Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Chamber of commerce and noon Rotary club host golf event

By Kyle LoJacono

Each year the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and Noon Rotary Club of Zephyrhills come together for one event — the annual Zephyrhills Scramble.

The golf tournament, which began five years ago, starts at 1 p.m. May 7 at Silverado Golf & Country Club, 36841 Clubhouse Drive in Zephyrhills. Registration starts at noon. For more information on the event, call the chamber at (813) 782-1913 or download a registration form at www.zephyrhillschamber.org.

“Me and my son (Kerry Barnett) started it,” said Dale Barnett, who has been a member of the Rotary club for 25 years. “We thought it would make things easier to have one big event so that business people aren’t constantly being asked to support charitable events all year.”

The money raised from sponsorships and people participating will be split equally between the two groups, with much of the funds going to area scholarships and community service projects.

“The Rotary club gives $3,500 in scholarships to Zephyrhills High School students,” said Mike Mira, chamber and Rotary president. “Usually it goes to three or four students. We also will do the Eastside Eight food baskets again at the end of the school year to help out students in need.”

The Eastside Eight refers to the eight Rotary clubs in central and east Pasco County. In December, the eight donated food baskets to children on free or reduced lunch so their families could have a Christmas dinner.

The Eastside Eight will again be giving food baskets to kids who get free or reduced lunches at school so they have meals for a few weeks in the summer. Mira, who was one of the people who organized the event, said the plan is for each group to give 50 to 75 baskets to needy children.

The chamber also does a number of charitable programs throughout the year that are partly funded by the scramble.

“One of the scholarships we will be giving this year is in the application process right now,” said chamber executive director Vonnie Mikkelsen. “We’re calling it the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Business Scholarship and it will go to a Zephyrhills High School student as well.

“The scholarship will be given (later) to the student whose goals best exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit,” Mikkelsen continued. “The scholarship will help the student achieve their five-year goals.”

Two years ago, the event brought in $33,000 to help fund the chamber and Rotary club’s charities, but that total dropped to $16,500 at the 2009 event.

“This is the third year I’ve been a part of the event,” Mira said. “I was the scramble chairman for two years and now I’m the president of both groups and I must say Vonnie has done a great job securing sponsorships for us and getting people interested in the event.”

This is Mikkelsen’s first year organizing the scramble. She started with the chamber last December.

“I knew about the golf tournament and knew it was with the Rotary club when I started,” Mikkelsen said. “Let me just say that it’s been a great experience helping to put it together, but there have been a lot of capable volunteers helping from the start.”

One of those volunteers is Barnett.

“People always tell me that it’s the best and most fun golf tournament they’ve ever played in,” Barnett said. “…I used to golf twice a week, but I have a pinched sciatic nerve, so I won’t be able to play in the event for the first time, but anyone looking for a fun Friday this is where to be.”

There will be a number of special things during the day, including a putting contest, longest drive event and special prices for making a hole-in-one on key holes to be determined.

“We only had 72 golfers last year and we hope to sell out this year,” Mira said. “We’ll have things going on all day and an oasis with Bloody Mary’s and margaritas for free.”

Mira said there are already more golfers signed up than last year, but emphasized there is more room for people to join in.

“We’ll let people sign up right until the start,” Mira said. “We’d like people to sign up as early as possible so we have an idea how many people will be there…We want to get as many people as we can because the more people who sign up, the more good we can do in the community.”

If you go

• What: fifth annual Zephyrhills Scramble
• When: 1 p.m. May 7, registration at noon
• Where: Silverado Golf & Country Club
• Address: 36841 Clubhouse Drive in Zephyrhills
• Call (813) 782-1913 for more information
• Registration forms at www.zephyrhillschamber.org

By Suzanne Schmidt

Melissa Rivera, owner of E.M.E.R.G.E. Hair Studio in Lutz, invited teens to become empowered while also checking out the latest hairstyles and makeup during teen night April 26.

Rivera said she wanted to have the event to show teen girls they do not have to put up with violence.

