The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

University of Tampa baseball wins sixth national championship

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Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

Back-to-back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Jake Schrader, Zach Gawrych and Adam Pendleton highlighted a five-run second inning as the nationally top-ranked University of Tampa baseball team went on to claim its sixth national championship June 1 with an 8-2 victory over second-ranked Minnesota State. The Championship Game of the 2013 NCAA Division II College World Series was hosted at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

The University of Tampa baseball team celebrates its sixth national title June 1. (Courtesy of the University of Tampa)

Schrader was named Most Outstanding Player of the National Finals. He went 2-for-3 Saturday and batted .444 (8-for-18) with two home runs, seven RBI and a .944 slugging percentage in five games at the National Finals.

An announced crowd of 2,478 was in attendance at the Championship Game, the second highest single-game attendance since the Division II Baseball CWS moved to Cary in 2009. Last year’s Championship Game between West Chester and Delta State saw a record crowd of 2,663.

While there were no weather delays during any of the 14 games in this year’s National Finals, the Championship Game saw a delay of 12 minutes due to a power outage while Tampa (47-12) was batting in the bottom of the seventh.

Sean O’Brien led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch, and B.J. Zimmerman followed with a single to right. O’Brien came home with Tampa’s first run on Schrader’s double to straightaway center field just short of the warning track. Gawrych followed with a chopper over the third base bag that resulted in a two-run double down the left field line. Garwych scored on Pendleton’s double to right, Tampa’s fifth consecutive hit. Pendleton advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a line single to left by Connor Obrochta to give the Spartans a 5-0 lead.

Minnesota State used an unearned run to get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth after Nolan Johnson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Stetson Olson singled up the middle. Taylor Branstad hit into a force at second, but Johnson scored when the throw to first was off target to pull the Mavericks within 5-1.

But that was as close as Minnesota State would get, as Tampa starter Jon Keller (6-3) shut down the Mavericks with five strikeouts and no walks. He scattered six hits and retired the side in order in the seventh before giving way to two relievers for the final two innings. The win was Keller’s second in as many starts in the National Finals.

Tampa added a run in the bottom of the fourth on Gaither High graduate Mike Danner’s sacrifice fly and scored two unearned runs in the seventh on a throwing error shortly after the power outage delay ended.

Lucas Skjefte singled in a run in the top of the ninth for Minnesota State, which outhit Tampa 9-8. Parker Sullivan and Stetson Olson had three hits apiece for the Mavericks, which suffered its only loss of the National Finals.

Minnesota State starting pitcher Harvey Martin (9-1), who recorded a win Monday against Franklin Pierce, suffered his first loss of the season. Martin was the consensus Division II Baseball National Pitcher of the Year.

Tampa won Division II Baseball National Championships in 1992, 1993, 1998, 2006 and 2007. The Spartans, the last team to win back-to-back national titles, ended a streak of five consecutive first-time champions.

Wiregrass Ranch earns pair of wins in spring jamboree

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By Jeff Odom

 

It had been a long time since the Wiregrass Ranch football team tasted victory.

Nearly three years to be exact.

But the Bulls finally got over the hump and edged Wesley Chapel 3-0 in the first two quarters and Sunlake 7-0 to seal up a sweep in its spring football jamboree May 28, hosted by Wesley Chapel High.

Wiregrass Ranch first-year coach Mike Lawrence, whose team is coming off consecutive 0-10 regular season campaigns after winning a district title in 2010, said he hopes the wins will be a confidence booster to his players going into the fall.

Wiregrass Ranch running back John Harris-Scott scored the lone touchdown in the Bulls’ 7-0 win against Sunlake at the Wesley Chapel High spring jamboree May 28. (Photo by Tim McClain)

“We’re still lacking a little bit of the things that we need to get done, so we’re going to have to evaluate the tape, and we just want to get better,” said Lawrence, who was promoted to head coach in December after serving as offensive coordinator last season. “A win is good. It feels good for our program to get our first little win, but we’re just going to feel better when we actually play and do some better things later on down the road.”

Wiregrass Ranch needed just a 32-yard field goal from Bryce Wilson midway through the first quarter to get past the Wildcats in the first game.

It was the first time in the program’s seven-year history that the Bulls had ever defeated Wesley Chapel.

“It’s a good thing to be able to get over your rival, but it’s more so beating ourselves than it is our rivalry,” Lawrence said. “You have to have the confidence to be able to beat ourselves. Because if we beat ourselves, that means we’re getting a little more confident, and it’s getting a little better with everything that we do. That way, when we play another opponent, we’re not playing ourselves.”

