The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Results are in for Florida’s primary

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Florida’s voters went to the polls last week in a primary that captured national attention when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum stunned political prognosticators by defeating the predicted winner Gwen Graham.

If he wins in November, Gillum would become Florida’s first black governor.

On the Republican side of the ledger, Congressman Ron DeSantis — endorsed by President Donald J. Trump — carried the day, defeating Adam Putnam, a longtime Florida politician, who had served as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and five terms in Congress, representing Central Florida.

Locally, 85,907 voters cast their ballots in Pasco County, representing a 24.84 percent turnout of the county’s 345,879 registered voters.

“The turnout was considerably higher than I expected and, in this case, I’m never more happy to be wrong,” Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said, via email.

The 2018 Primary turnout represented a 66 percent increase from the last midterm primary in 2014, Corley said.

“It’s apparent the voters are more engaged than in previous cycles,” the supervisor of elections added.

Hillsborough County experienced a slightly higher turnout, with 219,118 ballots cast, representing a 26.16 percent turnout of the county’s 837,681 registered voters.

DeSantis and Graham garnered the most votes in the governor’s race among Pasco voters, while DeSantis and Gillum were the top vote-getters in that race in Hillsborough County.

While many races on the ballot were true primary choices, with voters deciding which candidate should represent the Democrats and Republicans in the general elections, the races for judges and school board members were nonpartisan, meaning winners could be named if a candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote.

That happened in two of the three Pasco County School Board races on the ballot.

Allen Altman and Cynthia Armstrong were both re-elected to another term, which the winner of the seat vacated by retiring Steve Luikart will be decided in the general election, with a run-off between Megan Harding and Tara M. O’ Connor.

The Pasco race for the Circuit Judge 6th Judicial Circuit, Group 4, also will require a run-off in November between Davis Ellis and Roxanne Fixsen. In that race, none of the three candidates secured more than 50 percent of the vote.

TOP VOTE-GETTERS IN KEY RACES

Pasco County Republicans
Federal
U.S. Senate: Rick Scott

State
Governor: Ron DeSantis
Attorney General: Ashley Moody
Commissioner of Agriculture: Baxter Troutman
State Representative District 37: Ardian Zika

Pasco County Democrats
Federal
U.S. Rep. District 12: Chris Hunter

State
Governor: Gwen Graham
Attorney General: Sean Shaw
Commissioner of Agriculture: Nicole ‘Nikki’ Fried
State Senator District 20: Kathy Lewis

Local races, No Party Affiliation
Pasco County
Circuit Judge 6th Judicial Circuit
Group 9: Christine Helinger
Group 36: Doneene D. Loar
Group 40: Thomas H. “Tommy” Minkoff
Group 45: Rebecca Hamilton

County Judge
Group 7: Kent Compton

Pasco School Board
District 1: Allen Altman
District 3: Cynthia Armstrong
District 5:  A run-off will be held between Megan Harding and Tara M. O’Connor in the November general election.

Hillsborough County Republicans
State races
Governor: Rick DeSantis
Attorney General: Ashley Moody
Commissioner of Agriculture: Baxter Troutman
State Representative, District 64: James Grant

Local races, Republican
Hillsborough County Commission, District 2: Ken Hagan
Hillsborough County Commission, District 5: Victor Crist
Hillsborough County Commission, District 7: Todd Marks

Hillsborough County Democrats
Federal
U.S. Congress, District 12: Chris Hunter

State races
Governor: Andrew Gillum
Attorney General: Sean Shaw
Commissioner of Agriculture: Nicole ‘Nikki’ Fried
State Senator, District 20: Kathy Lewis

Local races, Democratic
Hillsborough County Commission, District 5: Mariella Smith
Hillsborough County Commission, District 7: Kimberly Overman

Hillsborough County School Board (No political affiliation)
District 1: William Henry Person and Steve Cona will have a run-off in the November general election
District 2: Stacy Hahn
District 4: Melissa Snively
District 6: Karen Perez and Henry “Shake” Washington will have a runoff in the November general election.

Complete results can be found at PascoVotes.com and VoteHillsborough.org.

Published September 5, 2018

Wesley Chapel church aims to extend God’s grace to others

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If there’s one thing that Jeff Olsen, pastor of Grace Community Church, knows for certain it’s this — the church that he leads is physical proof that God is “able to do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond all that we ask or imagine.”

Indeed, that’s part of a Bible verse that Olsen said summarizes the church’s entire quest to build a permanent home at 7107 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel.

