The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

USF Women’s Basketball volunteers with Habitat for Humanity

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The University of South Florida Women’s Basketball team volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on Aug. 24 in Safety Harbor. The players and coaches painted the exteriors of two Habitat Homes alongside the future homeowners, the Baker and Glazman families, according to a news release. This continues USF’s tradition of community service, as various USF sports teams have participated in Habitat build days since 2021. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas, West Pasco & Hernando Counties, visit HabitatPWP.org.

PHSC golf tournament

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The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) Foundation will host its annual golf tournament on Oct. 18, at the Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club in Dade City. Registration will be at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Jen Ferguson at 727-816-3431 or . For sponsorship opportunities, visit Giving.PHSC.edu/golf.

Victory High golf tournament

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The Florida Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay Inc. will host its Second Annual Golf Tournament on Sept. 30 at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd. in New Port Richey. The tournament — a four-person scramble — starts at 8:30 a.m., with a $150 fee covering golf cart, meals and prizes. Sponsorship opportunities are available, with proceeds directly supporting counseling and recovery services for students at three Victory High Schools, according to a news release. For more information and to register, visit GolfingForVictory.com.

Simple recipes that make school days a cinch

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(Family Features) – Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals and desserts you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease tension in the kitchen.

Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less, and Taco Salad and Taco Mac and Cheese recipes offer mealtime solutions that make cooking duty a breeze. Make all that classroom effort worth it with a kid-friendly dessert you can prepare over the weekend and keep refrigerated for weeknight treats with No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars.

Make dinner happen in 30 minutes

(Courtesy of Family Features)

If you’re looking for a go-to meal for your hungry family, search no more. This Taco Salad calls only for pantry staples, so you can spice up busy evenings in just half an hour.

Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes.

Taco Salad

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6

1 pound ground beef
1 can (15 ounces) black beans
1 can (15 ounces) corn
2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes with chilies
1/2 cup half-and-half or milk
2 Tablespoons onion powder
2 Tablespoons garlic powder
2 Tablespoons mesquite seasoning
1 Tablespoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
1 lime, juice only
1 cup chopped cilantro
Romaine lettuce
2-3 cups shredded cheese
1 tub (16 ounces) sour cream
Crushed tortilla chips

In a pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain. Add black beans and corn. Stir in tomatoes with juices and half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to a simmer.

Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for toppings.

On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, as desired.

A sweet treat to make school days special

Sometimes a long day in the classroom and tough homework assignments call for a cool treat. Rewarding all that studying can be a cinch with a no bake cheesecake bar that lasts throughout the week.

No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars allow you to keep things cool in the kitchen without cranking up the oven. Plus, they’re made with C&H sugars that are perfect for adding a little something special to school days.

Find more back-to-school desserts at CHsugar.com.

(Courtesy of Family Features)

No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars

Prep time: 35 minutes

Rest time: 6 hours

Yield: 16 bars 

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 Tablespoons C&H light brown sugar
1 pinch salt 

Bars:

1 small fresh dragon fruit, peeled and cubed small
1/4 cup C&H granulated sugar
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups C&H powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup plain Greek yogurt, full fat, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, cold

To make crust: Line 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave a 2-inch overhang of paper on both sides. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar and salt until well combined. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Place in the freezer.

To make bars: In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook dragon fruit and granulated sugar until sugar is completely dissolved, dragon fruit is soft and mixture reduces in size, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool completely. 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla and yogurt. Beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into cream cheese mixture. Pour half of the mixture into the prepared crust. Add 5 Tablespoons of dragon fruit mixture to the remaining cream cheese batter. Mix until well combined. Pour over plain cream cheese mixture. Place in the refrigerator to set at least 6 hours, or overnight.

Cut into 16 bars.

Spice up weeknights

Macaroni and cheese is a beloved comfort food that’s easy to make on busy weeknights. With just a few extra ingredients and steps, you can turn boxed mac and cheese into a filling dinner.

