The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Summer wrong time to be scammed by shady solar contractors

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With summer arriving, homeowners are looking for new ways to go green. And they might find solar energy as the perfect alternative.

While it can help save the environment with the added benefit of saving a little money, too, the Better Business Bureau is warning homeowners to be smart about investing in any type of improvement project.

While there are a number of home improvement scams that exist, solar energy scams are one that many may not be familiar with, the BBB said. Fraudulent contractors prey on those who are unfamiliar with the product, with issues ranging from installation to the actual panels themselves.

In 2013, consumers contacted the BBB nearly 84,000 times about solar energy equipment and systems dealers. The organization also received 259 complaints on solar energy dealers that ranged from contract and service issues, to customer service problems.

“Consumers need to be familiar with solar panels and how the benefits will affect them before investing their money,” said Karen Nalven, president of BBB Serving West Florida, in a release. “It’s especially important for homeowners to do their research before hiring a contractor to install solar energy products.”

There are a number of state and federal rebates that offer a reduction in the initial costs of solar products. However, consumers should be wary of the less-than-reputable and unqualified contractors that come into town offering such services at discount prices.

The BBB offers the following tips when investing in solar energy:

  • Discuss with the electric company. Due to the high costs associated with the initial investment of solar power, it is important to conduct a self-energy audit to determine if solar energy is even right for a home. If a monthly bill, for example, is less than $100, there may be other ways to save energy that costs less.

Also, be sure to ask about the local, state and federal laws concerning the standards and codes of the solar panels.

  • Solar energy requires sun. Find out an average how many sunny days a home sees annually. As with every product or service, comparison shop with several businesses to ensure getting the best deal.
  • Inquire about tax credits. Found out the amount of tax credits offered for the amount of energy that is generated. Ask about the length of time it takes to receive the tax credits, and if the credits themselves will be taxed.
  • Settle the details. Be cautious of installers that promise no out-of-pocket costs prior to reviewing specific situations. Be wary if an installer suggests obtaining credit for the full amount of the system, even though they are promising very low or no costs due to rebates.

Ask what will happen if the business promises a certain percentage of savings from a utility bill, but the amount of savings is not achieved.

  • Make sure the roof is equipped to sustain a solar panel system. Even though a properly installed solar system will not damage a roof, making sure the roof is in good condition before beginning the installation can help avoid any future problems.

For more about the Better Business Bureau, visit BBB.org.

Hair emergencies are not a problem for Rebecca

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Rebecca Weeks, owner of Rebecca Does Hair in Wesley Chapel, schedules appointments to meet the clients needs. “If a client needs a midnight appointment, then I’ll be here,” says Rebecca. “Hair emergencies are not a problem. If something comes up and you need your hair styled at the last minute, I’ll make time for you.”

She started out working in a large salon in 2010 after graduating from the prestigious Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology in Tampa. Her dedication and excellence won her a trip to Las Vegas to study with Paul’s top stylists, learning color, cutting, styling and finishing.

Rebecca opened her own salon in September 2013. “It was scary starting out on my own,” says Rebecca. “I began with 4 clients my first week. Word of mouth has helped me to grow my business successfully.”

She left the large salon due to the impersonal atmosphere there. “It was impossible to get to know my customers,” says Rebecca. “I like to get to know my clients personally. I see the person sitting in my chair as a friend, not just a customer.”

Her clients love her salon. It’s a one-seat salon where she can focus on her client without distractions or interruptions. The atmosphere is calm, relaxed and very personable. “I schedule appointments so no one feels rushed,” says Rebecca. “I make sure each client has plenty of time for special attention.”

One nice thing about a one-seat salon is that clients don’t have to worry about odors from another workstation. For clients who are especially sensitive to chemicals, she schedules their appointments when the salon air is fresh and clean.

Rebeccaworks with all ages and types of hair. “Many of my clients have curly hair,” says Rebecca. “They tell their curly-haired friends about me. That seems strange since I have straight hair, but they love what I do for them.”

She also receives a lot of compliments for her ability to add body and volume to very fine hair. Rebecca primarily uses Redken color, but she also has an organic color line (Organic Colour System) which is especially nice for pregnant women concerned about chemical odors. Her services include perms, up-dos and hair extensions.

Rebecca originally enrolled in college for nursing, then changed her major and graduated with a degree in digital publishing. But her work wasn’t fulfilling. It was her mother who suggested hair styling. Rebecca had always enjoyed styling her family and friend’s hair. She decided to follow her passion and is very happy with her career choice

She lives in Wesley Chapel with husband and 9-year-old daughter. “I was born in Tennessee,” says Rebecca. “We moved here before I was two, so I consider myself a true Floridian. I’ve never even seen snow. A lot of my clients moved down here to get away from the snow. Maybe one day I’ll take my daughter up north to play in the snow. I think that would be fun, as long as I don’t have to shovel it.”

Rebecca is active in the community. She recently volunteered to cut hair at Watergrass Elementary School with proceeds going to Relay for Life.

Rebecca Does Hair is located at 27551 Cashford Circle, Suite 101 in Wesley Chapel, behind Sam’s Club. visit online at RebeccaDoesHair.com.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

Cash no longer good on parts of Veterans Expressway come Friday

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Travelers making their way south on the Veterans Expressway will no longer need to use cash once they get past Sugarwood.

The last cash toll at Anderson Road’s toll plaza will be collected early Friday before all traffic on the road converts to all-electronic tolling. And by the end of the summer, all of the plazas leading up to Hutchison Road will follow suit.

Taking a lead from the Crosstown Expressway, tolls instead will be collected either through a SunPass transponder, or through the Florida Turnpike’s Toll-By-Plate system, which involves scanning plates and sending the registered owner of that plate a bill for the toll — plus a possible administration fee.

Safety, however, is the biggest concern for those leading the conversion to cashless tolls. Drivers are asked to not slow down or stop in the tollbooth areas, but instead travel at posted speed limits. Otherwise, there is a fear of accidents in areas that used to collect tolls.

Also, on June 13, there will be detours for northbound motorists beginning at midnight between Waters Avenue and Gunn Highway. Southbound motorists will get a similar detour beginning Saturday at 9 p.m. between Gunn and Waters. This will allow work crews time to install final equipment and to calibrate, according to a release.

Additional detours and lane closures will take place June 18-22. Complete removal of the toll plaza structures at Anderson is expected to take several months.

Drivers who use SunPass will typically be charged lower tolls than the standard fare, and won’t be assessed administrative fees. Those using Toll-By-Plate could see fees up to $2.50 per invoice, which are sent out monthly. Florida Turnpike officials say up to 84 percent of all drivers on the Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway already use SunPass, and more than 150,000 motorists use the Veterans every day.

The conversion is part of the $380 million widening of the Veterans, the first major construction project on the road since it opened in October 1994.

For more information on the cashless tolling on a road heavily used by those who live or work in Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties, visit FloridasTurnpike.com, or call (800) 749-7453.

In Print: Germany looks to Pasco for that nude you

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Next month, Pasco County will be featured prominently on Germany’s second-largest television station, and it’s all thanks to the diverse — and pretty sizable — nudist community here.

Charlene Ierna, right, brings an alligator to Lake Como to help spark the interest of a German film crew on hand for a documentary airing in Europe next month. (Photo by Michael Hinman
Charlene Ierna, right, brings an alligator to Lake Como to help spark the interest of a German film crew on hand for a documentary airing in Europe next month. (Photo by Michael Hinman

A film crew spent a week in the area visiting places like Lake Como and Paradise Lakes, exploring the naked life outside of Europe. And it could mean a further European tourist boom to the county.

“This has been a niche kind of tourism for Pasco all these years,” retired firefighter and nudism activist Pam Oakes told reporter Michael Hinman. “There was an opportunity to reach out to Europe where there are 50 million naturists alone, and they speak English.”

The story of nudism was told from the perspective of German couple Peter and Luise Krause, and you can read all about what this trip could mean in this week’s print edition of The Laker. You can also read the online edition for free by clicking here.

As executive director of Farmworkers Self-Help Inc., and her own work as a community activist, Margarita Romo has spent years pushing to make in-state college tuition prices available for undocumented students. And with the single stroke of Gov. Rick Scott’s pen this past week, she finally achieved that goal, opening the door for higher education for more people who now call Florida home.

“We’re very happy that we got what we got,” Romo told reporter B.C. Manion. “It’s been a long time coming. You can pick enough orange to pay in-state tuition, but you cannot pick enough oranges to pay out-of-state tuition.”

You can read the full story in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, or read our online print edition by clicking here.

Sam-I-Am may like green eggs and ham, but Blake High School freshman Cameron LeVine simply likes being green.

LeVine is taking on the roles of the Grinch and Yertle the Turtle in the upcoming New Tampa Players’ musical production of “Seussical.”

“I am so honored,” LeVine told reporter Michael Murillo. “The Grinch is my favorite out of the Dr. Seuss stories. I love how over the top mean he is, but not in a bad way.”

LeVine and his sister, who also is appearing in the play, hail from Lutz. They will join a cast of more than 30 people who will put this production on at CrossPointe Church of the Nazarene in Lutz beginning in August.

To read more about “Seussical” and LeVine’s role, check out this week’s print edition of the Lutz News. You also can read it free online by clicking here.

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.

Tax collector raises $10,000 for Sertoma

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The Pasco County Tax Collector’s office collected donations totaling a little more than $9,900 during its may promotion on behalf of the Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation.

The money came from some 3,600 residents donating an average of $2.75 each, and will help 13,000 students in schools who need speech and hearing services.

“We have not seen this kind of success since 2009,” said Craig McCart, executive director of Sertoma’s Florida division, in a release. “Your support will make a difference in the lives of many children in Pasco County.”

The tax collector’s office encouraged motorists to check off a box on their driver license and motor vehicle registration that would donate money to Sertoma throughout May. The organization also accepted cash donations from those who might not be renewing registrations, but still wanted a chance to give.

“This fine community organization has a long track record of providing valuable services to children with speech and hearing concerns,” county tax collector Mike Fasano said, in a release. “These funds raised through this promotion will go a long way towards ensuring that each child in need will be screened for hearing impairments and speech difficulties.”

To learn more about Sertoma’s services and how to donate, visit FamilyHearingHelp.org.

Governor to attend USAA groundbreaking

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Military-oriented insurance company USAA is breaking ground with the governor Tuesday at a new facility near Brandon, but those who enjoy the presence of the company in New Tampa will have nothing to worry about.

The ceremony will include Gov. Rick Scott at 2 p.m., on what is the future site of United Services Automobile Association at Crosstown Center, 9527 Delaney Creek Blvd., in Tampa.

The new campus is set to employ an additional 1,100 to USAA’s local work force, which will supplement the existing 500,000-square-foot facility on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, just off Interstate 75.

Last January, USAA’s vice president and general manager in Tampa, Robert Hoyland, assured members of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce that new construction is sign of the company expanding its footprint in the region, not moving.

“You might ask, ‘You’re up here and (have) been successful, why are you going all the way down here?” Hoyland said at the time. “If you ever go to Brandon, you’ll find that a large concentration of active duties and veterans live there. By putting this building there, it helps us with one of our targets as a company — that 20 percent of the work force we hire is either veterans or spouses of veterans.”

USAA has been expanding into markets beyond insurance, including mortgages, wealth management and investments. That growth has already caused USAA to outgrow its current New Tampa location, and add 500 jobs to two temporary locations in Tampa.

Free isn’t always free, especially with cell phones

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A full-page ad that appeared in a South Florida newspaper in May has caught the attention of the Better Business Bureau, which warns consumers that just because someone claims a product is free doesn’t mean it is free.

The ad, according to the consumer advocacy organization, offered “easy-to-use senior mobile cell phones free” for senior citizens. The advertiser is a company that has earned an F-rating with the BBB because of its lengthy negative advertising and complaint industry.

According to the ad, for a one-time activation fee of $97 plus shipping, those who had beat a 48-hour deadline would receive a free cell phone, get nationwide coverage with no long-distance charges, would not have to sign any contracts, make no deposits, or pay no monthly bills. The bill also repeatedly expresses that senior citizens are risking their safety by not having a cell phone, and that the government urges them to carry one, the BBB said.

The organization first became aware of this ad in May 2013 in West Virginia, and an investigation there showed that the company inflates the costs of its activation fees to cover and profit from what’s advertised as “free,” BBB officials said.

