The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

LEGO + creativity = The Art of The Brick

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Nathan Sawaya’s version of ‘The Scream’ was based on the original 1893 painting by artist Edvard Munch. (Mary Rathman)

While children often use LEGO bricks to build ferries, cars and people, artist Nathan Sawaya uses the tiny, colorful plastic pieces to recreate artistic masterpieces and create whimsical pieces of art.

His touring exhibit, called The Art of The Brick, is on display in downtown Tampa, Wednesdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Sept. 4.

The exhibit, which has been billed by CNN as one of the world’s “Must See Exhibitions,” was brought to the region by Jeff and Penny Vinik, of the Vinik Family Foundation and is being presented to the public without charge.

An entire building, at 802 E. Whiting St., is devoted to the exhibit.

This life-size sculpture features a man ripping his chest open, with thousands of LEGO bricks flowing out.

During a recent visit, both children and adults were having fun, as they made their way from room to room. As visitors went along, many began guessing how many LEGO pieces Sawaya used to complete a particular work.

Sawaya shares his story on a brief video at the beginning of the exhibit.

Before he began creating art works from LEGO bricks, he was a corporate lawyer in New York City, as well as an author.

Over time, he discovered that creating art from LEGO bricks was his calling.

He believes art is essential.

This sculpture depicts Nathan Sawaya’s interpretation of Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen renowned for her beauty. She ruled alongside her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten, during the mid-1300s B.C.

“Art makes better humans, art is necessary in understanding the world and art makes people happy. Undeniably, art is not optional,” says a quotation attributed to him on a sign in the exhibit.

He also hopes his work will inspire children to learn about art.

As he says on another sign in the gallery: “I first learned adjectives through School House Rock. I learned how to count to ten through Sesame Street. I learned about gravity through my Slinky. Imagine if a child learns about art history through LEGO!”

If you go:
The Art of the Brick
802 E. Whiting St., Tampa, 33602
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Exhibit ends on Sept. 4)
Admission is free. Metered parking and paid parking lots are available nearby.

Published August 2, 2017

The Lutz Depot, by design

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Those wishing to escape the oppressive heat during the Fourth of July festivities in Lutz may have decided to check out a train show inside the Lutz Branch Library.

If I they did, they could have seen an exhibit presented by the Suncoast American Flyer Enthusiasts.

Eugene Vrooman, left, explains differences in the type of gauge size trains running on the tracks at the Lutz Public Library. (Fred Bellet)

And, perhaps they would have had a chance to chat with Eugene Vrooman, one of the club’s members.

If they did, Vrooman may have pointed out a wall display, showing the plans that were used to build the Lutz Depot building, across the street from the library.

Vrooman is quite familiar with the plans. He’s the one who drew them.

“We’ve done this (train) show for 17 years in a row,” Vrooman said, noting the Lutz Depot building was dedicated to the community’s residents in 2000.

He recounted how he got involved with the depot project.

“My brother-in-law came down from Lake Park, at Dale Mabry and Van Dyke, and he said that he went to that craft show, and there were some people who were planning to reestablish a train building,” Vrooman said.

So, the Lutz man, who is a draftsman, volunteered to draw up the plans.

He used a photo from “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,” by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus, to provide the building’s dimensions.

“I got the book and Xeroxed the pictures,” Vrooman said.

“I worked on it for about three months,” he added. It was a fun, but time-consuming project.

He isn’t an architect, so he needed one to review and sign off on the plans. That’s where Randy Stribling came in.

“He had to be happy with how the building was, appearance and structural,” Vrooman said.

The draftsman said he knew that the building had to be built to withstand hurricane winds, but he didn’t want it to be ugly.

Eugene Vrooman, a draftsman by trade, drew the drawings for this building, which was erected in 2000. He based the dimensions on a photo that was published in ‘Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,’ by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus. (B.C. Manion)

“The intent was to make it look like the original building,” he said.

He found a creative way to fortify the structure.

“I came up with this idea of taking steel plates and putting them in the wood columns and beams, hiding them and putting the bolts through that would hold them all together,” he said.

He is completely confident it will withstand high winds.

“It’s going to be there. It has the strength of eternity,” Vrooman said.

And, despite nearly two decades since the project’s completion, Vrooman still feels a surge of satisfaction when he passes by the Lutz Depot.

The project is a testimony to community involvement, he noted.

“All of this material was paid for by donations, or donated by material suppliers,” he said, and volunteers completed the actual construction.

“The intention was to dedicate the building to the citizens of Lutz on July 4, 2000.

“So, July 3, 2000, it hadn’t received its certificate of occupancy.

“The reason it hadn’t received its certificate of occupancy was because the building inspector rejected the certificate, based on this little handrail.

