The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Housing market up, condo sales down locally

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Nearly 15,000 existing homes and condominiums changed hands in the greater Tampa Bay area during April, May and June, showing promising housing market trends despite a drop in overall condo sales.

The region — which includes Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties — sold 3,733 condos in the second quarter, down more than 5 percent from the year before. The median sales price, however, rose more than 12 percent to $110,000.

That volume was second only to the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, where nearly 13,000 condos were sold, according to a new report from Florida Realtors. Sales there, however were down more than 6 percent.

The lower volume is actually good news for the market, Florida Realtors chief economist John Tuccillo said, because that means foreclosure-related short sales are on the decline.

“The second quarter numbers show that Florida’s real estate market is settling in,” Tuccillo said, in a release. “While prices throughout the state tend to be up, sales are mixed with single-family sales growing, and condos and townhouses declining.”

Some of the reasons for that include the reduced role of bulk investors — buyers who pick up multiple units at a time in hopes to rent or flip — and many families who are having trouble getting mortgage credit because of flat income.

“This market is sustainable, but either or both of these roadblocks must be removed if it’s to take off again,” Tuccillo said.

Just a little more than 10,800 single-family homes were sold in the quarter, up 3 percent from a year ago. Median prices, however, were much more flat at $156,000, an increase of 1.3 percent.

Statewide, single-family sales were up more than 7 percent, while median sales prices rose just above 5 percent at $180,000.

Of the regions Florida Realtors track, Ocala in Marion County still had the lowest median price for a home at $105,000, despite a 6 percent increase in price. The most expensive homes remained in the Naples and Marco Island area of Collier County, were the median price rose nearly 16 percent to $405,000.

The interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 4.23 percent for the second quarter, up from 3.69 percent the year before, according to Freddie Mac.

Another winning lottery ticket sold locally

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Just days after a Lutz woman claimed a $1 million prize from a grocery store in Lutz, a Publix Super Market near Sunlake High School is boasting an even bigger lottery prize.

A Riverview man purchased a Flamingo Fortune scratch-off game ticket from the Publix, located at 18901 State Road 54 in Lutz, and won $3 million.

John Opliger, 35, chose to receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $2.3 million, while Publix earned a $6,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket.

Tickets for Flamingo Fortune cost $20, and offers more than $150 million in total cash prizes, Florida Lottery officials said. That includes six $3 million prizes, with five of them now claimed.

Last week, a Lutz woman won a $1 million prize from a scratch-off ticket she purchased at the Winn-Dixie at 18407 U.S. 41 in Lutz. Yu Lin said she won the prize just in time to celebrate her birthday.

Scratch-off games account for nearly 64 percent of overall lottery ticket sales, officials said. It generated more than $640 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund in the past year.

Sunrise seeks $350,000 grant from Humana Foundation

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The Sunrise of Pasco Domestic and Sexual Violence Center is one of three charitable organizations locally up for a chance to receive a $350,000 grant from the Humana Foundation.

Online votes for the three nominees will count toward 20 percent of the group’s total score, and will be incorporated into the final round of the judging process, the Humana Foundation said in a release. A panel of community leaders will narrow the field of finalists down to one winning organization in each region.

Sunrise will compete with the Pinellas Education Foundation and youth advocacy group Starting Right, Now. Votes are being accepted right now by clicking here.

Sunrise became a safe haven for women and children feeling abuse more than three decades ago, according to the group’s profile on the Humana Foundation voting page. It has since grown into an organization with 34 employees and 160 volunteers, all working to help the men, women and children in the community be free from abuse.

Sunrise maintains a 40-bed emergency shelter to provide a safe environment for women and children in crisis to heal, operate a 24-hour confidential hotline to assist in safety planning, provide free counseling services for survivors of domestic and sexual assault, offer legal advocacy and personalized service plans to aid survivors in their transition to independence and safety, and foster a culture of non-violence, among other things.

All programs at Sunrise are offered free of charge

If Sunrise were to win the award, the organization would expand its health and wellness opportunities to the families it serves. That include a fitness track for women and children living in the shelter, developmentally appropriate play areas designed for the children at the shelter, and a wellness mentorship program.

