The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

New chapter begins in The Edwinola’s storied history

By

Most people who know anything about Dade City have heard a thing or two about The Edwinola.

After all, the building has been around for more than a century, and has had its glory days and dark chapters during its history.

The Edwinola opened originally in 1912 to replace the Dade City Hotel, which had burned in 1907.

This is an exterior view of The Edwinola, which has been remodeled and is reopening as a senior living community.
(B.C. Manion)

The hotel was built by Edwin and Lola Gasque, who came up with the name Edwinola, by combining their first names, according to an account provided by Madonna Wise, a local historian.

For years, the structure — with its wrap-around veranda, Doric columns and Mansard roof — was a popular destination for businessmen and travelers.

“The Edwinola is an icon in the community,” said Darcielle Gray, executive director of the senior living community, which has closed and reopened more than once through the years.

After ceasing operations as a hotel, it became a private residence, a university, a boarding house, a restaurant and an assisted living facility, according to various historic accounts. It closed most recently after two violent deaths and reported care violations, according to media reports.

“I think it was a loss for the community when it closed. Even though it had gone through some hard times, I think it was a big loss,” Gray said. “There was a lot of sadness about it closing.”

Darcielle Gray, executive director of The Edwinola, relaxes on one of several rocking chairs on the wide verandah at the senior living community. She’s excited about helping future residents there to create a vibrant residence. (B.C. Manion)

Now, the building has been refreshed, and residents have begun moving in, she said. “We have people who are slated to move in, almost daily, for the next several weeks.”

The eight-story senior living facility offers a variety of models, Gray said, noting “we’re pretty much able to accommodate anyone.”

The building has the capacity for about 160 residents, and the types of units will depend on demand.

“We’re going to have two floors of independent to start with. We are applying for our assisted living license. So, we’ll have assisted living. Then, a few months after that, we’ll be offering memory care,” Gray said.

A grand opening celebration has been set for May 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 14235 Edwinola Way. There will be refreshments, tours and a ribbon cutting.

The Edwinola’s reopening is creating a buzz in the community.

The Alpha Sorosis Club was a women’s club that was organized in 1909 and continued meeting until 1968. The club met regularly for intellectual pursuits, and the group — like many other organizations — often met at The Edwinola.
(Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

“Everybody is pretty excited about it,” said Gray.  “When we talk to store owners in the Dade City area, different churches in the area, everybody seems to be quite happy because it gives a place for the seniors of Dade City to be able to stay in Dade City.

“For them to be able to do that, that’s a pretty big thing,” she said.

“Dade Citians are Dade Citians,” she explained. “They like their town. They like their banking here and their restaurants here, and their friends are here.

“So, when they get to stay here – especially at The Edwinola — they’re right in the middle of town,” she said.

Area merchants have already provided discount coupons, and because The Edwinola is pet friendly, Gray expects the nearby pet shop to be a popular place with residents.

Seniors also will be able to take advantage of nearby restaurants and beauty shops, and be able to mix with people they’ve known for years.

That’s a benefit for the seniors, but also a benefit for the community, Gray said.

The Hotel Edwinola was the focal point for social life for residents and visitors to Dade City.(Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

She expects most of The Edwinola’s residents will come from the Dade City and the surrounding communities, but she also suspects that some snowbirds may decide to settle in there, too.

There is no buy-in or long-term commitment, Gray said.

“There’s a basic community fee for entering. And then, you pay your check monthly,” she said. There’s a 30-day notice, in order to leave.

The services provided for independent residents will include a light housekeeping service and a continental breakfast and lunch. Those wishing three hot meals a day can purchase a meal ticket.

The residence also will provide transportation, to take residents out shopping, to doctors, to events, to movies and so on, Gray said. That service is important to seniors because many of them find it frightening to drive in heavy traffic, she said.

The executive director said her goal, and the goal of her staff, will be to create an environment where residents set the course for the kinds of activities they do.

“We will meet monthly to determine what next month’s calendar looks like.

“We really want the residents determining their schedule, so they will drive a lot of the activities we do, based on what the group wants to do,” she said.

She’s already been talking to some of the new residents.

“Some of the ladies are like, ‘Can we have happy hour?’” Gray said, to which she responded: “Yes. We can have happy hour as many times a week as you want.”

There will be standard activities, such as movies and popcorn, arts and crafts, and bingo. There also will be weekly speakers.

“One of our goals is to make sure that the residents here know any providers that are available to them.

“If a resident here ends up going to the hospital for some reason, we don’t want them to meet the hospital social worker the first time they’re lying in bed,” Gray said.

“We’ll bring in wheelchair clinics. We’ll bring in walker clinics. We’ll bring in nutritionists and chefs,” she said.

