Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Elizabeth Gwilt

He seemed like the man who was always giving. He never imagined that someday he would be the one receiving help.
Ron Cox, a longtime youth soccer coach for Central Pasco United, has experienced firsthand what happens when a community comes together.

Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer after having problems for more than a year. He underwent a 9.5-hour surgery and is now in the process of recovering at home. Ron is self-employed and has two sons who suffer from serious medical conditions, so the Land O’ Lakes family struggles financially.
Once news broke about Ron’s condition, families from his team, the Arsenal, sprung into action. The team has grown close as most of its players have been together for several seasons, and together they created an organization called Kickin’ In for Coach Cox!, which aids the family in whatever ways it can.
One upcoming fundraiser is a carnival and yard sale set for Saturday, Nov. 13.
The group also arranges for meals to be brought to their home four nights a week and lends a hand in cleaning up the yard. Supporters also hosted a car wash that raised proceeds for the family. A local business, Meredith Tires and Auto, even donated much-needed tires for Ron’s van.
Wendi Cummings, whose 15-year-old son has played for Ron since 2006, is a member of Kickin’ In. Cummings said that she wanted give back to the man that gave her son so much.
“Everyone loves to win. But to Ron, winning is secondary to the life lessons that can be taught through coaching sports,” she said. “He will not tolerate poor sportsmanship and he emphasizes hard work, playing together as a team, and always supporting your teammates.”
According to Cummings, on several occasions referees have come up to the team after a game to commend them on playing with so much class. “We attribute this to coach Ron. He is kind and giving and he coaches soccer because he truly loves it. He genuinely cares for each and every one of his players.”
Her son, Cody Cummings, certainly feels that way. “[Ron] is awesome, a good person and a great coach,” he said. “When he coaches, it’s not all about winning. It’s about doing your best and learning something new. He has taught me not to let people (opposing players) get under my skin. When a team keeps playing dirty, we should keep playing our game and not start playing theirs.”
Amye Cox, Ron’s wife, called her husband an inspiring figure. “He is such a positive person in everything he does. That positivity is contagious; his attitude keeps me going.”
Between doctor’s appointments, soccer practice and a full-time job, Cummings is strapped for time and money. That’s where the organization steps in.
Outside the Cox home is a basket where friends can drop off necessities without intruding. “They drop off things that you forget about, like paper towels and toothpaste. I say that the ‘Basket Fairy’ visits me,” Amye said.
Pizza on Friday nights was a tradition the family had to discontinue, but now Kickin’ In provides pies every week. “I know it’s a small thing, but it’s just something that maintains the normalcy in this difficult time. It’s things like pizza on Fridays that keeps us sane,” Amye said.
Amye said Ron is feeling better and he is expected to make a full recovery in as little as six months. He continues to go to soccer practices on Mondays and Wednesdays; he brings a chair and cheers on his team like always.
The Cox family said that they can’t effectively express their gratitude to all those who helped during a complicated time in their lives.
“These people came into the picture at the right time; we were praying on our knees for help. They’re our angels,” Amye said.
Amye said recent events in their lives have touched more than just their family.
“I think everyone involved has walked away with a life lesson. Wouldn’t the world be so much better if people came together in communities like they did in ours? I hope Ron’s story doesn’t get an ‘Oh, how nice’ reaction. I want people to think that it’s worthy of emulation,” she said.
Amye hopes that her family’s story will spark other people to reach out. “I truly believe that everyone’s love and prayers that have been put forth are helping Ron heal. I just want people to realize that they shouldn’t wait around for a call for help. It won’t come. Reach out to your friends and neighbors; you’ll never know how thankful they will be.”

Yard Sale and Carnival
To benefit Kickin’ In for coach Cox
Saturday, Nov. 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harvester United Methodist Church
2432 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
Will feature inflatable bounce houses, face painting and crafts

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County voters elected three new school board members and, in a race reflective of the national mood, ousted the only Democrat on the county commission as some 138,985 voters hit the ballot box last week.
“It was one of the smoothest Election Days we’ve had,” said Pasco supervisor of elections Brian Corley. “Things went very well and we didn’t have any malfunctions to speak of.

“Voting was steady to slow all day,” Corley continued. “We had 46 percent of registered county voters vote in this midterm. I’m always hopeful the turnout is higher. I thought we’d get about 43 percent and I’m glad I was wrong about that. I’m always disappointed when we don’t have 100 percent participation, but overall it was a good day for Pasco County.”

