The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Festival-goers enjoy heaping helpings of barbecue and blues

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Ed Wright, left, and Chuck Riley, of the Ed Wright Duo, were the opening act at the eighth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival. (B.C. Manion)

Visitors to the eighth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival had plenty of tasty temptations awaiting them.

The scent of barbecue smoke flavored the air, as guests made their way up and down aisles of booths offering slabs of ribs, pork sandwiches, pulled pork, coleslaw, baked beans, and all sorts of sides. There was plenty of beer to wash down those meals, and there were treats — such as funnel cakes and fried Oreo cookies, to top them off.

Chris and Missy Moon, of Dade City

Chris and Missy Moon, of Dade City, said they came with a strategy. They planned to try a variety of foods, sharing their purchases as they went along.

“We’re going to make our rounds,” Missy Moon said.

“We skipped breakfast, so we’d have plenty of room,” Chris Moon said, noting the couple came to the event to support the community.

Published January 24, 2018

Flu can be deadly; use precautions to avoid it

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Sick people are showing up in doctor’s offices and emergency rooms seeking treatment for the flu.

Both in Florida and across the United States, flu activity is on the rise, according to Mara Gambineri, communications director for the Florida Department of Health.

“We’re seeing more activity across all age groups this year than we’ve seen in previous seasons at this time, which may be an early indication of a more severe influenza season,” Gambineri said, via email.

Kelly Ranieri, a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, receives the flu shot from Pamela Wayne, also a registered nurse there. Hospital team members are required to get the flu shot every year for their own health and for that of their patients. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Several Pasco County public schools experienced some degree of significant absence related to flu activity in December before break, said Linda Cobbe, the district’s spokeswoman.

The concern was reported to the health department and a generic notice from the health department was sent home to all parents at Bexley Elementary School on Dec. 18 and at Plato Academy on Dec. 6, Cobbe said.

So far, the district hasn’t seen the same trends since returning from the holiday break, however, Cobbe said, the district’s nurse supervisor said this year is predicted to be “quite challenging” from a flu standpoint.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has seen an uptick in flu cases.

“The surge that we’ve noticed has been mostly since Christmas, around Dec. 24, Dec. 25,” said Dr. Nadeem Khan, a community physician and the medical director, Infectious Diseases at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

In the first week of 2017, the hospital had eight confirmed cases of the flu. This year, it had 12 cases during the same week last year. The Wesley Chapel hospital also had 16 confirmed cases from Jan. 5 through Jan. 8, which is more than it had seen the entire previous week, according to figures supplied by the hospital.

“A lot of people did not get vaccinated this year. A lot of the patients you talk to, just didn’t do it,” Khan said.

Holiday crowds also likely figured in, Khan said.

During the holidays, people tend to travel, he observed. “You’re in planes. You’re in airports. There’s delays.

“Somebody is sneezing and coughing, and you can’t do anything about it,” he said.

The sudden cold weather likely contributed, too, he said.

“When your immune system goes down a little bit, you’re more susceptible,” he explained.

The flu cases seem to be coming in earlier than usual this year at Saint Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, in Lutz, said Cindy McGrath, nursing manager in the hospital’s emergency department.

Dr. Nadeem Khan is a community physician and the medical director, Infectious Diseases at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

Both health care professionals said there are ways to reduce your chances of catching the flu, and it’s important to protect yourself.

Aside from getting a flu shot, washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect yourself, Khan said.

“At restaurants, we’re picking up salt and pepper shakers. No one cleans those, ever. We’re touching menus that no one cleans. You need to make sure that you’re washing your hands, or using hand sanitizer,” he said.

He also recommends wearing a mask in crowded places, such as airports, airplanes and other places where you could be risking exposure from being too close to others in tight quarters.

“If you’re not sure what’s going on around you, it’s always better to get a mask.”

“Even if you look funny, or you think people are going to stare at you, who cares?” Khan asked.

Those who are most vulnerable to the flu include the very young and the elderly, according to the Florida Department of Health’s website. Pregnant women also are at risk.

People who have underlying medical conditions also are more susceptible to catching the flu, McGrath said.

Once flu symptoms begin to show up, it’s a good idea to see a health care provider for antiviral medication, both McGrath and Khan said. The sooner, the better, they said.

State and federal health officials still recommend getting a flu shot, even though it may not always prevent the flu.

“Flu vaccines can vary in effectiveness from season to season, but they continue to be the best way to prevent influenza infection and serious influenza complications,” said Gambineri, of the state health department.

Khan agrees.

“You might get sick even if you’ve had the flu shot, but not sick enough to be in the hospital or the ICU (intensive care unit),” he said.

Catching the flu can have serious consequences, Khan said.

“We definitely lose patients from influenza. That is something that people don’t understand. Young, healthy individuals, 23 to 30 years old. They die,” he said.

Symptoms:

  • High-grade fever, generally 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuff nose
  • Body aches, chills
  • Diarrhea, vomiting
  • Breathing difficulties

The infectious period can start 24 hours to 48 hours before symptoms show up.

Prevention tips

  • Get a flu shot
  • Wash your hands often, with soap and warm water, rubbing hands for 15 seconds to 20 seconds, then drying with a clean towel.
  • Stay away from people who are sick, and avoid crowded spaces, if possible
  • Wear a mask to protect yourself in crowded places, such as airplanes and airports

Avoid spreading the flu

  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover sneezes or coughs
  • Use a disposable tissue when blowing your nose and discard that tissue immediately
  • Wash your hands often, using soap and warm water. Rub your hands for 15 seconds to 20 seconds. Be sure to use a clean towel when drying your hands.
  • Do not share glasses, forks, spoons, toothbrushes and so on.

