Mike Camunas

Bring on the boos, in Brooksville

October 4, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Haunted houses spring up everywhere in October.

They’re decked out for the Halloween season and feature actors in costumes seeking scares — but they’ll be gone well before Thanksgiving.

So, why not visit what docents claim is a real haunted house?

When it comes to being haunted, some believe the attic of the May-Stringer House is the most haunted of the 14 rooms in the house built in 1855. (Mike Camunas)

Take a drive up to Brooksville and visit the May-Stringer House.

It’s the home of the Hernando Heritage Museum — oh, and also two dozen spirits — according to the people who run the place.

Whether you believe it or not, this house is widely considered one of the most haunted places in Florida.

“We’ve seen shadow figures. We’ve seen spirits walking around. Heard them talk. Smelled certain smells when we shouldn’t, so we are most definitely haunted,” the house’s volunteer coordinator Karolyn Bonnell said. “We have 23 spirits here at the house.

“Oh, and one ghost cat, too.”

So enter, if you dare, the nearly 200-year-old, four-story, seven-gable, gingerbread trim, 14-room “Painted Lady” Victorian-era home, and perhaps you’ll see a ghost.

But even if you don’t, it’ll still be Worth The Trip.

Haunted history lesson
In 1855, John L. May built the house, originally with four rooms. He lived there with his wife, Marena, and their daughters, Matilda and Annie.

John succumbed to tuberculosis three years later.

As the Civil War came and went, Marena remarried. This time to Frank Saxon.

This is the room of Jessie Mae, the child of Marena May and Frank Saxon. Marena died while giving birth to Jessie, and Jessie died three years later. It’s said their spirits haunt the house, especially Jessie. House docents and patrons have said that they have felt Jessie grab their hands or have sensed her presence.

However, Marena died giving birth to their daughter, Jessie Mae. And, Jessie Mae died, just three years later, of unknown causes.

Marena and Jessie were buried on the property, as were John and Frank and Marena’s infant son.

A small graveyard out back, is believed to be a significant source of the rumors that the May-Stringer House is haunted.

“Oh, this place is absolutely haunted,” volunteer docent Emma Dowd said.

“Sometimes, people don’t know it’s haunted,” Bonnell said. “I have to tell them before the tour. … and then some people will just leave after I tell them that.”

Both docents have seen the spirits or had some sort of encounter.

Bonnell says she’s heard Jessie Mae talk to her teddy bear in her room on the second floor.

“‘Tell me a story’ she’ll tell the bear,” Bonnell said. “While other guests have said they’ve felt like a little child grabbing their hand while in that room.”

Things in the house also seem to move on their own, such as sheets being ruffled on a bed in the master bedroom.

Many spirits have been confirmed by the Brooksville PIT (Paranormal Investigation Team), including one thought to be a former servant named Molly, and another spirit, James, who hung himself in the house.

Frank Saxon himself has been said to have been sighted, walking on the second floor balcony and smoking his pipe, as he was known to do.

“Sometimes you’ll smell the pipe smoke,” Bonnell said.

But it’s the attic that is the most haunted.

Up the stairs
All the way at the top of the house, sits the attic, at the end of a steep, winding staircase. Inside the attic, like the rest of the house, are dozens of local artifacts. In fact, there are 10,000-plus artifacts that have been donated to the museum.

However, one particular artifact stands out as being creepier than the rest.

The Trunk.

This particular item is said to be haunted itself and brought a spirit into the home. Docents call this spirt “Mr. Nasty” because of his tendency to be rude and demanding.

“Not sure if it was that particular spirit, but I have been scratched here in the house,” Dowd said. “I didn’t even realize it until later and, sure enough, it happened on a tour.”

Some other items, such as some dolls and Brooksville artifacts are considered to be haunted, but The Trunk is the item that’s seen the most paranormal activity.

In fact, it was even featured on the Travel Channel show, Kindred Spirits, during the show’s fourth season in 2020.

“Mr. Nasty, he’s usually up there in the attic,” Bonnell said.

A small graveyard sits in the back of the May-Stringer House, with Marena and Jessie Mae, as well as John May and the infant son of Frank Saxton and Marena, are buried. The graveyard helps to fuel rumors of the house being one of the most haunted places in Florida.

Ghostly gathering
The May-Stringer House has rooms devoted to specific themes such as an Elegant Dining Room, Victorian Bedrooms, Military Room, an 1880s Doctor’s Office and a 1900s Communication Room, all containing those thousands of artifacts.

The doctor’s office comes from its other long-time owner, Dr. Sheldon Stringer, who used the estate for his medical practice.

After the death of the Stringers, the house passed from one owner to another until Dr. Earl Hensley and his wife Helen sold it to The Hernando Historical Museum Association in 1980.

In 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

So if you visit the house, don’t be surprised if you have a ghostly encounter.

Maybe it’ll be Mr. Nasty in the attic. Or Jessie Mae trying to hold your hand. Or maybe you’ll see Marena wandering the halls to check on guests, or Frank Saxon meandering on the balcony, with his pipe.

Tour the house, listen to the stories, and perhaps, as you leave you can ask yourself: Is this place really haunted?

That’s not for me to say.

You be the judge.

