Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Founder’s Day grand marshals named

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — It would have been nearly impossible to pick one grand marshal to represent all of Zephyrhills during the last 100 years, so Main Street Zephyrhills Inc. had to be creative.

Instead of the traditional one grand marshal at Founder’s Day this year, there will be 10 — one for each decade the city has been in existence.

“It fits into our theme for Founder’s Day, which is ‘Celebration of Generations,’” said Brenda Welcher, executive director for MSZI. “So many have been a part of making Zephyrhills what it is. It’s great to be able to recognize so many people for their contributions.”

One of the oldest families in the city are the Neukoms, who have had five generations born in Zephyrhills.

“Zephyrhills is my home and I think a lot of it,” George Neukom said. “I’ve been here all my life. Zephyrhills is a huge part of my life and what we are as a family.”

Neukom’s son, George Neukom III, owns Neukom Groves on Gall Boulevard. The family came to the area in 1910, before Zephyrhills was founded. At the time it was called Abbott Station, named after a doctor who lived in the area and two railroad stations in town. The family also owned a retail store, Neukom Drugstore, on Fifth Avenue from 1921 to 2001.

Another old-time family represented by a grand marshal is the Smiths, who have lived in the area since the 1860s.

“We’ve always tried to give back to the city,” said Brantley Smith. “Our family donated the land for the YMCA on Eiland Boulevard and we always try and support the school’s sports teams and youth leagues.”

Smith owns Silverado Golf and Country Club and his late brother, Stephen, was on the city council. His other brother, Buddy, will also represent the family.

“My brother and I were very honored to be asked to be marshals, but I think there are probably more deserving people out there,” Brantley said. “We have been here a long time and seen a lot of changes over the years.”

Nelson Ryman’s family has not been in Zephyrhills as long as the Neukoms or Smiths, but he has lived in the city since 1969.

“Zephyrhills is my hometown, even if I wasn’t born here,” Ryman said. “It’s a great community to live in with genuinely friendly people.”

Ryman owned H&R Interstate Mobile Homes and is active in the Rotary Club of Zephyrhills Daybreak.

“It is historic and I get to be a part of it,” Ryman said of being named a grand. “Not all cities are able to reach 100 years. It is great to see the city survive and continue to thrive.”

Neukom, Ryman and the Smiths will ride in the float of their corresponding decade at the parade March 13. The other grand marshals include: Nathan Geiger, former Zephyrhills baseball coach John Clements, Helen Winters, the 1962 Zephyrhills basketball team that one the Class B state championship, Sam Surratt, Irene Dobson; and Marcus and M.J. Price of Goin’ Postal.

Winters is the owner of Winters Mobile Home Park, the oldest such park in Zephyrhills. Her late husband, Gordon, bought the park in the 1950s.

Dobson is an equal rights activist in the city and has been involved in such projects as getting Sixth Avenue’s name changed to Martin Luther King Avenue.

Geiger was born and raised in Zephyrhills. His family owned a grain and feed store in the city. The store was sold several years ago.

Surratt was a member of the Zephyrhills City Council from 1953 to 1954 and again from 1957 to 1976.

Clements coached the Bulldogs for 21 seasons and was a minor league baseball player for a few years and brief was in Major League Baseball. The Zephyrhills baseball field was named after Clements in 1983.

The 1962 Bulldogs basketball team was the first Zephyrhills squad to win a state title. Two of the former players, Clyde Bracknell and Billy McGavern, will represent the team. Bracknell was also on the City Council 29 years — more years than anyone else in the city’s history.

Marcus and M.J. Price founded the shipping franchise Goin’ Postal in Zephyrhills in 2002, which now has more than 300 locations across the country. They were named because the city is changing form an agricultural city to one that has more businesses.

“It certainly is a great recognition to everyone selected,” Welcher said. “There were lots of great choices and in the end we could only have 10.”

Zephyrhills was founded March 10, 1910 and has come a long way from the little town with two train stations.

