Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

A wrap-around porch and the sweet smell of barbecue smoke invite passersby on SR 52 to take a brief detour and grab a bite to eat at On Q Smokehouse Grill.

Linda Bailey, who lives between St. Leo and Dade City, has been enjoying the foods prepared by Willie Flott ever since he set up his mobile business on the vacant lot next to the wood-frame house in St. Leo about a year ago.
Flott set up the temporary shop to get to know the community and to find out whether there was a demand for the kind of food he serves, which is primarily, but not exclusively, barbecue.
When Flott found the community was receptive to his offerings, he decided to rent the house at 33030 SR 52 and do some renovations to get it ready for his business.
Bailey is glad Flott decided to settle in.
“I was one of his first customers,” Bailey said. She enjoys his barbecue chicken, his greens, his catfish and pork tenderloin – but she’s simply wild about his fried green tomatoes.
“I really haven’t had them like this since my mom made them for me when I was a girl,” Bailey said. “That was a long time ago.”
Paul Brenot and Marcia Stone shared a meal there recently, when one of the specials that day was a Fried Green Tomato BLT.
Stone said she enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and found the bacon to be smoky and meaty. Brenot reveled in the restaurant’s atmosphere.
“I love sitting outside here,” he said. “The weather we’re having right now is exquisite.”
Flott said he built the porch on the restaurant and reconfigured some spaces inside before he moved his business into the house.
“I personally thought the porch was my biggest selling point,” Flott said. He thinks it creates a welcoming ambience and lures patrons — especially when the building is lit after dark.
Flott said he prepares his barbecue by rubbing a mixture of spices onto the meats and cooking them over charcoal on custom-built championship smokers.
“We don’t put any sauces on anything. We want the customer to taste the flavor of the meat,” he said.
Customers can choose from a variety of sauces, including one concocted by Flott. The sauce, which has a mustard base, is also available by the bottle.
The menu includes sandwiches and burgers, salads, appetizers, platters, kids’ meals, beer, wine, coffee, tea and soda.
Besides fried green tomatoes, appetizers include asparagus fries, corn nuggets, fried pickles, fried mushrooms and chicken wings.
The restaurant also sells bulk items and offers catering.
Flott said he can handle parties of any size and has catered funerals, church picnics and other gatherings.
The name of the restaurant is a play on the phrase, “on cue,” which is how Flott wants to serve up his food — prepared properly and served right on time to satisfy his customers.
The restaurant is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For more information about On Q, call (352) 668-4821 or visit www.onqsmokehousegrill.com.

By B.C. Manion

New River Township, a development on SR 54 in Wesley Chapel which came to a virtual standstill during the housing crisis, is now getting a jumpstart thanks to a deal involving $20 million in community district development bonds.
The bond deal took about two years to consummate, according to a news release from the Avalon Park Group, the project’s developer.

“The bond restructuring took time because it was complicated,” said Eric Marks, senior vice president at Avalon Park Group. That deal, coupled with homebuilder interest, is revitalizing the project, he said.
“Now you’ve got bonds that are appropriately sized for the market,” Marks said.
“We have a lot of builder interest,” Marks said, noting talks have been ongoing with local and national homebuilders. He expects to be able to announce the names of homebuilders soon.
Marks said he’s aware that the housing market remains challenging, but he said the houses will be competitively priced. He’s also optimistic that the new activity is beginning at a time when the housing market is beginning to recover.
Development of 365 lots and a clubhouse with pool have been completed for the new phase. Only four homes currently stand in that phase of the neighborhood.
There also are plans to construct a town center containing more than 700,000 square feet of retail, civic and commercial space.
When the entire project is done, the 1,800-acre New River development will include more than 4,800 residential units, with a mix of single-family and multi-family housing, as well as a town center.
The development plan includes more than 600 acres of natural preservation, walking and biking paths and man-made lakes, according to a company news release.
A community development district assesses taxes on property owners to pay for common infrastructure expenses such as roads and utilities.

By Molly McGowan

Shrieks of excitement and the patter of eager feet filled the hallways of area schools as teachers led their young students to different speakers and activities last Thursday.
Nov. 18 marked the annual Great American Teach-In, a day during which a wide range of professionals bring their careers to the classroom and share different employment opportunities with students.

