The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Michael Murillo

Story time: Grandmother’s comforting book gets published

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The first story Aleda Reilly wrote wasn’t designed to launch a writing career, sell a lot of copies or even get published.

All she wanted to do was comfort her grandchildren.
“(It was) just to help them through a really emotional, tough time,” said Reilly, who lives in Land O’ Lakes.

Aleda Reilly combs through copies of of her children's story, ‘Angel Balloons,’ which has been published in a variety of formats. She wrote it to help her grandchildren cope with the loss of their great-grandmother. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Aleda Reilly combs through copies of of her children’s story, ‘Angel Balloons,’ which has been published in a variety of formats. She wrote it to help her grandchildren cope with the loss of their great-grandmother.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Following the death of her mother, Gladys Soldato, Reilly’s grandchildren were confused and upset at the loss of their beloved Bama. They were close to their great-grandmother, and adult explanations weren’t doing the job for Isabella and Katie, ages 4 and 2. As their grandmother, Reilly wanted to console them and describe complicated feelings in a way they’d understand.
So she sat down and wrote them a story.

“Angel Balloons” describes the two girls spending time with Bama until she passes away right after Christmas. They’re told she didn’t get to say goodbye because she was tired, and now lives with the angels in Heaven. The girls send Bama drawings and stickers tied to balloons so she can receive them and share them with the angels.

When Reilly showed the story to the girls, it wasn’t illustrated or published. It was just a story written by their Avia, a term for grandmother. But they got the message.

“I read it to (Olivia) and in an exasperated attitude she said, ‘Well you know, Avia, if anyone had told me this, I wouldn’t have been so upset at the time,'” Reilly recalled.

She decided that other children might benefit from “Angel Balloons,” and she self-published it. Tate Publishing, a family-owned Christian-based publisher later picked it up, turning it into a fully illustrated publication, a 3-D book with glasses, coloring book and audio download.

Reilly appreciates any format that conveys the story to more children.

Parents can be reserved when it comes to serious subjects with children, she said, and aren’t always sure how to address new feelings. She wrote this story to tackle a serious topic in a positive way that young readers can understand. She’s pleased it can now reach more children than her initial audience of her two grandchildren.

Although this is the first story she’s written, Reilly’s background gives her a good foundation for penning children’s stories.

Reilly spent time as a psychiatric social worker. She approached the work with the belief that children are resilient and smart, and can grasp serious topics if presented properly.

“We don’t give children enough credit for how much they really do retain, even at a young age,” Reilly said. “I don’t ever talk down to children.”

“Angel Balloons” was written five years ago when Reilly was 60.

That first story was not her last. It has turned into a continuing series featuring Sunshine and Ladybug, Reilly’s nicknames for her grandchildren. She has new stories written and waiting for publication. “Sunshine and Ladybug Share Christmas” is a holiday-themed story about helping those who are less fortunate, while “We Don’t Eat Grass” addresses healthy eating. She’s working on a fourth book about blended and extended families, and as the girls have gotten older she’s introducing a new grandchild, Nola, into the stories.

Reilly’s stories contain a mixture of actual events and fiction to get her message across to children. But she admits that while “Angel Balloons” was written to help the young girls process a death, it also had benefits for the author.

“The genesis of this was all just to try to get them through it, but then I realized it was very cathartic for me as well,” she said.

Reilly also admits she is surprised by the attention and interest she has received from her publisher.

It may have started as a hobby, but Reilly takes the writing process seriously. When it’s time to write, she heads upstairs to the computer. When she’s finished or hits a snag, she simply puts it away and does something else.

She wrote “Angel Balloons” in about a week and is now preparing some promotional activities for her books.

Despite those activities, Reilly has never lost sight in what started her down their new career path or what drives her to continue writing.

“It was for the girls,” she said. “My family is absolutely the most important thing in the world to me.”

For more information about “Angel Balloons” and Reilly’s other books, visit TatePublishing.com.

Published January 14, 2015

Holy Smoke! Blues, Barbecue in Zephyrhills

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The holidays are associated with great family, great friends and great food. In fact, sometimes the food is the best part: Turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and other dishes all make a welcomed appearance.

It’s all great, but something is missing. Where are the ribs? The chicken? The pulled pork? The sweet, tangy sauce that gets on your fingers? The baked beans and corn on the cob? The smoke from the grill that makes your mouth water?