In the second game, the Seahawks used its rushing attack to wear down the Wesley Chapel defense after starting quarterback Esteban LeWallen did not play because of personal reasons, according to Sunlake coach Bill Browning.

Starting in place of LeWallen, junior-to-be Dayton Feiden threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Joe Jean-Baptiste, Jacob Guzman rushed for a 2-yard score, and Alex Anderson capped it off by recovering a fumble and taking it six yards for one final touchdown to seal the 21-0 win over the Wildcats.

Browning said he was happy to see his team have success, but for now, it’s about gaining experience.

“We’re getting our feet wet,” Browning said. “It’s going to get a lot better, but it was a good start. Defense I thought played very well, and we did some good things offensively, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. … We’ve got guys that are playing in their first varsity competition to gain some valuable experience, and there’s no substitution for experience.”

Wesley Chapel first-year coach Tico Hernandez said he thought his team played well, despite the two shutout losses.

“With the football that we played, I thought our boys did a good job; they fought, they didn’t stop on defense, and they’re a great group of players,” Hernandez said. “Offense always takes time, because you’re going to need more than 20 days to put together a brand new scheme of football.”

In the final two quarters, Wiregrass Ranch needed just a 3-yard touchdown run by John Harris-Scott, and the defense did the rest, to upset Sunlake.

The senior-to-be said everyone is buying into what Lawrence and the assistants are saying, and he hopes it equals the same results come September.

“I don’t know what to say; it’s unexplainable,” Harris-Scott said. “To do this for my team is the greatest feeling in the world. This new coach, coach Lawrence, has put a lot of effort in and all the coaches have. They’re working their heart out. … (The wins are) a big confidence booster for all of us, but we’re not going to get a big head. We’re going to stay humble and do our thing and work hard.”

Winning a huge jackpot poses challenges, experts say

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Huge Powerball win in Zephyrhills creates buzz

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

 

The sale of the winning $590.5 million Florida Powerball ticket at a Publix in Zephyrhills created quite a stir – but experts say that such instantaneous wealth comes with its own set of problems.

As of press time, the winner of the single largest Powerball prize in U.S. history had not stepped forward to claim the winnings, but that is expected at any time. Florida law requires the winner to file a claim within 60 days of winning, in order to receive a lump-sum cash payment.

A look at one of the losing tickets for the May 18 Powerball drawing that produced the single largest Powerball winner in U.S. history. The winner of the $590.5 million winning ticket purchased it at a Publix grocery store in Zephyrhills.

When the winner comes forward, he or she will be stepping out of the shadows because once the claim is made, the winner’s identity is public record.

Winning such a huge financial windfall is like flipping a switch in life, said Rhonda Cameron, a psychologist at Premier Community Healthcare Group, Inc., in Dade City.

“It’s the old, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’” Cameron said.

“All of us have fantasies,” Cameron said, but becoming instantly wealthy won’t solve all of life’s problems and, indeed, it creates some new challenges.

Suddenly, the winner’s privacy will be gone, the psychologist said.

“Their picture is going to be emblazoned across every newspaper,” Cameron said, not only in the U.S., but in other countries, too.

An ordinary trip to the grocery store will be a thing of the past, she said. “People will pay attention to you. … They’ll point at you and talk about you.”

 

Some winners wind up moving to a new locale, changing their way of life and going underground, she said.

It’s not unusual for people who encounter such a major change in life to undergo a range of emotions, the psychologist said.

In some cases, Cameron said, “They’re grieving their former life, when they were just a regular, normal Joe.”

In other cases, they encounter hostility from people who are not happy that they won the huge cash prize.

“Some people are going to hate your guts,” Cameron said. “It’s the envy turned into anger (response). Maybe they don’t view you as a good person,” she said. They’ll wonder: “Why did it happen to you and not me?”

Winners will also find themselves viewing people in a different way than they did before, Cameron said. They’ll have to be more guarded to make sure that people who are interested in being close to them are interested in them, not just their money.

“Your phone is going to ring off the hook,” Cameron said. The calls asking for help will come from family, friends and strangers, alike. People will line up, vying for a piece of the action.

“You are going to have to figure out a way to protect yourself,” Cameron said. “There are gold diggers of every stripe.”

