Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

Nicola Spirig won the women’s triathlon at the 2012 Olympics for her home country of Switzerland in dramatic fashion, but a little piece of Lutz was along for the race.

Spirig completed the event, which included a grueling 1,500-meter swim, 43-kilomenter bike ride and 10-kilometer run, in 1 hour 59 minutes 48 seconds, besting Sweden’s Lisa Norden in a photo finish. At press time Spirig’s competitor was still challenging the result.

Spirig’s win was the first Olympic gold medal claimed by Switzerland at the London Games and the first by an athlete using a bicycle seat invented by Steve Toll, a man who lives and works in Lutz.

Steve and his wife, Laura, were at the Olympics when Spirig won the triathlon. They had been photographing the cyclists during the race and were making their way to the finish line, but the crowds were too thick for them to get close.

“It was just packed,” Steve said. “We couldn’t get there.”

But they knew Spirig had a shot.

“There were four of them that were running in a pack together,” Steve said. “We could hear the announcements. They ran by us, but we couldn’t see them very well. Two of them dropped off and those two just sprinted to the end. It was a photo finish.

“I just got goose bumps all over my body,” Steve continued. “I was like holy smokes, I can’t believe this. … And then, you’re kind of just walking around in a cloud.”

Steve came up with the idea of his unique bicycle seats after going on a painful ride on the Pinellas Trail in 1997.

After making that ride, Steve was sitting in his bathroom reading when he realized the hard toilet seat was more comfortable than the bicycle he’d been riding on.

He sketched out a design for a new kind of bike seat and gave it to his brother, a model maker.

The concept was patented in 1999, and Steve began his business — Tampa Bay Recreation in the garage of his Lutz home near Van Dyke Road.

His company now owns the rights to about a dozen styles of bicycle seats sold with the trademark of ISM Seat, which stands for Ideal Saddle Modification.

Initially, Steve was the company’s sole employee.

“Everything was in the garage, and then it overflowed into the dining room, and then it overflowed into my office, and then it was coming into the living room and family room,” Steve said.

He decided to get a storage unit, which the business quickly outgrew. Now, the company has six employees, a 3,000-square-foot office and warehouse off SR 54 in Lutz.

Steve’s unique brand of bicycle seats is sold across the globe. He expects to sell somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 this year, ranging from about $85 to $225 each.

Steve said there were plenty of skeptics in the beginning.

“I was told a lot how stupid it was,” Steve said. “I was told how stupid I was. I was wasting my money, wasting my time. They looked at it and said, ‘This is stupid. Nobody is going to ride this.’”

During the years, the bicycle seats have become popular with athletes worldwide, and the company has become the sponsor of many cyclists, specifically targeting triathletes whom seem to be most open to the shape of the seat, Steve said.

The sponsorship deals often include a stipend, free seats and bonuses for performing well at specific events. Spirig is among many athletes Steve’s company sponsors. He said he hired Michellie Jones, the silver medalist in the triathlon at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, to handle his sponsorships.

Steve said it was a thrill to be at the Olympics and to hear Spirig’s name announced when she won the gold medal. One of the coolest things about the experience was being able to share it with his wife, he said.

They’ve shared a lot through three decades of marriage, including a bicycle ride on the Pinellas Trail that wound up changing everything.

To learn more about Tampa Bay Recreation, visit www.ismseat.com or call (813) 909-1441.

By B.C. Manion

When delegates for the Republican National Convention (RNC) arrive at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, they’ll be among the first guests to enjoy the fruits of an ongoing renovation.

Resort staff will extend their usual brand of hospitality to the delegates from Texas and Louisiana, but guests may notice one element that is distinctly different from the hotel’s usual operations.

Security will be tight.

“When you’re talking about security, there’s only a few events in the world that get this type of attention,” said Patrick Ciaccio, general manager for Saddlebrook, the only Pasco County hotel selected by the RNC to be a convention hotel.

Ciaccio puts the RNC, which is in downtown Tampa Aug. 27 through 30, in the same realm as the Democratic National Convention, the Olympics and the Presidential Inauguration in terms of the magnitude of security precautions. That’s because delegates and high-ranking officials will be in one place.

The resort has received visits from homeland security, the Secret Service, the Florida Division of Law Enforcement and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Ciaccio said. Those law enforcement personnel haven’t said what they’ve been up to — and that’s precisely how it should be, Ciaccio said.

Saddlebrook is expecting about 1,000 delegates to stay at the resort, which is completely sold out from Aug. 25 until the end of the month.

Safety is just one priority. Comfort is another.

The 31-year-old resort already had been in the process of a major upgrade before Saddlebrook staff learned they’d be a convention hotel. Rooms already have been refurbished and exterior renovations were in the works, but when the resort found out it had been selected, staffers accelerated the timing of the exterior renovations.