Where’s the barbecue?

There will be plenty of vendors, but people will still line up for their favorites. (File Photo)
There will be plenty of vendors, but people will still line up for their favorites.
(File Photo)

You probably didn’t find it at the holiday dinner table, but you can make up for lost time on Jan. 17. That’s when the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host the Fifth Annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, 39450 South Ave.

As the name implies, it’s a barbecue-themed event. Vendors offering a variety of meats and platters will be on hand, offering their own take on chicken, pork and other traditional courses. It’s all barbecue, but each one is a little different. The sauces, spices and sides make each one unique and worth trying. Whatever type of barbecue you prefer, you’re likely to find someone serving it hot.

They’re competing for prizes, too. Thousands of dollars’ worth. This is the Florida State Championship sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association. Did you even know there was a Florida BBQ Association? I didn’t, but I think I want to join it. Maybe they need taste-testers.

Anyway, the competitors are putting their best foot forward (or rib forward, I suppose) to create a variety of great tastes. You might not be an official judge, but you can pick your own winners from the competing vendors.

Now, you might have noticed that there’s more than barbecue happening in the name. It’s a blues fest as well, and music is a big part of the event. Cold Iron, Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones, The Lauren Mitchell Band and TC Carr & Bolts of Blue will all be performing. Just bring a lawn chair (no coolers or pets), find a nice spot and enjoy the show.

Rows of business vendors will be there, too, providing information about different services and offering some giveaways as well. If you’re the kind of person who goes through a lot of pens, I definitely recommend visiting this area. I can say from experience that this is a good way replenish your supply and support some local businesses at the same time. I know you’re not going there for pens, but this is “On the Cheap,” after all.

But wait; there’s more. Aircraft displays, a car and motorcycle show and the WWII Museum of Military History all add to the entertainment. There’s even a special area for children. There’s so much to do, I’m willing to make a pretty bold claim: You could be a vegetarian and still have a good time here. Even without the food there’s hours of fun and music to enjoy.

And, of course, it’s cheap. Admission to Pigs in Z’Hills is free. It costs $10 to park, but if you bring friends or family in one car, it’s a good deal. You do have to pay for food, beer and other drinks, of course. So your appetite might make this cheap event not so cheap. But I can’t advise you to skip the food, because it’s really good. So maybe eat breakfast first, so you can sample the best of the barbecue without eating your way around the airport. And you might be tempted. Like I said, the food is really good.

Pigs in Z’Hills runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. For more information, call (813) 782-1913 or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

Schedule of events:
10 a.m. Pigz in Z’Hills opens (free admission, $10 to park)
10:30 a.m. Cold Iron performs
12:15 p.m. Jewel Tones performs
2 p.m. Lauren Mitchell Band performs
3:45 p.m. TC Carr and Bolts of Blue performs
6 p.m. event endsTwo Kidz Zones, concession vendors, business expo and military aircraft displays will be open throughout the day.

Published January 14, 2015

Keeping heritage alive in East Pasco

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Imani Asukile walks among the headstones at Indian Pond Cemetery in Dade City, looking at the writing on each one. He knows some names, knew some of the people personally and even has a relative buried there. But not every grave is clearly marked and some of the names are unknown.

What is known about the old graves is that those who were buried there long ago — some at the beginning of the 20th century — faced segregation and discrimination.

Imani Asukile and the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County have events at places like Indian Pond cemetery in Dade City. The group wants the people and places that make up the area's history remembered and honored. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Imani Asukile and the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County have events at places like Indian Pond cemetery in Dade City. The group wants the people and places that make up the area’s history remembered and honored.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“This was the premiere cemetery for blacks in this area. They only allowed blacks to be buried at the Dade City Cemetery in the early 1970s,” Asukile said. Now, as president of the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, he wants to make sure the area isn’t forgotten, along with other important places, events and people in local history.

His group hosts military appreciation services at Indian Pond Cemetery each year to honor African American veterans. At a recent event, around 60 people gathered to honor World War II veterans. Their families received special congressional coins and certificates from the Wounded Warrior Project.

For the heritage society, those events create recognition for the veterans, and those buried at the cemetery where the events are held.

“You get inspiration from their stories when you understand their struggles, their victories, the hills they had to climb,” Asukile said. “We have to keep them alive.”