May-Stringer House
Where: 601 Museum Court, Brooksville
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays
Details: Visit, if you dare, one of the most haunted places in Florida. The May-Stringer House was built in 1855 and is a four-story, Victorian-era home overlooking the City of Brooksville. It is said to be the home to 23 spirits, as well as one ghost cat. Enjoy a 45-minute tour that includes the history of the house and more than 10,000 local artifacts on display. Ghost tours at night are available, too, as well as late-night group investigations.
Cost: $8 for adults, children 12 and under $5, 6 and under free.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.hernandohistoricalmuseumassoc.com/may-stringer-house

Other places with ‘haunting’ reputations
Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum
Sulphur Springs Water Tower, Tampa
Plant Hall at the University of Tampa
Tampa Theatre
Don Cesar Hotel, St. Pete Beach
Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
Fort Cooper State Park, Inverness

Published October 05, 2022

Here’s a new way to (re)cycle

October 4, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Ananth Kutuva is a tinkerer.

He also is a collector.

But the 16-year-old student in the International Baccalaureate program at Land O’ Lakes High School never thought he’d collect so many bikes, so fast.

“I just wanted to get 100 (donated) bikes,” Kutuva said. “All I did was post it on Facebook and NextDoor, and a lot of people contacted us with bikes. So, yeah, it was just crazy how many were ready to donate their bikes.

“Like I said, I just wanted to get to 100 (bikes), but now, I think maybe 250 because at the pace we’re going, I think that’s easily reachable (laughs).”

Teenager Ananth Kutuva works on a bike at WellBuilt Bikes in Tampa, volunteering his time because he genuinely just likes tinkering with bikes. Not only has he helped rebuild bikes, but Kutuva has reached out to the local communities to collect used and unwanted bikes to donate for refurbishment and parts. (Mike Camunas)

Kutuva began collecting used and unwanted bikes from neighbors and others in his surrounding communities, starting in his neighborhood, Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel.

But then, people from near and far got in touch with him.

Soon, the lanai patio at his house was full of bikes — 60 to be exact on Aug. 20, not even a full month into his bike drive.

As Kutuva collects bikes — he is approaching 100 — he gives them to WellBuilt Bikes, a Tampa nonprofit bike shop that sells refurbished bikes at affordable prices and invests the sales revenue into its Earn-A-Bike program, which allows people with little to no money to access or own a bike.

The program works like this: Put in the volunteer hours at the shop, either helping out or fixing up bikes, and it goes to getting a fully refurbished bike.

This is how Kutuva became familiar with the shop and its program — he wanted a place to work on bikes. He has been volunteering at WellBuilt since he was a freshman, but has never taken a bike.

He just wanted to fix them up.

His interest in bicycles dates back to seventh grade.

“I got him a mountain bike,” his father, Ramesh Vasudevan, said. “He assembled it himself.

“But he said he needed to do more than just biking,” the boy’s father said. “He wanted to take it to the next level and thought how could he use his bike repair skills.”

His dad explains that when Kutuva made repairs at WellBuilt, he noticed how happy the people were who were getting bikes.

“He was just like, ‘Wow, there are so many bikes around us and in the area. Why can’t I get those for other people? How do I get those to (WellBuilt) so people who want, or need, can have them?’” his dad added.

“That kind of ambition, I encouraged it immediately.”

Through volunteering at WellBuilt, Kutuva wanted to learn more about bikes in general. Everything else he had already learned came from YouTube videos, and trial and error.

Ananth Kutuva is a 16-year-old student in the International Baccalaureate Program at Land O’ Lakes High. He has volunteered his time and efforts to collect used and unwanted bikes to donate to WellBuilt Bikes. He then repairs them so they can be purchased or earned at the nonprofit bike shop in Tampa.

Now, Kutuva has restored and fixed up about 10 bikes, which have been sold or earned at WellBuilt, and the whole process takes a few visits to finish.

“The hardest part is just getting the tools because it can take a lot of specialized tools made specially for that bike,” Kutuva said. “I am logging volunteer hours, but I really just wanted to learn more about bikes when I first came to WellBuilt.”

Once the bikes were stockpiled on the lanai, WellBuilt Bikes CEO Jon Dengler would bring over a trailer to load them up and then take them to storage. The initial collection of 60 took two trips for Dengler.

He was blown away by the teenager’s efforts.

“If someone takes the time and initiative to look, especially in the suburbs, there are probably two bikes laying around that just need a little work or are perfect for donating,” Dengler said. “Ananth just put in the work and went out and gathered them by tapping these different networks.

“No matter what, when someone puts that many bikes together, we’re on our way, but when it’s just a teenager in high school, that’s amazing.”

For now, Kutuva will continue his bike drive.

There’s also the matter of getting to WellBuilt to tinker around.

“Well,” the teenager said with a smile, “I’m pretty busy at school, so I’m always looking to find time.

“But I will try hard to find the time. Because I really want to fix up more bikes,” he said.

Bicycle Drive
Ananth Kutuva collects bikes in any condition and then donates them to Wellbuilt Bikes, a nonprofit bike shop that sells refurbished bikes at affordable prices. Wellbuilt is in the University Mall, 12256 University Mall Court, in Tampa. If you would like to donate a bike, but are unable to transport it to the shop directly or need more information about the drive, contact Ananth Kutuva at or 813-701-7870.

