Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Tampa mayor urges passage of transportation tax

By Molly McGowan

A mobility forum last week at Wharton High began with the ironic announcement that Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio would show up late because she was stuck in traffic. When she did arrive, however, Iorio referenced her experience as a perfect example of the importance of establishing proposed transportation improvements for the region.

She reminded the public that an upcoming referendum that would help fund these plans — a 1 percent addition to the current sales tax — will be on the ballot Nov. 2, and to consider the fact that the Tampa Bay area is playing catch-up to other metropolitan regions. Though the vote only involves Hillsborough County, Iorio said that Pasco and Pinellas counties will be looking to Hillsborough to see how the plans play out, and may eventually have the chance to vote on similar referendums.
Iorio cited Charlotte, N.C.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Atlanta, Ga. as similar regions that had successfully used sales tax referenda to improve and create bus and light rail systems, and said that following suit is important for Tampa and surrounding areas.
“This is the issue of the 21st century for our community,” Iorio said. She said Tampa is a sprawling, successful metropolitan area, “but the one thing we don’t have is an investment in a modern transportation system.”
The overall 2035 Regional Long Range Transportation Plan, as it is collectively referred to, would not only establish light rail connecting the University of South Florida (USF), downtown Tampa, New Tampa. the Westshore area and Brandon, but would also work with the Aviation Authority to provide rails that led directly into the Tampa International Airport for the ease of airport personnel and passengers.
Existing bus systems would also be improved. Instead of buses that ran once every hour, the system would be expanded to buses arriving at stops every 10-15 minutes, with express bus systems running in managed lanes solely for the express buses, as well as in mixed traffic.
For an hour before the meeting, which was Sept. 22, information displays were set up by the planning partners, where the public could assess visuals of the future plans and ask questions of the representatives. The planning partners consisted of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA), the Federal Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and Hillsborough and Pasco counties Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
The TBARTA projects most likely to affect the Pasco area are plans for a short distance light rail from USF to Wesley Chapel and an express bus service in mixed traffic and managed lanes along the SR 54/SR 56 corridor from New Port Richey to Wesley Chapel. The FDOT’s plan for widening I-275 from four lanes to six, from north of Livingston Avenue to CR 54, easing congestion in the Pasco area, would begin construction in the spring of 2011. In addition to the interstate’s widening, the apex where I-275 and I-75 intersect is already under construction to help eliminate weaving caused by struggles to merge lanes. In regards to these specific improvements, Interstate Program Manager Adam Perez said, “It’s definitely going to ease congestion — that’s for sure.”
Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri commented that the current widening of SR 54 would favorably impact the Pasco area. Mulieri explained that the idea behind the Pasco MPO plans is “connecting density and growth with multi-modal transportation,” creating an urban service area.
“We had a few hiccups along the way,” Mulieri said, but the additions to SR 54 are successfully underway.
At the end of the meeting, the floor was open to the public so they could ask questions of the representatives assembled. Several people stepped up to the microphone to speak, representing mostly the Tampa and Hillsborough areas, and making statements about the projected transportation plans, rather than asking questions.
Regardless of the fact that not one person actually asked a question, both sides of the issue were represented, with some in full support of the plans and others extremely wary of the 1 percent tax increase and the fact that the improvements would take so long to complete. The final determination of whether the tax increase and transportation plans will pass depends on citizens of Hillsborough County, who will cast their votes on Nov. 2, either for or against the referendum.

