Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

A project in Ballantrae is giving a whole new meaning to the expression “time is money.”

Instead of laying square blocks of sod, the community is growing Bahai grass in some of its common areas.

“Literally, watching the grass grow, is going to save residents $35,000,” said Jim Flateau, chairman of the Ballantrae Community Development District board.

A crew from the Travis Resmondo Co., based in Dundee, was in Ballantrae last week spreading Argentine Bahai grass seed on some common areas along Ballantrae Boulevard and along the right of way in some of the community’s villages.

The crew spread the seed on freshly mowed areas.

“That way, when you’re laying the seed, you’re laying it as close to the ground as possible,” Flateau said.

After the seed was in place, the crew sprayed a green slurry consisting of mulch created from shredded newspapers and a mixture of fertilizer, along with a green dye pack.

The sprayed coating helps keep the seeds in place, so they won’t be washed away through runoff when it rains, Flateau said. It also helps prevent birds from eating the seeds, he added.

Some companies actually include the grass seed in the sprayed slurry, but this one prefers to spread the seed first and then spray the slurry – in order to ensure better seed coverage, Flateau said.

The seeded areas will be watered twice daily until the seeds germinate and the grass begins to grow, Flateau said.

Ballantrae’s CDD board in April approved spending $18,632 for the hydroseeding project, which involved spreading Argentine Bahai seed on roughly 2.5 acres of common areas and spraying the seed with a mulch slurry.

Additionally, the board approved $5,779 to bring in watering trucks for up to 30 days to stimulate the growth of grass. The watering days may not be consecutive because it obviously would not be needed on rainy days, Flateau said.

The alternative to the hydroseeding project was to pay $54,512 to have the area sodded with St. Augustine, Flateau said.

The advantage to laying sod would be to quickly create a lush-looking lawn, Flateau said. But beyond being less expensive, Bahai has other advantages, Flateau said, crediting Chris Dewey, of Pasco County Extension for helping the CDD come up with its plan.

Dewey said it’s not uncommon to use hydroseeding to plant Bahai along roadsides.

Bahai has a drought avoidance mechanism, said Dewey, the Florida Friendly Landscaping Coordinator for Pasco County Extension.

“If it (Bahai) runs out of water, it will go dormant,” Dewey said. The grass will turn brown, but after it gets water, it’ll turn green again after a couple of days.

Bahai is resistant to pests and disease and requires little fertilizer, Dewey added.

“St. Augustine, in the right location, can be quite drought tolerant,” he said. “But when it runs out of water completely for six days, it’s dead,” Dewey said.

Another advantage is that Bahai reseeds on its own, Flateau said.

“When we start to see it get thin, we’ll just let it grow one summer, cut it and let it reseed itself,” Flateau said.

 

Land O’ Lakes resident wants to shake up 2012 elections

By Kyle LoJacono

By his own admission, Land O’ Lakes resident Scott Keller is a political novice.

The 49-year-old database administrator hasn’t held any political office in his life — not even in high school.

Keller said that is one of his strengths and why he decided to run for president of the United States in 2012. He did file to run for the U.S. House in the 2010 election cycle as a Republican, but backed out in early 2009.

For 2012, he has his eyes on a big prize. Keller submitted the paperwork to become an official write-in candidate for president and is running without a party affiliation. He is his currently working on a petition so his name appears on the ballot.

Keller and his wife of seven years, Nora, have three children together, Isabella, Marcus and Pricilla, and have another baby due in February. Keller also has a 14-year-old daughter, Julie.

His father James H. Keller served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and retired as a brigadier general. Keller said he also served six years in the Navy.

The Laker and Lutz News recently spoke with Keller about his political run.

 

Q: What made you decide to run?

A: Like a lot of people, I was looking at the candidates and it was so disappointing, because we have to have better options. People say that all the time. They know there is something wrong, but they can’t quite put their finger on it. I decided at that point, I have to run. If no one else is going to get out there and say those things, then I have to.

Q: Why did you want to run for president instead of a smaller position first?

A: I don’t want to get into legislation. I want to be sharing ideas. How people can join together to accomplish things. I feel the position as president, or just part of the campaign, raises a lot of awareness to the real issues. Hopefully I’ll be able to force some discussion about these issues, even if I don’t win.

Q: So it wouldn’t crush you if you lost?

A: I don’t care if I lose, as long as the information is getting out there. As long as people see the power they have if they work together and stop this sinking ship. Start being our best and being the example for the world. We need to decide what we need to focus on. Is it really profit?

