The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco gets millions to go green

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By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County received $4.2 million in federal stimulus money to make energy and water-efficient improvements to several government buildings.

The upgrades will not only help the environment, they will cut utility costs and create about 45 temporary jobs to install the new equipment.

“This is going to save us a lot of money not just the first year, but every year after that,” said Dan Johnson, one of Pasco’s assistant county administrators. “It is also good for the environment, and that’s good for everyone.”

Most of the changes are standard when trying to cut utility costs, such as replacing lighting with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, putting in low-flow water fixtures and installing new heating and air conditioning units.

However, a few are less conventional, such as adding two revolving doors at the West Pasco Courthouse and installing solar water heaters at 10 of the county’s fire stations.

The new doors will start being installed in three months and will allow less cool air to escape during the hot summer months, reducing the time air conditioners need to run. Instead of air flowing out every time someone enters, the revolving doors create an almost constant seal, which would also reduce heating costs in the winter.

Low-flow water fixtures will be installed at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, which are expected to cut usage from 31 million to 16 million gallons each year. The changes include upgrades to the showers and toilets.

The cost of the new fixtures and water system at the jail will cost $270,000. The estimated savings the first year is $150,000.

Additionally, government buildings throughout the county will replace older incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, which should pay for themselves in two years.

“It’s one of the easiest things for them to do here to save money,” said Terry Falke, who will administrate the federal money for the county. “It’s so obvious to make these upgrades. There are basically only benefits from saving money, energy and creating jobs.”

Falke said conservative estimates would put the annual savings for the county at $440,000. All the projects need to be installed by November 2012, according to the grant agreement.

Falke said the plan is to use $3.7 million of the $4.2 million on the projects themselves. The rest is planned to pay for the temporary workers and to hire an outside company to audit the energy use in the buildings receiving the upgrades.

Pasco has yet to find the company to install the upgrades. Schneider Electric, a Tampa-based firm, was originally contacted to handle the job, but its estimations showed it could spend only about $2.3 million for the project. The rest would go to cover its cost and profits.

Johnson said he and those in the county believe they can find cheaper options to make the upgrades.

“We need to use as much as possible for the upgrades themselves,” Johnson said. “That’s part of the terms of the grant, and it’s also the right thing to do with the money. We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make the money stretch.”

Plans for the money

–$2.4 million to upgrade the heating and air conditioning in 17 buildings

–$550k to replace six building roofs

–$270k to upgrade water fixtures in the Pasco jail

–$179k for two revolving doors at the West Pasco Courthouse

–$144k to upgrade lighting in 10 buildings

–$62k for solar water heaters at 10 county fire stations

Pasco brings home One Bay Award

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By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County’s vision for the future won it the first ever One Bay Award on March 18 from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

“One of the biggest awards, in fact the biggest award, is One Bay,” said Pasco Tourism Manager Eric Keaton. “This is the first time that the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council has given out this award and Pasco County is bringing it home. We’re very thrilled to bring it home, just like we’re bringing opportunities home.”

The Pasco County commissioners, administrators and members of the Growth Management Department with the One Bay Award given by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. (Photo provided)

The honor was presented to members of the county commission, its administration and its Growth Management Department at the 19th annual Future Regions Award Ceremony.

“This is a first time award that the region has put together with a number of partners like (Southwest Florida Water Management District) to guide how to control future growth by focusing on concentrated growth areas,” said Richard Gehring, Pasco’s growth management administrator.

The council sought out the views of thousands of Tampa Bay area citizens for what a shared region should be, based on responsible land use, mobility and transportation, economic development and environmental sustainability.

Pasco submitted its New Smart Pasco Area Plan and Transit Oriented Development Amendments for consideration. The council gave the award to the county because it best followed that vision for the bay area.

Florida’s population has grown by more than 17 percent in the last 10 years and U.S. Census estimations project that trend to continue in the coming years.

Pasco County’s population increased by 119,932 people from 2000 to 2010, topping out at 464,697 residents. Gehring said the county is booming and all levels of its government have been working hard to develop the best plans to accommodate that growth.

