The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A vision with a purpose

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Keep Pasco Beautiful has been named the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Non-Profit for 2018.

The award honors Keep Pasco Beautiful’s continuous efforts to engage the community in litter and waste reduction, while encouraging beautification.

(Courtesy of Pasco County)

“Our organization does amazing things in the community thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and partners who share our vision and passion,” Kristen King, coordinator of Keep Pasco Beautiful,, said in a news release.

“We appreciate the Chamber’s recognition and support,” King added.

Keep Pasco Beautiful coordinates and develops a variety of annual local-level beautification and cleanup events, often with ties to national efforts, including: Coastal Cleanup (led by The Ocean Conservancy), Great American Cleanup, Earth Day, and the Pasco Upcycle and Art Festival.

This year, Keep Pasco Beautiful is promoting the importance of trees while hosting a sapling giveaway in partnership with the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and the City of New Port Richey.

The organization also brightened the landscape at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, planting nine trees with the help of Sunlake Key Club volunteers and Covanta Pasco’s sponsorship.

Keep Pasco Beautiful was founded in 1992 and continues its mission with a small, but dedicated, team.

For information, visit KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

Published September 5, 2018

Making moves, enjoying tunes at the Summer Sock Hop

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Dancers at the Summer Sock Hop at the Lutz Senior Center are living proof that age is just a number and you’re only as old as you feel. About 90 people turned out for the dance, on Aug. 25, at the senior center, 112 First Ave., N.W., in Lutz. The senior center is open to people age 50 and older, and in addition to hosting special events each quarter, the center offers an array of classes and other programs, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Lutz resident John Gallucci and his wife, Marta, dance to an upbeat number at the Summer Sock Hop. The Galluccis, originally from Argentina, were childhood sweethearts and have been married for 48 years. (Christine Holtzman)
Barbara Westling, of New Tampa, left, is excited as she accepts a door prize that she won, presented to her by Belkys Poueriet, of Lutz.
Dulmary Sabater, of Tampa, left, and Ken Yie, of Lutz, dance to the Chris De Burgh song ‘Lady in Red.’ Yie, an avid dancer, plans to begin teaching a ballroom dancing class at the center soon.

Colorful ballet captivates audience in Wesley Chapel performance

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Dancers wearing intricate costumes moved with precision during a compelling performance from the famous Kuchipudi Ballet, ‘Kalyana Srinivasam,’ on Aug. 25 at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road. This was the first time the ballet was performed in the Tampa Bay area. The free event featured detailed choreography, storytelling, singing, music, and the classical Indian dance form known as Kuchipudi.

Portraying Lord Shiva, Rujutha Kansara, left, and Jiya Patel, who is portraying the Goddess Parvathi, perform a scene from the famous Kuchipudi Ballet, ‘Kalyana Srinivasam.’ The performers are part of the Srishti Dance Academy, in Tampa. (Christine Holtzman)
Meghna Manjith, a member of the Srishti Dance Academy, dances with two cows, as she portrays Ghollabhama in the Wesley Chapel performance.
Lahari Sadineni, left, portrays Vishnu/Srinivasa, while Swapna Komarraju, portrays Lakshmi/Pasmavathi, as they begin a scene from the ballet that depicts the wedding of the Hindu Lord Venkateswara and the Goddess Padmavathi.

 

 

Zephyrhills chamber presents awards, installs board

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The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce presented its 2018 Business and Community Awards last week at the annual Member Appreciation and Awards Banquet held at St. Joseph’s Parish Center, in Zephyrhills.

The event, dubbed “ZEPHYROPOLY,” attracted more than 200 business and community leaders, according to a chamber news release.

Community award winners display their trophies and certificates after the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Annual Community Awards and Membership Banquet on Thursday. From left; Beth Aker, East Pasco Meal on Wheels, Community Service Award; Anna Bailey, Creative Soul’s Café, Small Business of the Year; Robert and Terry Hilferding, Innovative Business of the Year; Cliff Martin, Jarrett Ford Dade City, Chamber Member of the Year; Vicky Wiggens and Kelly Sinn, Sunrise of Pasco County, Diamond Award; Todd Vande Berg, city planning director, Zephyrhills, Economic Development Champion; Lee Heffelfinger, ABC Pizza, Ambassador of the Year; Rod Rehrig, Marine Corp League, Citizen of the Year; Jonathan Till, Rep. Danny Burgess, Leadership in Government; Russ Heffelfinger, ABC Pizza, Ambassador of the Year; Cliff McDuffie, Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 BPOE, Leadership in Youth Involvement; Kevin and Sandy Bahr, Cindy and Lenny Bahr, Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, Large Business of the Year. (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

This year’s theme focused on what makes Zephyrhills great, and the event featured state Rep. Danny Burgess, as its master of ceremonies. It’s the third time in a row that Burgess filled that role, and he donned a top hat and bow tie for the occasion.