“The inspector said the handrail wasn’t the right height,” he said.

That correction was made and the certificate of occupancy was issued on the afternoon of July 3, he said.

That allowed the dignitaries to come to the building and stand on the deck during the Fourth of July, and to dedicate the depot to the citizens of Lutz.

“It was nip and tuck,” Vrooman recalled.

For Vrooman, the depot building is not only a community fixture, but a reminder of the role he played in helping it to become a reality.

“It’s part of who I am,” the draftsman said. “I have a plaque on the side of the building with my name on it.”

Published July 26, 2017

Massive sinkhole swallows two homes

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Recovery efforts expected to take months

Efforts are beginning in a recovery process to address impacts from a massive sinkhole that swallowed two homes in the Lake Padgett community of Land O’ Lakes.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety, said authorities received a 911 call at 7:21 a.m., on July 14, reporting a depression forming under a boat.

A depression indicating the presence of this sinkhole was initially reported to Pasco County authorities around 7:21 a.m., on July 14. It grew quickly, swallowing two homes and the roadway in front of it before going dormant that evening. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

First responders from Pasco County Fire Rescue were on scene by 7:36 a.m., according to county officials.

“Very quickly, it (the sinkhole) started expanding toward the house, and then the house started falling in,” Guthrie said, estimated that happened within 30 to 40 minutes of them being on scene.

First responders rescued two dogs from one home and quickly evacuated other nearby homes, he said.

When Guthrie arrived, shortly after 9 a.m., the sinkhole was at the edge of the driveway of one of the destroyed homes.

“Within 45 minutes, the entire roadway was in,” he said.

In addition to the two homes — at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive and 21835 Ocean Pines Drive — that were destroyed, the county tagged nine other homes as being unsafe to enter.

Despite the extensive property damage, however, no one was injured.

The neighborhood was cordoned off on July 14 to keep people safe and keep curiosity seekers out.

Besides a heavy presence of public safety officials, scores of media outlets swarmed the neighborhood on July 14. News trucks straddled the normally quiet residential streets, and drones and helicopters buzzed overhead.

The story made the national news, received extensive coverage on local television stations and captured air time on NPR, too.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey visited the site on July 17, to see the devastation firsthand and to announce a relief effort established to help those affected.

“Seeing it on TV is very different from seeing it live,” Starkey said, of the sinkhole’s damage.

“This is just devastating for our community. I’m just very thankful we had no loss of life,” she added.

The commissioner also offered this reassurance: “I wanted our residents and our citizens to know that the Pasco County Commission is here for them.”

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator, addresses the media at one of several briefings regarding the giant sinkhole that opened up in Land O’ Lakes. (B.C. Manion)

United Way of Pasco has partnered with the county to help the people who have been affected by the sinkhole, said Alice Delgardo, CEO of the organization.

A sinkhole relief fund has been set up by United Way of Pasco, and another one is being established by SunTrust Bank, Delgardo said.

Anyone wishing to contribute can be assured that those accounts are legitimate and will provide help to those affected, Guthrie said.

Immediately after the news conference with Starkey, water quality sampling began.

Water at the nine homes that were evacuated will be tested, as well as another 11 homes in the neighborhood, Guthrie said. Results were expected by the afternoon of July 18 (after The Laker/Lutz News went to press).

No other action by the county was expected on July 17.

“We are still in that 48-hour waiting period that the Department of Environmental Protection has asked us to do.

“The Department of Environmental Protection will be back today (July 17) to do another water level assessment to make sure that things are not growing,” Guthrie said.

Before it went dormant, the sinkhole grew to 225 feet in diameter and 50 feet deep, Guthrie said.

“I don’t recall any sinkhole of this size (in Pasco County), nor one that had water in it,” Starkey said.

“I believe this is the largest one in the state of Florida in recent history,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie is unsure when the residents who were evacuated will be able to return home.

“Engineers are telling us that it’s not safe, as we move that heavy equipment in and out of here, with the sinkhole. We don’t know exactly where that safe edge is at.

“We’re going to be working with building engineers, with civil engineers … We are going to do everything in our power to get those people back in their homes as soon as we possibly can,” he said.

Guthrie also wanted to assure area residents: “We’re going to communicate with them every step of the way. We’re going to walk this road, hand-in-hand. We’re going to keep them informed. Do not fear, we are not going to turn our back on you. We are not going to let you down. We are going to be with you, every step of the way.

“The full strength of the Board of County Commission, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, The United Way and Red Cross, Salvation Army and our community is all standing here with them, and we’re going to work it together,” Guthrie said.

Sinkhole relief efforts
Need help?
Citizens who need help can reach out to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army of Pasco County, Pasco County Human Services or United Way of Pasco County.

