The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Hands-on volunteers keep things moving

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The November activities in Gem Estates really geared up with the heavy influx of our residents returning to the park. It was great to see lights on in the houses, and the yards and flower beds being tended to.

We had a lot of compliments on the Veterans Day decorated tree and celebration, in the form of a free-to-residents pancake and trimmings breakfast. Jim Nagle was the chef, and his committee responded with lots of help and good food.

Dea-Ann Burgess decorated the Thanksgiving tree at the Gem Estates Thanksgiving feast. (Courtesy of Lee Heffelfinger)
Dea-Ann Burgess decorated the Thanksgiving tree at the Gem Estates Thanksgiving feast.
(Courtesy of Lee Heffelfinger)

We have certainly had our share of sickness, surgeries and bad health problems. Our president, Al Bennett and wife Deanie — who recently returned from their home in Massachusetts — are finally on the road to recovery.

Prayers and good wishes are being said for Betty York, Norma Monsulik’s daughter Bonnie, Ginnie Zepp, Bill Weiss, George Held, Jim Phillips, Jim Pardee, Helen Springer, Joanne Clate, Randall Smith, and Neva Roy. Best wishes and speedy recovery to all. Please, if you have a chance, go visit these folks that are here in Zephyrhills.

November birthday wishes were sent out to Sharon Krenz, Tess Stacey, Dea-Ann Burgess, Ken Mann, John Raab, Elaine Mercer and Earl Sprague.

The clubhouse was the scene of the wedding reception of one of our residents, Eugene Leibrook and his bride, Judy. Best wishes to you both. The decorations and food were displayed very elegantly, and the honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas followed the reception.

Randall and Lee Smith celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on Nov. 27. Best wishes for many more anniversaries.

There was a good turnout for the Tuesday craft class with Dea-Ann Burgess instructing the class on how to make pocketbooks out of men’s neckties.

Ron Raymond is chair of the maintenance committee, and had a meeting scheduled for the volunteers that were helping him on Dec. 4. Several projects need our volunteer help.

Some of the committee chairmen have announced the upcoming games and activities. Loretta Green is once again chairing line-dancing classes with a new instructor with only a $2 hourly price. Mary Kay Lynch is hosting the euchre games on Monday nights, and also will head up the bingo volunteers when we start again in January.

Ann Casey is coordinator of the marbles games on Tuesday evenings, as well as hosting the potluck suppers and yoga instruction. Karen Wyant is starting a chair exercise class.

A new Bible study class called “The Back Porch,” hosted by Tom and Barbara Cleavenger, will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

This year, Maine residents hosted and prepared — along with other states — the Thanksgiving feast, and it involved lots of good help and lots of good food. The table decorations, and of course the Thanksgiving-decorated tree, were a terrific asset to the festivities. About 130 residents took part in this fabulous dinner.

We have had many speeders coming in and out of the park. If you see these speeders, feel free to holler and tell them to slow down.

We owe a big thanks to vice president Richard Burgess and wife Dea-Ann for hosting the coffee hour socials every Thursday morning. Great job, Richard.

We are still looking forward to the Panama Canal cruise, and you can still enjoy going with us to see Jimmy Fortune, the tenor with The Statler Brothers, when we go in February.

By Lee Heffelfinger

Published December 10, 2014

Something for everyone at Grand Horizons

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We had our lunch connoisseurs Nov. 14 at Doc’s Pub & Grill located in Dade City. This was a nice, cozy restaurant with several television screens tuned to sports channels.

Bill and Pidge Elliott hosted the lunch, and 46 people attended. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and each patron was given a raffle ticket for a meal certificate before lunch even started. This was a nice touch and all had expectations of winning.

There was no shortage of books to choose from at the rummage sale in the community center. (Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)
There was no shortage of books to choose from at the rummage sale in the community center.
(Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

We had our community-wide yard sale Nov. 15 where certain houses had sales in their driveways. There were many houses that participated in this event and lots of merchandise to choose from.