There are also those who will feel guilty about coming into so much money, Cameron said. “They’ll ask, ‘Why me?’”

They can address that guilt by sharing their wealth, but then the question becomes with whom do you share your fortune, and how much should you give?

The winner will have to think about the consequences of actions in virtually every arena of life, including emotional, spiritual, financial and legal, Cameron said.

“How do you deal with your kids? How do you deal with your grandkids?’

“The ones who do the worst are the ones who are very impulsive. They have no game plan. They go out and buy five cars. They fritter it away. They end up worse than they were before,” Cameron said.

Cameron’s No. 1 piece of advice? “Come up with a game plan.”

Planning is essential, agreed Christine B. Cooper, a retirement income planner, who has practiced in Tampa Bay for 19 years.

Cooper, who is president and owner of Cooper Financial Services in Land O’ Lakes, said she routinely tells clients to call her cell phone or text her within the first five minutes of learning they have received a financial windfall.

She wants to make sure they take steps to protect their best interests.

“You need to have the right kind of specialists on your team,” Cooper said, noting in that case it would likely include a financial planner, an attorney and a tax specialist.

The winner will have to pay taxes when he or she claims the prize, but the idea is to take steps to pay no more than legally required, Cooper said.

The specialist’s role is to help the client achieve his or her dreams, Cooper said.

To use a football analogy, she sad: “We’re the coaches on the sideline. You’re the quarterback.”

When the winner works out a plan, he or she should be addressing such questions as:  “Why are we doing this? What is our goal? How are we going to get there?”

Most people don’t even consider the possibility of needing to have a plan for handling millions of dollars, Cooper said.

She thinks one reason many people who come into sudden wealth wind up losing it is because they lack a plan.

It’s also hard to resist helping others, Cooper said.

“It’s human nature to give,” Cooper said. “We all, deep down underneath, we want to help one another,” she said. “We put everyone else’s needs before our own.”

Jeff Aman, an attorney in Lutz, said he wouldn’t rely entirely upon himself if he won a huge cash windfall. “I wouldn’t want to try to figure it all out,” said Aman, who specializes in estates, trusts and real estate.

What the winner should do depends on the winner’s goals and desires, Aman said.

“It’s a very individual kind of thing,” Aman said.

It’s important to understand tax consequences and to protect assets, Aman said.

“If you’re doing serious tax planning, you’re also doing asset protection. It goes hand in hand,” Aman said.

Hiring a team of experts is important, but requiring that team to be accountable is essential, too, Aman said. “You still need to maintain your personal sense of responsibility.”

Stories abound about lottery winners who go broke.

Aman doubts they had a team of specialists helping them manage their money.

One chapter over, a new one begins

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Class of 2013 heads into future

 

By B.C. Manion

 

One thing is a constant for the members of the Class of 2013: The technology of their lives is continuously evolving.

Graduates of today tweet highlights of the ceremony, take pictures with their cell phones and post videos on YouTube – hoping they’ll go viral.

Tools of communication may be radically different than for previous generations of graduates, but one thing is the same: Receiving a high school diploma remains one of life’s big moments.

And, thousands of graduates are lining up now, as commencement season is in full swing in Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Some schools have had their ceremonies, and others are gearing up.

Roughly 4,000 students from area public and private high schools will complete this rite of passage this year, stepping over the threshold to adult life.

Seniors from Gaither, Steinbrenner, Freedom and Wharton in northern Hillsborough County will accept their diplomas at ceremonies for Hillsborough County public schools.

And, graduates from Sunlake, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Pasco and Zephyrhills high schools will shift the tassels on their caps at commencement ceremonies for Central Pasco and East Pasco schools.

Ceremonies are also planned or have been concluded for private high schools serving the communities of Trinity, Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill held its graduation on May 14, with 60 graduates receiving their diplomas during a ceremony in the school’s auditorium.

Forty-five graduates received their diplomas during a May 19 ceremony in the theater at Carrollwood Day School. This was the fifth crop of seniors to graduate from the school in North Tampa, and it was the final graduation ceremony for Mary Kanter, who is retiring in June, after being of head of the school since 1998.

While CDS has concluded its festivities, Academy at the Lakes and Land O’ Lakes Christian School are preparing for their events.

Land O’ Lakes Christian School will confer diplomas to eight graduates during an evening ceremony on May 31 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Land O’ Lakes.