By Kyle LoJacono

Land O’ Lakes High principal Ric Mellin knew the University of Florida (UF) would eventually ask high schools to end the use of the Gators logo, which proved prophetic.
UF sent letters Sept. 17 to two South Florida high schools, asking them to, “phase out use of the gator head and Gators script that are similar or identical to those of the college.”
Land O’ Lakes did not receive the letter because Mellin foresaw the potential problem. He became the Gators principal in March 2009, coming from the same position at Mitchell High.
“At Mitchell we had a mustang logo that was very similar to what they use at the University of Western Michigan (Broncos),” Mellin said. “We were asked to change that logo and we did, so when I came here I decided to be proactive and call UF to see if things were ok. They asked us to change the logo, so we did.”
Former Land O’ Lakes yearbook sponsor Kim Saavedra, now at Anclote High, came up with the new Gators logo, which is an alligator’s head sticking out of the water. The new logo was unveiled for last school year.
Saavedra said while designing the new logo she wanted it to still obviously be a gator while being very different from what UF uses.
There are other images of gators around the school, including one standing with LOL across its chest on the side of the weight room. Mellin said those are not the official logo.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said the university does not have a problem with schools using the name Gators, only to logos that are the same or nearly the same as the gator head. She said the university feels it has to protect its registered trademark in part so people do not confuse UF with a high school.

By B.C. Manion

Christy Raile didn’t like the educational options available for her 3-year-old son, Austin:  He could either go to the Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind in St. Augustine for five days a week or he could ride a school bus two hours each way for special education.
Neither seemed like a good idea to her.

Sending her 3-year-old away for five days a week was not going to happen, and Raile was not willing to force him to ride 20 hours a week, either.
“They’re these little teeny-tiny kids and they’re strapped into these harnesses. As a parent you just think, there’s got to be something better,” Raile said.
So, she set about finding out what it would take to set up her own school, and after 3 ½ years, HALO Academy, at 15102 Amberly Drive at Grace Episcopal Church, opened its doors this fall. The nonprofit school’s acronym stands for Hope, Achieve, Learn, Overcome.
So far, the school, which is for children with special needs as well as typical children, has just three students.  Two of them are Raile’s children, Austin, who is now 6 and has a hearing impairment and global dyspraxia; and Aubrey, 5, who is a typical child.
The other student is 5-year-old Hailey Ferrara, of Wesley Chapel, who has chiari malformation type one and apraxia. The little girl is speech delayed and needs occupational, speech and physical therapy..
The three children are taught by Jessie Wamsley, a teacher who is certified in deaf education and special education.
Raile said she has a waiting list of nine 3- and 4-year-old children for pre-school.
She hadn’t planned to open a pre-school, but those are the students who showed up. So, she plans to meet those needs, but first she must meet some requirements of her own.
She hopes to open the pre-school around December. She’s already lined up the teacher.
Raile said she wants her school to include children of different ability levels because she thinks it benefits all children.
Children with special needs get to see other children doing things that may inspire them to want to try, while typical children are given an opportunity to develop a deeper sense of compassion, she said.
“My heart breaks for the little Haileys of the world, the little Austins, who are put into a secluded classroom and all they get is other children that are just like themselves. They need to see that component of typical kids.
“It goes both ways. I have two typical girls (her daughters) who are better children and better people because they have a little brother like they do. It brings a loving, nurturing spirit to that typical child that you just don’t get.
“They learn an aspect of humanity that you really don’t get anywhere else,” Raile said.
Parents of special needs kids are looking for a place where their child’s needs can be met, Raile said.
“Every parent who has a child who has a need like that – they don’t feel like their child is cared for, loved or understood.
“I want the moms to come in here and to be able to talk to me. A lot of these children have medical issues that teachers just don’t understand.
“There are reasons that our children are behaving and acting like they do. But unfortunately, the pediatricians and the neurologists and the geneticists don’t talk to the school system. I would love to bridge that gap,” said Raile, who has a medical background as a nurse anesthetist.
She understands what the parents are going through.  “I can fill in their sentences.”
“I’ve had more parents cry at my table in the last four weeks, just because somebody gets it,” Raile said.
Jasmine Ferrara, of Wesley Chapel, is one of those parents who tears up at the thought of her child’s difficulties.
The little girl had begun classes in public school, but Ferrara said, “deep down, I knew it was not the right place for her.”
Hailey was riding the bus 45 minutes each way, and when she got home, she would lash out at anyone within striking distance.
“She was absolutely miserable being strapped for 45 minutes at a time,” Ferrara said.
When the little girl arrived home, she would hit, punch, kick, bite and scratch.
“And now, I have none of that,” Jasmine Ferrara said. “She was mad. She didn’t know how to express it.”
Even in just a short time, the school has made a difference, said the youngster’s grandmother, Deb Natale. “She’s back to being little Hailey again.”
“We’re making sure she gets that sign language component, so she has an outlet,” Raile said. “Children who can’t communicate are frustrated.”
Tuition at HALO Academy is $8,000 a year, but the school meets the requirements for its special needs students to qualify for a McKay Scholarship.
Typical children who attend the school can qualify for an Ambassador Scholarship, which results in a tuition of $500 a month for them.
Raile said parents need to feel like there is hope for their children.
“If a parent gives up hope, then the child has no chance. We don’t know what our children are capable of. So, we have to present and make it available to them,” Raile said.
The school is very small at the moment, but Raile has big dreams.
“What would I like? I would like our own facility and I would like to start from six weeks all of the way up to 12th grade.”
For more information about HALO Academy, go to www.haloacademy.com

