Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By Meaghan O’Neal
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

The sixth annual Hike for Hospice brought more than 400 participants out to support Gulfside Regional Hospice at Rasmussen College in Land O’ Lakes Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

The theme of the event was honoring veterans, and many of those in attendance came out to run or walk in memory of their family members who have served in the armed forces.

Family members of veterans gave tribute to loved ones by either posting a note on a designated memory wall or pinning them to their shirts.

The event was also attended by several war veterans and soldiers currently serving in the military. The soldiers ran the 5-kilometter course dressed in there military fatigues.

Gus DePietto, a World War II veteran who served in the Army, remarked on the young soldiers saying, “It was special to stand with such strong and young men who have been overseas. It reminds me of myself when I went to war in the 1940s.”

DePietto has attended the hike for the past five years and said that “it means so much to know that there are events like this.”

The event also included skydivers flying in with the American flag.

Former Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott, a partner and supporter of Gulfside, took part in the day’s activities.

“Everybody is out here in memory of their loved ones, and at the same time thank hospice for everything that they do,” said Alstott, who has been a part of the hike since it started. “I’m honored to be here.”

Linda Ward, president of Gulfside, was excited to be able to organize the event.

“All of these people have raised funds for hospice costs that aren’t covered by insurance,” Ward said. “We’re so thankful for their support. It’s a great day.”

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Entrepreneurs flocked to BizGROW 2.0 to learn what to do — and what not to do — to help them succeed in business.

The Pasco Economic Development Council (PEDC) at the Pasco-Hernando Community College Conference Center in New Port Richey hosted the event.

About 100 people registered for the all-day conference, with around 60 in attendance at the morning session Nov. 7.

Panelists Rosie Paulsen, Nicole Denzik, Brad Savage and Chad Carter offered their insights about what has helped their businesses succeed and what they would do differently if they had the chance.

Paulsen, who owns Good Faith Insurance Services and is the founder of the Pasco-Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said she got into the business world because she had an idea and followed her passion.

She said part of being successful is recognizing one’s strengths and weaknesses.

“I don’t care about details that much,” Paulsen said. “I care about relationships.”

She focuses on her strengths and has found help in other areas.

Denzik, owner of United Underwriters of Tampa, said she encountered a variety of difficulties when she started.

“Cash flow absolutely was the biggest challenge. Working 60- to 80-hour weeks and not taking home a paycheck will wear on you,” said Denzik, whose business is located in Lutz.

If she were starting over, Denzik also thinks she would budget her resources differently.

“In hindsight, I would have spent money on a better website, better SEO (search engine optimization),” Denzik said.

Savage, vice president of Digital Brainz, said if his family-run company were starting from scratch, he would recommend consulting with a professional to help identify the business’ target market.

Initially, Digital Brainz focused on providing repair services in the information technology (IT) industry, Savage said. In essence, they waited for people who had problems to call them.

They realized that wasn’t a productive use of their time, so they adapted. They became a company that helps businesses keep things flowing by anticipating their IT needs and making changes before problems develop, Savage said.

The new approach has resulted in giving Digital Brainz, which recently moved to Lutz, a broader market, Savage said.

He has this advice to startups: “Take advantage of professional help that’s available.”

Chad Carter, owner of Tampa Bay Urodynamics, said his company is in such a niche market that he tries to learn from a wide variety of businesses instead of trying to learn from similar firms.

Carter said he is always on the lookout for effective business practices he can incorporate into his own business.

Both Paulsen and Denzik emphasized the importance of networking and building relationships.

Paulsen said she started the Hispanic chamber because there are many, like her, who have ideas for businesses but don’t know how to turn their ideas into reality.

“We have this dream and we don’t know where to start it,” Paulsen said. She added, “Networking groups work.”

However, Paulsen added, entrepreneurs must be judicious in how much they network and must do it as a means of creating business opportunities.

“You can network all day and never work,” Paulsen said.

In this age of social media, it’s important to have an Internet presence, Savage said. It’s a good idea to have a website that offers useful information about your company, he advised.

But, a website is just one tool, Savage added. Most of his business comes through referrals.

John Hagen, president and CEO of the PEDC, is optimistic about the business climate in Pasco.

“I think the economy is going to be turning around,” Hagen said.