Sources: Dr. Nadeem Khan, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel; Cindy McGrath, nurse manager for the emergency department and Kim Demers, assistant nurse manager for the emergency department at Saint Joseph’s Hospital — North; and, FloridaHealth.gov.

Published January 17, 2018

Suncoast Arts Fest getting ready for really, really big show

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Fine Arts of the Suncoast Inc., is getting ready for this 13th annual Suncoast Arts Fest — featuring 110 artists from across the country and Canada.

Photographer Thomas Styczynski is from Santa Barbara, California. (Courtesy of Jennifer Douglas, Suncoast Arts Fest festival manager)

The event, held at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, is scheduled for Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.

When the weather is good, the two-day event has drawn up to 80,000 visitors, said Jennifer Douglas, the festival manager.

She noted that “the quality of the art continues to grow, along with the reputation of the festival.”

The festival manager added that she’s “particularly proud of the live entertainment we’ve lined up for the Mainstage.

“I think our visitors will be blown away by the talent and diversity featured this year,” Douglas said.

Beyond a wide array of art to see and purchase, the free public event also offers live entertainment, chalk art murals, kids’ art projects and other highlights.

Mr. Harley will be providing an interactive show for children during the Suncoast Arts Fest, being held this weekend at The Shops at Wiregrass. He is slated to perform on Jan. 21.

Artists must compete for a place in the show, and this year there were 166 applicants vying for a spot. Categories at the show include ceramics/clay, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.

The juried arts competition will award $14,000 in cash prizes.

Live entertainment will be featured on the Mainstage at Center Court, located at the festival midpoint across from Macy’s.

The festival will kick off on Jan. 20 with performances by The Richey Suncoast Kid’s Theatre and The Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble.

At noon, Gypsy Wind, will share its unique blend of bluegrass, folk and old jazz favorites. Other performers in the afternoon will include The Frankie Raye Trio, and at 3:40 p.m., headliners Violectric, with its passionate fusion of classical string instruments and cutting-edge technology and effects.

Glass artist Rollin Karg is from Kechi, Kansas.

As the current Artists-in-Residence at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Violectric has opened for Sting, Adam Levine, Ne-Yo, David Foster, Kristen Chenoweth, Katherine McPhee, Sia, Twenty-One Pilots, Rascal Flatts, and Huey Lewis and the News.

On Jan. 21, Suncoast Arts Fest radio sponsor, WGHR Hits 106, will be broadcasting live with performances on the Mainstage by children’s musician, Mr. Harley; followed by classical world guitarist Nikola Baltic, and Pasco favorites Barefoot Bob and the Hope. Tampa blues legend Sarasota Slim will close out the festival.

The event also has plenty of activities for kids.

The Kids’ Art Garden, presented by Suncoast Credit Union, has free Picasso-themed art projects, face painting and a scavenger hunt.

The Art Makerspace, sponsored by Chasco Middle School, will demonstrate its mobile 3D printer, and the festival’s Emerging Artist Exhibit will be back, featuring the talent of Pasco County elementary, middle and high school students.

This drawing is by artist Marie Rust, of Bitely, Michigan.

Other highlights will include chalk artists and strolling entertainment by the Bay Area Renaissance Festival.

Suncoast Arts Fest is produced by Fine Arts of the Suncoast Inc., a charitable organization dedicated to developing a community culture that embraces the arts.

All proceeds from the Suncoast Arts Fest benefit “Arts for Education,” a grant fund created by the festival’s parent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Fine Arts of the Suncoast Inc. This mini-grant program provides project support to supplement arts education funding in public, private and charter schools in Pasco County.

In 2017, more than $6,000 in mini-grants was awarded, bringing the grand total distributed to nearly $100,000 since the organization’s inception.

Suncoast Arts Fest
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass
When: Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Jan. 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free admission and parking
Details: A juried show featuring works by 110 fine arts and crafts artists from across the nation and Canada. The event also features live entertainment and children’s activities.
Info: SuncoastArtsFest.com

Published January 17, 2018

Homeless Coalition CEO understands tough times

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Don Anderson, the new chief executive officer for The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, doesn’t have to look far to understand what it’s like to experience poverty.

“I come from very humble beginnings. My dad didn’t finish eighth grade. My mom didn’t finish high school. He worked three jobs.

“We had a hard time keeping a car going, let alone pay the rent every month.

Don Anderson is the new chief executive officer for The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. Many people are just a medical issue, a car accident, a car problem or a few paychecks away from homelessness, he said. (B.C. Manion)

“I remember sitting around the table with them at the end of every month, deciding who it is that we would not pay, so we could pay the rent every month.

“We relied on the church and food stamps, and just the generosity of others,” Anderson said.

And, he knows his experiences are far more common than people think.

For many — just a single incident such as a medical issue, a car accident, a car breaking down or the loss of a job — can push them into homelessness, he said. That’s particularly true in communities, such as Pasco County, where much of the workforce receives minimum wage earnings from service industry jobs, he added.

While Anderson’s background didn’t prevent him from landing work with technology companies, he said he experienced his share of ups and downs through the years.

At one point, at the encouragement of one of his customers, he volunteered for Metropolitan Ministries. Later, when he was in his 50s, he got a job there.

A couple of years ago, he went to work for Youth and Family Alternatives in Pasco, where he was the vice president of strategy and development.

He said he sought his current post because he wanted an opportunity to take on a greater leadership role.

Being new to that post, Anderson said he has much to learn. He plans to do a lot of listening, and a lot of reaching out.

He said he wants to make internal improvements to the organization he’s leading, but also wants to forge stronger relationships with people in the community who may have felt alienated in the past.