FLORIDA HOUSE
Republican Will Weatherford won re-election for the second time in Florida District 61 and is poised to become the youngest state speaker of the House since 1957 and the first from Pasco since 1893. Weatherford, 30, defeated fellow Wesley Chapel resident Elena McCullough with nearly 66 percent of the vote.
“I was very happy to win and also very humble,” Weatherford said. “To have the opportunity to be the speaker is a great responsibility and a great opportunity for our community and everyone in Florida. I think we’ll be able to do great things for our state.”
The district covers all of Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Wesley Chapel and east Pasco along with portions of northern Hillsborough County.
Weatherford said he has three main goals while in office: to limit the scope of government, create job opportunities in both his district and across the state and create a Class A education system.

FLORIDA SENATE
One of the more bizarre races this year was for state Senate District 12 where current Hillsborough County commissioner Republican Jim Norman took nearly 83 percent of the vote against two write-in candidates.
Norman was removed from the ballot for a short time when Republican rival Kevin Ambler sued him for not disclosing an Arkansas house on his asset form. Norman was put back on the ballot before Election Day.
District 12 covers all or most of Pasco County east of the Suncoast Parkway except for Zephyrhills and much of northern Hillsborough as well including Lutz and Odessa. In the 57 Pasco precincts in the district, 4,073 people left the option blank on their ballot. On the Hillsborough side of the district, 43,500 people left the option blank.
When the ballots that left blank the spot for the district are added in, Norman received just more than 56 percent of the vote.
For District 10, Republican Ronda Storms won over a write-in candidate. The district covers Zephyrhills and portions of Wesley Chapel.

COUNTY COMMISSION
Republican Pat Mulieri won re-election to the Pasco County commission by taking 70 percent of the vote against Clay Colson. Mulieri is also the current commission chairperson and has served since 1994.
“We moved to Pasco in 1979,” Mulieri said. “I began teaching at the PHCC. I have been a teacher all my life and I enjoy working with and assisting residents. I also love living in Pasco and I want to contribute to making this a great place for people to live, work and play. My two daughters and five grandkids also make Pasco their home.”
Mulieri represents county District 2, which covers all of central Pasco and much of Wesley Chapel. She said her biggest focus on the commission now is creating jobs.
“Pasco has a 13.1 percent unemployment rate,” Mulieri said. “For many this is the worst of times. However, the board has taken steps to reverse this. We are diligently trying to bring industry into Pasco.”
Some of the ways jobs are already coming to the area are from the building of PHCC’s Wesley Chapel Campus and Rasmussen College’s East Pasco Campus, the future Wesley Chapel Medical Center and the possibility of a hockey arena still exists. All these projects are in Mulieri’s district.
Mulieri is the fifth woman to serve on the Pasco Commission and the fourth to serve as chair.
“I just want to thank (the people) for having faith in me and giving me the chance to complete projects that I started,” Mulieri said. “I will continue to work for the citizens 24/7.”
For county District 4, incumbent Democrat Michael Cox lost to Henry Wilson Jr., who had 52 percent of the vote. The changeover means the commission’s five members are all Republicans.

SCHOOL BOARD
Cynthia Armstrong received 56 percent of the vote to defeat Mike Ryan for the Pasco School Board District 3 spot. For District 4, Alison Crumbley won with 54 percent over Karen King. Steve Luikart won District 5 with 58 percent of the vote over Mark Swartsel.

STATEWIDE
Republican Rich Nugent won U.S. House of Representatives District 5 seat with 67 percent of the vote over James Piccillo. The district covers all of central and east Pasco County. Nugent was previously the Hernando County Sheriff.
Republican Marco Rubio is the winner of the state’s soon to be open U.S. Senate seat, defeating Gov. Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek.
Political newcomer Republican Rick Scott was declared the winner over Alex Sink in a very close election to be Florida’s governor. Scott took just less than 49 percent of the vote, while Sink got just less than 48 percent.
Republican Pam Bondi took 56 percent of the vote over Dan Gelber to become Florida’s attorney general. Republican Jeff Atwater defeated Loranne Ausley for the state’s chief financial officer with 58 percent of the vote. Adam Putnam won the race for Agriculture Commissioner, ensuring a clean sweep of the cabinet for Republicans.

The Wesley Chapel tourney is expected to raise more than $80,000 for the Derek Pieper Memorial Fund

By Kyle LoJacono

When Susan and Steve Wood watch lacrosse teams from across the Southeast play Nov. 20-21 in Wesley Chapel, the couple will be thinking about Derek Pieper.

