Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

The initial field of 61 candidates to replace retiring Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher has been winnowed to four, and interviews with those finalists have been set for May 24.

Pasco County commissioners voted last week to consider Michelle Baker, Tomas Gonzalez, Eric Johnson and Charles Oliver to replace Gallagher, who is leaving his post after three decades at the helm of Pasco County government.

Baker, who is chief assistant county administrator, is the only internal candidate being considered to replace Gallagher.

Johnson, a high-ranking administrator in Hillsborough County; Gonzalez, city manager in Irving, Texas; and Oliver, former administrator of Escambia County, are the other candidates who made the short list.

A bus tour has been arranged for the candidates on May 23 and a public reception will take place that evening at the Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity.

On May 24, commissioners will meet individually with candidates in the morning at Saint Leo University, and then the board will conduct public interviews in the afternoon.

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

Opa!

The single word sums up the experience at Pizza Villa.

The Land O’ Lakes restaurant celebrated its 25th anniversary in April. Opa is a Greek term that expresses overall well-being, new beginnings, good times, family, friends and a good life. It’s also the word on Pizza Villa’s marquee for the month.

“We’re a casual, comfortable, family restaurant,” said manager Cheryl Will. “Our service and the quality of our food bring people back.”

It might appear like an average pizza joint when you drive by 21501 Villages Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes, just east of US 41 intersection, but a venture inside, or even through the drive-through, can transport your palate to a Greek fantasy world.

Pizza Villa makes pizza, pasta and such, but do so with a Greek twist along with a host of Mediterranean-style fare. They even offer some tasty alternatives for diners who are vegetarian or prefer gluten-free dishes.

“Our Greek chicken is our No.1 selling item,” said prep cook Angie Kalogeropoulos.

The dish is a half chicken, baked in Pizza Villa’s signature sauce, served with peeled baked potato wedges sitting in a thin layer of the baked-in juices.

The restaurant’s signature sauce has olive oil and lemon juice as a base, but Kalogeropoulos would not give up any further detail. It’s savory with a lively accent similar to a Spanish mojo sauce, and it flavors both the chicken and the potato wedges equally.

The meal comes with a small Greek salad covered in a near snowdrift of creamy feta cheese topped with a dose of their made-in-house dressing. The signature dressing and olive oil are both for sale in bottles at the front counter.

The olive oil is a staple product at Pizza Villa. It’s ordered directly from Greece from the same port near where Kalogeropoulos and the restaurant’s owner Bill Fotopoulous grew up near Sparta.

The oil is 100 percent extra virgin, and they work it into the pizza dough for its signature taste.

“Overall, (the pizza) was really tasty, crispy with something a little different about it,” said first-time diner Chester Riddick, of Wesley Chapel. “We have been looking for a sit-down, family restaurant unlike some of the big corporate places. We might have found it.”

Pizza Villa was the brainchild of Fotopoulous, whose family owns the ABC Pizza chain started in Tampa in the 1970s. Will, the current manager at Pizza Villa, started in the kitchen at one of the Wesley Chapel-area ABC’s. She began managing Pizza Villa when it opened in 1988.

“We wanted to go with some more traditional Greek dishes,” Will said. “We have dolma, stuffed pepper and tomato. The menu has tripled since we opened.”

The family setting extends throughout the kitchen and the wait staff.

“Some of the servers here have been here eight to 10 years, some longer,” Will said. “That really brings people back in and helps us get to know the community.”

Pizza Villa has wait staff on both ends of the spectrum.

Server Kelly Ross has worked off and on at the restaurant for the last 18 years. She graduated from Land O’ Lakes High and has known the Fotopoulous family for decades.

“I keep coming back; I love it here,” Ross said. “It’s just good people to work for.”

On the other end, Megan Maggi, 18, is just graduating from Sunlake High and has only been working at Pizza Villa since last summer. She often works the drive-through window that’s actually more of a pickup window.

“I’m more busy at the pickup window than at the hostess station some nights,” Maggi said.

Pizza Villa is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Two Hillsborough students win GFWC scholarships

Two high school seniors from Hillsborough County received the Florida President’s Education Project Scholarships at a General Federation of Woman’s Clubs’ convention in Orlando.

Madison Keller, who is graduating from Steinbrenner High, and Amy Price, who is graduating from Durant High, both received $3,000 scholarships, according to Edwina R. Kraemer, of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

The Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has worked to raise money added to the state’s project fund, and the group was gratified to see that two of the 10 state scholarships went to young women from Hillsborough County, according to a news release from the club.

The scholarships go to a high school female graduate attending an accredited Florida college or a woman returning to college to pursue a career. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can contact Annette Bellingar at (813) 949-3140, or visit www.gfwclutzlandolakeswomensclub.org.

Writing winners

Eighth-grader Simon Awesu (left), eighth-grader Bethany Greene and sixth-grader Brianna Campbell, from Land O’ Lakes Christian School, brought home awards from a national essay and poetry contest. (Photo courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

Local students are winning writers

Land O’ Lakes Christian School elementary and junior high school students performed well in the 30th annual American Association of Christian School’s Essay and Poetry Contest.