The idea is for residents to venture out into the community and for people from the community to drop in, too, Gray said.

Along those lines, she has issued an invitation to the Dade City Police to “come in and partake in any meal that we have here,” she said. She plans to invite the fire department to do the same.

“Sometimes our world gets smaller, as we get senior. We want to make sure that it stays wide,” Gray said.

The executive director is upbeat about The Edwinola’s future.

She envisions it as becoming a vibrant new place for seniors to call home, and she finds that prospect to be exciting.

“It’s a brand-new start,” Gray said.

The Edwinola’s grand opening
Where: The Edwinola, 14235 Edwinola Way, Dade City
When: May 23, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.)
Details: Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served to mark the grand opening of The Edwinola, an iconic building that has been remodeled to serve as a senior living community. Tours will be given.
Information: Call (352) 567-6500, or visit TheEdwinola.com.

Published May 17, 2017

Wildfires in Pasco cause hassles, heavy smoke

By

Wildfires burning in Pasco County have produced heavy smoke — causing inconvenience for motorists, disrupting schools and posing potential health hazards.

Pasco County officials have responded to the wildfires by issuing warnings to motorists to use care when driving through areas surrounding Starkey Park.

Flames in Starkey Park on May 6.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Emergency Management/Emergency Services)

Motorists should expect periods of heavy smoke on the road for 30 days to 45 days, according to county emergency staff.

Signs have been posted along State Road 52, State Road 54 and State Road 589 (Suncoast Parkway), to alert motorists of the latest conditions.

Motorists are advised to slow down when driving through smoke and to use their headlights, not their hazards.

Parents also are advised to check the Pasco County Schools website for the latest information on schools that may be affected by the smoky conditions.

Pasco County Schools and the Pasco County Emergency Management staff decided to continue the late start time for River Ridge Middle School and River Ridge High School on May 15, and planned to decide that day whether it would be safe to resume the schools’ regular schedule beginning May 16.

“We hope we will be able to resume the regular schedule beginning on Tuesday (May 16), but the weather forecast will dictate what we do moving forward,” Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning said, in a news release.

River Ridge Middle, River Ridge High and Cypress Elementary Schools were closed on May 8, because heavy smoke from the Starkey Park wildfire had permeated the schools’ classrooms.

This Smokey Bear sign off State Road 52 approaching Dade City alerted passersby to a high risk of fires. Dry conditions have contributed to several wildfires in Pasco County, which have caused inconvenience and posed hazards.
(B.C. Manion)

Beginning May 9, River Ridge Middle and River Ridge High have operated on a 10:45 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. schedule.

The Starkey Park wildfire also posed an inconvenience for those planning to camp at the park during Mother’s Day weekend.

The county cancelled all camping in Starkey Park through May 14.

The county also banned campfires, barbecues or any other kind of open flames in county parks until further notice.

There is a burn ban in effect, until further notice, in Pasco County that prohibits burning of garbage, trash or yard debris.

Bike and hiking trails also are closed in Starkey Park until further notice because of safety concerns, and to provide access for firefighters.

On May 9, the Florida Forest Service reported that the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness fire was 70 percent contained, at 2,275 acres.

During a recent update for the Pasco County Commission, county emergency staff reported that 15 miles of bike trail have been damaged in Starkey Park. Of that, about 2 miles of trail were damaged by bulldozers that had to create breaks to keep the fire from spreading.

Staff also reported that all of the signs in Starkey Park will need to be replaced.

The county estimates that between 600 and 700 people visit Starkey Park daily during the week, and about 1,000 visit daily on weekends.

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has issued an alert to remind citizens that wildfire smoke is a respiratory irritant that causes a scratchy throat or irritated eyes and nose. It also can worse conditions such as asthma and other chronic respiratory or lung conditions.

Dust generated from increased wildfire response activity on dirt roads also may worsen these conditions.

And, while it may seem like an obvious piece of advice, Pasco County Commission Mike Moore warned people that they need to stay away from the wildfires.

“Let’s not do sightseeing in the area,” Moore said. “Boots were melting when you walked in some of those areas. It’s important that the public stay out of there. It’s not time for sightseeing.”

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has issued these tips to help protect you and your family from the ill effects of smoke:

  • Pay attention to local air quality reports, local news and health warnings related to smoke.
  • Use common sense when you are outside and the conditions are smoky.
  • Avoid prolonged outdoor activities.
  • Those with existing medical conditions should avoid going into smoky areas.
  • If smoke persists, stay indoors and run your air conditioner, if you have one. Also, keep the fresh air intake closed and be sure the filter is clean. For best results, run the air conditioner with recirculated air.
  • If you have asthma or another lung disease, be sure to follow your doctor’s advice about taking your medications, and call your doctor if conditions worsen.