One of the biggest developments on the horizon is the effort to open Pasco County’s first homeless shelter as part of a comprehensive plan to help the county’s homeless population.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has estimated there are about 100 camps across Pasco County where people live.

The chosen location for what is proposed as a “one-stop navigation center” is in two county-owned buildings in west Pasco, formerly leased to the Boys & Girls Club.

A planning commission meeting is scheduled for next month, regarding the conditional use of the property, and then the issue will go to the Pasco County Commission for a vote, Anderson said.

The project has met resistance from area residents.

Anderson said he planned to attend a meeting with neighbors. He said his goal is to “understand their concerns and then address them, as best as we can.”

Many of the details for the Navigation Center have not been worked out yet — such as how many beds the center will have — so conversations will need to continue as more information becomes available, he said.

There also is a host of challenges facing the homeless in Pasco County, he said. For one thing, there needs to be designated places where the homeless can go for shelter when temperatures plummet, he said.

There is some assistance available through partner organizations, but generally that is simply helping people in need to find motel rooms, said Anderson, noting the coalition pays for those rooms.

The Homeless Coalition, established in 1988, is a network of individuals and organizations working together to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.

Published January 17, 2018

Local man reaches ‘Hall of Fame’ status with relief charity

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When Mike Mira headed to the Noon Rotary Club Zephyrhills meeting nearly six years ago, he didn’t know it was going to change his life.

Mike Mira sits in his Zephyrhills restaurant, with a plaque and numerous $100,000 candy bars. The candy bars signify the amount of money that Mira has raised for ShelterBoxUSA, an organization that provides help internationally to victims of disaster. (B.C. Manion)

But, when the Zephyrhills man heard the presentation from ShelterBoxUSA representatives, he knew he wanted to get involved.

The presentation came about 18 months after the earthquake in Haiti, Mira said.

ShelterBox, which is an international organization, responds to disasters around the world. Trained responders will do an assessment to see what the need is, Mira said.

“If there’s a need, they’ll call for shelter boxes to come in,” he said.

The aid the organization sends is adaptable, based on what’s needed.

Sometimes it sends sturdy green shelter boxes, which hold practical tools and utensils, to support everyday life.

Contents of the box can vary, based on the disaster that occurred and the climate where it happened.

In general, though, each box contains a family-sized tent, solar lights, water storage and purification equipment, thermal blankets and cooking utensils.

In other cases, it sends shelter kits. These include toolkits, ropes, fasteners and heavy-duty tarps that can be used to build a shelter, repair damaged buildings and begin to rebuild a home.

These flooding victims in Malawi are carrying shelter boxes. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

Again, the kits are customized to suit the needs of the community. Sometimes they include corrugated iron to help make resilient roofing, or even room dividers and mattresses to make warehouses habitable.

In some situations, the kits might also include solar lights, mattresses and water containers.

Sometimes, when families can’t start rebuilding their homes immediately, the organization supplies large, sturdy tents that can withstand extreme weather conditions and temperatures.

When a disaster strikes, ShelterBox Response Teams travel to the area to determine what, if any kind of response is needed, Mira said.

They go by foot, boat, helicopter or even tuk-tuk to get there, according to the organization’s website.

ShelterBox also makes sure the items end up in the right hands, Mira said.

These victims of an earthquake in Nepal are carrying supplies provided by ShelterBox. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

“If they don’t come in through customs into our hands, we don’t bring them in. We want to make sure they actually go to the people who actually need them.

“That was the biggest selling point for me to get involved in the organization,” said Mira, who recently was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

ShelterBox’s history dates back to 2000, Mira said, noting it was started by a Rotary Club.

“They wanted to help people who had lost everything,” he said.

“They came up with a kit. It had a tent. Basically, a glorified camping kit,” Mira said.

Over time, the organization grew into its own separate international entity, which is based in the United Kingdom.

A donkey hauls a cart holding a shelter box, in Ethiopia. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

There are 14 affiliates around the world, Mira said.

“ShelterBoxUSA is right here in Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota,” said Mira, who is a lead ambassador for the organization, and oversees the ambassadors in Florida and Georgia. He personally covers Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Mira has done his part to spread the word, giving more than 100 presentations and raising more than $100,000. For his efforts, he recently became the 23rd person inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

The organization also has a location in Santa Barbara, California.

While it responds to disasters in far-off parts of the world, it also responds in the United States, he said.

“After Hurricane Katrina, when federal, state and local government were all pointing the finger at each other, and ‘Who’s problem is this?’ ShelterBox was on the ground,” he said, helping families.

“Superstorm Sandy, we responded. There wasn’t a need for the shelter. But, we left tons of mittens and scarves and hats.

These children and a woman sit in a tent provided by ShelterBox. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

“We tailor the kits to where they are going,” Mira said.

“After the Japanese tsunami, we put a bunch of winter gloves and hats, and things like that, scarves. If it is going somewhere in Africa, we’ll put extra mosquito netting.”

It costs $1,000 for each shelter box, he said. In 2017, the organization helped 160,000 people, he added.

The organization focuses solely on helping families who have lost their shelter to operate from day to day.

“When the Haiti earthquake hit, the responder from ShelterBox called headquarters and said ‘Send everything we have.’

‘Everything in Cornwall?

‘No, everything we have around the world. We need it all.’

“We sent 28,417 shelter boxes, and an additional 7,000 just tents,” he said.

ShelterBox does not provide food.

“We work with other aid agencies. We provide the shelter. There are other agencies that provide the food, the medicine and stuff like that,” Mira said.