At McKitrick Elementary School in Lutz, students began a day early with a visiting armored truck on Wednesday, followed by a Drug Enforcement Administration truck on Thursday. Agents from the Tampa District DEA explained that the truck is used for support in dismantling clandestine labs and showed the children the truck’s first aid equipment, air pressure hoses and shower, as well as their entry equipment, tactical vests and helmets.
The rest of the school was buzzing with different activities, as well. Nearby, soccer player Rafael Giraldo taught Cheri Gamm’s and Liisa DiTarando’s kindergarten classes the basics of the game and set up a scrimmage, while fifth-grader Abby Sutch directed speakers to the correct classrooms. Her favorite speaker was a dentist who had her class smell and eat different things to demonstrate how scent changes the taste of food.
Guidance Counselor Kelly Goforth said her favorite memories of the days’ events came whenever the children become inquisitive. “The kids were … asking questions you and I wouldn’t think of,” Goforth said. “They’re so outside the box.”
Students at Denham Oaks Elementary also stayed active, particularly a group of kindergarteners and first-graders who got their own personal trainers for a day.
Biko Claxton, Denny Locascio and Daniel Peterson from Sports and Field athletic club shared tips for eating healthy then took the children outside for some exercise. The students, who collectively named themselves “Team Alakazam,” competed in relays followed by a few sets of pushups.
“C’mon, let’s see your speed,” encouraged Peterson, while the children ran sprints.
Ready for a rest, the students filed back into a classroom for a visit with Deputy Tobias Smith, who has been working at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for the past 16 years.
Smith listed his history working in a jail, on patrol and on special projects, and explained some of the training and other requirements necessary to become an officer.
Good driving records and college degrees seemed to be too distant to Smith’s young audience whose attention was immediately drawn to his gun. Smith explained that his gun was just one part of his uniform and proceeded to point out the details on what he was wearing. And the instant the shiny, silver handcuffs came out, Smith had won the crowd.
At Lutz Elementary, students were similarly intrigued by what Dan Harrison was holding. Visiting from Tampa Guitar, Harrison was showing a fourth grade class the basics of playing guitar. He began by asking the students a few questions, and was impressed when many knew the difference between acoustic and electric guitars.
Harrison showed them what “fretting a note” was, then let his fingers slither across the fret board to show that chords were “a bunch of different pitches being put together.” With a few more examples and instructions on how to hold a pick, fourth-grader John Anthony Perrone got to strum a few chords on the guitar before Harrison continued his lesson, showing the children just what 10 years of dedication to a craft can create.
A little further away at New River Elementary School, members of the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association were outside showing kindergarteners, first- and second-graders the basics of lacrosse outside, while inside a cosmetologist from a JCPenney Salon shocked students with the news that they each had 100,000 hairs on their head.
At Double Branch Elementary School, the horses of Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse towered above enraptured second- and third-graders, who learned that the most important jobs of the horses and their riders are search and rescue missions.
Pre-K students at Chester W. Taylor Elementary School learned that horses come in smaller sizes, too. Bakas Horses for Handicapped brought miniature horse Buddy to the school to teach children the proper way to care for a horse, and to show that regardless of size, horses can be therapeutic.
With a multitude of speakers visiting different schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties on Thursday, and with such a variety of classes and grades within every school, each student participating in the Great American Teach In was sure to have an individual experience unlike any other child’s. But regardless of whether they saw a miniature horse or a draft horse, ran relays or played lacrosse, every child learned something on Thursday. They learned that everyone is good at something. That thousands of career possibilities exist.  And that they can be — and do — anything.

By Kyle LoJacono

Last spring, Sickles High student Jonathon Bermudez was running with a new track teammate, Abdin Fator, when he noticed the freshman had large holes in his shoes. What he did next helped earn him a nomination.