Jeff Olsen, pastor of Grace Community Church, said the building project has been blessed abundantly. He estimates that volunteers completed 50 percent of the labor, saving the church between $500,000 and $600,000. (B.C. Manion)

“This project was beyond us. It took more resources, more help, more finances than we could do on our own. But, we’re doing it because we want to reach beyond ourself to others — a church that’s for others,” Olsen said.

The church moved into its new home in July, but is hosting its grand opening celebration on Sept. 9, with services planned at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., a free barbecue lunch at noon and a pizza night for its teen ministry starting at 6 p.m.

Olsen describes the church as a contemporary church, with some traditional elements.

“We’re a Good News church, not just good advice. The good news is that God loves you,” Olsen said, and that’s the central message of its ministry.

Building the 7,760-square-foot church required an army of volunteers, and, Olsen said, adding that by God’s grace, they showed up.

The property was acquired in 2014, the plans were done in 2015, the site preparations were completed in 2016. The ground-breaking service was on July 1, 2017.

“In most churches, a traditional groundbreaking is some gold shovels, a couple of pictures and everyone walks away. That was not this project,” Olsen said.

Volunteers from Carpenters for Christ help to build Grace Community Church in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Grace Community Church)

“We dug all of the footers on groundbreaking day. We had dozens of volunteers over the Fourth of July weekend. One of the church members had an excavator. Others brought shovels,” he said.

It took about 50 volunteers about six weeks to complete the footers, rebar and concrete forms, the pastor said.

Over the course of the entire project, about 250 volunteers pitched in, doing everything they were allowed and able to do, the pastor said.

He estimated that the volunteers completed about 50 percent of the labor on the project, saving the church between $500,000 and $600,000.

“We didn’t do mechanical, electrical, plumbing or even erection of the steel structure,” Olsen said.

Besides a core group of church volunteers, other helpers came from far and wide.

Crews from Carpenters for Christ, based in Auburn, Alabama, showed up twice to help.

Other groups of volunteers came from Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

A group of pastors helped. Boy Scout Troop 177 helped. And, a volunteer crew chief came down from Connecticut to provide guidance to volunteers from early January through late March, Olsen said.

“So many people did so much,” Olsen said.

Robert Whorley used an excavator to help dig footers.

“Just when we’d done all we thought we were able to do, somebody else would come, (and) somebody else was able to come – until it was finished.

“It was exciting. It was tiring. It was wonderful to see that God could do something beyond what we asked or imagined. What a joy to be part of something like that,” Olsen said.

The church building features a foyer that can be used for small gatherings, a sanctuary that can accommodate 200, a preschool classroom, the pastor’s office and other rooms.

Olsen’s wife, Heather, oversees the preschool that began operations in August.

“When I think of Grace Community, I think of a community of people who come from diverse backgrounds, but are committed to building a better community by God’s grace.

“We are not here trying to convince anybody that our church is more amazing than anybody else’s in town,” Olsen said.

“We’ve seen an amazing God do something amazing things, and we believe he can do that in their lives.

“There’s a tendency, right now in churches, on sermons that are success-based and that are good advice.

“We are a Good News church. We declare the historical Christian faith, God’s love. The gospel is central. Grace is what we are about.

“You can come here weary or broken and find help or find hope, find people who care,” Olsen said.

As the church moves forward, it intends to look for ways to extend God’s grace to others, through a variety of programs at the church and through outreach ministries.

And, while the church celebrates its grand opening, it also has plenty of space to accommodate future growth.

When that might happen isn’t yet clear, Olsen said.

That’s a matter of “God’s timing,” the pastor said.

Grace Community Church grand opening
When: Sept. 9, with services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., followed by a free barbecue lunch at noon. The Walk Student Ministries, for teenagers, will kick off its fall season with a pizza party from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: 7107 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel
Info: Visit ExploreGrace.com, or call (813) 994-9363.

Published September 5, 2018

Townhomes approved off Willow Bend Parkway

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning to allow a townhome development on the north side of Willow Bend Parkway, about a half-mile east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, in Lutz.

The rezoning allows up to 70 units.

Technically, the new zoning classification would allow apartments, said Denise B. Hernandez, zoning administrator/special projects manager for Pasco County.

However, that won’t occur in this case because, Hernandez said, “the applicant is proposing single-family attached homes that will be on fee-simple lots,” and “the applicant has agreed to record a deed restriction on the property for that to be the only principal permitted use on the property.”

The zoning change will not take effect until that deed restriction is recorded, the zoning administrator said.

Two area residents spoke against the request.

They cited concerns about adding traffic to Willow Bend Parkway, which they said already has so much traffic that it’s hard to get onto or off of the road.

