The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Governor remembers 9/11 with proclamation

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It’s been 13 years since America woke up to the largest terrorist attack ever on its soil.

The World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., were targeted that day, as well as a third landmark thwarted by the passengers of one plane that eventually crashed in Pennsylvania.

As the nation remembers the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Gov. Rick Scott has issued a proclamation for what has become known as Patriot Day, directing all flags in the state to be flown at half staff.

The proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, the American people courageously endured the worst terrorist attack on United States soil in history, as thousands of innocent lives were tragically lost; and

WHEREAS, thirteen years later the citizens of Florida and the United States continue to mourn, and remember the men and women who perished as a result of those horrendous attacks; and

WHEREAS, we honor and pay tribute to the courageous men and women in uniform serving our country around the world, as well as the dedicated members of our law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, physicians, nurses, and other military first responders who work diligently to protect us from danger when called upon; and

WHEREAS, we remember the countless brave men and women of our armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom and security, and honor those who continue to serve our country everyday; and

WHEREAS, we continue to stand united as a State and as one Nation under God in our fight against terror and radicalism at home and abroad, and in defense of the freedoms we hold dear; and 

WHEREAS, individuals, organizations, and communities throughout our Country and throughout the State of Florida will gather on this thirteenth anniversary to perform acts of charity, to pray, and to comfort and support one another as they honor our Nation and the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, by joint resolution approved December 18, 2001, Public Law 107-89, the Congress of the United States designated September 11 of each year as Patriot Day, and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress of the United States has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rick Scott, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2014, as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.  I call upon the people of our great state to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in honor of those who were killed on September 11, 2001, in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.  I hereby direct the flags of the United States of America and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, at all local and State buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida on Thursday, September 11, 2014.  Furthermore, I encourage other governmental entities, interested groups, and organizations throughout the State to display the National and State flags at half-staff in observance of Patriot Day, a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Scott later issued a statement, calling the terror attacks “one of the darkest days in the history of the United States.”

“Patriot Day is a somber reflection of the attacks and the innocent lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001,” Scott said. “I was in New York City that day, and saw the shock on everyone’s faces. On this day of remembrance, we also reflect on the sacrifice and service of our emergency personnel and first responders. We share our gratitude with them today for selflessly answering the call to help those in need.

“All of America also pauses today to thank our military service men and women. Their service and the sacrifices made by themselves and their families are the reason why we live in the greatest nation in the world.”

To read more about local Sept. 11 observances, like the 9/11 Gratitude Ride sponsored by Pasco County Choppers, check out this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, or see the online e-edition for free by clicking here.

Starkey to host town hall in Wesley Chapel

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Pasco County commissioner Kathryn Starkey will host a town hall meeting Sept. 24 beginning at 7 p.m., at Seven Oaks Elementary School’s cafeteria, 27633 Mystic Oak Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Starkey will be joined by members of the Pasco County staff, and could possibly include state Sen. John Legg and state Rep. Will Weatherford.

Among the topics to be discussed include budget issues like the gas tax, an update on new development in the area, a new baseball sports facility, transportation issues — including Overpass Road — and new area schools.

Starkey has hosted several town hall meetings since being elected to the commission in 2012 after spending eight years on the Pasco County School Board.

For more information about the meeting, call (727) 847-8100.

Handrahan honored for his work at Zephyrhills airport

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Zephyrhills Municipal Airport manager Mike Handrahan has been named the Federal Aviation Administration’s General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year for the Southern Region Airports Division.

This is the second time since 2010 that Handrahan has received this recognition.

The award is given to someone who has exhibited exceptional aviation leadership, has tirelessly worked to promote the aviation industry, or has striven to achieve efficiencies and improved productivity with their organization, according to a release.

“Last year was a big year for the airport,” Handrahan said, in a release. “But I must say, I didn’t see it coming. To be recognized by your peers and colleagues is a tremendous validation, and really gratifying.”

Among those accomplishments Handrahan led were the completion of more than $5 million in airport improvements, and the recruitment of two new key businesses to the airport.