Academy at the Lakes will have its graduation exercises in the school’s gymnasium on June 2. In addition to the Class of 2013’s academic achievements, which garnered $2.4 million in scholarship offers, seven of the 39 graduates have been recruited by collegiate athletic teams.

Other settings for upcoming commencement ceremonies for area public schools are at the W.F. Edwards Stadium in Dade City, the University of South Florida Sun Dome in northeast Tampa  and the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in east Tampa.

Many graduates have gone far beyond the call of duty, demonstrating their commitment to learning by achieving grade point averages well beyond the 4.0 that comes from earning straight As in traditional courses.

Those students embraced more rigorous courses, including Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses that can earn them college credit during high school.

Jackie Lawson of Gaither High, had the highest grade point average across The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area and the highest in Gaither High history, exceeding 8.71 on a 4.0 scale.

As graduates wrap up their high school academic career, these students see themselves playing varied roles in their future careers. Some will continue their studies at prestigious schools in far away places, while others will stick closer to home.

For now, though, it’s time to savor their accomplishments, pose for pictures, send texts or tweets and enjoy the moment – before setting off on their new adventures.

Business Digest

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Networking on tap at EPNG

Mary Adele Cluck, the executive director of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, and Hope Allen, the chamber’s sales and marketing manager, will be the featured speakers at the June 11 meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group.

The group meets at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd. Networking begins at 8 a.m. followed by the meeting, which starts at 8:30 a.m.

 

SWFMD elects officers

The governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management has elected new officers, including Carlos M. Beruff, of Manatee County, as board chairman; Michael A. Babb, of Hillsborough County, as vice-chair; Randall S. “Randy” Maggard, of Pasco County, as secretary; and, Jeffery M. Adams, of Pinellas County, as treasurer.

Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The board sets policy for the district, which is responsible for managing water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the current and future water users’ needs, while protecting the environment.

 

ADA workshop for small businesses

Hillsborough County and the Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities-Hillsborough County will have a special event to update small businesses on the legal and technical requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The free workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. until noon and will feature experts helping business leaders avoid costly mistakes by reviewing the latest ADA needs and requirements.

A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided.

The workshop will be at the Children’s Board, 1002 E. Palm Ave. in Tampa.

Those interested in attended are asked to register online at https://sbic.hillsboroughcounty.org.

For more information, call the Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center at (813) 914-4028 or visit http://www.HillsboroughCounty.org.

 

Women-N-Charge grants

Women-N-Charge, whose mission, in part, is to support and assist professional women in managing their businesses more effectively, has awarded two $1,000 grants.

The grants were sponsored by Ierna’s Heating and Cooling and Foundation Repair Contractors, Inc.

Connie Blaney, of Liberty Manor For Veterans, received the business advancement grant.

Letoria Leiba, a licensed mental health counselor, received the career advancement grant.

Women-N-Charge meets on the first Friday of the month at Pebble Creek Country Club in New Tampa from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To learn more about the group, visit www.women-n-charge.com.

 

Job Fair at The Shops at Wiregrass

A job fair is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 5 at The Shops at Wiregrass, directly across from Dillard’s and next to Soma Intimates.

 

Kellie Jo Carlucci is employee of the year

Kellie Jo Carlucci has been named the employee of the year at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

The winner is selected by the Employee Advisory Group. Recipients are deemed to be the employee who best exemplifies employee excellence.

 

Tampa metro area has highest job growth in April

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area led the state’s metropolitan areas in job creation during April, according to a news release from Gov. Rick Scott’s office.

The Tampa Bay metro area gained more than 35,400 private sector jobs. The area also experienced a 1.9 percent decline in its unemployment rate over last April.

Since December 2010, the metro area’s unemployment rate has declined 4.7 percentage points, dropping from 11.4 percent to 6.7 percent.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA led the metro areas in gains in:

–Education and health services (+9,600 jobs)

–Professional and business services (+8,800 jobs)

–Trade, transportation and utilities (+7,700 jobs)

–Construction (+4,000 jobs)

 

Oak Hill Hospital adds V. Antoine Keller to staff

Oak Hill Hospital and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has added Dr. V. Antoine Keller, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, to its medical staff.

Dr. Keller is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery, vascular and endovascular surgery.  He specializes in minimally invasive complex heart procedures such as valve repair and valve replacement. He also performs minimally invasive single coronary artery bypass grafting.