They also objected to allowing townhomes to be built in an area where the predominant development pattern is single-family homes on single lots.

Commissioner Mike Moore said he’d heard from opponents to the project, but said they thought that apartments were being proposed on the site. He said he would have opposed apartments.

Michael Horner, a planning and land use consultant, represented the applicant, Dorothy Dahm Bard Trust, and the contract purchaser, Town Homes of Willow Bend LLC.

“My client wants to build high-end, single-family attached townhomes. These are three-bedroom, two-bath, two-story, 2,000 square feet, high-end furnishing,” Horner told commissioners.

The site has fragmented wetlands, providing the ideal opportunity to have clustered single-family homes with individual views of the wetlands, Horner said. The townhomes are expected to start at $300,000.

“They want views. They want the double-car garage. They want the tray ceilings. They want the quartz countertops,” Horner told commissioners. “They do not want to cut grass, maintain lots, on the weekend.”

Moore noted that the current zoning allows 70 homes to be built, and the rezoning will allow 70 townhomes. “It’s a wash,” he said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, agreed, noting the rezoning is not “a big change.”

Starkey made a motion for approval, which carried unanimously.

Published September 5, 2018

Proposed rezoning for Ballantrae office park raises questions

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The Pasco County Commission has continued a request to rezone the Ballantrae Professional Center until Sept. 17, to sort out issues relating to the center’s current uses, the proposed zoning and who has authority to request the proposed zoning.

The center, on the south side of State Road 54 at the intersection of Hunting Bow Circle, in Lutz, is currently zoned as a PO-1 Professional Office District.

The request, by the Ballantrae Center Owners Association, is to change the designation to a PO-2 Professional Office District, which allows a wider array of uses, said Denise B. Hernandez, zoning administrator/special project manager for the county.

The county planning department and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning.

However, during the County Commission’s public hearing on Aug. 21, an owner of a condo office building within the development objected to the proposed rezoning.

And, that objection prompted a reaction from Commissioner Mike Moore.

“He owns the building. That’s not what he bought into. That’s not what he purchased. Who am I to tell him that he’s got to change his zoning for something he doesn’t want. I’m not going to back this,” Moore added.

Hernandez said the rezoning request is aimed at bringing uses on the property into conformance with PO2.

“Going PO2 allows them to do every single use in PO1 and then add some additional uses, including private schools, post office, government buildings, barbershop, beauty salons, flower shops, those type of things,” she explained.

A number of current uses on the property already fall under the PO2 designation, she added.

“We think it’s consistent with the character of the area, the existing area, and we’re recommending approval of the zoning amendment,” Hernandez said.

However, there is confusion over who has the authority to request the rezoning, and also about the site’s current zoning.

The office park is condo-platted.

A real estate agent working on a parcel came in and told the county that the development needed to be PO2 because there are PO2 uses there, Hernandez said.

Stacie Mixon, speaking on behalf of the management company for the office development, said “this property, in essence, was originally a PO1, then it was changed to a PO2 years ago.

“If you looked at the property appraiser’s website, all of these properties are zoned PO2 according to the website.

“One of the builders went to build and they were told by building permitting that it’s PO1,” Mixon said.

“A lot of the owners purchased under the assumption that it’s PO2,” she said. “Tenants are in there that are supposed to be in PO2.

“Now, we’re at a standstill,” Mixon said.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the issue wouldn’t be before the County Commission if the current zoning wasn’t PO1.

“The property appraiser is not the one who is in charge of zoning,” Steinsnyder said. “This board is.”

At one point, a portion of the office development was temporarily zoned PO2, with explicit provision that the zoning was temporary and was exclusively for Imagine Charter School, Hernandez said. That zoning was initially granted in 2008 and expired in 2012.

Imagine Charter School now has a permanent location on Sunlake Boulevard.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey asked whether an individual office condo building owner could decide if they want PO1 or PO2.

“We don’t want to shut down all of those businesses,” Starkey said.

Mixon said owners in the office park voted on whether to seek a rezoning to a PO2 and the majority agreed, but she did not have specific information about the vote at the public hearing.

Steinsnyder recommended continuing the hearing until Sept. 17.

“Without looking at the condominium documents, I don’t know who the legal authority to rezone this property really would be,” Steinsnyder said.

By delaying the vote, county staff will have a chance to get additional information from the opponent to the rezoning and from the applicants, commissioners said in voting for the delay.

Published September 5, 2018

Business Digest 09/05/2018

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East Pasco Networking Group
The next East Pasco Networking Group (EPNG) meeting is set for Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.