To make Taco Mac and Cheese, simply prepare your favorite boxed mac and cheese according to the package instructions, and stir fry the meat and vegetables together. (Hint: You can even chop vegetables the night before to make cooking the next day even easier.) Then add taco seasoning and combine for a new take on a classic dish.

Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes.

(Courtesy of Family Features)

Taco Mac and Cheese

1 box macaroni and cheese
1/4 cup milk
4 Tablespoons butter
1 pound ground turkey
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
2 teaspoons taco seasoning

Prepare boxed mac and cheese with milk and butter according to package instructions.

In a skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning.

Stir turkey mixture with mac and cheese to combine.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

Mosquito Control District considers expansion

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The Pasco County Mosquito Control District is in the planning stages of moving to a new and significantly larger headquarters and base of operations, according to Executive Director Adriane Rogers.

Those segments of the district have been located on a 10-acre site at 2308 Marathon Road in Odessa since 1987. The boundary has expanded twice since then and services have been provided to all of Pasco County since 2003, Rogers said.

From left: Pasco County Mosquito Control District pilot Brian Gentry, Aerial Operations Director Wayne Daniels and Executive Director Adriane Rogers stand by a helicopter that is the district’s seventh airborne asset (Courtesy of Maria Johnson)

The tremendous growth the county has experienced since 1987 is one of the reasons for the planned relocation to a 41.85-acre site on the west side of U.S. 41 just north of State Road 52 in central Pasco County, Rogers said. U.S. Census Bureau records indicate that Pasco County is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida.

“As the county is growing at an unprecedented rate, the district must grow our staff, fleet and technologies to keep up,” Rogers said. “A lot has changed at the district since 1987. We are busting at the seams.”

Nearly 50 people are employed at the district year-round and an additional 13 people work during the season when the greatest amount of mosquito control effort is required, according to Rogers.

There are only nine buildings at the current location in Odessa and those buildings are for various uses, including administration and laboratory, vehicle maintenance and repair, helicopter maintenance and storage, fleet storage, warehouse, and facilities maintenance.

As many as 14 buildings could be constructed at the new location that is north of the Talavera community, Rogers said.

The increased number of buildings will allow for ample fleet storage and buildings with diverse functions, such as administration or laboratory, to be in their own buildings with all assets related to that function under the same roof. This will increase the efficiency of the district’s operations, according to Rogers.

Plans call for all of the buildings constructed at the new location to be hardened structures designed to withstand hurricanes and other forms of inclement weather, Rogers said. This will protect all of the district’s assets.

“It’s vital for the district to be operational immediately following a storm event to reduce mosquito populations and decrease the potential for mosquito-borne disease transmission,” Rogers said. “Our number one goal is to protect public health.”

Only two of the buildings at the Odessa site — a warehouse and a hanger for a helicopter — are hardened to withstand strong winds, Rogers said.

Mosquito Control is seeking solicitations from general contractors so they may be prequalified before submitting bids to do work at the new location.

District leadership needs to know if potential bidders are able to construct the types of hardened structures and multi-use buildings that are planned for the new location. This means they must have prior experience in constructing such buildings, according to Rogers.

A site plan for the new location was submitted to Pasco County in December 2023. Permits to begin development have been under review since then by the county, Florida Department of Transportation, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and other agencies, according to Rogers.

Another necessary reason to move is that personnel will be able to provide services throughout Pasco County in a more effective and efficient manner, Rogers said.

It currently takes up to 1 1/2 hours to reach service sites in Dade City, Lacoochee or Zephyrhills and up to another 1 1/2 hours to return back to the headquarters in Odessa, Rogers said. This means some of the employees are spending up to three hours of their workday just commuting back and forth to reach the places where their services are needed, Rogers said.

The new location for the proposed campus is more centrally located in the county. This will result in a significant reduction in travel to allow quicker access to East Pasco so the district will be able to provide the same rapid, quality customer service to residents in the entire county, according to Rogers.

Once the permits are granted and the district selects a general contractor,  construction could take place over approximately one year. It is unknown at this time what the cost of construction will be and when the district will be able to relocate its headquarters to the new base of operations, Rogers said.