 

North Tampa Chamber meetings

The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce has several upcoming meetings:

–June 20: Networking luncheon: 11:30 a.m., Beef O’ Brady’s, 8810 N. Himes Ave. (Himes & Busch), Tampa. Order from lunchtime menu. Cost: $4.99 to $9.99/pp (does not include tax/gratuity), whether you eat or not. RSVP by June 18 to Kelly Winterling at or call Horizon Bay at Lutz at 909-9679. Directions? Call 936-2058.

–June 25: 66th Annual Installation & Awards Banquet – Doors open at 5 p.m. with adjournment at 9 p.m. Location: Emerald Greens Golf & Country Club, 13903 Clubhouse Drive, Tampa. Highlights: Welcoming the incoming board, celebrating accomplishments and honoring those who have been instrumental in the chamber’s success.

To RSVP, or for more banquet details, visit the North Tampa Chamber website at www.northtampachamber.com or phone (813) 961-2420. This event is open to the public.

–June 27: Networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Embassy Suites USF near Busch Gardens, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa (east of Bruce B. Downs/north side of Fowler Ave.). Order from select menu or buffet. Cost: $11 to $12.50 per person, includes tax and gratuity. Charge applies whether you eat or not. RSVP by June 25 to Jenn Beaumont at , or call AGLA-American General Life at 334-8998. Directions? Call (813) 977-7066.

 

Dr. Pariksith Singh receives entrepreneurship award

Indus Entrepreneurs of Tampa Bay has selected Dr. Parisksith Singh as its TiETaN of Healthcare Entrepreurship Award for 2013.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in the Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives and senior professionals in the Indus region. There are currently 11,000 members including over 2,500 charters in 60 chapters across 17 countries. TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs.

Singh is the founder and current CEO of Access Health Care, LLC, Access II, Integral Healthcare (an Accountable Care Corporation) and Auroveda Operating Foundation, LLC as well as numerous other entrepreneurial ventures.

This edition honors our 4,299 graduates

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By Diane Kortus

Publisher

 

Today’s paper is among our most important issues of the year. Inside you’ll find the names of every graduating high school senior who attends school in the communities where we deliver our newspapers.

This is the sixth year we’re publishing names of local graduates, and we’re proud to do so. Graduating from high school is a milestone we never forget and one that shapes our lives forever. Honoring our young men and women with their own pull-out section of our paper is something we do at The Laker and Lutz News to help memorialize this momentous occasion for our youth and their families.

Collectively, we are printing 4,299 names of graduates from 14 area high schools. The paper you are holding is one of four unique editions that we publish so we can segment stories and advertisements targeted to your specific neighborhood. It’s our way of delivering news, stories and ads that are most pertinent and important to you.

So, if you live in Land O’Lakes, today’s Laker has the names of graduating seniors from Sunlake, Land O’ Lakes and Wiregrass Ranch high schools — schools zoned for families living in Land O’ Lakes and Pasco Lutz.

If you live in Hillsborough Lutz, your names are kids from Steinbrenner, Gaither, Freedom and Wharton high schools. In Wesley Chapel, graduates are from Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Wharton and Freedom high schools. Over in east Pasco, look for names from Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools.

In addition to students from public schools, there are names of seniors from four private schools: Academy At The Lakes, Land O’ Lakes Christian, Carrollwood Day School and Bishop McLaughlin high schools.

My staff begins gathering names in April from high school principals, assistant principals and guidance counselors. While we get 95 percent of the names and photos of our grads and valedictorians and salutatorians by our deadline, the last week is always hectic, as we do what we can to include every student.

Despite our due diligence, there are always a few high-ranking seniors whose photos and names we do not receive. We hate when this happens and are sorry if any graduate is disappointed because their information did not get to us in time.

As you read today’s paper, it is quickly disappearing from our newsstands as families and friends grab extra copies for scrapbooks and relatives up north. By Friday, it will be nearly impossible to find a copy in any of our 400-plus business locations and newsstands.

In this age of facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, blogs and other social media sites, we still offer kids the thrill of having their name printed in black and white for all to see.

They will be amazed at how their name jumps off the page, even as it is surrounded by hundreds of other names. Their name will be circled or highlighted and proudly shown to parents, siblings, neighbors and friends.

 

 

 

This is why my staff and I believe it is important to publish the names of every graduating senior in our readership area. For most teens, it is likely the first time they will see their name in print. And the feeling they get when they do will be much different than when their name pops up in a facebook dialog or on a Twitter feed.