Want to help?
Those wanting to help can visit UnitedWayPasco.org and click on the sinkhole relief banner; text sinkhole41444 or check with SunTrust Bank, which also is setting up a relief fund account.

What’s next?

  • Pasco Emergency Management has moved from a response phase to a recovery phase, which is expected to take months to repair the sinkhole.
  • Pasco County is now treating this as a hazardous materials incident because of septic tank issues and building debris. The county began testing water quality of the nine evacuated homes on July 17 and planned to test it on 11 other homes in the neighborhood as well.

Additional residents wishing to have their water tested for E. coli ($7 fee) or other possible contaminants (additional fees apply) may do so through the Pasco County Environmental Lab. Go to PascoCountyFl.net/index.aspx?NID=1476.

  • County officials will meet with homeowners and insurance companies to start discussing mitigation
  • Residents who were evacuated will be allowed back into their homes as quickly as possible, but the county will be consulting with experts to be sure it is safe for them to return.

Published July 19, 2017

Higher school impact fees expected in 2018

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The Pasco County School Board didn’t get the school impact rate increases initially recommended by a consultant hired by the school district, and the building community didn’t get the rate it was pushing — but Pasco County Commissioners have agreed to support higher impact fees for school construction.

During a July 11 public hearing, commissioners committed to a proposed ordinance that calls for gradually increasing the rates — over a three-year period, with the first increase set to kick in on Jan. 1, 2018.

Commissioners have scheduled a final vote on the issue for Aug. 15.

Bexley Elementary, slated to open this fall, will relieve overcrowding in Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools. Pasco County’s growth is fueling the need for more schools. (B.C. Manion)

By the time the rates reach their final amount in 2020, they will represent 92 percent of what the school district’s consultant had recommended, according to David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney for Pasco County.

Achieving the compromise required a flurry of last-minute activity between representatives for the school district and the county, Goldstein said.

Goldstein and Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools worked out details over the weekend prior to the commission’s meeting.

“Ray called me at 7 o’clock on a Saturday morning and said, ‘If I’ve got to work 24 hours a day trying to resolve this, you’ve got to wake up and help me resolve it, too,” Goldstein said.

Gadd added: “We’ve been working on this quite a bit from Friday night ‘til Monday afternoon,” including a Sunday morning call that involved the district’s finance chief, its impact fee consultant and others.

“We didn’t get everything we wanted, nor did the builders,” Gadd said.

There were other stakeholders who didn’t get everything they wanted, either.

Representatives of the multifamily industry failed to persuade commissioners to reduce the proposed fee increases for multifamily dwellings.

Parents were unable to convince commissioners to adopt the full fees that the school district’s consultant had recommended and to make them effective this year.

“Why should the burden fall on our children?” Doug Wood, of Wesley Chapel asked. “The teachers and the children should not have to suffer.”

And, even though the Tampa Bay Builders Association agreed to the compromise, it wants the school board to continue looking for a broad-based revenue source to help tackle the issue.

“These are significant increases,” said Mark Spada, president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association told commissioners.

“Pasco’s school impact fees will be among the highest in Florida and in the nation, and the total of all Pasco impact fees will be among the highest in the nation.”

Spada also noted: “Increasing fees increases the price of a home. The higher the price, the less people can afford to buy homes.

Stewart Gibbons chaired the School Funding Infrastructure Committee, created by commissioners.

He described the compromise as a fair and reasonable solution.

However, he noted, “this is a difficult discussion because it’s an important discussion; I think we all know that.

“It is very complex,” he said, noting “there are just a lot of components to this.”

“I do encourage, as we did during the committee discussions, seeking as many broad-based sources of funding as possible,” Gibbons said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley said, before the compromise was reached, he had determined that a reasonable amount would be about 75 percent to 80 percent of what the school board was asking for, and to begin the increase immediately.

“In the long run, I agree with this compromise,” Oakley said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also supported the proposed increase. “I think there is nothing more important than a strong, healthy vibrant school district. That’s what makes a strong, healthy and vibrant community.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the compromise will improve the situation, but isn’t the entire solution.

Mariano would like to see commissioners unite with the school board and other stakeholders to seek more construction money from the state for schools.

Commissioner Mike Wells also supports the compromise.

“It’s been a great opportunity to work with the school board more closely,” Wells said.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said the board is focusing on providing infrastructure that’s needed in the county.

As more students come into the county, more schools are needed, he said.

He asked commissioners if they were all in agreement to support the proposed rate schedule.

And, commissioners indicated they are.

“We’re at the point where enough is enough, and we’re ready to move forward as a board,” Moore concluded.

After the meeting, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said he is pleased by the commission’s commitment.