ShelterBox is currently responding in the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Bangladesh following flooding in the north and the Rohingya refugee crisis in the south, and Somaliland where people are displaced by drought. The organization is also providing aid to people displaced by conflict situations in Syria, Iraq, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Mira is proud of the organization’s record.

“We’re Charity Navigator 4-star rated, the highest rating you can get from Charity Navigator.

Anyone who would like to help can go to ShelterBoxUSA.com to donate.

“If there are any organizations who want a presentation, they can contact me,” Mira said. He can be reached at (813) 469-0243.

Published January 10, 2018

Hitting the road to promote better hearing

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The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., has put a van on the road to expand its ability to provide early intervention for children with hearing loss.

The organization, headquartered in New Port Richey, serves the entire state.

It added the van so it could provide pediatric hearing screenings and evaluations, as well as fitting and dispensing of hearing aids, in rural and under-served communities.

Debra Golinski is the executive director of the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc. She hopes the organization can create a fleet of seven vans to help it achieve its goal of providing services across the state. (Courtesy of Debra Golinski)

“It’s part of our mission for early identification of hearing loss,” said Debra Golinski, executive director of the Sertoma Foundation. “We’ve always tried to serve the entire state of Florida, and in order to do that more effectively, the mobile van was the answer for us,” she said.

The van makes scheduled stops at day care centers across the state, to allow for screening of children who are infants through age 5, Golinski said.

If a child doesn’t pass the first time, a rescreening is scheduled. If the child still doesn’t pass, the parents are asked to have the child’s primary care physician do a check.

“We discover there’s about 20 percent that need further testing. Sometimes it’s fluid in the ear. Sometimes it’s ear wax. There are different reasons that they don’t pass. That’s why we have to refer back to the primary care,” Golinski said.

“If they indeed need hearing aids, we have an audiologist who will come back to do the fitting and dispensing at a very reduced rate,” she said.

There are clues that a child may have hearing loss, she said.

If your child isn’t paying attention to you, there may be a hearing issue, Golinski said. Or, “if they don’t respond to what you’re talking about, if they don’t respond to noises,” she said.

Sometime, hearing loss isn’t easy to spot, she added.

“Children adapt. We’ve found kids that were completely deaf in one ear, but they adapted. The family never knew.

“It’s just like anything else, you learn to adapt. That’s why we take the initiative to make sure they’re screened,” Golinski said.

The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., has added a van to help it provide early intervention to children with hearing loss. (Courtesy of Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation)

The idea is to help children who need it, as soon as possible.

When children can’t hear, they can be at a disadvantage in developing their vocabulary and speaking skills, she said.

By intervening early, help can be provided to help children avoid learning delays and can minimize or eliminate the need for special education, she said.

“When they hit kindergarten, our goal is that they will mainstream,” Golinksi said, rather than requiring special education services.

Golinski said the response to the mobile van, which was added last fall, has been tremendous.

“I’ve never been upstaged by a van so much in my life,” she said, with a laugh.

“We’ve screened over 2,000 children since we started,” she said, noting the van has traveled to more than a dozen counties, including Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Clay, Levy, Marion, Lake, Seminole and Brevard, among others.

“We are doing great things with one van. We’d love to have more. My vision is that we would have seven vans across the state, doing this,” Golinski said.

She hopes that can be accomplished within a few years.

For more information about this program, or to help provide funding or a van to expand the services, call (727) 312-3881.

Published January 10, 2018

Lutz resident receives ‘Community Champion’ award

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It’s not all that uncommon for Freddy Barton to spend part of his weekend working — heading out to talk to people in the community.

If he’s headed out from his Lutz residence on his motorcycle, chances are he’s going to go hang out with some kids — to find out what’s on their minds.

“I’m talking to kids. I’m trying to probe their mind, to figure out, ‘What does it take to make you feel that you can have a chance in life?’” he said.

Freddy Barton’s work, both in volunteer and professional roles, aims to help people avoid violence, build job skills and find ways to be engaged, whether at play or at work. He has been named one of six ‘Community Champions’ across the state by Molina Healthcare of Florida. (B.C. Manion)

Barton recently was named one of six “Community Champions” across the state by Molina Healthcare of Florida at the organization’s eighth annual recognition event. The awards dinner was held at Busch Gardens.

Over the course of his life, Barton has done volunteer and professional work aimed at helping youths to avoid violence, helping both youths and adults to develop job skills, and helping those who have been incarcerated to make successful transitions into society after their release.

While working with incarcerated men, he created relationships through mentoring that continue to this day.

The Community Champions program celebrates the vision of Dr. C. David Molina, the founder of Molina Healthcare, as well as community partners who work together to care for society’s most vulnerable individuals.

Each Community Champion was nominated by a community-based organization.

Recipients received a $1,000 grant to give to a deserving nonprofit organization. Barton chose to donate his to the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, where he previously worked.

Barton said he was nominated for the award by two professional colleagues and by one of the men he mentors.

He was gratified by the recognition.

In his current role, as executive director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough, he works in a collaborative that aims to prevent violence.

Safe and Sound is the outgrowth of a think tank pulled together by Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner in 2013, in response to the Sandy Hook shooting deaths.

“When that happened, it was like a national wakeup call to everyone,” Barton said.

“You can’t do anything to stop the random shooter, but you can do something to address the community violence that occurs,” he said. “We look at violence as a disease, something that is preventable.

“My role is to work within the communities in which we serve, tie together elected officials, public agencies, private sector, residents, youths, adults — all together — to find out what do we need to do to address the factors that contribute to violence,” he said.

The work includes looking at issues such as truancy, mental health needs, job opportunities and re-entry after incarceration, Barton said.

Before taking his current job, he worked for Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, which built homes, built commercial development, had a workforce development team and created a vocational school.