People work 40, 50, 80 hours a week, and they don’t ask why. Why are they working so much? Where are we going in such a hurry? What’s our goal? Are we just chasing a profit? Just to pay a bill? Electricity could be free if we just cooperated. If we came together, could we come up with a way to make electricity without charging them? I think we could do it.

Q: Would that be possible with everyone out there?

A: We’ve got a baby on the way, due in February. We don’t have insurance, and people hear that and think we’re going to be a leach on society. So having a new member of society is seen as a leach on society? That doesn’t make sense. Why is adding another person, who could do great things, invent things or whatever, why is that a bad thing? We have poverty because we haven’t given those people options.

Q: What do you think the end result would be from something like that?

A: There’s no telling, but I think 7 billion people joining together for good would only mean great things. What’s possible with 7 billion people holding hands to see what they can do together? We’re too busy bickering about who made the most money and what stock did what. Who knows where this spaceship Earth is going. I know I’d rather go through it with everyone contributing.

Q: So you have no party affiliation at all?

A: No party affiliation. I really agree with some things from both sides. Everyone really wants the basic things. We want peace, we want education for our kids, healthy food, healthcare and we don’t want to be out of work losing our homes. It’s the same basic things, with the Democrats wanting big government running things and Republicans wanting big business running everything. We’re big on this side and big on this side, and the little guy gets left out.

Q: What kind of beliefs do you have then?

A: I’d say I’m kind of a moderate, but on a different vector. No more left versus right and I don’t like to think of it as a linear scale. The answers might be above the normal scale and that might be why no one in Washington can see them. It’s about involving the people and not using the same broken model. We have 300 million people in this country and 7 billion in the world, so what makes us think that 500 people in Washington have all the answers.

Q: It seems like you want to take the focus off of the central government even though you’re making a run at the White House. Is that correct?

A: Right, and we can get all the local officials in on it. Mayors, county commissions, community leaders, like Rotary clubs. There are enough options at their fingertips, but they’re just not aware of what they can do. Part of this campaign is about waking people up.

Q: How would you empower those people?

A: The big thing is listening to and working with those groups and local governments. I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m coming in sharing how people have the answers out there in the community. I’m not even empowering them. I’m showing them they have power already and they need to use it.

Tampa Bay could become the model for everybody else. People could say look what they did when they involved everyone. They eliminated poverty by helping those people to contribute to making us all better. Don’t look down on them. I’ve been there. I’ve been to the food pantries. We had to go there for our food. It’s not that people don’t want to work, but they don’t get enough to pay for their homes.

Q: It seems like you see the answers as being with the people and not any politician, right?

A: Absolutely. Understand the solutions are right there in front of your face. Stop making this about who can make the most money and who can get people to donate the most money. And don’t wait for the next election. Start with the solutions on a local level now. You can’t change Congress overnight, but you can do something at home. Maybe not in one night, but in a few weeks you can certainly make an impact.

–For more information on Keller’s campaign, visit www.scottkellerforpresident.com.

By B.C. Manion

It doesn’t take long to see that Adriana Ortiz has big ideas.

Ask the 17 year old what she wants to do with her life and she readily responds, “I want to have a big influence on the global community.”

Along those lines, she’s leaving this week to finish her high school education by studying abroad in Mendoza, Argentina.

She’s the first senior in Pasco County schools to fulfill her high school graduation requirements while attending high school in a foreign country, said her mother, Lenora Ortiz, who teaches Advanced Placement World History at Wiregrass Ranch High.

Even though she speaks Spanish, Adriana said she knows it will be an adjustment to take all of her classes in Spanish and to use the language in her daily conversations.

She’s concerned about how much science she may be expected to take.

“For one, I’m not really good at that here, and if I’m trying to learn physics in Spanish —  they use words I don’t even know in English.”

She plans to be low-key, as she gets acquainted with her new surroundings.

“I’m going to be pretty much silent the first few days, especially when I get in school. I’m just going to observe, see what I should or should not be doing,” Adriana said.

She’s already changed her diet in anticipation of her move.

“I was a vegetarian for three years. I had to drop it,” she said.

Argentina is known for its beef, and her host family has already informed her that they do lots of barbecuing. Besides eating different foods, she’ll have to get used to eating at different times of the day, too.

But she’s excited about what awaits her.

Her first step on this new adventure will be to fly to Houston, where she’ll meet two other exchange students. They’ll travel together to Buenos Aires and then will be transported to Rosario for an orientation program with exchange students from all over the world.

After that, she’ll arrive at her host family’s home, just two days before school begins.

One of the first things on her host family’s agenda is to take her to see the Andes Mountains range.