Several houses had many a knick-knack, while other places sold several pieces of furniture. There was something for everyone, and it was fun just browsing.

They also had a rummage sale in the community center where they sold loads of donated items and numerous books. There were so many books that some people had trouble choosing what they wanted to read.

There was a bake sale with countless goodies, and lunch also was served. This way, people could order lunch and be able to stay and not leave the park.

I hosted a luncheon for the women of Grand Horizons and guests Nov. 20 at Blackstone’s Reef & Grill. Ten women enjoyed a lovely luncheon and had a lively conversation.

The service was excellent, the food very tasty, and the waiters and waitresses bent over backward to help us in any way, shape or form.

We had one entire section of the restaurant, so it literally felt like a private room. Many pictures were taken, and our waitress was nice enough to take a picture of the entire group.

After the lunch, four door prizes were given away. Everyone went home happy and content.

Approximately 20 people enjoyed a new activity added to our already big list of activities. On Nov. 20, it was movie night hosted by Cheryl Leone. The movie was “Bridesmaids” starring Melissa McCarthy.

It created lots of laughs among the people that attended the event, and everyone seemed to have a good time.

The next movie, Cheryl tells me, is in January.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published December 10, 2014

 

A week of thankful reflection

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Why we are thankful.

This time of year allows us reflect on all that we are thankful for. It is not a difficult process. We all have a short list, but in some order, they will encompass the following truths.

Our health: The old adage “all the gold in Fort Knox cannot buy a lifetime of health” is just that, an old saying, until a loved one falls ill, sometimes in dire straits. It usually is not of their doing, but the impact goes far and wide affecting family and friends.

Helen Yerdon and Fran Boetcher chat before the annual Thanksgiving feast. (Courtesy of Ron Graham)
Helen Yerdon and Fran Boetcher chat before the annual Thanksgiving feast.
(Courtesy of Ron Graham)

Our families: What joy in looking at your children, their children — or if you are the lucky ones, their children. You all know that their good traits are inherited from your side of the family, and wonder where the devil the others did.

Our freedom: To paraphrase one document, all men are created equal, with certain unalienable rights, of life, liberty, and happiness, looking at the mixed-up world today, many peoples still want.

But not least of all, our friends: In our case at Happy Days, it is our winter family. Not a blood family, but one consisting of smiles, waves, storytellers, humanitarians, sports, musicians, hobbyists, and some plain-faced characters. They are the ones you think of first.

To celebrate the recent holiday, our annual Thanksgiving dinner was on Thursday in the hall. More than 60 people enjoyed a potluck style meal with many great dishes provided by the great cooks of Happy Days.

As usual, the corporate office provided the turkeys, although some of the attendees are “turkeys.” Just kidding.

Black Friday, as usual, brought the worst out in our shopaholics. Was it the pre-midnight, or the dawn, or the all-day Friday or even 6 p.m. Thursday? It just did not matter.

We bought everything on sale. Whoopee, now to wrap it. Oops, we forgot to put it on our list.

Our need for food was met. The urge to spend the last buck achieved.

Sunday morning was the first church service of the season and met the need to feed our soul. As usual, Pastor Lynne provide a great message the inspired us all. Thank you, church board, for all the work you do to put on a great church service season after season.

It was a great week to be thankful.

By Ian Marwick

Published December 10, 2014

 

Preparations begin for a busy season

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Thanksgiving was celebrated by a large group of residents sharing a delicious meal. The committee made sure that people who were not able to feast with the group had a meal delivered to them.

Breakfasts are served on Saturday morning this year. The menu is different each week. Gloria Irwin and her committee serve the meal.

The bingo games are going well. Many are attending. A meal is served before the games begin.

Everyone is welcome to a different entrée each Tuesday. Ted Spurlock serves ice cream during intermission — ice cream is a favorite here. It also is served on Sunday evenings.

The park is being prepared for the holiday season. Many elves were seen stringing many new lights. There is a nativity set on the pond as well as Santa in his boat. He will be looking for his good friends for Christmas deliveries.