 

Published on August 28, 2024.

Combat-wounded vet gets new home

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One of the worst days in the life of U.S. Army Master Sgt. Christopher “Chris” Blauvelt (Ret.) was April 4, 2010, when he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device detonated underneath a vehicle he was in while serving in Afghanistan.

However, Aug. 17, 2024, was one of the happiest days of his life. That’s when he and his family were welcomed to a new, mortgage-free home on Nine Iron Court in Wesley Chapel.

Bernadette Blauvelt looks on as her husband, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Christopher “Chris” Blauvelt, cuts the ribbon Aug. 17 in front of their new home on Nine Mile Court in Wesley Chapel (Courtesy of Joe Potter)

The national nonprofit organization Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) presented the custom-built home to the family because of the severe combat-related injuries Blauvelt had sustained. In addition to his right leg having to be amputated, he also had a traumatic brain injury and suffered spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis.

Blauvelt told the approximately 100 people attending the ceremony at his new home that he doesn’t remember anything that happened to him on that day. But he assured them he would never forget the day he was presented the custom-built home that is specially adapted to provide him with a safe living environment. 

Blauvelt and his family previously resided in a two-story home in Tampa where he faced serious daily challenges. 

His new 2,800-square-foot home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. One of those bathrooms is oversized and designed so he can safely roll into it to take a shower. 

Blauvelt, his wife Bernadette, and the couple’s five children – Coulter, Penny, Zoe, Mia and Zachery – are happily calling the new residence their home.

HFOT has provided mortgage-free homes to hundreds of combat-wounded veterans across the nation since its founding in 2004, according to Jocelyn Phipps, the organization’s community engagement coordinator. HFOT has lived up to its motto of “Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives!” Phipps said.

The nonprofit’s mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post 9/11 veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives, Phipps said. It doesn’t receive any federal or state funding.

Attendees saw Blauvelt receive the keys to his new home and triumphantly hoist a U.S. flag on a flagpole in front of it, as part of the ceremony. 

“Y’all don’t know how much this means to me,” he said. “I’ve never had a flagpole before.”

Blauvelt has a lengthy service history prior to being medically discharged in 2012. 

He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard immediately after graduating from high school because he wanted to serve in a law enforcement-type capacity. He was a helicopter rescue swimmer for four of the eight years he was in the Coast Guard.

After working for the U.S. Postal Service for a couple of years, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served there for about five years, during which time he worked in Force Recon. 

The 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred about six months after he was discharged from the Marine Corps, which prompted him to join the U.S. Army National Guard based in Connecticut where he and his family lived at that time.

It was during his first deployment to Afghanistan as a National Guardsman that he  was severely injured. 

People were invited to tour the house after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Some of the activities preceding the tour were the presentation of the colors by members of the Wesley Chapel Cadet Squadron of the Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and Autumn Rae singing the National Anthem.

Also, Elizabeth Evans Weiss was recognized as the general contractor for the construction of Blauvelt’s home, along with Jim Peley, project manager, and the staff and subcontractors at Elizabeth Evans Custom Homes.

Bonnie Purcell with Quilts of Valor wrapped one of their quilts around Blauvelt.

U.S. Air Force Col. Ret. Jerry Custin made some remarks on behalf of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-FL’s 12th District. 

Deb Kehoe, a volunteer with the Rosedale Fundraiser, talked about how the donations of HOFT had steadily increased over the years, including more than $400,000 raised in 2023. 

“Quite frankly, it’s not about the money,” Kehoe said. “It’s about what the money does for the veterans.”.

HFOT Executive Director Bill Ivey also made some remarks.

When it was his turn to speak, Blauvelt thanked family members, including his wife, children, mother and mother-in-law, for their support. Blauvelt said he hadn’t been able to sleep for two days before the ceremony and that he felt guilty about the mortgage-free house being built for him and his family. 

“I’m supposed to feel like this is amazing,” Blauvelt said.