For information or to volunteer at WellBuilt Bikes, visit BikeShopTampa.com.

Published October 05, 2022

What’s the cache?

October 4, 2022 By Mike Camunas

This was Pokémon Go before Pokémon Go.

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, which involves participants using a GPS or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called ‘geocaches’ or ‘caches,’ at specific locations that are marked by coordinates all over the world. (Mike Camunas)

In fact, when geocaching, something tangible, real is actually found.

Geocaching — it’s the outdoor recreational activity in which participants use a GPS or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, or caches. Not only has it existed for decades, but geocachers are still going strong, with more than a million known in the U.S. alone, as of 2021.

“It’s definitely people who like the outdoors — exploring,” said Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Naturalist and Program Coordinator Rebekah Jenkins.

This is a screenshot from the Geocaching® app, showing a map view of Northern Land O’ Lakes. As seen by the numerous green dots, there are dozens of caches that can be found in the woods that line State Road 52, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and north of the Connerton subdivision.

She runs a monthly introduction program to geocaching at Jay B. Starkey Park in New Port Richey.

“While it is popular and (Starkey Park) has more than 50 alone, it certainly takes a dip (in participation) in the summertime because it’s hot, but we do see a lot when it’s cooler.

“It’s just a super versatile activity, because it can be done anywhere,” Jenkins said.

Indeed, when using the Geocaching® app on a smartphone, it will give the locations of all and any nearby caches. Those do not have to be in a park or the woods. Caches can be found in neighborhoods, shopping plazas, even just off the side of the road.

“I think anyone who tries it, they usually grow to really enjoy it,” Jenkins said. “Especially, if they’re really into hiking and exploring.”

All around the geo
By all accounts, the first documented placement of a GPS-located cache took place in 2000 in Oregon. Since then, they’ve been scattered across the nation, and world, in the likeliest and unlikeliest places. And it’s because anyone can place a cache. There’s nearly nothing ‘official’ about it — all one needs to do is create one and place it in either a fun or difficult (or both) location.

Caches can be a waterproof container in just about any form — a small plastic box, an old paint can or even a former rice jug, as seen here. Several geocachers leave small toys or trinkets in caches either for fun or to be traded.

A cache typically is some sort of waterproof container. They vary in sizes from large to medium, to small to micro.

The only real “requirement” needed for a cache is a logbook, so that finders can log that they found it and when they did. Depending on preference, and size, the logbook could be the only thing in the cache. Or, as with several larger caches, little trinkets or toys can be left or traded by geocachers.

Finding caches varies in difficulty, depending on the clues left by the original placer and hints left by fellow geocachers on the app.

The app comes in handy, too, for keeping track of found caches.

Besides having different sizes, caches can have different themes. For instance, there can be a group of caches that might solve a mystery or finish a challenge. Each cache will give clues on how to find the next one, and several of them can come with a fun story.

Hide and seek
Jenkins says the Parks Department has yet to put any of its own caches in any Pasco County park. She says they will eventually, but by her account, there are caches in every county park, from Starkey to Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City to Cypress Creek Preserve in Land O’ Lakes. There are even several in Lake Park in Lutz, as well as Flatwoods Park in New Tampa.

Caches come in all sizes and degrees of difficulty to find. For instance, this ‘micro’ cache in Land O’ Lakes is camouflaged to blend in with the forestry.

For now, Jenkins says the Parks Department will continue to do monthly Geocaching 101 in Starkey, because it has been quite popular.

Plenty of people seem to enjoy coming out to seek what’s been hidden.

“It’s been a mix of experienced geocachers to first-timers, to young and old people coming out,” Jenkins said. “When it’s people who have never done it before, it’s exciting to see those people experience, and find a cache, for the first time.”

Geocaching 101
Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources will host a Geocaching 101 class at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, at 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., in New Port Richey, on Oct. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The program is to introduce participants to geocaching and to give them a chance to experience geocaching with either a smartphone or GPS unit.
Cost is $5 per person 10 years or older, and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Pets are not allowed.
The program begins in the Starkey Environmental Education Center and then will go out into the park. It is recommended to bring water, bug spray and wear close-toed shoes.
Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to download the Geocaching® app.
To register, visit secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl.
For more information, email .

Published October 05, 2022

A hidden cache, like this one at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey, usually is a waterproof container containing a logbook and a few to several trinkets other geocachers may have left or to be traded. Caches can be created and left hidden by any geocacher to be found by fellow geocachers.

Some caches are very large and even sometimes not all that hidden, as is this ‘hotel’ box located in Jay B. Starkey Park in New Port Richey. Many geocachers create these large ones as a charitable way for use in the geocaching community.

Gators getting back to winning ways

September 27, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The Gators new first-year head coach is aptly named.

Dan Goodspeed.

The former NFL lineman took over as head honcho in May, but his shift in (good) coaching technique and (speedy) training style has already paid off.

Land O’ Lakes is off to a 4-0 start and is looking like one of the county’s top teams again.

