Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

When it comes to choosing a pumpkin, it generally boils down to a matter of personal preference, said Coy Barton III, whose family operates the pumpkin patch next to New River Methodist Church on SR 54, just outside Zephyrhills.
“Some people like a perfect short, perfectly round one. Some people come in here asking for the ugliest pumpkins. Some people like the tall, skinny ones.

“Some people know what they’re going to carve already, in advance, so they want a certain shape.
“That’s why I like to get a good mixture,” said Barton, whose pumpkins come from Ohio, sell for 50 cents a pound and range from 5-200 pounds. The stand sells Magic Lanterns, Ghost Riders, Pie Pumpkins and Big Macs.
Besides picking up pumpkins at the patch, patrons also can buy hale bales, corn stalks and decorated scarecrows. There are also cutouts of Halloween decorations, where people can take pictures of children and adults.
At Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, pumpkins do more than raise money. They help the church reach out.
The church recently had a Playtime in the Patch, where pre-schoolers were having a ball playing games, doing crafts and having their faces painted.
The church also hosted a free fall festival for families.
The pumpkin patch, which the church has operated for several years, is popular, said Pastor Sam Maihack. “We’ve already been branded as the pumpkin church.”
The pumpkins, which come from North Carolina, sell for 50 cents for the teeny tiny ones to $20 for the super-large ones. Proceeds support the church’s youth ministry and missions.
The Seal Swim School, at 19509 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, also uses its pumpkin patch to reach out to the community.
It has a family fun festival every Friday night in October, where kids can pose with pumpkins, jump around in the bounce house, paint pumpkins and get their faces painted.
The swim school generally sells 3,000 to 4,000 pumpkins a year, but no purchase is necessary to join in the fun.
The school takes great pride in the quality of its pumpkins.
“All of our pumpkins are kept shaded. We wash them. We turn them. We really baby our pumpkins,” said Melanie Stairs, marketing director of the swim school.

“Dirty pumpkins don’t sell,” added Erin Grande, the school’s director.
The Friday night festivals are fun, said Laura Sutton, a customer service representative for the school.
“The kids come and they have their costumes on. They’re just so cute and happy.”
While there are full-fledged pumpkin patches in some locations, other places merely offer pumpkins as a sideline – as a convenience to their patrons, or to draw attention to themselves.
Community Thrift Shop, at 21021 SR 54 in Lutz, decided to let a vendor sell pumpkins in front of the shop, after some customers mentioned it would be nice to have a pumpkin patch there, said Caroline Werter, a thrift shop volunteer.
Besides offering a convenience for its customers, the thrift shop also will receive 25 percent of the vendor’s proceeds, which will be donated to charities.
At Plant Stop, 3904 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes, a small pumpkin patch is intended to draw attention to the relatively new business, said Pat Onorato, the store’s owner. The shop has also used a special weapon to advertise the patch: “My little grandson Gunner (Onorato) was out there in front, pointing at the sign,” he said.
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By Kyle LoJacono

What started as just a couple bumps on Jacob Leuthold’s head turned into a seven-month search for answers.
“We went to seven doctors in that time and each thought it was something else,” said Jacob’s mother, Susan. “None of the treatments or shampoos did anything. Finally we found out he had psoriasis and we got him the treatment he needed.”
The main problem with the diagnosis is psoriasis, which has no cure, is very uncommon in children. Most people do not see signs until turning 15, but Jacob saw the bumps at 9.