“We are one of the largest future growth counties in the Tampa Bay area,” Gehring said.

Pasco formed its growth concept in 2008 from recommendations by its Urban Land Institute. For additional information on the county’s area and transit plans, visit portal.pascocountyfl.net.

Zephyrhills, Pasco participate in Ford fundraiser

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By Tammy Sue Struble

Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools are having a friendly rivalry competition with each other in cooperation with Jarrett Ford Lincoln of Dade City.

The Nine Mile War between the Bulldogs and Pirates this time is a contest to see just who can get the most test drives from their school.

The Drive One 4 UR School program is a test drive fundraising event that could feasibly net $6,000 from Ford. For each test drive at the event in Dade City on April 1-2, Ford Motor Co. will donate $20 to the participant’s school of choice (up to $6,000 max per dealer location).

Currently, the Jarrett Ford Lincoln of Dade City location is No. 2 in the nation with fundraising through the Drive One 4 UR School program.

Langdale Ford in Valdosta, Ga., holds the top position per Cliff Martin, vice president and general manager at Jarrett Ford Lincoln.

“We’ve had six drives in two years — since the fall of ’08,” described Martin, “with donations from Ford totaling $37,060” for the schools from the dealership. Martin explained that Ford was previously allowing two of these test drive events per year and just came out recently, adding Lincoln to the mix.

Since Jarrett sells both Ford and Lincoln, that means his dealership can have four test drive fundraising events a year.

“I jumped on it,” Martin said of the announcement. “We’re excited we are able to help out the schools. It’s perfect timing with budget situations the schools are facing.”

“It’s a good program,” explained Zephyrhills High Athletic Director Bruce Cimorelli. “Our goal is to try to become No. 1 in the nation with the program. It’s an easy way to make money for the school. There will be two events this spring and two in the fall. Cliff Martin does an outstanding job for us.”

The Drive One 4 UR School test driving event will be at Jarrett Ford Lincoln at 38300 Dick Jarrett Way in Dade City on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The business will also be offering free hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks for customers. One test drive per household is allowed.

Pasco High Principal Patrick Reedy said, “The sales people don’t put any pressure on you. They just want to help out the school and community. Bring a neighbor when you come!” Reedy also said they were “very appreciative of Ford and Mr. Martin for getting us this opportunity.”

And, for parents and the community, “It’s the easiest fundraiser; you don’t have to put anything out of your pocket.”

Cimorelli said that there are so many participants, Jarrett uses volunteers to help out.

“It’s real simple,” Cimorelli said. “Go for a test drive. No hassle. Good promotion!”

For more information, call (352) 567-6711.

City Hall honors Stewart Middle football team

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By Tammy Sue Struble

Monday evening’s regular city council meeting was a full house with standing room only. The majority were not there for the utility department magnesium hydroxide update, the spec building recommendation, the sale of surplus property discussion or the airport authority vacancy update. The group represented Stewart Middle football.

Mayor Cliff McDuffie presented Raymond B. Stewart Middle with a proclamation commending them for their undefeated season and for winning the district middle school football championship in 2010. (Photo by Tammy Sue Struble)

With Stewart Middle’s football team in their jerseys and coaches present, Mayor Cliff McDuffie presented the Zephyrhills middle school students with a proclamation commending the team for its undefeated season, a first for Stewart Middle football.

It is also the first time in 30 years Stewart Middle has had back-to-back conference championships. The young Bulldogs went on to win the district football championship in Pasco County.

After the presentation, team members were excused with their coaches and their gallery, leaving a fairly vacant room.

In other city business, a motion did pass suspending the spec building project at the airport location for 18 months. The city had planned to construct a building there in hopes of luring tenants to the airport, but council members decided the city budget was too tight to proceed during this difficult economic time.

Village Inn offers alternatives around the clock

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By Samantha Taylor

One of the great things about places like the Village Inn is that they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day and can serve you whatever you are in the mood for.  Let me share with you a particular healthy dish from each category I got during a visit to the location at SR 54 near Collier Parkway.