“It’s still a work in progress, but we’re headed in that direction and (it is) reflected on the football field because football is fun — it should be fun,” said Goodspeed, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they won Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. “You won’t hear any screaming out here, nothing negative — I don’t think there’s a need to berate players, so we want them to have fun and that’s part of the culture shift.

“(That’s a) tough thing to say, if we’re back, but (our players will) determine that with the work they’re putting in. Basically, on game day, I have a ticket to watch the best game in town, but it’s up to them to put in the work. We’re just here to guide them. It’s up to them to want it.”

When Goodspeed took over as head coach in May — becoming the fifth Gators coach since 2008 when the legendary John Benedetto retired — there was a whirlwind of changes.

Senior linebacker Justin Leivas (30 tackles) anchors a Gators defense that has allowed just 28 points in four games, including two shutouts (River Ridge, Wesley Chapel).

The previous coach, Trac Braughn, stepped down just days before spring football season began. Then, Land O’ Lakes saw its star quarterback, Kyle Horvath, transfer to nearby rival Sunlake, just after wrapping up a 2021 season in which he threw for 2,067 yards and 28 touchdowns.

And while last season may seem like a success at 9-1, the Gators played as an independent team. They stayed out of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s very tough Class 7A District 10 that featured Hillsborough County schools such as Armwood, Strawberry Crest, Tampa Bay Tech and Wharton. Land O’ Lakes was in rebuild mode following back-to-back losing seasons (3-15) in 2019 and 2020.

“Winning is fun, but the purpose is to get better at football,” Goodspeed said. “Everyone wants to count wins and losses, but we’re also developing young men to be better athletically and academically.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Clarke, in his first year as starter, has thrown for 220 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 243 yards and a score.

“When playing with the Bucs, as we made our home out here in Pasco County, I used to come here (to the games) on Fridays and watch those (Gators) teams (of the past) have that Land O’ Lakes football atmosphere and really saw what it meant. So I knew a shift in culture was important.”

Goodspeed specifically shifted the way the Gators train on the field and in the weight room. He brought in Chris May, director of sports performance at Saddlebrook Resort. May trains athletes in a wide range of sports, including football.

“That way we are doing training right, and not just running them until their tongues are hanging on the ground,” Goodspeed said. “We wanted to train explosiveness.”

Players are buying into the return of a winning culture and new techniques, which has them optimistic heading back into district play, which begins with a tough opponent: Mitchell on Sept. 30.

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Kennen Ayala leads the Gators with 11 catches for 180 yards and four touchdowns. He also has two interceptions and 12 tackles on defense.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Clarke, who earned the starting nod by throwing two touchdowns in the team’s Spring Game, is one of those players.

“With Coach Goodspeed coming in, I think we’re more of a team now,” Clarke said. “We’re still building the team skills, and that’s definitely shown with how we’re playing with this pretty big start. … That’s our goal — to play as a team finally, which feels good, just as much as it does winning.”

“It feels great,” agreed senior linebacker Justin Leivas, who has 30 tackles. “We’re playing some good football, so things have really been better as a team with Coach Goodspeed.”

For now, the Gators are focused on their first district game in two years, never wanting to look too far ahead on the schedule.

“We don’t have a lot of experience in things like coming from behind or protecting a lead,” Goodspeed said. “That’s something that comes from years of it happening, and a lot of these kids, that’s just never happened for them.

“Land O’ Lakes hasn’t had that for many years now, so we’re trying to instill that because once we get into a tough match, which we will be against Mitchell, we can say, ‘Hey, we’ve planned for this. We’ve practiced this,’ and we can go from there.”

Mitchell (3-2, 1-0) vs. Land O’ Lakes (4-0, 0-0)
When: Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Where: John Benedetto Stadium at Land O’ Lakes High, 20325 Gator Lane, Land O’ Lakes
Coaches: Mitchell – Andy Schmitz; Land O’ Lakes – Dan Goodspeed
Outlook: The Gators are opening district play, while the Mustangs already defeated Wiregrass Ranch 50-6 on Sept. 16. Land O’ Lakes turns to its young quarterback, Mason Clarke, who has amassed 463 total yards and five scores. His top target has been senior Kennen Ayala, who has caught all of the team’s receiving touchdowns. … The Mustangs rely heavily on their running quarterback, senior Chris Ferrini, who has 11 total touchdowns, as well as 559 passing yards and 335 rushing yards. Mitchell has outscored opponents 155-65.

Class 4 Suburban, Region 2, District 6 Standings
Land O’ Lakes 4-0
Springstead 4-0
Mitchell 3-1
Sunlake 1-3
Wiregrass Ranch 1-3

Published September 28, 2022

Pirates punching up the points

September 27, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The Pirates are making waves again.

And not just the extremely loud sound waves from cannon fire that reverbs W.F. Edwards Stadium each time Pasco scores a touchdown. The Pirates, the county’s most successful high school football program, seemingly is back as one the area’s top teams, thanks to an impressive 4-0 start.

First-year Pasco High Football head coach Alphonso Freeney has the Pirates off to a 4-0 record, which is a stark contrast to last season when the Pirates went winless and scored just 18 points. (Mike Camunas)

A start that all began with a new head coach.

