The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mike Camunas

Local teams compete in Farm Bureau Classic

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Land O’ Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin, Wesley Chapel and Cypress Creek baseball teams all competed in the Farm Bureau Insurance High School Baseball Classic, the annual tournament held in Hernando County and featuring teams from Hernando and Pasco counties.

The Gators defeated Citrus and Central, but lost to tournament runner-up River Ridge in three games. The Hurricanes beat Central and Weeki Wachee, but lost to Springstead, while the Wildcats defeated Nature Coast, but lost to Cypress Creek and Hernando. The Coyotes won its first two games against Lecanto and Wesley Chapel, but lost the third game to the eventual tournament champion, Mitchell.

Warriors take third in softball tourney

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Steinbrenner High competed in and took third place decisively in the Inaugural 2022 Bay Made Fastpitch Invitational, which was hosted by Bay Made Fastpitch, a Tampa Bay-area based media site that covers high school softball in seven counties.

The Warriors won the third-place game handily with an 11-1 five-inning mercy-rule win over McKeel Academy, which came after also beating Durant and Calvary Christian.

Land O’ Lakes High also competed, but lost the four games it played against Lake Region, Sickles, Durant and Plant, respectively, with the games played at the Greco Softball Complex in Tampa.

Local teams compete in Saladino tourney

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Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wharton baseball teams all competed in the prestigious Saladino Baseball Tournament, held annually during Spring Break.

The Patriots defeated King and Riverview, however, dropped a heartbreak in extra innings to Robinson. The Warriors dropped three tough games against Sickles, Hillsborough and Durant, while the Wildcats lost its opening game to eventual tournament champ, Plant, but won its next two games against Durant and Hillsborough, respectively.

Making bath time less ‘ruff’

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This place is for the dogs.

Sit. Stay. Splash.

No, it’s not a dog groomer. It’s actually a self-serve dog wash.

Sadie and owner Amy Bailey are all smiles during bath time at Sit. Stay. Splash., a self-serve dog wash, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz. (Mike Camunas)

It’s a start-up business that Alison Sebesta opened in February.

She admits she may have had ulterior motives when creating her storefront, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz.

“I just want to pet dogs all day,” Sebesta, an owner of two Corgis, said with a laugh.

“All of us have dreams that make our hearts happy and the last three weeks have definitely done that for me.”

Sebesta opened Sit. Stay. Splash., on Feb. 22, as a way for dog owners to groom their dogs, in between groomer appointments.

Rei is bathed by her owner, Sofia Lopez, at Sit. Stay. Splash., in Lutz.

The setup makes it easier to bathe dogs, whether they are larger, elderly, or skittish.

“It’s about replacing what (the owner) would do at home,” Sebesta, a Land O’ Lakes resident, said. “You’re not on your hands and knees for hours soaking wet.”

At Sit. Stay. Splash., Sebesta installed five raised tubs so owners can remain standing while bathing a dog that can be tethered, to remain close. Each tub has an easy-to-use spray nozzle and soap, making washing and rinsing a breeze.

There also is a walk-in station for very large or older, or physically challenged dogs that can’t make it up the steps to the raised tubs.

Bath services start at $10. Sebesta handles clean-up duties.

“Any dog can come here,” Sebesta said. “I wanted to make sure we could bathe any type of dog.”

Cadbury gives Sit. Stay. Splash. owner Alison Sebesta kisses during bath time at the self-serve dog wash in Lutz.

There also are blow-drying stations at Sit. Stay. Splash., which allow for additional grooming needs from nail trimming, light hairstyling, and even scented sprays. Sebesta provides aprons, soaps/conditioners and towels, however, owners are more than welcome to bring their own supplies, such as treats or specialty shampoos.

That is why Kristin Reynolds and her husband, Ryan, bring their 10-month-old chocolate lab, Cadbury, to Sit. Stay. Splash.

“Right now he needs some medicated shampoo, but also, it’s just so much easier to bathe him here,” Kristin Reynolds said. “He’s 10 months old and 80 pounds already, and we just can’t do it in the bathtub.”

“He doesn’t really like the dryer, but he tolerates (a bath) a lot more,” her husband added. “This place is great because I just can’t get down on my hands and knees. This is just way easier on both of us.”

Amy Bailey has been taking full advantage of Sit. Stay. Splash.’s opening, as her dog, Sadie, a Doodle mix, is always in need of grooming. Bailey can’t get to the groomer on a weekly basis, so the self-service wash has been perfect for Sadie, whose fur needs to be blown dry or else it will mat.