“I wanted to do a fashion show for prom, but at the same time empower the teenagers,” Rivera said. “There is so much going on right now like with Chris Brown and Rihanna. So many kids are getting caught in relationships where they are getting abused, that they think it is normal. Kids need to learn they don’t need that.”

Rivera recently opened E.M.E.R.G.E., which stands for Every Moment Energize Realize Genuine Elegance. The salon, 24720 SR 54, offers cuts, color, Brazilian keratin treatments, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures.

The salon also offers the new OPI Axxium gel polish that according to Rivera will stay on nails for up to two weeks without chipping.

At the “Alice in Wonderland” themed event, representatives from the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pregnancy Center, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Shapes and Krav Maga Martial Arts school attended the event to let teens know about their services.

Lauren Jones, youth coordinator at The Spring, said she was happy to share important information with teens such as letting them know about the national teen dating abuse hotline at (866) 331-9474. She said one in three teens will experience dating violence with physical, mental, verbal or sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.loveisrespect.org.

“I want to reach the teens about teen dating violence,” Jones said. “It is very prevalent which is why I try to get out to talk to teens as much as possible. It is almost accepted as normal.”

Land O’ Lakes residents Patsy Bly and her daughter Mary Bly, 17, were talking to teens about the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pregnancy Center. Mary Bly was hoping to recruit teens to help her form a teen advisory board at the pregnancy center where she volunteers while her mom was letting teens know about the services available.

“We are here to let teens know the center is here ready to let girls know about their rights and options,” Patsy Bly said. “They can help with diapers and formula and with making better choices. There is also a library of learning materials where parents can go and teach their sons and daughters.”

Missy Johnson of New Tampa attended the event to watch her daughter, Shaniqua, walk the runway. She said the event was a good idea.

“These kids are dealing with a lot of issues I didn’t have,” Johnson said. “Like teen pregnancy now is a fad, when I grew up it was something you kept a secret and they are also dealing with domestic violence and drugs. Anything that empowers them and builds their self-confidence is great. I always tell my girls to be a leader not a follower.”

Stephen Del Castillo, owner of Krav Maga Martial Arts, let people know about the youth and teen programs he offers including his bullying program.

“Violence could happen to anyone at any time,” Castillo said. “If you don’t know what to do if you are attacked, then you should take classes.”

Through the “Alice in Wonderland” themed fashion show, Rivera and her staff were able to show off their hair and makeup skills. Roxanne Null, 16, of Land O’ Lakes was Alice at the event.

“It was exciting to get made up and feel special,” Null said. “I like the hair and makeup. It was very creative.”

For more information, visit the studio on Facebook or call (813) 948-9668.

By Suzanne Schmidt

A new store in Wesley Chapel provides spiritual guidance, workshops and metaphysical supplies.

Gaia Spiritual Doorways, 26300 Wesley Chapel Blvd., opened in the beginning of March.

Stephanie Smith of Zephyrhills is the psychic reader and universal psychic healer at the store. Smith, who previously owned the store when it was based in Zephyrhills, sold it to Sandy Sostakowski of Land O’ Lakes a few months ago.

Sostakowski said she decided to move the store so it would be closer to home and because there are no metaphysical stores in the Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel area.

“The store is very diverse in cultures, spirituality and religion,” Smith said. “We have something for everybody.”

The store sells candles, crystals, gems, jewelry, books, oracle and tarot cards, runes, oils, incense, botanical and spiritual items, saint and angel statues, fairy items, dream catchers, Buddha statues and more.
“If we don’t have something, we can order it,” Smith said. “Most of the time we can get what they are looking for and bring it here.”

The store also has hands-on workshops and classes on subjects like Reiki, a form of energy therapy, astrology, chakra therapy, gemstone and crystal therapy, and how to use a pendulum and tarot cards.

“Some people just come in to sit and relax and read our books,” Sostakowski said. “If people are curious, we encourage them to come in with an open mind.”

Ligia Novas of Wesley Chapel said she has been going to the store for readings and to shop for a few years. She was really excited when the store moved to Wesley Chapel because it means she can spend more time there.

“I just enjoy being there so much,” Novas said. “I have studied the effects of stones for years. It is exciting to be able to touch stones that I have only read about before. It is a great place to be because people from different religions with different beliefs can come in and feel comfortable just sitting and talking.”