He then announced he planned to begin going to college sometime next year, which resulted in a loud round of applause from the attendees.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

First goal scored by Tampa Bay Sun FC

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Brooke Hendrix scored the first-ever goal for Tampa Bay Sun FC, heading in a corner kick from Ashley Clark in the 70th minute during their debut match against Dallas Trinity FC, in front of a sellout crowd of over 5,000 at Riverfront Stadium, according to a news release. Goalkeeper Ashley Orkus made six saves, helping the team secure a 1-1 draw. Full match stats and ticket information can be found at TampaBaySunFC.com.

Brooke Hendrix is celebrated by her teammates after scoring historic first goal. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC)

‘Brushing’ scam indicates serious problem for victims

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Free box loads of merchandise from Amazon or other companies right on your doorstep? What could be bad about getting the Santa treatment all year long?

(Kindel Media/Pexels)

While free merchandise might sound nice, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers this recent scam has a scary downside, according to a news release.

This scam is called brushing, and it has recently been popping up nationwide. Suddenly, boxes of unordered (by the recipient) merchandise from Amazon or other online sellers begin arriving. There is no return address, or sometimes it just appears to come from Amazon or another retailer, and the receiver has yet to learn who ordered the items. The items are varied. For example, in one case, a humidifier, a hand warmer, a flashlight, a Bluetooth speaker and a computer vacuum cleaner arrived unordered. Often, the items received are lightweight and inexpensive to ship, such as ping pong balls, face masks or seeds from China.

Why would such merchandise be sent to you if you didn’t request it? The companies, usually foreign third-party sellers that are sending the items, are simply using your address they discovered online. They intend to make it appear that you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise and that you are a verified buyer of that merchandise. They then post a fake, positive review to improve their products’ ratings, which means more sales. The payoff is highly profitable from their perspective.

In a recent BBB Scam Tracker Report, one consumer shared, “A mysterious package was delivered to my home from a person I do not know, without me ordering any such package. When I tried to look up the return address, the search returned “brushing scam” hits.”

Why it’s bad news for you

The fact that someone could have the items sent to you as if you purchased them indicates they have some of your personal information, such as your name, address and possibly phone number. Once the information is online, it could be used for numerous crooked enterprises.

The fake online review angle is only one way they benefit. By using the brushing scam, they also are increasing their sales numbers. After all, they aren’t purchasing the items since the payment goes right back to them. Increased sales numbers, even though padded with fake purchases, look good for the company and help lead to more sales.

Then there is the “porch pirate” angle. There are instances where thieves use other people’s mailing addresses and accounts, then watch for the delivery of the package so they can steal it from the door before the resident gets it.

What can you do?

  • Notify the retailer. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies, so contact Amazon Customer Service if this happens to you and the product appears to come from Amazon. They will investigate and take action against the bad actor. Amazon also takes security seriously and encourages customers to report fraudulent purchases or other security issues. If the package appears to come through another established business, go directly to their website to get their contact information. If you prefer to contact the business by phone, be cautious about searching for support phone numbers.
  • Attempt to identify the sender. If you can identify the sender of unordered packages, consider checking for potential false reviews in your name and ask for the reviews to be removed.
  • Check your account for recent orders. Some targets of brushing scams can be deluged with unordered packages, creating a serious problem. If this happens, consider whether to refuse package delivery at your home address and temporarily direct items that you did order to a package acceptance service.
  • Change your account passwords. This may be a sign that personal information has been compromised, and to improve account security, keep a close eye on credit reports and credit card bills.
  • You are allowed to keep the merchandise. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says you have a legal right to keep unordered merchandise.
  • Protect your identity. The BBB advises to take all necessary precautions to prevent identity theft. Be careful when entering personal information online and ensure you use a secure site.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

Trainor kicks off tour with Hollywood, Tampa dates

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It’s been 10 years since Meghan Trainor debuted on top of the charts with the single “All About That Bass.” (Lauren Dunn/Live Nation)

Meghan Trainor is hitting the road next month to promote her sixth full-length album, “Timeless.” Florida residents will be among the first to see the Grammy winner on stage, according to a news release.