Thank you to the elves for a wonderful decorating job.

There was a swinging dance in November. Chuck Gould arranged for the entertainment.

People are getting their golf carts prepared for the annual Christmas parade. There will be music and lots of fun. Following the parade, refreshments will be served at the clubhouse.

Come enjoy the new library as it has been remodeled.

Among the other changes in Palm View Gardens, the gazebos have been remodeled. They are an inviting place to sit by the pond and enjoy the view.

Many activities have begun. The shuffleboard players are getting ready for their first tournament, hosting Hillside. There is a fun game of horse and collar on Saturday mornings. Please come join the fun.

The pool tables are busy with many having a good time.

The ladies sewing group is stitching away. They have a Christmas project to donate to a nursing home.

Stained glass workshops have begun with instructor Jim Smith. This group makes beautiful items, including lamps.

Howard Teasly has begun instruction with those interested in woodworking. They also make wonderful projects.

Our resident nurses do blood pressure screenings on Tuesdays in the clubhouse at mail call.

Hazel Sterger is the instructor for the ceramics classes. What a great place to make presents.

There also are large groups of residents who enjoy card games. Cribbage players gather on Monday nights. Euchre players meet on Wednesday evenings.

Several people are meeting on Friday afternoons to play a variety of new games.

Brenda Brown and MaryAnn McPheron are chairs for the Palm View Gardens photo book. Residents will have their best smiles on for the camera.

Thanks to Bonnie Pratt for the Sunday entertainment by John Moss. Bonnie also is the resident bus driver with planned trips to places like Hooter’s, the dog races, Webster, outlet shopping, and many others.

Church services have begun. Hymn sing begins at 9:30 a.m., with a service following at 10 a.m.

A Christmas card project for disabled veterans is taking place. Residents are asked to deliver stamped Christmas cards to the clubhouse leaving the address area blank. The cards will be sent to disabled veterans.

By Millie LeBaron

Published December 10, 2014

 

 

Awaiting the arrival of Santa at Rainbow Village

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Sue Flynn and Mary Pierce attended the first meeting for Relay for Life. Each team was to bring a purple dessert and $5. The best dessert winner took home all the donations for their team.

They also handed out spirit points if you wore purple and a purple pilgrim hat. Thanks to Patti Hill and Carrie Solberg for making the hats that Sue and Mary wore.

Glenna Simko's granddaughters dressed the part when they visited during Thanksgiving. (Courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)
Glenna Simko’s granddaughters dressed the part when they visited during Thanksgiving.
(Courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)

There will be some fundraisers in our park to help our Over the Rainbow-For The Cure teams to collect for this project that will end in late March. The donations are for all kinds of cancer, so be generous and help the teams.

One of our improvements was recently completed. The sod was put into place on the horseshoe and bocce courts. The volunteers did this on a rainy day, but it was completed. We will have nice looking courts to play on, so thank you for all those that helped to complete this project.

Thanksgiving at Rainbow Village is a special time to count our blessings with each other. It takes a lot of preparations to prepare a turkey dinner for all of us to share in our social hall. Our chairs were Harry Hersey and Doug Jones.

On Wednesday, you could smell the turkeys roasting, and at 1 p.m., his helpers picked the turkey off the bones. There also were helpers to prepare the trays with turkey and filling for each table to be served.

On Wednesday night, the tables were set up for the hostesses to decorate. On Thursday morning, the gravy was made, and the turkeys and dressing were heated up for the meal.

At 12:30 p.m., residents arrived with their covered dishes, and at 1 p.m. sharp we were all sitting down to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal after our pastor, Jim Austin, said the blessing on the food and for all the other blessings that were bestowed upon us all over the year.

We all enjoyed the tasty meal and fellowship with each other.

All in all, it was a great day with many helpers who did a great job. Thank you Harry, Doug and all their helpers.

After Thanksgiving, residents come back to Rainbow Village from the cold North. Each day more arrive, and we greet them with a hug or handshake. We are so happy to see each other. We are like family.