The PEDC wants to help small companies succeed and grow, Hagen said. He used this baseball analogy: It’s better to get 50 singles than one homerun.

It makes practical sense to try and work with diverse companies to give the county’s economy various paths toward growth, Hagen said.

Hagen also noted that his organization offers loans of up to $35,000, if a company qualifies.

The goal is to provide loans that may not be available through a bank, but will help the company succeed and become better candidates for future loans.

Speaker John Morrow told the audience about a plan he co-authored called the Tampa Bay 6/20 plan.

The plan aims to make Tampa Bay more attractive to startup companies by finding talent and investors to encourage new businesses, Morrow said.

The idea is to create an economic ecosystem that creates so much opportunity that both investors and talented people want to become part of it, he said.

Morrow spent 30 years launching and growing technology companies, and now he’s hoping to help transform Tampa Bay into a place that’s known for its innovation and opportunity.

By encouraging more companies to start here and by providing the environment for success, there will be more business for everyone in the area and more higher-paying jobs, Morrow said.

Tampa Bay has had some highly successful startup companies that have left the area, Morrow said. When that occurs, more talent is lost, more jobs are lost and Tampa Bay’s branding opportunities suffer.

Kyle Mastronardo, another conference speaker, told the audience about the massive exposure his family business received from being featured on the reality television show Shark Tank and also on Good Morning America.

Mastronardo lives in St. Pete Beach. He and his three brothers own and operate Nardo’s Natural, a skin-care product that won the backing of Barbara Corcoron on Shark Tank.

They also landed a product endorsement from David Price, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The exposure from being on national television helped enormously, Mastronardo told the crowd, but the keys to his family’s success were finding the finances to launch the business, putting together a winning team, successful marketing and the quality of the product they sell.

“It’s very important to me what’s in our products and what we leave out of our products,” Mastronardo said.

It’s also important to be willing to work hard and to learn from mistakes, Mastronardo added.

Tammie Nemecek, director of partner development with the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, also spoke at the conference. She explained a program that provides loans for businesses that qualify.

“We’re trying to bring new wealth into the local economy,” Nemecek said.

Companies that desire to grow and are facing specific challenges may be good candidates for the program, she said. The loan program has specific criteria, but companies that can demonstrate growth in revenue and employment may be able to qualify for loans and market research assistance, Nemecek said. Those interested in learning more should check out the organization’s website, www.growfl.com.

 

To learn more:

—About the Tampa Bay 6/20 plan, visit www.tampabay620.com

—About the Pasco Economic Development Council, visit: www.pascoedc.com

—About free counseling, seminars and tools for small businesses, visit www.score.org/resources/pascohernando-useful-local-links

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Heritage Bank of Florida in Lutz has been bought by Centennial Bank of Conway, Ark., according to a release from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Heritage was closed by state financial regulators Nov. 2, but reopened three days later as branches of Centennial.

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation appointed the FDIC as a receiver for the bank, which entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Centennial in order to protect the depositors, the release states.

Heritage had three branches, which were in Lutz, West Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Depositors of Heritage have automatically transferred to Centennial, and deposits continue to be insured by the FDIC up to applicable limits.

The FDIC release notes that customers of Heritage should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Centennial that it has completed systems changes to allow its other branches to process their accounts as well.

Heritage, an independent community bank, began operation in August 1999. Its primary service areas were Central Pasco and North and Central Hillsborough counties.

As of Sept. 30, Heritage had approximately $225.5 million in total assets and $223.3 million in total deposits, according to the FDIC. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Centennial agreed to purchase approximately $193.7 million of the failed bank’s assets.

The FDIC retains the remaining assets for disposition at a later time, the release notes.

Heritage is the 48th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the eighth in Florida.

The FDIC estimates the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $65.5 million. Compared to other alternatives, Centennial’s acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC’s insurance fund, the FDIC’s release states.

Centennial is a wholly owned subsidiary of Home BancShares, a bank-holding company headquartered in Conway. Centennial has locations in central Arkansas, Florida and Alabama.

“We are excited to welcome the customers and employees of Heritage Bank to our family and look forward to the benefits this acquisition should bring to the businesses and residents of the northern Tampa area,” said Randy Sims, chief executive officer, in a release.