Current Rate:
Single-family detached: $4,828
Single-family attached: $1,740
Multifamily: $1,855
Mobile home: $2,843

Proposed new rates
Effective Jan. 1, 2018
Single-family detached: $7,128
Single-family attached: $2,869
Multifamily: $4,182
Mobile home: $4,377

Effective Jan. 1, 2019
Single-family detached: $7,728
Single-family attached: $3,111
Multifamily: $4,533
Mobile home: $4,746

Effective Jan. 1, 2020
Single-family detached: $8,328
Single-family attached: $3,353
Multifamily: $4,884
Mobile home: $5,114

Consultant’s recommended rate
Single-family detached: $9,028
Single-family attached: $3,634
Multifamily: $5,295
Mobile home: $5,544

Published July 19, 2017

These water skiers create quite a splash

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If you enjoy color, drama and family friendly fun, the Tampa Bay Ski Show Team’s weekly offering may be right up your alley.

The setting is at a lake in Oldsmar, where parking is free, you can bring your own picnic, and there are shaded bleachers and picnic tables. There’s no admission charge, either, although free-will donations are accepted.

Seven members of the Tampa Bay Water Ski team create a three-tier pyramid. At the top of the pyramid is Mackenzie Pitock. In the second row, from left, are Greta Nikel and Emerson Chiado. On the bottom, from left, are John Schmidt, Brent Gordon, Clint Gordon and Matt Penn.
(Fred Bellet)

The shows are offered on Tower Lake, at 130 Burbank Road in Oldsmar, every Saturday, from March through October.

The pre-show, which starts at 5:30 p.m., features younger skiers. The theme show, which begins at 6 p.m., showcases more experienced performers.

More than 200 spectators, who showed up one recent Saturday night, saw barefoot skiing, slalom skiing, swivel skiing, water ballet, jumps, ensembles, pyramids and acrobatics.

Boats zipped across the water, picking up performers at docks on either end of the lake — providing a fast-paced show, which the crowd obviously enjoyed.

As skiers hit the water, announcer Peter Fernandez provided a running commentary.

Fernandez, of Lutz, joined the team in the early 1990s. He shared insights gleaned from decades of experience.

When four barefoot skiers zipped across the water, Fernandez said:

“Smokin’ — that’s what I’m talking about folks.

“When skiers are skiing barefoot across the water, the boat speeds up to about 40 mph.”

As two young boys finished their act, Fernandez observed:

“One of the hardest things you can learn as a skier is getting over the wakes. They got over it with ease.”

When an ensemble glided by, he noted: “They float over the water so gracefully, a thing of beauty to watch.”

Show director Lauren Henry demonstrates her skills as a swivel skier. She recently took the team to a second-place finish in the Southern Regional Show Ski Tournament.

Skiers gave the crowd a few thrills, too. One soared high above the water on a Sky Ski; another employed a ski jump to propel over the lake — demonstrating daring acrobatic skills.

Skiers who created pyramids gave viewers a chance to see strength, precision and teamwork in action.

Throughout the show, Fernandez entertained the crowd, offering kernels of information about the sport of water skiing, individual skiers and their acts.

At one point, Fernandez asked for a show of hands of first-timers in the crowd. As hands shot up, he informed them they were “newbies.”

Then he asked repeat attenders to raise their hands, and as they did, he called them “groupies.”

Sandra Gordon, a self-proclaimed groupie, was there to watch her sons, Clint, Brent and Brian.

“I love the beautiful show and the beautiful costumes,” she said.

Kayla Miller, who is Clint’s girlfriend, accompanied Gordon. “I come out to support Clint,” Miller said.

Show team members hail from such places as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Seminole, Odessa, Lake Keystone, Lake Padgett, New Port Richey and Winter Haven.

A dual-outboard motorboat tows the full water ballet team, which looks like a chorus line on water skis.

Many skiers come from families who have been involved with the team for generations.

The team traces it roots to the late 1950s and to a group called the Tampa Ski Bees, according to a club historical account.

The Ski Bees merged with a Lake Keystone group in 1977 to become George’s Ski and Social Club in Odessa. The team continued to grow throughout the 1980s — traveling throughout the South to perform at water ski shows and take part in competitions.

The club voted to change its name in 1987 to the U.S. Water Ski Show Team, and by 1991 had become better known as the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, the account says.

Strap Doubles partners Trina Sawaska and Clint Gordon wow the crowd with their beauty and strength, creating graceful movements while gliding quickly across the lake.

Beyond earning accolades, the team’s camaraderie is apparent.

Team members said that’s because everyone can play a role, whether on the water or not.

You don’t have one kid on the field while the rest of the family sits in the stands watching,” said Lisa Stephens, a team volunteer.