 

Gas prices starting to stabilize despite declines

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The winning streak for gas customers has now continued into its 40th consecutive day as the price for a gallon of regular unleaded continues to drop in Florida.

But with oil prices finally starting to stabilize, it might not be long before those prices halt their free fall.

The price of oil dropped just 23 cents last week, compared to more than $4 the week before, according to a new report from AAA’s The Auto Club Group. That put the price of barrel at $97.65, which would suggest that gas prices should stabilize, too. But that hasn’t been happening.

“Prices are falling at about a half-cent a day, and aren’t showing signs of slowing down,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “It’s unusual to see prices steadily decline in the late summer months, but increases in domestic oil supply are helping to offset fluctuations in demand during the busy summer travel season.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Florida was $3.37 Sunday, down from $3.41 a week ago, and $3.58 a month ago. It’s also well below the $3.54 Floridians were paying on average at the gas pump during this time in 2013.

The national average continues to drop as well, settling in at $3.48 compared to $3.50 just a week ago. That’s from a cost of $3.64 in July.

Gas prices late Sunday ranged from $3.19 at the Hess station on the corner of U.S. 41 and State Road 52 to $3.39 at the Shell station near the intersection of State Road 54 and State Road 56 in the Land O’ Lakes area, according to GasBuddy.com.

The Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard was the cheapest in the Wesley Chapel area at $3.18, while a Mobil station on County Road 54 near Oakley Boulevard checked in at $3.41. Gas in Lutz was slightly higher with $3.20 reported at the Citgo on U.S. 41 and Crenshaw Lake Road, with the high of $3.49 at the Shell station on North Dale Mabry Highway near Van Dyke Road.

East Pasco County continues to have some of the highest gas prices. Zephyrhills reported $3.29 at a Marathon station on the corner of Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road, while the 7-Eleven in downtown Zephyrhills was selling gas at $3.38.

Dade City was even higher, the Shell station at Cortez Boulevard and U.S. 301 charging $3.26 on the low end Sunday, while a BP station on the U.S. 98 Bypass offered gas at $3.41.

 

Wesley Chapel Walmart opens Aug. 13

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A new store and 300 new jobs are coming to Wesley Chapel on Wednesday when the new Walmart at 28500 State Road 54 opens its doors.

The store will feature a number of amenities, including its Site to Store program, that allows customers to choose items online and then pick them up at the store.

Stephanie White will manage the Wesley Chapel location. She has worked at Walmart since 1988 when she started as an hourly cashier in Port Richey.

The new store will offer fresh produce and a full line of groceries, as well as Wild Oats organic food items. It also will have general merchandise, including electronics and toys, as well as a full-service pharmacy.

“A Walmart is long overdue in our community,” said Troy Stevenson, a member of the ambassador council of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, in a release. “Even other businesses are excited about it because it will generate more revenue for us by attracting more people to our area.”

The grand opening celebration includes presentations of $7,000 in grants from Walmart to local community groups. Recipients include the Wesley Chapel Lions Club, Wesley Chapel High School, Watergrass Elementary School, and Lily of the Valley food pantry.

To help celebrate the opening, Walmart will host a Big Family Welcome event Aug. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. It will include family activities and free food samples, while supplies last.

Getting a caffeine fix like this could be fatal

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An 18-year-old high school senior died just before his graduation in May, stunning the community.

What killed him, however, was a new form of substance abuse that has been growing among teenagers — pure caffeine powder consumption. And the FDA is warning families about the lethal implications of abusing it.

“We feel sad for this young man and his family,” said Dorene Thomas, local chair of the LiveFree Coalition, in a release. “Even though caffeine is not an illegal drug, it can lead to serious health issues, even death.”

Caffeine powder produces are essentially 100 percent caffeine, according to a release. Approximately 3 grams, or a single teaspoon, is roughly equivalent to the caffeine found in 25 cups of coffee.

On average, there are more than 3,000 milligrams in one teaspoon of pure caffeine powder, comparing to only 74 milligrams of caffeine in one teaspoon of instant coffee.