There’s something about seeing your name in a tangible, public forum that is special. When your name is in the newspaper, those you care about most — family, friends, teachers, neighbors, folks you have known for most your life — will also see it and know you did something good.

Today our readers will be searching the alphabetical listings of our graduation section looking for names of kids they know. And when they see one, they, too, will feel proud and good, because they will know someone they care about made it to graduation and achieved an important goal.

So, as you look through our list of seniors, circle the names of grads you know, call and tell him or her that you saw their name in the paper, and that you are proud of them.

And, if it’s your name in the paper, cut it out and tuck it into a corner of your wallet or purse. And when you come across that clip months from now when you’re looking for something else, it will make you happy and proud all over again.

Graduating from high school is an important milestone, and as your community newspaper, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you. Cherish the moments you’ve had together, for your graduating class will never be together again. Remember, you can accomplish anything you want if you set your mind to it, so hold your head high and enjoy the wonderful journey ahead of you.

 

Hurricane pruning a summertime no-no

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By BJ Jarvis

Pasco Extension Director and Horticulturist

 

June is the official start of the hurricane season in Florida. Don’t be surprised to get a knock on the door offering to hurricane cut palms. As Nancy Reagan said, “Just Say No!”

Overpruned palms, like those seen here, can cause structural weakness and nutrient deficiencies. (Photo provided)

One of the most harmful landscape practices is the excessive pruning we call hurricane cutting.  Less-than-knowledgeable tree folk rationalize that removing the majority of palm fronds will reduce the plant’s resistance to wind. UF researchers have proven that not only is this a fallacy, but the practice actually increases chances of wind damage and causes additional harm.  Unpruned palms, following the hurricanes of 2004, hardly showed any damage, while those receiving pruning were killed or sustained extensive damage.

In general, palms are slow growing, producing about one frond or leaf each month. Removing a dozen fronds removes an entire year’s growth. This is devastating to palms because this unique plant group stores vital nutrients in the older, outer leaves. When excessively removed, the palm is stripped of its nutrient reservoir. Removing mostly green fronds can make nutrient deficiencies worse.

Years of overpruning causes the trunk to get narrower at the top, much like the shape of a pencil.  This constriction creates structure weakness, the opposite of what is really trying to be achieved.

Occasional light pruning may be warranted. However, pruning should be limited to create a canopy of leaves at a minimum of 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock. Remove only dead or obviously nearly dead fronds. Flower stalks, which do not store nutrients, can be removed at any time, as they produce messy and sometimes slippery seeds later in the year.

As a UF horticulturist put it, palms need a “trim, not a Mohawk.” If you must prune, hire a certified arborist. A little investment now will pay dividends later in protecting this expensive garden member.

Don’t create palm problems by overpruning. Never remove green fronds, as this shortchanges the plant of essential nutrients and causes structure damage. For more information on palm pruning, visit https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP44300.pdf.

 

–BJ Jarvis is Director and Horticulturist for Pasco Cooperative Extension. She can be contacted by email at .

Pensyl impresses, but Land O’ Lakes falls

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By Jeff Odom

 

Land O’ Lakes football coach Brian Wachtel will have a very tough decision going into his third season with the team — James Pensyl or Ethan Weilant.

For the first time in more than a decade, there is a wide-open competition for the Gators’ starting quarterback job between the two juniors-to-be. And, after Land O’ Lakes’ 35-15 spring game loss to Pasco at John Benedetto Stadium May 23, that battle has heated up even more.

Pensyl played all three quarters of the exhibition, because Weilant is still recovering from surgery to repair a right shoulder injury he sustained last season and was not in uniform.

With all eyes on him, the 6-foot-5, 195-pound signal caller finished 8-of-17 with one touchdown and one interception. He also added 30 rushing yards.

Quarterback James Pensyl played all three quarters of Land O’ Lakes’ spring game against Pasco. He finished 8-for-17 with one touchdown and one interception. (Photo by Thomas Matzke of SunlakeSports.com)

“He did some nice things tonight, there’s no doubt about it,” Wachtel said. “I’ve got to go in and watch the film and evaluate just everything that goes with the quarterback position in regards to the plays we called and what our reads were and different things like that. I thought he ran the ball extremely hard tonight; he threw the football well.”

Pensyl, who started the final six games of the regular season after Weilant’s injury against Springstead, said it was good to get back into the swing of things, despite the loss.

“I felt it was a great experience for us (as a team) to figure out where we stand this spring and just really get a leg up on next year,” Pensyl said. “We were going against the best talent in Pasco County, so we’ll be good next year.”