The pieces were judged primarily on content, originality and communication of the topic, with mechanics, spelling, punctuation, paragraph structure and poetical form considered as secondary criteria.

Each state organization within the American Association of Christian Schools is allowed one entry within these categories: elementary, poetry and essay; and junior high, poetry and essay.

Students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School won in three out of four categories.

Sixth-grader Brianna Campbell won first in the state for her elementary essay, “Dreams.”

Eighth-grader Simon Awesu won first in the state for his essay, “One Good Turn Deserves Another,” and eighth-grader Bethany Greene won first in the state for her poem, “The Reflection.”

The Right Fit Foundation scholarship winners

The Right Fit™ Foundation (www.therighfitfoundation.org), headquartered in Lutz, has   announced its first annual scholarship recipients yesterday.

Students were selected based upon their academic profile, an interview and other qualifications.

The recipients are: Brant Wickersham, of Wharton High, $5,000; Marilyn Boamah, Wiregrass Ranch High, $1,000; Cameron Jeffords, Hillsborough High, $1,000; Lauren Sprague, Sunlake High, $1,000; and Lucas Hopegood, Freedom High, $1,000.

The Right Fit™ Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), dedicated to educating families about the college admission and financial aid process.

USF to offer full online Master of Public Administration degree

People with experience in the public service or nonprofit worlds who want to advance in their careers may be interested in the University of South Florida’s new online Master of Public Administration degree.

Classes will start in August. The deadline for applications is July 5.

The degree aims to prepare graduates for increased responsibility in management and leadership positions.

For more information, visit http://onlinempa.usf.edu or http://onlinempa.usf.edu, or call (877) 511-0871.

Lutz woman graduates from Clearwater Christian College

Elizabeth Foster has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater.

She is a home-school graduate and the daughter of John and Gloria Foster, of Lutz.

Garnet and Gold inductee

Kelsey Smith, of Lutz, a sport management major at Florida State University has been inducted into the prestigious Garnet and Gold Scholar Society.

The society recognizes undergraduate students who excel within and beyond the classroom in at least three of five areas: international, internship, leadership, research and service. Sixty-three new members were inducted this year.

May students of the month

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce these students as its May students of the month: Lydia Simms, The Broach School; Justin Lane Paul, Chester Taylor Elementary; Sienna Duffield, East Pasco Adventist; Gianni Gouldbourne, Heritage Academy; Amanda Cook, Raymond B. Stewart; Taylor Ryan, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Jasmin Soares-Lianos, Woodland Elementary; John Cochran, Zephyrhills Christian Academy; and Andrew Garcia, Zephyrhills High.

By B.C. Manion

School districts that want to garner more state dollars need to increase the number of students obtaining industry certifications, Sen. John Legg told Pasco County School Board members at a legislative update on May 7.

“That is the direction that I see the Legislature going over the next couple of years,” said Legg, a Republican whose district represents portions of Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

“We’re talking real, meaningful industry certification – cyber security at the middle school, industry certification at the high school level.

“It is critically important that Pasco kick into gear on this. If you look at Pasco compared to some of our other counties, they’re ahead of us. They’re ahead of us in Hillsborough and Manatee and other areas,” Legg said.

State legislation rewards districts that beef up efforts on this front, the state senator said.

“There are significant dollars — significant dollars — tied to this,” Legg said. The Florida Legislature wants school districts, state colleges and universities to prepare students for jobs in the new economy.

“We’re not talking mom’s economics class or dad’s vo-tech class,” Legg said, adding that school districts will receive additional funding when students complete industry certifications.

The Legislature also has created designations for diplomas, which Legg expects will ultimately link to the state’s Bright Futures Scholarships.

“It is one single diploma that allows for designations, based on the coursework,” he said, explaining that a scholar designation requires students to pass specific end-of-course exams.

“I will be very, very candid. If you start to look at those designations, they start to correlate very closely with Bright Futures Scholarships.

Legislation also gives extra weight for universities to create degrees for jobs linked to the state’s economic security report, Legg said.

The idea of preparing graduates for an evolving work force hits home with the state lawmaker.

“My son is in college. When he gets out of college, he’s not moving back home. I told him, ‘You’re getting a job. You’re working somewhere. Better make sure your degree is something you can get a job in,’ ” Legg said.

Legislators also took on the issue of cyber bullying, Legg said.

“You have a kid that’s off-campus, absolutely terrorizing a kid,” he said. The action takes place off campus, but the repercussions spill onto campus.

“The whole school is in absolute chaos because all of the kids know about it,” Legg said.

“We don’t want to be Internet police,” Legg said, but when harassment occurs off campus and there’s documented evidence, lawmakers want principals to have the ability to remove the perpetrator from school.

“You want a calm campus at all times,” said Legg, who is co-founder of Day Spring Academy.