“It’s been a lifesaver for me, because I just can’t sit on the floor for an hour and blow dry her,” Bailey said. “Both (the wash and dry station) have been great, but the blow dryer is the big reason we’re here.”

Sebesta will be there to help, sometimes assisted by her Corgis, Odin and Dashel. All she wants is to make bath time as easy as possible.

And to have a little fun with dogs, too.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t the groomer. It is supposed to be as stress-free as possible for every dog,” Sebesta said. “I want the community to enjoy it, I want the owners to enjoy it and — I just want to pet dogs, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Sit. Stay. Splash.
Where: 1930 Collier Parkway, Lutz
Services: Dog bathing, drying, self-service grooming
Owner: Alison Sebesta
Info: 813-406-4293 or SitStaySplash.com

Published March 23, 2022

Cadbury gives his owner, Ryan Reynolds, a knowing look during bath time at Sit. Stay. Splash., a self-serve dog wash, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz.
Sit. Stay. Splash., is a self-service dog bath business in Lutz, where dog owners can use a raised tub and blow-drying module, as an easier way to clean and groom their pets.
Sadie gets the blow dry treatment at Sit. Stay. Splash., in Lutz.

 

Zephyrhills librarian captures award-winning image

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The timing could not have been better.

“On that particular night, the moon was perfect,” Lori Brightwell, Zephyrhills librarian, said about her prize-winning photograph.

The former professional photographer also noted: “With the right lighting and cropping, basically anyone can have equally good pictures.”
She used her iPhone to capture the moon shining through clouds, above Zephyrhills City Hall, with a fountain lit up in the foreground.

Lori Brightwell, a Zephyrhills librarian, captured this image she calls ‘City Hall at Night.’ Brightwell placed third in the Florida Cities and County Management Association’s Membership Directory Photo Contest. The image will be featured on the association’s homepage for three months. Brightwell was a professional photographer for 22 years. (Courtesy of Lori Brightwell)

She knew it was a great photo, but was totally unaware of the photo contest.

It turns out that Kevin Weiss, the city’s public information officer, submitted the image as an entry in the Florida Cities and County Management (FCCMA) 2022-23 Membership Directory Photo Contest.

It was one of 47 submissions from jurisdictions across Florida that generated more than 25,000 views.

Brightwell’s photo garnered 360 votes, which yielded her third place in the competition.

Her photo now will be featured on the FCCMA home page from Jan. 1, 2023 to March 1, 2023.

“I’m very happy people voted for it,” Brightwell said.

She said it didn’t matter that her photo didn’t capture first place.

“I’m glad it’ll be on the cover, so everyone can see a part of this town that I just think is beautiful,” Brightwell said.

Before “accidentally becoming a librarian,” Brightwell worked as a professional photographer in the Temple Terrace area for more than two decades.

She graduated from the University of South Florida with a major in photography; she specialized in shooting weddings and national horse shows. In those days, Brightwell shot film and developed it in a darkroom at her house.

“I was told I would never get a job in photography,” she said, noting at that time, “there weren’t many women in photography either.”

But she worked as a photographer for 22 years.

When photography turned digital, it was harder to find work, Brightwell said.

That’s when she bought a horse from a principal, who helped her get a job as a school’s media specialist for a year while she also taught photography as an online class.

Shortly after, she became a librarian in downtown Zephyrhills and never looked back at photography — except when she has some free time.

“Honestly, this city is really a gem of a city,” she said.” There are so many little places that I wish I could do nothing but take pictures, if I weren’t always in the library. The snapshots that tell the story of Zephyrhills — the little details. That’s how you see the whole story of this town, which, in my opinion, is really beautiful.”

Especially late at night.

“I sent it to the city, just joking about how late us librarians leave, and I thought they might not think it was funny,” she said. “They loved the picture.”

“So, sometimes,” Brightwell said, “it’s worth it to leave that late.”

Published March 23, 2022

Patriots’ hottest start is years in the making

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Winning doesn’t come free for Freedom baseball.

It’s had just one winning season since 2012.

Its prospects this year, however, are bright.

Senior pitcher and hitter Evan Mobley transferred from Tampa Bay Tech during the offseason, joining Patriots players he’s known since their Little League days. (Mike Camunas)

“This is the first group of players I’ve had for four years, and they have been working their butts off, buying into the program more than they have any other year,” said Patriots coach Tripp Merrell, who is 26-36 in four seasons.

“We’ve never had the work ethic. To finally see that, it’s impressive because it’s all paying off,” Merrell said.

The payoff has been the Patriots’ hottest start, well, ever, in the program’s 16-year history.