The offer would charge consumers $97 plus shipping for access to 911 services, which already are provided by all wireless carriers for free. And while there are no monthly bills, consumers must pay for minutes once their first 250 prepaid minutes are used, or after 60 days.

BBB officials say the best way to avoid issues like this is to make sure, as a customer, that all the terms of the offer are read and understood. If something doesn’t make sense, be sure to ask.

Also, customers should always question free offers. The BBB Code of Advertising states that the word “free” can be used whenever the advertiser is offering an unconditional gift. If that free item is conditional on a purchase, the advertiser must make that clear and conspicuous with the free offer — and not simply by placing an asterisk next to the word “free” with a footnote.

Customers can always check out the reliability of a company by visiting BBB.org. The Better Business Bureau Serving West Florida is one of 112 local, independent BBBs across North America that serves Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.

Chuck Darby joining pet family fun day

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Chuck Darby, a defensive tackle who earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be the special guest at a family fun day scheduled for June 21 in Land O’ Lakes.

The event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m., will take place at Pasco County Animal Services, 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes. The primary focus of the event is to help adopt some of the pets that are at the facility, and casting some light on two adoption specials that offers dogs for $35 and cats for $15.

Darby, who retired after playing with the Detroit Lions in 2009, will be on-hand to meet and greet between noon and 1:30 p.m. Chick-fil-A will host games and prizes between noon and 2 p.m.

For more information on the event, visit PascoCountyFl.net/PAS.

Simpson interested in ‘Unsung Heroes’

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State Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, is looking for nominations of people living within his senate district who are ‘Unsung Heroes.’

The program is open to people living in Pasco, Hernando and Sumter counties, and is designed to recognize the hard work of those who don’t normally seek out public recognition to make a difference in the lives of others.

“Senate District 18 is home to many communities, all with their own vibrant histories and local treasures,” Simpson said in a release. “What makes these communities particularly special are the people who make a positive difference, whether it be in their place of work, their neighborhood, or by volunteering.”

The program, Simpson said, will recognize residents who have gone above and beyond to enrich the area.

The form, which can be downloaded here, can be e-mailed, faxed or mailed to Simpson’s office. The email address is , and the fax number is (888) 263-4821.

Nominations can also be mailed to 322 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL, 32399.

 

Pasco schools get good news in reading, science

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Florida schools are transitioning into the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, and some proof of the success of that move already is showing up in the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores.

Pasco County schools showed improvement in reading and science, but has room for improvement when it comes to math, based on test details released by Pasco County Schools on Friday.

“We are seeing that what we are doing is starting to pay off,” said Vanessa Hilton, director of teaching and learning with the school district, in a release. “We are starting to see strengths in the cohorts of students who have been receiving instruction based on the new Florida Standards as they progress from grade to grade.”

Several schools demonstrated significant improvement on the FCAT 2.0 Reading sections in 2014 compared to the year before. The biggest increases came from local elementary schools like Taylor, Pasco, Cox, New River, West Zephyrhills and Watergrass. They also improved with seventh graders at Academy at the Farm, and underclassmen at Pasco eSchool and Wesley Chapel High School.

For science, 52 percent of students in fifth grade were performing at or above satisfactory scores, while 52 percent of students in eighth grade had similar results. This is up 49 percent from the previous year in fifth grade, and 48 percent in eighth grade.

A little more than 25 elementary schools in the county maintained or increased the percent of students scoring at or above satisfactory levels, joined by 11 middle schools. Odessa, Pasco, Seven Oaks and Watergrass elementary schools were some of the local schools that had significant improvement in science, along with Pasco and Stewart middle schools.

The picture wasn’t so rosy when it came to math, however. The percentage of elementary school students in Pasco scoring at satisfactory levels was below the statewide percentage. However, some schools had some marked improvement in math, including Centennial, Odessa, Cox, New River, San Antonio, Taylor, Watergrass and West Zephyrhills elementary schools. Pasco and Long middle schools also had strong improvement in math, as did Academy at the Farm.

“This was a year of transition, and we know that our teachers have been focusing on the new Florida Standards in the classroom,” Pasco superintendent Kurt Browning said, in a release. “It will be important for us to consider not only these scores, but also additional data that our schools have been collecting to make decisions as we move forward.”