One of the biggest differences going into this season, Pensyl said, was his ability to see things better on the field and chalked that up to his experience late last year and throughout the spring working with Wachtel and Weilant.

“I felt that I have gotten better,” Pensyl said. “I saw the read more, and things have kind of slowed down to where I can see where the (defensive backs) were, and I read it. I just wish I made a couple different passes, but I understood it more, and I can really see what is going on.”

Land O’ Lakes used its running game and took advantage of multiple penalties to quickly pounce on Pasco’s defense in the first quarter.

Led by Pensyl and halfback Austin McGuire, the Gators drove from their own 20-yard-line all the way to the opponents 25 to set up an early scoring opportunity. But the Pirates, who finished one win shy of the state final four last season, recovered a fumble by McGuire.

The momentum from the stop carried over on Pasco’s offense and highly-recruited sophomore wide receiver Nate Craig Myers made Land O’ Lakes pay by taking a handoff 67 yards for a Pirates touchdown.

From there, Pasco never looked back and scored 35 unanswered points, until the Gators finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when they sacked quarterback Benjamin Chandler in the end zone for a safety.

“Right out of the gate, it starts with me,” Wachtel said. “So, there’s some things that, no doubt, we’re going to start next week evaluating some things that we’re doing. We gave up some big plays in key situations, we missed tackles, and those are fundamental things we’ve gotta continue to work on.”

Land O’ Lakes staged a late comeback in the second half by outscoring the Pirates 13-0 with touchdowns from McGuire and Kamal Wells, before the junior varsity players came into the game to get some reps in the fourth.

“I think overall, I’m proud of our players, because in the second half we responded to basically the challenge that was given,” Wachtel said. “There’s no doubt that Pasco’s a good football team, but in the second half, this football team definitely did some good things to correct the mistakes we made in the first half.”

Snelling lifts Steinbrenner, Gaither falls to Sickles

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By Don Trello

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

The Steinbrenner football team rallied for a 22-21 win against Alonso and Sickles beat Gaither 22-14 in the Steinbrenner football jamboree May 23 to mark the end of spring practice.

“We had a couple of kids that grew up today,” Steinbrenner coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo said. “The kids work hard, and this was a great momentum boost.”

Steinbrenner running back Kezio Snelling points to the scoreboard after his winning kick return for a touchdown with 33 seconds left. The junior-to-be scored all three Warrior touchdowns. (Photo by Tim McClain)

Steinbrenner running back Kezio Snelling scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, including an 81-yard kickoff return that pulled the Warriors to within 21-20 of Alonso with 33 seconds left to play in the game.

Shyheem Barthel ran for a two-point conversion following Snelling’s TD for the Steinbrenner win.

“I caught the ball, hit the hole and did what my coach told me to do,” said Snelling, who will be a junior next school year. “To be honest, it was a total team effort.”

Snelling also had an 80-yard kickoff return for Steinbrenner’s first touchdown, and scored on a 14-yard run.

“We put huge emphasis on our special teams, especially kickoff returns,” Perez-Reinaldo said.

Alonso’s Ish Witter rushed for 72 yards and one touchdown, and Ravens quarterback Chris Oladokun tossed touchdown passes of 20 yards each to Brandon Robinson and Marcus Mosley.

“Snelling came out as a freshman quarterback and was as goofy as they come,” Perez-Reinaldo said. “He’s dangerous in the open field, and he’s the scout team quarterback. We ask a lot of him.”

Steinbrenner graduates 27 seniors after this school year, including leading rusher and point scorer Kendall Pearcey from last season’s team that finished with a 5-5 record.

“We have a very raw group that has a long way to go, but they realize that,” Perez-Reinaldo said. “We hope it’s a team effort that allows us to pull through. Our goal is to create a team concept.”

Steinbrenner has quarterback Curtis Fitch and running back Jake Carroll among its returning players. Carroll did not play in the game because of a concussion.

“Obviously, we will miss Pearcey as a player, but I don’t think losing him will have a negative effect,” Fitch said. “Losing players steps everything up. I guess you could see it as pressure on my role as a leader, but my teammates have my back.”

Gaither coach Jason Stokes lost 23 seniors from last season’s team that clinched the first district title in five years, but the Cowboys return quarterback Alex McGough, who passed for 1,727 yards and 22 touchdowns.