Bermudez took Fator to a local sporting goods store and bought him new running shoes with his birthday money.
“I had just turned 17 and had some money from that,” said Bermudez, a senior. “I’ve always valued personal enjoyment over money, so it wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t even think about it much because I knew it was the right thing. People save money all their life and then can’t spend it.”
Fator, 16 and a sophomore, is a young man of few words, but said he was very grateful for what Bermudez did for him.
“It’s nice to have shoes without holes,” Fator said. He then added, “I didn’t know a lot of the other runners and over the season we kind of developed that running bond. I started just running track and he kept bugging me to join cross country. I said I’d give it a try, but my old shoes wouldn’t last running a 5K (five kilometers), so he took me to get the shoes.”
Fator was born in the war-torn Sudan and moved to the United States in 2003. Before coming here, his father moved to Egypt to raise money to move them to this country.
Bermudez continued to help Fator during the summer. He would drive his younger teammate to cross country practice because he did not have a ride. Then when Fator had no way to get to his physical required to run for the Gryphons, Bermudez stepped in and again chauffeured him.
“He took Abdin under his wing like he was his little brother,” said Sickles boys cross country coach Gail Bottone, who nominated Bermudez for the award. “Now Abdin is one of the top-three runners on the team up there with Jonathon. It’s amazing because Abdin might get a scholarship to go to college because Jonathon helped him.”
Bottone, the Sickles guidance department head, said Jonathon’s actions have helped renew her faith in teenagers.
“I got goosebumps when I first heard about what he did,” Bottone said. “I couldn’t believe a teenager could be so selfless. He didn’t do it for the notoriety. When he first heard about it he said he didn’t know because of the attention. He just did it because he knew it was the right thing.”
Fator has continued to be surprised by Bermudez’s generosity.
“I keep thinking why would someone do so much for me,” Fator said.
“I don’t really think I did anything special,” Bermudez said. “I saw a teammate that needed some help and I gave it to him. I just hope other kids who hear about this will do the same thing the next time they see someone who needs some help.”

Colton Shepard’s actions save family
It was a good thing Colton Shepard decided to wear is brother’s combat boots June 16 because without them, he might not have been able to rescue a mother and child from a burning car.
The Gaither High senior was walking home from a friend’s house when he saw the aftermath of a car accident near the intersection of Dale Mabry and North Lakeview Drive, just south of Lutz. Despite the vehicle being on fire and the real possibility of it exploding, Colton jumped into action.
“I ran across the road and kicked through the windshield, which was already cracked,” Colton said. “Then I took off my shirt and used it to clear the glass from the opening so I could get the mother and kid out without hurting them or hurting myself.”
Colton, 17, does not know the people he saved. He believes the child to be 5 or 6-years-old.
“They didn’t really say anything to me because I think they were in shock,” Colton said.
Colton stayed with the family until paramedics arrived. When he saw they were being treated by rescuers, he left instead of staying for potential adoration.
“I knew they were OK so I just walked home,” Colton said. He then added jokingly, “I still had to get home and I didn’t think they’d be able to take me home on the way to the hospital.”
When he got to his house, Colton told his mother Kathy what happened.
“I can’t tell you my exact words, I was very surprised,” Kathy said. “We went to the fire station and they told me the same thing he said.”
Colton attributes his quick actions to what he has learned in Gaither’s JROTC program. Besides acting fast, he told others on the scene not to throw water on the fire because of all the gas and oil.
“That also comes from working at McDonald’s,” Colton said. “A fire like that, water just spreads it around.”
Kathy sent a letter to Colton’s JROTC instructors, Senior Chief Edward Donohue and Capt. Sreten Zivovic, along with Gaither principal Marie Whelan. The letter thanked them for helping teach Colton to do the right thing and also to tell them what he had done. After learning about what he did, his instructors nominated Colton.
Colton said he wants to join the military after graduating. His older brother, James, served four years in the Middle East, following in the footsteps of Kathy (20 years in the armed forces) and Colton’s grandfather, James, who served four years.
Colton is currently the commanding officer of Gaither’s JROTC athletic team and also the executive officer of the academic team.
“JROTC is all about working as a team,” Colton said. “When I saw that car on fire I felt like that was a member of my team in trouble. I just acted the way I’ve been taught.”

Organizers looking for another $100,000 effort

By Kyle LoJacono

Each year after driving the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine through the grueling NASCAR season, David Reutimann returns to the town of his youth.

