Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Michele Baker made history on July 9 by becoming the first female to be at the helm of Pasco County government.

Baker’s appointment was approved for a two-year term, which is automatically renewable for two years, unless she or the Pasco County Commission gives a 60-day notice before the end of the first two years.

Baker’s contract was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Henry Wilson voting no.

Baker was hired at a salary of $170,000.

Contract terms call for Baker to receive a $10,000 increase after her first year, if the board is satisfied with her performance. The board will evaluate Baker on a set of measurable goals that Baker will draft and it will approve.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey questioned including the $10,000 figure in the contract, noting it locks in the board for that amount.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader said he thought it was fair.

“Quit frankly, the average is $190,000,” Schrader said. “She’s underpaid.”

The contract also includes a car allowance of $450 a month, to cover expenses such as fuel costs, maintenance and insurance. Baker will use her own car, rather than having a county car.

Wilson questioned the allowance: “We’re going to pay $450 a month, whether she uses it or not.”

Commissioner Pat Mulieri also questioned the car allowance. “We travel a lot in our jobs. We all use our vehicles.”

But Commissioner Jack Mariano said he thinks the amount is reasonable.

Baker said she sought the $10,000 increase after her first year because she is willing to demonstrate that she’s worthy of the increase.

Baker describes her management style as “collaborative.”

“I love to brainstorm. I don’t mind being challenged,” Baker said.

She said she thinks the best results occur from bringing people together and blending their talents to tackle challenges.

“The people who are doing the jobs are the experts on it,” she said, so it makes sense to ask them to identify problems and offer solutions.

Baker stepped up to the top job after serving as interim county administrator since June 1, following the retirement of John Gallagher, who was the county’s top executive for 31years.

She joined the county in 1993 as its emergency management director. In 2005, she became program administrator for engineering services. Two years later, she became chief assistant county administrator.

Baker said she believes the best answers for improving systems come from the people on the front lines, who are engaged in performing the duties on a daily basis.

 

 

By B.C. Manion and Steve Schwarzkopf

 

Alexander Santa – a recent graduate of Wesley Chapel High – placed in the top 40 of students from around the nation at the 2013 Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference.

Santa jetted out to Anaheim, Calif., along with other local students Madison Jacoves, Lindsay and Kaitlyn King and FBLA advisor Renee Marsella to test their skills against their peers.

While none of the students made it to the finals, Santa and Jacoves made it to the preliminary rounds, which means they were among the top 40, Marsella said.

They qualified to compete in Anaheim, by placing in the top three at the state competition, Marsella said. Santa won first place in web design at the state competition in Orlando. Jacoves won second place in the electronic career portfolio category and the Kings, who are twin sisters, took third place in the banking and financial systems category, Marsella said.

The Pasco County Schools district covered Santa’s expenses, because he was the first place winner at state, said Marsella, whose expenses were also picked up by the district. The female competitors raised their own money to cover their costs, she said.

While Santa didn’t win any prizes this year, he was seventh in the nation last year, Marsella said. He won first place at state in the ebusiness category last year, she said.

Even though he didn’t bring home a prize, Santa said he enjoyed attending the conference in Anaheim. He said he had a chance to attend sessions to bolster his networking and marketing skills, which he’s sure will come in handy in promoting his DJ business.

Santa credited Marsella for helping him succeed. He said she “has definitely pushed me hard and taught me to reach for my goals as an entrepreneur.”

He also said his parents have played a key role. “They have always been there and supported me in all my projects,” he said.

Santa’s winning submission in the state competition was based on his online design and marketing business, Xigence Media. The business helps companies gain brand recognition on the Web.

Santa’s interest in computers began early.

“I was 11-years-old when I got my first computer,” he said. “I began to design in 2007 and am pretty much self-taught. I picked it up by looking at the coding of other pages on the Web. I work with HTML, PHP, CSS and some other programming languages.”

Santa is enrolled at the University of South Florida, where he is pursuing a degree in business and information management. The major merges business and technology, which Santa said is perfect for him because he’s interested in both areas.

His career plans are uncertain at this point.

“Right now, I am just taking all possible paths to see where they lead.”

To see his FBLA entry, visit xmdevs.com

 

Rain puts a damper on other area festivities

By B.C. Manion

 

While other area events battled downpours, it didn’t rain on the parade at the Fourth of July celebration in Lutz.

The festivities, marking the 100th birthday of the community north of Tampa, were steeped in tradition.

People lined up along the parade route, with children and adults clamoring for beads, candy and other loot tossed to the crowd by those riding on floats or walking in the parade.

Lutz resident Barbara Hall got there early to stake out a spot near the community center.