Smith gives tarot readings as well as offers services outside of the shop like psychic parties and home cleansings. She said her tarot readings are unique because she actually writes down her predictions and gives a time frame.

Smith said her psychic parties can be a lot of fun for a group of about six to 10 people to get together and have their tarot cards read. She said she uses her talent to see spirits that she has had since she was little.

“I will go to the hostess’ house and give a reading to all the guests,” Smith said. “At the end I will do a group reading where I open myself as a conduit for the spirits. It is not a séance. It is a nice girls night out.”

JoAnn Boston of Wesley Chapel felt very good about her second reading from Stephanie Smith. She said she also likes the new location.

“I came back for another reading because what she told me in the first reading came true,” Boston said. “I like that they are closer and that the store is bigger now.”

Novas said she also loves getting readings from Smith.

“I like that Stephanie gives readings that are focused more on the present and not a few years out,” Novas said. “She is extremely accurate and she is great for guidance. She gives great advice. I go to her for guidance about things that I have doubts about and after I talk to her things become clearer.”

In the future, Sostakowski is hoping to expand the business to include more merchandise and start renting out spiritual DVD’s or movies. She said she is also always adding more workshops and classes to the schedule.

The grand opening will be May 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sostakowski said she hopes everyone will come out and see the new location.

For more information, visit www.universalpsychichealer.com or call (813) 943-3666.

The hours are Monday and Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Sunday.

“We are here to help people feel better and get through the tough times,” Smith said. “I am here to give intuitive advice and spiritual counseling.”

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

Oakstead residents Mark and Sheryl McEachern wanted to open their pet specialty store, Woof Gang Bakery, someplace close to home.

They chose The Shoppes at Sunlake Center, where several new establishments are scheduled to open over the next few months.  Publix Supermarket anchors the plaza, located on SR 54 less than a mile from Oakstead Boulevard.

“We wanted to open a business that would be a part of this community, some place people would enjoy coming to,” Mark McEachern said. “We want this to be a family business, so we wanted it to be right next to home.”

Woof Gang is a chain store known for its gourmet pet treats and cakes. There are locations in Sarasota, Naples and Orlando.

The McEacherns store is tentatively set to open in May and the couple will bake pet goodies using ingredients like pumpkin and peanut butter. Their goodies will even be safe for pet owners to eat.

“When you walk in the store it will smell like a regular bakery,” Mark McEachern said. “It’s a feel good atmosphere.”

Down the sidewalk, shoppers may get lured in by the smell of spicy chicken wings when Beef O’ Brady’s welcomes patrons in May. The tentative grand opening date is set for May 10. The more than 4,000 square-foot-sports pub will have an outdoor patio, complete with corn hole games, and more than 30 TV screens.

The bar is also a big draw.

“We’ll have 30 beers on tap and a full liquor bar,” said co-owner Mike Connor, who is part owner of another Beef O’ Brady’s at Wilderness Lakes in Land O’ Lakes.

Connor said the Sunlake location should bring in good business.

“It’s right by Sunlake High School and Rushe Middle School,” he said. “Ballantrae and Concord Station are nearby, and Oakstead is right next store. We should have a good customer base.”

Oakstead resident Katie Hall said she and husband, Ryan, will definitely visit the restaurant.

“We love Beef’s,” she said. “It’s a fun place and the food’s great.”

Hall already frequents The Shoppes.

“I like the plaza because I can get to it from my house without going on the main road,” she said.

Current tenants at The Shoppes include Publix, Wachovia and Great Clips.

Property manager Equity One has leased space to Diamond Dental and Suncoast Running Supply to open before the fall.

The McEacherns hope the plaza will become an everyday stop for local residents.

“We want to know the neighborhood dogs by name,” Mark McEachern said.

A photo of the family’s first dog, a Boston terrier named Misty, will hang on the wall at Woof Gang. The store will be decorated to look like a boutique, painted with rich chocolate browns and pink accents. There will be a dining room table in the middle of the store with a crystal chandelier hung overhead.

