The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Heading south? Something you need to know

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Construction on the Veterans Expressway has made driving south interesting, to say the least. But this weekend, it might be something worth avoiding altogether.

The southbound inside travel lane between Hillsborough Avenue at Exit 4 and Memorial Highway at Exit 3 will be closed beginning Aug. 22, and not reopening until the early hours of Aug. 25.

Officials will start closing the road at 7 p.m., with worth in that area continuing until the re-opening Monday morning at 5.

The closure will allow workers to reconstruct the roadway base in that area, not far from the future express lanes planned for that portion of the road, officials said. It’s expected to create significant delays southbound on the Veterans between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. throughout the weekend.

The best way to avoid congestion, according to the release, would be to exit the Veterans at Hillsborough Avenue, and use the West Eisenhower Boulevard to rejoin the Veterans at Memorial Highway. There is no additional toll for anyone using this particular route.

If that wasn’t enough, the southbound on-ramp at Hillsborough Avenue will be closed during the same dates and times. Motorists needing to head in that direction should once again use West Eisenhower Boulevard, and enter the Veterans southbound at Memorial Highway.

The work is not expected to affect commuter traffic, since the roads will reopen before dawn.

Florida on way to 100 million tourists annually

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Tourism remains one of Florida’s largest industries, and one advocacy group says investment from the government created nearly 76,000 jobs in 2013.

The analysis, reported by Florida TaxWatch, says the state could reach its goal of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2015.

“Florida’s thriving tourism industry provides extraordinary opportunities for economic growth,” said Dominic Calabro, president and chief executive of Florida TaxWatch, in a release. “By increasing the number of visitors to Florida, the state is on track to reach this important milestone, providing jobs to hardworking taxpayers along the way.”

The report reveals that the number of visitors to Florida increased by more than 2.8 million in 2013 alone, continuing a trend of steadily increasing visitor numbers, according to a release. Because of that increase, Florida added 38,400 tourism-related jobs. That should induce or indirectly result in 37,400 non-tourism jobs.

In all, it added nearly 76,000 jobs, with an annual salary of $43,000.

“Florida’s tourism industry is responsible for far more than lowering the tax burden for the state’s residents,” said Jerry Parrish, chief economist for Florida TaxWatch, in a release. “Expanding tourism has a direct impact on job creation in the state, and the economic impact can be felt in many of Florida’s other industries.”

Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, reports quarterly visitation and tourism industry employment figures to the state economist’s office. The latest figures from the first quarter of 2014 showed that 26.7 million visitors came to Florida, and that 1.13 million people are employed in the tourism industry.

That is the largest quarter for visitation the state has ever experienced, according to the release, beating the 26.2 million who visited a year before.

The average number of direct travel-related jobs in the first three months of this year also was a record high, up 3.5 percent from the same period in 2013.

“Coming off of three consecutive record years for visitation and employment, and experiencing the largest first quarter for the industry in our state’s history, proves the power of tourism as a way to sustain Florida’s economic growth,” said Will Seccombe, Visit Florida’s president and chief executive, in a release. “With Florida tourism maintaining this type of strong momentum, we are well on our way to welcoming 100 million visitors, and making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

The non-tourism jobs being created are in areas like retail trade, administrative services, construction, transportation and warehousing, Florida TaxWatch said. The additional marketing investment by the Legislature — along with investments by private-sector companies — have helped to create the new jobs.

World in chaos, but gas prices still dropping

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Gas prices are inching closer and closer to a milestone it hasn’t reached in nearly four years: Sell of less than $3 per gallon.

The decline in the cost of a gallon go gas continued last week, with Florida’s average dropping another 2 cents to $3.35 on Sunday, according to a new report from AAA – The Auto Club Group. In fact, gas prices in some metropolitan markets in the south have actually fallen below $3.20, which some stations not far from Tampa International Airport actually dipping below $3.10 as well.

That drop has taken place despite the turmoil happening overseas, said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins.

“Motorists are reaping the benefits of booming domestic oil production, which has provided the cheapest gas prices for August in years,” he said, in a release. “The price of oil declined slightly last week, so gas prices could skip even more this week.”

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue, as well as some unrest in Libya. Yet, nothing overseas has disrupted oil distribution, Jenkins said. The price of a barrel of oil dropped 30 cents to $97.35, suggesting there is still more room for gas costs to drop.

Nationally, gas has averaged $3.46 a gallon, down  2 cents from a week ago. Florida gas is down 16 cents from a year ago, and 18 cents from just a month ago.