Dr. Randall Stovall, provost dean emeritus and president of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, will be the guest speaker.

For more information, contact Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or , or call Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

General membership luncheon
The Center Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its general membership meeting Sept. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Tampa Suncoast Parkway, 2155 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54, in Lutz.

Guest speaker will be Lourdes Bahr, of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The cost is $20 for members only, if RSVP is by Thursday before the meeting. Afterward, the cost is $25 for members and non-members.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Heart of Pasco Award
Cornerstone Heating and Air, at 4946 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., will receive the Heart of Pasco Award from the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at a presentation on Sept. 12 at 8:30 a.m.

The presentation will be made at the company’s business, and all are welcome to attend.

The award is being given as a gesture of appreciation for what Cornerstone does to promote the community and businesses in Central Pasco.

Branding and credibility seminar
Pasco Hernando SCORE is presenting a free seminar on “Branding and Credibility through Digital Marketing” on Sept. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City.

To register or to get more information, visit PascoHernando.score.org, and click on the local workshops tab, or call the SCORE office at (727) 842-4638.

Monthly membership luncheon
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly membership luncheon Sept. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity.

The cost is $20, but please RSVP.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 994-8534, or email .

North Tampa luncheon
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have its September Momentum Thursday on Sept. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Atria Lutz, at 414 E. Chapman Road in Lutz.

Guest speaker is Carole Sanek, owner of Butterfly Boom Productions. She is a ghost writer, social media content creator and podcaster.

For early bird registration, RSVP online with credit card at NorthTampaChamber.com or by email to by 5 p.m., on the Wednesday before the meeting, at the discounted rate of $15 (whether you eat or not).

After that date, the cost is $20 (whether you eat or not), payable at the door by cash, check or credit card.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180.

Business seminar
SCORE will host a free seminar on “Game Changing Tactics of Small Businesses” on Sept. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Residence Inn Marriot, 2102 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54, in Lutz.

The seminar is designed to enhance and grow existing small businesses, and learn from experienced executives and entrepreneurs who have built successful companies.

Seating is limited. Registration deadline is Sept. 7.

A continental breakfast will be provided.

For information, contact PascoHernando.score.org.

Volunteers needed
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to help the residents of Knight Homes, a part of the Sunrise Community Homes.

The chamber is sponsoring a day of community service to help residents by painting and doing basic landscaping.

The event will be on Sept. 15 at 9 a.m., at 7809 N. Glen Ave., in Tampa.

Cash, checks, gift cards, movie tickets and event tickets also are needed.

Drop-off sites for donations will be at Uncle Maddios, 3949 Van Dyke Road in Lutz; U.S. Renal, 3421 N. Lakeview Drive in Tampa; and Subway, 13032 Race Track Road in Tampa.

This also would be an opportunity for children who need to fulfill community service hours for school.

Donations being sought include bed linens for twin- and full-size beds; washcloths, hand and bath towels; toiletries for travel or full size; and drapes for eight bedrooms.

For information, email Jody Fowler at .

Coffee social
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will have its Monthly Coffee Social on Sept. 18 at 8 a.m., at Buttermilk Provisions, 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

This is a “no agenda” event with time for social networking.

For information, call Grace Martin at (813) 994-8534, or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Women-n-Charge
Women-n-Charge meets at 11:30 a.m., on the first Friday of each month, at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., Land O’ Lakes.

The cost is $15 for members and $18 for guests who RSVP by Monday prior to the meeting. After that, the cost is $20 for members and $23 for guests.

For information, call (813) 600-9848.

Awards to be presented this week
Awards will be presented on Sept. 6 during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s  32nd Annual Awards and Trade Show at Saddlebrook Resort and Spa, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

Festivities begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by the award announcements from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. A dinner and trade show, with about 50 exhibitors from Pasco County businesses, will be featured, too.

Six businesses, selected from the finalists, will be honored as award winners at the annual celebration.

All nominees were scored based on company growth, leadership in current business issues, and corporate citizenship.

According to a news release from the economic development council, the finalists “excelled in all of those categories.”

The finalists are:

  • A.L. Saland Insurance Solutions
  • Academy at the Lakes Inc.
  • DC Johnson & Associates
  • Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County
  • Hernandez Accounting Solutions Inc.
  • Medical Center of Trinity
  • Merrell Bros., Inc.
  • Mettler Toledo
  • Millian-Aire Enterprises Corp.
  • Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
  • Pharmaworks Inc.
  • San Antonio Lumber Co.
  • Spark Technology Solutions
  • Tampa Premium Outlets LLC
  • Ultimate 3D Printing Store

Need help launching your business?
The Pasco Enterprise Network (PEN) is a county-wide partnership to help small and growing businesses find the guidance, assistance and resources they need to grow and prosper. No matter what challenges your business is facing, the network connects small business owners and entrepreneurs to professionals who can offer the help they need to grow, including; consulting, education, and technical assistance in a variety of areas and subjects.