The improvements include a new 100-foot runway along with new taxiway lighting, fuel farm upgrades, and other aviation-friendly improvements. Handrahan also played a lead role in recruiting the Turin Aviation Group, an unmanned aviation technology testing company, to the airport, as well as Rotors of America, a civil aviation pilot training facility.

Both companies service government, regional, national and international clients, and have leased airport property to meet their developing aviation market needs.

“Mike brings a wealth of aviation expertise and business acumen to Zephyrhills, and is key to uncovering the great potential of our aviation-related economic assets,” said Vonnie Mikkelsen, the executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, in a release. “Mike has proven that, clearly, Zephyrhills is the place you want to land your plane, and your business.”

The airport is located near Interstate 4 and Interstate 75, and is the only publicly owned and operated airport in Pasco County.

In Print: Is Cypress Creek outlet mall ready to go?

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Some site work on land across the road from the proposed outlet mall at Cypress Creek Town Center had some people mistakenly excited that work was finally beginning on the long-awaited project.

No site plan has been submitted yet for land under development across from the proposed outlet mall on State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. However, county officials expect outparcel-like retail stores to be built there in the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
No site plan has been submitted yet for land under development across from the proposed outlet mall on State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. However, county officials expect outparcel-like retail stores to be built there in the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But while actual dirt has yet to be moved on the 482,000-square-foot project from developers that include Simon Property Group, there is still plenty of work being done behind the scenes that could allow construction to start before the end of the year.

“There was earth working done there, which was part of what they were initially going to do,” Carol Clarke, assistant planning and development administrator for Pasco County, told reporter Michael Hinman. “They have this new plan, but it looks like they are endeavoring to use as much of the existing infrastructure there as they can.”

The outlet was supposed to be built several years ago, but environmental concerns and a crashing economy put those plans on hold until late last year. Now, developers are working to get things underway again.

To find out more about what’s happening in that area around State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, pick up this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Or you can read it for free online by clicking here.

Being able to turn balloons into fun shapes is an art that seems to be common on Sunday mornings in many restaurants. But Jonathan Fudge has turned it into a growing local business that now has more than 130 performers.

YTE Events is quickly becoming a go-to company for entertainment of all sorts, giving the Lutz resident some bold attention for parties, celebrations, school program, charity events and more.

“I got my start through charity,” Fudge told reporter Michael Murillo. “Someone taught me for free. But i’m not the only one who’s been touched by that. When I can give my entertainers an outlet to do something they love, and to share what they love with other people, that skips over all kinds of boundaries.”

So what does it mean to be a balloon artist? And what does the future hold for this type of industry? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available right now. Or read our free online e-edition by clicking here.

Finally, there are so many places to take a school field trip: The zoo, the performing arts center, maybe a local farm. But Darin Kilfoyl, a student at the Academy at the Lakes, went a little farther — China.

Sponsored by the University of South Florida and the Confucius Institute, the 15-year-old spent two weeks in the country, seeing parts that are typically not common stops on the tourist route.

“In the morning, we’d eat breakfast at the cafeteria, then we’d normally have a class where we’d practice learning Chinese or about the culture or something about China’s history,” Kilfoyl told reporter B.C. Manion. “Then we would go on a trip, somewhere within the province.”

At each stop, despite being an outsider, Kilfoyl said everyone was friendly. So what all did he do while in China? Well, you don’t have to travel anywhere near as far to find out — just your driveway or a local store to read the print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Or, if you want to travel virtually, click here to read it in our free online e-edition.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Meineke Car Care Center comes to Land O’ Lakes

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John and Michelee Coffield, owners of Meineke Car Care Center, opened for business on June 23. They were looking for land to build when they came across an empty furniture store in a promising location.

Michelee and John Coffield, owners of Meineke Total Car Care in Land O' Lakes.
Michelee and John Coffield, owners of Meineke Total Car Care in Land O’ Lakes.

When they removed the wall where they planned to install their garage doors, they found garage doors already in place. The building was once a garage turned into a dance and gymnastics studio, and most recently a furniture store, which now has returned back to its roots.