The condition is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States, according to Catie Coman, spokeswoman for the nonprofit National Psoriasis Foundation. There are about 69,000 people with the condition in the Tampa Bay area and 7.5 million in the country.
Jacob, 13, said he wanted to do something to help fight the disease. He and his mother looked around and found several walks to raise money for psoriasis research and awareness, but none were near their Odessa home.
“A doctor told us about the foundation and we wrote them asking if we could start a walk in the area and they said several people had asked them the same question,” Susan said. “When it got started they asked if Jacob could be the youth ambassador at the walk. I’m really excited about that.”
The walk starts at 9 a.m. Nov. 6 at Ballast Point Park, 5300 Interbay Blvd. in Tampa. Interested walkers can do either a 1K (1 kilometer or 0.6 miles) or 5K (3.1 miles). It is free to participate, but donations are accepted for the foundation.
The main symptoms of psoriasis are very painful and itchy bumps and blotches on the skin caused by the body’s immune system attacking itself. It can also cause large red areas, cracks in the skin, bleeding and scabs.
Jacob said his biggest problem is the constant itching.
“It’s really annoying,” Jacob said. “It’s bad all day long and doesn’t get any better. It’s hard to focus on school when I’m always itching.”
The outbreaks are mainly on Jacob’s head, but it used to be all across his skin. He had severe psoriasis, which means 10 percent or more of his body was covered. His condition is now considered mild, which means less than 2 percent is covered.
“We use a couple of topical medications,” Susan said. “We also have to make sure he doesn’t get too much sun because sunburns make it worse … We switched to basically organic milk and meat and that seems to have helped. He also has a pro-biotic drink that doctors have told us helps reduce the coverage.”
Outbreaks represent more than short-term discomfort. Coman said the more severe the case, the more likely it is for people to develop long-term health problems like heart disease, type II diabetes and liver disease.
Psoriasis is genetically based, but is set off by something in the environment, according to Coman. No one else in Jacob’s family has it.
One problem those with psoriasis have is people think it is contagious.
“It isn’t contagious in any way,” Coman said. “Almost everyone with it has a story about being asked to leave a public pool because people think it’s contagious. That also makes it hard to make friends.”
One advantage Jacob has is he and a lot of his friends had a third-grade teacher named Linda Goode at McKitrick Elementary in Lutz who also has psoriasis.
“That made things easier when we first told Jacob he had it,” Susan said. “He said that’s what Ms. Goode has. All his friends know what it is and it isn’t a problem for him.”
Goode still teaches at McKitrick; Jacob currently attends Martinez Middle.
Jacob’s goal is to raise $500 in donations at the walk and he is currently at just more than $200. The overall goal in Tampa is $35,000, of which nearly $5,000 has been collected. Anyone interested in signing up for the walk or donating should visit walk.psoriasis.org, click “find a walk near you” and select Tampa.
Coman said the walks fund research while letting those with the condition know they are not alone.
Jacob said he wants as many people to show up even if they do not have psoriasis.
“I think it will help them understand it better,” Jacob said. “It will show them there are a lot of people with psoriasis and we are like anyone else. That’s why I wanted to be a part of this so I can do something to fight psoriasis and let people know more about it.”

Jacob’s psoriasis walk
What: 1K or 5K walk
When: Nov. 6 at 9 a.m.
Where: Ballast Point Park, 5300 Interbay Blvd. in Tampa
Charge: Free, donations accepted
To signup: walk.psoriasis.org
Website: www.psoriasis.org

By B.C. Manion

Diane Watta’s mind was reeling as she scoped out the ReStore store in Zephyrhills.
“The ideas are going through my mind like you wouldn’t believe,” said the 70-year-old woman, who was at the store browsing because she plans to undertake a few home improvement projects.