Currently, he said, he’s out in the community, working to discern what the problems are and how they can be addressed.

“How do you stop violence? We’ve been trying to stop violence since Cain killed Abel.

“It’s not going to stop overnight. It didn’t start overnight,” he said.

But, there are some steps that can help, he added.

“I’m focusing on out-of-school-time opportunities for kids,” Barton said. “If we don’t find something for kids to do, they’re going to find something to do.  And, it’s not going to be what we think.”

For instance, Barton was instrumental in getting Hillsborough County to unlock a recreational center that had not been used for several years.

“With The Children’s Board and the county’s (Hillsborough County) help, we started up a camp. We said, ‘Let’s only have about 30 kids, let’s run a test. Within a day, we had 54 kids signed up.

“Now, it’s an afterschool Safe Haven for kids. We’ve got all types of programming,” he said.

Kids need to be engaged, and they need opportunities, Barton said.

“We look at spring break, we look at summer break, we look at over the winter break — whenever the kids are out of school,” he said.

It’s also important for youths to understand the repercussions of their actions, he added.

“They’re living out fantasies that they see in video games,” he said. Often, they don’t realize the serious consequences that can result,” Barton said.

Baron and his wife, Denise, have two sons, 14-year-old Tahj and 11-year-old Cameron.

Published January 10, 2018

Local dancer gets big break in ‘The Greatest Showman’

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When Chelsea Caso recently went to watch “The Greatest Showman” at Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel, she wasn’t going to watch just any movie.

She was going to watch a movie that she is in.

And, the young woman who grew up in Lutz, didn’t go to the viewing alone. She joined 115 of her favorite people for a private screening.

Her family was there.

Her neighbors were there.

Chelsea Caso hugs one of her supporters before a private screening of ‘The Greatest Showman’ begins at Cobb Grove 16. Caso plays the role of Dancer Oddity 5 in the film, which celebrates diversity and the vision of P.T. Barnum, of circus fame.

Dancing friends she’d made through the years were there.

Former teachers were there.

People from every part of her life were there — to share a moment with her that had been about 18 years in the making.

“We’re just bursting with pride,” her mother, Kim Caso said, adding that having a private screening with family and friends had been part of the plan ever since Chelsea landed the role.

Chelsea, who has been dancing since she was 2, is Dancer Oddity No. 5 in the film.

“I’m the tattoo lady,” she said.

It’s a nonspeaking role, but offered Chelsea the chance to dance — the thing that she loves best.

During the audition, she recalls thinking: “This is exactly what I want to do.”

The movie, which stars Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron, has already been nominated for a Golden Globe for best motion picture, musical or comedy. Hugh Jackman also has been nominated for best performance by an actor in that category.

Chelsea is still trying to take it all in.

“I don’t have words yet. I really don’t. It’s just so much to process,” she said, before joining her friends and family for the private screening.

“I took my grandma and my mom and my godparents this morning, and they were all crying,” Chelsea said.

“I was sitting there thinking, all of the hard work, all of the hours and all of the work that she’s put in — it makes it all worthwhile,” said Eileen Hoffman, of Lutz, who is Chelsea’s grandma.

“I am so thankful that she is part of something that is so amazing. To be in a movie of this caliber, with the actors that are in it — the music, the choreography, the songs — all, wonderful,” Hoffman said.  “It’s the most amazing feel-good movie that I’ve seen in a very long time.”

Local girl makes good
Chelsea attended Lutz Elementary, Martinez Middle School, and Steinbrenner High School for one year before transferring to Blake High School in Tampa, which has a performing arts magnet program.

“When she was at Blake High School, we took her every morning and picked her up every day. From Lutz, that’s a little ride,” Hoffman said.

Chelsea also studied dance at Karl & DiMarco in Tampa, where her mom worked before starting Next Step Dance Studio in Lutz.

Chelsea Caso and her mom, Kim, stand in front of a poster for ‘The Greatest Showman.’ Chelsea, who grew up in Lutz, has a dancing role in the film. Chelsea began dancing when she was 2 and her mom, who has a dance studio in Lutz, began dancing when she was 4. (B.C. Manion)

Kim said Chelsea has “worked so incredibly hard, sacrificed a lot, and just has done so very, very well.”

Chelsea was just 9 when her mom began taking her to New York for dance classes. And, when Chelsea was 14, she auditioned for The Ailey School Summer Intensive Program and was accepted.

“We stayed up there for six weeks with her every summer,” Kim said. “I was up there for two weeks. Her dad (Andy) was up there for two weeks, and my mom (Eileen Hoffman) was up there for two weeks. We did shifts,” Kim said, noting she also has a son, Carson, who is now 15 and attends Wharton High School.

After graduating from Blake, Chelsea moved to New York intending to pursue classical dance. But, she changed her mind and decided to explore commercial dance, which includes such things as television commercials, music videos and movies.

Chelsea attended Broadway Dance Center, where she took a program introducing her to the commercial dance world and then signed with an agency called MSA, which has offices in New York and Los Angeles.

She had been working at a fitness place for about a month, when her agent called her to go to an audition.

She needed to be at the audition in two hours, the agent told her. Chelsea said she was at work and couldn’t leave. The agent said she had to find a way.

The last fitness class was over, so Chelsea cleaned things up and asked her boss if she could go to the audition. The boss let her leave.

“I ran home, got ready, did my makeup on the way to this audition and didn’t really know what I was auditioning for. I just knew where I had to be and what the time was.

“I got there and I saw a couple of my friends and I said, ‘What is this? What are we auditioning for?

“They said, ‘It’s something to do with Zac Efron. We don’t really know,’” she said.