“A lot of my friends kid me that I’m turning 100 this year too, but I’m not quite there yet,” said the 72-year-old Neukom. “My family has seen this city go from Abbott Station to Zephyrhills, so we’ve seen it literally go from A to Z.”

Founder’s Day Parade grand marshals

Marshals Decades

• The Neukoms 1910s
• Brantley and Buddy Smith 1920s
• Nathan Geiger 1930s
• John Clements 1940s
• Helen Winters 1950s
• Zephyrhills basketball team 1960s
• Sam Surratt 1970s
• Nelson Ryman 1980s
• Irene Dobson 1990s
• M.J. and Marcus Price 2000s

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

WESLEY CHAPEL — The Shops at Wiregrass bring that main street festival feel to the mall with The Gatherings, an event featuring live music, shopping deals and kids entertainment.

The Gatherings will be from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday March through May. The main attraction is the live entertainment featuring a variety of music including rock, reggae, R & B, folk, oldies, pop, contemporary jazz and more. The first event on March 3 will feature the acts Bus Stop, The Spells and Ricky Wilcox.

Bus Stop is a six-member group with an upbeat dance and funk sound. The Spells is an acoustic duo featuring pianist Tracy LaBarbera and guitarist Gale Trippsmith. Ricky Wilcox is an intelligent mish-mash of British pop, Americana and early 80’s Athens smart jangle.

Chad Doritan, director of marketing for the Shops, said the event is meant to bring out people during an otherwise slow night.

“We close down the streets and set up three stages one at each end of the shopping center and one in the center,” Doritan said. “We wanted to have the event in order to kick off the weekend.”

After the success of last year’s events with the Shops getting about 3,000 to 5,000 visitors each Thursday night, Doritan said it just makes sense to do it again.

“We saw a lot of new faces and a lot of the same people every week,” Doritan said.

The music is booked through Skipper’s Smokehouse talent agency. It will be different every week. The goal of the event is to have something for everyone to enjoy.

“We will have a variety of music,” Doritan said. “The music we had last year was a big hit. We had a lot of people come out just to hear a specific band. It really drew even more people then we expected.”

In addition to the live entertainment, stores are encouraged to bring some merchandise out in front of the shops and offer one-night only deals for the event.

“There is a lot of flow with people walking from one stage to the next,” Doritan said. “Sometimes they even have entertainment in the stores.”

Some restaurants also have specials for the event. Grillsmith will offer an extended happy hour with half price wine, beer and mixed drinks and a large variety of appetizers for $5.

Joe Brooks, managing partner of Grillsmith, said he was happy with how many people the events brought out last year.

“The marketing department does a wonderful job of having all kinds of events,” Brooks said. “We saw a 25 percent sales increase on those evenings. This year will be even better because we will have patio dining.”

The children’s area offers face painting, bounce houses and live children’s entertainment like stage shows.

“For the first event, we will have Mr. Tommy Girbin,” Doritan said. “He is a children’s musician with a very interactive show. He is not the only guy we will have, but it is that kind of thing we will have every week. It will be something kids can enjoy.”

Visitors to the event are encouraged to bring their dogs as well.

“We also saw a lot of people bring their dogs last year,” Doritan said. “One week we had a beach theme with beach music and we invited people to dress up. We had more dogs dressed up than people.”

The Shops also offers various other activities including a kids day every Wednesday, a classic car show every month, bike nights and more. For information, visit www.theshopsatwiregrass.com.

Grace Family Church runs soup kitchen

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

LUTZ — A few weeks ago, a 52-year-old man named Miles was living on Tampa’s streets. Then, he heard about an outdoor soup kitchen on Nebraska Avenue and decided to check it out. He didn’t know it was a ministry of Grace Family Church, or that volunteers were working to change lives. He simply wanted a hot meal.

At the soup kitchen, Miles met a volunteer named Nan Caldwell, who runs a halfway house in Thonotosassa. Now, Miles is no longer living on the street. When he visits the soup kitchen, he wears the shirt of a volunteer.