“The porches, they were nice for their time, but they were big wood slats that you couldn’t see through,” Ciaccio said. The porch railings are being replaced by sleek, metal railings, which create a more modern feel and offer an open view.

The resort is installing brick paver walkways leading to its suites. They’ve added new landscaping and installed park benches and new patio furniture.

The idea is to create the feeling of a mini-park within the resort’s courtyards, Ciaccio said.

“We’re bringing a more comfortable feel to the exterior,” Ciaccio said, noting the renovations are not yet complete, so the total costs are not known.

Most of the renovations will be finished before the delegates arrive, but the entire project won’t be finished, Ciaccio said. Unlike many hotels, which have several stories, Saddlebrook has many small buildings, which are situated around the resort’s golf course and other amenities.

The resort is honored to be among the RNC hotels, Ciaccio said.

It won’t be pulling out the stops for the event, though, because it strives to deliver high quality service to every guest who stays at Saddlebrook, Ciaccio said.

He thinks the delegates will be pleased by the hotel’s amenities.

Besides playing golf or tennis, guests can ride bikes, take a dip in the super pool or relax in the spa. The hotel offers meals prepared by an old-school culinary staff who take great pride in butchering its own meats, baking its own breads, preparing its own cakes and pies and serving produce delivered to the resort three times a day, Ciaccio said.

By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools is ushering in a new program this year aimed at expanding its online offerings for elementary students.

A smattering of elementary students who excel in mathematics have already been able to take online middle school-level courses, but this school year the district is inviting such advanced children to take a broader array of courses via computer.

The idea is to provide an option for children to accelerate their learning, said David Scanga, the district’s assistant superintendent of elementary schools.

Because this is a new initiative, the district has no idea if it will involve just a few students, or hundreds, Scanga said.

No matter how many elementary children take the online courses, the logistics will still need to be ironed out, said JoAnne Glenn, who oversees Pasco eSchool. She added that the main issues are transportation and supervision.

“It’s really going to be a case-by-case scenario,” said Lori Wiggins, supervisor for curriculum and instructional services for the school district.

In some cases, a child might be able to shorten the school day and take the online course in their house. In other situations, the student may need to go to the media center during part of the day, and then take the online course later at home.

In any event, the idea is to broaden educational options, Glenn said.

Blending online and traditional learning methods is the wave of the future, Scanga said.

Both Scanga and Glenn said there are differences that parents need to understand about the new methods.

For instance, parents must be more connected in their child’s learning when taking an online class.

“The parents play a critical role,” Scanga said. “Kids who succeed in that virtual realm have parents who are very, very engaged.”

Children in elementary and middle school tend to need guidance and mentoring from the parents, particularly in the areas of time management and accountability, Glenn said.

In the elementary online model, the parent is the learning coach and teaching guide, Glenn said.

“The parent is doing some actual teaching,” Glenn said.

Wiggins said students must also be engaged: “Being in a virtual learning process, you have to be sure you are motivated.”

Parents interested in exploring this option should begin by talking to their school’s administration, Glenn said. From there they will bring in eSchool staff as part of that conversation.

Parents of kindergarten and first-grade students who are being home-schooled or who are attending private schools may also be interested in the online option, Glenn said.

Glenn said the district views this option as a way it can help children maximize their potential.

“It opens a lot more possibilities for schools and families to collaborate around the individual needs of students,” Glenn said.

For more information about the district’s online learning opportunities, visit www.pasco.k12.fl.us/pvip/

Balancing budget requires nearly $24 million in cuts

By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board has given initial approval of a district budget topping $1 billion for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

But balancing the budget required the district to make about $24 million in cuts.

The plan receiving first-round approval includes cuts such as:

—Two furlough days for employees, saving about $3.3 million.

—95 fewer positions, saving more than $3.4 million.

—Freezing two district administration posts, saving $176,142.

—Cutting supplemental days for band directors and football coaches, saving about $36,000.

—Reducing department budgets, saving $125,000.

—Eliminating a dozen literacy coaches, saving about $690,000.

—Using $8.9 million to cover property insurance from a fund that won’t be available next year.

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino initially recommended four furlough days to help plug the budget hole, but reduced that to two days after the district managed to save money in other ways, such as leaving district openings vacant for longer periods and trimming operating costs.

The district had been bracing for $24.8 million in cuts, but that number went down by roughly $1 million after the county’s property tax values dropped and the state increased its funding for schools.

Part of the reason the district has had to shift personnel and reduce positions is because it must add 107 positions — at a cost of approximately $5.2 million — in order to comply with the state’s class-size requirement.

Meeting that requirement has caused the district to reassign teachers to core academic areas, which will result in fewer elective choices for students in the coming year.

This is the fifth year in a row that the district has faced multi-million cuts.

School board members said the reductions are painful because they reduce district services. They also noted the district is stymied in its efforts to enhance and expand educational opportunities.

School Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley, along with board members Alison Crumbley and Cynthia Armstrong, said that cutting the literacy coaches is particularly difficult.

“It’s not a cut that anybody in the district, I think, wanted to happen,” Armstrong said.

The move comes at an especially bad time because the district is gearing up to meet even tougher accountability standards, Hurley observed.

The board members also noted the district would like to add an International Baccalaureate program in East Pasco, but the money simply isn’t there.

They also would like to explore adding Schools of Innovation to provide more choices for parents of elementary students, and do more to expand its career academies for high schoolers. But again, they noted, the district doesn’t have the money.

Crumbley said the budget isn’t final, and if any savings can be made in other areas, such as transportation or energy, she’d like to see a greater investment in intervention efforts to help struggling students to succeed.

Trying to find ways to improve education while grappling with budget cuts is frustrating, Crumbley said.

“In addition to not moving forward, it seems like you’re taking steps backward,” Crumbley said.

For instance, she thinks the district could do a better job in career guidance for its students, but she said that’s hard to accomplish when there are fewer guidance counselors.

Armstrong also noted that the district must abide by state mandates even though local officials often have a better idea of what would benefit Pasco students most.

A public hearing and final vote on the school district’s budget is set for 6 p.m. on Sept. 18. The hearing will be at 7227 US 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

 

By B.C. Manion

There’s a new restaurant in Land O’ Lakes at a familiar spot.

Mosquito Grill and Bar has taken the space formerly known as Rapscallions.

Besides new ownership, the restaurant at 4422 US 41 is getting a makeover — one room at a time. The menu is new, except for a few old crowd favorites at Rapscallions.

The owners chose a name that would prompt conversation, said Mark Nixon, one of Mosquito’s new partners.

“We were trying to be different; to stand out a little bit,” Nixon said. He added, “Good or bad, people are talking about the name. I hope it raises enough curiosity that they will come check us out.”

Chad Bille, Mosquito’s general manager, added, “Come and see what the buzz is about. It only takes one bite. … The menu has changed. Everything is scratch cookin’.”

Nixon said they are using as much local produce as possible.

“We’re trying to stay on the cutting edge of that,” Nixon said. “Fresh is always better.”

Menu items include everything from gator bites to fish tacos to barbecue pulled pork to Danish ribs and country-fried venison. The menu also serves a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, seafood entrees, sandwiches, pasta dishes, steaks, pork, chicken and desserts.

However, the restaurant has toned down its wings. It no longer serves the version known to be so hot that they were featured on an episode of Man vs. Food.

“We still have the biggest wings in town,” Bille said. “That hasn’t changed.”

The restaurant has also added pizza — a selection that has proved to be a popular choice with patrons.

Lisa Richardson, an electrical contractor in Land O’ Lakes, was dining at Mosquito recently and planned to give the pizza a try. She’s been coming to the restaurant for about 10 years and likes the changes so far.

“The atmosphere is a lot brighter, a lot cleaner,” Richardson said. “They changed the ladies’ room. They painted it,”

The renovations are a work in progress, Nixon said.

Mosquito has a new game room and its patio, which overlooks Lake Bell, has been given a fresh look with black metal furniture.

Future outdoor plans call for adding a grill, bar, music and a tin roof over the patio.

The aim is to create a “Key West feel, casual fun,” Nixon said.

The changes are being made gradually, and the restaurant is staying open during the makeover.

“We’re going to have to attack one room at a time,” Nixon said. “Every single day there’s a change being made.”

Nixon expects the transformation to take about a year.

Besides the patio, the interior will get some new touches.

The furniture will be replaced. The carpets are being ripped out and the concrete floors are being stained. The walls are also being dressed up.

The restaurant has changed its hours and it plans to have live music seven days a week, Bille said.

The kitchen will be able to accommodate patrons who want to grab a late dinner, play some pool and listen to music, Nixon said.

“Our kitchen will be open until midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends,” Bille said.

Regulars will notice familiar faces serving their food.

Nixon said the owners kept the workers because they value the relationships staff members have with patrons.

“A lot of people come here to see their regulars as far as the bartenders and the servers,” Nixon said. “They have a rapport built up. I think that’s important to keep that going.”

The restaurant has a large bar, which draws a regular crowd, Bille said.

“We’ve got a bar that’s like Cheers,” Bille said. “Everybody knows everybody’s name. We have people who come every day. We’re a tight-knit family.”

Lutz resident Cindy Greco, who was eating at the restaurant recently, is glad to see the same servers and bartenders. She’s also pleased to be able to listen to live music.

“We were in dire need of entertainment in the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes area,” Greco said. “They’re offering entertainment seven days a week. This fills the void.”

Rose Stowers and her husband, Michael, who live in Land O’ Lakes, were recently grabbing a bite at Mosquito. They’re pleased about the extended hours.