Published May 17, 2017

Marking a milestone, embarking on new paths

By

Thousands of members of the class of 2017 will take part in ceremonies across The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area this graduation season — to celebrate a rite of passage and embark on the next adventure.

Some will head out from Lutz, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and St. Leo to continue their studies in other locales.

Some will go to far off places; others will stick closer to home.

The list of their declared colleges includes the University of Florida, Georgia Institute of Technology, Saint Leo University, Pensacola Christian College, University of South Florida, New York University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Cornell University, Florida State University, Rasmussen College, Pasco-Hernando State College and Hillsborough Community College.

Their aspirations run the gamut, too.

One wants to study culinary nutrition. Another, finance and actuarial science. One plans to study music education; another, microbiology.

There are members of the class of 2017 interested in pursuing careers in all sorts of engineering — including electrical, computer and chemical engineering,

Other majors include advertising and finance, pre-dentistry and biomedical sciences.

The list goes on and on.

Before heading to that new chapter in their lives, however, these students and their families will pause to celebrate the Class of 2017’s accomplishments so far.

Some graduates will take part in small, intimate ceremonies. Others will march into huge auditoriums.

And, while the world around them gets noisier by the day — with partisan politics and increasing international turmoil — these ceremonies likely will be marked by time-honored traditions.

Whether the gathering is large or small, there likely will be music and speeches.

Each graduate’s name will be announced.

There will be photos and applause, and friends and family members will gather for parties, too.

And, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Many members of the class of 2017 have distinguished themselves by embracing academically rigorous courses, and acing them.

This crop of students has experienced a technological revolution during their lifetimes.

They’ve mastered such social media channels as Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

They have become experts at posting to Facebook and YouTube.

They feel lost without their Smartphones, and texting comes second-nature to them.

The Digital Age has left its mark on their learning, too. Traditional lectures and textbooks are often enhanced by a world of information, available through the Internet, just a few keystrokes away.

While many graduates plan to pursue higher education, others will be heading to the workforce.

Some don’t know what kind of work they’ll pursue, and others will likely end up in careers that do not yet exist.

Some receiving diplomas this year, far exceeded the requirements for graduation, while others barely squeaked by.

But, regardless of how they arrived, each has accomplished a milestone and has reason to be proud.

The Laker/Lutz News salutes members of the Class of 2017.

Published May 17, 2017

Royal Lanes prepares to turn off the lights for good

By

It’s a place where leagues have battled for cash prizes and bragging rights, and little kids have had birthday parties.

For some, it’s been a gathering spot with friends after work to bowl a few games and enjoy a few pitchers. For others, it was where they hung out when they were kids.

Andre Pamplona, general manager for Royal Lanes, said the closing of a bowling alley has an impact on the community.
(B.C. Manion)

Soon, however Royal Lanes bowling center, at 1927 Brinson Road in Lutz, will welcome its final bowlers and pack up its pins for good.

The last day of operation will be May 21, said Andre Pamplona, the bowling center’s general manager.

The bowling alley has been owned for a quarter-century by Sandy and Neville Woolf, of Canada, but they’ve decided to sell, Pamplona said.

“My group was trying to purchase it. That’s what we came up to do, to try to salvage it and keep it a bowling center, but we got outbid. And, that’s it,” Pamplona said.

“I knew of a potential sale to the other group. We were doing our best to try to finalize our deal. The numbers just wouldn’t work,” Pamplona said. “The land just got overvalued.”

He’s not sure what the future use of the site will be, but he has heard that the building will be renovated for another use that has something to do with the automotive industry.

He’s sorry to see Royal Lanes go, not just because he worked there, but because the community will miss it.

“One of the things that owners don’t calculate is the impact to the community,” Pamplona said.

Soon this sign will be replaced by a new business occupying the site on Brinson Road, just off North Dale Mabry Highway, in Lutz.

But, he said he understands that the owner is making a business decision

Still, Pamplona said, “Land O’ Lakes will suffer. Land O’ Lakes will hurt. People will have to drive out of their way to go to bowling centers.”

Plus, bowlers are losing a gathering spot where many have been coming for decades.

“There’s such a value … it’s intangible, you can’t put a dollar to it,” Pamplona said.

Royal Lanes had 437 bowlers in five full adult leagues and two youth leagues. One of the youth leagues was purely youths and the other was a youth-adult league, where kids bowled with their parents, he said.

“Most of the leagues are going to stay together,” he said, and most have already decided to go another bowling center,” he said.

The closest bowling alleys are at Old State Road 54 and Little Road; on Hillsborough Avenue, across from Tampa International Airport; on Armenia Avenue, south of Hillsborough Avenue; and on U.S.301 in Zephyrhills.