His group keeps those and other stories alive by hosting different events throughout the year. They have youth forums to inform young people and provide a platform for them to express their thoughts. And they have events to celebrate Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African-American culture held at the end of each calendar year.

Asukile said it’s the principles of Kwanzaa, including its focus on community support, interaction and problem solving, that guide the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County throughout the entire year.

“In everything that we do, Kwanzaa is the foundation of our existence, so to speak,” he said. “That’s where everything springs from.”

If community seems to be a big focus for the group, it’s by design. Asukile and the rest of the society take the “East Pasco” part of the organization’s name seriously. Local events attended by local residents are what keep the group motivated.

“In everything we do, we try to focus on local issues and individuals. Most black history programs are national or international, and we don’t have a problem with that,” he said. But we try to say ‘How can we take the same application and apply it here locally?'” The group recognizes local community members during Black History Month in February of each year. The 2015 focus will be on the founders of local community choirs, Asukile said.

But that doesn’t mean they restrict all their work to one small area. Asukile still considers Brooksville home, so he’ll often include that community. They also work with organizations or host events in other parts of the Tampa Bay area.

With a small core of dedicated members (the heritage society has around 10 active members) they provide a year’s worth of events to keep the community’s memories alive and honor those who came before them. He also sees areas for growth, and other communities that could form their own similar groups. Asukile mentioned Wesley Chapel as an area that has a lot of potential to form an organization in the future.

Wherever another group pops up in the future, Asukile and his group will be there to welcome them. As director of multicultural student affairs and equity services at Pasco-Hernando State College, he knows the importance of having a presence in the community and being a resource for those seeking information. And with the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, he can put that into practice off campus, reminding residents of historic places, people and events so their stories won’t be forgotten.

“Every community has to have something or somebody who is a griot, a storyteller, a keeper of the history of the community, of the people. Every community has to do to it. otherwise you start losing the stories,” Asukile said.

For more information about the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, e-mail Asukile at .

Table For One: Local Claims Silver at Senior Games

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Bruce Holck of Wesley Chapel won a silver medal at last month’s Florida International Senior Games & State Championships. But the road to that medal began seven decades earlier in a New Jersey home.

“My father had a table in the basement,” Holck said. “That’s what started it all.”

At 78 years old, Bruce Holck of Wesley Chapel is still taking home medals for table tennis. He placed second (and qualified for the national tournament) at the Florida International Senior Games & State Championships last month. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
At 78 years old, Bruce Holck of Wesley Chapel is still taking home medals for table tennis. He placed second (and qualified for the national tournament) at the Florida International Senior Games & State Championships last month.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The game was table tennis, also known as pingpong, and he learned how to play as a young boy. It stayed him over the years, from starting a table tennis club in Delaware to regular games in New York. He then decided to see how he stacked up by joining the Senior Games.

That was 20 years ago.

Holck, 78, competed in the New York Senior Games for a couple of decades, earning medals in both individual and doubles matches. By finishing in the top three in his age group he also earned several berths into the national games, which are held every other year. He won the doubles competition at the national games around 10 years ago.

So when he came to Wesley Chapel last year, Holck knew he wanted to participate in Florida’s version of the games. But with more players here, he had to qualify through a regional system. He attended several regional competitions throughout the state, even after he qualified, to get a feel for the state’s talent and scout out some of the competition.

Holck said the state has excellent players, and he enjoys competing against Florida’s best. He also appreciates playing people in his own age group, which isn’t always possible when he plays recreationally.

“I play in Land O’ Lakes (at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex), and I’m quite sure I’m the oldest person playing there. I’m playing people who are younger and can move quite a bit better than I can now,” Holck said. “When you play in the Senior Games you’re playing somebody in your own age group.”

While Holck said the game is still fun for him — he even enjoys watching competitive table tennis — playing at a top level can be serious business. The game has changed a bit over the decades, he said, from reducing the number of points that make up a game to playing with a slightly larger ball.

But one of the biggest changes is in the paddle. Over time, it’s become a complicated piece of sports equipment. At one time there were simply the traditional rubber dimples on a paddle with nothing behind it. Now there’s a sponge-like material behind the rubber, and different groove designs that will cause different reactions with the ball. And when paddles have different designs on each side, they have different colors so the opponent might predict how the ball will be responding.