The McEachern’s have one son and are expecting another, so the bakery will definitely be set up kid friendly.

“This is a business where I can bring my sons to work with me,” Mark McEachern said. “We want it to be a success and become a fixture in the community.”

For information on Woof Gang Bakery, call (813) 949-DOGG (3644). For information on Beef O’ Brady’s go to www.beefobradys.com.

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

Brenda Welcher, former executive director of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., took a position in the marketing department at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills April 26.

Jan Baskin, assistant vice president of marketing at the hospital, confirmed Welcher is now working with Florida Hospital Zephyrhills April 26, but her exact title and responsibilities were not available by press time.

Welcher’s last day with Main Street was April 16, where she worked for a little more than three years. Among her duties was organizing Founders’ Day each year.

“I will miss Main Street,” Welcher said. “My heart and soul is in Main Street and I loved working there.”

For the last three years Brenda Welcher has been executive director of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., but her time with the nonprofit organization ended April 16.

She has lived in Zephyrhills for more than six years after moving from Indiana. Welcher is married to Dan Welcher and the couple has four children and nine grandchildren.

Main Street, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2009, was formed with the goals of historic preservation and maintaining the economic vitality of downtown Zephyrhills. The Laker recently talked with Welcher about her time with Main Street and what she most enjoys about Zephyrhills.

Q: What did you like most about being Main Street’s executive director?

A: Getting to know the people in the community and truly seeing that hometown spirit and hometown pride that are so strong in Zephyrhills. The people here are so friendly. I really was impressed that the people were so willing to help whenever it was needed. That goes for the firefighters, police, city management and the everyday person.

Q: You were part of planning four Founders’ Days. What is it like to organize something as big as Founders’ Day?

A: We have constantly tried to learn what we can do to make all of our events better. We learned to do a better job with marketing by using things like e-mails to let everyone know what we are doing at Main Street. Founders’ Day is no different and we’ve added exciting new events each year.

Q: How different was planning the centennial Founders’ Day this year?

A: I’d say it took the most time by far of anything else I’ve done with Main Street. I started putting ideas in a folder about two years ago…About six months before the event we formed a centennial committee to help with the planning and honestly I could never had done it without all of them.

Q: What did the committee help you with?

A: Different people took on different projects from beginning to end. Once they took ownership of a project it was theirs to finish. A lot of other people helped with the centennial Founders’ Day too. (Sheriff) Bob White has been wonderful and the police did a lot to help with our projects. Then like I said the firefighters and city government never let us down.

Q: Do you plan to stay active in the area now that you are no longer with Main Street?

A: I do. I will stay connected with Main Street because my heart and my soul are in Main Street. I really believe in what it stands for. It’s still my passion. My desire is for people to truly understand what Main Street does and know the impact it has in the community.

Q: What do you think about the community and people of Zephyrhills?

A: The first thing I think of is friendliness. My husband and I have said we couldn’t have hand picked a better neighborhood to live in. We love the area and the people. We couldn’t possibly have asked for a better place to live or people to be around each day.

Q: What do you think will be the most lasting thing of your tenure with Main Street?

A: I’d like to say we’ve followed our mission statement to preserve the history of Zephyrhills while helping the business and economy of the city…The most visual thing might be logos hung up in the city. The logo on them was designed as a gift by Roberto Escobar with RS Media Solutions for the centennial celebration and they will stay up indefinitely.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add about your time with Main Street?

A: I’d just like to say people should support Main Street by becoming a member, volunteering or becoming a sponsor. It’s a nonprofit group that needs community support to put on the events. It’s a great organization that does so much for the area and I will cherish my time as the executive director.

-Main Street had not picked a new executive director by press time. For more information on the organization, visit www.mainstreetzephyrhills.org.

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

A drumbeat will echo through the night air as campers gather by firelight to hear stories of old. There will be music, food and dancing. Shoes are not required.

All are invited to the 19th Annual Mother’s Day Native American Pow Wow May 7, 8 and 9 at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City.

“The Pow Wow is a time for gathering and sharing,” said Mittie Wood, event organizer. “It’s a way of keeping Native American history and culture alive and vibrant today.”

