The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

ICI Homes Now Building in Lake Jovita

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If you dream of a home in the rolling hills of North Carolina, but live in Florida because of its year-around sunshine, your work or family, here’s a new home opportunity that you’ll be glad you waited for.

ICI Homes — one of Florida’s best known and prestigious builders — is coming to Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club just north of Wesley Chapel. It will be building beautiful homes with unique floor plans on some of the largest and prettiest homesites in Tampa Bay.

The builder is opening a new sales center in mid-November, and is now taking VIP reservations on 65-foot lots and 95-foot lots, as well as estate homesites with long-range vistas — some as large as 100 feet by 250 feet.

“Lake Jovita is like living outside in North Carolina, and then stepping inside to an open and sunlit Florida home,” said Greg Jones, Tampa division manager for ICI Homes. “It’s like flipping a coin that you always win, because both sides give you want you want.”

ICI Homes has 75 lots in three Lake Jovita neighborhoods: Parkside, Meadows and The Bluffs. Its semi-custom homes will range from 2,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet, with pricing starting in the $300s. Homesites in The Bluffs, which is located at some of the highest elevation in Florida, can accommodate floor plans up to 10,000 square feet designed as a family’s forever home.

“All of our neighborhoods in Lake Jovita have homesites that back up to a golf course, conservation area or lakes and ponds,” said Jones. “It is almost unheard of today for a master-planned community to offer homes for less than $400s on such large lots with privacy and pristine views.”

In addition to Lake Jovita’s enviable homesites, families are drawn to the community because of its easy access to I-75, and all the shopping, dining and entertainment in nearby Wesley Chapel.

“The State Road 52 exit that leads to Lake Jovita is just 10 miles north of Wesley Chapel,” said Jones. “It’s literally just a 20-minute drive into the heart of Wesley Chapel. Plus, just five minutes to the east is downtown Dade City and all of its old fashioned charm.”

Dade City, which was founded in 1884, is one of Pasco County’s oldest cities and also the county seat. It offers seven blocks of unique shopping and dining in a quaint downtown that boasts over 15 locally owned restaurants; art galleries; museums; fashion and vintage boutiques; antiques; and, shops for gifts, books, wine, pets and outdoor gear.

“People are attracted to Lake Jovita because it is close to all the urban action in Wesley Chapel and Tampa, while their residence is in a lovely rural community that boasts some of the best golf in Florida,” said Jones.

Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club has two semi-private, 18-hole courses with challenging layouts. The 220-acre South Course opened in 1999 and was designed by PGA champion Tom Lehman. The course has played host to many important tournaments, including Stage 1 of PGA Tour Qualifying. The North Course opened in 2002 with a more modern style and dramatic elevation changes. Both courses provide expansive views of neighboring citrus groves and cattle ranches.

“This is an established development that already has over 700 homes, and is a unique opportunity for families looking to build a new home in a golf course community,” said Jones.

And, because Lake Jovita began building over 20 years ago, today there are no CDD fees, saving buyers thousands of dollars a year in additional taxes. The only community expense is a $600 annual fee from the Homeowners Association.

ICI Homes has chosen its most popular floor plans for Lake Jovita, all with family friendly layouts, where cooking, dining, relaxing and entertaining happen cohesively. Homes feature an abundance of windows that bring the outside in. Floor plans include the Juliette, Costa Mesa, Egret II and Brooke, as well as the Heron, a brand-new floor plan that is being built as ICI Homes’ model home, which will be ready for tour next spring.

Be one of the first families to schedule a safe one-on-one or virtual appointment at ICI Home’s new sales center. Call (855) 215-2054, or email Jones at . The new Lake Jovita Sales Center will be at 12330 Lake Jovita Blvd., Dade City, FL 33526.

Persimmon Park
ICI Homes continues to build in Persimmon Park, located in Wesley Chapel in the Wiregrass Ranch community. All homes in this ICI Homes community have open floor plans with front porches, and garages and alleys at the back of the home. The community will have 150 homes, with prices beginning in the high $200s.

In November, residents will be celebrating the grand opening of Persimmon Park’s amenity center, which includes a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area. Coming soon will be dog parks for small and large breeds, and paved trails that connect to the Wiregrass recreational parkway system.

For information about Persimmon Park, please call the sales center at (813) 302-7563, or stop by the model center at 3793 Lajuana Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL 33543.