For Holck, another thing that’s changed is his age. Over the years he’s retained his hand-eye coordination, but isn’t as fast as he used to be. But he still plays at a high level, so when he defeats a young player, he’s philosophical about the victory.

“I’ll congratulate them and say ‘Well, that’s the last time I’ll be able to beat you because you’re getting better and I’m slowing up,'” Holck said.

But he isn’t slowing up too much, as evidenced by his second-place finish last month in Estero. He also qualified for the national tournament in singles and doubles, but isn’t sure if he’ll travel to Minnesota for the competition next year. His current schedule usually involves weekly play with the locals, and he also has a table at home, like his father did, so he can play when the mood strikes him. Holck even has a special robot that can simulate serves instead of just playing alone against a flat surface.

He also has a supportive wife of 55 years, Louise, who used to play herself. As she got older she let the game go, but she still cheers on her husband in his competitive contests.

“He takes it very seriously. It’s his passion,” she said.

And while he loves table tennis and plans to keep playing, he knows it’s not the most important thing in his life.

“She sometimes claims I think more of table tennis than her,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s not right, of course.”

Saint Leo claims fifth place in Directors’ Cup standings

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When it comes to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II sports, not many schools are faring better than Saint Leo University.

In the final fall standings for the Learfield Sports Division II Directors’ Cup, Saint Leo is sitting in fifth place with 242 points, best in its Sunshine State Conference. That is the highest current standing for any Florida school — the University of Tampa is currently 14th with 179 points.

Saint Leo’s soccer success is just one of the reasons that the university sits in fifth place in the Directors’ Cup standings. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Saint Leo’s soccer success is just one of the reasons that the university sits in fifth place in the Directors’ Cup standings.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

In a competition that includes hundreds of schools, the Lions find themselves in a position that’s new to them.

“I have seen the good and the bad,” said Fran Reidy, director of athletics for Saint Leo University. “For a number of years we’d be happy if we were inside in the top 100.”

Reidy has been with the school for many of those years. Aside from heading up the athletic department since 1999, he’s been involved with the school for 27 years, including a role as their soccer coach.

In that time, he’s seen a renewed commitment to athletic play at the university. An increase in sports participation (the school had just 10 sports programs in 1998 compared to 19 today), commitment to hiring good coaches, and more resources in scholarships have led to a strong overall program. And that’s the key to a good showing in the Directors’ Cup.

Rather than judge a school’s best sport, the competition is a measure of all the sports in an athletic program. Schools receive points based on their finish in each respective sport. But if a school doesn’t participate in a particular sport, they get zero points. Saint Leo doesn’t have a football or women’s field hockey program, for example, so it did not receive points in those categories.

The university does have strong soccer programs, and with top-10 finishes for both the men’s and women’s teams they were able to collect the majority of their points. Good showings in cross-country and volleyball (all of their fall sports reached their respective post-seasons, which means they all collected points) rounded out the fall scoring.

While the fifth place ranking is the school’s highest, it’s really a continuation of its upward trajectory. Last year Saint Leo was 20th after the fall standings and finished 18th when winter and spring contests were completed. The men’s teams have won the conference’s Mayors’ Cup the past two years.

For a former soccer coach, serving as director of athletics allows Reidy to execute a game plan on a schoolwide scale, and see it play out across a number of sports.

“There’s a competitive atmosphere that’s exciting,” Reidy said.

Along with that competitive atmosphere is a feeling of camaraderie. Each sport’s athletes support the others in an effort to collect points for the school and move up the standings, Reidy said. Even though each team has its own goals, they also want to see the school finish higher in the standings, which requires success across a variety of sports.

If the fifth-place standing is good news for Saint Leo, the upcoming sports offer even more reasons for optimism. A total of 14 sports remain, including a few where the university really shined last year. Women’s tennis reached the semifinals in the national tournament last year, and the men’s swimming team already has some athletes whose times have already qualified for national competition. And while the baseball team hasn’t reached the tournament for years, Reidy said they were very close to qualifying last year and have a good opportunity to break through in 2015.

There are still several months to go before the final standings will be released. The winter schedule sports wrap up April 2. The spring schedule concludes the Directors’ Cup scoring June 4. The best finishes from 14 of a school’s programs will be counted in the standings.

The success in athletics has not come at the expense of the classroom. More than half of the student athletes have a grade point average above 3.2, and the average grade point average for all athletes is 3.17.