Gas prices in Land O’ Lakes on Sunday were reported as low as $3.15 at the Hess station on State Road 52 and U.S. 41, according to GasBuddy. The most expensive there was reported in the Shell station on State Road 54 and State Road 56, where prices checked in at $3.39 late Sunday night.

Prices were at $3.16 in some parts of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, including the Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, as well as the Kangaroo station at 14611 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. The most expensive in that area, according to GasBuddy, was the Shell station at County Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard.

In Lutz, prices were anywhere from $3.18 like at both a Chevron and Sunoco station at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway, and $3.39 at the Shell station at North Dale Mabry Highway and Van Dyke Road.

The cheapest gas in Zephyrhills was $3.28 at a Sunoco station at Gall Boulevard and Geiger Road, with the most expensive reported at Cumberland Farms at State Road 39 and U.S. 301, at $3.36.

Dade City was a lot better, at least for anyone willing to travel north toward Hernando County. The Shell station at Cortez Boulevard and U.S. 301 was selling gas at $3.19, according to GasBuddy, while the most costly was at a Citgo at Lock and 21st streets, where regular gas was selling for $3.49 Sunday.

 

Local environmental group looking for interns to travel state

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What would it be like to take a tractor-trailer around the state sharing lessons about the environment with schools, special events and festivals?

WaterVentures Florida’s Learning Lab, based at Crystal Springs Preserve just outside of Zephyrhills, is looking for interns who want to “share the wonders” of the state’s water through guided labs and interactive exhibits.

The outreach program was developed in partnership with the Crystal Springs Foundation, a non-profit that turned the former Crystal Springs recreation area into an educational center that attracts some 50,000 students each year.

Interns selected to participate will teach hands-on, directed learning, environmental science activities, represent the organization at community and professional events, and analyze informal education data. It takes place during the spring semester, which runs from January to June next year.

Housing will be provided throughout the internship, as well as both a food and daily allowance stipend.

Crystal Springs Preserve was founded by Nestle Waters North America, which owns the Zephyrhills bottled water company.

To learn more about the position, or to apply, click here.

Another 2,100 jobs added to Florida in July

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The job sector in Florida continues to grow, with another 2,100 people given an opportunity to earn a paycheck last month.

That helped the state’s unemployment rate drop to 6.2 percent, down from the 7.3 percent recorded a year ago, but flat with June.

“Florida continues to see positive job growth highlighting our economic recovery, so let’s keep working to make sure every Floridian who wants a job can get one,” Gov. Rick Scott said, in a release.

Florida’s unemployment rate has steadily dropped since clocking in at 11.1 percent in late 2010, and has followed the economic recovery of the rest of the nation as it emerged from the Great Recession. The annual job growth rate, however, has exceeded the nation’s rate since April 2012, the governor’s office said, creating 620,300 jobs since December 2010.

In July, the state’s 24 regional workforce boards reported more than 39,100 people were placed in jobs. This counts anyone who receives employment and training assistance through a CareerSource Center, and finds a job within 180 days. Of these people, a little more than 8,000 received unemployment benefits, according to a release.

Finding that healthy salad right here at Eatery 41

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It is always great to find a place that has many healthy options to choose from, and I found one in Land O’ Lakes.

The great thing is it’s a family restaurant owned by three brothers who just opened this year. I know they will be successful for they have great home-cooked food and phenomenal prices. I also appreciate large windows that encourage looking at our beautiful Florida weather.

It’s time to go back to salads, but they don’t have to be boring. Check out what Eatery 41 offers. (Courtesy of Samantha Taylor)
It’s time to go back to salads, but they don’t have to be boring. Check out what Eatery 41 offers.
(Courtesy of Samantha Taylor)

It’s called Eatery 41, and it’s located on U.S. 41, just outside of Connerton.

As I talked to Steve Houvardas, one of the brothers, he smiled as he pointed out some of the meals his mom makes. I just love family-owned businesses, probably since I have one of my own, and I know it’s run more from the heart than a corporate agenda.

I haven’t reviewed a salad in a long time, so I thought this would be a good place to do so, as well as highlighting many other options, too.

I ordered their Buffalo chicken salad with one main modification: I had the chicken grilled instead of fried. With this salad, you can enjoy the experience of having Buffalo wings without all the extra breading and the frying.

I was shocked when Steve put the salad before me. I couldn’t believe how much came with this meal for the price. I knew I was going to get a good to-go meal out of that one.

It’s not the fat I shy away from, because I believe in eating a higher fat diet as long as you are monitoring your carbs. I fry food at home, but I do it in grain-free crumbs, and don’t fry in vegetable oil. Keep in mind it has been proven to be completely inaccurate knowledge that eating fat causes heart disease. That is completely not true.