Published October 28, 2020

Cornerstone Pros Celebrates 16 Years As A Family Business

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When Dana Spears founded Cornerstone Pros in 2006, the company began as a small family business with just six employees. Today, 14 years later, it is still a family business, but now employs over 65 local residents who provide air conditioning, electrical and plumbing services to households in Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties.

“Being bigger doesn’t mean we have lost the family values our company was founded on,” said Dana Spears, Cornerstone’s president. “It’s actually the reason we have grown so quickly, because family values allow us to retain and attract highly skilled workers who are dedicated to our customers.”

There is a misconception that because their overhead is greater, a big company charges more for their services than a small company.

“But, being bigger actually keeps our rates more affordable because we have low employee turnover and more buying power with our suppliers,” explains Spears. “It also allows us to offer our people year-around work, top pay and employee benefits that smaller operations often cannot afford.”

Spears and her husband, James, are hands-on business owners, and are joined by several members of their family in the daily operation of their business.

All of Cornerstone’s technicians are specialists who have specific training in their field. “This means our A/C guys are experts at air conditioning, and do not go out on plumbing and electrical calls,” said Dana. “We have certified plumbers and electricians for those calls.”

Cornerstone Pros hires people who are genuine, honest, trustworthy, clean-cut, and live their lives with good ethics and morals.

“Our employees live in our service area, and are very committed to their family and community,” said Dana. “Most have been with us for over five years, and we have techs who have worked here for all 14 years. In the trade industry, this kind of longevity is almost unheard of.”

Spears recognizes that providing excellent customer service begins with excellent employees.

“We’ve been successful because we’ve built our business on reputation and trust,” said Spears. “Our motto is to go above and beyond customer expectations, and every one of our employees strives to make that happen every day.”

Dana also attributes Cornerstone’s success to being a woman-owned business.

“Women understand that nothing is more important than being customer-centered. It’s the little things that we do in the first 30 seconds that sets the tone for exceeding customer expectations,” said Dana.

“When people call, they assume we have the technical expertise to solve their problem,” she continues. “What they remember is how they felt when they first talked to our customer service rep, or first meet our technician at their door. It’s the kind, helpful voice, the clean uniform and shoe covers, the tech who focuses on them and not their phone, that sets us apart.”

Every Cornerstone employee is trained to the company’s high customer service standards.

“As a mom and wife, I know how it feels to allow someone into your home,” Dana explains. “When we send a tech to a customer’s home, I feel just like I am sending them to my own home. Over two-thirds of our calls come from the woman in the family, and as a woman, I fully understand her concerns and expectations when she allows someone into her home.”

The Spears family has deep roots in the local community. James grew up in Tampa, and Dana graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School, as did three daughters and a son, all who now work for the company. The Spears’ youngest is a second grader at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

The family’s connection to the community also is very strong. Cornerstone Pros supports Oasis Pregnancy Center, sports programs at Land O’Lakes High School, the American Cancer Society, Operation Stand Down to support homeless veterans, Tighten The Drag Foundation fishing tournaments to benefit spinal cord research, and fundraisers for Xavier Johnson, a former Sunlake High football player who was injured.

“We want to give back to our community, which has done so much to support our business over the years,” said Dana. “This is who we are.”

Cornerstone Pros was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. It moved to its 4-acre site on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in 2011, and the following year added plumbing services. In 2014, it expanded again with electrical services.

In 2018, Cornerstone Pros built a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to its headquarters on U.S. 41, to store air conditioning units of all sizes, and stock high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It also stocks tankless hot water systems, and portable and permanent generators, including whole-house systems by Generac.

Phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Call at (813) 949-4445, anytime day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published October 28, 2020

New beer seeks to pitch Pasco tourism

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Pasco County’s tourism marketing arm is trying a new approach — using a new brand of beer to market Florida’s Sports Coast.

The Sports Coast Pilsner is a new beer created to help promote Florida’s Sports Coast, which is how Pasco County brands itself in its tourism marketing efforts. The beer is the result of a partnership between the tourism organization and Escape Brewing Company. (Courtesy of Florida’s Sports Coast)

Florida’s Sports Coast is the name of the county’s destination management organization (DMO), which is in charge of Pasco’s tourism marketing efforts.

The DMO has teamed up with teamed up with Escape Brewing Company to create a beer called the Sports Coast Pilsner, according to a county news release.