“Last year was our best academic year,” Reidy said.

With so many sports left to be counted, Reidy believes they can finish even better than last year. Another top-20 finish for the Lions would show that they have a strong foundation for all their programs, and last year’s good showing was no fluke.

“We want to make sure we’re building something that’s going to last, and that’s happening,” he said.

Published January 7, 2015

 

Athletes met lofty expectations in 2014

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Athletic competition typically is marked by athletes and teams with lofty goals for the upcoming year. Many times, however, they fall short of those goals despite a great deal of determination and hard work.

Sunlake’s Terrence Jackson and Zephyrhills’ Antwione Sims go up for a ball when the schools met late in the year, a game the Bulldogs won. Both football teams had big plans for 2014, and their hard work paid off during the season. (File Photo)
Sunlake’s Terrence Jackson and Zephyrhills’ Antwione Sims go up for a ball when the schools met late in the year, a game the Bulldogs won. Both football teams had big plans for 2014, and their hard work paid off during the season. (File Photo)

But there also are cases where that hard work really pays off, and both individuals and teams meet their goals.

Here are a few sports stories that had successful endings across a variety of athletic contests.

Missions accomplished
Before the season started, the Sunlake Seahawks wanted something that had eluded them throughout their history: A district championship.

“That’s one of our goals, to win the district title,” Sunlake head coach Bill Browning said last August. “It’s missing right now, but it really just provides more motivation for us.”

Middle linebacker and tight end Austin Yeloushan felt the same way.

“We’re planning on doing that this year,” he said. “We’ve been working hard in the weight room.”

Whether it was the weights or the program’s history of success, Sunlake had another strong year, finishing the regular season at 8-2. They also survived a three-way tiebreaker with Mitchell and Springstead high schools to claim their first-ever championship in Class 6A-District 6.

At Zephyrhills High School, Head Coach Reggie Roberts knew people would be focused on the Bulldogs’ rivalry with Pasco High School. But Roberts was concerned about something else: The postseason.

“Contrary to what people believe, I’m not worried about Pasco,” Roberts said ahead of the season last August. “We have a lot of games. If we lose all our games and win the Pasco game, we’re still not in the playoffs.”

Instead, things turned out almost the exact opposite of Roberts’ hypothesis: The Bulldogs lost to Pasco again, this time a tough 35-34 loss. But they won nearly all of their other games, finishing the regular season 8-2 and earning a playoff spot through Class 5A-District 6 in another tiebreaker.

As a result, an eight-year playoff drought was snapped, and Roberts took his team to the postseason for the first time in his tenure as coach at Zephyrhills.

Getting gold, again
As a freshman in 2013, Abbey Duncan was a state champion for Wesley Chapel High School’s swim team, and was even profiled by The Laker/Lutz News in March.

But things change from year to year, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the outcome was a little bit different in 2014.

Not the part about being a state champion. Duncan did that again. But this time it was for a different school.

Duncan transferred to Academy at the Lakes and helped that program achieve success in her sophomore year. Her state championship also was a little different, claiming the 100-yard backstroke in 2014.

Duncan took the championship in a freestyle event last year.

She enters 2015 as a two-time state champion, and she’ll only be a junior.

New coach, similar success
On the baseball diamond, the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls had a few question marks as they tried to follow up on their 2013 campaign, which included their first-ever playoff berth and a spot in the regional final.

A big one was their coach.

Marshall McDougal was not only a new coach at the high school, he had never coached high school baseball before. But as a recently retired professional baseball player, he brought a lot of experience and optimism to the Bulls’ job.

“As a whole, our team is pretty solid all the way through,” McDougall said last April during his inaugural season as coach. “It’s a matter of keep pushing the kids, keep improving, and keep playing hard, and I think our kids can go a long way.”

McDougal turned out to be right, taking Wiregrass Ranch right back to the playoffs. This time they fell in the regional semifinals, but proved that the program was ready to continue its success streak, even with a new coach at the helm.

See this story in print: Click Here

Bull Run: Wiregrass Ranch soccer team still undefeated

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Sunlake High School is considered a powerhouse boys soccer program in Pasco County.

And for good reason: The Seahawks have a long track record of success, a winning coach, and they’re undefeated so far this season.

But they’re not the only ones.