“We’re all involved, and we have a mixture of members.

“Some adults have kids who ski in the shows, and the adults are the volunteers helping with concessions or laundry or sound, etc.

“Then we have some adult members who don’t have kids out there and just enjoy being part of the club. So they come out weekly to help on land, where needed.

“We have some senior members who had kids who skied on our team years ago, and the parents just keep coming back even though their children have moved away, etc.

“We really are a family out there,” Stephens said.

If you go
Ski showThe Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team holds weekly public performances on Saturday evenings, from the beginning of Daylight Savings Time until it ends (March through October).
Where: Tower Lake, at 130 Burbank Road in Oldsmar
When: Saturday pre-show at 5:30 p.m.; theme show, 6 p.m.
Cost: Free (Donations are accepted)
Details: The pre-show features younger skiers; the theme show features experienced performers. The shows are entertaining, offering barefooted skiers, water ballet acts, jumps, pyramids and acrobatics. There are shaded bleachers and picnic tables. Concessions are available for purchase, but spectators also are welcome to bring coolers and picnics. There’s also room to sit near the lake’s edge, if spectators bring their own chairs.
Information: TampaWaterSki.com

Published July 19, 2017

Stigma poses obstacle to mental health care

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People who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a 20 percent risk factor for suicide, Dr. Marlene Hart said, during a community seminar at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

Despite that staggering risk, however, many people refuse to seek treatment for mental health problems.

That needs to change, Hart told the audience.

Dr. Marlene Hart hopes to help reduce the stigma attached to mental illness, with the goal of encouraging more people to seek the treatment they need. (B.C. Manion)

A shift in public perception about the problem could go a long way to help, she said.

“We have to fight stigma. It interferes with people getting treatment. It causes people not to come in,” Hart said.  “If there is one message that I hope people get — is that psychiatric disorders, including bipolar … are medical problems.

“The brain is the most complicated organ in the body,” Hart added. “Why would we think, for whatever reason, it doesn’t have imbalances? It’s not logical.”

There are about 5.7 million adult Americans who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is about 2.6 percent of the population, according to the National Institute on Mental Health.

Hart, who is medical director at North Tampa Behavioral Health, has worked with countless clients struggling to overcome the difficulties of managing bipolar disorder. She spent 18 years of her career in Dade City, working with patients who grew up and graduated from high school and college. She worked with them through deaths of close family members, through marriages and divorces.

She got into the field because she wanted to help. Initially, she trained to be a social worker, but later went back to get her medical degree. She has seen the challenges of mental illness up close because her sister was a schizophrenic.

When people are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is very common to find someone else in the same family who has been diagnosed with the condition, Hart said. “It is one of the genetically connected medical problems that we know of.”

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks, according to the National Institute for Mental Health.

There are four basic types of bipolar disorder; all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated and energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very sad, “down” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes, the NIMH reports.

Hart said the condition can be difficult to diagnose, and often can go undetected for 10 to 20 years.

“How do bipolar patients come to health care? They may be depressed,” Hart said.

“So, it looks like a major depression,” she said.

They don’t often come in when they’re manic, because they’re having a good time — unless it is causes them problems, Hart said.

When people come in to be treated for their mania, it’s generally because they got themselves into trouble, she said.

“People get into a fight at Walmart because somebody didn’t move fast enough, or didn’t get out of their way,” she said. Or, “people get into impulsive behaviors, like shoplifting. It’s the thrill. The excitement.

“When it gets severe, people run naked in the parking lot,” she added.

Or, they may go on lavish spending sprees or make foolish business decisions, she said.

Or, they become involved in sexual situations that are not the norm for them, which can lead to relationship problems.

“You can imagine if somebody is impulsively engaging in sexual behaviors they do not normally do, that this could cause a problem for their long-term relationship,” Hart said. “We have people coming in all of the time that say, ‘You know I got involved in this thing, I don’t know why I did it.’”

Excessive drinking may be another sign.

“About 40 percent of the people are estimated, who have bipolar, use alcohol to try to get themselves to sleep or calm down.”

She points to Robin Williams’ portrayal of Mork, on the television show, “Mork & Mindy” as a classic example of manic behavior.

The movie, “Silver Linings Playbook” also offers valuable insights, Hart said.