John Sparling, also of Zephyrhills, said he frequently shops at the store, which opened on Oct. 1.
“There’s always something you can use,” said Sparling. “We live in a trailer. There’s always something you have to fix and this is the place to come to get it. Every time I come in here, I get what I want.”
Sparling is familiar with the store, operated by Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco, because the organization has a similar store in Dade City, where Sparling has shopped.
The Zephyrhills store is a 15,000-square-foot space at 4700 S. Allen Road.
It is next to a bunch of mini-warehouses, which is advantageous, said Niki Trapnell, the ReStore store manager. People who cannot fit everything into their mini-warehouse, or who don’t want to cart off all of their stuff can conveniently donate it to ReStore, Trapnell said.
The inventory at her store is constantly changing – as donations come through the door and as customers carry out their purchases.
The donations are always a surprise, Trapnell said. “It’s like Christmas every day at the ReStore store, you never know what you are going to open up in the box.”
During a recent visit, there were doorknobs, desks, file cabinets, bathtubs, vanities, a smoker, a grill, a portable AC, upholstered chairs, patio furniture, mirrors, lighting, laminate flooring, mattresses, mop heads and faucets.
There was even a kitchen sink.
There are deals to be had.
“Our prices are generally 50 to 70 percent off of retail,” Trapnell said.
But some items were a real steal: golf clubs and bags of hardware for a buck; a Danish end table for 10 bucks.
Ceiling fans typically go for between $5 and $50, depending on the type and condition, while weed whackers range from $5 to $60.
The store accepts just about any donation, Trapnell said. If people want to give clothing, they’ll regift it to another charitable cause, she said. The store also recycles metals, paper, cardboard and aluminum cans.
“Our whole concept is to reduce what goes into the landfill and have people reuse it, or repurpose it,” Trapnell said.
Profits generated by the store go into the Habitat for Humanity’s mission to eliminate poverty housing in Pasco County and to give families a decent, affordable place to live, Trapnell said.
Judi Fisher, a volunteer from Land O’ Lakes, is pitching in at the shop to help a family earn 400 hours they need for a Habitat for Humanity house. Their house was destroyed by fire because of a faulty ceiling fan.
The 43-year-old said she helps because she has “a servant’s heart.”
Bert Reil, another volunteer, has been helping Habitat for Humanity for 10 years.
“I helped on 44 houses,” the Zephyrhills woman said.  “I enjoy seeing houses go up. We were custom builders.”
Like most businesses, the ReStore store has felt an impact from the recession, but not to a great degree.
The poor economy has caused more people to look for good deals, Trapnell said. But the store can’t stock enough used appliances to meet the demand, she said.
“People who were upgrading their appliances before, when their appliances were still usable, are hanging onto them.”
To volunteer at the store or to make a donation call (813) 395-6994.

By Molly McGowan

Country music listeners have had her songs stuck in their heads, primetime television viewers have seen her footwork on Dancing with the Stars and come Nov. 18, supporters of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will get the chance to see rising star Julianne Hough.

Hough is headlining the hospital Foundation’s black-tie Gala XIV at Saddlebrook Resort’s Grand Pavilion. All benefits will support the creation of the Comprehensive Breast Center at the hospital.
According to Foundation executive director Carolyn Sentelik, the Comprehensive Breast Center, “Will really consolidate the breast health services under one umbrella and benefit the people of east Pasco County.”
She said the center will help, “streamline the patients experience, reduce time and trauma of the diagnostic journey from weeks to days, provide access to a full physician team and provide education and support services” to patients.
While no date has been set for the center’s opening, Sentelik stressed that the community’s support and involvement in the gala is essential to fundraising efforts.
“It’s our one primary event every year,” she said.
And this year, the Foundation is excited to have the support of and participation from Julianne Hough, whom Sentelik called a “natural link” to the mission of the Comprehensive Breast Center. Hough actively supports the fight against breast cancer.
At this year’s EIF Cancer Research Gala benefiting EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund, Hough explained that her stepmother had breast cancer, and that awareness fundraisers was what helped lead her stepmother to an early detection of her breast cancer.
“We’re very excited about having Julianne Hough, and we’re very happy to have been able to secure her participation this year,” said Sentelik.
Chris Drews, chair of the Gala Committee, is equally excited to have Hough aboard this year. Drews, major accounts manager for The Laker, an event sponsor, said that over the years the entertainment at the annual gala – including Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood – has always been a success, but that this year, “it’s evolved.”
“I wanted to take it in a different direction, have someone who’s on the charts today,” he said.
Raised in a family that valued the arts and especially ballroom dancing, Julianne Hough was a competitive ballroom dancer at the age of 9, and trained with brother Derek in London while still a child.
When Hough was 15, she became the youngest dancer to win both the International Latin Youth Champion and Junior World Latin Champion at the Blackpool Dance Festival in England.
Hough most recently showcased her ballroom talent as one of the professionals on Dancing with the Stars, and won with partner Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno on Season 4 of the show. The next year, Hough won DWTS again, this time with race car driver Hélio Castroneves.
Recently, Hough made the decision to put ballroom dancing and DWTS on hold to enter the country music scene, in which she is quickly making a name for herself. Her first album was No. 1 on the top country albums chart in May and held firm at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
In her most recent music video, “Is That So Wrong,” Hough shows off some of her dancing skills, combining her passions for singing and ballroom. Not to be stopped at merely singing and dancing, Hough is also currently filming Burlesque and a remake of Footloose, making her a hot commodity.
Drews said that the negotiation process to get  Hough involved with the gala occurred before news of Hough’s movie Burlesque came out and before she began filming the remake of Footloose; given Hough’s increase in media attention, Drews said that she really is an “up-and-coming star” and that having her participate in this year’s gala should bring more people to the event.
Drews said 500 to 600 people normally attend the event, but this year he is projecting 600 to 700 attendees.
Sentelik also expects there to be “a lot of interest in the community” and said that based on past galas, a wide spectrum of people will attend the event. She said that “friends of the hospital, board members, physicians and employees” usually frequent the annual fundraiser.
In addition to the black tie event at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18, the 21st annual golf tournament and the inaugural tennis tournament will be the next day, also at Saddlebrook Resort. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and play begins at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 19, with funds also benefiting the Comprehensive Breast Center.
Individual tickets to the gala cost $150, and tables start at $2,500. For more information on either the tournament or the gala, call the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Foundation office at (813) 783-6144.