Her upcoming experience will be the longest time she’s spent away from home, but it won’t be the first time she’s studied abroad.

She spent one summer studying in Quito, Ecuador.

While there, she spent a couple of hours each day simply conversing in Spanish with her teacher.

That experience inspired Adriana’s idea for her senior project. While in Mendoza, she plans to organize a cultural exchange program between students from Wiregrass Ranch High and students at the public high school she’ll be attending.

In essence, she plans to match up Wiregrass Ranch students who are serious about learning Spanish with Mendoza students who have a strong desire to learn English.

She plans to have students from both countries answer questionnaires and she’ll match them up, and then they’ll chat with each other regularly, dividing their time between English and Spanish.

She said she shouldn’t be the only one to benefit from the exchange program.

She thinks that students from both countries will improve their foreign language skills.

“In a normal classroom, you just learn it. You don’t really use it,” Adriana said.

The project may also have another result, she said: It could lead to some lasting friendships.

She plans to document the cultural exchange and to make a presentation on the senior project to a panel, via Skype. Her family also plans to use Skype to keep in contact, but those contacts will be limited, her mom said.

Being in contact too often would make it harder for Adriana, not easier, said Lorena, who speaks four languages and has traveled extensively to places including China, Germany and South Korea.

Instead of chatting on Skype, she plans to follow Adriana’s experiences via Facebook and a blog the student plans to write.

Lenora is thrilled that her daughter is blazing a new trail.

When Adriana learned she was breaking new ground, she said her reaction was: “That’s cool, but I really shouldn’t be the first one. This is such a great experience.”

By Kyle LoJacono

For the second consecutive time, Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader will face a long-time supporter in the Republican primary.

In 2008 it was San Antonio developer John Nicolette, and now it is Zephyrhills citrus grower and cattle rancher Ronald Oakley.

Oakley, 65, supported Schrader’s conservative leadership he brought to county District 1, which covers most of east Pasco, but now wants the commissioner’s job. He filed the paperwork at the end of June for next year’s primary.

Oakley said the decision to run was not because of anything he specifically disagreed with Schrader on.

“It’s nothing like that,” Oakley said. “There isn’t a grudge or anything like that. I decided I needed to run and this would likely be my last chance to do so. I just happen to live in the same district as Ted.”

Pasco’s five commissioners must live in the district they represent, but are elected by all county voters for a four-year term.

Oakley said his main goal, if elected, will be to decrease the size of government to help streamline things like permitting to help business flourish.

Oakley also served on the Southwest Florida Water Management District, commonly called Swiftmud, since 2007 and was the organization’s chairman last year, but resigned in May in part because of the political run. He said his other main goal will be to ensure Pasco will have a sustainable water supply.

“I do find that strange and ironic,” Schrader, 55, said. “I don’t understand why he would bring up the size of government. I’ve had a history of lowering property taxes. Swiftmud hasn’t.”

Oakley grew up in Dade City, graduated from Pasco High and has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Carson-Newman College in Tennessee. He owns several citrus groves with the name Oakley Groves Inc., raises cattle and owns a trucking company.

Oakley was appointed to Swiftmud by former Gov. Charlie Crist and said, “Being on the board was one of the most humbling things I’ve done. It’s a big responsibility because we make sure everyone in the district has water for farming and daily living.”

Swiftmud covers all or parts of 16 counties from Levy and Marion in the north to Charlotte in the south, including all of Hillsborough and Pasco. Members of the board are unpaid.

Oakley said if elected he will seek a spot on the board of directors for Tampa Bay Water, the regional suppler of water for unincorporated Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, Tampa and St. Petersburg. Schrader is currently on that board serving as one of Pasco’s representatives.

Schrader filed to run for his fourth and, he says, final term early in June. He said he has counted on Oakley and his family as supporters since he first successfully ran for the commission in 2000. Schrader received more than $928 in contributions from the Oakleys in 2008, according to county records.

Schrader’s family has a long history in Pasco’s politics as his grandfather, Arthur Schrader, served as the District 1 commissioner for more than 20 years.

Bill Bunting, Pasco’s GOP state committeeman, said it will be an “interesting race” that could divide the east Pasco political establishment.

“They both have political experience,” Bunting said. “Ted as a county commissioner and Ron as the head of Swiftmud. They’ve both got good credentials and having competition is a good thing.”

The Republican primary for the spot is in August 2012. So far, no Democrat has filed to run. The Pasco Commission currently has no Democrats.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Hillsborough commissioners are hoping to literally charge up alternative fuel use in the county.