We will be having a Christmas bazaar on Dec. 13 from 8 a.m. to noon. Judy Hersey-Phillips is the chair, and there will be a big rummage sale.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance from 11 a.m. to noon. Come and visit the vendors, good food, bake sale, and maybe do some Christmas shopping.

We are looking forward to the upcoming Christmas activities like the annual Christmas tea, the Christmas bazaar, cookie exchange, Toys For Tots, Christmas caroling and our Christmas Eve service.

By Sandra Gilbert-Abel

Published December 10, 2014

On The Agenda 12-10-14

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Mulieri to speak at PACA
Former Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri will be the guest speaker at the next Pasco Alliance of Community Associations meeting, taking place Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

PACA is an organization that brings together 70 of the county’s homeowner associations, community development districts, and condominium associations, as well as individuals residing in Pasco County.

For information, call Ron Litts at (813) 475-4561, or visit MyPACA.org.

Utilities department moving
The Dade City utilities department will be closed to walk-in customers on Dec. 12, reopening at its new location at 38054 Pasco Ave., on Dec. 15.

The department’s mailing address and telephone numbers will not change, however. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1355, Dade City, 33526, and the phone numbers are (352) 523-5053 and (352) 521-1462.

Those wishing to pay their utility bills can set up an automatic draft from a bank account, pay over the phone with a credit or debit card, pay by mail, or use a drop box located on the right side of the building.

The department is typically open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ananth Prasad leaving FDOT
Ananth Prasad, who has led the Florida Department of Transportation since Rick Scott was first elected governor, will step down from that job Jan. 2.

“Secretary Prasad … has been pivotal to making sure we could make a record investment of over $10 billion in our transportation system this year,” Scott said, in a release. “Secretary Prasad has also helped Florida become a major force in international trade because of his commitment to expanding our Florida ports and airports.”

The Florida Transportation Commission is being tasked with recommending Prasad’s replacement, which likely won’t come until early next year.

Lifetime hunting, fishing licenses reduced
Gov. Rick Scott is using his executive order powers to offer lifetime sportsman’s licenses at a greatly reduced cost for children and young adults.

Through the end of the year, Florida residents younger than 22 can purchase a lifetime license that covers saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing, hunting, and most associated permits, for $500.

A lifetime license is true to its name, giving the holder the of that license the ability to hunt and fish in Florida for the rest of the person’s life, even if they are no longer a resident of the state.

Licenses can be purchased at all Florida county tax collectors’ offices, or online at License.MyFWC.com.

For information, call (888) 347-4356.

Corcoran to lead appropriations committee
State Rep. Richard Corcoran has been appointed the chairman of the House’s Appropriations Committee for the coming legislative session.

Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, named Corcoran to the seat last month, to bring his “wealth of knowledge and expertise” to the position.

“His skills and experience will be well-suited in his role,” Crisafulli said, in a release.

With Corcoran in line to become the next speaker, Crisafulli said he was looking for a way to include Corcoran into the operations of the House the same way Will Weatherford did for Crisafulli when he was the speaker.

“I intend to follow the same model during my tenure,” Crisafulli said.

Corcoran, R-Trinity, won re-election without opposition this past cycle.

 

Business Digest 12-10-14

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(Courtesy of Ierna's Heating & Cooling)
(Courtesy of Ierna’s Heating & Cooling)

Introducing Cole Dair
Wendy Majetic of Wesley Chapel won $500 for naming the new mascot for Ierna’s Heating & Cooling. ‘Cole Dair’ was the winning entry she submitted, and picked up a check with her husband Shane Majetic. Ierna’s is located on U.S. 41 in Lutz, and can be reached at IernaAir.com.

Costco eyeing town center site
The world’s third-largest retailer is looking to set up shop in Pasco County, and become the first major store associated with the Cypress Creek Town Center.