“This soup kitchen is a blessing for people who are in dire straits,” Miles said, enjoying a plate full of rice and casserole. “I was homeless. I was angry at the world. I came here and I met Nan. She showed me a whole different perspective. She offered me real love. This is a place where people really care.”

Grace Family Church started its soup kitchen eight years ago, when a teenager named Adam Skinner wanted to do something more to help the hungry. The outreach started in a parking lot behind the U Save off Livingston Avenue. It has moved around throughout the years. The kitchen is currently open from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday nights at 14751 N. Nebraska Ave.

“All of us have struggles in our lives,” said April Dean, outreach coordinator for Grace. “We want to be available to help people who are in need. This is one way we can help.”

Volunteers meet at Grace, 5101 Van Dyke Road, at 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays to pack food into the church’s truck and trailer. Grace receives most of the food served from Metropolitan Ministries. They also order pizzas to take and volunteers make soups. Meals include breads, meats, veggies and desserts.

Rain, sleet or shine, the church’s truck arrives at the soup kitchen site on time.

“When we drive up, there are usually already people waiting,” Dean said. “We’ve had numbers close to the 100s before.”

Volunteers hurry to set up folding tables and open the serving line.

Grace member Rudy Trosin volunteers whenever he can.

“Being a Christian isn’t about sitting around, you got to go out and do something to help people,” Trosin said. “These people out here don’t look any different than me. The way I see it, I stub my toe somewhere along the way and I could be out here needing food.”

Miles’ story echoes Trosin’s statement.

“I had a wife and a home,” Miles said. “I made some bad choices and I just gave up. I asked God to help me, and he did, in His time. He sent someone to care for me.”

That person was Caldwell; whose halfway house is an outreach of the ministry, God Works! The ministry contacted Grace a few months ago to help out with the soup kitchen. Caldwell and her volunteers help by bringing food and offering support to those who need a place to go.

God Works! volunteer Tommy Vien cooks food to bring almost every week.

“I was homeless for awhile,” Vien said. “It was a devastating time in my life. I just couldn’t find a job. I still can’t find a job. So I’m working as a volunteer with this ministry. They took me in and helped me out. Now, I want to give back.”

Dean and other Grace members are thankful to God Works!.

“They help out a lot with food and they really care,” Dean said.

Aside from God Works! most all volunteers come from Grace. Church members of all ages give time to the cause, including teens.

“It’s good to give back to the community,” said 17-year-old Gina Muto. “I like helping.”

Dean said teens can learn a lot by serving at the kitchen.

“It helps them to realize the homeless are people just like us,” she said. “Some of the stories of the homeless that come to the soup kitchen are really encouraging.”

Dean remembers one story in particular.

“There was a man who kept coming to the soup kitchen,” Dean said. “He told us he wanted to change and made a commitment to go to rehab. We helped him go through rehab and now he comes back to the kitchen sometimes to share his testimony.”

Dean was happy to learn about Miles, who she considers an example of God’s miraculous ways.

Miles is happy to share his testimony with anyone in need of encouragement.

“I have a place to lay my head now,” he said. “I am content. There are a lot of hurting people out there. This soup kitchen is a good place for them to come.”

For information on Grace Family Church outreach programs, contact April Dean at (813) 265-4151.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

LUTZ — From the octagon to the mats of his new academy, Marcio Cruz, world jujitsu champion, never loses his passion of fighting.

Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz is his ring name. Even though most fighters start training at a young age, the Brazilian born fighter started when he was 17. That did not stop him from becoming a six-time Brazilian jujitsu champion, an eight-time Brazilian jujitsu PanAm champion and a five-time Brazilian jujitsu national champion.

“I love to fight,” Cruz said. “If they call me, I fight. I started when I was old but I have a lot of talent for jujitsu. This is my life, my dream to be a fighter. I will keep fighting until my body says stop and I can’t do it anymore.”

Through the World Fighting Organization, Cruz is the current heavyweight champion. He keeps his belt along with his many other medals in his new academy.

