The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco Commission approves East Pasco flooding study

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The Pasco County Commission has authorized a task order for the development of a cost-effective conceptual improvement plan for the Bailey Hill Road and Zephyr Ranch Area, in East Pasco.

Board members approved a staff recommendation to have DeLoach Engineering Service complete the task for an amount not to exceed $74,840, according to agenda background materials for the board’s March 9 meeting.

“The conceptual plan will provide a rigorous assessment of the condition of the existing stormwater drainage system, identify deficiencies within the system, evaluate design alternatives for flood abatement, develop cost estimate for the selected design alternative, and derive benefit to cost ratio. A cost-effective conceptual plan may lead to detailed design and construction of the project,” the agenda backup says.

Bailey Hill Road is an unpaved rural road that extends east to Gall Boulevard and west to Fort King Road.

The project area is within the East Pasco Watershed.

There is a history of structural and property flooding, as well as roadway flooding and scouring.

DeLoach has 180 days from the notice to proceed, to complete the project.

Funding for the conceptual improvement plan is coming from the stormwater management fund.

Published March 24, 2021

Girls-only troops work on camping, leadership skills

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Girls had a chance to learn outdoor skills, build teamwork and develop leadership at the Back to Brownsea program in Odessa.

The program is for members of the girls-only troops of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), according to a news release.

Ten-year-old Stella DeStefano, of Cub Scout Pack 37 at Learning Gate School, learns how to use a saw at Back to Brownsea, at Camp Brorein, March 12 through March 14, in Odessa. (Courtesy of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America)

Seventeen-year-old Isabella Trevino, a Gaither High student, was at the camp — held March 12 through March 14 — because she wanted to give something back, by helping the younger girls who were there, the release says.

The younger girls had just “crossed over” to the Scouts BSA program, for ages 11 to 17, from family oriented Cub Scouts packs, which include elementary school-aged boys and girls.

Trevino served as the senior patrol leader (the highest level of youth leadership) for the weekend event, which drew more than 50 participants, including girls as instructors and students and adult leaders, to Boy Scout Camp Brorein, 16901 Boy Scout Road, the release adds.

“People involved in this grow into real good adults,” Trevino said, in the release. “And, we learn a lot about leadership and skills.”

The event was sponsored by the Fort Brooke District of the Greater Tampa Bay Council of Boy Scouts of America, which serves nine west-central Florida counties. It was organized by Terri Hunter, a member of the district’s Activities and Civic Services Committee.

The hands-on activities, taught by older Scouts BSA members, included fire-building, wood-splitting, knot-tying and other basic scout skills exercises to prepare them for independent camping, using the patrol method.

Paisley Murphy, 13, a Pasco Middle School student, with Troop 34, of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes, helped the younger girls work on tying knots.

She said she enjoyed teaching the skill, according to the release.

Her father, Ryan Murphy, an adult leader with the troop, said, “This was a good opportunity to get more experience in leadership roles.”

Published March 24, 2021

Pasco has new director of building, construction services

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The Pasco County Commission has confirmed the appointment of Roy Mazur as the county’s new director of building and construction services.

In his new role, which takes effect on April 19, Mazur will receive an annual salary of $125,000.

A national search was conducted before Mazur was selected for the post, according to an agenda memo in the board’s backup materials.

“I’m ecstatic to be here. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I just can’t wait to get going.” Mazur told the board.

Sally Sherman, assistant county administrator of development services, pointed to Mazur’s credentials and experience as key reasons he will be a good fit for the job.

She said the position is critical.

“We’re being presented with an unprecedented amount of work that is coming to us, as a branch,” Sherman said.

At the same time it is responding to greater demand, it also is trying to improve service delivery, she said.

Mazur has held positions at WRA Engineering, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Hillsborough County and Autodesk.

He is a Florida professional engineer, a certified planner and he holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Florida and from Florida State University, according to the agenda packet.

There’s no doubt the county’s building and construction services department has been busy.

Sherman pointed to some statistics contained in the agenda backup, as evidence of the amped up activity.

In calendar year 2020, the county had 5,741 residential single family permits, A 32% increase over the previous year.

It had 581 new commercial permits in 2020, a 16.7% increase over the previous year.

Published March 24, 2021

County transfers funds for park improvements

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Pasco County has transferred funding from its engineering services division to its parts, recreation and natural resources division to pay for land needed for a roads project.

The transferred funds, totaling $329,500, will pay for park improvements at the Samuel W. Pasco Recreation Complex, to include new sidewalks and an Americans with Disabilities Act accessible parking expansion, and the Wesley Chapel District Park T-Ball Field to include lighting and grading of that field.

The Pasco County Commission approved transferring the funds from engineering services to parks and recreation to purchase 6.59 acres, which was previously part of the Wesley Chapel District Park.

The land was needed to accommodate a northbound off-ramp from Interstate 75 and to widen Overpass Road, between I-75 and Boyette Road. The land will be contained in the right of way of the road project. The cost for the land was $50,000 per acre.