A public event to formally launch the beer is set for Nov. 5 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Widow Fletcher’s, 4927 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey.

Those attending will have the chance to meet the co-owners of Escape Brewing, John McGregor and Matt Thompson, and members of the Florida’s Sports Coast team.

There also will be special giveaways.

Beer will be available for purchase, to anyone age 21 or older.

The Sports Coast pilsner is a light, crisp beer with notes of citrus that is best enjoyed responsibly, the release said.

“It’s like sunshine in a can,” McGregor said, in the release.

The artwork for the can was done by local Pasco artist, Veronica Steiner, the lead designer for the brewery.

Published October 28, 2020

Check out this drive-up food fair

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You can indulge in locally baked goods and gourmet specialty items from the comfort of your car and help small businesses — during the drive-up SMARTstart Vendor Fair.

The event will be on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Pasco Extension One Stop Shop, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Superfood Bakeshop, Chef Sweets – Luminous Sweets, Nutoriously Good and other local incubator businesses will be ready with their most popular offerings – ranging from shortbread to organic, gluten-free items packed with superfoods, according to a news release from Pasco County.

Just drive up and you’ll receive online menu access to place an order that will be delivered to your car.

The event is being co-hosted by UF/IFAS Pasco Extension and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc.’s SMARTstart program.

Published October 28, 2020

Does an apple a day keep the doctor at bay?

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Stories involving apples abound.

Some say it was the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

An apple purportedly fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head, inspiring him to discover the properties of gravity.

And, did you know the apple is often associated with fertility, peace and love?

The green apple is one of 7,000 varieties of apples. The fruit offers a broad range of flavors and textures, and can be enjoyed in many forms, such as a caramel apple, a candy apple, in a cake, as a pie, freshly sliced or baked. (Courtesy of pixabay.com)

In one superstition, a girl cuts a long single apple peel and drops it to the floor. Whatever letter the peel looks like is said to be the initial of her future spouse.

There also is a story from ancient Roman times involving apple seeds. According to that tale, a person would toss apple seeds into a fire, while saying the name of his or her heart’s desire. If the seeds popped loudly, the love would be returned; if the seeds silently burned, it would not.

Apples also have been given as traditional gifts, and it is widely known that teachers receive apples from appreciative students.

Ever wonder how New York got its nickname as ‘The Big Apple?’ Well, it turns out that happened because big apples were given as prizes at New York horse racing events in the 1920s, or so the story goes.

The apple also is often used symbolically in logo designs and business branding, including for one of today’s largest technology companies.

You may already be familiar with some of these stories involving apples, but did you know that  fruit has an entire month devoted to it? That’s October.

And, there’s a National Apple Day, too. That’s Oct. 21.

So, is the old adage true. Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

After all, that’s what it said in an 1866 Wales publication.

As in many things in life, it may not be entirely true, but it’s not altogether false, either.

Keeping the doctor at bay requires lots of healthy choices and a variety of foods. But, eating two to four servings of fruits and vegetables daily is recommended, and after all, an apple is a fruit.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to enjoy apples.

There are more than 7,000 varieties of the fruit, according to The Farmer’s Almanac.

They offer wide a variety of color, taste and texture — pleasing to many palettes.

Some apples are sweet; some, tart. Some are super juicy and others, not so much.

They can be eaten whole, dried, baked, sauced, and converted into juice or cider.

Here are some ways apples can improve your health:

  • Eat the whole apple, including the peel, to add fiber to your diet, to help lower cholesterol.
  • Carry one with you, they provide quick access to a healthy snack, reducing your hunger and helping you to avoid junk food.
  • Use applesauce to replace fat, when baking cakes and muffins.
  • They help with allergies. Research published by The National Institute of Health says quercetin, an antioxidant in apples, can prevent histamine release.

By Shari Bresin

Alisa Boderick, Pasco County Extension intern, contributed to this column.

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

So, now that cooler weather is here, you may be baking more often.

Here’s an apple pie recipe that you might like to try.

Crust ingredients
2 cups non-rising flour
3 to 4 Tablespoons of cold orange juice
Pinch of salt
⅓ – ½ cup of solid Crisco shortening
About 3 to 4 Tablespoons of water (don’t want it runny, just so that the flour turns into a solid)

Filling ingredients
5 to 6 apples, Granny Smith works best
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon of cinnamon
Small pat of butter
Pinch of salt
Pinch of flour

Directions
Put the flour, orange juice, water, salt and shortening into a bowl.
Use a pastry blender to mix ingredients to create a dough, and avoid touching with hands.
Once mixed, split dough in half (one for bottom crust and one for top).
Put each dough between two pieces of wax paper and roll it out using a rolling pin, about the size of the pie pan.
Carefully remove wax paper and put bottom half in pie pan.