“I thought it was a really excellent portrayal of bipolar disorder,” she said.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

People having a manic episode may:

  • Feel very “up,” “high” or elated
  • Have a lot of energy
  • Have increased activity levels
  • Feel “jumpy” or “wired”
  • Have trouble sleeping
  • Become more active than usual
  • Talk really fast about a lot of different things
  • Be agitated, irritable or “touchy”
  • Feel like their thoughts are going very fast
  • Think they can do a lot of things at once
  • Do risky things, like spend a lot of money or have reckless sex

People having a depressive episode may:

  • Feel very sad, down, empty or hopeless
  • Have very little energy
  • Have decreased activity levels
  • Have trouble sleeping, they may sleep too little or too much
  • Feel like they can’t enjoy anything
  • Feel worried and empty
  • Have trouble concentrating
  • Forget things a lot
  • Eat too much or too little
  • Feel tired or “slowed down”
  • Think about death or suicide

Source: National Institute for Mental Health

Published July 12, 2017

Land O’ Lakes community stage is ready for action

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After years of persistence, Land O’ Lakes finally has a place where residents can gather to hear concerts, watch plays or gather for other community events.

Construction of the Land O’ Lakes Community Stage is completed and the venue is now ready for groups to use it, said Sandy Graves, one of the prime movers behind getting the project done.

Graves has been talking for decades about the need for a venue to generate a greater sense of community and provide a place where people could gather for old-fashioned fun.

Construction has been completed on the stage at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It is expected to become a popular place for concerts, plays, movies and other community activities. (B.C. Manion)

Finally, construction of the stage has been completed, and Graves and Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, threw a topping-off party on July 6 to thank those who played a role in pulling the project off.

About 65 people were expected, Graves said.

The party featured a barbecue and entertainment by Union West, a band made up of Steve and Cindy West.

Guests also were offered a turkey leg to take home, as a memento of the evening.

The turkey legs served as a reminder of the turkey legs that volunteers with the Heritage Park Foundation sold for years at the Flapjack Festival to raise money for the stage.

Joanne Hurley, retired Pasco County School Board member, recalled those efforts. “We were raising money, a dollar at a time through the sale of those turkey legs.

“We had car shows, anything we could do to raise a little bit of money,” she said.

In the end, it took a $250,000 state grant, and a partnership between governments, businesses and community volunteers to bring the vision to life.

The open-air stage is on a grassy area, west of a fenced-in ballfield at Land O’ Lakes Community Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

It is the latest improvement at the park, which underwent a $2.3 million makeover that included additional amenities and upgraded facilities.

Union West, a band made up of Cindy and Steve West, was the first band to perform at the new stage at Land O’ Lakes Community Park.

Graves said Richard Corcoran, now Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, played a critical role in securing the state’s Division of Cultural Affairs grant for the stage.

But, during the Aug. 16 groundbreaking ceremony for the stage, Corcoran credited Graves for her passionate persistence.

“Sandy — she just dogged it, day in and day out,” Corcoran said. “The perseverance is something I’ve never seen.”

Gadd played a leadership role in securing help from business partners — in the form of donated or at-cost goods or services — to complete the project within budget.

Now that the stage is complete, Hurley is excited about the potential.

“We have a venue now, where people can come for movies, or for concerts. The school is right across the field now. The school is going to use this for their productions.

“It is truly a community place where people can enjoy the arts of all kinds,” Hurley said. “Twenty people can use this, or 500,” she said. “It’s just another welcome addition to our community.”

Susan MacManus, a long-time supporter of the project, was at the party, too.

“There’s nothing like a community park to bring people together, neighbor to neighbor, business to business. It’s a good thing,” MacManus said.

Graves is thrilled by the project’s completion.

“It’s surreal. So many years, I toted that picture (of the potential stage) around,” Graves said.

The project exceeded her expectations, she said.

“It’s beautiful,” Graves said.

Now, she’s looking forward to schools using the stage for concerts and to the venue being used for other community events.

Anyone who wants to book the venue should get in touch with the parks department for information, Graves said.

Community and business partners
These people and organizations played a supporting role in bringing the Land O’ Lakes Community Stage project to life:

  • Peter Gottschalk, architect
  • Coastal Design Consultants, Paul Manuel
  • Walbridge, Richard Marshall, Tim Sewell, Mary Layton
  • DC Johnson & Associates Inc., Dan Johnson and Andy Getz
  • Copperstone Executive Suites, Mary Lynn and Gary Gorsline
  • Ervin Bishop Construction Inc., Sonny Bishop
  • Schaer Development of Central Florida, Skip Schaer
  • RIPA and Associates, Frank Ripa
  • Quality Roofing Inc., Rick Jenkins
  • JN Electric of Tampa Bay, John Narcisi
  • PSI Investigation
  • Driggers Engineering Services Inc.
  • Lowe’s Home Improvement
  • Accurate Signs on Time, Amy Daigrepont-Calkowski

Published July 12, 2017

Lutz celebrates July Fourth in grand fashion

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People who like to run, enjoy mingling with friends or are attracted to an old-fashioned, small-town parade found all that and more at the Independence Day celebration on the Fourth of July in Lutz.