Published March 24, 2021

Celebrate women’s history month — with a cookie

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You may have already heard that a woman invented the recipe for the ever-popular chocolate chip cookie, but have you ever heard the back story?

Well, since it’s Women’s History Month, it seems an opportune time to share it — while at the same time celebrating women’s achievements in the arenas of food science, food safety, food technology — and myriad accomplishments in other fields, too.

The chocolate chip cookie, originated by Ruth Graves Wakefield, had its start in New England, during the 1930s.

The story of the chocolate cookie begins in the 1930s, when Ruth Graves Wakefield and her husband, Kenneth, ran the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts.

Ruth was in charge of making meals for the guests, and she quickly became well-known for her impressive baking skills. In fact, travelers came from all over New England to enjoy her bakery items.

Her go-to dessert to serve was chocolate butter drop do cookies, a popular recipe from colonial times.

On one particular day, in 1938, she went to bake them, as she normally would.

It’s not entirely clear what happened next.

One story says that Ruth lacked the baker’s chocolate she needed, so she took a piece of a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar and used an ice pick to chip off pieces of chocolate into the batter, thinking they would blend throughout the cookie dough and melt.

Of course, they held their shape — turning gooey and soft instead.

Another story says it wasn’t baker’s chocolate that she was lacking, it was nuts. So, instead of serving plain butter drop do cookies, she decided to add pieces of chocolate to substitute for the nuts.

There’s another theory, too — that one says that Ruth planned to make the chocolate chip cookies all along.

After all, she did have a degree in household arts, and worked as a food lecturer and dietitian.

Some say she had been experimenting with new desserts with a friend, Sue Brides, and that the cookies were a result of her meticulous recipe development.

Whatever the case, the new cookies became a guest favorite.

She called them Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookies, and regularly made them  for visitors.

Their popularity grew throughout the Northeast.

She had originally published a recipe book in 1931; she added the chocolate chip cookie recipe in a 1939 reprint edition.

The recipe was then featured in the Boston Herald, and was later promoted on the radio show “Famous Foods from Famous Eating Places,” hosted by the brand character Betty Crocker, according to the New York Times.

After that radio show, the cookies became nationally known.

Nestle’s sale of chocolate bars skyrocketed.

Ruth sold the rights to Nestle to print her recipe, in 1939, and the company later hired her to be a consultant on future recipes.

It’s said the best perk of her job was free chocolate for life.

Nestle also started selling “chocolate morsels” — commonly called chocolate chips — that same year.

The company printed the recipe for the cookies on the back of its packaging.

In fact, that’s where you can still find it today — with a few changes to make it current.

Ruth and her husband sold the Toll House Inn in 1966.

The inn caught fire in 1984 — a sad ending to a place where culinary history had been made.

Still, the name lives on, through the recipe for a cookie that’s become a favorite for many.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Recipe
Original NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (Optional. If omitting, add 1 to 2 Tbsp. of all-purpose flour.)

Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375° F.

Step 2: Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Step 3: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Recipe and cookie image courtesy of NESTLÉ®. NESTLÉ® NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® are trademarks of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

Published March 24, 2021

Pasco County supports youth program

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a two-year lease to Youth Entrepreneurial Services Inc. (YES), for office space at the Stallings Building, at 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

The lease term begins on March 1 and ends on Feb. 28, 2023. Terms also include two additional one-year renewal options.

The YES program focuses on serving youths and young adults, between the ages of 11 and 25, to help them develop innovative thinking and entrepreneurial skills.

The lease covers 140 square feet of space, plus non-exclusive use of classroom 1, common parking and common areas.

In addition to the rent charge of $1 a year, the organization also will pay its pro-rata share of the utilities in the annual amount of $240.

Published March 24, 2021

Avalon Applauds…Nathanael Northey

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CONGRATULATIONS to Nathanael Northey, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Northey has been involved in student government since his freshman year and served as secretary before being elected senior class president, which he describes as an incredible opportunity.

Nathanael Northey

“Whether it’s fundraising at a local restaurant, or selling new senior shirts, it’s a great feeling knowing that the ideas you come up with not only benefit the student government, but the school, too,” says Northey.

Being senior class president has been a fun challenge for Northey, and one that has improved his public speaking and communication skills.

“When I learned I got the position, I was ready to get the wheels spinning, thinking of new ways to get students involved with the COVID-19 pandemic present,” said Northey. “I never thought being class pres- ident could be so much fun!”

Northey is also chairperson for the School Advisory Council committee, sec- retary for the National English Honor Society, and plays on his school’s varsity men’s basketball team.

“Cypress Creek has been a great school to go to, and I’m so glad that I get to be part of its first full four-year graduat- ing class,” said Northey. “This milestone in the school’s history will always be remembered, and I am so glad to be part of it.”

Northey has had several mentors at his school, including English teacher Cassie Adley, who knew Northey as a great kid, but didn’t realize what a good student he was until he took her AP Language and Composition class.