The board unanimously approved installing 10 electric car charging stations at several locations around the county, including the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library. The sites would be operational by October.

“This is something I strongly believe in,” said Commissioner Mark Sharpe, also a member of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority board. “We believe there will be an increase demand for the stations in the coming months and we want to get ahead of the game. It’s also important to provide clean energy that is produced here in America.”

There will be several new electric car models released nationally this year, including the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. Sharpe suspects these new vehicles will lead to that increased demand.

The County is using $20,000 to install the Coulomb Technologies’ ChargePoint stations pilot project as part of its Green Hillsborough intuitive. Tampa Electric Co. and NovaCharge are installing the units.

There will be a fee to use the chargers, but Sharpe said those amounts have not been set. He added ChargePoint will pay for any maintenance during the pilot project, which ends in January 2014. The commissioners will vote if they want to pick up the upkeep after the program ends.

The stations will be connected to a network that allows people to see when each is open from the Internet or their smartphone.

Hillsborough was one of 13 metropolitan areas, along with Orlando, chosen nationally to be a part of the pilot program by the U.S. Department of Energy. Florida currently has 52 ChargePoint charging stations, but the only one in the Tampa Bay area in central Pinellas County.

The department’s overall goal is to install 100 charging stations in the Tampa Bay area. The pilot program is meant to study the usage and cost of such chargers in preparation for more lines of electric vehicles in the future.

While the main focus of the project is creating alternative fuel sources, the program has a side benefit.

“For every charging station there is the creation of three jobs,” said Jerry Campbell, a member of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission and also is a member of the county’s Energy Management and Sustainability Committee.

To learn about all the Green Hillsborough efforts, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/green/.

 

Future Hillsborough charging locations

–Two at the Pierce Street Parking Garage, 319 N. Pierce St.

–Two at the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive

–One at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave.

–One at Hillsborough Community College, 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.

–One at the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough, 3629 Queen Palm Drive

–One at the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave.

–One at the Brandon Regional Library, 619 Vondenburg Road

–One at the Town ‘N County Commons, 7606 Paula Drive

 

By B.C. Manion

The new sheriff in town wants to harness the tools of modern technology, along with good old-fashioned tips from citizens, to help his office fight crime.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco unveiled a new survey last week that seeks community feedback to help his office develop its long-range plan.

The survey, posted at www.PascoSheriff.com, seeks public feedback on 11 questions.

“We want to hear from you,” Nocco said. “What makes a good’s sheriff’s office? What do you expect out of your sheriff’s office?

“How many districts do you want? To those of you who live in the Wesley Chapel area, do you expect another sheriff’s office there?”

The survey asks respondents to rate how satisfied they are with the department’s performance, to identify their top three neighborhood concerns, to identify top priorities for the sheriff’s office and to state their major community concerns in the future.

Other queries seek feedback on what attributes make a great sheriff’s office and ask for top criticisms of the department’s work.

“I believe in servant leadership,” Nocco said, explaining why it’s important to hear from the community to help him chart his department’s future direction.

His organizational chart has him at the bottom and citizens at the top, the sheriff added.

He said he subscribes to the sentiment expressed by legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, who once said: “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society.”

While inviting the community’s participation in setting his department’s goals, Nocco made it clear that criminals are not welcome in Pasco County.

“We’re going to set a tone here in Pasco County that we don’t accept crime here. Crime will not be tolerated.

“It’s about being on the offensive. I will never have a day when we are intimidated by criminals,” he said.

Addressing members of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations, Nocco said information gleaned from citizens can help the department prevent and solve crimes.

The department is using Intelligence-Led Policing, a proactive strategy that essentially uses information gathering to help the department connect the dots to fight crime.

“We don’t have enough deputies to walk a beat in every one of your neighborhoods,” Nocco told the community leaders. “What we do have is the ability for you to give us the information. We need your input. We need to know what’s going on in your neighborhood.”

The department’s website has a place where people can provide tips to the office, which can then take that information and begin tracking the leads. Go to the department’s website and click on ILP tips.

The department will use information provided by residents, combined with their own surveillance efforts, to help identify patterns.

Often, something that seems trivial can be the key to unlocking information that can prevent or solve a crime, Nocco said.

One of the biggest problems that Pasco County faces is crime related to the abuse of prescription pills.

“Every neighborhood we go into, no matter where you are — they could be half-million homes, they could be lower-income — everybody is affected by it.

“Pinellas (County) is No. 1 in the state for children born on prescription pills. Pasco (County) is No. 2,” he said.