“Honestly, it’s about making the kids care about football again,” said first-year head coach Alphonso Freeney, who after seven seasons as an offensive assistant at Mitchell was hired by Pasco in December. “And not just football, but care about school. First thing we had to do was get them to understand that you’re not just an athlete, you’re a student-athlete. When they started buying up there on the hill (at school), everything else started rolling.

“Because I told them, if you go to school and get that done, then you come down here (to football), it’ll be easy — doing something you love will be easy. And at the end of the day, they’re high school kids — they’re not professionals. They’re kids and it needs to be fun.”

Senior running back Tayshaun Balmir is leading the way in the Pirates’ impressive 4-0 start, thanks to his 840 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, which rank him third and fourth in the state, respectively.

Unfortunately, Pasco High Football — the only county team to ever win a state championship (1992) — hasn’t had much fun since 2014, which was the last time the Pirates had a winning record. After 12 seasons under coach Tom McHugh (2007-2018), the program’s winningest coach (86-50), the Pirates struggled, to say the least. Three seasons under Jason Stokes produced a 9-22 record, including a winless 2021 season that saw Pasco score just 18 points.

Last season was a brutal stretch that included two forfeited games and a season-ending 56-0 loss in the 9-Mile War to rival Zephyrhills.

“Coming from Mitchell where we were successful, I told the kids, ‘I don’t know what it’s like to go 0-10 — I hope I never have to.’” Freeney said.

Junior safety Angel Miles is tied for the team high with two interceptions, and also leads receivers with two touchdown catches.

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s in the past, so we don’t even bring it up. We don’t go back there.

“When I first got the job, people asked how are we going to be, to give them football talk. I said, ‘I’m not going to give you football talk,’ and you know, we go off (winning), but we practice like we’re 0-0, that’s the mindset we take into each game,” Freeney added.

“But when I came in and I saw these kids, I said we’re going to be a pretty good football team and knew from the get-go we had something special.”

Senior defensive end Anthony Pratt leads the Pirates with 31 tackles, five sacks and two fumble recoveries. The Pirates have allowed just 66 points in four games after allowing 343 points in a winless 2021.

It seems the Pirates have found something special — lightning in a bottle in the form of senior running back Tayshaun Balmir. Through four games, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound back has rushed for 840 yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking him third and fourth, respectively, in the state in those categories. In fact, Balmir’s yards are almost 400 yards more than the next county running back: Zephyrhills’ Rodney Smith, at 465.

“I expected myself to make a little noise, but I never expected to go (that high) in the state — I ain’t gonna lie (laughs),” Balmir said. “You know, it is pretty great, so I figure I’ll just keep running when I get the ball.”

Balmir didn’t play for the Pirates last season, but was around, even if now he is formally a starter. But like all Pirate football players, he’s well aware of the history, and the community’s affinity, for this team.

“Everybody is congratulating us, and making me feel good,” Balmir said. “(What’s different from last season is) communication on the team. Last year, our players were all fighting, like we weren’t playing as a team — we were just out there playing with no direction.

“Now, it’s a lot of fun. We have fun at practice, we have fun at the games, we have fun outside of football and school — like we just have a bomb as a team.

“And, yeah, it’s fun to win, too.”

Fellow senior and linebacker Anthony Pratt agrees.

“It was really tough,” said Pratt, who leads the team in tackles (31) and sacks (five). “Coming out here every Friday and knowing you were just going to get beaten. It was, of course, not fun. But now practice is fun, the games are fun, and I feel as if we’re all on the same page out here, finally, and the results are showing we are.

Senior quarterback Enrique Matos has amassed 386 total yards and five touchdowns.

“Hopefully, our offense keeps putting up points and our defense keeps stopping (the opponent).”

Cypress Creek (4-0, 0-0) vs. Pasco (4-0, 0-0)
When: TBA due to Hurricane Ian
Where: W.F. Edwards Stadium at Pasco High, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City
Coaches: Cypress Creek – Michael Johnson; Pasco – Alphonso Freeney
Outlook: Pasco and Cypress Creek head into district play, both undefeated and looking to get a leg up in the district standings for postseason positioning. Expect the Pirates to turn to star running back Tayshaun Balmir, whose 840 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns is not only best in the county, but some of the best numbers in the state. Pasco was winless last season and only scored 18 points, but has quickly turned things around under new head coach Alphonso Freeney, outscoring opponents 140-66. … The Coyotes are really churning behind a two-punch offense led by quarterback Jack Niemann (762 passing yards, nine touchdowns) and running back Malachi Askin (526 yards, eight touchdowns). This is just the sixth season in program history for Cypress Creek, which is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Class 3 Suburban, Region 2, District 7 Standings
Pasco 4-0
Cypress Creek 4-0
Zephyrhills 2-2
Wesley Chapel 0-4

Published September 28, 2022

Guv’na gives out the goods

September 27, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The new Guv’na of Lutz has taken his first official action.

Newly “elected” Lutz Guv’na Atlas Cortecero kicked off his term on Sept. 13 by distributing funds raised by himself and his two opponents — Stacee Campbell and David Penzer — in the race for the honorary title.

In a well-attended gathering at the pavilion in the back of the Old Lutz School House, Cortecero donned his Guv’na sash and doled out checks to local charities, clubs and organizations — totaling $25,079.07.