She came with her daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and Kyle Alderman, and their children, Kate and Kyle II. The kids brought along some friends, Sydney and Cole Van Pelt.

The children planted themselves in chairs at the edge of the parade route.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” said Jamie Alderman, also of Lutz. “It’s a nice family atmosphere for the kids. We get the same spot every year.”

Before the parade began, 8-year-old Jake Gemmill was up on an antique tractor, pretending to drive the hulking machine.

The boy’s family, also of Lutz, come to the festivities each year, said Jake’s mom, Jen Gemmill. “It’s a nice community event. It just feels like it’s a great way to start the Fourth.”

This year’s parade featured 66 units, with a large number of military vehicles and antique fire trucks. Scout troops, churches and area businesses also made a strong showing.

It was one of those parades where people on the sidelines called out to family and friends who were riding on floats or walking down the route – and they answered back.

 

Quite often, people in the parade would break ranks to go give someone in the crowd a hug.

The parade had a little bit of everything.

Members of Vida Community Church sang “Happy Birthday” to Lutz, as their float made its way down the road.

Belly dancers shimmied and martial arts kids kicked or chopped to break boards, as they made their way down the route.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club’s had a huge birthday cake on its float, to honor the community’s centennial.

Kids and adults riding on floats got a kick out of spraying high-powered squirt guns at the crowd. Spectators seemed to enjoy it, too.

When the parade wrapped up, the next order of business was to announce this year’s winner of the honorary Lutz Guv’na’s race.

Four candidates vied for the title.

Suzin Carr and Karin D’Amico were aiming to make history by becoming the first guv’na to ever win twice. They faced other contenders Susan Gulash and Lauren Leahey to win a race that is literally all about money. Whoever raises the most, wins.

The four women raised a total of $12,596, with Carr winning the race by raising $8,159.

“I got the sash back,” a jubilant Carr proclaimed. “This is an honor.”

She thanked her husband Jim, her son Chandler and the rest of her supporters, especially the business community.

“More than 90 businesses donated to my campaign,” Carr said.

After Carr was sworn in, organizers moved on to the annual cake and pie auction.

Bob Moore conducted the auction, seeking the highest bidders for 35 cakes and three pies.

Mark Carnes of Lutz entertained the crowd by getting into bidding wars on several of the desserts. He drove up the prices and wound up buying quite a few cakes.

“This man is going to have one heckuva sugar buzz,” Moore said, after Carnes came out on top of yet another bidding war.

The auction raised $850, with Tracy Gaschler’s five-pound apple pie fetching $85, the highest price of the day.

Phyllis Hoedt, chairwoman of Lutz’s Fourth of July festivities, was delighted by this year’s event. “I think it was a great day. I think everybody had a good time,” she said.

While spectators in Lutz escaped downpours, Mother Nature was not as kind to other area celebrations.

Rain was blowing sideways during a portion of the festivities at The Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass on the evening of July 3.

Rain put a damper on many of the planned festivities at Sparklebration, a 4th of July Festival and Fireworks Celebration at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City.

“We fought rain all day long,” said Dicky Brown, vice president of the Pasco Fair Association, which stages Sparklebration. “We had two or three major, half-inch rains.”

Organizers had a tremendous entertainment lineup, but many acts couldn’t perform because the stages were outdoors, Brown said.

“It’s a one-day event, and you put your heart and soul into it,” Brown said. But he added: “What can you do? You can’t control Mother Nature.”

Despite the disappointing weather, some entertainment was staged indoors, the petting zoo was under a tent, various contests went on as scheduled and people displayed a good attitude, Brown said.

The 22-minute fireworks show, which began at 9:10 p.m. drew rave reviews from spectators, Brown said.  This year, the fireworks were set off electronically, which produced a better result.

“That’s the way to go,” Brown said.

There were intermittent downpours at Family Night on the 4th at Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz.

About 35 singers from the church’s Worship Choir had prepared special patriotic selections for the event, but were unable to perform because the rain posed problems for their equipment, said Linda Devore, administrative assistant to Pastor Ron Upton.

On the plus side, the church’s Worship Orchestra and the event’s guest artist, Steve Amerson, did perform.

The event also featured dozens of food trucks, several giant inflatables for the kids and plenty of room for people to sit on the lawn or pitch tents, to listen to music and take in the fireworks show.

The wet weather didn’t seem to bother young children, who ran in the rain and splashed in puddles, Devore said. The kids also were able to use the inflatables for quite a while.

Some spectators came and left because of the rain.

“People with tents managed to tough it out,” Devore said.

Others arrived later, closer to the time the fireworks were set to go off.