“We want depositors of Heritage Bank to be confident in knowing that they will be banking with a strong, community banking-oriented financial institution,” Sims continued. “We also want to reassure all customers of Heritage Bank they will continue to conduct business as normal with the employees with whom they have built a solid long-term relationship.”

Customers who have questions about the sale should call the FDIC at (800) 830-4731 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/heritage_fl.html.

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local doctors are telling pregnant women it’s best to get vaccinated against whooping cough.

The recommendation comes after the disease, also known as pertussis, has been reported at levels not seen in nearly 50 years.

In a report released last month by the CDC, a widespread outbreak of the highly contagious disease was felt across America. Florida has seen a 10-year high in reported cases.

As of Oct. 30, 515 cases were reported across the state, according to the Florida Department of Health. That’s up from just 53 in 2002.

Dr. Michael Weiss, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at Pasco Regional Medical Center in Dade City, said while there is no mandate on getting the vaccine, women who are pregnant are more likely to contract whooping cough and pass it to their children. He added, even teenagers should get immunized.

“Infants can get very severe symptoms of pertussis, become hospitalized and even die from it if it is bad enough,” Weiss said. “That’s why (the CDC is) basically recommending this booster injection and they are also recommending this for adolescents who are around the potent areas.”

Symptoms of whooping cough include, but are not limited to, coughing fits lasting from one to six weeks, runny nose, low grade fever and, for infants, apnea.

While it generally affects infants, teenagers and adults are just as likely to catch it without proper immunization, which generally lasts 10 years.

At the end of the 2011-12 school year, Hillsborough County saw 10 of its schools affected by the disease, with nearly 40 reported cases.

Weiss said public places like schools can be breeding grounds for spreading the illness, which is why children should get it early.

“Schools are good environments for it,” Weiss said. “People get generally vaccinated when they are children to make sure they have immunity to it. The side committee is recommending that all women should be vaccinated by their third trimester of pregnancy.”

With the new report published by the CDC, Weis said it is likely that changes will have to be made in medical centers, including Pasco Regional, to supply greater amounts of the vaccine.

For more information on whooping cough and how the vaccine works, go to www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html.

 

Wesley Chapel High rummage sale

The Wesley Chapel High Parent Teacher Student Association is having a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the intersection of Old Pasco Road and Country Club Road. Proceeds will benefit the school’s Assist Believe Care (ABC) program, which helps to provide a holiday meal or other kinds of assistance.

 

Wesley Chapel Elementary wins honor

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation recently honored Wesley Chapel Elementary at a conference in Little Rock, Ark.

The school was honored for its efforts to maintain a healthy campus for its students and staff.

The American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation founded The Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Wesley Chapel received the alliance’s bronze recognition award for its work to improve nutrition services and physical activity programs at the school.

“This is the second year we have earned this prestigious honor,” Chris Gorman, chairman of the school’s wellness committee, said in a release. “We have made enormous strides at our school to promote living a healthy lifestyle.”

 

Veterans Elementary Family P.E.P. night

The Veterans Elementary School Parent Wellness Committee and the school’s physical education coaches are hosting a Family P.E.P. night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 in the school’s cafeteria at 29640 Progress Parkway in Wesley Chapel.

The event is free for students and their families and will include crafts, games, prizes and healthy snacks. It will also feature opportunities for families to learn how to play more, eat right and power down electronics.

Numerous local businesses are partnering with the school to sponsor the event, including the Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Chipotle, Fit Kids Playground and Wicked Delicate Films, We Can! and PTO Today.

 

Financial aid advice

Many families have used a financial aid calculator and later find out that their expected family contribution is more than they can afford to provide for their child’s education.

The experts at The Right Fit offer advice to parents. Visit them for a free evaluation to see if there are errors in your calculation that result in a lower expected family contribution. For more information, call (813) 968-8989.

 

Watergrass celebrates Red Ribbon week

The faculty and students of Watergrass Elementary School participated in various activities for the Just Say No to Drugs campaign. Every student and staff member decorated an owl and placed it on a tree as a pledge to not use drugs.

 

Strides for Education

The Pasco Education Foundation is hosting Strides for Education, a 5-kilometer walk/run event at Tropicana Field on Dec. 8. The race begins at 9 a.m.