To find out more, visit PascoEnterprise.com/pen-partners.

Community mourns couple’s passing

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The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club was already grieving the death of its former president, Edwina Kraemer, when the club received word that Edwina’s husband, David, had died a day later.

Those who knew Edwina describe her as capable, dynamic, organized and giving. They said she was a woman who held leadership roles in the woman’s club, was passionate about raising money for Canine Companions for Independence; was involved in her church, First United Methodist Church of Lutz; and, was devoted to her family.

David and Edwina Kraemer share a smile. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

David had been battling health problems for some time, and Edwina had been hospitalized in recent months, several sources said.

Friends were shocked that the couple died just one day apart.

The couple is survived by their son and his family, Keith, Pam and Gwen Vickery, of Brandon.

Even though Edwina was known for not calling attention to herself, she was widely known in the community because of her leadership and good works, several sources said.

She was president of the woman’s club during the years 2010 to 2012. And, she was named Lutz Guv’na in 2006, an honorary title secured by raising money to help community causes.

“Edwina was one of the most generous people you’d ever run into,” said Nancy Fisher, who has known Edwina since 2005.

She was a good friend, too.

“Anyone that was sick, down, whatever — she had a cake there. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen her take cakes to people,” Fisher said.

“She was a wonderful baker, fantastic cook. Her home was always open to have events for the woman’s club,” Fisher added.

Edwina and Fisher worked closely together to raise money for Canine Companions for Independence, a service dog organization.

“She headed DogFest for three years,” Fisher said, noting Edwina was instrumental in raising more than $130,000 for service dogs. “It would not have gone (on) without her. She put her whole heart into it.”

When the woman’s club holds a BowWow Bingo Fundraiser on Aug. 30, it also will honor Edwina, Fisher said.

“I’ve asked everyone to wear pearls. She always had pearls — a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, something,” Fisher said. “We want to remember her.”

Pat Serio, another woman’s club member, met Edwina through the club.

“I remember Edwina showing obvious signs of leadership from Day 1, and she lost no time in immediately accepting duties, club offices,” Serio said, via email.

“Family, her strong faith and service to her community meant everything to her.  We, in the club, have missed her terribly during these past 5 months of her illness and will continue to feel the void for a long while,” Serio said.

“Edwina’s beloved David survived her by only one day, and we rejoice in that they are now reunited for eternity. RIP dear friends, Edwina and David,” Serio said.

Mike Mullins, a friend of David’s since 1971, recalled that the couple met when they were supervisors in the Youth Conservation Corps program.

Both of them were science teachers, said Mullins, who met David during a teacher conference on Sanibel Island. David taught at Eisenhower Junior High School and Jefferson High School, Mullins said.

“He was the kind of guy that would go out and bring in stuff for the kids to see. He was a very interactive teacher.”

David also loved to cook out, was involved in karate, was a firearms expert and instructor, and enjoyed spending time on his lake, Mullin said.

Rick Cabot, the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Lutz, said Edwina was involved in many ways at the church.

She helped with the massive project to relocate the church from its former site on Lutz Lake Fern Road near U.S. 41, to its current location, on Lutz Lake Fern near North Dale Mabry Highway.

It was a huge undertaking, involving the acquisition of land, design of the building and scores of other details, Cabot said. Edwina also helped raise money to pay for the project, which Cabot estimated at between $5.5 million and $6 million.

Additionally, Edwina was dedicated to preparing communion for the congregation.

She was typically there by herself early on Sunday mornings, Cabot said.

“She would have the biggest smile on her face,” he said, and as she filled each communion cup “it was like she was concerned for that person that would be partaking it. She just did it with so much love.

“Edwina’s heart for people and heart for God were simply incredible,” Cabot added.

“I just can’t say enough kind things about her.

“The biggest thing is how she made people feel when she was around them: Loved and cared about, that they were important,” the pastor said.

In a previous interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Edwina said she wanted to join the woman’s club because it was genuinely determined to serve the community.

She also offered her impression of the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes community.

“Lutz and Land O’ Lakes have this old town flavor,” she said. “I grew up in a little town in Brevard County (Cocoa), so it takes me back to my youth. There are a lot of great traditions in this area.”