“He got into a little trouble, but really you couldn’t have asked for a better kid,” said Susan, Pieper’s mother. “He tutored his teammates, worked and got mostly As in his high school and college classes he was taking at (Pasco-Hernando Community College). His faith was also very strong and now he is watching us all from heaven.”
Pieper and his friend, Raymond Veluz, were murdered in July 2006. Tyree Jenkins and Luc Pierre-Charles are both serving life sentences for the deaths.
According to court testimony, Pieper had previously bought drugs from Pierre-Charles, his classmate at Wesley Chapel High School, though it was unclear why he and Veluz were killed that night.
Pieper was a center for the Warriors, a lacrosse team in the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) for Wesley Chapel students. To remember him, the Derek Pieper Memorial Cup was established in 2006 at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel.
Tom Fitzsimons, president of the WCAA, said the event was also started to increase lacrosse’s popularity in Florida.
“It has become the biggest lacrosse tournament in this part of the country each fall,” said Fitzsimons, who was also Pieper’s coach. “Four years ago when we started, we had 19 teams play. Then we had 36 and 53, and this year we have 89 teams signed up.”
While the event encourages participation in the game Pieper loved, it has also raised between $80,000 and $100,000 for the Derek Pieper Memorial Fund, according to Susan. Money from the trust goes to help needy families buy lacrosse equipment and to scholarships for the players.
Fitzsimons said the event also fills the area hotels and pumps money into the economy when all the teams coming from out of the area to participate.
Pieper only started playing lacrosse when he was in high school. He and his family moved to Pasco County from Minnesota in 2001. Despite his late adoption of the sport, he was good enough to receive several scholarship offers to play in college.
“He wanted to stay close to home because of my health,” said Steve, who is Pieper’s stepfather and raised him since age 3. “I’m disabled and have a lot of problems with my immune system and he wanted to make sure he went to a school close by. He was planning on going to Saint Leo (University) even though bigger schools were recruiting him.”
Fitzsimons said Pieper was still learning the game, but his athletic ability made him one of the better players on the team. He was looking forward to seeing what the center could have done in his senior year.
“Derek was a heart and soul kid,” Fitzsimons said. “He’d be the kid to pull someone aside and give them a pick-me-up talk if they were having a bad day. He wasn’t a hug in-your-face kind of presence, but if you don’t have a kid like that your team suffers and we did the next year. There was a physical and huge emotional hole.”
Spots in the tournament are filling up, so any team interested in signing up should visit www.wclacrosse.org.
The Woods are looking for a full house at the event.
“Derek’s legacy lives on in the event,” Susan said. “It’s wonderful that they have the event each year in his honor. They also retired his number 11 after he died and that’s just another way for people to remember Derek.”

By Gary Hatrick

The Samaritan Project kicked off the Harvest Festival weekend with the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Friday morning at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

Pastor Tim Mitchell of Chancey Road Christian Church welcomed the attendees and introduced Zephyrhills Mayor Cliff McDuffie, who led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the breakfast that has become an annual event in connection with the Harvest Festival.
Drew Weatherford was the guest speaker for the gathering. Weatherford is a former quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles and currently a member of the Tampa Bay Storm.
After breakfast, Weatherford gave a message of hope in Christ when life doesn’t go the way you hoped or planned to a full room of breakfast attendees.
East Pasco Family YMCA executive director gave a challenge to help needy kids attend YMCA camp this summer and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Chaplain Doug Higgins led the group in prayer.
The breakfast was followed by a golf tournament later in the day at Silverado Golf and Country Club and the Harvest Festival on Main Street Nov. 6.
The Samaritan Project is a partnership of government, business and faith-based organization with the goal of meeting the individual needs of the community. The vision of the Samaritan Project is to provide a single source help site for individuals to access for assistance and/or for guidance to assistance.
Since its establishment a little over two years ago, The Samaritan Project has helped 911 local individuals or families. More than $18,000 in assistance had been given to help pay utility bills, rent or to provide temporary shelter or miscellaneous necessities.
Through facilities provided by Chancey Road Christian Church, the Samaritan Project opened a homeless shelter July 19 providing a safe place and meals for 51 persons, 18 of whom have been children. Samaritan Project also operates a soup kitchen at the church facilities.
For more information, for donations to the project or for help call (813) 810-8670.
The weekend events were presented by The Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills,
The Zephyrhills Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association and the East Pasco
Family YMCA and sponsored by the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, The
Laker, Edward Jones Financial, Chick-fil-A, Golden Corral, Chancey Road
Christian Church, Progress Energy, Westar Constuction and the City of
Zephyrhills.