Audience members played a game of “chance,” which involved visiting “properties,” such as Bulldog Way, Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Main Street Zephyrhills and so on, where they took selfies.

Other highlights included having a chance to shake hands with a veteran, or thank Police Chief Derek Brewer or Fire Chief Brian Swartout for their services to the community, the release said.

Laughter could be heard throughout the hall as Kevin Bahr of Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, Bob Hatfield, aide to Congressmen Bilirakis, and Representative Danny Burgess were sent to jail and had to be “bailed out.” Our very own auctioneer, Steve Linder, got the crowd excited as he solicited bids, the release continued.

Awards were presented, too.

Here’s the list of winners:

  • Innovative Business of the Year: Zephyrhills Brewing Company, for innovative product or service, entrepreneurial spirit and corporate citizenship
  • Small Business of the Year: Creative Soul’s Café, for exemplary reputation, product or service, growth, leadership and corporate citizenship of a business with less than 25 employees
  • Large Business of the Year: Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, for exemplary reputation, product or service, growth, leadership and corporate citizenship of a business with 25 or more employees
  • Zephyrhills Economic Development Champion: Todd Vande Berg, city planning director, for exemplary contribution furthering economic development of the community
  • Leadership in Youth Involvement: Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 BPOE, for exemplary contribution to youth in the community
  • The Diamond Award: Sunrise of Pasco County, for exemplary contribution by a nonprofit organization to the betterment of the community
  • Community Service Award: Beth Aker, for exemplary volunteer service to the community
  • Citizen of the Year: Rod Rehrig, for exemplary contribution to the betterment of the community over the past year
  • Leadership in Government Affairs: Jonathan Till, for exemplary contribution and public service at the city, county, state or federal government level
  • Chamber Member of the Year: Jarrett Ford of Dade City, for exemplary contribution and service to the chamber over the past year
  • Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Russ and Lee Heffelfinger, for exemplary service, leadership and representation by a chamber ambassador in the community

The chamber’s new board also was installed. They are: Dr. Randy Stovall (PHSC, Provost Emeritus), president; David West (Make a Difference), vice president; Vicky Jones (Palm Tree Acres MHC), president-elect; John Scott (Gulf Coast Financial Strategies), treasurer; and Jasmine Wilkins (San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union), secretary.

The board’s 2018-2019 directors are: Carolyn Hodges (Faithful Friends Pet Creation); Sam Abrahani (Zephyrhills Moose Lodge 2276); Alex Hulbert (Dewberry); Randy Light (Light Insurance); Kathy Britton (Berkshire Hathaway Home Services); Amanda Maggard (Florida Hospital Zephyrhills); Sam Turgeon (Sunlight Realty); Amy Chappell (CenterState Bank); Kevin Sullivan (Nicoletti Law Firm); and Dean Smith (Health Markets).

Published August 29, 2018

Pasco creates Ridge Road Extension website

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Pasco County’s engineering service department has created a website that tracks progress of the proposed Ridge Road Extension project.

The website (bit.ly/RidgeRoadProject) provides information about the history of the project, a project overview, current activities, a project fact sheet and the latest information.

The road is intended to improve east-west roadway capacity and enhance overall mobility within the area bounded by State Road 52 to the north and State Road 54 to the south, U.S. 41 to the east and Moon Lake Road, Decubellis Road and Starkey Boulevard to the west, according to the website.

The project will also provide additional roadway capacity and improved routing away from coastal hazard areas, and improve hurricane evacuation clearance times in the event of a hurricane or other major weather-related occurrence, the website adds.

The county has sought approval for the road project for about two decades. The proposed 8-mile extension would link Moon Lake Road in West Pasco to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

The county has identified the road extension as a priority, but it continues to face opposition because a part of the project would cut through a portion of the Serenova Preserve.

Detailed construction plans are being prepared and are anticipated to be completed prior to the permit decision.

The county expects a permit decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late Summer 2019, according to the website.

Published August 29, 2018

Substation expansion plan sparks controversy

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Some area residents are protesting a proposal by Duke Energy Florida to expand an electrical substation at Smith Road and Satin Leaf Lane in Wesley Chapel.

Opponents claim the project will devalue their properties and create unsightly views.

The request for a special exception permit for the New River Substation expansion has been put on hold.

The Pasco County Planning Commission granted a continuance at Duke Energy’s request during an Aug. 9 public hearing in Dade City. The rescheduled hearing will be Sept. 6 at 1 p.m., in the Pasco County Commission’s chambers in Dade City.

The delay will give Duke Energy and area residents time to discuss conditions of the expansion.

While opposing the substation expansion, area residents said at the very least the power company should consider moving the substation from the southeast corner to the north side of the site. They say that would minimize impacts to property values, and lessen potential noise and visual pollution.

Resident Lee Schmidt spoke against the proposed expansion. “It will most definitely affect my property values,” Schmidt said.

Residents also said Duke Energy didn’t do enough to fully explain their plans, either in the letters that were mailed to residents or a July meeting with eight residents.

The energy company sent letters to 19 residents living closest to the project site to invite them to a meeting, according to a Duke Energy memorandum.

Resident Joshua Kling said Duke’s outreach “was really more reminiscent of a marketing campaign.”

Most of the proposed expansion would happen on the existing site, according to Duke Energy. But, additional acreage would be added to expand the parcel to about 10 acres.

The expansion is part of upgrades to the grid system necessitated by the merger several years ago between Duke Energy and Progress Energy. Duke Energy representatives said the company has a deadline of December 2021.

The nearest residences to the New River substation are within the Meadow Pointe and Ashley Homes communities. Residents receive their power from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, not Duke Energy.

Access to the substation is off Satin Leaf, which is a private road. Additional access will be off Smith Road, a county-maintained roadway.

The expansion wouldn’t provide additional power, but would increase the capacity and reliability of Duke’s electrical grid, said attorney Manuel Vilaret, who represented Duke Energy.

Buffering of the site would include a fence, a berm and trees.

Sara Guntrum, Duke’s lead substation permitting specialist, said additional landscaping would provide “less (negative) visual impact than there is today.”

But, David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, said there were too few details on the buffering.

“It’s not clear to me,” he said. “You need to fix this condition.”

Goldstein said more details are needed on the heights of the berm and the trees, and the spacing distance between trees.

Planning Commissioner Michael Cox wondered if Duke had scouted other sites for a substation.

Guntrum said the nearly 30-day delay would give the company time to address concerns, and provide additional details on the project.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 29, 2018

Grand opening ‘Pawty’ of the Beach House Bark Park

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Residents at Beach House at Wiregrass Assisted Living & Memory Care, at 30070 State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel, now have ‘Bark Park,’ a fenced area outdoors, where they can take their favorite four-legged companions. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves at Bark Park’s grand opening ‘Pawty.’ The facility is pet-friendly. Staff members there believe in the value of pet therapy and frequently bring in their dogs for visits, which the residents seem to enjoy.

Penny, a Maltese mix, listens as her owner, Business Office Director Chelsea Rice, speaks lovingly to her during the grand opening ‘Pawty’ of the Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care’s Bark Park in Wesley Chapel. (Christine Holtzman)
Anthony Staiano, of Riverview (center), joins his mother, Pauline, a resident of the Beach House along with his greyhound, Ralph, during a celebration of the new Bark Park. Anthony says he visits his mother frequently and often brings Ralph along because his mom enjoys the pooch’s company, and they’re happy to have a fenced area where Ralph can play while they relax outdoors.
Niko, a boxer, cools off in a pool of water after chasing the other dogs around the brand-new Bark Park at the Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care in Wesley Chapel. Callie Sears, director of community relations for Beach House, owns Niko and says he loves to swim, and will jump into water wherever he sees it to have fun.

Optimum Plumbing’s Personal Approach to Plumbing

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By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

When people think of an American success story, they may very well be thinking of Vladimir Breton and Optimum Plumbing.

After earning a civil engineering degree in his native Dominican Republic, Breton immigrated to the United States and took a job as a plumber’s assistant in New York.  He did not speak English, but he had a plan  — to one day own his own business.

Breton eventually moved to Florida to fulfill his dream. Starting with nothing, in just five years he proceeded to build a successful plumbing business. It was 2012 when Breton founded Optimum Plumbing in Land O’ Lakes with just one truck, and today the business has grown to five trucks servicing customers throughout Tampa Bay.

Services include new plumbing fixtures, leak detection, inspections, gas and waterline repair, re-piping, sewer line video inspections, repair and installation of garbage disposals, tubs, sinks, and water closets and whole-house water filters.

“We are also a licensed general contractor,” Breton said.  “We wanted to offer more than just plumbing, and are now doing kitchen and bathroom renovation locally, and hotel and apartment complex renovation everywhere in Florida.”

Breton strongly believes in soliciting feedback from his customers to improve service.

“We always follow up with the customer,” he said.  “We call the next day to make sure everything is OK, to ask, ‘How was the service?  How was the technician?’  As soon as we close the call, we send a thank you email and send a link and to give us a review.”

Optimum Plumbing has earned more than its share of recognition. In 2013, the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund awarded it Startup of the Year.  In 2016, it won the Pasco Economic Development Council Service and Distribution Industry of the Year Category 1 Award.  The Better Business Bureau has rated it A+ for three consecutive years, and Angie’s List has awarded it Super Service in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Breton appreciates the importance of community and is active in the Central Pasco, Upper Tampa Bay, and North Tampa Bay chambers of commerce.

“My wife and I have become part of the community,” he said.  “Wherever we go, people know us.  The business has been a way to meet people and to support community projects.”

Family is very important to Breton, and not surprisingly, several family members are involved in the business, including his wife as office manager, his sister-in-law as marketing director and even his 20-year-old college-student daughter, who works part- time in dispatching.”

Being licensed, bonded and insured, Optimum Plumbing offers 24-hour emergency service for plumbing, drain service and water heaters, and provide warranties on all of their work.

“We stand by our work, everything that we do, no matter what it is, from a job as simple as a garbage disposal to a sewer line cleaning,” Breton said.

The next time you need a plumber, call Optimum Plumbing at (813) 391-9287, or visit OptimumPlumbingllc.com.

Dementia Care Only at Memory Lane Cottage

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In the three years since Memory Lane Cottage opened in New Tampa, it has helped many individuals and families cope with the challenges that come with dementia-related diseases.

“Coming to terms with a family member’s dementia or Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis isn’t easy, and choosing a compassionate environment for your loved one’s long-term care can be equally daunting,” said Robert Matrazzo, chief operating officer. “At Memory Lane Cottage, we are dedicated to providing a loving, intimate, memory-care environment where residents retain a sense of independence and dignity.”

Memory Lane Cottage houses just 20 residents. There are no long hallways for residents to navigate, and all resident suites open directly to a common area with living and dining rooms located next to the kitchen, a floor plan very similar to a private home.

Residents also enjoy the outdoors, with the Cottage’s 13,000-square-foot, enclosed courtyard that has gardening stations, water features and walking paths to encourage residents to explore and enjoy the outdoors in a safe setting.

It was Memory Lane Cottage’s exclusive on memory care, and its limited number of residents, that attracted Administrator Rhonda Travland.

“Because we’re not trying to be everything to everyone, we can focus 100 percent on memory care residents,” said Travland, who has 30 years experience in senior care management. “We do not offer independent living or assisted living, and this makes us really unique.”

A common problem for people with dementia, said Travland, is sensory overload in loud, noisy and crowded environments, because memory-care residents cannot easily process information in a crowd.

“At Memory Lane, residents are not overwhelmed by the business of a large community with constant distractions and noises,” Travland said. “The beauty of our community is its design to look and feel like a luxury estate home.”

To simulate this luxury home setting feel, a mailbox is in the courtyard for residents to check.  Waist-high gardening stations offer familiar exercise and recreation without the physical strain of having to bend.  And, the scent of cinnamon baked goodies wafts regularly from an open kitchen to stimulate residents’ appetites.

Travland has personal experience with loved ones with dementia. When her grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, it changed her life and greatly influenced her decisions to earn college degrees in gerontology and nursing home administration.

“As a teen, my grandmother developed vascular dementia, and my family had no idea what their rights were, or what the disease course was going to be like for my grandmother. Dementia can splinter families, as it did in my own family,” said Travland said.

“And then, when I was a nursing home administrator, my husband started showing signs of young onset dementia when he was just 38,” she continued. “So I know dementia from a personal and professional perspective, and my experiences can help families because I have empathy on both sides.”

Families and their input are important to the Memory Lane Cottage community, and management always listens to families to gauge the level of service they provide.

“Memory Lane Cottage is an answer to a prayer for our family,” said Matrazzo, reading a letter from a resident’s family member. “The staff shows such care, and the facility is so warm and homelike.  They have thought of every possible detail to ensure a wonderful experience for my mother’s life here.”

Memory Lane Cottage can be found on Cypress Preserve Drive off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, just south of Interstate 75.  For more information, call (813) 632-1270 or visit MemoryLaneCottage.com.

Lakeview at Citrus Park Has Park-Like Setting and Superb Location

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Next to the Veterans and just minutes to Carrollwood

Mattamy Homes is launching its second townhome community in north Tampa —Lakeview at Citrus Park. The community is opening soon at an idyllic location overlooking Gant Lake at the end of Tom Fuller Road, located just south of Ehrlich Road and east of the Veterans Expressway.

VIP-only presales are taking place this weekend, Aug. 24 to Aug. 26, with sales opening to the general public on Saturday, Sept. 1.

To qualify for VIP presales, register at MattamyHomes.com/Tampa. VIP benefits include first selection of homes, VIP pricing and other incentives.

“This is one of the prettiest and most convenient locations in the north Tampa area,” said Kathleen Dec, marketing manager for Mattamy’s West Florida Division. “Our homeowners will enjoy living less than two miles from Westfield Citrus Park Mall, and will appreciate the easy access to Tampa via the Veterans Expressway.  Plus, Tampa International Airport is only 12 miles from the community.”

In addition to its great location, this gated community will boast a community pier with resident access to Gant Lake for fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding, and also a children’s playground.

Upon completion, Lakeview at Citrus Park will have 124 townhomes. Buyers will choose from five floor plans that are similar to the popular plans sold at Mattamy Homes’ Lakeside Preserve community in Lutz.

Home sizes will range from 1,670 to 2,620 square feet, and offer 3 to 4 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths, and 1- or 2-car garages. Pricing begins from the mid $200,000s.

To learn more about Lakeview at Citrus Park, visit MattamyHomes.com, call Melanie Sikorski at (813) 278-1760, or email .

Last Chance For Lakeshore Preserve
In less than a year, the Mattamy Homes community of Lakeshore Preserve in Lutz has sold 80 percent of its townhomes in the 102-home community, located on Van Dyke Road and Lakeshore Road, just west of Dale Mabry Highway.

“We’re down to our last 20 homes, and expect all to sell by the end of the year,” said Marketing Manager Dec. “Lakeshore Preserve has sold very well in the year since we opened because of its great location and unique floor plans that optimize living spaces to fit an array of buyers’ needs.”

Lakeshore Preserve has two contemporary townhome designs still available that offer 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 1- or 2-car garages. Townhomes are larger than many single-family homes, ranging from 1,888 to 2,333 square feet. Prices start in the mid $200,000s.

The community is less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway and Dale Mabry Highway, and close to shopping and dining in Carrollwood, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

“Plus, our kids attend some of the best schools in all of Hillsborough County, which is a huge draw for many of our residents,” said Dec.

Lakeshore Preserve students are zoned to Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and Schwarzkopf Elementary, all located less than three miles away on Lutz Lake Fern Road. Charter school Sunlake Academy of Math and Science is less than a mile away.

This gated community offers a beautiful amenity center, which includes a large resort-style pool, outdoor area equipped with a covered cabana and breeze fans, outdoor kitchen, hammocks, shaded seating areas and game area.

To learn more about Lakeshore Preserve, visit MattamyHomes.com, call Melanie Sikorski at (813) 370-1254, or email .

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with a nearly 40-year history of operations across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps 7,000 families realize their dream of home ownership. Visit MattamyHomes.com for more information.

Published August 22, 2018