When the woman’s club was celebrating its 50th anniversary, Edwina, then president, described the group as purposeful, empowered women. She said she was attracted to the club because of its focus on service.

“I was raised with the idea that you are not a burden to your society and that you give back,” she said.

Apparently, those lessons stuck.

A dual Celebration of Life service is planned for the couple on Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lutz, 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

Published August 29, 2018

Educator’s vision helps expand children’s horizons

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Regla Sanchez has always been a fan of the performing arts.

And, on one occasion, while attending a show with her daughters, she thought to herself: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone in the theater could bring a less advantaged child to a future show?

The typical audience at a performing arts center is made up of people who have grown up going to the theater, Sanchez explained.

“Spending hundreds of dollars for one performance is nothing for some of these families,” the educator said.

Regla Sanchez is one of four educators across the nation to receive the 2018 League Educator Apple Award from the Broadway League. (B.C. Manion)

By contrast, many of the families she works with are struggling to get by.

So, Sanchez decided to try to expand the opportunities for the families she serves.

The result is a partnership she inspired between Pasco County Schools and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa.

Since the partnership began two years ago, it has made it possible for 500 people — children and chaperones — to attend performances at the Straz. Shows they’ve seen include “Wicked,” “Cinderella” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The educator’s initiative also has yielded a national award for Sanchez, presented by the Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Only four educators nationwide received the distinction.

The partnership between the Straz and Pasco County Schools began shortly after Sanchez became the school district’s Parent Engagement Coach for Parents of English Language Learners.

Sanchez wanted the families she works with to have exposure to the theater because she believes the experience can help broaden one’s view of the world and expand one’s aspirations.

Many children her department serves come from families with parents who work as migrant laborers, so they don’t know any different kind of career, Sanchez said.

And, some of them have never left their community or had a chance to see downtown Tampa, she said.

Sanchez came up with a bold approach: She’d make a cold call at the Straz to pitch her idea.

“The security guard literally said, ‘Do you have an appointment?’

“I said, ‘I do not. I just need to speak to someone about my vision to see if they would partner with me and support my idea.’

“That’s how it all started,” she said.

Sanchez wound up talking to Alice Santana, community programs manager for Patel Conservatory at the Straz.

Santana described what happened, via email.

She said Sanchez explained the need, and the Straz decided to respond.

“Regla was so passionate about exposing her students to more that we quickly jumped at the opportunity to bring her vision to life,” Santana said.

Next, Sanchez reached out to her supervisor, Katty Chois, to see if funding could be obtained to pay for buses.

That happened, too.

Under the partnership, the Straz provides tickets, which are distributed to different schools serving students learning English, Sanchez said. Typically, a group of students will go, accompanied by chaperones. Sometimes the performances are on the weekend, so parents take their children.

Sanchez is thrilled that the partnership came together and is continuing.

“I’ve loved this from (the) get-go. I love to see the children engage. Their faces glow in the theater when they look around,” she said.

The Straz has the opportunity to nominate an educator each year for a Broadway League’s Educator Apple Award.

“This year, across the department, it was a unanimous decision to submit Regla for this honor,” Santana said.

“Regla is a true advocate for her students and their families, and a champion for theater,” Santana explained. The educator was determined to find out-of-the box opportunities.

The structure of the partnership between Pasco schools and the Straz will serve as a template for replicating the program with other counties, Santana added.

For Sanchez, the national recognition is icing on the cake.

“I was already rewarded. This is like a dream come true. God had blessed me with this opportunity. I’ve had doors open,” Sanchez said.

Published August 29, 2018

The Laker/Lutz News announces staff changes

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Staff writer Kathy Steele has retired from her post at The Laker/Lutz News, stepping away from the county government, development, business and transportation beats.

Those responsibilities will be assumed by B.C. Manion, editor of the newspaper.

At the same time, Brian Fernandes, a graduate of the University of South Florida’s journalism program, has joined the staff, and will be concentrating his efforts on feature profiles, community events and general assignment reporting.

The Laker/Lutz News appreciates Steele’s dedication to accuracy and her ability to track wide-ranging issues that are important to our readers.

At the same time, the newspaper is excited to expand its coverage of the people and places within the region through the addition of Fernandes to the editorial team.

In recent months, The Laker/Lutz News has increased its use of photography to help tell the story of community life within our coverage area.

Those visuals have been generated by regular contributor Christine Holtzman, who has demonstrated her ability to capture a broad spectrum of life through her artistic eye and outstanding photography skills.

As always, The Laker/Lutz News welcomes story ideas and pitches for feature profiles, event coverage or photo opportunities. We evaluate every idea we receive.