“During the audition, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is what I want to do. This is awesome,’” Chelsea said.

She left feeling good about the audition, and an hour later her agent called to let her know she had a callback for the next day.

Chelsea called her boss to say she couldn’t come into work the next day, but fortunately there was someone who could cover for her, she said.

She went to the audition and danced again.

“They called people back in to start singing, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m cut. I don’t really sing.’

“They said, ‘OK, these are the people who we want to sing. I didn’t get called, so I’m like, ‘OK, I’m cut. Onto the next.’”

But then, as she was gathering her stuff, someone came and called her name, and a few others, too.

The person told them: “Not all of the parts in the movie are singing. Don’t book anything.”

Chelsea called her agent to find out what that meant, and her agent said she’d have to wait to hear from the casting agency.

That was in August of 2016.

Three weeks later, Chelsea found out that she’d landed the part.

A musical about dreaming, diversity, acceptance
“The Greatest Showman” is a musical inspired by P.T. Barnum. It celebrates the birth of show business and tells the story of a visionary who rose from poverty to create a worldwide sensation.

It’s also a story about diversity and acceptance, and about breaking down barriers based on race and social class.

It took four months of rehearsal and three months of filming to make the movie.

Every day, Chelsea spent four hours in hair and makeup.

“They just put the tattoos on with water. It’s like a transfer sheet. I used to have to go home with them on. It was too much to redo them every day,” she said.

Now that the film has been released, Chelsea is getting ready to move to Los Angeles.

“It’s going to be a brand-new world. I have to kind of start over, but I feel with this on my resume now, it might be a little easier to get my foot in the door,” Chelsea said.

And, maybe, just maybe, the movie’s cast will be able to make an appearance at the Academy Awards, her mom said. “There’s talk they’re going to dance at the Oscars. We’ll see. We’re hoping.”

While the future is full of possibilities, Chelsea, her friends and family are clearly enjoying her success to date.

Harriette Jackson, whose daughter, Crystal Jackson, danced with Chelsea at Blake High, was among those invited to the private screening.

She’s thrilled for Chelsea.

“I think it’s awesome to be two years out of high school, to have landed a movie role. I am so proud of her,” Jackson said, adding “hard work pays off.”

Chelsea’s grandma is delighted, too.

“She’s always wanted to dance. She was very set in her mind what she wanted to do. She went after it.

“It’s just a wonderful moment in time — and we’re so thankful to be able to be sharing it with her,” Hoffman said.

Published January 3, 2018

Pasco County Schools has big plans for 2018

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Pasco County Schools expects 2018 to be a busy year for planning, designing, renovating expanding and building new school projects.

Among the largest renovation projects are Land O ‘Lakes High School in Land O’ Lakes and Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.

The commons area is getting a new look, as part of massive renovation project at Land O’ Lakes High School. The project’s design makes it easier to get around the campus. (File)

John Petrashek, director of construction services for Pasco County Schools, said he expected the first phase of a massive remodeling job at Land O’ Lakes High to be finished in time for teachers to move into the renovated spaces during the holiday break.

“There’s going to be reshuffling of teachers and students into those new areas that were just complete,” Petrashek said.

“Then, we’ll start Phase Two. There’s five phases to this project. We’ve never undertaken five, independent, separate phases,” he said.

When the project is ultimately finished, the school will have a better flow, Petrashek said.

“It’s going to improve the environment for teachers and students to come to every day,” he said.

He also praised Land O’ Lakes High Ric Mellin for his leadership during the renovation.

The renovation began in June 2017, with completion expected in the summer of 2019.

Meanwhile, work continues at Woodland Elementary School.

The project is adding eight new classrooms, remodeling restrooms, adding a new cafeteria and stage, and providing a covered corridor leading to the cafeteria from the main building.

“That’s going be so nice for that campus,” Petrashek said. “That’s bringing some tremendous improvement there.

Andrew Simpson is the project coordinator for Pasco County Schools, overseeing the $12 million makeover project at Woodland Elementary School.

Woodland now has more than 900 students, with many housed in portable classrooms.

Once the expansion is complete, the portables can be moved to other locations that are overcrowded, and the Woodland students will be able to move into permanent classrooms.

The new cafeteria will have a stage and there are music and band rooms in the new building.

“It’s going to be comparable to any new school, in what we have to offer,” Petrashek said.

The district is also moving ahead on plans to construct Cypress Creek Middle School, off Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Last fall, the district opened Cypress Creek Middle High School, which is serving students in grades six through 11 this year.

The district’s original plans were to open a high school and a middle school on that site, but it simply couldn’t afford to do that, so it opened the single facility to serve both age groups.

Now, it is planning to build a separate middle school, for students in grades six through eight. Once that opens, expected in 2020, the existing facility will be used only by students in grades nine through 12.

On the same campus, Pasco-Hernando State College is planning a $15.5 million performing arts center that is expected to be used both as an educational facility and a cultural arts facility.

Cypress Creek Middle School’s design is underway, Petrashek said. “That’s going to be 1,600 student stations,” which will make it the district’s largest middle school to date.

The middle school is being designed with the performing arts center in mind, Petrashek said.

It will have a fine and performing arts wing, and will include a small black box theater, which will be separate from the main school building, so it can be shared in the after-hours.

The middle school curriculum will be rich in performing and fine arts, and will include band, chorus, orchestra, dance and visual arts.

Zephyrhills High School will also be undergoing a major remodeling, similar in scope to what’s happening at Land O’ Lakes High School, Petrashek said.

In addition to updating the school, the $26 million project also will add student capacity.

“We’re trying to increase capacity by 500 students,” which will push the school’s total capacity to about 2,000 students, he said.