Teenagers and young adults are exposed and even attracted to this substance, FDA spokeswoman Jennifer Dooren said, in a release. In order to achieve an extra boost, the pure caffeine powder is often taken before practices and workouts.

Partygoers take it to combat the depressant effects of alcohol or marijuana. And it’s also popular among college students as a way to help stay alert during late-night study sessions.

“These produces are not regulated yet,” Thomas said. “Teens can easily get these products online, and they’re very cheap. If parents don’t pay attention to what their children are consuming, tragedies may happen again.”

For healthy adults, the FDA recommends a caffeine limit of 400 milligrams, or about 20 to 28 ounces of coffee per day. Over-consumption of caffeinated beverages such as energy drinks also can lead to caffeine overdose.

Officials say it’s hard to measure if the consumption of caffeine is reaching lethal levels. Symptoms like rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, stupor and disorientation may indicate an overdose is occurring.

“We definitely suggest our parents warn their children on caffeine overdose,” Thomas said.

Lutz woman wins $1 million prize in Lottery scratch-off

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Yu Lin of Lutz said she got an early birthday present after she claimed a $1 million prize from The Florida Lottery thanks to a lucky scratch-off ticket she bought from a local grocery store.

Lin, 36, chose to receive a one-time, lump sum payment of $721,400 in exchange for the 100X The Cash Scratch-Off ticket she bought at Winn-Dixie, 18407 U.S. 41, in Lutz. The store will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket.

“When I realized that I had won, I was completely shocked,” Lin said in a release. “What are the odds that not only would I win, but that I would win so close to my birthday?”

The scratch-off game was launched in February that range in price from $1 to $25 a ticket, and offers millions of dollars in instant prizes, lottery officials said.

Games like this are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, officials said. It comprises nearly 64 percent of ticket sales, and generates more than $640 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund this past year..

Farmers markets are growing in numbers locally

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Florida may not be the biggest state when it comes to farmers markets, but it — along with other states in the south — are certainly growing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Farmers Market Directory now lists just under 8,300 markets, an increase of 76 percent since 2008.

The data reflects continued demand and growth of farmers markets in every region of the country, according to a release.

Because of that, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is developing three new local food directories that will expand USDA’s support for local and regional foods by providing easy access to the most current information about the local food market.

“Farmers markets play an extremely important role for both farmers and consumers,” said Anne Alonzo, the services administrator, in a release. “They bring urban and rural communities together while creating economic growth and increasing access to fresh, healthy foods.”

The National Farmers Market Directory is available at FarmersMarkets.USDA.gov, and provides information about market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings and more.

The data is collected through voluntary self-reporting, and is searchable by ZIP code, produce mix and other criteria.

The directory receives more than 2 million visits annually.

California has the most farmers markets with 764, followed by New York with 638. Florida has 234, with 11 of them within a 20-mile radius of Land O’ Lakes, according to the directory.

That includes Cheyenne’s Country Thangs in Lutz, Florida Estates Winery Market in Land O’ Lakes, and the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market in Wesley Chapel.

All geographic regions saw increases in their market listings, with the most growth in the south, according to the USDA. The states with the biggest increases included Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Montana, Florida and Nebraska.

Development of farmers markets is a cornerstone of the USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the department’s policy, resources and outreach efforts related to local and regional food systems.

A happy Fourth of July celebration at Grand Horizons

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July started off with a craft class with several people creating a variety of crafts. This class usually gets together once a week with hostess Cheryl Leone. They have created many things in the past and still more to come in the future.

Ed and Joan Fisher celebrate Independence Day at a potluck July 4. (Courtesy of Annmarie Shackewyc)
Ed and Joan Fisher celebrate Independence Day at a potluck July 4.
(Courtesy of Annmarie Shackewyc)

Some of the crafts that they have worked on, or will work on, consist of magnet boards, mesh wreaths, poster boards, 3-D crafts, flowerpots, clay pot people, and so much more.

Just recently, Annmarie Shackewyc worked on creating a papier-mache box, and she placed it on a wood candlestick. It was lovely.