Newly ‘elected’ Lutz Guv’na Atlas Cortecero kicked off his term by distributing the $25,079.07 raised in donations during this year’s campaign season at a well-attended gathering at the pavilion in the back of the Old Lutz School House on Sept. 13. (Mike Camunas)

“It’s amazing to know how many people worked to the benefit of this city and to, even now, learn (more) about the work that people put into their community, either as people or businesses,” Cortecero, who hails from São Paulo/Brazil, said. “And it’s all for Lutz — but now that I’m Guv’na and I know about (other charities and organizations), I can help make more money for them.

“So it’s just incredible, and I’m looking forward to working for this community for my whole year,” he said.

Cortecero is the first new Lutz Guv’na since Amy Lancaster claimed the title in 2019.

She held the title longer than the traditional one-year reign because a worldwide pandemic interfered with the Lutz Fourth of July festivities.

Announcing the winner of the Guv’na’s race traditionally has been a regular feature of the community’s Independence Day celebration.

That’s when the final counting is done and organizers announce who brought in the most money in a race where the victor is determined solely on the basis of who raised the most cash to help community causes.

Typically, the total amount of contributions adds up to thousands of dollars, which are then distributed to help about 20 nonprofit Lutz groups.

This year, Cortecero led in fundraising with $11,919.11.

Candidates then earmark 10% of what they brought in for a charity of their choice.

Stacee Campbell, center, was presented with a plaque after raising $2,135.96 during her campaign. She is seen here with First Baptist Church of Lutz Administrative Pastor Paul Vahue and 2015 Lutz Guv’na Jennifer Rankin.

Fittingly, this year’s Guv’na had his first assembly at the Old Lutz School House, which also is where he sent his 10% — identifying the Citizens For The Old Lutz Building 501(c)(3) nonprofit as his charitable cause.

The money will be used for renovations to the building.

The schoolhouse, built in 1927, is considered a community icon. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 15, 1996.

“I want to get a big thermometer (sign) to put it out in front of the building (facing U.S. 41) and just work to get it filled red,” Cortecero said. “For now, I have to discuss with the people at the Lutz School House how much it will cost, but as soon as I know, I will let Lutz know.

“I just want to make the place beautiful again, so as people, when they pass here and see this school, see just how beautiful it can be.”

Cortecero also took time to pass out checks to the benefactors of all the money raised.

Penzer, who raised $11,024, gave his 10% to the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. Campbell, who raised $2,135.96, gave her 10% to the Lutz Leaguerettes.

Here’s a list of recipients from this year’s Guv’na race proceeds:

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club
Hillsborough Fire & EMS Museum
Old Lutz School House
Lutz Train Depot Decorations Fund
Learning Gate Community School
Boy Scout Troop 339
Lutz K-8 PTA
GFWC Little Women of Lutz
Boy Scout Troop 212
Boy Scout Troop 12
Steinbrenner Future Farmers of America
Cub Scout Pack 12
Maniscalco K-8 PTA
First Baptist Church of Lutz
Lutz Leaguerettes
Lutz Chiefs
Tighten The Drag Foundation
Civil Air Patrol – North Tampa Lutz-Cadet Squadron.

Cortecero, who is married to 2007 Guv’na Michele Northrup, says he wants to host more events at the Old School House.

Some events already are scheduled, including Autumn Day on Oct. 19, Pioneer Day on Oct. 8 and Christmas at the School House in December — but he would like to do even more.

“I want to do something like a winter festival, with vendors and live music — a big festival,” said Cortecero, who generated the third-highest amount of contributions in the history of the Guv’na race. “I want to do something else (beside the trees and lights), so maybe in January or February. People can come here and hang out with the lights — like a block party, with food trucks,” he said.

“It can be to help raise money we’ll need for the renovations and then the brand new Guv’na can meet everyone from Lutz!”

Published September 28, 2022

Town of St. Leo approves $4.1 million budget

September 27, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The town of St. Leo has adopted a budget of $4.1 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Founded in 1891, the Town of St. Leo is the oldest incorporated municipality in Pasco County. The town has an estimated population of 2,362 and is approximately 858 acres in size. (Mike Camunas)

This year’s budget represents slightly more than $200,000 higher than last year, which translates into an increase of about 5%.

The St. Leo Town Commission approved the budget in a commission meeting on Sept. 21.

The town is expected to generate total general funds in about $1.2 million through sales and use taxes, licenses and permits, intergovernmental and miscellaneous revenues.

St. Leo also has $2.1 million in reserves.

Expenditures are estimated at just over $2 million, stemming from general government, public safety, physical environment, human services and other non-operating uses.

General government has the highest expenditure at $318,731.

The Town plans on spending $173,500 of special revenue on transportation and special projects.

Founded in 1891, St. Leo is the oldest incorporated municipality in Pasco County. The Town is approximately 858 acres in size, much of which is Lake Jovita. The most recent population estimate is 2,362.

The five-person Town Commission consists of Donna DeWitt, Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio, Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett, Curtis Dwyer and William Hamilton.

For more information about the town, its commission, permits, applications and other issues, visit TownOfStLeo.org.

Published September 28, 2022

Pining to express creativity

September 20, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Bringing in pine needles from the outside — some might call that person crazy.

Perhaps, a basket case.