Brendan Duran and his soccer teammates at Wiregrass Ranch High School are off to a perfect start. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Brendan Duran and his soccer teammates at Wiregrass Ranch High School are off to a perfect start. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Wiregrass Ranch High School has had five straight winning seasons, and the sixth already is in the bag after just 13 regular season games.

The Bulls are 13-0, including 5-0 in Class 4A-District 8. They’ve scored 62 goals compared to just five against, with nine shutouts. Their closest opponent in the district standings, Mitchell High School, lost 2-0 to Wiregrass Ranch last week.

And according to coach David Wilson, they don’t need to be micromanaged to succeed.

“They’ll run the first 25 minutes of practice without me having to do anything,” he said. “I say one thing to them, and they’ll be gone. They go on their run, they come out and stretch, they do their preliminary practice stuff and their preparation stuff.

“There’s expectations that we’ve set and these kids know what to do when they come in.”

Part of knowing what to do comes from playing at the local club level, Wilson said. Including the junior varsity team — which also undefeated — around 90 percent of their players participate in club soccer.

While the Bulls are dominating offensively and defensively, the coach said their strength lies in their depth. Injuries, sickness and club soccer commitments have required the team to dig deep into the roster frequently, and their bench players are able and ready to perform at a high level when called to the pitch.

“There’s not a drop-off when we have to go to the bench,” Wilson said. “You can wear teams down if you can go to your 20th player and have the kid not drop off too much from your No. 11 player.”

There isn’t any drop-off when they switch goalkeepers, either. While the shutouts and low goals against are impressive, it doesn’t come from one standout player. The Bulls actually rotate dominating goalkeepers, including Wilson’s son, Payton.

They have another goalie getting work at the junior varsity level, so an area that causes some teams to struggle is a very deep position at Wiregrass Ranch.

Wilson hopes that depth helps the team go farther than they did last year, even though it was a successful season. They reached the regional semifinals before falling to district rival Mitchell, 5-1.

That loss — at home, no less — stung some of the players. Providing a little payback with a 2-0 victory on Dec. 9 was an important win for them.

“That felt great. It was sweet revenge,” said Brendan Duran, the team’s assist leader.

After not playing their best in their final game last year, he said it’s important to start out this year strong and keep expectations high so they can advance farther.

But expectations alone won’t get it done, and Duran believes the team has the skill to reach the state finals. But even skill isn’t enough, and he knows what else is required to reach their potential.

“It’s going to have to take dedication,” Duran said. “And definitely hard work.”

His coach agrees that the team has the ability to compete for a state title, but he won’t be running around on the sidelines and screaming at his team to get there. Wilson isn’t that kind of coach, preferring to keep things in perspective and build strong foundations that aren’t swayed by the emotions of one game.

But he’s proud of the program, noting that alumni frequently come to games or practices to support the current players and reminisce with him about previous seasons.

Wilson, who also coaches tennis and is the school’s athletic director, has been coaching soccer for 26 years. But if other schools are hoping he might hang it up soon and give them a chance to topple Wiregrass Ranch, they’ll probably have a long wait.

“There’s really nothing else I want to do,” Wilson said. “I still really enjoy it.”

Published December 17, 2014

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No-cost Christmas fun for the entire family

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It’s Christmas season, and families will spend a lot of time doing holiday-themed activities together.

Nutcrackers of all sizes are just part of the Christmas decorations at the Old Lutz School. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Nutcrackers of all sizes are just part of the Christmas decorations at the Old Lutz School. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

But what does that really mean in 2014? Going to a crowded mall to buy more things? Waiting for an hour to get into a chain restaurant? Stringing up half-broken lights on the house that will stay up until well past the Super Bowl in February?

Sure, you can do all of that. But may I suggest you also spend at least one evening enjoying some of the local holiday fare?

There are activities going on where you live that provide nice entertainment without a naughty hit to your wallet.

If you want to enjoy some family-fun activities without a long drive or big price tag, consider these options:

Christmas at the Old Lutz School
The school is an area treasure, faithfully preserved and looking much like it did over the past eight decades. And naturally, they do an old-style Christmas at 18819 U.S. 41 N.

One room is full of Christmas trees, decorated by area organizations. No crazy-looking, post-modern decorations here. If you have a fond memory of a Christmas tree in your youth, it probably looked a lot like these: Simple, elegant and festive.