By Kyle LoJacono

Flu season is approaching and many people will soon decide if they will get vaccinated against the illness this year.
“I’ve always gotten the shot for the last five years or so,” said Lutz resident Wilma Scott. “I hate when I get sick and I don’t want to get my family or co-workers sick, so I figure it’s a good way to prevent that.”
Last year’s outbreak of swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, changed Wesley Chapel resident Matt Thompson’s opinion on getting the shot.
“I never thought it made sense to get the shot,” Thompson said. “I always heard from people that they got the flu when they got the shot and I didn’t want to have that happen. Then last year the swine flu happened and I didn’t want to get it. I thought about it a long time and eventually got (the shot). Nothing happened and I didn’t get swine flu, so this year I got the regular flu shot.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states the flu, or influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness. The symptoms range from mild problems to severe enough to cause death.
The CDC’s website, www.cdc.gov/flu, states each year several thousand people die from the flu and about 12,000 died worldwide from H1N1 last year. Each year the particular strains change, which is what makes it so potentially dangerous because old immunity, either natural or from vaccination, is not effective in preventing the newer forms.
Dr. David Johnson has been Pasco County’s health officer since 2007. He said getting the flu shot is the most effective way to prevent getting the flu, which is why he gets one each year.

“The seasonal flu shot protects against flu viruses that will be most common during the upcoming season,” Johnson said. “This year’s flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1 and two other influenza viruses, an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus.”
The CDC is currently recommending everyone six months old or older get the annual flu shot each year. It is highly recommended for people between six months and 5 years old as well as those 65 years old or older because they are at higher risk of getting the disease and having more severe symptoms.
“This season, people 65 years and older will have two flu shots available to choose from, a regular dose flu shot and a new flu shot designed specifically for people 65 and older with a higher dose,” Johnson said. “This should result in a stronger immune response.”
Most people who get the flu recover in a few days to two weeks, according to the CDC, but it can develop into pneumonia or other respiratory diseases. The best way to prevent the progression is getting a lot of sleep and drinking plenty of fluids. Antibiotics do nothing to combat the flu, but some antiviral medications are available.
Other than getting the shot, the CDC has some ways to help prevent getting the flu.
First, avoid close contact with people who are visibly sick. The CDC does caution people can spread the virus a day before they have symptoms. Also wash hands often and avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth. The last step is to practice general good health habits, such as getting enough sleep and exercise, managing stress, drinking plenty of fluids and eating nutritious food.
Those interested in getting a seasonal flu shot can do so on a walk-in basis at the Land O’ Lakes Clinic, 4135 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost is $25 for the shot, $40 for the high-dose shot or for $57 for pneumonia shots. Call (813) 558-5173 for availability.

Common flu symptoms
Fever
Chills
Coughing
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue
Vomiting
Diarrhea