The event raises money for scholarships. To register, visit www.strides4tampabay.com/.

 

Scholarship fundraiser

The show chorus The Toast of Tampa is giving a concert in the Pasco Middle auditorium at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17. The show choir is a 120-voice a cappella, national award-winning group. Tickets are $20.

The Heritage Arts Center Association is creating a $1,000 Pasco Heritage Arts Scholarship to present to a graduating Pasco County student who is talented in the arts.

For more information, visit www.heritagearts.org.

 

Winter shopping bazaar at Learning Gate

Learning Gate Community School, 16215 Hanna Road in Lutz, will open its doors for an evening of shopping, music and refreshments from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 13. This event will be in conjunction with the school’s Glee Showcase and is open to the public.

 

Moore Mickens students of the month

These students were chosen as student of the month for October at Moore Mickens Education Center: Jodie Dixon, Bianca Castro, Jacob Stanley and Moises Castillo.  Jodie Dixon was also selected as The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Month.

 

Florida Prepaid College Plans

Families have until Jan. 31 to purchase a Florida Prepaid plan, locking in today’s plan prices.

During the open enrollment season, families can select one of four Prepaid Plans, which will cover tuition and most mandatory fees at Florida’s 12 state universities and 28 colleges. For more information, call (800) 552-4723 or visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com.

 

Getting a true picture on school performance

If you want to know about school performance in Florida’s public schools, information from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Education Consumers Foundation may be helpful.

The organization aims to improve education by making the facts of local school performance understandable to local parents and taxpayers.

The organization has used data from the Florida Department of Education to create charts to allow people to see how schools perform in comparison to others. To learn more, visit www.education-consumers.org.

 

Raising funds for the arts

Eric Darius and the Eric Darius Jazz Quartet will present a benefit concert for The Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel.

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the performing arts center, at 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel. Tickets are $10.

Call the box office at (813) 794-8772 to order tickets or for more details.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

District champion, 9-1 record and playoff berth.

All three describe the Carrollwood Day School (CDS) football team, and all three statements are firsts for the sixth-year program, including wins in a season.

The Patriots began playing football as a six-man squad in 2006, a year where they went 0-10. Lane McLaughlin took over the program the next year and guided the squad to the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state title.

CDS joined the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and moved up to 11-man football in 2008.

The Patriots stayed as an independent program until last season when they were placed in Class 2A-District 5, a league they are the champion of.

“It’s been a building process,” McLaughlin said. “I can still remember those first practices when we were six-man. It was truly starting from the bottom up.”

McLaughlin said there have been many lessons learned along the way.

“One of the biggest things was learning how to play in a district,” McLaughlin said. “Last year we thought we could win the district, but we lost a couple games by a couple points because we just weren’t ready for that intensity, and when I say that I mean the players and the coaches didn’t know what to expect. It prepared us for this year.”

The Patriots did have one slip-up, losing to district rival Admiral Farragut 36-29 in Week 5.

“After that loss I told the players we had to win out to make the playoffs,” McLaughlin said. “To their credit, they rose to the challenge and did win the rest of our games.”

CDS has been led by its explosive offense. The Patriots have scored 41.3 points per game this season.

The ground game has accounted for 257.2 of CDS’ 420.2 yards per contest, thanks in large part to senior running back Robert Davis.

The University of Cincinnati commit has 1,875 yards and 24 touchdowns. Davis is also just 91 yards away from becoming Hillsborough County’s all-time rushing leader.

The difference in CDS’ offense this year has been a more potent passing game with the addition of Robinson transfer Vidal Woodruff. The senior has completed 79 of his 122 passes for 1,627 yards and 23 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Woodruff’s favorite target has been senior Andy Embody, who has 37 catches for 763 yards and 15 touchdowns. Fellow senior Nate Lewis has added 19 grabs for 469 yards and four scores.

Another big change for the Patriots is the defense’s development.

CDS allowed 27.2 points per game last year, 10 more than the current squad.

Junior linebacker Dominic Cuono has helped lead the defense’s ascension with his 104 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Also keying the defense is Embody with his five interceptions and 43 tackles.

The Patriots play Moore Haven in the 2A regional semifinals Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The game is at Alonso because CDS does not have lights at its field and Moore Haven couldn’t arrive before sunset.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker