The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

In Print: Golf course closes again, authors gather, and ‘Oklahoma!’

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The gates to the Plantation Palms community are now closed to the general public after the struggling Plantation Palms Golf Club has shuttered once again. And no one knows when it might be back.

The homeowners association there says that while the golf course is private property and not their responsibility, what happens to it could affect the value of the 875 homes there.

“Many of our residents purchased their homes here because of the excellent golf course,” the HOA board, led by president David Gunsteens, said in a prepared statement to reporter Michael Hinman. “So when the golf course is impacted negatively, it has a detrimental effect on all of us.”

The golf course had closed down before in August, but reopened within a week. This time, however, the ownership group is not talking, and a few vendors are going as far as to filing liens against the property.

Get all the details in the print edition of this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, or in our online e-edition by clicking here.

If you like books, then you’ll be more than interested to learn that 17 local authors will be on hand during a special event at The Shops at Wiregrass’ Barnes & Noble store on May 17.

“It’s Barnes & Noble’s way to recognize the community,” assistant store manager Paul Brouillard told reporter B.C. Manion. “Our customers are readers. A lot of them aspire to be authors and have their books for sale in our store. So this is a great way to get the authors who are local to our store.”

Some of the authors participating include Leigh Kenyon, Madonna Jervis Wise, Evelyn Johnson-Taylor and Janet Watson.

Find out what has the book community buzzing in this week’s print edition, or read the free e-edition here.

Lutz resident Ryan Santello takes on the lead role of Curly in ‘Oklahoma!,’ which wraps up its run this week at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. His sister, Victoria, is a featured dancer in the play. (Courtesy of the Patel Conservatory)
Lutz resident Ryan Santello takes on the lead role of Curly in ‘Oklahoma!,’ which wraps up its run this week at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. His sister, Victoria, is a featured dancer in the play. (Courtesy of the Patel Conservatory)

Finally, Lutz resident Ryan Santello has taken the stage as Curly in the popular musical “Oklahoma!,” which is now showing at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

Santello appears in the play along with his sister, Victoria Santello. And both of them are still in high school.

“When you’re an actor, you have to do your homework,” stage manager Kara Goldberg told reporter Michael Murillo. “You have to look up words you don’t know in the script, and you have to study your lines really well. I can tell that (Ryan) is doing his homework.”

You can read the story in print right now with our e-edition by clicking here.

All of these complete 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.

Army, Air Force vets have chance for ‘American Dream’

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Military veterans with dreams of owning their own business have a chance to compete for startup money that could help them do just that.

“Operation American Dream” is a contest from Signal 88 Security, encouraging those who have served the country through the U.S. Army or U.S. Air Force to submit a video by May 15 explaining why they want to own their own business.

The U.S. Small Business Administration says 1 in 10 small businesses are owned by veterans, and that 45 percent are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed, Signal 88 said in a release.

Winning submissions will be decided through a public vote on Signal 88’s Facebook page on May 22. The contestant with the most votes will receive $5,000 to start their own business, or $10,000 if they choose to start a Signal 88 franchise.

Signal 88 was founded in 2003 in Omaha, Nebraska, with the “88” law enforcement code for “situation secure.” The company has franchises in more than 35 states in nearly 300 territories. It provides community-based security personnel to help protect property.

To enter, submit videos to Signal88.com/OperationAmericanDream.

Danish pushing Scott to sign child welfare law

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State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a bill into law he says will help strengthen the speed and quality of child abuse and neglect investigations in the state.

Danish is pushing S.B. 1666, which includes parts of a House bill he introduced this year, and other child welfare initiatives. The bill quickly made it way through both chambers, receiving no dissenting votes in either the House or the Senate.

“By strengthening the state’s workforce, response time and overall quality of investigations, we will be able to put the health and safety of children first,” Danish said, in a release. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but this is a major step in the right direction.”

The bill looks to increase child welfare expertise in the Department of Children and Families, and improve child abuse investigator qualifications, according to a committee analysis of the bill. It also creates a consortium of schools of social work to advise the state on child welfare policy.

Investigators would be required to dig deeper into deaths and other significant incidents involving those in the child protection or child welfare system, including a need to identify root causes that could help lawmakers strengthen protection laws in the future.

Nationally, more than 1,500 children died from child abuse or neglect, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Florida alone, the cost to investigate abuse is $312.5 million in just the past fiscal year.

The current efforts were jumpstarted in response to DCF’s mishandling of several child neglect and abuse cases in recent months that resulted in the or serious injury of a child, Danish’s office said.

The bill passed the House May 2. The governor has 15 days to either sign, allow the bill to pass without his signature, or veto.

Cat adoption available for $5 in Hillsborough

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It’s Cinco de Meow as “Be Kind to Animals Week” continues at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Division with cat adoptions available for $5.