“Seventy to 80 percent of our crime is prescription-pill related. Your burglaries, your robberies, your car thefts — it all goes back to prescription pills,” Nocco said.

It’s a problem that must be addressed, Nocco said.

“Criminals should not feel like that they have the upper hand. We should not allow drug dealers to run our neighborhoods.”

Nocco encouraged residents to check out his department’s improved website. It’s easier to navigate and information on the site can be useful, he said.

The information can be used to help make a case to help attract businesses or residents to an area, he said, noting there is a direct link between public safety and economic development.

“If Pasco County is going to grow economically, it has to be a safe county,” Nocco said.

 

 

Safety Tips

Personal safety

–Always be aware of your surroundings. Avoid areas that create danger zones, such as dimly lit or isolated areas.

–If you are carrying a bag, keep it close to your body and in front of you at all times.

–Don’t carry large amounts of cash, and limit the number of credit cards to only what is necessary.

–If your wallet or handbag is demanded from you, throw the item as far as you can and then flee in the opposite direction.

— Consider carrying a personal alarm device.

 

Street safety

–Plan ahead and avoid danger spots, isolated or badly lit alleyways or parking lots that can create opportunities for criminals to operate out of sight.

–When walking on sidewalks, walk closest to the street to create space between you and the shrubbery, dark doorways, trees and shadows.

–Avoid passing stationery cars with their engines running and people sitting in them.

–Be extra careful when using the ATM. Be aware of anyone who may be hovering nearby. Never count your money in the open. Return to your vehicle or a public place as quickly as possible.

–Try not to keep the valuables in one place. Keep them in an inside pocket.

 

Driving safely

–Plan your journey. Know what route you will be taking and let other people know where you are going and when you plan to arrive.

–Have a map or GPS in the car so you don’t have to stop for directions.

–Do not leave your keys in the ignition when you are out of the car for any reason.

–If someone approaches your car while you are stopped, do not roll the window down. If you feel threatened, sound the horn and flash your lights to attract attention. If possible, drive away.

–Keep your car serviced regularly.

 

Parking safety

–Avoid using poorly lit parking spaces.

–Reverse into a parking space if possible and hide valuables.

–Shut the windows and lock the doors.

–When returning to your car, have your keys ready so you can get in quickly. Before getting in, scan the backseat to make sure no one is in there.

–Once inside the car, lock the cars immediately.

 

Home safety

–Install quality deadbolts on all exterior doors and use them.

–Install quality locks on all windows and use them.

–Install a wide-angle viewer in all entrance doors so you can see who is there without opening the door.

–Trim or remove shrubbery that hides doors and windows so neighbors or passersby can see, if someone tries to break into your home.

–Keep your home well-lit. Use floodlights for all entryways, pathways, stairwells and parking areas. Consider connecting lights to motion detectors, timing devices or light sensitive devices.

Source: Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. For additional information, visit www.pasocsheriff.com or call the department’s community office at (727) 834-3376.

 

By Zack Peterson

Don Vanderlaan was just 16 when he walked his way into a recruiting office. A few minutes later, he walked out, turned the corner and forged the necessary paperwork needed to be sworn in to the U.S. Navy. Within 30 minutes, Vanderlaan had volunteered his services to the United States during World War II.

“The hardest part was telling my parents,” he chuckled.

Now 84, Vanderlaan’s services for his country are being honored. Along with 24 other men, Vanderlaan recently visited Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials, all courtesy of the Honor Flight West Central Florida program.

The cost? Free.

Honor Flight started in 2005 as a national program determined to provide “honor flights” for American veterans. These veterans were given the opportunity to visit war memorials in Washington D.C. in a single day.

In 2010, the Honor Flight West Central Florida was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to provide local veterans this reflective privilege.

“We’re losing a thousand World War II veterans every day,” Vanderlaan said. “They’re trying to take everyone they can.”

The inaugural flight left Tampa International Airport at roughly 6 in the morning, with all 25 veterans aboard accompanied by their “guardians” and medical staff.

To accommodate for any critical health conditions, the Honor Flight program assigns a guardian to each veteran, a caretaker for the day, as well as a wheelchair to any veteran who requires its use. Those volunteer caretakers pay their own way, about $400 each.

After a full day in Washington, D.C. touring the war memorials, veterans are greeted back in Tampa by a parade of people welcoming them back home. Waving American flags greeted their eyes, grateful cheers rang in their ears and passionate handshakes gripped every veteran returning home from the memorable journey.

“I don’t think there was one veteran who had a dry eye,” Vanderlaan said of the special welcoming.

