The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Celeb waiters to raise money for CARES

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Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City will have some popular faces among its waiter staff Wednesday when local “celebrities” put on aprons to help raise money for senior citizens.

Pasco County tax collector Mike Fasano shows a whole new way to provide community service during a recent celebrity waiter fundraiser for CARES.
Pasco County tax collector Mike Fasano shows a whole new way to provide community service during a recent celebrity waiter fundraiser for CARES.

The event, which has already attracted waiters like state Sen. Wilton Simpson and Zephyrhills interim city manager Steve Spina, starts at noon July 23 at the restaurant, 37940 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City.

Proceeds will benefit Community Aging and Retirement Services Inc., better known as CARES, which offers senior citizen programs throughout the area.

The event has no formal program, but plenty of time to network. Each celebrity waiter will be asked to find a $100 table sponsor, and then invite six to eight fans, friends or business associates to enjoy a complimentary meal donated by Kafe Kokopelli.

Guests are asked to leave a generous tip, which will be donated to CARES.

For more information on how to participate or give to the event, call Evie Parks at (727) 842-9587, or visit CARESFl.org.

 

Local bank helping kids get ready for school

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The start of school is just weeks away, and First National Bank of Pasco is collecting supplies to help students be prepared with its fifth annual Stuff the Backpack Drive.

Through Aug. 4, the bank is collecting a number of different supplies to distribute to kids in Pasco County schools. They include pencils, pens, scissors, index cards, notebooks, folders, paper, glue sticks, colored pencils, liquid soap, Ziploc bags, crayons, tissues, highlighters, erasers, pencil boxes, backpacks and rulers.

The banks also will accept monetary donations, which will be used to purchase additional supplies.

Donations will be accepted at all three of the bank’s branches, including 13315 U.S. 301 in Dade City, as well as 37215 State Road 54 and 4518 Gall Blvd., both in Zephyrhills.

Classes start Aug. 18 in the county’s public schools.

Animal shelter needs help with overcrowding

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August is going to be a great time to adopt a pet, especially with Pasco County Animal Services offering a number of specials — including one day where adopting an animal is completely free.

That day is Aug. 23 when both cats and dogs will be offered at no cost from the organization’s animal shelter, 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes. The shelter is looking to find homes for at least 100 animals that day to help solve overcrowding issues that have existed at the shelter in recent months. The shelter will be open from noon to 4:30 p.m. that day.

On top of that one-day event, animal services has two other events, each centered around either dogs or cats.

The first is Catapalooza running from Aug. 5 through Aug. 30, which will allow anyone to adopt two cats for the price of a single adoption fee of $35.

“Felines usually breed during the spring and summer months, so it is not unusual for us to receive a high number of mother cats and kittens during this time of year,” a spokesperson for the animal shelter said, in a release. “It is our goal for as many kittens and cats as possible to find good, loving homes. Therefore, we are offering the public the opportunity to make lifelong friends with two cats, instead of just one.”

The adoption fee for both cats includes a health examination, vaccinations, and spaying and neutering. However, fees won’t be refunded unless both cats are returned.

Then starting Aug. 12 — and running through Aug. 30 — the shelter will offer larger black and brown dogs for a discounted price of $35.

“What we’ve learned is that large black or brown dogs tend to be the last ones to get adopted from shelters,” the spokesperson said. “Many times, the big black and brown dogs with no markings appear to be a little bit plain, even though they’re bursting with personality.”

The adoption center is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday from noon to 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit PascoCountyFl.net/PAS, or call (813) 929-1212.

Pasco to benefit from Coast to Coast Connector project

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Pasco County is set to pick up $460,000 of more than $16 million in state funding that will help bring the Coast to Coast Connector — a continuous trail connecting both coasts of Florida — closer to reality.

The Pasco portion of the connector will stretch up through the central and western parts of the county along Starkey Trail and Suncoast Trail, stretching form the Pinellas County line to north of State Road 54.

Funds will from from the Florida Department of Transportation that will complete 11 phases of separate trail segments in nine counties. The funding is in addition to some $26 million that already has been invested in the connector project over the next five years by the DOT, according to the governor’s office.