One of their healthy breakfasts is a delicious Greek Omelet, a mixture of artichokes, fresh tomatoes, spinach and feta cheese tucked inside egg whites, topped with avocado.  It is served with yogurt and multigrain pancakes.  Now hold your horses, I wouldn’t eat all that goodness in one sitting!  Remember the big key — portion control, so take the yogurt to go, eat only half of the omelet and stop after one multigrain pancake.

If you’re in the mood for a salad, enjoy their offering of Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry Salad with stir-fried veggies over a bed of mixed greens.  It is a fun twist to just the salad mainstays.  But, be sure to ask for grilled chicken instead of the standard fried chicken that comes with it.  The dish also has wonton noodles, which I asked to be served on the side so I could control how much goes into the meal.

Also request romaine lettuce instead of iceberg for some extra nutrients. I like this dish, not only because it tastes great, but also because it has more veggies then the average salad.  I also didn’t even need a dressing for it because of the tasty Teriyaki sauce.

Village Inn offers a lot of fantastic options.  Sandwich lovers may want to try the Avocado Swiss Chicken, with grilled chicken, sautéed onions and green peppers, mushrooms, sliced avocado, tomato and Swiss cheese on a white bun, which you could substitute with the healthier wheat or rye bread.  It comes with fries, which you may want to replace with salad or veggies.  Again, portion control — eat the salad or veggies, half the sandwich and the other half for takeaway.  Practice discipline, my friend.

Village Inn has a “Pick 3” special, which is awesome and budget friendly.  You get a cup of soup or salad, half a sandwich of many options (again, ask for the whole wheat bread) and a piece of the fantastic pie that Village Inn is famous for.  If you don’t have a sugar addiction and are letting yourself have an occasional treat, take the piece of pie home and save it for another time.

My goal is to teach you balance, instead of putting you on some rigid diet plan.  Achieving balance gives you a little room to enjoy — a great motivation in making eating healthier a lifestyle.  This way, you can manage your weight, maintain your ideal weight for the rest of your life and still enjoy how you eat.

Feeding landscape palms

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By BJ Jarvis

Florida gardeners are in love with a few plant groups and palms are near the top of many gardeners’ “must have” list. Unfortunately most landscape palms suffer from improper nutrition.

These expensive and cornerstone components of our landscape need to have their nutritional deficiencies accurately identified and met. If not, the result is a super-stressed plant or worse, death. Let’s look at four common nutrient issues and how to resolve them.

Symptoms on older leaves

While turf likes nitrogen, it is rarely a palm deficiency. On the other hand, potassium, the last number on a fertilizer bag, is one of the most widespread challenges. Symptoms are often confused with diseases, appearing as small yellow spots in the leaves. In severe cases, leaflets become dried and frazzled. The midrib will remain green and usually appears on older fronds.

Magnesium is also commonly in short supply for palms.  Canary Island palms are especially prone, appearing as a yellow band along the margin of older leaves. Thankfully, a magnesium shortage rarely kills landscape palms.

Symptoms on new leaves

Manganese can be identified on damage on new leaves characterized as frizzle top. New spear leaves are weak, withered and often misshapen. Queen palms are especially prone to manganese deficiency.

Boron deficiency appears initially as bent leafs progressing to a zipper-like or accordion pleated leaf. Queen palms are especially affected and in more severe cases, the entire plant will grow to one side.

So how does the gardener address this confusing and extensive array of palm nutritional deficiencies? This is one of the few times I recommend a special fertilizer to assure proper nutrition. Slow release palm fertilizer should be applied uniformly over the soil surface, not just in a small band that isolates fertilizer to about 10 percent of the roots.

The best palm fertilizer is one that has a nutritional complement of 8-2-12+4Mg (magnesium) plus minor nutrients. Although minor nutrients are needed in only small quantities, they are vital to plant health. Prilled kieserite is the best formulation for the 4 percent magnesium.

Palm fertilizer should be applied for a full 25-foot radius around palms, even if that extends into the rest of the plantings or grassy areas. Never use turf fertilizer around palms, as the high nitrogen adversely affects the other nutrients. With a palm fertilizer, grasses and other landscape plants are just as happy.  But palms are never happy with turf fertilizer.