From one week to another, you never know what to expect, as Cheryl has lots of ideas and welcomes any suggestions. I would like to add that Cheryl has done a marvelous job and everyone thanks her for it.

July 4 arrived and 73 people were at the community center to celebrate Independence Day. The social club provided the cake and chicken, while all the cooks at Grand Horizons provided the rest. There sure was a nice variety.

Since I wasn’t there to celebrate with all my friends and neighbors, I did get some information from Annmarie. She told me that after the potluck, Cheryl hooked up her Nintendo Wii and people played some bowling. From what I understand, this is when you hook up the controls to the television, and you can play all types of games. I hope to have this when we return to Florida, as it sounds really interesting and lots of fun.

The hosts of the Fourth of July potluck were Dave and Barb Livingston, along with Chick and Annmarie Shackewyc, and Ed and Joan Fisher as helpers. Without these volunteers, they wouldn’t have had as great a time as they did.

On July 11, 30 residents from Grand Horizons attended the lunch connoisseurs at Ling’s Chinese Buffet. We have gone there before, and every so often they get the urge for more Chinese food, and this is where they usually go. They not only have every type of food imaginable, but the place is clean and has room for an enormous crowd like us.

Words can’t express how good this restaurant is. I heard from Judy Ellsworth that Fred Sage led the prayer before the meal. I also heard that the people sat in a back dining room so they were able to mingle and try the many varieties of food. It sure sounds that all who attended had a very good time.

A good portion of the rest of the month was filled with more activities like shuffleboard, mahjong, card games, dominoes and so much more.

On July 20, there was a pool party potluck. Considering the amount of people that have gone elsewhere for the summer months, there still was a good turnout. I spoke to Cheryl and she mentioned that 30 people showed up for this potluck.

Cheryl and Ken Leone were the hosts for this different and exciting event. They had pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and a variety of salads.

Cheryl went on to say that after the potluck, they all gathered for another game on the Wii in the community center.

It is nice to host a gathering outside every so often, and it sounds to me like everyone had a good time.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published August 6, 2014

Keppel ‘uncontested winner in our eyes,’ principal says

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The community came together to vote for Kris Keppel, but in the end getting the most votes was just not enough for the Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach as he just misses winning a national award.

Instead, Brooks Running Co. named Renee Williams-Smith of Manhattan Beach, California, as its Inspiring Coach of the Year.

Williams-Smith joined what was then a male-dominated cross-country team at Mira Costa High School 40 years ago, and helped launch the girls program there that she coaches today. She has maintained an inclusive coaching philosophy and a steadfast commitment to daring girls to strive for greatness, according to a release.

“Running is a sport of firsts,” said Brooks Running chief executive Jim Weber, in a release. “Whether it’s your first step out the door, signing up for your first race, crossing your first finish line, or bringing home your first medal, achieving new things is in the DNA of our sport. Renee’s track record of firsts in the running world and her passion to create opportunities for all young athletes to experience success in cross-country and track inspired each one of us at Brooks.”

Part of the contest included a chance for fans to vote for their favorite coach through a Facebook campaign that Keppel ultimately won with more than 13,000 votes. He traveled to Seattle for the ceremony, which honored all the nominated coaches for the work they put into their sports.

“Coach Keppel did not win the Brooks award,” Land O’ Lakes principal Ric Mellin reported on Twitter. “He did win the national popular vote and is the uncontested winner in our eyes.”

Williams-Smith and her Mira Costa Mustangs receive $10,000 in Brooks performance running gear, and $2,500 cash to use for team expenses. She also will become a member of the Brooks Inspire Daily program comprised of coaches, elite runners and other running influencers, as well as a trip to the 2015 Brooks PR Invitational, a national track meet that showcases the fastest high school running talent in the country.

Finalists like Keppel received $5,000 in Brooks performance running gear, and $500 cash for team expenses, as well as membership into the Brooks’ Inspire Daily program.

Brooks chose Williams-Smith from a group of 25 finalists after current and former athletes, parents, fellow coaches, faculty and community members cast more than 45,000 votes via social media for the coach they found most inspiring.