“The fireworks finally did happen a little after 9,” Devore said.

“I think it was a success after all. The Lord just gives us a spirit of joy, no matter what,” Devore said.

Rain was blowing sideways during a portion of the festivities at The Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass on the evening of July 3.

Despite the rain, people appeared to be determined to have a good time.

Children chowed down during the watermelon-eating contest and youngsters came dolled up in red, white and blue attire for the Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker contest.

Some kids in the pageant showed composure beyond their years while others held tight to their mommies.

The Freedom Festival concluded with a fireworks display that had such a flurry of fireworks at one point that many people in the crowd thought the show was over, until a few seconds later when the true finale began.

Officials from The Shops At Wiregrass estimated about 10,000 people turned out for the four-hour Freedom Festival.

 

Float winners at the Lutz Fourth of July centennial celebration

East-West Animal Hospital: Antique vehicles

Bicycle Entry: Lutz Elementary

Commercial: Ierna’s

Family: Joe Bamford

Most comical: Janice Rosier

Most Patriotic: GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club

Neighborhood entry: Lutz Citizens Coalition

Walking unit: Suzin Carr

Judge’s choice: Vida Community Church

Grand Marshal’s Award: GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club

Youth Entry: Tierra Del Sol Community Girl Scouts

 

 

 

Cake-decorating contest winners

Adult winners:

–Best Decorated: Olivia Mead

–Most Patriotic: Katelyn Payne

–Best Tasting: Gloria Russell

–Men’s Only: Ron Gaschler

–Best Pie: Tracy Gaschler

–Judge’s Favorite: Wilma Lewis

Children winners

–Best Decorated: Sarah Robison

–Children’s Most Patriotic: Maddox Foreman

Judge’s Favorite: Sarah Robison

Guv’na’s favorite

–Olivia Mead

 

 

Wesley Chapel chamber seeks executive director

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is seeking a new executive director.

The chamber’s search committee is seeking a candidate that has these key characteristics: Demonstrated leadership, strategic vision, ability to implement plans, relationship building and management. Previous chamber of commerce experience is preferred.

Resumes can be submitted until July 12.

The search committee hopes to complete the process by Aug. 1.

Applicants should submit their resumes by .

 

 

East Pasco Networking Group meeting

The East Pasco Networking Group has announced this slate of upcoming speakers:

–July 23: Hope Allen, marketing director and interim executive director of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce

–Aug. 13: Jennifer Samuel-Choice, professional storyteller, speaker coach

–Aug. 27: Brian Corley, supervisor of elections in Pasco County

–Sept. 10: Randy Stovall, provost dean of the East Campus of Pasco-Hernando Community College

–Sept. 24: Faith Knight, chief operations officer of Apollo Group

–Oct. 8: Danny Burgess, mayor Zephyrhills

The East Pasco Networking Group meets at the Village Inn Pancake House, 5214 Gall Blvd. Networking starts at 8 a.m. and the meeting starts at 8:30 a.m..

 

Zephyrhills Chamber events

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have its quarterly member connections meetings from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on July 10, at 38550 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. The guest speakers will be ana Segovia of the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board. Ballots for the board of directors election are due by 4 p.m. the same day.

The chamber is also recruiting committee for the fourth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues planning committee, the 2013 banquet committee and the Ambassadors committee.

Email Pat: or Vonnie:

 

Pasco Economic Development Council wins marketing award

The Florida Economic Development Council has presented a 2013 Marketing Award for Interactive E-Media to the Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc.

The award recognizes the Pasco EDC’s initiative to create a “web-based TV channel.”

This is the third award captured by the Pasco EDC’s marketing program during the past 18 months and the fifth state or national award received during the past three years.

Pasco EDC Marketing Coordinator Summer Martin and her co-host Krista Hakes, Pasco EDC Economic Development Manager, worked with Robert Singerman of Turbo Communications to launch PascoCounty.tv during the Republican National Convention (RNC). The “webTV crew” recruited people from around Pasco County and the region to be “on-the-street” reporters to tell positive stories of Pasco County and Tampa Bay related to economic development.

 

 

Visit Tampa Bay Convention Sales Update

Visit Tampa Bay ended the third quarter of its fiscal year with eight major meetings and conventions booked, securing more than 61,000 room nights and $28.5 billion in economic impact, according to a news release from Visit Tampa Bay.

The meetings and convention bookings include:

–IBM Smarter Commerce Summit, a three-day event that will be held at the Tampa Convention Center in May 2014 bringing nearly 3,500 attendees from diverse business backgrounds.

–Siemens Medical Solutions’ Innovations 2014 for Healthcare IT Conference in August 2014.

–Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower Weekends bringing nearly 5,000 visitors on five weekends throughout June and July 2014.

–National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.’s National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, a week-long congress for June 2016 with more than 25,000 attendees.

–The 2017 Annual Meeting for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, a national alliance of educator preparation programs representing 800 public and private colleges and universities nationwide.

–International Association for Food Protection’s Annual Meeting for July 2017, an organization of 3,600 food safety professionals.

–Electrical Apparatus Service Association’s Annual Conference for June 2017, an international trade organization of more than 1,900 electromechanical sales and service firms.

–BICSI’s 2017 Winter Conference & Exhibition, a Tampa-based international association supporting the information technology systems industry, for January 2017.

Besides those bookings, the Visit Tampa Bay convention sales team booked an additional 124 meetings during the third quarter representing more than 52,000 room nights.

 

Christmas in July in Dade City

A number of shops and restaurants will be participating in a Christmas in July celebration on July 13 in Dade City. The day will feature a number of special activities, sales and chance drawings.

Activities will include such things as a Santa cake decorating demonstration, a pet photographer, special treats at various shops, making and decorating holiday wreaths and various specials at local shops.

 

Recent East Pasco ribbon cuttings

A number of ribbon cuttings have been held at businesses in Dade City recently. They include ceremonies at:

–Treasured Friends, 12329 US 301, Dade City

–Rafael’s Furniture and New Mattresses, 7813 Gall Boulevard, Zephyrhills

–Imagine Solutions Group, 14726 Bellamy Brothers Blvd.,  Dade City

–Wilson’s Tractor & Supply Company, 12410 US 301 Dade City

 

Website offers information on health coverage

A new national website aims to give small business owners help in navigating the healthcare market, as the Affordable Care Act takes full effect on Jan. 1.

In October, open enrollment begins for state health insurance marketplaces. The bulk of the law’s provisions, including the individual healthcare mandate, take effect in January.

To see if the website provides useful information, visit www.healthcoverageguide.org.

 

Dade City chamber breakfast

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is having a chamber breakfast at 7 a.m. on July 16 at the Pasco Regional Medical Center, 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City.

The guest speaker will be Shauna McKinnon, chief executive officer of Pasco Regional Medical Center.

The cost for breakfast is $5. Call the chamber to rsvp: (352) 567-2769.

 

Dade City chamber mixer

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is having a mixer from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 25 at Wilson’s Tractor & Supply, 12410 US 301. Please rsvp to the chamber at (352) 567-3769.

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Mike Olson, Pasco County’s tax collector since 1981, died on June 26, three days after suffering a massive stroke.

Gov. Rick Scott will name a successor to fill Olson’s post until 2014 when voters choose a successor to complete his unexpired term. They will vote again in 2016 to fill the seat for a four-year term.

John Tupps of Scott’s press office said last week that a timetable had not been set for naming Olson’s successor.

 

Olson served as the county’s tax collector since 1981 — holding the office longer than any other tax collector in Florida. He was also the sole Democrat to hold a county office in Pasco, and he assumed that office after a six-year stint on the Pasco County Commission.

Attorney Clyde Hobby, a longtime friend of Olson, described him as a meticulous man who cared deeply about public service.

During Olson’s tenure on the county commission, the county introduced zoning laws and began providing water, sewer, fire and rescue services, Hobby said.

As tax collector, Olson was ahead of the curve in adopting efficient standards for his office, Hobby added.

“He implemented computer services before most tax collectors in the state knew what a computer was,” Hobby said.

He began selling driver’s licenses long before the state began requiring tax collectors to do so, Hobby said. And, in the days before he died, he told Hobby that Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley had informed him that 65 percent of the new voters in Pasco County came through the tax collector’s office.

Olson took customer service seriously and routinely read all of the hundreds of comment cards that came into his office. On more than one occasion, he disciplined employees based on information he developed after first learning about an incident through a comment card, Hobby said.

Shortly before his death, Olson was actively seeking new locations in Central Pasco and East Pasco to improve services for customers.

Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri said, via email, that she knew Olson since about 1990.

“He was all about tending to residents’ needs,” Mulieri said, noting she or her assistant called him frequently, and he was always helpful.

One of the biggest issues came up when identification requirements changed for driver’s licenses, Mulieri said. She recalled an instance when a 92-year-old veteran had a problem because his first name didn’t match on his documents. One call to Olson resolved the problem, the county commissioner said.

Olson came from a family with deep roots in service to others, Hobby said. His grandfather was a school board member and his late mother, Mitttye P. Locke, was a longtime principal who has an elementary school named for her in New Port Richey.