In addition to the many championships he has won, Cruz also has fought in the octagon in the Ultimate Fighting Championship against such well-known fighters as Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir.

Instead of building up his fighting experience, Cruz said he went straight for whatever fight he could get, which is why his second professional fight ever was in the UFC against former heavy weight champion Frank Mir. He won the fight against Mir with a total knock out at UFC 57. He said when he wins a fight; his first thoughts are of rest.

“I feel like I completed my job,” Cruz said. “I feel great and then I think I am happy because I can go home and I don’t have to train for a week.”

Even though Cruz has a 3^rd degree black belt in jujitsu, he said that is not enough to be a well-rounded mixed martial arts fighter. The martial art of jujitsu focuses mainly on submission holds and groundwork.

“I train in boxing and wrestling,” Cruz said. “I train jujitsu a lot too but since my ground is much better my focus has changed.”

Jujitsu is not just a martial art, it is a way of life for Cruz.

“It is a lifestyle,” Cruz said. “In order to fight, you need to love it. I like to train because when you train, you can forget about your problems.”

Even though good training and conditioning is a big part of competing in MMA, Cruz said the mental side of it is sometimes just as important.

“When a guy has good shape but has a bad mind, he might lose,” Cruz said. “The mental part is so important. When the body and the mind is strong that is the best way to win.”

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

WESLEY CHAPEL — The Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce heads in a new direction with its new executive director David West.

Social media sites like YouTube and Facebook have become very popular which is why West is planning to use those sites to promote the chamber.

“I see this as a wave of the future,” West said. “I want this chamber to be a leader. I am looking to be innovative and cutting edge.”

One way he is working to promote businesses is to film a five-minute video about a business and post it on YouTube , in addition to the chamber’s web site. For people who missed the chamber functions, West is also making videos of the functions and posting them on the chamber’s site.

“The goal is to help businesses prosper so this is a good way to promote what a business focuses on,” West said. “The idea is to let people meet the owners of businesses and to feel like they know them. My goal is to do every business in the chamber.”

Cindy Fleming, president of the chamber, said she really likes the new direction the chamber is taking.

“I think it is something the chamber needs to keep up with,” Fleming said. “We are moving in a direction we have never gone before. The videos he is creating on the businesses are incredible.”

Fleming said she thinks West will bring a lot to the job because of his stature in the community.
“He is a well-known person in the business community,” Flemming said. “He has been around here for so long. He is a trusted individual, which is important for our members to have faith in leadership. As president, I am excited to have him on board.”

West said he considers himself to be a connector.

“I spend all day connecting people with solutions to their problems,” West said. “It is what I do all the time. Sometimes I get paid and sometimes I don’t.”

Before starting the job at the chamber, West was on the board of directors at the Dade City, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills Chambers. Now that West has the job at the Wesley Chapel chamber, he will be leaving all the other boards. Now he can just focus on Wesley Chapel.

“I have a million things I want to do,” West said. “This town is up and coming with a high energy big city feel. I think there are great opportunities here.”

The road West took to eventually end up at the chamber was a long and winding one. He started out as a preacher when he was in high school preaching his first sermon when he was only 15. He went on to get his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies at Florida College in Temple Terrace.

He has since preached at Dundee Church of Christ in Polk County, Trilacoochee Church of Christ and he has been at Dade City Church of Christ for 15 years.

“When I got to Dade City Church of Christ, I decided I didn’t want to be one of those preachers that just stays in the office,” West said. “I wanted to be out in the community working. I was ready to learn what it is like to work for a living.”

West said he plans to approach his job at the chamber the same way he approaches his job as a preacher.

“I want people to eventually become self sufficient,” West said. “I like to help develop people to make them more independent so I can find more people to help. The goal at the chamber is to develop people into becoming board members and chairs of the organization.”

Through the years, he started a career in journalism with a job first at Pasco News where he did everything but print the East Pasco Business Focus, a monthly tab.

Then he became the community relations manager for Pasco and Hernando counties at The Tampa Tribune. After he was laid off in November 2008, he started looking for another job. After working for a while as a business assistant specialist at the Health Department, he ended up at the chamber.