The community, just north of Tampa, is known for its traditional Independence Day celebrations, and once again, it delivered.

Clint Randles, from Tim’s Church in Lutz, helps to entertain the early arrivals at the Lutz Fourth of July festivities. The Land O’ Lakes resident performed on the deck of the old Lutz train depot. (Fred Bellet)

Carmen Rairigh, of Lutz, was there with a group of about 40 people, including family members and friends.

They settled in at the corner of First Avenue N.W. and Second Street N.W.

It’s a prime spot because it’s at a turn in the parade route, and is a great place to catch candy, beads, cups and other parade swag.

“A lot of us go to First Baptist (Church of) Lutz,” Rairigh said, adding they thought it’d be fun to watch the parade together.

There were kids in the group who attend Lutz Preparatory School, Steinbrenner and Freedom high schools, Terrace Community Middle School and Learning Gate Community School. Some of the kids are home-schooled, too.

“We’re here to celebrate America’s birthday,” Rairigh said, adding it’s especially fun to go to the Lutz parade.

The wind-blown American flag covering his face did not throw this scout from Boy Scout Troop 12 off course, during the annual Lutz Independence Day celebration.

“It’s like a small-town feel. You always, always, always see people you know. You can’t necessarily say you can do that at the Gasparilla Parade (in Tampa).

“We see people every single time,” she said.

Parade participants ranged from scouts carrying flags, to kids riding bicycles, to belly dancers shimmying down the street.

Lots of people in the parade were clearly having a great time, including Rosie Heim, the newly elected honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes.

Heim waved to friends and onlookers from the back of a convertible being driven by Suzanne Beauchaine, of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

Both women smiled broadly, as they made their way down the parade route.

Some parade watchers stood under the blazing sun. Others settled on lawn chairs, shaded by ancient oaks.

Three-year-old Benjamin Field, of Land O’ Lakes, sits on his dad, Matt Field’s shoulders. It’s the perfect perch for parade watching.

Wendi Meyers, of Land O’ Lakes, came to see her dad, Maj. Steve Gay, squadron commander of the of the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron of the civil air patrol. He was marching in the parade.

Meyers and her 5-year-old daughter, Ayla, had to wait quite some time to see Gay, but when they did, he flashed them a huge smile and a wave.

As people passed by throwing beads, Linda Voyton, of Lutz, encouraged them to toss them a bit farther.

“Get an arm, get an arm. You’ve got to throw harder than that,” Voyton said.

“Big arm. Big arm. Throw hard. Throw hard,” she urged another bunch of bead throwers.

Voyton, who was at the parade for the first time, was accompanied by her 7-year-old grandson, Jayden Beezer, and her daughter, Nina Beezer.

Three-month-old Braylen Moore had a great viewing place for the parade, sitting on her mom’s — Emily Moore of Lutz — lap at the parade.

As a group of U.S. Army Retired veterans rode by on motorcycles, Voyton expressed her appreciation. “Thank you for your service,” she shouted.

The parade attracted most of the crowd’s attention, but there were other aspects of the event, as well, including a baking competition and auction, a train show, races before the parade, vendors and the election of a new Lutz Guv’na.

Twenty-one-year-old Kori Rankin raised the most money, winning the title of Lutz Guv’na for 2017.

She defeated Lutz Guv’na incumbent Greg Gilbert, of Beef O’ Brady’s, and Jessica Sherman, of Pinch A Penny Lutz, to win the title.

All together, the candidates raised $7,000, which will be used to support Lutz community groups.

Rankin isn’t the first member in her family to win the coveted sash. Her stepmother, Jennifer Rankin, won the honorary title in 2015.

Published July 12, 2017

Lutz draws a crowd on July Fourth

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Whether they were competing in the Cake Bake competition, driving a float in the parade, or checking out the entertainment at the old Lutz Depot — Lutz was a popular place to be on the Fourth of July.

Runners survey the course and wait for the start of the morning race. Joseph Salerno, of Wesley Chapel, finished first this year. (Fred Bellet)

Once again, the annual event was a showcase for patriotism — from a rendition of the national anthem, to the traditional raising of the American flag, to a parade which wound its way down Lutz Lake Fern Road, along Second Avenue N.W., down First Street N.W., and then in front of the Lutz Branch Library.

Scouts sold hot dogs and cheeseburgers, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club sold doughnuts and coffee, and other vendors sold everything from handmade soap to smoked mullet to homemade jam.

People of all ages seemed to get into the spirit of things at Lutz’s Independence Day event — joining together to celebrate America’s birth.