“It’s exciting being a new business owner,” says John. “We’ve wanted to do this for a while and felt like the time was right. It was either now or never.”

They purchased a franchise that they knew a great deal about and felt comfortable taking the risk. John has been in the car care industry since the age of 19. He started out as a technician for Sears and worked his way up the ranks. Over the years he’s worked for dealerships in leadership roles within the service department. He knows car care intimately.

Meineke is relatively new to Florida, but they have a strong reputation and brand recognition in other parts of the country. They are owner-operated. When you come, you’ll be talking to the owners.

“We know that everything we do is a reflection on us,” says John. “We’re not going to sell services that aren’t needed. We want to do high-quality work at a fair price.”

John and Michelee were born and raised in the Tampa area. They have raised their family here.

“This is a great community where people like to support each other and their local businesses,” says John. “We want to build long-term relationships with our customers. We expect to be here a long time.”

John manages the day to day operations and works daily at the store. He personally assists each guest when they come in, too. John’s knowledge and expertise in the industry ensures that all of their technicians are working at the top of their game.

He strives for an excellent customer experience each time a guest comes in. Michelee takes care of the backend functions of the business: bookkeeping, payroll, HR, computer support and office runner.

Meineke truly provides total car care.

“We can do everything, including tires” says John.

“This is a brand we believe in,” says John. “We wanted a business close to home. We’ve always participated in the community. This business is another part of our commitment to the community, to our friends and neighbors.”

Meineke Car Care Center is located at 2632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. They have a comfortable showroom with free coffee, along with cold soda and water in the refrigerator. They also provide complimentary snacks. Meineke offers free inspections for brakes, check engine lights, air conditioning, and much more.

Every guest is also offered a free comprehensive vehicle inspection with every service. Their everyday low price oil service of $19.99, 50% off brake pads, among other ongoing monthly specials.

Call them at (813) 949-0111 to set up an appointment or just stop on by. They’re open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Find out more about them online by clicking here.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

Try a hearing aid for 30 days through Gardner Audiology’s field study

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Jodi Conter is a certified audiologist with Gardner Audiology in Zephyrhills. She’s worked there with Dan Gardner, the founder, for 29 years. Dan opened the doors to his practice 31 years ago and now has offices in Zephyrhills, Tampa, Pasadena, Inverness, Crystal River and Carillon.

Jodi Conter
Jodi Conter

“Our goal is to help people hear better,” says Jodi. They’ve set up a field study with Starkey Hearing Technologies, the largest manufacturer of hearing aids in the U.S., to enable people to try out a hearing aid for 30 days, risk free.

“This field study is open to anyone, whether they’ve worn a hearing aid before or not,” says Jodi. “Noisy environments are frustrating for the hearing impaired.”

Gardner Audiology has partnered with Starkey Hearing to bring to market the latest technology for noise management in hearing aids. “People used to turn down or turn off their hearing aid in noisy environments,” says Jodi. “Current research is finding new techniques for handling noise. These new hearing aids can automatically adjust to the particular environment.”

How about a hearing aid made for an iPhone? An app on the iPhone allows the wearer to control, modify and adjust the hearing aid to fit specific situations and environments. It also geo-tags the location and automatically changes the setting for that environment as soon as you arrive.

“Hearing loss is a challenge,” says Jodi. “People don’t accept hearing loss as easily as they accept vision loss. The technology has greatly improved. Hearing aids are much more comfortable and noticeably smaller to the point where they’re almost invisible.”

Most people don’t see one day and not see the next. It’s the same with hearing. It’s often gradual. People can lose hearing for particular sounds, such as consonants. They may lose the ability to distinguish particular pitches or frequencies.

“People often complain about others mumbling, thinking that’s the reason they’re not hearing well,” says Jodi. “That’s usually a sign that they’ve lost hearing for a particular pitch range. Today’s hearing aids can be programmed to fit the exact type of hearing loss the person is experiencing.”

“Our biggest challenge is getting people in the door,” says Jodi. “My greatest joy is seeing the expression on their face when I turn on the hearing aid and they begin to hear sounds they haven’t heard in years.”