“I never had training for any of the jobs I ever had,” West said. “I have just done a lot of things and I am a quick learner.”

In addition to all of his job experience, West also brings with him to the job his extensive experience working with organizations like the Rotary, The Toastmasters Club, The Pasco Boys and Girls Club and Morningstar Fishermen.

He has helped to start seven Rotary clubs in the area including one pilot project on-line rotary club for people in the Southeast United States and the Caribbean. For information on the club, visit rotaryclub34.org.

“It is great because it reaches out and allows more people to be involved in the Rotary,” West said. “They are good for people who are unable to attend a weekly meeting who either do too much travel or for people who have disabilities and can’t get out. It is also useful for club members who miss a meeting to be able to get credit.”

Most recently he began a Toastmaster club in Wesley Chapel because he said it is a very useful skill for people to learn.

“It is a very supportive environment,” West said. “It is a great way to get comfortable speaking in front of people. People can learn many valuable business skills. We all like to talk, it is just hard to do in front of a crowd.”

For more information, visit www.wesleychapelchamber.com.

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — It would not be a Friday night at Zephyrhills High School during the football season without Greg First’s voice, but his work on the east side of Pasco County goes further than that.

He has lived in Zephyrhills for more than 50 years and was the president of the Sunrise of Pasco abuse center. He spent two years on the board of directors of the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival and is a member of the Conservative Club of East Pasco. His work in the community has earned him the Lincoln Heritage Award, given annually by the Conservative Club.

“I can think of about a thousand others that should get the award before me,” First said. “It’s really humbling to be receiving it.”

The award has been given for the last seven years to the person who has demonstrated community service throughout their lifetime. First will receive his award at a ceremony Feb. 26 at Zephyr Palms Events Centre, 4645 Airport Road in Zephyrhills,

“The previous year’s winner always presents the new winner with the award,” said Dick Albrecht, Conservative Club vice president. “Last year Wilton Simpson was the winner, and he is every bit as deserving as Greg. They’re both great people and do a lot for the community.”

First has been a member of the Conservative Club for more than two years. The club has members from Zephyrhills, Dade City, Wesley Chapel and the rest of the east side of Pasco.

“Greg is the kind of person who will treat you like you’ve been his friend forever the first time he meets you,” Albrecht said. “He is the only person I’ve ever met that you can ask him a favor and he’ll do it without any follow-up. He just does things for people all the time, and that’s one of the reasons he’s receiving the award.”

Gordon Hyde will be the master of ceremonies at the event.

“He and I are business partners with Zephyr Palms Events, so I work with him about as much as anyone,” Hyde said of First. “He just can’t say no to community service. He is the voice of just about every parade in Zephyrhills and Dade City and is always out helping people. He wasn’t looking to get the award, but he absolutely deserves to have it.”

First works with Hyde, but calls the Bulldogs football games with Kerry Ryman.

“We have fun no matter how good or bad the team is,” Ryman said. “I’ve been doing the games for 20 years and Greg’s been doing it a little longer. He is just a great person and very devoted to the community here in Zephyrhills and east Pasco.”

First was born in Ohio but moved to Zephyrhills when he was very young. He and wife Jenny consider the city home. Jenny had two children from a previous relationship, Kristen and Evan Alston, who First helped raise.

The new award winner first joined the club because of his upbringing.

“I was raised to get up each day, go to school and say the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer,” First said. “I’d like to see those traditional ways of doing things come back.”

First is also a lifetime member of Amvets, a service organization for people who have served in any branch of the U.S. armed forces.

“I was in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972, but I didn’t serve over there,” First said. “It’s nice to have an organization like Amvets where you can go and have people you can relate to. It doesn’t matter how long you served, where you served or in what branch you’ve served.”

First’s late father, James, served in the Coast Guard during World War II. Evan followed in First’s footsteps and joined the Air Force.

Many things have changed in Zephyrhills since First came to the city more than a half century ago, but he still feels the same about the area.