He does not get to visit Zephyrhills very often, but when he comes to the city he tries to make a difference. Six years ago he, with the help of other east Pasco residents, started the David Reutimann Charity Golf Tournament.
“We wanted to do something to get people together for a good time while helping a bunch of great charities in Zephyrhills and all over Tampa Bay,” Reutimann said. “Last year we raised $100,000 and I’m hoping to do at least that again, but I want to raise even more.”
Reutimann has been racing on NASCAR’s highest level for five years. He won his second career race, the LifeLock.com 400, this July at Chicagoland Speedway. Despite his success, he has not forgotten his first home.
“I’ve always been extremely proud of where I’m from, so it’s very special for me to come back each year and give back to the community and those in need,” Reutimann said.
The event raised about $19,000 in the first year and has increased each time since then. Last year the total amount raised increased by $20,000. Some of the groups that will benefit including East Pasco Meals on Wheels in Zephyrhills, Sunrise of Pasco County in Dade City and All-Children’s Hospital in Tampa.
Brantley Smith owns the Silverado Golf & Country Club and was one of those who helped start the event.
“It’s really grown,” Smith said. “There are a lot of race fans around here.”
The event is at Silverado, 36841 Clubhouse Drive in Zephyrhills, Dec. 3-4. It includes a cookout at 6 p.m. plus an auction and concert the first night, followed by the golf tournament the next morning.
“We’ll have items for auction that appeal to every type of sports fan, including NASCAR tickets, uniforms, helmets and plenty of signed sheet metal, including a few pieces from the Aaron’s Dream Machine,” said Sean Klotz, golf professional and Silverado general manager. “There will also be items from local pro teams and other big name athletes from all types of professional sports.”
Reutimann said the event has a casual feel.
“I didn’t want to have an event that made people act like something they’re not,” Reutimann said. “I want them to be comfortable and have a good time, and let me tell you, it is a good time. We have a blast both days.”
Reutimann, 40, grew up in Zephyrhills and has seen the east Pasco County town grow and change during the last four decades.
“I was born at Lakeland Regional Hospital because back then we didn’t have a hospital in Zephyrhills,” Reutimann said. “When I come back to town I like to just drive around and see all the things that are new. I mean it’s a lot different city from when I grew up off Wire Road.”
Reutimann went to West Zephyrhills Elementary for his first years of school and then switched to Woodland Elementary when it opened. He then went to Raymond B. Stewart Middle and Zephyrhills High.
“Even though I don’t live in Zephyrhills anymore, I still think of it as home,” Reutimann said. “Those are where my roots are and I’m proud to be from there.”
Hole sponsorships and slots for teams and players are still available for the golf tournament, but are filling up fast. Tickets are also on sale for the charity cookout and auction. For more information or for tickets, call (813) 788-1225.