When complete, the connector will span more than 250 miles, linking St. Petersburg and Titusville. Some 75 percent of the trail corridor already is developed, or funded for construction.

“With the projects announced today, we will be moving forward this year on virtually every gay within the Coast to Coast Connector,” FDOT secretary Ananth Prasad said, in a release. “FDOT is pleased to play such an instrumental role with our state and local partners to help advance this ambitious trail project. It will provide an exceptional experience and safe transportation route for our residents and visitors.

The connector is a collaborative effort of many agencies and organizations, including the 11 Central Florida metropolitan organizations that last summer made the trail project a regional priority.

FDOT will supervise development of the remaining connector gaps, and local governments or other managing agencies will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the completed trail segments.

Centennial Bank parent acquires Florida Traditions

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Home BancShares Inc., the parent company of Centennial Bank, has finalized its acquisition of Florida Traditions Bank, and its branches located in eastern Pasco and Hillsborough counties, among other places.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but previous published reports put the sale at $43 million in stock. The combined Centennial Bank will now boast $7 billion in total assets, and $5.5 billion in total deposits in nearly 150 branches in Florida, Arkansas and Alabama.

Bud Stalnaker, the chief executive of Florida Traditions, will stay on with the new Centennial as division president for Central Florida.

“We are equally excited about the opportunities this acquisition provides our customers and employees,” Stalnaker said, in a release. “Joining Centennial not only enhances our service capabilities, but also allows our focus to remain on outstanding community banking.”

Florida Traditions was founded in 2007 by a group of East Pasco County business owners who saw a need for a locally owned and locally managed bank, according to the company’s website. It had eight branches in Zephyrhills, Dade City, Spring Hill, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Plant City, Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

Home BancShares, based in Conway, Arkansas, recorded a profit of $27.3 million in the first quarter through March 31, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Downed airliner could push gas prices back up

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The shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines plane in the Ukraine may not have only caused grief from those who lost loved ones and intensified conflict in the European country, but it might hit gas prices at the pump as well.

Oil prices jumped more than 2 percent following news of the airline tragedy, increases that will soon make their way to the cost of a gallon of gas, AAA officials said.

“Oil rose on concerns that violence could spread in response to the crash,” said Mark Jenkins, a AAA spokesman, in a release. “Gas prices are currently falling more than a half-cent a day, but geopolitical tension could slow the rate of discount at the pump this week.”

The average cost for a gallon of unleaded in Florida was $3.51, compared to $3.56 a week ago. It’s also down from June’s cost of $3.61, and July 2013’s price of $3.62. It’s also nearly 8 cents below the national average.

Sunday marked the 23rd consecutive day prices dropped in Florida, while Georgia is experiencing a streak of 27 days in declines, and Tennessee 25. Among those states, Georgia has the cheapest gas as $3.48 as of Sunday.

 

Job growth continues in Florida

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Florida created 36,900 private-sector jobs in June, lowering the unemployment rate slightly for the state to 6.2 percent.

“Florida experienced a record-setting month for private-sector job creation in June with 36,900 new jobs over the month, and a total of 620,700 private-sector jobs added since December 2010,” Gov. Rick Scott said, in a release. “This news is great for Florida families, and Florida continues to have great success in our state’s economic recovery.”

The state news follows positive job creation reports for the nation as a whole, which added 288,000 non-farm jobs in the last month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That has brought the national unemployment rate down to 6.1 percent.

Scott, who is running for re-election, is using the numbers as proof his policies work, while opponents say the recovery of the national economy has helped Florida’s rebound considerably as well.

Scott, however, has tried to show Florida has grown beyond the federal help by using gross domestic product figures. The GDP rose 2.2 percent in June, the third-highest increase in the nation, and above the national average of 1.8 percent. That’s a turnaround compared to GDP declines between 2008 and 2011, the Scott administration said, although much of that time was during the Great Recession.

Businesses can avoid bitcoin extortion, BBB says

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Although the fad itself seems to be quieting down, the online currency bitcoin has allowed for the anonymous transfer of funds, but it’s also helped fuel a new type of outright extortion of some small businesses.