At 7-2 through March 21, Freedom is enjoying an unfamiliar feeling of success that includes outscoring opponents 63-24 and going 2-1 in pool play of the Silver Bracket of the prestigious Saladino Baseball Tournament. The Saladino tournament, held annually over Spring Break, features many of the best teams in Hillsborough County.

“It’s Hillsborough County Baseball,” Merrell said. “You’re going to be playing a tough team the majority of the time. You can’t say it’s this or that team — you have to play your best every time. Competition is the real deal in Hillsborough County.”

Patriots coach Tripp Merrell is in his fourth season leading the team. He expects a focused work ethic from his players and that is paying dividends on the field, with the team having its best start in years.

The Patriots’ only losses this year have come to Durant and in an extra-inning, one-run loss to Robinson in the tournament. With Saladino in the rearview mirror, Freedom now focuses on continuing its best season — and working on what it will take to move on to the postseason.

In the past, teams that won the district, and the district runner-up would qualify for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA ) regional tournament. This season, however, only the district champion automatically moves up and there are eight at-large bids up for grabs. Those are handed out by rankings that are determined by an unknown algorithm used by FHSAA in conjunction with MaxPreps.

“There’s a lot of good teams we play night in and night out,” said Gio Mendoza, a junior who leads the team with 13 hits and is tied for leading the team with seven RBI. The catcher also noted: “We’ve got a lot of good teams in our district.”

However, he’s confident.

“I think that we can compete with just about anyone. This isn’t the same team as before,” Mendoza said.

Going forward, Freedom will need to show just that.

Junior catcher Gio Mendoza is known as the ‘anchor’ of the team and is one of the reasons the Patriots are focused and off to a hot start. Mendoza also is one of the players who has been coached only by Tripp Merrell, something Mendoza says contributes to the team’s success.

The Patriots district — Class 5A-6 — is stacked with some very good Hillsborough County teams, such as Hillsborough High and Jefferson. There also is the perennial state title contender, Jesuit, which is ranked 27th in Florida and No. 2 in Class 5A.

“All baseball, especially Hillsborough County, is really tough,” said senior pitcher Evan Mobley, who carries a team-best 0.36 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

“You can’t have the mentality you’re going to win automatically. You have to be on your game every night when you play baseball in Hillsborough County and you have the teams we have in our district,” added Mobley, who is tied for the team-high of seven RBI.

“We can’t look ahead to a game that’s too far down the road,” Merrell added. “The fact is we’re trying to get the best ranking and do that by focusing on the next team, whomever that may be.”

Mobley, a transfer from Tampa Bay Tech, has been a big boost to the roster, however, Merrell feels many of the pieces have been there all along. He calls Mendoza “the true anchor of the team,” while Raul Olivera — the senior centerfielder and leadoff batter who leads the team with 11 stolen bases — “is an absolute stud.”

“We’re just able to build on year after year and focus on the team as a whole,” Mendoza said. “We haven’t had to worry about change or a new coach and that always helps, in my opinion.”

Merrell agrees.

“Everyone has been here a long time now,” the coach said. “In all reality, the best season Freedom baseball has ever had is the ultimate goal, but the key to that is to just play one game at a time.”

Published March 23, 2022

Center Ice to host Isobel Cup

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Starting March 18 and running through the weekend, AdventHealth Center Ice, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host the Premier Hockey Federation’s (PHF’s) 2022 Isobel Cup Playoffs. This marks the first time the women’s hockey league will play its championship game outside of its franchise markets.

“This is like the Stanley Cup for this women’s hockey league,” said Gordie Zimmerman, the ice center’s CEO, who has run the facility since it opened more than five years ago. “We’re thrilled to be hosting this with the PHF and look forward to some great hockey over the few days these teams will be here.”

Center Ice is the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern U.S. It has housed events such as the 2017 Four Nations Cup and the 2021 NHL Prospect Showcase.

All six PHF teams will participate in the tournament and all of those games are on ESPN+. The Isobel Cup Championship game is scheduled for March 28 at 9 p.m., and will be shown on ESPN2. Five games will be played on March 25, followed by two semifinals on March 27. Tickets on Eventbrite are only available for games March 25, while the semifinals and championship are sold out.

The six PHF teams are the Buffalo Beauts, Boston Pride (the 2021 Isobel Cup winner), Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps and Toronto Six. The Isobel Cup is named after Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley’s daughter, Isobel, who shared his love of the game and is known to be one of the first female hockey players in Canada.

Freshwater fishing derby

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting a free youth freshwater fishing derby at the Tenoroc Public Use Area, 3829 Tenoroc Mine Road in Lakeland on April 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Preregistration is now open and is required to attend the derby. A fishing license is not required on this date because it falls during a license-free freshwater fishing weekend.