Before any veteran and guardian could participate in the honor flight program, they had to first fill out an application that included questions pertaining to the veterans’ branch of service, their present address and any medications that they may take.

It was about a year and a half ago that Vanderlaan filled out his application; he almost dismissed the idea when he never heard back from the organization.

But when he finally got word from the organization, Vanderlaan knew this was a program he wanted to bring light to.

“There are so many people who don’t know this exists,” Vanderlaan said. “It’s very well organized, and it’s a very emotional trip too.

“There are so many veterans in this area that should know and experience it. It’s too well kept of a secret.”

Vanderlaan first spread the news to American Legion Post 26, located in Plant City. As the Sergeant-at-Arms of the organization, Vanderlaan encouraged Post 26 to donate to the project and spread the word.

Although the Honor Flight West Central Florida program receives most of its significant donations from Southwest Airlines and Bright House Networks, the contributions American Legion Post 26 put forth were enough to send two other supporters — Pat Vanderlaan, Don’s wife; and friend Charlotte Crumb.

Pat Vanderlaan and Crumb applied to be guardians for the program at the same time Don did. However, they weren’t processed in time to be a part of the inaugural flight.

Instead, they were invited to take part in another flight, one that carried 71 veterans, almost three times the number of the first flight.

“It was incredibly organized,” Crumb said. “They helped with food, with drinks, with anything really.”

Vanderlaan and Crumb found volunteering to be a “very rewarding” experience. Crumb partnered with Leonard Greenwood, a veteran from Frostproof, while Vanderlaan assumed responsibility for Louis Masi of St. Petersburg.

“We didn’t actually meet our veterans till the morning of,” Vanderlaan said.

But after a day of patriotic sentiments and emotional memories, special friendships were formed that would last a lifetime.

There are an estimated 32,000 veterans residing in the Honor Flight West Central Florida coverage area that the organization wishes to include in this memorable experience.

To honor each veteran in the manner they deserve, Honor Flight hopes to take up as many veterans as they can.

For more information about Honor Flight West Central Florida, call (727) 498-6079 or visit their website, www.honorflightwcf.org.

By Zack Peterson

Wayne Taylor always thought having two daughters would mean raising them as cheerleaders.

“You would think we’d have gone that route, but I guess we kind of went the other way,” he chuckled.

Far from cheerleading, Elizabeth Guidry and Jessica Guidry, Taylor’s two daughters, take a nontraditional stance towards sports and participate in Tae-Kwon Do, jiu jitsu, judo and other forms of mixed martial arts (MMA).

 

Elizabeth stars in MMA

Elizabeth, the elder of the two sisters, has been active in MMA. To excel in MMA she has also studied jiu jitsu, Tae-Kwon Do and Sambo.

“A lot of the people I tell get shocked,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth has grown accustomed to the reactions she receives from her fellow Freedom High students.

“They’re like ‘oh my god, you do MMA?’ A lot of them don’t know what MMA is and I have to explain it and then they get shocked. But they think it’s pretty cool afterwards.”

For Elizabeth, it all started four years ago.

“I wanted to join a sport,” Elizabeth explained. “But it was hard to do with the military.”

In the past, Elizabeth had tried volleyball, and even baseball when she was younger, but the appeal never clicked.

Coupled with the constant moving as a “military family,” Elizabeth decided to take up MMA because it “could really build confidence.”

Now, it’s become a way of life.

“At first it was just me wanting to get my confidence up; wanting to feel good. And now, I’ve gotten really passionate about it,” Elizabeth said. “I really like doing it.”

To stay in peak condition, Elizabeth dedicates herself to the practice of MMA through consistent training with the T-N-T Academy of Quality Mixed Martial Arts in Riverview.

Elizabeth usually works out there on Monday and Wednesday, but every day, she works out from home.

“We run, we do weights from the back room, we’ve got all sorts of different stuff,” Elizabeth said.

Typically, workouts last 1.5-2 hours, and then, Elizabeth tends to schoolwork.

As a rising junior, Elizabeth has learned to balance schoolwork with the long hours of training needed for MMA during the past two years of high school.

“It’s not that bad as long as I’m aware of both of them,” Elizabeth said. “Whenever I get home, I get the homework done, get whatever chores I have to get done and I’m good. I do my workouts and I make sure everything is done before I go to bed.”

And for Elizabeth, MMA has given back just as much she’s put in.

By going to the same club, and working together to improve each other’s skills, Elizabeth has noticed a stronger bond with her sister, Jessica.