Ultimately, some bowlers may choose to join different leagues at bowling centers that are more convenient for them, he noted.

This is the exterior of Royal Lanes, in Lutz. Lots of memories have been made within this building, which opened during the 1970s.

Most of Royal Lanes’ 18 employees also have relocated to another alley, Pamplona said, although he’s not sure what he’s going to do.

“I’ve got some options in the industry. I’ve got some options out of the industry,” he said.

When Royal Lanes ceases operations, it will no longer be a place where the clatter of bowling pins competes with memories of days gone by.

“Our Wednesday morning league is called The Lakerettes,” Pamplona said. “They’ve been bowling here, since basically the beginning.”

Royal Lanes is also the place where the Betty Strickland, who has since passed on, developed a reputation for her bowling prowess and her kindly nature.

Chances were, if you were looking for Strickland on a weekday, she’d be over at Royal Lanes.

Some days, she was known to roll as many as 10 games, but typically, she threw four or five.

One of Strickland’s biggest moments at the bowling alley came on Jan. 9, 2006, when she bowled 300 — a perfect game.

At the time, Strickland was the nation’s third-oldest woman to bowl a perfect game, according to a report published by The Tampa Tribune.

It’s also a place that figures prominently into the memory of Rachel Thompson, who worked at the bowling alley when she was young and now works at The Laker/Lutz News.

Thompson threw her perfect game at Royal Lanes. Her big moment came on Nov. 9, 2012.

Published May 17, 2017

Hearings authorized for impact fee hike

By

The Pasco County Commission has set into motion the process for boosting school impact fees, which are charged against new residential construction to help pay for new schools.

Commissioners directed county staff to set up a hearing before the Development Review Committee and to establish two public hearing dates on a proposal to boost school impact fees.

In pushing the issue forward, commissioners rejected a recommendation by the School Infrastructure Funding Committee, which they had appointed to study funding needs and potential revenue sources for school construction.

New houses are springing up across Pasco County, prompting the need for more schools. The Pasco County Commission has authorized public hearings to consider a rate hike in school impact fees charged against new residential construction, except for in age-restricted communities for those 55 and older.
(B.C. Manion)

That committee recommended the County Commission adopt the full impact fee recommended by a school district consultant, provided the Pasco County School Board votes to put at least a quarter-cent sales tax on the 2018 ballot, so voters can decide the issue.

County commissioners didn’t like that idea.

“I’m not very keen on the recommendation for this board to attempt to almost hijack the process, or tie the school board’s hands by forcing them to go out and raise the sales tax. That makes me uncomfortable,” Commission Chairman Mike Moore said.

“It’s not my job as a county commissioner to tell the school board members what they should do,” Moore said. “I do not want them to feel that we’re forcing them to do something.”

Commissioner Mike Wells agreed: “I don’t think we should tell them what to do.”

Wells also agreed with Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano, who said the board needs to help the school district to tackle the need for new schools.

“We’ve got to help our youth. It comes down to ‘What’s the amount?’,’” Wells said.

Starkey, a former school board member, said, “I believe the school district needs help. It’s unfortunate that our state is, in my opinion, not funding needs at an adequate level, and I guess now it comes to the local government to help schools.”

Mariano added: “I think it’s clear that everyone agrees they need the full fee.”

The new fee would be tiered, based on the square footage of a house.
As it stands now, the proposed school impact fee would be $7,539 for a house with less than 1,500 square feet; $9,785 for a house larger than 1,500 square feet, but less than 2,500 square feet; and $12,028 for a residence exceeding 2,500 square feet.

The ordinance also would include a provision that allows the fee to go up or down each year, based on construction costs.

Those figures are subject to change, based on the County Commission’s vote after the Development Review Committee’s meeting and the two public hearings.

Any new impact fee would take effect 90 days after approval by the County Commission.

Even if the county adopts the highest rate, school district officials estimate a $284 million shortfall in revenue needed for capital construction during the next decade.

The district says that the impact fees would be used to build Cypress Creek Middle, Starkey Ranch Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, a high school with a location to be determined and an elementary school in the Wesley Chapel area.

The district is already feeling the squeeze and conditions are expected to worsen, as an estimated 20,000 students are projected to arrive in the district during the next 10 years.

Some relief is expected, as Bexley Elementary and Cypress Creek Middle High are set to open in the fall.

But, as residential growth continues to march through Pasco, the school district will have to come up with additional revenues to pay for schools needed to accommodate increased enrollment, said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools. Boosting impact fees is only part of the solution, he said.

Published May 10, 2017

4H Unidos Club aims to boost opportunities, bridge gaps

By

There’s a new 4H Unidos Club starting in Dade City that’s intended to reach into a community that traditionally hasn’t been part of such clubs.