If you have a suggestion for us to consider, please email us at .

Published August 29, 2018

Enjoying nature’s grand displays

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Any time that Lillian Cucuzza and her husband, Dave, want to take in a nature show, they just look out their back window, step out into their backyard or walk around the cul-de-sac to a pond near their yard.

Lillian and Dave Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoy daily nature shows in their backyard.(B.C. Manion)

The Land O’ Lakes nature lovers enjoy a visual feast every day.

They see hummingbirds, Carolina wrens, cardinals, red-shouldered hawks and all of the birds of prey.

There are birds that come by to grab a bite from a feeder, enjoy the nectar from a plant, or make a snack on insects.

“If you want to attract the really nice birds, get the golden safflower bird feed,” Lillian advised. “It doesn’t sprout. The black birds and doves and pigeons — they don’t like it because it’s bitter to them.”

“We get our bird feed from Wild Bird USA,” Lillian said. “It’s nonsprouting, so it doesn’t grow weeds.”

She also noted: “We used to put out a hummingbird feeder, where you had to put the sugar water out. But, you have to change it almost every day, otherwise it’s not good.

This male pileated woodpecker was in the woods, chopping the wood to get to the bugs. (Courtesy of Lillian Cucuzza)

“I’m like, ‘I’m not doing that.’

“We also have a suet feeder out there that we get from Wild Bird. It’s the suet dough. It’s not greasy. We get a lot of the woodpeckers and different warblers,” she said.

Dave’s in charge of stocking the feeders.

Some birds hang out in a birdhouse out back or in the nearby woods. Others make their home in a pair of palm trees near the couple’s front door.

“We get little cardinals. They make little nests in there,” Lillian said.

Besides observing wildlife in their backyard, the couple also enjoys sightings of deer,

blue herons, ibises, white egrets and other winged creatures in or near a pond, on a neighboring property.

“There’s a little gator in there,” Lillian said. “I saw it recently. A little 3- or 4-footer.”

When she was waiting for the gator to make an appearance one day, a trio of deer showed up.

This blue-gray gnatcatcher was in the Cucuzzas’ backyard snacking on whatever gnats or bugs he could get. These birds are tiny — only about 4 inches from the tip of their beak to their tail, and they’re quite quick — catching gnats mid-air.

Some pointers for creating your own backyard habitat
If you’d like to make your yard a welcoming place for birds, butterflies and other creatures, here are some pointers from Lara Milligan, a natural resources agent at Pinellas County Extension. She provided these tips during a seminar she gave earlier this year at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park community center.

“We’re exploding with development and construction, leaving less opportunities for our native wildlife to live and exist,” Milligan said. “Any little bit that we can do in our yards, or in your community or neighborhood, is helpful and beneficial for wildlife.

“Just like us,” she reminded the audience, “wildlife need food, water, cover and space.”

When it comes to creating conducive conditions to attract wildlife, it’s important to think big, and small, she said.

“We often think of wildlife as some of these bigger creatures, but it’s really important that we’re also attracting the little creatures. If you don’t have the little guys, we’re not going to be attracting anything else,” Milligan said.

Here are some of her tips.

Tip No. 1: Limit the amount of lawn that you have. Turf grass doesn’t do much for wildlife. Consider providing alternative ground covers, such as beach sunflower or sunshine mimosa.

This Carolina Wren was sitting on the bird feeder baffle. They are small birds with a big sound.

Tip No. 2: Increase the vertical layering in your yard. You want stuff to be at all levels, from the ground level up to the tops of trees. When planting, think about what the plant will look like at maturity. You don’t want giant gaps in your landscape.

Tip No. 3: Keep those dying and diseased and knocked over trees in your landscape, unless they pose a hazard to your house. Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters rely on these snags for shelter. Screech owls can’t excavate their own cavities, so they rely on woodpeckers to do that for them.

Tip No. 4: Keep brush piles in your yard, but not next to your house. They provide shelter for the smaller organisms, which are an important part of the food chain.

Tip No. 5: Provide water. Any source of water you provide in your yard will benefit wildlife.

Tip No. 6: If you have a birdbath, remember to keep it filled at 2 inches to 3 inches of water. Birds won’t use it if the water is too deep. Also, keep it clean and don’t use chemicals to clean it. A sturdy scrub brush should do. It’s also important to keep the space around it clear so birds can see potential predators.

This female northern Cardinal caught a bug in the yard.

Tip No. 7: Plant native plants in your yard. They resist pests and diseases, and generally require less care. If you want butterflies, be sure to have plants that are appropriate for caterpillars and for butterflies. Create a small moist area of sand in your yard. Butterflies will suck water out of moist sand to give them the minerals and nutrients they need.