Deficient palms will appreciate fertilization a couple times per year, usually in April, June and early October. Remember, no fertilizer is better than using the wrong fertilizer.

One reason palms are expensive is they grow slowly, which means their health improves slowly too. Putting on an average of one new leaf per month, you must be patient to see improved palm health.

Keeping palms properly nourished will pay back huge dividends in the long run for these stately pillars of our landscapes.

For more information on palms nutrition, visit the University of Florida’s, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP26100.pdf or contact the Pasco Extension office.

—BJ Jarvis is Director and Horticulture Agent for Pasco Cooperative Extension, a partnership between the University of Florida, USDA and county government. She can be reached at . Visit Extension’s website at www.pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/gardening for more information.

Cowboys rebuilding with new faces

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By Kyle LoJacono

The Gaither flag football team won the District 12 championship in 2009 and was the runner-up last season. The 2011 Cowboys (1-2) look very different, but their goal is the same.

Ayanna Fullwood

“When I first came here, Freedom was district champs and then the next season, when I was on varsity, we won the district,” said senior Ayanna Fullwood. “Freedom has been at the top of the district for a while, and last year Alonso was a very good team. This year I think it’s up for grabs.”

Gaither went 8-3 last year, but two of those losses came to Alonso which reached the state championship game.

“We’ve made the district tournament each year, but we’ve only advanced one year,” said Gaither coach Bill Agatheas, who took over the program for the 2007 season. “Last year we lost 20-14 to Alonso in the district title game.”

The Cowboys will need to replace several key contributors if they are to return to the district playoffs. Shanel Sweet was Gaither’s quarterback last season, but she transferred to Land O’ Lakes.

Lauren Moore was a starting wide receiver and safety for Gaither last year, but is sitting out her senior campaign after signing a soccer scholarship with the University of Tampa.

Additionally, Agatheas lost his would-be quarterback Caity Chandler, a senior, after she tore her anterior curciate ligament (ACL) in her knee during the last minute of the last game of the girls soccer season.

“We’ve had a wacky year with so much turnover,” Agatheas said. “We’re basically a new team with all new faces except a few. I’ve had a few kids drop out in the past, but nothing like the number we’ve lost this year. It’s just a weird year. The kids are fired up though and want to play.

“It’s on odd year with our roster, but who knows,” Agatheas continued. “Maybe we’ll surprise some people.”

Audrey Trent

Junior Audrey Trent slides into the quarterback role in her third year on the squad. She said she picked up the game because she plays softball in the Lutz Leaguerettes, which is where she learned how to throw.

“I want to be less nervous the rest of the season,” Trent said. “I want to have fun all year, and I think by having fun, winning just comes in line.”

Agatheas said he is leaning on his senior captains Dobra Hollins and Fullwood to lead the squad. He is also counting on major contributions from freshmen, like wide receiver Kashari James.

“She’s our best receiver,” Agatheas said of James. “She’s only a freshman, and she’s going to be a big target for us.”

Fullwood mainly plays running back and cornerback, but occasionally gets in at quarterback. She started playing the game because it is a stress reliever.

“You have school all day and it’s fun to be able to come out to the field after and release everything,” Fullwood said. “We can leave school behind. It’s really a competitive sport and I’m a competitive person, so it’s the perfect sport to play.”

Hollins, a running back and defensive back, joined the team her sophomore season because she is good friends with Fullwood. She also grew up playing pickup football.

“I would always play football growing up,” Hollins said. “It would be with all boys. I was the only girl playing.”

The two team leaders are hoping for a strong finish to the season.

“I want to finish out as strong as possible,” Fullwood said. “We want to do the best we can and most importantly have fun. It’s my senior year and I want to have fun.”

Gaither next plays at home against Alonso on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Patriots look to rebound in 2011

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By Kyle LoJacono

The Freedom flag football team has two district championships in the last four years, and the Patriots are hoping a return to the basics will keep them at the top.

Briahanna Jackson

“It’s going to be tough with Alonso and Gaither and some other teams,” said Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger, who started the Patriots program in 2006. “It’s about going back to the basics. We got away from that a little bit the last two years because we had a lot of talent, but sometimes that makes you get away from what really wins games.”