The club is specifically reaching out to Spanish-speaking youth and their parents, although it’s not an exclusive club.

“It’s a totally inclusive club. Anybody can join. That’s kind of the nature of 4H and all Extension activities,” said Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office.

Grace Reich, who works at the Pasco County Extension Office, will take on a leadership role in a new 4H Unidos Club forming in Dade City.
(B.C. Manion)

However, Elmore noted, it became clear last year during community stakeholder meetings that more services were being requested in Dade City’s Lock Street area.

“Folks in the community were saying, ‘We want to know more about 4H,’” Elmore said.

The meeting is set for May 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Resurrection Park, at 37124 Lock St., in Dade City. Free hot dogs and chips will be served.

During the stakeholder meetings, Sammy Ortiz stepped forward and said he wanted to get involved. Both he and Grace Reich, from Elmore’s office, will take on leadership roles.

Elmore believes that “4H is the perfect vehicle, to talk about entrepreneurship and leadership skills.”

It also helps youths develop literacy about livestock and agriculture, both very important topics in Pasco County, she said.

Beyond that, club members have the chance to learn about environmental stewardship, sustainability, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other topics.

These are among the things the community said they needed, Elmore said. “So, we’re doing our best to respond to that.”

To that end, the club will have an informational session to find out what potential members are interested in, and will begin planning future meetings.

The meetings likely will be in various locales around the community, Elmore said.

The information session will help set the tone for future meetings.

Besides delivering information, the session will be aimed at listening to what topics the community wants the 4H Club to explore, Elmore said.

“We can take it in a million different directions. That’s one of the best things about 4H. It’s definitely not one-size-fits-all,” Elmore said.

It’s not clear yet whether there will be fees, but if there are and a family can’t afford them, the University of Florida won’t allow that to be a limiting factor, Elmore said.

“We’re hoping that we’ll have sponsors step up out of the community to help fund some of the fees and some of the activities that the children will want to do,” Elmore added.

Grace Reich, who works in Elmore’s office, has stepped up to help lead the 4H Club.

“I’m part of this community. I’d like to see the Hispanic people be more involved in 4H, because we’re a big part of the community.

“I think they can see some things they haven’t seen before — opportunities that they don’t realize are out there. I think it’s a good thing,” Reich said.

The club is expected to meet at least once a month.

“We’re hoping to get an idea of what they’re interested in. What excites them,” Reich said.

Ortiz got involved after learning about the conditions in the Lock Street area.

“It goes back to coming to the Kumquat Festival and missing the turn to go onto Meridian, and going onto Lock Street, and Lock Street looking like it was a Third World country, and I said, ‘Why does Lock Street look different than Seventh Avenue?” Ortiz said.

“I want underprivileged kids to have the same opportunities (as other kids).

“It’s going to open up a whole new horizon for them,” he said.

“I’d like to see a melding of what they can learn from 4H — not just from an agricultural point of view, but how to deal with people, how to communicate, how to relate to people who are different from themselves.

His hope is that “at the end of the day, what will end up happening is that they can build community. They all go to school together, but they don’t live in the same area.

“This way, it will bridge a gap, build community,” Ortiz said.

He wants to plant seeds of hope in these youths’ hearts, that they could one day attend the University of Florida.

The program “may not change physically, the way that Lock Street looks, but if we can begin to impact the way that the kids think mentally, eventually the way that Lock Street looks will change because the kids on Lock Street will change.”

For more information about the new 4H Club, call Ortiz at (813) 563-5753, or reach him by email via ,

Or, contact Elmore at (352)518-0156 or .

New 4H Unidos Club
What: An information session about a new 4H Unidos Club forming in Dade City
Where: Resurrection Park Pavilion, 37124 Lock St.
When: May 13, 10 a.m. to noon
Who: Parents and youths are invited to learn about the new club.
Cost: Free
Details: Free chips and hot dogs will be served; parents and youths are invited to offer ideas about what kinds of activities the new club should do.
Information: Call Whitney C. Elmore at (352) 518-0156 or Sammy Ortiz at (813) 563-5753.

Published May 10, 2017

Putting on a show that’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

By

A group of second- through eighth-graders at Lutz Learning Center have been rehearsing their lines, and now they’re ready to present Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”

The school, located at 621 Sunset Lane, will be presenting a free community performance of the play at Nye Park, 630 Sunset Lane in Lutz, on May 11 at 1 p.m.