Peel and cut apples into small pieces (or slice if you prefer).

Marinade the cut apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, salt, and flour in a bowl for as many minutes as you’d like. This is optional, but makes the pie juicier.

Place in bottom crust and then place top crust over it. Add a couple of small holes in the top crust so steam can escape.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Published October 28, 2020

Scammers targeting online DMV services

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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for scammers who are fooling people through websites that look like those used by state departments of motor vehicles.

The scammers are exploiting the opportunity created by an increasing number of people who are turning to online offerings from state DMVs, during this time of COVID-19, according to information provided by the BBB.

They are using these lookalike websites to steal money and personal information, according to reports filed by consumers on BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Here’s how the scam works: You need to change your car’s title, get a Real ID, or perform another service that you would normally do at your local DMV. Instead, you visit what you think is the DMV website to learn about their new COVID-19 procedures. Your state may now allow you to complete the transaction online, or you may need to schedule an in-person appointment through the DMV website.

Before you enter any personal or payment information, double check the site’s URL to make sure it’s the real deal.

Also, be sure to make online purchases with your credit card. Fraudulent charges made on a credit card can usually be disputed, whereas that might not be the case with other payment methods. Unfortunately, there is no way to get back the personal information you may have shared, the release says.

There’s also a similar scam involving change of address services.

If you have been the victim of this or another scam, you can help make others aware by filing a report on BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Published October 28, 2020

In-person jury trials to resume in Pasco

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A modest schedule of trials is on the calendars at the courthouses in east and west Pasco beginning on Nov. 2, according to a news release from the Office of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller.

To optimize the safety of those coming to the Pasco Judicial Center or Robert Sumner Judicial Center, the center will be:

  • Limiting the number of jurors called to allow for social distancing in each Jury Assembly Room
  • Spacing out the days of the week on which jurors are summoned
  • Requiring face coverings
  • Installing Plexiglas barriers
  • Locating hand-sanitizing stations throughout each courthouse
  • Frequently disinfecting common-area surfaces

Details may be found at PascoClerk.com/260/Jury-Services.

The resumption of in-person trials is occurring under the direction of state Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady for Florida courts to pursue a safe return to more traditional operations. Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino recently instructed courts in Pasco and Pinellas Counties to begin preparations for Phase 2 functions, clearing the path toward restarting trials with in-person jurors, the release says.

Published October 28, 2020

Dr. Craven Says Goodbye After 42 years Of Chiropractic Care

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After 42 years of providing chiropractic care to families in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and the surrounding areas, Dr. Michael Craven has sold his practice and will soon be leaving town. He and his wife, Linda, are planning a months-long, bucket-list journey next summer with their two dogs, traveling out West in their Fifth Wheel RV.

“As much as we hate saying goodbye to our patients and community, Linda and I are ready,” said Dr. Craven, who turned 67 in September. “We are looking forward to spending more time with our grandchildren and visiting extended family out of state. Plus, we’re planning on buying and living in that mountain cabin in the woods we’ve always dreamed about.”

Dr. Michael Craven, left, recently sold his Land O’ Lakes chiropractic practice to Dr. Michael McClure.

For the past few weeks Dr. Craven has been introducing patients to the new owner of his practice —  Dr. Michael McClure, who acquired the business in late September.

“When I met Dr. McClure, I knew almost immediately that he was a perfect fit,” said Dr. Craven. “His medical experience and philosophy, and how he sincerely cares for patients like they are members of his family, were exactly what I was looking for in a doctor to take over my practice.”

Buying a practice like Craven Chiropractic was a longtime dream for Dr. McClure and his wife, Julie. The couple had been wanting to move from Pittsburgh to Florida for several years, to be closer to Dr. McClure’s parents who live in Spring Hill and to get away from the cold.

“We almost made the move three years ago, and actually explored Land O’ Lakes back then and loved the community, but we could not find a practice that fit with our goals,” explained Dr. McClure. “It was actually my mother who saw the listing for Craven Chiropractic. When she called me about the opportunity, I said to my wife, ‘Oh My God, Julie, there is a practice in Land O’ Lakes that seems perfect for us.’”