“We’re constantly grappling, she teaches me throws, we go around smacking each other on the head; it’s fun, we’re constantly goofing off and making jokes. We know the same people at the place we work out at,” Elizabeth said. “It has made a better bond between us.”

In the future, Elizabeth plans to continue practicing MMA throughout college, and may even remain at her club.

“Right now, I want to go to USF; it’s my No.1 spot,” Elizabeth said.

On top of that, with the degree from USF, Elizabeth hopes to one day become an underwater archeologist.

But for now, Elizabeth hopes to show others how martial arts have made a positive impact on her life.

“I want to make sure I’m the best I can be,” Elizabeth said. “I want to make myself proud, my coaches proud, and my family proud.”

 

Jessica new to judo

Jessica Guidry, the younger of the two sisters, practices the art of judo.

“The easiest way to explain it is that it’s like wrestling, but with different uniforms,” Jessica said.

Unlike her older sister Elizabeth, Jessica hasn’t been involved in the art of mixed martial arts as long.

Originally, she danced.

Her first introduction to martial arts was through capoeira, a Brazilian form of martial arts that “hides fighting within dancing.”

“You hardly hit each other and it’s a very gentle thing,” Jessica explained. “I was too aggressive for it so I moved to judo.”

Similar to her sister, Jessica never cared for the idea of group sports.

As a rising sophomore at Freedom High, none of the sports offered there captivated her interest.

“I never really liked any of the sports, cause if you join a baseball team or things like that, everyone is best friends and we’re a military family, so if I got into a group like that, it would be hard to switch from school to school.”

For a year now, Jessica has been training for judo at the same club as her sister, T-N-T Academy of Quality Mixed Martial Arts.

“I think it takes up a lot of time,” Jessica said. “On days I’m not at judo, I workout at least an hour.”

For Jessica, the intense three-a-week practices are critical to how she performs in tournaments.

“It takes a lot of dedication because you have to keep up your physical strength, you have to practice all your moves, and you have to practice speaking commands in Japanese,” Jessica said. “But it’s worth it when you win.”

Jessica experienced success at Junior Judo National Championships in Ohio earlier this month when she won for her age group and weight class, the 14-15 year old division in the 52-kilogram section.

“I’m predicting that if I keep up with going to international tournaments and I can start traveling out of countries for tournaments, then I can hopefully get on the USA team.”

Presently, Jessica is learning how to balance both judo and schoolwork. Being an honors student, Jessica is academically busy, and as a persistent judo trainer, dedicated to the hard work that’s required.

“It’s hard with the time management because sometimes I get home around 10 or so and it’s hard to get my homework done,” Jessica said.

For Jessica, every day is a detailed day built upon a rigid schedule.

After getting home from school at 4, Jessica prepares for judo by eating dinner and working on homework. At 5, she and her sister leave for judo, get home late and fall asleep.

“It’s been a challenge, but I’ve found a way,” Jessica said.

Although none of the sports at Freedom have ever clicked for her, Jessica said she could switch to wrestling.

“Wrestling is an easy transition for people who do judo,” Jessica said.

However, she has found journalism to be a good fit.

Jessica explained that she was accepted at the end of this year and will begin working for Freedom’s newspaper in the fall.

Even though Jessica has “no idea” what the future holds in store, she does know that whatever it holds, judo will be involved.

“I want to do it for a long time because it’s really caught my attention. I don’t click with a lot of people so I don’t think I miss out. If anything, I’m avoiding a lot of bad things,” Jessica said. “Plus, fighting is you; you get to use your strength. It’s not swinging something around or throwing something. It’s not as controlled.”

Editor’s Note: Our summer intern, Zack Peterson of Lutz, spent the last week of June working as a camp counselor at Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp. His camper, Justin Scull, was from Zephyrhills.

By Zack Peterson

It’s a good day when you can walk on your own two feet, when you can get up on your own in the morning, walk to the mirror and ready yourself for the day’s upcoming events in the glass reflection.

For you and I, that’s a good day.

But for a child with Muscular Dystrophy, a good day is anything but. A good day is not falling down in school; a good day is brushing your teeth on your own; a good day is not feeling the effects of a degenerative neuromuscular disease tear at your bones.

A good day is just making it through the day. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, children with Muscular Dystrophy everywhere must learn to cope with the burdens of life, instead of living it. Many don’t have the luxury to walk, take care of themselves, even operate in everyday situations that you or I might find commonplace.

Most of us don’t even know. We have no idea how lucky we are to have two functioning legs. We have no idea that children with Muscular Dystrophy are diagnosed every day in our own communities.

What we also don’t know is how we’re helping them every day.