The Stowers are also glad that their son, who works in the kitchen, was able to keep his job.

“I was a little worried that they were going to let the folks go,” Rose said.

Nixon envisions people hanging out on the patio, wearing flip-flops and enjoying a meal.

“It’s going to be a good positive thing for the area,” Nixon said. He added, “At the end of the day, the ultimate goal here is to provide a really good service and great quality, so people want to keep coming back.”

Mosquito Bar and Grill

Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight

Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight

Full liquor bar and live music

Reservations are accepted

For more information, visit mosquitogrillandbar.com

 

Loans available for Tropical Storm Debby victims

Hillsborough County small businesses, including small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture businesses, as well as most private nonprofit organizations, may apply for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans to recover from financial, working capital losses caused by Tropical Storm Debby.

Landlords who have lost revenue from their rental properties are also eligible. This Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage. At this time, Hillsborough businesses and nonprofits are not eligible for cost recovery for any physical storm damage.

Interest rates are as low as 3 percent for nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years.

Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 3, 2013.

Additional details on the loan application process and eligibility are available by calling  (800) 659-2955. Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing should call (800) 877-8339.

More information also is available by emailing .

Businesses that have been affected may apply online using Electronic Loan Application on the SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Individual homeowners suffering home damages can seek assistance from Hillsborough’s Homeowner Rehabilitation Program by calling (813) 612-5397.

To be considered for other disaster assistance, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at (800) 621-3362. Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing should call (800) 462-7585.

 

Central Pasco Chamber Clay Shoot

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is hosting its third annual Clay Shooting Event on Aug. 25. Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. Shooting begins at 9 a.m.

The event will be at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes. For more information or to be a sponsor, call (813) 909-2722.

 

Catholic networking

Catholic Business Network of Tampa Bay meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays at Our Lady of the Rosary, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Catholic Business Network of Tampa Bay is a nonprofit membership organization for Tampa area Catholic business people. While we welcome people of all faiths, the network is comprised of Catholic professionals who want to incorporate their faith into the workplace while networking with other Catholics to foster personal and business relationships. For more information, visit www.cbntampa.com or call Mary Ann Whallen at (813) 833-4737.

 

HART recruits bus drivers

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is now recruiting bus drivers. The starting pay is $11.91 an hour. An online application is available by visiting www.goHART.org.

 

Women-N-Charge luncheon

Women-N-Charge will be gathering for a networking session and luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in New Tampa. The cost is $15 online, www.women-n-charge.com, by the Tuesday before the meeting. After that, the charge is $18.

Jen Holloway of Bay News Nine will be the featured speaker.

For more information, please contact Judy at (813)-600-9848 or .

 

Rays’ game fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco is being featured at the Tampa Bay Rays game versus the Baltimore Orioles on Oct. 1.

The organization will be recognized during the game, in conjunction with World Habitat Day 2012.

Discounted tickets are on sale through Sept. 1 at Habitat’s website, www.habitatpascor.org

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco.

 

New doctor’s office opens in Land O’ Lakes

Access Healthcare has announced the opening of the practice of Dr. Jennifer Laman at Oakstead Professional Center, 19409 Shumard Oak Drive, Suite 103 in Land O’ Lakes.

Laman is board certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment. She will be on the staff at the Medical Center of Trinity.

Laman accepts patients from preadolescence through geriatrics. For more information and to make an appointment, contact (813) 749-7152.

 

Be a holiday ambassador, win $50,000 prize

Taste of Home magazine is seeking an official Holiday Ambassador, and the woman who is crowned the winner will receive $50,000 and serve as the magazine’s celebrity spokesperson.

The magazine is looking for the woman who embodies the holiday spirit. Here’s how you’ll know you may be just right for the prize if:

—You are 18 or older

—You love to cook, decorate and entertain

—Your signature recipes are a must-have at every gathering

—All of your friends and family already consider you the Queen of the Holidays

The winner will make live appearances, participate in interviews, do cooking demonstrations and will travel around the country.

To enter between now and Sept. 7, log on to Facebook.com/TasteofHome to upload a short video and a signature recipe that demonstrates how you bring the holiday to life for family and friends.

The winner will be selected from the top 100 entries that receive the most votes from the public.

 

William Ryan Homes starts phase four sales in Ashton Oaks

William Ryan Homes has launched its pre-sales program for the final phase of single-family and executive homes at Ashton Oaks, just off SR 54, east of Meadow Point Boulevard.

Jeffrey D. Thorson, regional president of William Ryan Homes, said the company plans to build residences from its extensive design portfolio on 38 remaining home sites. It has already sold eight homes in the phase.

The sales office is in the model home at 3827 Ashton Oaks Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. The office is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.

For more details, call (813) 788-4663 or visit www.WilliamRyanHomes.com