Costco Wholesale Corp., is set to meet with county officials just before Christmas about opening a 153,000-square-foot store at the shopping center, located near the intersection of State Road 56 and Interstate 75. It is slated for an 18-acre outparcel, part of the overall property currently controlled by Pasco 54 Ltd., Pasco Ranch Inc., and JG Cypress Creek LLC.

This would be Pasco County’s first Costco store, and the first one to be built in the Tampa Bay area north of Brandon. The only other location in the region is in Clearwater.

Costco has the potential to make a tremendous economic impact on the county and the region. The average retail employee makes $20 an hour, nearly double that of other retail workers, according to a 2013 report by Businessweek. Employees at the company typically start out at $11.50 an hour, and after five years, can reach as high as $19.50.

At Walmart’s similar Sam’s Club stores, according to the same report, workers start at $10 an hour, and typically reach $12.50 after five years.

No official announcement has been made on when Costco would break ground, let alone open. However, work already has begun on Tampa Premium Outlets, slated to open late next year, not far from where the Costco is planned.

Dairy Queen wants to build in Land O’ Lakes
The Terra Bella area of Land O’ Lakes, where a new apartment community was announced just last month, could very well have a new Dairy Queen come in on its coattails.

Robin Kendall of EMK Consultants of Florida, was scheduled to meet Monday with Pasco County officials behind closed doors to help plan a new 3,076-square-foot Dairy Queen restaurant that would be located next to Christian Brothers Automotive on State Road 54. It would be just in front of the Dance and Gymnastics Academy of Tampa and Discovery Point Child Center, both located on Venezia Drive.

The project would involve several parcels along the north side of State Road 54 just east of Christian Brothers, land that is currently owned by K&B Flagship LLC of Orlando. It would be located between Via Bella Boulevard and Livingston Road.

If built, it would be the fifth such store in Pasco County, joining ones on Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills, on Wesley Chapel Boulevard, and two others in New Port Richey.

That area of Land O’ Lakes already is heavily traveled by commuters and residents using Interstate 75 and the Suncoast Parkway, but would have an even stronger local boost when Alta Terra Bella — a 311-unit luxury apartment complex — is completed just west of it near 20 Mile Level Road.

Plans for the Dairy Queen are still in the preliminary stages, and it’s unclear when construction would start.

Toy drive for farmworkers
The Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting a holiday toy drive party Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at D&S Hall, 1914 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

Admission is $10, or free with a new unwrapped toy. For members, it’s also free with a toy, or $5 empty-handed.

The drive supports farmworkers, and also raises money for the chamber’s scholarship fund.

For information, call John Jay at (813) 296-3232.

Christian business group to meet
Christian Business Connections-Central Pasco will have its next meeting Jan. 8 at 7:45 a.m., at the Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club, 6225 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Laurie Hill, a member of the Christian Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay and author of the book “I Am in Business,” will be the speaker.

Admission is $9, which includes a buffet.

For information, contact Rene Van Hout at , or at (813) 300-7511.

New AT&T store in Zephyrhills
AT&T has opened a new authorized retail location in Zephyrhills to help meet what the company describes as the growing needs in Pasco County.

Cellular World recently had its grand opening at 7886 Gall Blvd., in the shopping plaza across from the Walmart.

Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Catholic Business Networking seeks members
The Catholic Business Networking group is looking for Catholic business owners, employees and supporters interested in joining it for regular meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.

The group has annual dues of $60, and there is a minimum attendance requirement of two meetings per month.

For information, call (813) 833-4737, or visit CBNTampa.com.

 

Clinton finds serious Florida challenge from Jeb

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If the 2016 presidential election were held today, Floridians would be ready to give the Sunshine State’s 29 electoral votes to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

That is, unless Jeb Bush decides to run.

A new survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute said that if both Clinton and the former governor end up representing their respective parties in the presidential race, voters in Florida, at least, would be split on whom to choose.

The poll, conducted between Nov. 25 and Dec. 7, gave 43 percent of support to Jeb Bush, while 42 percent picked Clinton.