This special event will be held on the Derby Lake Recreational Facility, a 16-acre former phosphate pit stocked with a variety of freshwater sport fish and catfish. The lake has seven fishing piers and a 200-foot boardwalk that is accessible for fishing.

In addition to this fishing opportunity, there will be a casting contest, exhibitors and other outdoor activities for youth participants. A free lunch will be provided by Publix Supermarkets. Bait, and a limited number of loaner rods and reels, will be provided free of charge to youth ages 15 and younger. A parent or guardian must accompany youth participants.

To preregister, call the FWC at 863-648-3200, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Preregistration will end on Friday, April 1 at 5 p.m.

If you would like more information about the fishing opportunities at Tenoroc Public Use Area, visit the Tenoroc Public Use Area webpage, or call the FWC’s Southwest Regional Office at 863-648-3200.

High gas prices hitting wallets hard

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Gas prices are skyrocketing, with no apparent end in sight.

In a two-week period since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the average price for a gallon of gas climbed 73 cents a gallon in Florida; oil prices climbed $32 a barrel and the price to fill an average-sized tank of gas was $63, compared to $41 a year ago, according to Mark Jenkins, AAA (American Automobile Association) spokesman.

The 73-cent boost within two weeks is the largest increase in two weeks that AAA has recorded since it began tracking gas prices in 2000, Jenkins said, via email.

Gas prices have reached a record high in the United States, surpassing the previous record set in 2008. The price last week at RaceTrac on State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel was $4.39 a gallon for regular, about average in Pasco County. (Mike Camunas)

The average price around the state on March 11 was $4.378 per gallon. That shatters the previous record of $4.08 per gallon, set back in July 2008, according to AAA figures.

The crisis in Ukraine has prompted President Joe Biden to stop the import of Russian oil and that comes at a time when the United States is experiencing its highest rate of inflation in 40 years.

Motorists are feeling the pain at the pump.

“I live in Saint Mary with my sister in her house,” freelance construction worker Victor Reyes said, while filling up his truck and at least four gas containers, at a Pasco County gas station.

The price at the pump was $4.39 a gallon for unleaded 87.

“I used to go home every night. Now, I just go home on Saturdays. I sleep on the construction site because gas, it’s too expensive.

Brian Quigoley, of Wesley Chapel, gets some gas at a fueling station in Wesley Chapel.

“There’s nothing else I can do,” he said.

Zach Perry, a traveling salesman from Tampa, said he has to drive for work, so he’s stuck with the higher prices.

“My gas budget has doubled, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” Perry said, while filling up at a Lutz gas station.

The cost of gas also is influencing what people do with their leisure time.

“I don’t go anywhere anymore — at least now with these prices,” said Brooke Miller, a retired Air Force veteran who lives in Land O’ Lakes. “I go to the grocery store and I go home. I used to meet up with people to do some quilting at the community center, but I’m not going to do that anymore. We’ll probably have to quilt together on Zoom now.”

Despite the high prices, some gas stations experienced lines at the pump last week. In some cases, customers were filling up containers to avoid the prospect of paying more.

“We’ve got lines running out of the parking lot and into the street, and blocking traffic,” the gas manager at Costco in Lutz, Jordan Cass, said. “That’s leading to a lot of tense situations or unhappy customers, but just everyone needs gas. Sure, its members and they get a discount, but the demand here (at Costco) has, if anything, gotten higher.”

On average, Costco receives four shipments of gas regularly, but that has ballooned to six a day in recent weeks, Cass said. “We can’t keep it in the tanks,” he said, sounding slightly exasperated.

Drivers are frustrated, too. “When you gotta drive, you gotta drive,” Perry said. “And you need gas to drive. Guessing we’ll be stuck with high prices for a while.”

Gas prices soaring
Here’s a look at average gas prices on March 11, as tracked by AAA (American Automobile Association):

National average: $4.331
Florida average: $4.378

Hillsborough County retail prices:$4.399-$4.92
Pasco County retail prices: $4.384-$4.398
Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater: $4.40, regular; $4.734, mid-grade; $5.027 premium; $5.122, diesel
The previous record in Florida was $4.08 per gallon, set in July 2008.