The main fats you want to stay away from are trans fats, partially hydrogenated oil and vegetable oils.

Another mail I noticed on the menu is the Cobb salad. But order the chicken grilled and tell them to leave off the corn.

Many meals are served with bread, so just ask them not to bring that to the table, so you aren’t tempted. Many of these meals I’m about to share come with a choice of salad and vegetable, so be disciplined and get the veggies instead of fries. And remember, you can have butter on those veggies — you actually absorb more of the nutrients in the veggies when there is fat on them.

A few other items of the many to point out are the Mediterranean fish filet topped with feta cheese and basil, as well as the grilled salmon with sun-dried tomatoes in a lemon butter sauce.

And if you like liver, it’s known to be very healthy. However, I have never tried it. Steve said the liver and onions is their most popular item.

It’s also nice to know that they serve breakfast all day where one of my favorite all-around meals is a veggie omelet with the yolks — you do not raise your cholesterol by eating cholesterol. That also is a myth.

So you can enjoy their delicious garden omelet filled with veggies at any time of the day.

Check out Eatery 41 near Connerton, and try that awesome Buffalo chicken salad. You will not only be amazed at their prices, but also at the quality home-cooked food.

By Samantha Taylor

Editor’s Note: Eating out is a staple of American life, but it is also one of the reasons why we are heavier than ever before. The challenge is to determine the calorie and fat content of menu items and make healthy choices. Samantha Taylor offers her tips on how you can make responsible choices while eating out. Her opinions and statements are her own.

Published August 13, 2014

State medical license fees are dropping for some

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Fees to license certain health care professionals are coming down, thanks to a little streamlining with some of Florida’s medical organizations.

Both the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Nursing have identified excess fees to eliminate, and that should provide a cost savings to those seeking various licenses, according to a release.

The Board of Medicine will reduce the physician license renewal fee from $360 to $250 for those renewing their license in 2015 or 2016.

The Board of Nursing reduced the initial application and license fee effective July 1. That means those who apply as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse will now pay $100 instead of $165.

“The Board of Medicine supports an opportunity economy in which every Florida physician can pursue the dream of practicing medicine in the Sunshine State,” said Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, chair of the Board of Medicine, in a release. “We will continue to search for ways to support the increase of licensed medical professionals in the state of Florida.”

Medical professionals who practice in Florida are required to be licensed. They are typically renewed every two years.

For more information on the license renewal process, visit FlBoardOfMedicine.gov, or FlBoardOfNursing.gov.

 

In Print: Tracking political campaign money yields some surprises

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Money makes the world go round, at least the political world.

Some people seeking political office will see their journey — at least this time around — end when the primary wraps up Aug. 26, and everyone is feverishly making sure they’ve raised enough money to eke out that win.

But who is giving to the candidates? Where is that money coming from?

The Laker/Lutz News crunched some of those numbers, looking to see how much Pasco County Commission candidates have received from developers, how much they received from people living inside the county — two key factors that keep coming up in the race.

The results are a little surprising. Especially for the only incumbent in the race, Henry Wilson Jr. He won a surprise trip to the dais in 2010 without much money at all, and certainly none from those looking to benefit from real estate development in the county. In fact, Wilson told a political forum recently that when it came to developers, “the first time around they didn’t support me, and the second time around, they still didn’t support me.”

Except they are supporting him. When accounting for developers and those involved in real estate, Wilson has raised more than $10,000 — 29 percent of his total donations.

How did Wilson respond to that revelation? Read it right now in the print edition of The Laker, available now throughout the community, or online with our free e-edition by clicking here.

Also find out why one candidate has raised far more money outside of the state than he has in Pasco County, for a seat representing the county. It’s all in this week’s The Laker, available now.

If you want to learn a lot about your community, sometimes all you have to do is visit your local cemetery. It’s filled with a tremendous amount of history from those who helped build and even pioneer a community.

The signage is really the only thing that lets you know that this piece of land off Ehren Cutoff is the Mount Carmel Cemetery. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
The signage is really the only thing that lets you know that this piece of land off Ehren Cutoff is the Mount Carmel Cemetery. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But sometimes, cemeteries that aren’t maintained can become history, as reporter Michael Murillo found out almost happened with Mount Carmel Cemetery on Ehren Cutoff.

“The African-American cemetery, located off Ehren Cutoff, is a throwback to a different time — a time of segregation, and later, a time of neglect,” Murillo wrote in his regular column, Presenting the Past. “It’s in better shape now, thanks to the Pasco County Black Caucus, but it’s clear that this is not a modern burial site. IF you drove past it, you’d probably never know what it was.”

What are the efforts to keep this cemetery alive? Found out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available in your driveway or on newsstands, or right here online with our free e-edition by clicking here.