“It’s a great place to raise kids and live,” First said. “It still has a small town feeling where everyone tries to look out for everyone else. The community looks out for you and that’s why my family and me try to look out for the community.”

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — The children gather around to listen to a story. Moms sit back and relax as storyteller Maureen Shewmaker reads with enthusiasm. It is 10 a.m. on Wednesday and this is the Moms & Tots group at Land O’ Lakes Community Center.

The group is sponsored by Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church and welcomes moms with children 5-years-old and younger. Each week, the meeting has a different theme. This week, it’s listening.

“I love story time because Christian really likes it,” mom Jennifer Bien said. “He sits still and listens. It’s amazing.”

Christian is a 4-year-old who loves to run and play. During story time, he sits quietly and anticipates the turn of the page. Of course, he did just get his wiggles out during music time.

“He likes the music too,” Bien said with a smile. “This (is) our first time here. A friend recommended it. We’ll definitely come back.”

Friend Kris Miley, mom to 5-year-old Ryan and 1-year-old Aidan, has been coming to the group since 2008. The group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays for 8 weeks at a time twice a year. The current session runs through March 24.

“This group is great because they have music, story time, crafts and snacks,” Miley said.

Moments later; she joins in doing the hokey pokey. Mary Mosakowski, a certified early childhood teacher and mother of two, leads the group. She sings, “Put your backside in and shake it all about,” provoking giggles throughout the room.

When the music stops, it is time to get creative.

“Okay, since today’s theme is listening, our craft is going to be coloring paper wind chimes,” Mosakowski explains. “Come pick out which one you want to color and take it over to a table.”

The children rush over with their moms close behind. They use markers to color the paper cutouts. Moms help out where needed, but encourage the little ones to just have fun.

“This is an opportunity for his creativity to shine,” said Natalia Carmona, mom to 3-year-old Kevin. “He gets to interact with other kids his age and it’s a great way for him to overcome his shyness.”

Across the room, Sheila Vega helps her 3-year-old twin girls Rosangely and Giannely pick out marker colors. It is the family’s fourth time at the group. The twins love spending time together.

“It’s wonderful because they’re learning to listen and follow instructions,” Vega said.

After crafts are done and put away, it is time for the popular game of Simon Says. The moms play too, touching their nose, then their toes. The tots laugh when they mess up.

“I didn’t say Simon says,” Mosakowski repeats as 2-year-old Louis Aden Capeilupo stands giggling with his hands on his head.

His mom, Erika, corrects him and follows it with a hug.

“I like coming to this group because he can socialize with other kids,” she said. “Him and I also get to have some one-on-one time.”

Simon Says ends when Mosakowski announces its time for snack. The tots cheer, looking to see if the nearby table full of treats has been uncovered. The day’s snack is bananas and animal crackers.

“They love snack time,” Vega said, following her exited daughters to a table.

While the children eat, John Huebner, pastor at Shepherd of the Lakes, has a mom’s corner. He shares a message on parenting and gives the women time to share their thoughts on the week.

Meanwhile, Shewmaker and Mosakowski keep an eye on the kids. Both have little ones in the group.  Shewmaker’s daughter Jessica is 4. Mosakowski’s daughter Grace is just 2.

“It’s important for mothers to have a place to get together and spend time with their kids,” Mosakowski said.

To register for Moms & Tots, call (813) 401-9135. There is no fee to attend.

Ranger is a 5-year-old Boston Terrier, and is a service dog that helps his owner because of her heart condition. Without Ranger, she would have no freedom.  He has given his owner her independence back, and is her 9-year-old son’s best friend. Ranger’s proud owner is Hollie Topash of Wesley Chapel.

Donny Heart is a 2-1/2 year-old rescue cat. He is special because of the unusual marking of a heart on his back leg. Donny can give you a “high five” when you ask, and if he’s in a good mood, he’ll give you a “ten.” He is very popular around people. Donny Heart’s proud owner is Isabella Sassano of Land O’ Lakes.