These are the students taking part in Lutz Learning Center’s production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ back row, from left: Carter Smith, Devyn Asencio, Emberly Wilson, Aiva Sohl, Anola Sohl, Ryan Brochu, Campbell McElaney; middle row, from left: Kendal Whillock, Sasanka Senthil, Caleb Wong, Evan Meredith, Gavin Quijano, and Jaden Askew; front row, from left: Levi Quijano, Lucia Pinera, Damien Negre, Elysia Wootten and Jackson Brewer.
(Courtesy of Lutz Learning Center)

Those attending the event should bring blankets or chairs to sit on, and they should get ready to see a bunch of young actors who are eager to put on a show, said Stephanie Rodriguez, director of staff at the school.

The play is an outgrowth a Shakespeare study the children have been involved in at the school.

“We kind of pride ourselves in making sure that kids are challenged and that they have a well-rounded education,” Rodriguez said, which includes not only mathematics and reading but also the arts.

“One of the things that we do try to implement is allow the kids a little bit of direction in their learning as well,” she said.

For instance, the school had planned to do Shakespeare’s tragic play, “Julius Caesar,” but the kids voiced a greater interest in putting on “Much Ado About Nothing,” a romantic comedy, Rodriguez said.

“They’re definitely a funny bunch,” Rodriguez said, describing the students who are presenting the play.

“I know a lot of the parents are going to come, but we wanted to open it up to the community, to reach out more — to give the kids a chance to perform for people other than their family,” Rodriguez said.

She expects the production to last between 20 minutes and 30 minutes.

Despite the range in age, the performers have been preparing as a troupe.

“They’ve been working together and practicing together,” Rodriguez said.

She thinks the experience helps the students to develop confidence, and she’s confident they’re going to put on a good show.

“These kids are just so animated. They really go into the role, 100 percent. They are using gestures, facial expressions. They are just completely into it, 100 percent,” Rodriguez said.

‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Where: Nye Park, 630 Sunset Lane, Lutz
When: May 11, 1 p.m.
How much: Free
Details: Bring a chair or a blanket and get ready to watch a group of second- through eighth-graders present their take on Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’
Information: Call Lutz Learning Center at (813) 949-3484.

Published May 10, 2017

Woman unleashes creativity through soaps

By

Step in Melissa Brown’s workshop, and you’ll see a woman focused on creating handmade soaps at her home business in Lutz.

Brown launched her business —Nautilus Soap Company LLC — more than a year ago, and hopes one day to open her own storefront. Besides making scented and unscented soaps, she also makes bath bombs and shampoo bars.

Melissa Brown uses a cutting device to create 11 bars of soap from a single mold.
(B.C. Manion)

She sells her products at local markets, such as the Lutz Arts & Crafts Fair, the weekly market in Indian Shores, the downtown Dunedin and other events. She offers wholesale pricing and handles custom orders.

Brown is a member of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and was one of the vendors at the chamber’s Land O’ Lakes Music Fest in March.

When Brown ventured into soap-making, she was beginning at Ground Zero.

So, she has spent a fair amount of time researching how to make soap, source suppliers and find out which markets work for her, and which ones don’t.

She’s chatted with other soap-makers to glean pointers — to help her avoid potential mistakes.

And, she’s done a fair amount of experimentation, too, learning through trial and error.

Melissa Brown’s Nautilus Soap Company LLC creates soaps of many colors and fragrances.

She began soap-making after trying her hand with candles and discovering that she didn’t find that engaging enough to suit her.

“I actually started making soap last January, really more of a hobby than anything. It just continually progressed,” Brown said.

“This is my absolute passion. It’s what I live, eat, breathe, and sleep every single day. I’ve never been this way about anything before,” she said.

She sells all sorts of soap. There’s Almond Milk & Honey, Bare Naked Soap, Bay Rum & Bergamot, Bed of Roses, Chill Out, Mother Nature, and Orange Blossom, just to name a few.

One recent day, Brown was experimenting with a batch of pink grapefruit soap.

While soap-making is an ancient art, Brown uses sophisticated equipment.

Melissa Brown stands in front of her Lutz home, where her soap company is based.

She uses a computer software program to formulate her recipes.

As she mixed the sample batch, she explained her process.

“What I have in here is my oil blend. I use an oil blend of five different oils. I use canola, castor, coconut, rice bran oil and olive oil.

“What is in this pitcher right here, is my lye and water mixture. It’s a specific strength that I use, and it has been formulated by my program, chemistry-wise, to make sure that it activates all of the molecules of the oils that I have in here. It’s a very specific ratio,” she said.

The lye mixture is critical, she said.

“If you do not have this, you will not get soap. You will just get oil,” she added.

Pink grapefruit essential oil, Australian pink clay and melted cocoa butter were the other ingredients she used, for this batch of soap.

These bars of soap are on the curing rack. They’ll cure for six weeks before being sold.

The clay is good for the skin, but also provides some color for the soap.