“McGough’s maturity level is good, and he is a good vocal leader,” Stokes said. “He’s athletic enough when he keeps the play alive. He needs to get the ball out in awkward situations. McGough played great for us tonight.

“I think everyone is slightly banged up, but we had no major injuries during the spring.”

The senior-to-be completed 8-of-11 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. He threw a 17-yard TD pass to Amani Oruwariye and a 22-yard scoring toss to Malik Huff.

“Losing people (to graduation) is tough, but you have to trust people that are coming up,” McGough said. “There are all new receivers and running backs, and we have to learn new stuff. We will be a ball control offense, but I hope we go with more spread. It worked well today.

“We have to work on blocking, picking up blitzes and running crisp routes,” he added. “I have to get the ball out quicker and stay up and not panic.”

Sickles running back Ray Ray McCloud rushed for 91 yards and scored two touchdowns, and quarterback Isaac Holder threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Chet Levay.

“We are definitely rebuilding, but my approach doesn’t change too much,” Stokes said. “We look for effort and discipline. I think with our coaches and players we have better than average talent. I think we will be strong enough to give it a good run.”

Congrats to our youngest reporter on his first writing award

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By Diane Kortus

 

In last week’s paper, I wrote about the remarkable gains we’ve made in readership at our papers. I shared with you that 80 percent of households in Lutz regularly read or look through the Lutz News. And in Pasco County, 75 percent of households read The Laker with the same loyalty.

It is not surprising, then, that I am writing this week with news about awards my staff has received for outstanding work in a recent statewide newspaper competition. It only makes sense that our excellent readership scores correlate with superior work that is recognized by peers in the newspaper industry.

Diane Kortus and Jeff Odom

Earlier this month, Community Papers of Florida honored us with 11 awards for writing, ad design and theme pages. We competed with weekly and monthly publications, many of which have much larger staffs and more resources than we do.

Once again, Stefanie Burlingame, our graphic designer for the past five years, won several awards for outstanding advertising design. She is one of the best ad designers in the state, and I am proud – and fortunate – to have Stef on my team. The accompanying story tells you more about our advertising winners and the local businesses whose ads were recognized.

This was the first year we received an award for writing from Community Papers of Florida. It was especially meaningful that our winner is Jeff Odom, our homegrown, 19-year-old reporter who started writing for us when he was a student at Steinbrenner High in Lutz.

Jeff took third place for Best Original Writing for a piece he wrote about John Naperkowski, a physical education teacher at Chester Taylor Elementary in Zephyrhills who had a heart attack at the school and was resuscitated by a fellow teacher using the school’s automated external defibrillator, or AED.

Ironically, Naperkowski is the reason there was an AED available to save his life in the first place. Fourteen years earlier, he tried to revive a 9-year-old boy at Hudson Elementary who collapsed during Naperkowski’s physical education class.  Sadly, the child died.

An investigation concluded that the child might have lived if the school had had an AED to use while waiting for emergency personnel. After this tragedy, the school board decided to install AEDs at all Pasco public schools.  Hudson Elementary was the first to get one.

Jeff’s piece was poignant because it told the emotional story of an inspirational man in our community who fought for what was right after a young boy’s unnecessary death. The irony that the technology Naperkowski fought for saved his life 14 years later was not lost on our readers – or the judges.

To read Jeff’s award-winning story, go to lakerlutznews.com/lln/?p=11135

When I congratulated Jeff on his award, his response was endearing. To say he was excited is an understatement.

I had forgotten how I felt when I received my first professional award. Jeff’s exuberance was instantaneous and he was bursting with pride.

He made me remember how joyful it was to be recognized for a job well done when I was first starting out. What fun it was to be doing something I was so passionate about. How blessed I was to have a job I couldn’t wait to get to every day.

This undoubtedly will be the first of many awards that Jeff will earn in his journalism career. He will continue to tell stories about people we are proud to call our friends and neighbors.

Jeff already knows he has a winner when he writes a story about someone you care about – with or without formal recognition from a newspaper contest. That is one of the many attributes of a good journalist, and it’s what drives Jeff to dig deep and find stories you won’t find anywhere else.

There could come a day when Jeff forgets the specifics of the stories that warranted his awards. But he will never forget his first award – the one he earned while working as a reporter at The Laker and Lutz News.

It makes me proud that this young man’s legacy started right here, writing important stories about everyday people who make a difference.

At this newspaper, I’m proud to say, he makes a difference as well.