I had no idea how much support existed for this disease until three years ago, when my track coach introduced me to a program known as MDA summer camp.

Since 1955, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has helped bring joy to the lives of children with MD for a week during the summertime by providing them with an unforgettable camp     experience.

MDA supports more than 80 camps nationwide and helps countless children build experiences that will last a lifetime.

My journey with MDA summer camp started those three years ago at the Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon, a haven for campers from around the area that’s offered its facilities for the past 12 years. There, I met some of the most courageous kids anyone could have the opportunity to meet.

They’re just like you and I — normal people looking for what inspires them most in the world. As it turns out, they’re a gem of inspiration for everyone who attends MDA camp, whether they’re a counselor or a camper.

MDA summer camp puts you in a unique one-on-one position as the counselor of a child with MD; essentially, you’re their caretaker for a week.

For some children who still have the ability to walk, this means watching over them; for others who have limited mobility or need wheelchairs to move around, this means helping them take care of basic bodily needs, like showering or using the bathroom. It gives counselors the opportunity to bond with his/her camper when you lift them into bed or ensure that their teeth are clean; it also gives campers the ability to trust in the world again. For those five days at summer camp, they are released from whatever hardships they struggle with on a daily basis at home.

I wasn’t sure what to expect that first year. I naively thought to myself, “How much activity can we do with children who have mobile difficulty?”

After five days of swimming, archery, pine wood derby, fishing and even swinging, I was ready to be proven wrong. These kids could do anything.

Each year I come back to MDA camp, I have an even better experience than the last.

This year, my camper happened to be from Zephyrhills. His name is Justin Scull, a 13-year-old boy diagnosed with Becker MD; he’s also the 13-year-old boy with the biggest heart I’ve ever seen.

My very first encounter with Justin was heart-wrenching almost. He was lifting his younger brother and sister up and down, laughing and smiling, bringing light and happiness to all around.

He did all this in spite of the fact that he suffers from a very serious disease that slowly wastes away at his muscles every day; in spite of the fact that one day, he could be sitting in a wheelchair at the age of 30 watching young children play freely the way he once did.

MDA camp just passed this summer, squeezing itself into the final week of June and the first day of July; and I can easily say Justin and I experienced one of the greatest weeks either one of us could possibly hope to have this summer.

Whether it was swinging together right after dinner ended or paddle-boating on the camp’s lake, Justin and I each learned a little something from each other.

We taught each other how to enjoy the little things.

It’s easy to speak about things you know nothing of, particularly when you’re just an observant bystander, but when your heart’s there — when you learn to really love what you have from these kids — it’s not just easy, it’s genuine.

My only hope is that everyone can cherish the love “Jerry’s Kids” instill the way I have. And I can only hope that you won’t just wait for it to come looking for you; I hope that you’ll reach out a hand to those in need, to those who live right in your community, to those who want love, care and compassion just like you.

 

Muscular Dystrophy Association

(727) 577-1700

www.mdausa.org

By B.C. Manion

When it comes to civic involvement, there’s a new group that hopes to make a difference in Lutz and Pasco County.

The GFWC Lutz-Pasco Junior Woman’s Club plans to be a bridge between the young girls who are involved in the juniorette clubs, such as the Little Women of Lutz, and the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, which consists mostly of retirees.

The target market for the junior woman’s club is for women who are out of high school, but are not yet retired, said Angelina Carter, the club’s founding president.

“That’s a huge gap, from high school to retirement,” said Carter, noting the junior woman’s club began meeting in January and has 15 members so far.

The club is staging its first fundraising event, a Christmas in July Vendor Fair, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 30 at Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 SR 54 in Wesley Chapel.

The fair will have about 25 vendors, who will offer handmade crafts, earth-friendly products, food and other items.

The junior woman’s club also will be having a holiday cookie bake sale, in keeping with the “Christmas in July” theme, Carter said.

There is no admission charge for the event, but those attending are encouraged to bring a canned food item to help stock “Helping Hands Food Pantry,” which is housed at the church, Carter said.

Beyond conducting this fundraising event, the club also is actively recruiting new members, Carter said.

The club is open to more than just residents of Lutz, drawing from north Hillsborough and central/east Pasco. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month, with meetings alternating between Atonement Lutheran Church and Horizon Bay Assisted Living Facility, 414 Chapman Road E. in Lutz.

About 90 percent of the club’s activities are at night and the other 10 percent are on weekends to accommodate the working schedules of members, Carter said.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the group can email gfwclutzpascojwc@gmail or call Carter at (813) 210-1588.