Another room is dedicated to a couple of train collections, with intricate details and scenery you could study for quite a while. And really, what’s a better reminder of the Christmas season than model trains? They just kind of go together.

There’s also a room full of nutcrackers. I mean, a lot of them. The hallways are decorated, too. Outside, you’re treated to some hot chocolate and a cookie.

You can visit with your neighbors, visit a historical landmark, and enjoy the kinds of refreshments people have loved since, well, since the school opened in 1927.

Did I mention this is free? You won’t pay a penny for anything. They do have barrels to collect toys and food for the less-fortunate over the holidays. But that’s part of the Christmas spirit, too.

If you miss this, you’re missing out.

Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass
What has a quarter-million lights and 2,000 watts of holiday cheer?

Hopefully it’s not your neighbor’s Christmas decorations. But it is the Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel.

Every night in its center court, the center coordinates its sizeable Christmas display to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you haven’t heard of this orchestra, you’ve probably heard their music. Their bombastic, elaborate sound mixes rock and classical music, and is used at high-energy holiday, fireworks and sporting events, as well as a bunch of holiday commercials.

And it just happens to be perfect for coordinated Christmas light displays.

What’s great about this event is the fact that they do it four times a night, so you can get there when you want. Every hour on the hour, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., they play three holiday-inspired instrumentals to go with their light display.

It’s not too long, but they alternate two different sets of songs. All you have to do is stay for the next one and hear a different trio.

By the way, this also is free. You can do some shopping while you’re there, of course. But they don’t charge a thing to come and enjoy their display. Just fit it into your schedule and enjoy.

If you time it right, you can hit both of these events in the same evening, and still get the kids home by bedtime. With a traditional Christmas at the school, and a fun, modern take at the shops, you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy. If you can’t get into the holiday spirit after these local displays, you just might be a Grinch.

Besides, all it costs is a little time and enough gas to get there. You won’t find a better deal than that in December.

The Old Lutz School is open from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21 and Dec. 26-28. The display at The Shops at Wiregrass runs every night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 31.

For more information, visit OldLutzSchool.com or TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

Published December 17, 2014

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Old Lutz School delivers old-time Christmas

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The Old Lutz School taught area students for decades. Now, as a recognized historic site, it’s delivering another kind of lesson during the holidays.

The 18th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N., has all the things residents might expect from a traditional holiday event: Music, cookies, hot chocolate, trains, and plenty of Christmas-themed decorations including nutcrackers and trees.

Suzin Carr adjusts a tree decorated by the Steinbrenner High School Student Ambassadors. It’s just one of many on display at the Old Lutz School during Christmas season. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Suzin Carr adjusts a tree decorated by the Steinbrenner High School Student Ambassadors. It’s just one of many on display at the Old Lutz School during Christmas season. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“We never miss it. We make it part of our holiday,” said Suzin Carr, a two-time Lutz Guv’na.

Her family has attended the event since they moved to the area in 2003, and it had such a positive effect on her when they arrived, she wanted to do more for the community. As a result, she ended up a multi-term winner of the ceremonial title.

While it might not make everyone run for Lutz Guv’na, Carr said there’s a lot to enjoy at the school’s holiday event. One room is devoted to a pair of private train collections with elaborate figures and scenes that took weeks to set up. Another room showcases a variety of Christmas trees, decorated by members of the community and different organizations.

Outside, refreshments will be served free of charge. The school also will have collection barrels for people to donate food or toys to brighten up the holidays for the less fortunate.

It takes a lot of work to put together a holiday event spanning several nights, but the school has a dedicated group of volunteers who make things happen. The Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building work year-round to keep the landmark looking nice, and prepare it for special events where residents can enjoy part of community history.

“You get such a feel for the hard work volunteers put in to make it so special for people,” Carr said. “There’s no event without them.”

In addition to the school’s regular supporters, newer faces have been chipping in to make the event special as well. She singled out students at nearby Steinbrenner High School as active participants, and said it’s good to see younger people helping the regular volunteers to make the holiday event a success.

Breakfast with Santa is one part of the Christmas program at the Old Lutz School that’s always a success. This year, it will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., on Dec. 13.

There will be food and crafts available for purchase, activities, and a chance for children to meet Santa, of course.

While people tend to file in and out of the regular Christmas event, and attendance can vary based on live performances, there’s no doubt of the drawing power of Kris Kringle — even in the morning.