Through May 11, cats can be adopted from the county pet shelter, 440 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa, for $5. The fees include spay and neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, microchip and a Hillsborough County pet registration license. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

During the week-long event, the shelter also is looking for donations, particularly of pet food, towels, sturdy bedding and toys for shelter animals. Also, the division is available to process spay and neuter vouchers for residents who require public assistance.

For information, call (813) 744-5660, or visit HillsboroughCounty.org/Pets.

Marshalls grand opening set for May 15

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Marshalls is set to open its newest store in Land O’ Lakes May 15 at the Village Lakes Shopping Center.

The 24,000-square-foot store will be one of more than 900 in 43 states and Puerto Rico. The first day, which runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., will include giveaways and gift card prizes, according to a release.

The regular hours for the store will run Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will bring approximately 60 full- and part-time jobs to the area, as well as more than 10,000 new items added to the inventory weekly.

Marshalls also is planning to donate $5,000 to Feeding America Tampa Bay as part of its opening festivities during a ribbon cutting May 15 at 7:30 a.m. Marshalls maintains national and local partnerships with charitable organizations around the country, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Groundbreaking for new county utilities center Wednesday

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A groundbreaking originally scheduled for April will no take place May 6 at Pasco County’s new Utilities Administration and Operations Facility.

The building will be the central administration location for the Pasco Utilities System, and will be located at 19420 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, just off of U.S. 41.

“I am excited to see this building become a reality,” said Bruce Kennedy, assistant county administrator for the utilities service branch, in a release. “We have sought for several years to provide a central location for Pasco utilities customers, and I believe this design will benefit both the customer and employees who will work in the building.”

Pasco County commissioners awarded the $9 million construction contract to Construction Technology Group Inc. of Plant City last February. The 50,000-square-foot building will be built on 30 acres of land the county already owns just north of the Tierra del Sol community.

The building will have a customer service section located on the first floor, with a five-seat curved counter. It also will have a covered drive-up service window, and an optional second lane that can be opened in the future.

The building’s theme is consistent with the architectural designs and features of the Historic Dade City Courthouse, county officials said. It also will be consistent with the nearby Connerton community.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place May 7 at 11 a.m.

Flood watch continues throughout region

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UPDATE: This advisory has expired.

With more rain expected to continue on Saturday, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch, which will remain in effect until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The weather service says a frontal boundary of a weather system will slowly sag southward across West Central Florida. That will produce a number of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms, hitting an area that already experienced heavy rainfall the day before. All of that water together could result in additional flooding.

Rainfall is expected to hit three-quarters of an inch during the morning and afternoon, although some higher amounts could be possible, the weather service said.

A flood watch means that flooding is possible during the next 24 to 36 hours. The weather service warns that residents living in flood-prone areas should take action to protect property.

The area has a near 100 percent chance of rain as isolated showers will continue into the evening on Saturday, the weather service said. However, that’s expected to clear up around midnight and salvage the weekend on Sunday with mostly sunny conditions, and highs in the mid-80s.

River flood warning for Cypress Creek this weekend

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UPDATE: This advisory has expired.

Torrential rains all over the Tampa Bay area are still having destructive effects on Pasco County.

The National Weather Service has issued a river flood warning for the Cypress Creek area at Worthington Gardens, the same area near State Road 56 and Interstate 75 that includes Wesley Chapel Boulevard and the planned Premium Outlets Mall.

Officials say heavy rainfall from Friday morning, and the threat of additional rainfall over the next 24 hours, will allow water levels to rise to near flood stage on Cypress Creek.

The warning will last from Saturday evening until further notice, with minor flooding in the forecast.

Waters in the river could rise to 9.6 feet by Monday morning, officials said. The flood stage for the river is 8 feet. If it does rise to that level, it would be the first time that’s happened since December 2002.

Officials continue to warn drivers not to take their cars through flooded areas.

Wesley Chapel area under flood advisory

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UPDATE: This advisory has expired.

The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for northern Hillsborough and southern Pasco counties until 11:45 a.m.

This includes the areas of Lutz, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

The weather service said the area is experiencing three to four inches of rain per hour associated with thunderstorms nearby. Localized flooding is imminent, officials added, if not already occurring.

This includes parts of Interstate 75 between exits 257 and 279, as well as Interstate 275 between exits 39 and 53.

The weather service asks residents to keep children from being swept away in flooded ditches and drains, and that flood waters are usually deeper than they appear and could stall a vehicle. One foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep away a vehicle.

Senior Resource Fair coming to Zephyrhills next week

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Senior citizens will have a chance to find out what kind of programs and services might be available to them during a free Senior Resource Fair May 12 from 10 a.m. to noon in Zephyrhills.

The event is hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, and will be held at the Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

“Seniors are extremely important to the fabric of our community, and I want to make sure they are able to access the services and information that will keep them healthy,” Bilirakis said in a release. “This fair will serve as a one-stop shop for seniors to receive a variety of check-ups and assistance.”

A number of local non-profit and government agencies will provide free services for seniors, including health and wellness suggestions, nutritional guidance, home health care services, and identity protection tips.

For information on the event, call (727) 232-2921.