No other early contenders did too well against the one-time First Lady. Clinton got 50 percent support against Kentucky senator Rand Paul, and 45 percent against New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

Clinton hit 51 percent against Texas senator Ted Cruz, and 48 percent against former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Florida senator Marco Rubio held his ground a little better, however, earning 42 percent support among Floridians compared to 46 percent from Clinton.

Bush might be a favorite among Floridians, but at least one expert says it might be difficult for the two-term governor to gain momentum in the national spotlight.

“People perceive Jeb Bush differently in the rest of the country,” said Saint Leo University political instructor Frank Orlando, in a release. “Inside Florida, he’s Jeb. Outside of Florida, he’s George’s brother,” as in George W. Bush.

“Jeb Bush continues to struggle to separate his personality from the former president. However, inside the Sunshine State, he stands for himself. He’s his own man. He’s been the most popular figure in the state for a generation.”

Bush has a tremendous lead in Florida over other potential Republican nominees, carrying 34 percent support compared to 15 percent from Romney, according to the Saint Leo poll. Rubio had 10 percent support, while medical doctor Ben Carson is pulling 8 percent.

If their first choice decided not to run, Bush still lead among second picks with 18 percent, followed by Rubio at 15 percent and Romney at 13 percent.

Among Democrats, it might be impossible to topple Clinton. She has 63 percent support in Florida, with Vice President Joe Biden a distant second at 8 percent.

Biden, however, does lead among second choices with 25 percent, followed by Clinton with 13 percent and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren at 11 percent.

Saint Leo polled 500 Florida adults, including 420 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.

POTLUCK PICNIC AT FIRST METHODIST

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The 2015 Wisconsin-Upper Peninsula Michigan Potluck Picnic is scheduled for Feb. 14 at First Methodist Church, 38635 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. Registration starts at 10 a.m., followed by activities at noon. Guests should bring a dish to share for 10 to 12 people, and your own place setting. A meat dish, coffee and dessert will be provided. No alcoholic beverages are allowed. The cost is $4 per person. For information, call Jim Leitzke at (813) 780-1549.

School district, union agree to 3% raise

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Teachers will get a 3 percent pay raise after Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco union reached an agreement on new contracts.

For teachers, the cost to give pay raises will be $6.4 million, according to a release from the school district. Half of that raise will address cost-of-living expenses, while the other half will be for performance pay or equivalent agreements. Also seeing a 3 percent raise are school-related personnel, which will cost the district an additional $1.7 million.

“I want to thank the district’s negotiating team, led by Betsy Kuhn and Tom Neesham, for diligently representing the wishes of the school board, and negotiating meaningful raises for all of our hard-working employees,” Superintendent Kurt Browning said, in a release.

The raise, however, will come at a price. First, the district’s early retirement program will stop adding new members effective June 30, 2018. On top of that, smoking will be banned on all district property effective July 1, 2016.

In return, teachers also will get 150 minutes of uninterrupted planning time — or 2.5 hours — up from the 100 minutes they are currently provided by contract. The district also will increase its contribution to the Florida Retirement System by $1.4 million for all employees, and pay out another $1.2 million for increases to employee health insurance for the 2015 calendar year.

Both sides have agreed to create a compensation task force that will talk about proposed changes to how teachers are paid. The options being considered are teachers receiving 20 paychecks during the 10-month teacher work year, with five checks paid on the last teacher work day, and a last check two weeks later; or teachers receiving 26 equal paychecks, paid out every two weeks year round.

“Although this is one of the best pay settlements in the state, I wish we could have settled sooner,” union president Kenny Blankenship said, in a statement. “But due to the many issues that were brought up by the district, USEP needed to take the time to properly vet the language and process to ensure the contractual rights of all employees were protected.”

The district is paying out an additional $12 million toward employee compensation and benefits for the 2014-15 school year, officials said. The contract will take effect once it’s ratified by the school board during its Jan. 20 meeting, and after union employees vote to ratify it as well on Jan. 14.

If the contract passes both sides, then salary increases and retroactive pay will be reflected in paychecks by the end of February.