There are changes afoot, as well, regarding virtual education, said Legg. He thinks there’s room for vast improvements in that arena.

“I am not a fan of virtual education, straight-up virtual education. I think straight-up virtual education has a lot of bad actors. I call it ‘unregulated, Wild-Wild West education,’ if it is not done correctly.”

On the other hand, Legg said, “I’m a huge fan of blended online. It is online plus an instructor coming in and seeing people.”

The legislation that was passed begins to structure the state’s virtual education system, moving forward, he said.

Legislators also decided that the state is not yet ready for online assessments, and based on Legg’s remarks, it is not clear yet when it will be.

If the state had thrown the switch to use online assessments next year, Legg said, “I think the whole system would have imploded on itself.”

“Your infrastructure, as a district, has to be ready, in order to do the online assessments,” Legg said.

He thinks that extra dollars at the state level in the future will be invested in school technology.

Legg said his first priority would be to provide wireless broadband that schools need. Next, he would support training for teachers. “The last piece of the puzzle is the devices.

An important piece of legislation that received virtually no media attention during the session involves the creation of a district school of innovations.

“You demonstrate success one year, in this one model, you’re allowed to replicate it. It’s to maximize your flexibility, similar to charter schools,” Legg said.

Legg also noted big changes that have been made by legislators relating to early learning.

A comprehensive bill passed which creates benchmarks.

“We do need standards. It’s taxpayer dollars. We have to make sure there is quality in those programs,” Legg said.

He anticipates there will be substantially more money coming out of Washington, D.C. for early education, and if Florida wants to go after any of those dollars, it will be in a better position to do, Legg said.

By B.C. Manion

It’s a race that draws a wide range of candidates.

Over two decades, the list has included a pediatrician, an insurance rep, a real estate agent and a private eye. Sticky the Duck even waddled in one year, according to a published account.

This year’s contest pits the reigning Lutz Guv’na, Karin D’Amico, against a former Lutz Guv’na, Suzin Carr.

D’Amico is determined to hold onto her Dr. Seuss-style hat and sash, while Carr wants to snatch away the sash and the honorary title.

Both women want to win the race so they can be the one who stands before the throngs of people at Lutz’s Fourth of July Celebration to take the oath of office over a copy of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham.

The contest, which dates back to 1991, will have its kick-off event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 18 at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse, 18819 N. US 41.

If this year’s debate is like its predecessors, it will be filled with outlandish promises, said Eleanor Cecil, an event coordinator.

Such claims, Cecil said, can include things as pledging to bring the Super Bowl to Lutz or to provide a grove of orange trees for every yard.

The race is particularly special, because in a place that cherishes tradition, this year’s winner will preside as Lutz Guv’na during the community’s 100th year, Cecil said.

Carr makes no bones about it. She wants to win.

“I’m addicted to Guv instead of addicted to love,” she said, in a playful tone that tends to characterize these contests. She said she wants to win so much that she’s learning to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” in Hungarian, to help bring in cash.

D’Amico said she wants to go where no Lutz Guv’na has been before – by winning a second term. “It’s the centennial; time to make a little history,” she said.

Cecil said having a Guv’na and former Guv’na duke it out should make for great fun, but she’d love to mix it up even more.

The organizer is putting out the word that anyone who lives or works in Lutz and wants to enter the fray should attend the kick-off event. Walk-in candidates are welcome, Cecil said.

The annual contest began more than two decades ago as a way to raise money for Lutz’s annual Independence Day festivities and its community causes.

Over time, it has also become a way to build community.

Candidates usually rely on fundraisers such as chicken dinners, luncheons, car washes and golf outings to drum up campaign funds.

The events also provide a chance to highlight local businesses, and they bring groups of people together to socialize for a good cause, Cecil said.

Proceeds from previous races have been used to help provide batting helmets for the Lutz Leaguerettes, help fund a model rocketry program for civil air cadets, support scholarships for cancer survivors and help cover insurance costs for the Old Lutz Schoolhouse.

The Guv’na’s race offers a glimpse of Lutz’s spirit, Cecil said.

“We’re all about community,” Cecil said. “We want it to have that hometown, small-town feel – where everybody supports one another.”

A High Tea fundraiser

Edwina Kraemer is hosting a High Tea with sandwiches, fruit, scones, dessert and an opportunity drawing to raise funds for Karin D’Amico, the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club candidate for Lutz Guv’na.

The cost is $20. For more information about this event, email or call her at (813) 240-9321.

Lutz gearing up to celebrate the Fourth of July

The theme for this year’s Independence Day Parade is Lutz, Celebrating 100 Years. To find out more about planning for the big event, contact these people:

5K Race sponsorship and entry: Terry Donovan, (813) 949-6659

Float information: Shirley Simmons, (813) 949-7060

Guv’na information: Eleanor Cecil, (813) 727-7549

Cake decorating contest entries: Marilyn Wannamaker (813) 949-1482

Booth rental: Helen Cantrell or Annie Fernandez at

General parade information and all other inquiries: Phyllis Hoedt at