After talking to Dr. Craven, Dr. McClure quickly surmised the strengths of Craven Chiropractic. “And, the more I got to know Dr. Craven, the more I was amazed at how much we had in common – he was almost a mirror image of myself,” he said.

Saying Goodbye
“When you sell your business, it’s not like you’re selling your house. It’s more like hiring a babysitter, because you are entrusting the person to care for the people very important to you,” said Dr. Craven.

“I could not think of a better chiropractor to take my place than Dr. McClure. He not only delivers a great adjustment, but his style and personality are very similar to mine. He is someone who I know will treat you as a friend, and not just a patient,” Dr. Craven wrote his patients when announcing his retirement.

Reminiscing about his professional life, Dr. Craven shares that after graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic Medicine in 1977, he worked in a group practice in Tampa for five years before opening his solo practice in Land O’ Lakes in 1983.

His prior office was in the Village Lakes Shopping Plaza, where he built his practice serving families in Lutz, Land O’Lakes and Wesley Chapel. In 2008, the Cravens built a new office designed specifically for the needs of a modern chiropractic center, just north of the Land O’ Lakes Post Office.

“It’s been so much fun and rewarding to see kids and grandchildren of previous patients, who became my patients. We even have a few fourth generations,” said Dr. Craven.

Asked what is the biggest change he has seen since he started practicing, he quickly responds the Internet.

“Because of Google searches, patients are much more informed today and come prepared with many questions,” Dr. Craven said. “There has also been lots of changes in documentation that consumes so much of a doctor’s time. I am glad to be done with all the regulations, documentation and paperwork.”

Biggest technical improvement?

“By far, laser therapy. In the last seven years, we’ve seen incredible results with laser therapy in pain reduction, stimulating healing and reducing inflammation at the cellular level. It’s the most dramatic improvement I’ve seen in 42 years of practice,” he said.

The couple plans to settle not far from their daughter, Kristin, and three grandsons who live in Dahlonega, Georgia. Two of the boys are in middle school and play football — games their grandparents have only seen once.

The Cravens have two other children — son Michael, a mechanical engineer in Oviedo, and daughter Lacey in Tampa, a mother of three and foster parent. The Cravens have six grandchildren who have always been the focus of their lives, outside of their practice.

It is apparent that Dr. Craven loves being a chiropractor as much today as he did when he first started out, and that retiring was not an easy decision.

“It has been tremendously rewarding to enjoy what you do and put down such deep roots in a community,” said Dr. Craven. “To see people we know at the grocery store and about town ‑ knowing our practice has helped them and made a difference in their lives ‑ has been very fulfilling. It will be difficult to leave a community that has given so much to me and my family.”

About Dr. McClure
Dr. McClure wanted a single-chiropractor office that he could expand into new areas, including weight loss and sports injuries. He has a CCSP Certification in sport injuries, and in 2009-2010 was a staff chiropractor for the PGA Tour in New York State. With his varied background, Dr. McClure is changing the name of the practice to Lakes Chiropractic and Wellness.

“Mike is upbeat, high energy, and deeply listens and cares for his patients, in the same ways I’ve strived to do,” said Dr. Craven. “It was just a great fit, and I feel completely confident turning my patients over to him.”

Remaining at the practice as office manager is Lori Rivera, who Dr. Craven describes as the best office manager he has ever worked with. “Lori is a huge help to patients with their insurance claims, appointment scheduling and making them feel welcome,” he said.

Dr. McClure comes from a large practice in Pittsburgh with two offices and five chiropractors, where he was a majority partner for the past 17 years. “While I loved my practice and patients in Pittsburgh, I wanted to be out on my own.”

He made the decision to focus on finding a Florida practice to buy this past spring during a snowstorm. “I’ll never forget the day because it was Cinque de Mayo — May 5, and I was so tired of the snow and cold,” said Dr. McClure.

Once he connected with Dr. Craven, things moved quickly, and the McClure family relocated to Land O’ Lakes this summer, buying a home in Lakeshore Ranch, a subdivision less than 10 minutes from his new office on U.S. 41 in Black Lake Professional Office Park.

The McClures quickly got their children involved in local sports —7-year-old Camden is a goalie  for the Tampa Bay Crunch youth hockey team in Wesley Chapel, and 9-year-old Daniella competes at Florida Elite Swimming Club in Land O’ Lakes.