By B.C. Manion

When students hear a rumor about a weapon on campus, or know that there bullies running wild – they may want to tell someone, but may be afraid of potential consequences.

Now, there’s a new tool in Pasco County’s public schools that aims to help school officials and law enforcement prevent and prosecute crime on school campuses.

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White and Pasco schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino announced the Campus Crime Stoppers program at a joint news conference last week.

The initiative, which began the first day of school, gives students three ways to anonymously report criminal activity or a suspect, by calling a 24-hour, toll-free hotline, by going to a website, or by texting it in.

The student provides the name and location of the school, along with a description of the criminal activity or the suspect and the program’s coordinator passes that information along to the school resource officer.

Like the traditional crime stopper program, rewards are provided for tips that lead to arrests.

At the time of the news conference, the district had already received 15 anonymous tips, said Summer Romagnoli, school district spokeswoman.

“We’re hoping it will give our students peace of mind in knowing they can report crimes and bullying without any fear of retribution and retaliation,” Romagnoli said.

Besides, students are an excellent source of information, she added.

“Nobody knows what’s going on in their peer group better than the students themselves,” Romagnoli said. “We want to involve them (students) in keeping our campuses safe.”

In addition to the news conference, the district held a poster contest to bring attention to the program and it printed information about it on the back page of a planner it gives to each student to help plan the year ahead, Romagnoli said.

More than 400 entries were received in the poster contest. The winners – created by Rebecca Baer of Zephyrhills High School, Frances Calderin of Rushe Middle School and Savannah Hall of Wesley Chapel Elementary School — now grace walls in schools throughout the district.

To share anonymous tips
Campus Crime Stoppers hotline (800) 873-8477
Web tip: http://www.crimestopperstb.com
Text tip: C-R-I-M-E-S [274637], keyword CSTB

By Kyle LoJacono

Market in the Park was an annual staple at Bullard Park in Lutz for more than a decade and the community tradition is returning as Market at the Old Lutz School Oct. 2.
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club puts on the event, which started 10 to 12 years ago, according to event co-chairwomen and club member Phyllis Hoedt. The event was canceled last year because of the fees that were imposed by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department to use department property like Bullard Park.
“It was always a good time and I’m happy we can bring it back,” said Christy Rogers, the club’s second vice president. “We have room for 75 vendors and hopefully we have a full house.”