Source: AAA

Fuel-saving tips

  • Tires & maintenance: Keep your vehicle in top shape through routine inspections; in between, be sure your tires are properly inflated.
  • Plan ahead: Map your route before you go, to minimize unnecessary turnarounds and backtracking. Avoid peak traffic times. Combine errands.
  • Watch your speed: Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 mph to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
  • Avoid excessive idling: A car engine consumes one-quarter to one-half gallon of fuel per hour when idling. A warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. When it is safe, shut off your engine when you will be stopped for more than 1 minute.
  • Use “fast pass” or “express” toll lanes: Avoiding unnecessary stops or slowdowns on the highway helps save fuel.
  • Avoid rush hour: You’ll use less gas if you’re not stuck in traffic jams.
  • Anticipate road conditions: Pay attention to what’s happening on the road to maintain momentum and avoid unnecessary stop-and-go travel.
  • Purchase recommended fuel type: If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Opting for premium when your car doesn’t requireit will cost more and won’t boost efficiency.
  • Shop around & save: There are apps and websites that will help you find the best prices.

Source: AAA

B.C. Manion contributed to this article.

Published March 13, 2022

Zephyrhills High ushers in a brand-new look

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Like many in this small town, it’s a longtime resident.

Zephyrhills High School.

The second-oldest school in Pasco County recently celebrated the end of a two-year, $33-million renovation.

The $33-million renovation at Zephyrhills High included adding a two-story, 17-classroom building, increasing the school’s capacity to about 1,950 students. (Mike Camunas)

Now, the school is practically unrecognizable to even deeply-rooted alumni and members of the community.

“My parents went here,” said senior athlete and student council vice president Kamil Mehrab.

He remembers how the school looked, not only since arriving there as a freshman, but from his growing-up years, near the school.

Long-timers reminisce about what it used to look like and are just like, ‘Nothing’s there anymore’, he said.

Overall, the campus remains the same — but it has been updated, relocated or improved, and in some cases, there have been additions.

The main entrance, for example, has changed drastically. The School Resource Officer’s office has been moved. And, the school’s massive trophy case now is in the main commons area — creating a visually stunning display.

“The eye is really drawn to that right away,” said principal Dr. Christina Stanley, in her third year at the school’s helm.

Zephyrhills High underwent a two-year, $33-million renovation, which included redesigning the common area to make it more spacious and to provide a prominent location for the school’s massive trophy case.

“And this city — it loves this school. Many of the residents and community leaders are deeply invested in it because many of them either went here, too, or their children now go here.

“And there’s been a lot of feedback in the form of questions of where everything is now or how it can look so different. Once they get over that and realize just how great everything is and its importance, they fall in love with it all over again,” the principal said.

The high school also added a new two-story, 17-classroom building, bringing its capacity to about 1,950 students.

The media center was remodeled, too. It now features small group conference rooms, circulation desks, flat-screen technology, and numerous outlets.

It has the feel of a university’s collaborative space.

“It’s all state-of-the-art,” Mehrab said. “It definitely doesn’t look like a high school because it’s so sleek and modern, but it’s very impressive, too.”

A redesign of the media center was part of the $33-million renovation at Zephyrhills High.

The classrooms and school have been equipped with enhanced safety measures to meet requirements in a “post-Parkland era,” Stanley said.

It also offers career and technical education opportunities.

The school’s criminal justice program features a 911 communications center, while the health occupation classroom resembles a hospital wing, equipped with multiple beds, sinks and curtains.

The school’s science, agriculture and building construction technology programs now have enlarged spaces for better hands-on learning, and the JROTC program has an indoor firing range in a classroom that includes a large garage door for easy trailer access.

Other improvements include a larger cafeteria area, additional restrooms, upgrades to the commons area, and an updated teacher’s lounge and administration suites.

Tampa-based Peter Hepner Architects and Clearwater-based Creative Contractors completed the project. They took feedback from staff and administration, and incorporated many suggestions into the plans.

“They gave me everything,” said Cat Burgess, a longtime fine arts teacher. “I asked for electric to come from the ceiling, and they came back and did that. I made out great, and with much more space. It’s so great that we were able to get this kind of update to everything.”

Buildings also were overhauled with a new air conditioning system, fire sprinkler system and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Plus, Stanley said, “there’s new windows everywhere letting in more light.

“I even have one in my office now.”

One difference, though, raised eyebrows of alumni, students, staff and community residents, alike.

“Where is Gus?!” they wanted to know.

There’s no need to worry: The school’s 500-pound brass bulldog, donated by Fred Gore from the Class of 1948, isn’t missing or gone.

Gus has just been moved.

He used to stand in the commons area: Now, he’s in the gym lobby.

Principal Stanley had this message for the Zephyrhills High faithful: “Gus isn’t going anywhere — he’s staying right here.

“We just need to find the right spot for him,” Stanley said with a laugh. “Gus is family.”

Published March 13, 2022