By B.C. Manion

Class-size restrictions for Florida’s public schools will stay the same.
Changes to local land-use plans will continue to be made by elected officials and campaign financing will go on for candidates for statewide elective office who agree to campaign spending limits.
Florida voters rejected constitutional amendments that would have changed those things.
But voters approved constitutional amendments that will affect the way lines are drawn for legislative and congressional districts and approved a new tax exemption for military personnel serving in areas designated by the Legislature.
Voters rejected Amendment 8, a proposal that would have increased maximum class sizes in Florida public schools and would have given schools greater flexibility in meeting those requirements.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino and State Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, each expressed disappointment about the outcome of the class size vote.
“Of course it has us concerned,” Fiorentino said. “We definitely wanted to have some flexibility,” she said.
Accommodating the limits required a significant amount of disruption that will continue, Fiorentino said.
“John Long (Middle School) made more than 200 schedule changes,” Fiorentino said, and that’s just one school.
Many elementary school children also had to be moved into new classes in order to comply with class size caps, she said.
School districts must have more flexibility, Fiorentino said.
Although they failed to muster the 60 percent needed to pass the class size amendment, a majority of voters are opposed to the current class size limits, Weatherford said.
The caps force the state to spend money to preserve small classes at the expense of providing a 21st century brand of education for students, Weatherford said. “This comes with a price.”
But Lynne Webb, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, said voters sent legislators a clear message on this issue. She said voters are telling lawmakers:
“Start listening to the people. We passed this. We’ve given you our opinion a number of times. Don’t cheat the children.”
Weatherford was much happier with the outcome on Amendment 4, which voters rejected. That would have required voters to approve changes to the land-use plan.
“Everyone recognized that Hometown Democracy was a terrible amendment,” Weatherford said.
Supporters of Amendment 4 claimed it would help protect the environment and help prevent suburban sprawl and congestion. Opponents said it would damage the state’s economy and cost jobs.
Bob Hunter, executive director for the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, said “in local government, we sort of dodged the bullet. We had not really evaluated the impact it was going to cause, if it had passed. But it was going to be substantial, not only the delays but the cost of it.”
However, Hunter added, “This is not to be cast aside cavalierly.”
The fact that the issue made it onto the ballot and that it garnered so much support should send a message to elected leaders that there needs to be more community buy-in on long-range planning decisions, Hunter said. If that doesn’t happen, Hunter said, “This will rise again.”
Weatherford said adoption of Amendment 5 and Amendment 6 was unfortunate.
The amendments say that legislative and congressional districts may not be drawn to favor an incumbent or political party, and that they must be compact, as equal in population as feasible, and must make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries.
Weatherford said the amendments were backed by special interests and were sold under the guise of fairness. But he thinks the result of the amendments will be to take the authority of redrawing the lines away from the Legislature and to give it to the courts.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, which joined the coalition that backed the amendments, claimed they will end gerrymandering – the practice of drawing voting district lines to give an unfair advantage to one political party.
Voters also approved Amendment 2, which provides an additional homestead property tax break for Floridians serving in the military to support operations in overseas areas designated by the Legislature. The amount of the exemption will be based on the length of time the person was deployed. The amendment takes effect on Jan. 1.

What Passed?
Amendment 2: Provides additional property tax relief for residents deployed to select overseas areas.
Amendments 5/6: Require changes to the way legislative and congressional boundaries are drawn.

By B.C. Manion

It wasn’t even close.
Voters soundly rejected a proposed 1-cent sales tax to expand bus services, improve roads and support a light rail system in Hillsborough County.
Sharon Calvert, treasurer of NoTaxForTracks.com, said her group was confident that voters would reject the tax once they had a clear understanding of the issues.
“We felt that when we got our message out it would resonate with voters,” said Calvert, whose group mounted an opposition campaign to the proposed transit tax.
The 1-cent sales tax would have funded light rail, road improvements and expanded bus services.
But most of it would have gone to support light rail, Calvert said. “The cost was way too high, it did way too little and it benefitted too few,” she said.
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who championed the tax, said it is too soon to know what backers of the transit tax will do next.
“We need to take our time to evaluate what happened,” Iorio said. “We need to look at all of the things that went right and all of the things that went wrong,” she said.
“One big thing is the economy,” said Iorio. “Many voters I talked to said, “Pam, I think this is good idea, but I don’t think it is the right time.’ “
“People were just not ready to make that investment,” she said.
Iorio said she has been in touch with supporters of light rail who want to maintain the coalition that backed the cause, but Iorio said she is not sure what kind of role the new mayor of Tampa will want to play in the issue. Iorio leaves office next year due to term limits.
Calvert said she doubts that last week’s vote will signal the end of the issue. “We are expecting that this will be back,” she said.