While the McClures are getting settled, the past few months have been a very emotional time for the Cravens, as they prepare to leave Land O’ Lakes, their home for over 40 years.

Published October 21, 2020

She has lofty goals, and the will to achieve them

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After a lifetime of preparation, Olivia Jenkins was ready to fly.

She boarded a Cessna 172 Skyhawk — and her instructor stayed on the ground.

She took off from Tampa North Flight Center in Lutz on Sept. 23 and flew her pattern, soaring to 1,000 feet, then she touched down flawlessly to begin a run of three landings.

Olivia Jenkins stands near a plane at the North Tampa Flight Center in Lutz. (Courtesy of Olivia Jenkins)

Her quirky goal was complete.

“I flew a plane solo before I drove a car solo,’’ she explained.

Jenkins, 16, has many more goals in mind (including getting her driver’s license — one day). On her birthday — Feb. 10 — she intends to take her last check ride and finalize her private pilot’s license. Then she can fly without restrictions and even take some passengers aboard.

She’s a member of Mitchell High School’s Navy ROTC program and will seek a congressional nomination to a military service academy. One day, she hopes to fly for the U.S. Air Force or perhaps fly helicopters for the Army.

“I would not put anything past Olivia,’’ said Robert Crews, her flight instructor. “For a 16-year-old, she approaches it so professionally. When you ask her to do something, she does it and she understands it.

“You know how 16-year-olds are? They say, ‘Yeah, I got it, I got it.’ Then they don’t have it. When Olivia says she’s got it, she’s got it.”

Jenkins, whose family lives in Trinity, has a 3.9 grade-point average. She has honed her skills and training through the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary unit of the U.S. Air Force. As a cadet commander, she has taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in orientation flights, where cadets fly with instructors and take the controls themselves, while soaking up knowledge.

“Beyond the flight experience, the Civil Air Patrol has allowed Olivia to build a lot of character and leadership skills, as she has progressed through the ranks,’’ said Rich Jenkins, her father. “I think it has all shown her raw ambition. Whenever we set a goal for her, she has always outperformed that goal. She takes it on and masters it, whether it’s schoolwork or anything else.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Jenkins recently took her first solo flight.

“But, clearly, she has a passion for flying. And, she had it from a very early age.’’

Jenkins’ father helped with that. As a private pilot himself, he took Olivia on flights when she was still in a car seat. She doesn’t remember much from those early days. But, the father recalls when they were at the top of the old Pier in St. Petersburg. She had a clear view of Albert Whitted Airport. She spotted the landing indicator lights and knew if the planes were coming in too low. Olivia was 4.

She attended the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland annually with her father, but her flight interest really took off at age 10, when she participated in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EEA) Young Eagles program.

That’s when she set her goal. She wanted to fly solo before she could drive solo.

Mission accomplished.

“I just love the feeling of flying,’’ Jenkins said. “I always had an interest, I think, but the Young Eagles experience really showed me what it’s like to be in the air.

“I was a little nervous on my first solo flight, but I was prepared. I studied hard and was confident in what I was doing. When I flew the approach nicely and touched down nice and smooth, that was absolutely the best part. It’s like achieving a lifelong dream. I’m excited for what’s ahead,” she said.

Olivia Jenkins prepares her plane, at dusk.

Jenkins is nothing but prepared.

She served an internship last summer in the office of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who represents the 12th congressional district in Florida.

Jenkins is back in Bilirakis’ office for occasional work, some of which involves helping organize students who are seeking nominations to military service academies. By next summer, with her connections firmly in place, Jenkins will be seeking her own nomination.

She also has maximized her experience with the Civil Air Patrol, taking five orientation flights (almost mini-flight lessons), getting accepted into a summer flight academy and securing most of her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examinations, the precursor to a private pilot’s license.

She has about 13 sessions remaining with Crews, her flight instructor, before the birthday flight that will make things official.

If the weather conditions are right, Jenkins can rent a plane at the Tampa North Flight Center for a brief flight. On a whim, she did that recently. It was after-hours, calm and quiet. Taking the plane up was a thrill. The landing was perfect.

“The sunset was amazing that night,’’ Jenkins said. “It was just awesome. I think I’m always going to love the feeling. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.’’

Off she goes into the wild blue yonder. She’s ready to fly.

By Joey Johnston

Published October 21, 2020