The idea is to prepare for the growth that’s occurring along the State Road 54 corridor, he said.

The district is looking for more cost-effective ways to accommodate its growing enrollment, Petrashek said.

Another significant project on the district’s drawing board involves a kindergarten through eighth grade school planned for Starkey Ranch. That school is expected to open in August of 2021.

Typically, a kindergarten through eighth grade school is built for 1,200 to 1,250 students, he said.

“We’re going to try to have it be a 2,000-student station, depending on budget,” he said.

“The need is there. The growth is coming,” he said.

The school would accommodate 1,200 middle school students and about 800 elementary students, he said.

“Because it’s a very compact footprint, we would have to go vertical,” Petrashek said, adding it would be a single, three-story building.

Plans call for a number of shared uses on the site.

The library will be used by the public, as well as by the school.

The idea is to share the facilities, allowing the school to use them when it needs them and the public to take advantage of them when they’re not.

There also will be tennis courts, a softball field, a track and field, and other fields that can be used for soccer or football, Petrashek said.

The site will have a black box theater, too.

“There’s shared parking, shared roads, shared fields, shared facilities,” Petrashek said.

Published January 3, 2018

Let the good times roll

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Part of the secret to having fun is knowing where to find it.

And, then once you have figured out some options, it’s good to know early enough so you can do what you need to do, to maximize your enjoyment.

That’s the idea behind this master calendar: It’s a list of fun stuff to do in 2018 — giving readers plenty of time to consider their choices and make some plans.

So, as New Year gets underway, get ready to enjoy yourselves.

January

Raising Cane, a sweet & spicy event
When: Jan. 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

Cost: $5 per person, children under 5 free

Details: Syrup-tasting contest; cane grinding; sugar cane pole tossin’; iron skillet tossin’; chili cook-off, chili verde and salsa competition; entertainment; and, vendors

Eighth annual Pigz in Z’ Hills BBQ & Blues
When: Jan 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Zephyrhills Community Venue, 5200 Airport Road

Cost: Free admission; $10 parking. Benefiting local youth and education programs.

Details: Mouth-watering barbecue, blues music, swine and shine car show, aircraft displays, World War II museum, beer and wine, gift vendors, business expo, kids zone and more. No coolers, limited seating, so bring chairs.

Information: Call (813) 782-1913, or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

13th annual Suncoast Arts Fest
When: Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Jan. 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel

Cost: Free admission and parking

Details: More than 125 fine artists and craftsmen; live entertainment; emerging artist booth, featuring work of area middle and high school students; street painting; roaming entertainers; and, free art projects for the kids; kids arts garden and maker space, and more

(File)

Dade City’s annual Kumquat Festival
When: Jan. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Downtown Dade City

Cost: Admission and parking are free; free shuttles for satellite lots

Details: Local entertainment, antique cars, arts and crafts, activities for kids, vendors, health and wellness, kumquat pies, kumquat products, quilt challenge and more. Several events are held leading up to the festival.

Information: DadeCityChamber.org

Shabby Chic Vintage Market & Artisan Day
When: Jan. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: The Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel

Cost: Free admission and parking

Details: Artisans, live music, original art, painted furniture, antique vendors, shabby style and cottage glam

February

Farm Fest & Quilt Show
When: Feb. 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Feb. 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Florida Pioneer Museum & Village,15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

Cost: $10 for adults on Feb. 3; $5 for adults on Feb. 4; $5 for children ages 6 through 12 either day; free for children age 5 and under

Details: Southern Draft Horse Pulling Competition on Feb. 3 at noon; Hoffman Challenge Quilt Collection Show of Quilts and Clothing; Quilt Appraisal and Trunk Show, concessions and food trucks, antique car show, children’s activities, live entertainment on Feb. 4. (Limited seating, lawn chairs welcome for horse pull).

Information: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

Florida Ranch Days
When: Feb. 10 and Feb. 11

Where: Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road (U.S. 301 and Gould Road), Dade City

Cost: Free admission; parking, $10 for cars and $25 for RVs

Details: Live entertainment on two stages; strolling performers; swamp buggy rides; guided ranch tours; face painting; petting farm; games and rides; arts and crafts; food and drink

Information: RanchDays.com

Fourth annual Snowbird Palooza
When: Feb. 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills

Cost: Free parking and free admission

Details: Free coffee and doughnut mingle hour, fun family activities, free health checks, card games and tournaments, live entertainment and other activities.

Information: Email .

Pasco County Fair
When: Feb. 19 to Feb. 25

Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City

Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 6 through 12; free for children age 5 and under

Details: Midway, fair food, entertainment, competitions

Information and schedule: PascoCountyFair.com

Living History and Civil War
When: Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village,15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

Cost: $5 admission, children age 5 and under are free

Details: Civil War Reenactments and Living History Encampment. Visitors can tour authentic confederate and union camps, and get a glimpse of what life was like during the U.S. Civil War. There will be battles each day at 2 p.m.

March

Big Flea Market at the Old Lutz School
When: March 2 and March 3, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: The Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N.

Cost: Free admission

Details: Thousands of items for sale to generate funds for causes supported by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club

108th Founders’ Day Parade & Heritage Festival
When: March 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (historic downtown Zephyrhills), parade begins at 10 a.m.

Details: Moonshine, Turpentine and Timber is the theme of the parade; as well as a local art display, food vendors, petting zoo, kids’ carnival games and more.

Also, festivities are planned at a second venue.

When: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Zephyrhills Community Venue, 5200 Airport Road

Details: Live concert, food and merchandise vendors, Busch Gardens penguins and fireworks at 9 p.m.

Information: MainStreetZephyrhills.org, or call (813) 780-1414.