By B.C. Manion

Thanksgiving — the day set aside for expressing gratitude for the good things in life — is also the No.1 day nationally for cooking fires, says the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association.
Cooking equipment fires also remain the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries, and are the third-leading cause of fire deaths, according to statistics from the NFPA.
There are ways, however, for families to avoid the risk of fires at Thanksgiving and through the holidays, local experts say.
“The most common cause of fire in the home is cooking,” said Capt. Bill Wade of Tampa Fire Rescue.
“Most of the fires that we see are from unattended cooking. They’ll put something on the stove and just forget,” said Amy Schultz, fire inspector/public education for Pasco County Fire Rescue.
The dangers of home fires increase during the holidays, when people cook more, use their fireplaces, light more candles, string holiday lights and so forth.
“The message we spread is, have fun — but be careful,” Wade said.
On Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season, there tend to be more gatherings — with more people coming over and more cooking being done, said Vicky Yeakley, public education coordinator for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.
With so many people around, it’s easy for a cook to get distracted, Yeakley said. So, it’s important to take precautions to avoid potential dangers.
If you’re cooking something in the oven, for instance, be sure to check on it periodically and set a timer so you don’t forget, she said.
If you’re cooking on the stovetop and the doorbell or telephone rings, or someone needs your attention, be sure to turn the burner off or on low, and carry an oven mitt or wooden spoon with you to remind you that you have something on the stove, Yeakley said.
When you’re turning a burner on, be sure that you’ve turned on the right one. It’s easy to make that mistake and you could end up with a fire, she said. It’s also a good idea to clean up any spills to avoid potential fires in the future.
Also, try to avoid cooking when you are wearing loose-fitting clothing because the clothing can catch on fire, Yeakley said.
Also be sure to keep anything that could catch fire at least three feet away from the stove, Yeakley added.
Keep kids at least three feet away from the stove, too.
Stoves aren’t the only cooking equipment that can cause fires.
“Turkey frying has become quite popular,” Wade said, noting he understands the appeal because the turkey is quite tasty. However, he said, it is important to use the fryer safely.
“The turkey needs to be completely thawed,” he said.
Schultz agreed: If the turkey is not thawed, the ice will melt and cause the oil to overflow.
“Only put in as much oil as you are supposed to put in,” Wade said. Otherwise, when the turkey goes in, the oil could splash out potentially burning someone standing nearby.
Besides cooking fires, there are other potential fire hazards that become more prevalent at the holidays and during colder winter months.
People tend to light more candles to create a festive feel, but sometimes they forget to blow them out before leaving the house or going to sleep.
Wade recommends candles with a wide base because they are less likely to tip over.
It’s also important to keep a close watch on children, who tend to be fascinated by candle flames and fires burning in the fireplace, Yeakley said. Be sure that candles are out of children’s reach and be sure they are supervised wherever a fire is burning, she said.
It’s also important to keep an eye on youngsters near tables that are laden with hot foods, Yeakley said. Children who are learning to walk may tug on a tablecloth to help themselves up and can be burned by hot foods spilling on them, she said.
If someone does get burned, the burn should be cooled down with running tap water, Schultz said. Do not use ice as it can cause a frostbite-like injury, and don’t use butter because it seals the heat in, making the injury worse.
Fireplaces and space heaters are other sources of potential hazards.
When burning wood in the fireplace, be sure it’s the appropriate size, Wade said. Also be sure there’s a grate in front of the fireplace. “The smallest spark can start a fire.”
Avoid burning Christmas tree branches or wood in the fireplace, Yeakley said.
Don’t burn paper in the fireplace either, Yeakley said.
Embers from the fire can float out of the chimney onto the roof or onto nearby trees or bushes, which can start a blaze, she said.
“If you’ve ever seen a Christmas tree on fire, it almost explodes,” Yeakley said.
“If you’re going to have a fire in the fireplace, you can’t go to bed until that fire has gone to ashes,” she added.
With space heaters, be sure to leave at least 3 feet between the space heater and anything that could catch on fire, Yeakley said.
Christmas lights can also pose a hazard, if the wiring is frayed or cracked. Be sure to check your lights before you string them up. And, be sure to check for the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) label, which means they’ve been tested for safety, she said.
Finally, if you’re going to put up a fresh Christmas tree in your house, be sure that it’s not dried out when you buy it and be sure to keep it well-watered. For more information about Christmas trees, visit www.christmastree.org.

Protecting yourself and your home

–    Every home should be protected by working smoke alarms. At minimum, there should be a smoke alarm on each story of the house and outside each bedroom. Even better — smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom. Even better than that — a sprinkler system to put out fires.
–    Every household should have a fire escape safety plan and should do a few trial runs. If a fire happens, you’ll be ready and will know what to do.
Source: Vicky Yeakley, public education coordinator for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

Safe cooking tips

The National Fire Protection Association offers these tips for safe cooking:
Do not use the stove or stovetop if you have consumed alcohol or you are sleepy.

–   Remain in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen, even momentarily, be sure to turn off the stove.
–   Do not use the stove or stovetop if you have consumed alcohol or you are sleepy.
–   If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
–   Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
For additional information, visit www.nfpa.org

Fighting a cooking fire:
–  If the fire on the stovetop is small, wear an oven mitt and use a tight-fitting lid to cover the pan, then slowly move it to another burner until it completely cools.
–  If the fire is on spilled foods on the stove surface, douse it with baking powder.
–  If the fire is inside the oven, turn off the oven and keep the door closed.