Finally, if you’ve never tried barrel racing, then this weekend might be your chance to finally do it.

Kristy’s Can-Cer Vive Benefit Barrel Race is set for Aug. 16 at Double R Arena in Dade City. The goal? To raise money for Kristy Bryant Flynn, diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The event is being organized by Flynn’s childhood friend, Tanya Dadez, who wanted to try and do something to help offset some of the high medical costs Flynn was racking up.

“Sje’s just the epitome of innocence and wholesome and everything good that you could possibly imagine,” Dadez told reporter B.C. Manion. “She never says an ill word about anybody.”

Find out how you can help Dadez’s angel, and have some fun in the process, in this week’s The Laker. Read the print edition right now, which you can find all over town. Or don’t even leave your computer, and read our e-edition right here.

Oh, and are you ready for some football? We continue our preview of all the local gridiron teams this week from reporter Michael Murillo with the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls.

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.

And see The Laker XL with our brand-new video!

Home defense experts in Wesley Chapel

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Jeffrey Webb, owner of Grey Wolf Armory, has a tactical mindset when it comes to a customer’s needs for home defense. He takes the time to find out what each person wants to be able to do and what their real concerns are. Then he’ll help them to choose the right firearm.

GreyWolfGrey Wolf Armory is a family owned and operated business. They opened their doors on July 1, bringing a full-featured gun shop to the area.

“There are no other firearms shops in Wesley Chapel other than a few big box retailers that offer very limited choices,” says Jeff. “Your local sporting goods counter can’t give you the knowledge and expertise we can provide.”

“Our goal is to give everyone the best value for their money,” says Jeff. “We have the expertise to answer our customer’s questions whether it’s about hunting, target shooting or personal protection. We’re here to serve the community’s needs.”

“Everything we sell is something I’d put my own money into,” says Jeff. “I’d use it all myself. The firearms we sell are all high quality and reliable. With a little bit of care, they’ll be working reliably for years.”

They cater to lady shooters with designs and colors suited to ladies and a variety of handguns sized to comfortably fit smaller hands. “It’s important to select a handgun that properly fits your hand,” says Jeff. “You’ll have a harder time shooting and your hand will get fatigued if the gun doesn’t properly fit your hand.”

Jeff starting shooting as soon as he was old enough to hold and aim a gun. Responsible care and handling of the firearm is ingrained. To further assist his customers, he offers periodic safety classes and provides recommendations to instructors and shooting ranges for new shooters.

Grey Wolf Armory covers all categories of shooting, from hunting to target to professional and career needs. Jeff is a certified gunsmith and law enforcement armorer. “I believe I’m the only certified gunsmith in the area,” says Jeff.

They provide on-site repairs, modifications and restorations. They also give first responder discounts on firearms, ammunition and accessories. Special orders are not a problem. Most items can be ordered and in the store in 1 or 2 days.

As part of their grand opening and July 4 celebration, they gave away a Ruger 10/22 50th anniversary edition rifle with 325 rounds of Federal match-grade .22 LR ammunition. They will be featuring additional giveaways in the future.

Before opening Grey Wolf Armory, Jeff was an information technology professional for 23 years. “The time was right for me to leave IT and open Grey Wolf Armory,” says Jeff. His father, working alongside him, is a former U.S. Secret Service agent and deputy sheriff for Palm Beach County.

Jeff has a wealth of information for any- one looking to purchase a firearm, especially if this is their first firearm.

Grey Wolf Armory is located at 32733 Eiland Blvd., Unit 104, in Wesley Chapel. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed Monday.

They can be reached GreyWolfArmory.com, or call (813) 782-4624.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

Stuff the Bus campaign collects $40,000 worth of supplies

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Kids getting ready for school will now have some much-needed supplies thanks once again to the annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers campaign.

Sponsored by United Way of Pasco County, 60 volunteers stopped by Pine View Middle School last week to help organize nearly $40,000 worth of supplies and donations, as well as $4,500 in cash and gift cards.

All of that was collected between Aug. 1 and Aug. 3 at Publix and Walmart locations throughout the county. In all, more than 300 people help collect supplies like pencils, tablets, staplers, paper, craft supplies and the like.

National surveys show that teachers spend more than $400 of their own money each year buying supplies as the school year begins. Stuff the Bus for Teachers was created as a way to show teachers they are appreciated, and are provided a care package to kick off their new year, according to a release.

“This event is very personal to me,” Stefanie Pontlitz, director of development for United Way of Pasco County, in a release. “I have family that teaches in Pasco County. I know how hard they work to give our kids the best classroom experience possible.”