The event is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Old Lutz School. Parking is free.
Some of the things that will be sold at the market are jewelry, crafts, produce, antiques and other flea market items. The women’s club will also sell hot dogs and desserts. Those interested in being a vendor, which costs $20 per booth, should call (813) 948-2090 or (813) 949-1937 by Friday, Oct. 1.
“We wanted to bring the event back to raise some money for good causes,” said current club president Edwina Kraemer. “Money raised from selling vendor spots will go to the club and then to more than 200 groups like the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, veterans groups, Moffitt Center and others. The money from food we sell will go to the Old Lutz School.”
Rogers said the vendors get to keep all the money from selling their products. She added that the money raised for the old school will probably go to replacing the windows in the building.
Sandy Sumner, who has lived in Lutz for 11 years, sold Avon products at three of the markets when it was still at the park and is pleased the event has returned.
“It’s a great event to have,” Sumner said. “There are so many things going on with a lot of people coming out and having a good time. I do some business in Land O’ Lakes and a lot of the people from up there I know used to always come out, so it’s more than just a Lutz event.”
Besides Avon makeup and skincare products, Sumner will be selling shirts and purses.
The women’s club will not just be selling food. They will be selling their cookbook with all types of recipes.
“You can put your finger in any page and find something great,” Kraemer said. “We’ll have samples of some of the desserts for people to try at the market.”

In addition, some of the money raised by the women’s club will go to Glenda Wilson’s campaign for Honorary Mayor for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.
Kraemer is very happy with bringing back the Lutz tradition after its one-year hiatus mainly because it can help bring the community together.
“Hopefully people will come out and have a good time with their neighbors,” Kraemer said. “You’ll be able to find something nice for yourself and your friends and family while helping the Old Lutz School.”

Market at the Old Lutz School
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2
Where: the Old Lutz School in front of Lutz Elementary
Vendors: call (813) 948-2090 or (813) 949-1937
Parking: free

By Shannon Edinger

A local pizzeria invites customers to enjoy the taste of Italy just west of the Shops at Wiregrass.
Pizza Mania, located at 1734 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in the west corner of the Publix plaza, has been open for eight years and is family-owned.  Antonio Parascandola opened the restaurant because he wanted to share his passion for authentic Italian food with others.
Parascandola, 33, was born in Naples, Italy and moved to New Jersey at the age of 20.  He moved to Florida five years later and opened Pizza Mania.
“Pizza and Italian food is part of our family,” Parascandola said.  “Some of our recipes date back 56 years to my grandmother’s time.”  Parascandola’s father, Ray, has been in the business for 45 years.
Pizza Mania makes hand-tossed pizzas with fresh ingredients including mozzarella, ricotta, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, spinach, garlic, basil, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
One of their specialty gourmet pizzas, the pizza Italiana, is a customer favorite. It is a white pizza with spinach, tomatoes, and fresh garlic that shows off the colors of the Italian flag.  Pizza prices range from $5.95 to $20.95.
Other menu items include calzones, soups and salads, pastas, and Italian desserts such as Tiramisu and Cannoli.
Parascandola says Pizza Mania is busiest on Friday nights. They do not serve alcohol or deliver orders, but they do cater events.  “We’ve catered two weddings for over 100 guests, and we cater MetLife twice a year, serving thousands of employees,” Parascandola said.  “Everything always runs smoothly.”
Last November, Parascandola and his uncle, Lenny Schiano opened Fresco Pizza. It has the same menu but it is smaller than Pizza Mania. Parascandola worked at Fresco Pizza for the first five months after its opening.  Fresco Pizza is located at 18853 SR 54 in Lutz.  With restaurants located in both Wesley Chapel and Lutz, more people can enjoy authentic Italian food closer to home.
Pizza Mania and Fresco Pizza are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Parascandola says that perfecting authentic Italian dishes takes time.  Pizza Mania and Fresco Pizza are not fast food or chain pizzerias. The restaurants are small in size, but big on taste.
Pizza Mania: (813) 907-0005
Fresco Pizza: (813) 949-7400

By Shannon Edinger

A popular Wesley Chapel pizza place recently branched out with a similar location in Lutz.
Fresco Pizza, located at 18853 SR 54 in Lutz, is an extension of Wesley Chapel’s Pizza Mania, located at 1734 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., is family-owned and has been open for eight years.