This year’s event will feature nightly festivities, artisans, cultural displays, authentic teepees, Indian village tours and other special events.

Wood, 66, is a descendant of the Creek Indian tribe. Born and raised in Lacoochee, she grew up taking great pride in her culture. In 1991, she started the Dade City Pow Wow as an outreach to teach people what it truly means to be Native American.

“I made traditional Native American clothing for my grandchildren and they wanted to wear it to school,” Wood said. “When they did, the other children made fun of them and I realized there was a real need for education.”

Wood started by hosting classes in the park to teach children not to rely on stereotypes.

“I wanted to teach children that not all Native Americans live in teepees,” Wood said. “We are people just like they are. Pretty soon, all the kids wanted clothes like my grandchildren had.”

The classes were a hit, so Pasco County Parks and Recreation permitted a project to build a replica Creek Indian village on Withlacoochee grounds. Soon after, the idea for the Pow Wow emerged.

“My friend Dixie said we should have a Pow Wow,” Wood said. “Her heritage is Comanche which is Western Indian Culture, which is where Pow Wows originated. I said ‘We can try it,’ now we’re coming up on 19 years.”

The Dade City Pow Wow draws hundreds of people from across the country. Many Native American tribes are annually represented including Seminole, Aztec, Cree, Sioux, Winnebago and Cherokee.

Rick Bird and the Birdchoppers drum circle make the trip to Dade City from Cherokee, North Carolina. Bird travels to more than 40 Pow Wows a year. He loves to meet people and hear their stories.

“Pow Wows are an opportunity to express ourselves and better educate the public,” Bird said. “For so many years on television our people have been portrayed as savages and our people aren’t anything like that.”
Bird said a drum circle is about letting go of the bad and creating a new. The drummers sing songs to mimic the emotion of the dancers. There are songs to honor the creator, songs to be joyful and prayer songs.

“Any problems we have in life we bring them inside the circle,” Bird said. “It’s for healing.”

A local drum, Tommy Tointigh, will accompany the Birdchoppers in Dade City.

Representatives from a variety of tribes will dance to the beat, dressed in their finest regalia clothing. There will be a special song and dance at 1 p.m. on Mother’s Day. In addition, Thonotosassa pastor Doc Green and Troy Berton will perform flute music throughout the weekend.

During the day, visitors can enjoy art by Rex Begaye and Paul DeLuna, and shell carving by Craig Dziadus. Leather Betty will be back once again to showcase her custom made leather apparel. Anyone interested can learn how to do beadwork or watch a blowgun be made by hand.

“Way back people didn’t have Wal-Mart or anything like that,” Wood said. “People had to hunt. They used the blowgun to kill the smaller animals. We’ll have a demonstration on how it was made and a flint knapping demonstration.”

Flint knapping is a way of making stone tools by hand.

“I hear people say wouldn’t it be nice to have lived long ago and lived out in the woods,” Wood said. “Sure, it’d be nice in a way but imagine having no conveniences and having to work for even a little bit of food.”

Life at the Pow Wow won’t be quite so difficult. Sunrise to sunset, food vendors will cook up traditional snacks suitable for the wild outdoors.

Wood will have a hand in just about every activity, including putting on her best attire for at least one dance. She will also be the weekend’s storyteller.

The art form is how Native Americans pass wisdom on from generation to generation.

“All the stories tell lessons learned in life,” Wood said. “When I was a little girl we didn’t have television but we had stories. We’d gather around at night and listen to my momma talk.”

Wood worries that many people don’t know the truth about Native American culture.

“My mother was one year old before she was recognized as a United States citizen in 1924,” Wood said. “I feel like we’re losing our history. Even history books now don’t speak a lot about Native American culture.”

Bird has the same concern. He believes Pow Wows help keep the native spirit alive.

“We share songs, we share dances and we share our culture,” he said. “We come to celebrate who we are.”

Admission to the Pow Wow is a $2 donation to Withlacoochee River Park. There will be RV hook ups and tent camping available. For information, call (352) 567-0264. Visit www.mothersdaypowwow.embarqspace.com.