“Once I mix the oils and the lye together, after that is when I add the cocoa butter, because the cocoa will be free floating molecules within the soap, so it will more moisturizing,” Brown said.

“I give it a little stir, and then I go with the stick blender,” she said.

She’s careful while mixing the ingredients, because she doesn’t want the soap to harden too quickly. She also adds the color gradually to make sure she gets the shade she desires.

Her sample batch makes 11 bars.

After pouring the mixture into the mold, it rests overnight.

These pink creations add fizz to a luxurious bathing experience.

“Once I cut it,” she said, “it goes on these drying racks, it cures for six weeks.”

Sometimes, the soap doesn’t come out like she expects.

But, some creations she views as “mistakes” turn out to be quite popular with customers, Brown said.

In addition to learning the ins and outs of soap-making, Brown has broadened her knowledge on many other fronts, including figuring out out how much to charge for her soap, how to market it, and about taxes and other business requirements.

“I learn as I go,” Brown said.

Her husband, Doug, helped her to price her goods.

Nautilus Soap Company LLC, based in Lutz, offers can custom make orders.

“We looked at basically everything that was out there. We looked at markets. We looked at soap companies online. We looked and actually broke it by how much they were charging by ounce of soap. And, that’s how we kind of came up with it, so we were in line.

“I didn’t want to be too high, because then people are turned off by the price; but, I didn’t want to be too low, because then it would seem like it was a cheap product,” Brown said.

Brown said most of her working life has been devoted to medical work, in one form or another.

She didn’t’ feel able to unleash her creativity.

She decided to give soap-making a try and discovered a new source of joy.

The feeling reminded her of advice she’d heard during a talk, many years ago, by Debbi Fields, the founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies.

“She (Fields) said, ‘Do what you love, and love what you do.’ I never ever forgot that. And, that’s when it came to me, ‘You know what? I love this, and I want to do this.’

“It just blossomed from there,” Brown said.

Upcoming markets/fairs/festivals
You can buy handmade soaps produced by Nautilus Soap Company LLC, based in Lutz, either through the company’s website, or at these upcoming markets:

  • Indian Shores Sunday Market, on May 14 and May 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Indian Shores Town Hall Municipal Center, 19304 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores.
  • Clearwater Mall Weekly Market, May 16, May 23 and May 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., southeast corner of U.S. 19 and Gulf-To-Bay Boulevard, in front of Target.
  • Downtown Dunedin Weekly Market, May 12, May 19 and May 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Pioneer Park, Main Street and Douglas Avenue.
  • Armed Forces Day, May 20, noon to 8 p.m., at Frankie’s Patriot BBQ, U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road in Clearwater.

For more information, call (813) 438-3507, or visit NautilusSoap.com.

Published May 10, 2017

Committee recommends higher impact fees

By

A committee appointed by the Pasco County Commission to suggest ways to boost funding for Pasco County school construction has recommended a hike in school impact fees.

The committee stopped short of initially suggesting the full amount recommended by a consultant hired by Pasco County Schools.

However, the committee said the full amount of the increase should be approved, if the Pasco County School Board votes to put at least a quarter-cent sales tax increase on the 2018 ballot so voters can decide the issue.

Members of the School Infrastructure Funding Advisory Committee discuss various options to boost funding for school construction. They vote to recommend an increase in school impact fees, and to suggest the school board seek an increase in the sales tax. Their recommendations will be considered by Pasco County Commission, which has jurisdiction over impact fees.
(B.C. Manion)

In other words, the recommendation calls for raising the impact fee for a single-family detached house to $7,175 immediately, then up to $9,028, when the school board approves putting the sales tax increase on the 2018 ballot. If the sales tax is approved by voters, the impact fee would drop to $8,101. Impact fee rates would be increased by varying amounts for other types of new residential construction.

Jennifer Motsinger, the committee members who made the motion, noted that the higher fee is not tied to voters approving the higher sales tax.

“It’s not tied to success. It’s only tied to it getting to referendum. It gives us the teeth that we need, in order to move forward,” said Motsinger, who called for that approach during an April 26 meeting of the infrastructure funding committee.

The committee approved Motsinger’s motion 7-3 during the meeting at Rasmussen College in Land O’ Lakes.

Stewart Gibbons, the committee’s chairman, said using this approach provides a greater incentive for the school board to seek the sales tax as an additional source of revenue.

Scott Sheridan, another committee member, said the committee needs to make it “emphatically clear” that other sources of revenue, besides impact fees, are needed to address the school district’s funding problem.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, agreed with committee members that the impact fee increase is not the total solution.

“The impact fee will not be a panacea. It will not solve all of our problems,” Gadd said.

Parents in the audience said the funding shortage must be solved.