“Breakfast with Santa is huge,” Carr said.

Whether it’s a holiday-themed breakfast, or a casual stroll through a piece of Lutz history, Carr said the annual event is a good way to visit an important part of the community, and spend an evening enjoying a more traditional celebration of the holiday season. Some people drop by on several evenings because of the variety of musicians and singing groups who appear throughout the event.

“The great thing about it is there’s different entertainment every night,” Carr said. “It’s a chance to step back and enjoy some very simple pleasures in the community.”

The school will be open from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., each night of the event. Christmas at the Old Lutz School will run Dec. 11, Dec. 13-14, Dec. 16, Dec. 18, Dec. 20-21, Dec. 26-28.

For more information, visit OldLutzSchool.com, or call Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937.

Published December 10, 2014

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A spike in success: PHSC finishes eighth in national volleyball tournament

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When Pasco-Hernando State College began spring preparations for the 2014 volleyball season, only four players showed up.

That wasn’t a sign of poor attendance. They really only had four players at the time.

The Lady Quistas brought a stout defense into the NJCAA Division II national tournament last month. Their successful season ended with an eighth-place finish for Pasco-Hernando State College. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
The Lady Quistas brought a stout defense into the NJCAA Division II national tournament last month. Their successful season ended with an eighth-place finish for Pasco-Hernando State College. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

While the athletes were honing their skills, the coaching staff was busy recruiting a class of 11 freshmen players. And with all the new faces came a lot of questions.

“Bringing in 11 freshmen, you have no idea if they’re going to be able to manage the practices and how they’re going to get along together,” Coach Kim Whitney said. “You can’t really predict all that. There’s a lot to factor in.”

Whitney might have seen a lot of potential in her young team, but it would have been tough to predict the kind of success they had this year. Of those 11 freshmen, nine players stuck with the team, and they finished with a regular season record of 35-5.

They qualified for their regional tournament, which has happened every year at PHSC during Whitney’s successful 11-year tenure as coach. But they also won that tournament, held Nov. 7-8 in Wilmington, North Carolina. That accomplishment qualified them for the National Junior College Activities Association national volleyball tournament for Division II, held Nov. 20-22 in Phoenix, where they finished eighth.

The national tournament appearance ended up being the second-best finish in school history, slotted only behind their national title run back in 2010. Overall, they closed out the season with a 39-8 record.

Earning the regional championship was a special moment for both the coach and the team.

“Getting that win at regionals was really big,” Whitney said. “It was a moment I really celebrated, and I know the girls really celebrated also. It’s not just a given. You have to work hard no matter how well your season has gone.”

While their regular season went well, it didn’t start out that way. The Conquistadors were just 5-3 after eight games, and even making their regional tournament was no sure thing. But they pulled together like a family, Whitney said, with the sophomores guiding and encouraging their younger teammates.

As a result, they went on two separate 15-match win streaks and established themselves as a successful and talented group.

So talented, in fact, that they overcame some jitters to win their first game against Waubonsee Community College of Illinois in straight sets at the national tournament, which put them in the winners bracket. But afterward, they ran into tough opponents from Columbus State Community College of Ohio, Des Moines Area Community College, and Illinois Central College. Despite some tinkering with the lineups, PHSC closed out its national tournament appearance with three losses.

While that isn’t the finish they wanted, Whitney said the experience — including coming up short at the end — was good for her team.

“I definitely think you learn a lot when you go through losses,” she said. “You hate to go through them. And the kids who hate losses, you know that those are the kids who are competitive and they want to win.

There wasn’t a dry eye among the players after their first tournament defeat.

“Sometimes you have to face those moments,” Whitney said. “But I think sometimes they make you better.”

Even though they lost their final contest against Illinois Central, she said, they played more like their regular selves and battled hard in a close, five-set match.

While Whitney is proud of the team’s accomplishments, she knows the future looks pretty bright for PHSC volleyball as well. The team is losing its experienced sophomores, yet the coach believes the regional success and tournament experience will help her freshmen when they take the court in 2015.

In fact, Whitney’s players are so enthusiastic about their prospects, they aren’t waiting for next year.

“They’re playing volleyball already,” she said. “You’d expect them to be like, ‘I just need a break, and this has been a long season.’ But they’re out there ready to play.

“I think that they’re really excited about the group that’s coming back.”

Published December 10, 2014

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