Cake Bake Contest Winners
The winners for the Lutz Independence Day Cake Bake Contest:

  • Madison Levine: Best decorated, youth
  • Tracy Gaschler: Best pie
  • Samantha Evans: Cupcakes
  • Leigh Spanton: Guv’na Choice
  • Maddox Forman: Youth boys
  • Katelyn Payne: Best tasting, youth
  • Jeanne Mills: Best tasting, adult
  • Gary Krotz: Men’s division
  • Christa Evans: Judges’ choice
  • Noelle Edmonson: Most patriotic
  • Mikayla Charron: Best tasting, patriotic
  • Catherine Pramberger: Best decorated, 10 and under

The winners from the Lutz Fourth of July Parade:
Grand Marshall’s: Choice-Pack 9 Pirate Ship
Judge’s Favorite: Caroline Contractors Star Float
Walking Unit: #1 Martial Arts
Neighborhood Entry: Canine Companions for Independence
Most Patriotic: Marines Forever Veterans Group
Most Comical: American Belly Dancers
Family Entry: Fantastic First United Methodist Church
Commercial Entry: Pinch A Penny
Youth Entry: Troop 139
Bicycle Entry: Tampa BMX
Antique Vehicle: Lutz Volunteer Fire Truck

Published July 12, 2017

Collaboration is key word at Bexley Elementary

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When visitors step into the REC center at Bexley Elementary School, they won’t be surrounded by game tables or basketball hoops.

Instead, they’ll be in the new elementary school’s media center.

The REC center gets its name from three words — Research, Enrich and Collaborate. Those words emphasize the kind of learning experience planned for children attending the school, which is set to open in August, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

This worker is clearing off debris on the sidewalk of an interior courtyard at Bexley Elementary School. (B.C. Manion)

Bexley Principal Vicki Wolin described the school’s features and aspirations during a recent tour of the campus for Pasco County School Board members, district leaders and other guests.

When the tour-takers finished that visit, most of them drove across county to visit Cypress Creek Middle High School to get a sneak preview of that campus led by Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles.

Bexley — which will relieve overcrowding at Odessa and Oakstead elementary schools — is the largest elementary school that Pasco County Schools has ever built, said John Petrashek, director of construction services for the district.

Its design was a result of collaboration between architect Harvard Jolly, four elementary principals and David Scanga, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, Petrashek said.

That team told the district, “this is what we need to make this a very functioning, high-performing elementary school,” the construction services director said.

“We listened. We designed … They didn’t get everything they wanted, but just about,” he said.

The resulting elementary school is rich “for teaching, learning and for achievement,” Petrashek said.

The district aims to be as frugal as possible when building new schools, but doesn’t cut corners when it comes to the quality of construction and design, Petrashek said.

“This building is built to last. You can pay for a building and good design now, or you can cheapen this design and pay forever out of operational costs for maintenance and repair,” he said. “This building has a 50-year life expectancy.”

Petrashek praised Newland Communities, the developer of the Bexley subdivision, for being “tremendous partners.”

Newland ensured that the site was large enough to meet the district’s needs and also made sure that needed infrastructure was available, Petrashek said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is enthusiastic about the new school.

“We expect great things to come out of Bexley Elementary School,” Browning said. “It’s a beautiful place. It’s obviously very functional, and it will lend itself to a great learning environment for kids.”

Wolin noted the emphasis was on collaboration, efficiency of space and flexibility.

“We wanted something that was timeless, so it would be efficient in the future,” she said.

For instance, there are stools that can break apart into smaller seats, and also be adjusted so that they rock.

“We want to offer our students seating areas that best meet their needs for learning, instead of: “Sit down and sit still,’” Wolin said.

The building also is designed with spaces that can shrink or expand, allowing grade-level teams to work together and enabling teachers to tailor instruction to meet the varying needs of students.

The technology also offers flexibility.

For instance, the same piece of equipment can be used to show a video or to be an interactive tool, depending on what a teacher needs for a particular lesson, Wolin said.

Even the school’s large front office is designed with families in mind, the principal said, noting it is more spacious than the typical front office at an elementary school. The idea is to give families more room as they wait to take care of school business.

At Cypress Creek Middle High School, at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Hetzler-Nettles led the group around the campus, which initially will serve students in grades six through 11.

Much of the furniture and equipment has yet to be installed, but, like Bexley, the school will have different types of seating and spaces that can be reconfigured for different uses.

Stops on the tour included a science classroom, the school gymnasium, the cafeteria, the weight room, locker rooms, a band room, a conference room, various other classrooms and a look at the athletic fields.

For parents and students who want to see for themselves, Cypress Creek Middle High will be holding two events, designed for students in different age groups. For details, visit the school’s website at CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Bexley is planning an open house, too. For more information about Bexley, visit BES.pasco.k12.f.us.

Published July 5, 2017