This comes as Trainor announced an expansion of “Timeless” with a new Deluxe Edition. The expansion includes three new songs. 

“I’ve been saving these songs for a minute now,” Trainor said of her new music, in the release. “The deluxe album is the perfect way to get the recognition that they deserved. I can’t wait to sing them with everybody on the road next month!” Trainor will embark on her first tour in seven years, the Timeless Tour, which kicks off on Sept. 1 at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. 

She’ll also perform at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa on Sept. 2. 

“Lil Boo Thing” crooner Paul Russell and older brother Ryan Trainor are scheduled to accompany the singer on both dates. Natasha Bedingfield will join Trainor on some of the 26 shows as well.

‘Killer Grannies’ takes on Tampa Bay

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Nearly three dozen people from all across the United States converged on the Tampa Bay area last week to let the world know about two evil grandmothers who used diabolical and deadly schemes to profit financially.

But the “threat” wasn’t real. Rather, it was the story of “Killer Grannies,” a film based on real life events.

In this scene, Killer Granny Kate Roberts (Jann VanDyke) looks on as a homeless man, Tom Watson (Chase DeMoss), enjoys a meal Roberts bought for him at The Golden Egg Café. Assisting are cinematographer Adam Boster and soundman Chris Tobin. (Courtesy of Lisa Manale)

The husband and wife team of Chuck and Karolina Morrongiello are directing and producing the thriller. The key filming locations throughout Pasco and Hernando counties were chosen because the couple lives in Land O’ Lakes. 

Some of those locations included The Golden Egg Café in Carrollwood, the Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa, Caliente Resort & Spa in Land O’ Lakes, Perry Harvey Sr. Park in Tampa, Perich Eye Center in Trinity and Big League Haircuts in Land O’ Lakes.

Chuck Morrongiello, who has previously worked in the insurance industry, wrote the screenplay for “Killer Grannies.” It’s based on a common scheme in the insurance industry — when people take insurance policies out on others for their own financial gain.

The main characters in the motion picture are Kate Roberts played by Jann VanDyke, and Rosa Peters played by Rena Romano. Peters is reportedly the crazier of the two grandmothers.

Several other professional actors and actresses from across the U.S. are in the motion picture, including Chase DeMoss, who plays the role of Tom Watson, a down-on-his-luck homeless man. A professional makeup artist spared no effort in making DeMoss look homeless and bedraggled for the role.

The husband and wife team of Karolina and Chuck Morrongiello prepare for the filming of a scene inside the Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa where a felony trial was being held for the two “Killer Grannies.”

Granny Roberts makes the acquaintance of Watson, who has been feeding himself by rummaging through other people’s garbage, and she treats him to an all-expenses-paid meal at The Golden Egg Café. During that meal, Roberts pretends to care for Watson and comforts him as he tells her a story about his sad past life, including unfortunate things that happened in his family.

Later on in the film, the two grandmothers offered to help Watson get cleaned up so he can reenter society, and provide him a job at the Ostara Floral Shop that both the women own and operate.

And that’s where the nefarious insurance scheme begins. No spoilers here!

Matt Sabel, a student at the Winter Park campus of Full Sail University, a learning institution specializing in entertainment media and emerging technologies, served as a grip production assistant. He’s now able to add the film to his resume as he pursues his degree in digital cinematography. 

Veteran cinematographer Adam Boster did the majority of the filming, a trade he’s worked in nearly 40 years.

In addition to serving as a producer, Karolina Morrongiello acts in the film as well. She’s also involved in editing the film and guiding it through the post-production process, which will take between 12 months and 18 months.

Once finished, “Killer Grannies” will be eligible to be distributed throughout the world. A couple of the films the Morrongiellos have previously produced and directed, through their production company 3 Rats Entertainment LLC, have been seen in as many as 80 different countries, Chuck Morrongiello said.

For additional information about 3 Rats Entertainment LLC, call 813-417-4131, or email .

Published August 21, 2024