012

CHEAPEST LOCAL GAS PRICES

Tax increase left up to voters

3.08 Hess Alafaya Trl near W Carrigan Ave

School board could gain authority to raise millage

3.08 Murphy USA Alafaya Trl near W McCulloch Rd

By Jessica J. Saggio

3.09 7-Eleven Alafaya Trl near W McCulloch Rd

As budget issues are still a primary concern for Seminole County Public Schools, the school board has decided to put the district’s future in the hands of voters. Come November, Seminole County voters will be faced with a question school board members feel can change the

THE CHRONICLE

Prices as of July 3, 2012 FOR UP-TO-DATE PRICES GO TO WWW.SEMINOLECHRONICLE.COM

INSIDE

course of the system — whether or not to give the board the authority to raise millage. After a passionate debate at last week’s meeting, school board members voted 3-2 to include the proposition on the November ballot. While chats about leaving the decision up to voters were tossed around in previous meetings, the notion was turned town as the costs of

hosting a vote out of season would cost the school board anywhere from $400,000 to $1 million, Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel said. However, putting the question on the November ballot won’t cost the board a dime, he said. If voters pass the item, school board members will have the authority to

Ed Ruping | The Chronicle

RALLYING FOR SUPPORT: Concerned parents petition for support to increase funding for SCPS.

■ Please see MILLAGE | A3

POWER STRUGGLE Sports

Bouncing off the walls La Liga Indoor Soccer Club in Oviedo offers climate controlled alternative to traditional soccer.

Request for expansion by church rejected Cornerstone would be 4 times bigger By Anna-Michelle Lavandier THE CHRONICLE

■ SEE A7

Lifestyles

Ed Ruping | The Chronicle

RUG ‘n’ roll

ENERGY SAVER: Brian Alvear, co-owner of Performance Heat and Air, installs a high-efficiency, 18-SEER AC compressor.

Oviedo resident Jon Messeroff leads the four-piece, pop-rock band RUG, which just released its full-length debut album.

Beat heat of power bills with these tips, tricks By Nikki Walters

■ SEE A10

THE CHRONICLE

With year-round warm weather, it’s often hard for us Floridians to pinpoint where one season ends and another begins. In fact, it seems like Florida forgot to get in line when Mother Nature was handing out spring, fall and winter seasons — instead, it lounged lazily on the beach, sipping coconut cocktails while the rest of the country got our share. But with more-than-mild winters that keep us freshly suntanned all year long, not too many of us are complaining. That is, until the official summer season rolls around to let us know that summertime in Florida ain’t for sissies. With scorching temperatures that peak well before the calendar’s official summer start date, we realize that our warm weather paradise comes with a price — and it’s a hefty one. Energy costs for Florida residents can be as brutal as the harsh afternoon rays. Nevertheless, by

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WEATHER Friday

■ Please see ENERGY | A5

Chuluota is an unincorporated area hidden among the trees and surrounded by farms, woodland, lakes and wildlife. However, a development proposal has shaken things up in this small community and has gone to the Board of Adjustments in Sanford. June 25, the Board of Adjustments voted to deny the request of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Orlando to expand its property in the rural community of Chuluota. The board chose to deny the request on the basis that the type of expansion it was looking for was not consistent with the rural designation of the area, Pastor Marc Brashear said. As of now, the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Orlando sits on 7,800 square feet. The proposed development plan would expand the church to almost four times its current size for a total of 31,000 square feet. The church is located on the corner of Snow Hill Road and Willingham Road. Willingham Road is a residential street with woodlands surrounding the property, continuing until it hits state road 419. The landscape surrounding the church is rich in wilderness, farmland and wildlife, with residents enjoying the privacy that nature has to offer. According to the plan, the expansion would be used for a building for Sunday school classrooms, additional parking, an addition to the building for services and an outdoor activity area. In addition to these proposals, a home ■ Please see CHULUOTA | A5

ISOLATED T-STORMS High: 89° | Low: 74°

Numbers show economy looking up

Weekend Saturday: Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 70s. Winds from SE at 8 mph. 30 percent chance rain. Sunday: Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 70s. Winds from SE at 7 mph.

Get local weather sent to your cell phone. Just text the keyword SCWEATHER to 44636.

INDEX

Community Calendar Police Blotter Community Photos Sports Lifestyles Movies Viewpoints Classifieds Sudoku and Crossword

2 2 6 7 10 11 12 13 13

By Bel Huston THE CHRONICLE

While economic uncertainty has been the norm for some time now, it appears that things may be looking up, at least by the numbers. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced recently that Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped to 8.6 percent, two percentage points lower than it was a year ago. The figure represents the lowest rate since December 2008. Additionally, the state’s workforce boards have placed 150,000 people in jobs since January 2012, the DEO reports, and the number of unemployment has fallen below 800,000 since January

Widow hosts gala for stroke awareness By Laura Gabaroni THE CHRONICLE

Ed Ruping | The Chronicle

HARD WORK: Construction workers shingle a roof at the Winter Springs Village subdivision in Winter Springs.

2009. who are working partWhile the numbers time out of necessity seem to be heading in the because they lack fullright direction, University time employment, or disof Central Florida econo- couraged workers, people mist Sean Snaith said they who have left the workare a misleading sign of force because they’ve simthe health of the labor ply stopped looking for market. jobs. That’s because the “When you have a lot numbers don’t include the underemployed, people ■ Please see ECONOMY| A4

A stroke can happen to anyone — young or old, rich or poor. No one is immune. That is the message that the Scott Coopersmith Stroke Awareness Foundation is sending to the Central Florida Community. As the foundation prepares to celebrate its third annual gala on Saturday, July 14 at Tuscawilla Country Club, awareness and education are at the forefront of its efforts. “We do this to keep [Scott’s] memory alive and to help others in the community who may be going

Ed Ruping | The Chronicle

RAISING AWARENESS: Gala host Deanna Coopersmith and her son, Tyler.

through what we went through,” said Deanna Coopersmith, Scott’s widow. Scott Coopersmith was 32 years old when he suf■ Please see GALA | A6

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