Savage Race
When: March 17 and March 18

Where: 17951 Hamilton Road, Dade City

Cost: Parking $10 for cars; $25 for RVs; spectators, $15 in advance; $25 at the door

Details: Twenty-five obstacles, mud in your underwear, chip timing, T-shirt, beer, action photos, camaraderie, memories

Information: SavageRace.com

Dogs Day in Dade City
When: March 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Agnes Lamb Park, in downtown Dade City

Details: Dog wagon parade, dog costume contest, canine got talent, ice cream/yogurt eating contest and more

Third annual Land O’ Lakes Music Fest
When: March 24, noon to 8 p.m.

Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park (formerly the Land O’ Lakes Community Center), 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Cost: Free admission; $10 parking (Bring a lawn chair or blanket)

Details: This Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce event is presented by Ierna’s Heating & Cooling. It features live music, arts and crafts vendors, other booths and more.

Information: Call (813) 909-2722.

Summer Camp Expo
When: March 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Florida Hospital Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel

Cost: Free admission

Details: Families get a chance to find out about summer camps and activities in the area and businesses get a chance to reach their target audience. There will be entertainment, bounce houses, activity zones, a photo booth, giveaways, character visits and more.

Information: FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com

Gran Fondo Florida
When: March 24

Where: San Antonio

Details: Bicycle road race through the rolling hills of Dade City and San Antonio. Cyclists can choose to ride three distances: 35 miles, 55 miles or 100 miles, and are timed on certain stretches of the race.

Information: GranFondoNationalChampionshipSeries.com

Jelly Bean Fling
When: March 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

Cost: $5 admission, free parking

Details: Mr. Tommy will join in the Easter Parade, kids will make Easter bonnets, there will be Easter egg hunts for different age groups; and there will be games, a bounce house, face painting and more.

Information: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

April

Easter Sunrise Service
Where: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills

When: April 1, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., rain or shine

Cost: Free admission

Details: Live Christian music, an inspirational message, a live dove release and free refreshments. Seating is limited and lawn chairs are encouraged.

Information: Call Jane Freeman at (813) 783-6192.

Wesley Chapel Boat Show
When: April 20 to April 22

Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel

What: Event showcases boats, boating accessories, fishing gear, apparel and other items.

Information: TheShopsatWiregrass.com

June

Zephyrhills Summerfest
When: June 23, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills

Details: Dance and watermelon eating contests, food vendors, bounce houses, family games, crafters, family activities. Event concludes with fireworks.

Information: Email

July

Lutz Fourth of July Parade and festivities
Where: Downtown Lutz, near the Train Depot

When: July 4, parade starts at 10 a.m.

Cost: Free admission and parking

Details: There’s a race and other festivities before and after the parade. The winner of the honorary Lutz Guv’na race is announced following the parade. Additional details will be available closer to the time of the event.

September

A salute to Sept. 11
Where: In front of the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41, in Lutz

When: Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to noon

Cost: Free admission, free parking

Details: The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club honors those lost on Sept. 11 by waving flags in front of the Old Lutz School.

Information: GFWCLutzLandoLakesWomansClub.org

October

San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival
When: Traditionally held the third weekend of October

Where: City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio

Cost: Admission and parking are free

Details: This event typically features music, gopher tortoise races, handmade arts and crafts, children’s rides and games, pumpkin patch, farmer’s market, farm animals, food trucks, beer garden, pioneer village and more.

Shabby Chic Vintage Market and Artisan Day
When: Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: The Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel

Details: Artisans, live music, original art, painted furniture, antique vendors, shabby style and cottage glam

14th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival
When: Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: The Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel

Details: Simply Events and The Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce have partnered to bring the community to present the 14th Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival, which will include a carnival with rides and games, live music, delicious fall foods, beverages, arts and craft area with pumpkin painting, local business expo, Pumpkin Patch, Halloween celebration on Oct. 27.

Information: WesleyChapelChamber.com

November

30th annual Florida Bug Jam
When: Nov. 10 and Nov. 11

Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City

Information: FloridaBugJam.com

December

Lutz Arts & Crafts Show
When: Dec. 1 and Dec. 2

Where: Keystone Preparatory High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa

Details: Hundreds of arts and crafts vendors and food booths in an annual show that draws tens of thousands of shoppers

34th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Where: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills front lawn, 7050 Gall Blvd.

When: Dec. 2, noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine

Details: Tree decorating begins at noon. There’s an evening program from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., with musical entertainment, a Christmas message, the lighting of the trees and fireworks.

Information: Call Jane Freeman at (813) 783-6192.

Christmas in the Park
When: Traditionally the first Sunday in December

Where: City Park, 12202 Main St., in downtown San Antonio

Cost: Free admission, free refreshments

Details: Annual lighting of giant Christmas cards, old-fashioned carol singing and other nostalgic touches

11th annual Tampa Tour de Clay
When: Dec. 8 and Dec. 9

Where: Stops at area pottery studios

Cost: The tour is free.

Details: Those making the tour will have the chance to watch kiln openings, talk with nationally known ceramic artists and perhaps do a bit of shopping.

Information: TampaTourDeClay.com

Festival of Lights on Main Street
When: Traditionally held on the first Saturday in December  

Where: On Fifth Avenue, from Seventh to 10th streets, in downtown Zephyrhills

Cost: Admission is free

Details: The event includes food, entertainment, holiday activities and a Christmas parade.

Old Lutz School Christmas House
When: Traditionally held on select dates in December.

Where: 18819 U.S. 41 N., Lutz

Cost: Free admission; donations of toys and nonperishable foods encouraged

For details closer to the time of the event, visit OldLutzSchool.com.

Published January 3, 2018