“Research has shown a direct connection between hearing loss and memory loss such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” says Jodi. “Lack of stimulation causes the brain to shut down. Getting a hearing aid is critical in the early stages of memory loss.” “Some of the same issues that cause hearing problems may affect balance and dizziness,” says Jodi. “Everyone should have a baseline hearing test done. Then when they come back, we can tell if they’re experiencing hearing problems.”

The human brain is an amazing organ. It adjusts and compensates for hearing loss quite well, up to a point. The only way to be sure that we’re hearing as well as we could be is to get a hearing test from a certified audiologist.

Contact Jodi Conter at Gardner Audiology to set up an appointment or participate in their field study. You can learn more by visiting their website at GardnerAudiology.com.

They are located at 38196 Medical Center Ave., in Zephyrhills, and can be reached at (813) 782-5395.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

AAA wants teens to return to driver ed classroom

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It’s hard not to remember the days of driver education. From the movies showing the horrors of accidents, to road trips to perfect that three-point turn. However, despite vehicle crashes remaining the leading cause of death for teens, fewer new drivers are participating in what used to be considered a rite of passage.

State funding and requirements for these programs have declined over recent decades, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, leaving uneducated teen drivers vulnerable on America’s roads.

New research from the AAA shows that teens who skip this step are involved in more crashes and receive more traffic convictions compared to their peers that participated in driver education.

“This research proves our teens are safer on the roadways when they participate in driver education,” said Sandy Maxwell, AAA’s director of driver training programs, in a release. “New drivers should take part in this critical step of the learning-to-drive process because it makes a significant difference.”

The study assessed examples of American and Canadian driver education programs using a variety of evaluation methods including surveys, driver’s licensing tests, driver simulators, and the review of driving records. The results revealed that several key differences exist between teens who receive driver education and those who do not, including:

• Driver education is associated with a lower incidence of both crashes and convictions — reducing crashes by 4.3 percent, and convictions by nearly 40 percent.

• Teens that completed driver education not only scored higher on the driving exam, they also demonstrated modest increases in knowledge over their peers who did not take any formal training.

“Overall, the findings suggest that driver education can make a difference, but there is still much room for improvement in most existing programs,” said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of the AAA Foundation, in a release. “This underscores the need for states to adopt the (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)-supported standards that are designed to enhance the scope and quality of driver education.”

AAA has been a vocal advocate for teen driver safety for nearly 80 years, and works at the state level to improve driver education programs and prioritizes five of the NHTSA-funded novice teen driver education and training administrative standards:

• Requiring a teen’s parent or guardian to attend an educational seminar.
• Ensuring that classroom instruction is completed in no less than 30 days.
• Requiring annual continuing education for driving instructors.
• Ensuring standards are met by public and private driving schools.
• Adopting a comprehensive graduated drivers licensing system that integrates driver education.

AAA and AAA Foundation have developed resources to help teens stay safe on the roads, including TeenDriving.AAA.com, DriversZed.org, and a two-hour webinar called StartSmart Online Parent Session.

For more information, visit AAAFoundation.org.

CSX jumps into Kumquat Festival as sponsor

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Just weeks after angering local officials by twice blocking intersections for long periods of time, CSX Transportation is spending some money to help support Dade City’s annual Kumquat Festival.

“CSX Transportation is committed to working beyond our rails with the communities we serve,” said Bob O’Malley, resident vice president for CSX, in a release. “Our support of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and the annual Kumquat Festival demonstrates our recognition of the importance of local partnerships, corporate stewardship and the vibrant economic growth of Pasco County.”

Terms of the sponsorship deal were not disclosed, but CSX will join other business sponsors at the festival — including Florida Hospital Zephyrhills — the chamber said.

Last month, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis said he asked the Federal Railroad Administration to investigate CSX for a pair of road blockages that occurred inside Dade City in July and August, including one that lasted for hours and left only one intersection available to go into a neighborhood. CSX blamed the incidents on federally mandated limits on employee hours, where once train crews met those hours, they had to go off the clock.