The Patriots (3-0) are in District 12 with such area schools as Gaither, Steinbrenner, Sickles and Wharton. Alonso won the district championship last year.

Freedom was 9-0 in 2006, the first year flag football was offered in Hillsborough County. The Patriots won the district title in 2007 and 2008 and were the runner-up in 2009, but did not advance past the district semifinals for the first time last year.

If Freedom is to regain the district crown, a new member of the school will likely have to make a big impact.

Briahanna Jackson, a senior quarterback and defensive back, transferred from Wiregrass Ranch a month ago.

“I didn’t know they had flag football here until my Shade’ (Williams) told me about it,” Jackson said. “It didn’t take me long to come to practice. The day before my first day of school, I came to practice because I was excited to play.”

Katie Cerillo takes a pitch in practice.

Jackson said she played flag football until age 13 while living in Citrus County, but she has already established herself as one of Freedom’s leaders.

“She’s just very athletic,” Derflinger said. “She can run, throw deep, throw accurately. So far what I’ve seen, she makes good decisions with the ball too. She can definitely run this offense.”

Jackson led the Patriots to a victory in their season opener against Leto, a 14-0 win. The senior signal caller scored both touchdowns for her new team.

Jackson’s teammate Katie Cerillo, a senior running back and defensive back, has been on the squad for three years. She has seen the sport grow in the area.

“At first it was very small and even now people don’t know about flag football,” Cerillo said. “Definitely within our district, it’s tough and competitive. We’re hoping to come out on top.”

Derflinger agrees.

“It’s a competitive sport,” Derflinger said. “They take it serious. People think of powder-puff football, and this is nothing like that. It’s more competitive than that.”

Freedom next plays at Brandon on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Warriors poised to leave their mark on District 12

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By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner flag football team is taking inspiration from the girls soccer squad that won the Class 4A state championship only a few weeks ago.

“Our goal is to get to the state championship game and win just like girls soccer did,” said sophomore running back and middle linebacker Alyssa Dawson.

Alexandra Fernandez

Warriors quarterback Alexandra Fernandez, a sophomore, has the same goal in mind.

“My standards are high, so my goal is to go to states this year,” Fernandez said.

Steinbrenner (2-2) went 1-7 last year, but added several new components, including coach Jen Graham. She is married to Steinbrenner football coach Floyd Graham.

“I had the opportunity to coach, and I knew I could get my husband to help out,” Jen said. “I was on the sidelines for all his football games and am at his practices, so I thought it would be fun to do a little role reversal. I love football and I didn’t get the chance to play growing up. If they offered it when I was in school, I definitely would have.”

The football squad had a tough first year as well, going winless in varsity contests. The Warriors redoubled their work ethic in the school’s second year, and were rewarded with a 5-5 record.

“We’ve modeled our program after what the boys do,” Jen said. “We had seven weeks of morning conditioning at 6 in the morning before the season, which is what the guys do. We couldn’t use footballs, but we were getting ready for the year. They figured it’s what the guys do to get ready for the year and they thought it was cool that they were too.”

Jen also helped attract junior corner back Cary Anne Bame to the team. Bame is the Warriors libero on the volleyball team, which Graham is an assistant with.

“I played libero and defense for flag football, and I’ve noticed a lot of similarities,” Bame said. “In flag football, it’s all about covering your area. In volleyball, it’s the same thing. That’s how the coaches have broken it down for me. Also, in volleyball you have to back your teammates up, and we have to do the same thing as defensive backs.”

Bame, who made the All-Laker/All-Lutz News volleyball first team this season, said she was not expecting flag football to be as extreme as it has been.

Steinbrenner cornerback Cary Anne Bame covers Elaini Haning in practice.

“They’re telling me it’s a lot more intense than last year,” Bame said. “So I came out the first day and I wasn’t expecting it to be that intense. So I wasn’t expecting to be doing 100-yards sprints the first day.”

Dawson is another new addition, transferring in from Land O’ Lakes. She feels the preseason workouts will serve them well this year.