“He is exactly what you want from a student. Nathanael is a student who strives to be the best. He is not shut down by constructive criticism; he truly thrives off of it,” says Adley.

Northey is grateful for Adley’s guidance. “She has helped me improve my writing to a level I never thought possible,” says Northey. “I don’t know what I’m going to do next year not having Mrs. Adley as a teacher, but one thing I do know is that she has prepared me to face whatever comes my way.”

Northey also recognizes his basketball coaches for teaching him the importance of teamwork, as well as Principal Hetzler- Nettles, Mr. Uchaez, Mrs. Larimore and Ms. Vaccaro for their unwavering support.

Northey plans to attend the University of Central Florida and major in Physical Therapy. With his passion for science and love of sports, Northey thinks this will be the perfect field of study for him.

Hetzler-Nettles says Northey exempli- fies Cypress Creek’s H.O.W.L. student mission: Have a growth mindset, Own your education, Work as a community and Lead responsibly.

“Nathanael is a student who is going to change the trajectory of this world – I can’t wait to see how he does it,” she says.

New welcome center coming to Dade City

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Andy Taylor, legislative aide to Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore; Camille Hernandez, mayor of Dade City; and, Adam Thomas, tourism director for Pasco County for Destination Management Organization, all take part in a groundbreaking ceremony at the new welcome center in Dade City. (Courtesy of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast)

Dade City is pushing ahead to make the Roy Hardy Trail more tourist-friendly. Officials gathered on March 10 for the groundbreaking of a new visitor’s information welcome center, to be located on the south side of Church Avenue, near the Hardy Trail multi-use trailhead.

The building, which is expected to open this summer, will include two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The center will feature an open interior floor plan — allowing for vendor operations, area attractions, museums and art exhibits to host mobile displays.

The welcome center is part of a larger exterior space concept that envisions a bike-share hub with stations for parking, minor bicycle repairs and public resting areas for cyclists, and exercising pedestrians.

The visitor’s information center is being funded with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

Published March 17, 2021

This sign lets people know that Dade City’s new welcome center will be opening this summer. A groundbreaking celebration was held on March 10. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor)

Grants to bolster Pasco library programs

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The Pasco County Public Library Cooperative has received two state grants that will allow it to expand its services.

The library has received a grant for $20,315 for fiscal year 2020-2021 to create a Books by Mail program, which will serve homebound residents who are physically unable to visit the library.

Homebound residents include those who can’t leave home during the pandemic, but also could be expanded to include people who live far away from a library.

The program will deliver materials to patrons through the United State Postal Service, and will  provide postage for the materials to be returned, according to information included in the agenda backup for the Pasco County Commission’s March 9 board meeting.

The county’s library system also received a grant through the Library Services and Technology Act for $50,413, to be used for a “Mobile Makerspace.”

In other library news, these appointments were made:

  • Douglas Butler will represent District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano on the Library Advisory Board
  • Richard Hayes will represent District 3 Commissioner Kathryn Starkey on the Library Advisory Board
  • Joan Clark will represent Pasco County at large on the Library Advisory Board
  • Susan Dillinger will represent Pasco County at large, west side, on the Library Cooperative Advisory Board
  • Anjali Bedi will represent the City of Zephyrhills on the Library Advisory Board and Pasco County at large, east side, on the Library Cooperative Advisory Board.

Published March 17, 2021

Crowd gets to see ‘Elvis,’ a ‘teen angel’ and classic cars

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Spectators at the “Grease is the Word” event at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park had a chance to listen to an Elvis impersonator, check out a musical rivalry between Pasco Fire Rescue and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and to take a look at some classic cars. There were also games and other attractions at the event on March 13.

Billy ‘Elvis’ Lindsey ends his set draped in an American flag. ‘If you see any other Elvis impersonator do this, he got it from me,’ Lindsey said. (Fred Bellet)
This 1965 Buick Skylark, owned by David and Maria Aponte, of Wesley Chapel, was one of the standout vehicles on display.
Twelve-year-old Payton Garver gingerly places a Jenga block on top after taking it from the bottom of the tower that she and her mom, Marie Garver, were building in front of the Life Church tent.
Pasco firefighter Logan Mielke appeared as a teen angel, during the sing-along competition between Pasco Fire Rescue and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Mielke was assisted by the Bobbie Sox Dancers, and the songs were sung karaoke-style.
Donna and Don White of Land O’ Lakes are accompanied by the musically inclined Moxie, left, and Mia — two Pembroke Welsch Corgis, at ‘Grease is the Word.’
The “Grease is The Word” performances put a smile on Dottie Morgan’s face as the Tampa woman watches Billy “Elvis” Lindsey on the Heritage Park stage.
Classic car judge Dallas Stevens, of the Land O’ Lakes, peers into a car dubbed ‘Pink Panther’ during a car contest at the ‘Grease is the Word’ event, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. Howie and Barbara Mendick, of Lutz, own the 1950 Mercury.