In both instances, the trains were inside Dade City, and crews left the trains as they were before a relief crew could arrive. In response, CSX apologized for the incident, and said that if it happened in the future, workers would be instructed to separate cars on the train, so that they would leave the intersections open for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The Kumquat Festival, now in its 18th year, will be held Jan. 31. It features free admission, free public parking, free shuttle service from area parking lots, free entertainment, crafts, gifts, food and beverage vendors. Last year, more than 40,000 people attended the Kumquat Festival, which takes over downtown Dade City.

“We are thrilled that CSX has joined our many corporate partners and shown the support needed for the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce to market, manage and administer this event,” said John Moors, the chamber director, in a release.

The festival generates $1 million in economic activity, chamber officials said, and has been awarded the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events designation, as well as Pasco County’s Event of the Year.

Florida continues to add to open job listings

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A growing national economy continues to trickle down to the state level as the number of job openings in Florida grew nearly 5 percent in August.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity says 11,899 more job openings were reported in the state last month, up 4.6 percent from July. That brings the total number of seasonally adjusted job openings to a little more than 273,000, which includes a 4.3 percent boost in online job openings.

“August was another strong month for job demand in Florida — just one of the many indicators showing the positive turnaround in Florida’s economy over the last few years,” said Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the state’s economic opportunity department, in a release. “Job demand is growing, and Florida families are getting back to work.”

That growth was led by Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale. West Palm Beach had the largest growth year-over-year with 23.7 percent growth.

The most popular job openings in August were sales, office and administrative, support, health care practitioners, and management, the state department said.

Gas prices still recovering from Labor Day weekend

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Gas prices are still trying to come down after the expected bump during Labor Day weekend, but that hasn’t stopped gas prices from being the lowest still since 2010 as September gets under way.

And prices could get better, especially with federal employment levels lower than expected.

“Demand typically eases going into the fall, but a high jobless report causes speculation that demand for gasoline may be even lower,” said Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA-The Auto Club Group, in a release. “This report, combined with easing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and refineries beginning to switch from summer to winter blend fuels, all continue to place downward pressure on what is already unseasonably low gas prices.”

That trend, as Jenkins has shared before, could mean gas cheaper than $3 a gallon before the end of the year.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported last week that 142,000 new jobs were created in August, lowering the national unemployment rate slightly to 6.1 percent. While that is a positive growth in jobs, it was lower than analysts had expected.

Oil prices took a hit this past week as well, with a barrel of oil selling for $93.29 on Friday, a drop of $2.67 from the previous week. That is a seven-month low for crude.

The average gallon of gas in Florida was $3.36 on Sunday, down a penny from $3.37 a week ago, and 3 cents from a month ago. It’s 19 cents lower than what it was a year ago, however, AAA reported.

“Some markets are seeing more expensive gasoline compared to last week,” Jenkins said. “Much of that has to do with demand jumping during the Labor Day weekend, causing lower supplies and higher prices. It is possible that prices could inch up toward the middle of the month as refineries prepare to switch to the cheaper-to-produce winter blend gasoline on Sept. 15, but prices usually fall through the remainder of the year.”

The cheapest gas in Land O’ Lakes on Sunday night was $3.19 at the Mobil station on State Road 52 near the Suncoast Parkway, according to GasBuddy. The Shell station at State Road 54 and State Road 56 was listed as the most expensive at $3.37.

Wesley Chapel had some cheaper gas, found once again at Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, where prices were reported at $3.17. Four locations — including a Shell station, 7-Eleven, Hess and Mobil — had gas prices at $3.37.

In Lutz, prices ranged from $3.21 at the Circle K on Van Dyke and Old Tobacco roads, to $3.39 at two Shell stations — one on Van Dyke near Lakeshore Drive, the other at North Dale Mabry Highway at Van Dyke.

Gas prices in Zephyrhills were found from $3.22 at a Mobil station on State Road 54 near Allen Road, to $3.34 at a Citgo on Gall Boulevard and Chancey Road. The cheapest gas in Dade City was $3.25 at three locations — Raceway, Marathon and Clark — while the most expensive, according to GasBuddy, was found at the Chevron station on Fort King Road and Clinton Avenue for $3.31.