“It’s more mental toughness to get here at 6 in the morning and then go to school,” Dawson said. “It gets you ready for the season.”

The Warriors are in one of the more competitive districts, which includes area schools like Freedom, Gaither, Sickles and Wharton.

The Patriots won two district titles in 2007 and 2008. The Cowboys won the title in 2009 and were the runner-up last season. Alonso won District 12 in 2010, making it all the way to the state title game. Jen says that shows how competitive the sport is becoming.

“Before it was just get together and throw a ball around,” Jen said. “It wasn’t really organized. Now it’s much different. Every year it’s getting better, and coaches are really getting into it. I mean, we had a seven-week preseason and now the season, so that’s 15 weeks dedicated to flag football. It’s become big time, and I think it’ll be interesting to see where it goes.”

The Warriors next play at home against Wharton on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Steinbrenner coach John Crumbley first to 600 wins

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By Kyle LoJacono

It couldn’t have been a more perfect time for Steinbrenner baseball coach John Crumbley to get his 600th high school win when his Warriors defeated Cambridge Christian 11-0 March 18.

Steinbrenner baseball coach John Crumbley (right) with Leto coach John Pizzio as the Falcons retired Crumbley’s No. 7 jersey.

That game was part of the spring break tournament at Leto, where Crumbley graduated from in 1978. The opposing coach was Sam Marsonek, one of Crumbley’s former players when he led the Jesuit program. It was also the two-year anniversary of his father’s death.

“I said my dad (Rodney Crumbley) had us play average early so we could win it on that day,” Crumbley said. “It was a lot of things with that game. To play it at Leto, doing it against my former player, it was just a lot of craziness. We think the moon was lined up for it.”

Crumbley was surprised after the milestone game when Leto retired his No. 7 jersey.

The veteran coach led Jesuit for 22 years before becoming the Tigers athletic director in 2006. He guided the private school to the 1994, 1997 and 2000 state championships, but figured his time as a coach had come to an end.

“I wasn’t going to coach baseball at Jesuit again and my wife knew it was killing me not coaching,” Crumbley said. “We read something about this school called Steinbrenner opening, and she said I should go for it. Fortunately our principal Ms. (Brenda) Grasso and our athletic director Mr. (Eddie) Henderson gave me a chance. ”

Crumbley won 575 games at Jesuit and currently sits at 603 after adding another 28 while at Steinbrenner (10-4). He is the first coach to reach the 600 mark in Hillsborough County. He was also the first to win 500 games.

“It’s amazing and a blessing that I’ve been able to coach for so long with such great kids,” Crumbley said. “When 500 happened, my son (J.J.) pitched that game at Jesuit and it was kind of similar to my 600th because we 10-runned the opponent.

“It was just surreal,” Crumbley continued. “When you think of the great coaches in this area, like Frank Permuy at Gaither, the opportunity to coach 24 years and be the first to 500 and then the first to 600. Hopefully we can keep it going for a long time.”

Crumbley was a shortstop and pitcher while playing at Leto and the University of Tampa.

“I couldn’t play any further than that, and I wanted to stay in the game,” Crumbley said. “I felt teaching and coaching would be the best way to stay a part of the game I love.”

Crumbley’s passion is evident to his players, which is one of the things they enjoy about him.

“Words really can’t describe what it’s been like to play for coach Crumbley,” said junior pitcher Chris Williams. “He’s a competitor and gets the best out of you. He’s a good guy who people love to play for because you know if you listen to him you have a good chance of winning.”

Williams started the first half of a doubleheader for the Warriors in the Leto event against Plant. He left with the lead, but Steinbrenner was unable to get the win. Four hours later, the squad locked up the victory for its coach.

Senior Jason Wilton started the Cambridge game, going four scoreless innings. Sophomore Nick Ringo come in out of the bullpen to secure the win.

“It was really awesome to be the winning pitcher in that game,” Wilton said. “It was the two-year anniversary of his father dying, so I almost got teary-eyed. It was really an honor.”

Steinbrenner next plays at home against Jefferson on Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m.