Due to the restaurant’s success, owner Anthony Parascandola and his uncle/co-owner, Lenny Schiano, opened Fresco Pizza to serve two pizza-hungry areas of Pasco County.
The family moved from Naples, Italy to New Jersey, then to Florida eight years ago. Parascandola’s father, Ray, has been in the business for 45 years now, and some of the recipes date back 56 years.
Fresco Pizza and Pizza Mania share the same menu.  The pizzas are hand-tossed with fresh ingredients including mozzarella, ricotta, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, spinach, garlic, basil, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.  Gourmet pizzas such as the pizza Italiana and the meat lovers are two customer favorites.  The pizza Italiana is a white pizza with spinach, tomatoes, and fresh garlic that show off the colors of the Italian flag.  Its crispy crust and fresh toppings make it a top choice.  The meat lovers pizza has pepperoni, sausage, bacon and extra cheese piled high atop the crispy crust, making it another customer favorite.
“We have a unique pizza at Fresco Pizza called grandma’s pizza,” Schiano says.  “It’s an upside down pizza with the cheese on the bottom and fresh tomatoes and onions on top.”
Schiano says some other popular menu items are the antipasto mania salad and the chicken Napoli sandwich.  The antipasto mania salad contains crispy green lettuce, auricchio cheese, salami, black and green olives, artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes.  The chicken Napoli sandwich has grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, balsamic vinaigrette, and fresh mozzarella.
Menu items range in price from about $2.75 to $20.95.  Schiano says Fresco Pizza is busiest on Friday nights.  “About 90% of our customers are regulars,” Schiano says.  “Creating pizzas and pleasing customers is what I love most about working here.”
Fresco Pizza does not serve alcohol or deliver orders, but does cater events.  Fresco Pizza is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Pizza Mania: (813) 907-0005. Fresco Pizza: (813) 949-7400.

By Tom Chang

Riding a trolley from the gift shop, visitors will enter the world of Dade City’s Wild Things, an animal sanctuary and zoo. The 22-acre facility is home to more than 190 different animals from tigers and bears, to wallabies and monkeys.

“I worked with animals since I was a kid,” owner Kathy Stearns said.  “I have been doing wildlife rehab for 30-plus years.  We got this monkey then we got more [animals].  It grew to the point where we created the nonprofit.  We started doing private tours. We got to doing this full-time.  I woke up one day and said ‘let’s start a zoo.’ We’ve been a nonprofit for 7-8 years.”
One recent addition to the zoo is a white tiger cub named Diamond, who recently visited PetSmart in the Grove at Wesley Chapel for a fitting of his blue color with embedded diamonds.
“Diamond is a white tiger with brown stripes,” Stearns said.  “She’s a Bengal.  She was donated to us from a zoo out in Oklahoma City.  We got her when she was 3 weeks old.  She’s about 9 and a half weeks now.”
According to Stearns, all white tigers are related and can be traced to the one found in the wild.  Diamond is still on the bottle, fed with the essential nutrients tiger cubs require.  She is adjusting to raw meat, but not capable of chewing through bone.  When the cub reaches 100 pounds, which is usually within a few months, she will be above handle-weight.
Diamond isn’t the only baby at the zoo, according to Randy Stearns, Kathy’s son and a 15-year employee of the zoo. He said visitors can handle a variety of baby animals.
“It’s popular because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.  “The people enjoy it.  The animals enjoy it.  It helps socialize the animals and get used to people.”
Other youths are also a common sight at the zoo — children.
“We do a lot of birthday parties in the spring time,” Kathy Stearns said.  “We also have summer camps where kids come for a week or three days where they get hands-on.”
She said the zoo is expanding its driving tour section.
“We have buffalo now and a lot of the animals not on the walking tour,” Kathy Stearns said.  “We are planning to get a giraffe.  There is a five-acre section where a guide will tell you about things.”
Dade City’s Wild Things is located on 37245 Meridian Ave.  General admission is $22.95 for adults.  Seniors receive a 10 percent discount. Children ages 2–12 are $12.95 and ages under 2 are free. The facility opens from Tuesday thru Saturday.  The gift shop is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, while tours run at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.dadecityswildthings.com or call (352) 567-9453.