Tip No. 8: Add bird feeders. The diversity of bird feeders that you install will increase the diversity of birds that you attract. The same goes for seeds. Be sure to keep your bird feeders clean.

Tip No. 9: Manage your pets. Cats and dogs can have a really huge impact on native wildlife species.

Tip No. 10: Seek natural solutions to pest problems. Being vigilant can help nip pest problems in the bud. Often, spraying pests off with a hose can solve the problem. If pesticides are needed, use sparingly.

Attracting butterflies to your backyard

These plants will help

This fuzzy flower is a magnet for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. (File)

Nectar plants

  • Firebush
  • Pentas
  • Salvia
  • Dwarf powderpuff
  • Jatropha
  • Firespike
  • Blanket flower
  • African blue basil
  • Beautyberry
  • Ironweed

Host plants

  • Native, not tropical milkweeds
  • Dutchman’s pipevine
  • Passionvine
  • Cassia
  • Partridge pea
  • Wild lime
  • Plumbago
  • Frogfruit
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Fennel

Published August 29, 2018

Business Digest 08/29/2018

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Best/work retirement places
Ready to retire?

Do go to Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

Stay away from Newark, New Jersey.

According to a survey from WalletHub, Florida cities are good retirement choices in 2018.

Orlando ranked No. 1 on a survey of the best and worst places in the country to retire.

Tampa came in third, with Fort Lauderdale claiming fifth and Miami placing seventh.

Newark came in at the very bottom spot — as the worst place to retire. There were 182 cities included in the survey.

WalletHub is a personal/financial website. For the survey, 46 key measures were reviewed, including affordability, quality of life, health care and availability of recreational activities.

Cost of living, retired taxpayer-friendliness and the percentage of population aged 65 and older also were considered.

New shops at Cypress Creek
Pearle Vision, Sweetea Cafe and Verizon are new retail coming to Cypress Creek Town Center, according to Pasco County permit records.

Other businesses under construction include Burlington, a 20,000-square-foot HomeGoods, Five Below, and Blaze Pizza.

General membership luncheon
The Center Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its general membership meeting Sept. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Tampa Suncoast Parkway, 2155 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54, in Lutz.

Guest speaker will be Lourdes Bahr, of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The cost is $20 for members only, if RSVP is by Thursday before the meeting. Afterward, the cost is $25 for members and non-members.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Monthly membership luncheon
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly membership luncheon Sept. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity.

The cost is $20, but please RSVP.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 994-8534, or email .

North Tampa luncheon
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have its September Momentum Thursday on Sept. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Atria Lutz, at 414 E. Chapman Road in Lutz.

Guest speaker is Carole Sanek, owner of Butterfly Boom Productions. She is a ghost writer, social media content creator and podcaster.

For early bird registration, RSVP online with credit card at NorthTampaChamber.com or by email to by 5 p.m., on the Wednesday before the meeting, at the discounted rate of $15 (whether you eat or not).

After that date, the cost is $20 (whether you eat or not), payable at the door by cash, check or credit card.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180.

Business seminar
SCORE will host a free seminar on “Game Changing Tactics of Small Businesses” on Sept. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Residence Inn Marriot, 2102 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54.

The seminar is designed to enhance and grow existing small businesses. Learn from experienced executives and entrepreneurs who have built successful companies.

Seating is limited.

Registration deadline is Sept. 7.

Continental breakfast will be provided.

For information, contact PascoHernando.score.org.

Volunteers needed
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to help the residents of Knight Homes, a part of the Sunrise Community Homes.

The chamber is sponsoring a day of community service to help residents by painting and doing basic landscaping.

The event will be on Sept. 15 at 9 a.m., at 7809 N. Glen Ave., in Tampa.

Cash, checks, gift cards, movie tickets and event tickets also are needed.

Drop-off sites for donations will be at Uncle Maddios, 3949 Van Dyke Road in Lutz; U.S. Renal, 3421 N. Lakeview Drive in Tampa; and Subway, 13032 Race Track Road in Tampa.

This also would be an opportunity for children who need to fulfill community service hours for school.

Donations being sought include bed linens for twin and full size beds; washcloths, hand and bath towels; toiletries for travel or full size; and drapes for eight bedrooms.

For information, email Jody Fowler at .

Coffee social
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will have its Monthly Coffee Social on September 18 at 8 a.m., at Buttermilk Provisions, 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

This is a “no agenda” event with time for social networking.

For information, call Grace Martin at (813) 994-8534, or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.