Evelyn Sivelle, of Wesley Chapel, selects just the right pine needles needed to keep working on her basket during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills. Sivelle has been doing this arts and crafts activity for about three years and while the process of making baskets and other items can be time-consuming and meticulous, all it requires is some string and just regular pine needles from trees or the woods. (Mike Camunas)

But not for these crafty locals. They gather them to create baskets made of nothing more than everyday pine needles and colorful string.

They’re learning how to create their crafts from Rocky Boyett who teaches pine needle basketry, twice a week, free of charge, in Dade City and Zephyrhills.

“At first, it is hard, because it’s a different concept than people are used to getting their hands wrapped around,” said Boyett, a 76-year-old Vietnam veteran, who has been teaching the classes for about eight years now. “Even then, for people who have been doing craft work for years, they may catch on a little quicker than most, but still there will be a lot of trial and error.

“All I want to do is pass along how to make baskets,” Boyett added. “I’m not selling anything, I’m not making them to make money, either.”

Rocky Boyett cracks a smile as he threads string to bind a very large basket he is constructing, while teaching pine needle basketry classes at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.

Boyett says it takes time to learn how to stitch together pine needles with just string and a sewing needle, but there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

He teaches the basic, most commonly used “V stitch.”

The class offers step-by-step instructions.

“It does take a long time,” Boyett said. “You can’t come here for a two-to-three hour class and go home with a finished basket. It will take days, weeks, maybe even longer depending on the size of the basket.

“And it takes two stitches to make a V, and baskets, depending on the size, will have thousands of stitches,” he said.

The classes are free and some supplies are provided, but participants also need to bring some of their own materials, including sewing needles, string and, of course, lots and lots of pine needles.

“Obviously the longer the pine (needle) the better,” Boyett said. “But everyone gets it from their yards or from someone they know who has pine trees. Usually it’s best to just take them right from the tree and let them dry out, so it makes for a fairly inexpensive art form.”

Pine needle baskets are made with exactly what one thinks — pine needles, found either in the woods or taken off trees, and sometimes washed and then dried out until time for use.

Boyett’s students don’t limit themselves to making baskets. They’ve also produced pot holders, coasters, jewelry and other items.

Like Boyett, many students choose not to sell their creations. They may give some as gifts, but it turns out participants often just can’t part with their baskets.

“It is hard to let go of them,” said Wesley Chapel resident Evelyn Sivelle, who has been attending the classes for about three years. “You put in 60-plus hours of work, but it must be the satisfaction of completing one, all the time it took and how it finally looks finished that makes you just not want to sell it.”

“It’s hard to sell them,” Boyett added, “not just because of attachment, but to get a right price for it, considering how much work goes into making even the smallest of baskets. I even offered (Evelyn) $200 for one I really liked, and she won’t take it because she likes it too much.”

Others, who just started the classes and are still working on their first basket, are aware it requires patience to create something so simple, yet so intricate.

“Some people think they can come in here and learn everything in one day — nope!” new student Jan Wilson said. “I’ve been doing it just over a month now, but it took time. Finally, at one point, I turned it over and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m doing it right!’”

Pine Needle Basketry classes
When: Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.
Where: On Mondays at Dade City Senior Center, 13853 15th St.; On Thursdays at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills, 5855 16th St.
Details: Rocky Boyett, aka Dr. Sticks, teaches, free of charge, anyone who wants to learn pine needle basketry. The craft involves hours and hours of learning to sew and bind pine needles. Boyett also teaches how to make customized walking sticks and canes from outdoor branches.
Info: Call Rocky Boyett at 706-676-8318.

Published September 21, 2022

Vicky Brush, of Dade City, is all smiles as she works on a pine needle basket during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.

Rocky Boyett, aka Dr. Sticks, helps Jan Wilson with the right technique in making a pine needle basket during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills. Wilson has been coming to the classes for about a month and has quickly gotten the hang of creating pine needle baskets, using thick sewing string.

Pine needle basketry classes meet twice a week: on Mondays at Dade City Senior Center and on Thursdays at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.

Rocky Boyett teaches the ‘V Stitch’ technique at his pine needle basketry classes. These baskets were sewn together with colorful string.

Asha Maida, of Zephyrhills, meticulously inspects the start of a pine needle basket: the bottom ring.

Pine needle basketry is a meticulous and intricate craft that requires hours and hours of handiwork, even to create the smallest of baskets.

Lois Jones, of Zephyrhills, threads a needle through some tightly packed pine straw during a class at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Zephyrhills.

Lutz sports complex gets a synthetic turf field

September 20, 2022 By Mike Camunas

A longstanding sports complex in the heart of Lutz is getting an update.

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation broke ground on Sept. 12 to add a synthetic turf field to the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, at 766 Lutz Lake Fern Road. The synthetic soccer and multipurpose field is part of a county-wide project.

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation broke ground on Sept. 12 to add a synthetic turf soccer field at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, at 766 Lutz Lake Fern Road. The park originally was built in 1975 and underwent a 33-acre expansion in in 2010. (Mike Camunas)

It will take 45 days to 60 days to complete the project.

Of 23 fields to be completed across Hillsborough by 2023, two are baseball fields and 21 are multipurpose fields.