The Better Business Bureau reports that some small retailers and restaurants recently received letters threatening them with negative publicity, harassment, bomb threats and complaints to the BBB if they didn’t pay up with a bitcoin by an August deadline.

“It’s a bit flattering that the extortionists singled out BBB, but their threat is completely worthless,” said Mary Power, president and chief executive of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, in a release. “The first thing BBB does when we get a complaint is share it with the business and verify that the complainant is a real customer. If they are a customer, we help the business and the consumer work it out. IF they are not a customer, we don’t accept the complaint, and it has no bearing at all on the business’s BBB rating.”

The extortion letters also threaten negative online reviews, which some BBBs offer.

“BBB also scrutinizes customer reviews,” Power said. “BBB doesn’t publish reviews until we have verified the reviewer. Businesses should feel assured that these extortionists will not be able to make good on their threats involving BBB complaints or reviews.”

Businesses may have been given a lot longer time to comply with the bitcoin demand than normal because many people don’t really know what a bitcoin is, or how to acquire one, officials said. Also, because it’s virtual currency, it’s not as traceable, allowing the groups sending the letters and making the demands to avoid being identified.

For more information on the BBB, visit BBB.org.

Crisis Center CEO steps down Aug. 15

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David Braughton, who has been president and chief executive of The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay since 2007, is stepping down effective Aug. 15.

No reason for Braughton’s departure was provided by the Crisis Center, which helps people in need of trauma or crises services.

Under Braughton’s leadership, the agency expended its services and programs, increased fundraising, and became known in the community for its commitment to residents in need of its services, the organizations aid.

“As I transition to new challenges in the field of community service, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is well-positioned to continue its leadership in providing support to residents facing family, financial and emotional crises,” Braughton said, in a release.

“We appreciate all that David has done for this agency and our community,” board chair Timothy Traud said, in a release. “He has assembled a top-notch staff that will continue the excellent work of the Crisis Center while we search for a new chief executive officer.”

A search committee already has been organized, Traud said. Those interested in seeking out the position can contact Katie Androff at .

The Crisis Center responds to more than 183,000 requests for help each year, and offers a range of evidence-based programs designed to meed community needs.

Still time left to vote for Keppel in national contest

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Time is running out to vote for Land O’ Lakes cross-country coach Kris Keppel for a national award, and he still has a little catch-up to do so that he can take over first place.

As of Thursday morning, Keppel had 4,679 votes through the Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award. The contest is administered by sports apparel and equipment manufacturer Brooks Sports Inc., and already has won the Gator cross-country team $5,000 in running shoes, apparel and accessories from Brooks, as well as $500 in cash for team expenses.

Voting for Keppel is taking place right here.

The winner of the national competition, which depends on daily voting, will win an additional $5,000 in Brooks apparel, plus $2,000 more in cash to the school’s athletic department. Facebook can vote once per day.

Currently in first place with 5,121 votes is Stan Fryczynski, a New Jersey running coach who has spent more than 41 years on the job. Keppel, who was nominated for the award by girls cross-country coach Karen DeHaas, currently has 4,679 votes.

The winner will be officially announced later this summer in Seattle.

1. Stan Fryczynski 5,121
2. Kris Keppel 4,679
3. Ruqayya Gibson 2,461
4. Keith Olsen 1,949
5. Renee Williams-Smith 1,515
6. Bret Neylon 1,208
7. Dave Halliday 1,148
8. Anthony Belber 1,129
9. John Neff 1,013
10. Tracy Hawkins 909
11. Jason Capelli 907
12. Desmond Dunham 588
13. Nick Accardo 539
14. Brian Lombardo 530
15. Nick Scott 507
16. Dominic Newman 438
17. Gilberto Ruiz 435
18. Jeremy Bartley 422
19. David Culp 408
20. Davis Eidahl 354
21. Matthew Tompkins 327
22. Kelly Richards 221
23. Dan Reeks 208
24. Brandon Back 117
25. Garlynn Boyd 76

– as of 7/17/14, 11:40 a.m.