“We are leaving our schools in a position, in Pasco County, of doing damage control. We are in a financial crisis. Our public schools are suffering,” said Heide Janshon, who lives in the Seven Springs area. “Please, as a parent, I am begging you to raise the impact fees,” she said.

“In all honesty, the impact fees are the source of revenue that we have that must be raised, in order to keep up with the building,” Janshon said. “Seven Springs Middle School, the capacity is 1,400, somewhere in that vicinity. We will, by the middle of next school year, have 1,800 students. Mitchell High School, is going to be in excess of probably 2,400.”

Claudine Judge, of Seven Oaks, said “nothing is keeping up with the development. The roads aren’t keeping up. The schools aren’t keeping up.

“This area, in the last four years, it’s insane the amount of housing that’s going in.

“We were part of a very nasty school board rezoning process, that was not the fault of the school board, but the school board bore the brunt of it,” Judge said.

Denise Nicholas, of Florida PTA, told committee members: “Ten-period days, overcrowding of schools, brand-new schools opening overcrowded — it’s not good for our kids. We need to fully fund our schools. Pasco County is in an absolute financial crisis. We need these impact fees. Please vote to increase them.”

The committee’s recommendation was scheduled to be discussed in a May 2 workshop of the Pasco County Commission in New Port Richey — after The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

The County Commission — not the school board — has jurisdiction over school impact fees.

If the Pasco County Commission agrees with the committee’s recommendation, it will go the county’s Development Review Committee for a recommendation and then come back to the County Commission for two public hearings before the new impact fees can be adopted.

Published May 3, 2017

Wesley Chapel team ready to take on the world

By

They’re just in elementary school, but these children are already learning about the trade-offs in life.

They’re also getting a firsthand experience regarding the importance of preparation, and they’re finding out that even the smallest of details can alter the outcome in a competition.

These seven children are members of Wesley Chapel Elementary School’s “Catch Us If You Can” team, and they’ll be competing at Michigan State University May 23 to May 28, at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.

Members of the ‘Catch Us If You Can’ team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School are, from left, Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta. They’ll be competing at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University in May.
(B.C. Manion)

The team is made up of Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta — who are coached by Veronica Acosta and Janet Heyman. The coaches have children on the team and teach at Wesley Chapel Elementary.

Naturally, the kids and their coaches are excited.

“I still have to pinch myself,” said coach Veronica Acosta.

Some of the team members have been working together for three years, which has its advantages.

“They can finish each other’s sentences,” said coach Janet Heyman, noting that familiarity between team members lends itself to excellent collaboration on solving problems.

The team has also learned from victory and from defeat, coach Acosta said. “They know what it means to lose, and they’ve learned how it feels to win.”

Even though they’re elementary school students, some team members take a big-picture view on competing at Worlds.

“It doesn’t really matter if you win or lose. Just the experience — just going to Worlds — is a huge deal,” said team member Rowan Heyman.

Team member Isabell Barrios said she’s glad she decided to get involved in Odyssey of the Mind and thinks others should check it out. “Life is just trying new things. It can lead you to what you’d like to do in the future.”

Three of the team members, who are fifth-graders, will be missing their graduation ceremony, in order to compete at Worlds. They think it’s a trade-off worth making. Besides getting to travel out-of-state, they’ll be meeting kids from all over the word, testing their skills in a big arena and getting a chance to trade pins, they said.

Justin Acosta said Odyssey offers lasting value.

“While you’re doing it, you’re getting experience towards life, problems you need to solve every day,” he said.

They know that the competition will be challenging, but they’re looking forward to it.

“I think it’s really exciting, especially for me, because I’ve never been out of the state before,” said Sam Cappelluti, 10. “It’s really exciting to go to a different place with all of your friends.”

The fourth- and fifth-graders already have demonstrated that they’re contenders.

They won first place at the Gulf Coast Regional competition, and wowed the judges so much that they won the “Ranatra Fusca Award” for their exceptional creativity.

They also won first place at the state tournament at the University of Central Florida on April 8.

Odyssey of the Mind is a competition that encourages students to use creative approaches to solving problems. The program emphasizes the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

In Odyssey of the Mind, teams come up with their own ideas, engineer technical features, make costumes and props, and present their interpretation of the answer to a highly complex problem.

More than 825 teams from around the world are expected to compete in the 38th Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. The teams represent nearly every state in the United States and approximately 20 other countries.

It takes a lot of work, said 10-year-old Mina Melaika. The team meets every day, “adding small details” and re-reading the problem “to be sure that we’re getting everything right,” the fourth-grader said.

Ten-year-old Jason Sherman is excited about the competition, but he has another agenda, too.

“When I get up there, I want to try making a lot of friends,” he said.

Published May 3, 2017