The average cost for each synthetic field is $750,000.

Hillsborough County Parks, Planning and Athletics Manager Greg Brown explained why the county is adding the synthetic fields.

“A synthetic turf field allows for almost unlimited programming of multiple sports with minimal maintenance and the ability to play very soon after storms,” Brown said.

“Due to this high demand for youth sports and sporting in general in Hillsborough County, a typical real grass field with heavy programming will need to be shut down for several months each year and grown back to keep a safe playing surface,” Brown added.

The minimal maintenance of synthetic fields will be extremely beneficial — especially in a county where an estimated 40,000 youth participate in leagues at sports complexes every evening, Brown said.

The new field at Oscar Cooler will be predominantly used for soccer, but will be lined to allow use for multiple sports, including lacrosse and mini soccer.

When the Oscar Cooler Sports complex was built in 1975, it was called the Lutz Park Youth Complex and had just three baseball fields.

It was built in an area that had been primarily occupied by orange groves.

It was renamed to honor Oscar Cooler, a longtime Lutz resident, Cooler, who was the primary force behind getting the original park built.

He spent about two years working to persuade the county to buy the land and build the park.

Cooler coached in the Lutz Little League for five years and umpired for about 35 years. He was the league’s president for 15 years.

In 2010, Cooler told The Laker/Lutz News, “I think kids need to have a safe place to learn about teamwork … If kids don’t have something like this, then they usually get into a lot of things they shouldn’t be doing.”

That same year, a 33-acre, $3.9-million expansion opened up the park to its current size. That expansion allowed the soccer program, FC Tampa Lutz Rangers, to join the Lutz Chiefs, the football program at the park, and, of course, Lutz Little League.

Cooler was 84 when he passed away in 2013.

Published September 21, 2022

Pasco seeks input on Lacoochee planning

September 20, 2022 By Mike Camunas

For now, the plan is to create a plan.

Planners with Pasco County’s planning and development department are working on doing just that in the Greater Lacoochee area. It’s the northeastern most part of the county and includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee.

In this case, the county is looking to build upon ideas and plans set forth nearly two decades ago, but also wants to lay out a realistic plan for one of the most rural parts of the county.

Dozens of Lacoochee residents and citizens attend the first public workshop at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee on Aug. 30. (Mike Camunas)

The county’s goal is to gather, collect and analyze resident and citizen feedback, while also taking into account the area’s potential and expected growth.

“There was a lot of work that was done about 10 to 15 years ago, so we’ve been pulling that and used that as a foundation,” said Sonide Simon, a long-range planner for the county. “We also looked at what had been done then and are also looking at what needs to be fixed up at the same time, and finally seeing if that still works today.

“We have nothing, and that’s what I want everyone to understand: we literally have no plan,” Simon added. “Someone asked what we have planned, but we have no plan.

“And even then, the area wants or needs one thing and this area wants or needs one thing, so talking about two different things isn’t helpful either.”

For the wants, and even needs, Simon and the county’s planning department are inviting citizens and residents of the Greater Lacoochee to take part in public workshops. The county also has established a site that allows people to fill out a survey, anonymously, and to leave comments.

The site also offers a wealth of information, including an interactive map that allows users to click on icons that represent certain community elements such as transportation, housing, business development, and parks and recreation.

Clicking on an icon allows users to start a discussion or leave comments on that specific location on the map.

The county’s planning division also has brought in a Tampa-based geotechnical engineering firm, S&ME, which will provide development and design services. Both entities will develop the plan that will include land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel utilities, parks and more.

Pasco County plans to schedule two more public workshops, one in the Winter and another in the Spring.

The goal is to have the plan ready to present in a March/April time frame.

The first public workshop was on Aug. 30 and attended by dozens, if not over 100 citizens. S&ME representatives laid out the schedule of collecting data, as well as information it found out in initial research.

Of the nearly 11,000 acres included in Greater Lacoochee, 35% of that land is used for agriculture, while another 32% is considered residential. With a population of just under 2,800, the area remains very rural.

Also, during this workshop, citizens were allowed one-on-one time with county and S&ME representatives that were looking for feedback. Residents were encouraged to write down on lists and white paperboards the issues and ideas they thought were relevant.

The most popular, and prevalent, comment was “keep Lacoochee rural” with “open spaces,” as well as a “small, tight-knit community.”

“We’re trying to be realistic that keeping this area rural probably doesn’t fit that idea of 100% rural,” Simon said. “But at the same time, they need more jobs, more work in this area, so how do we marry those two ideas? Rural, but with growth.

“And then this area becomes a lot like Wesley Crazy Chapel? No. We’re building just on the ideas that were done in the past and those ideas were that this is a rural area. That was then. The question now is where do we need to look? That’s where these workshops come in.”

Greater Lacoochee Community Plan
Details: Pasco County’s Planning and Development Department is working on community plans for the greater Lacoochee area, which includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee. The plan will explore topics such as land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel, utilities, parks and more. The county is seeking feedback from Lacoochee area residents and citizens by providing two more public workshops and an online survey.
Info: Access the survey and provide feedback, at smeinc.mysocialpinpoint.com/lacoochee_small_area_plan.

Published September 21, 2022\