Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

Recently,  Rocio Paulsen of Land O’ Lakes decided to start a Hispanic chamber of commerce because she thinks Hispanic business owners have a different way of doing things.

“The purpose of the chamber is to encourage, promote and educate each other in a business friendly environment,” said Paulsen, founding president of the Pasco/Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Hispanics have a different way of relating to each other. We are relationship people. If we meet with someone and they do something good for us, to us that is very important. We will not only become your client but we will get all of our family to become your client as well.”

Currently the group has nine members with one coming from as far as Hernando County. Many of the other members are from Wesley Chapel with a few coming from New Tampa.

There is a Hispanic Chamber already in Tampa, but Paulsen said it is not convenient for Hispanic business owners from this area to attend.

“It all started when I wanted to have a Spanish group at the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce,” Paulsen said. “We started the Latino Entrepreneur Group with five people. The people were coming from everywhere. I saw that we had a bigger need for a Hispanic Chamber.”

Paulsen started the Latino Entrepreneur Group (L.E.G.) in September. She had about six meetings before she decided to start the Hispanic chamber in January.

Currently Paulsen is working with the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce to see if she can continue with L.E.G.

David West, executive director of the Wesley Chapel Chamber, said he would like to see L.E.G. continue to be a part of the chamber, but one question needs to be answered by the chamber’s board of directors at the next meeting April 1.

“The question is if the members of the group need to join the chamber,” West said. “A traditional networking group in the chamber is made up of all chamber members. The purpose of the chamber is for fellowship and partnership among business owners and we welcome Hispanic business members to become a part of our chamber.”

Paulsen is still deciding how to run the chamber and who to let become a member. She said she is taking it one step at a time.

“In the beginning, I was planning on having it only for Hispanic business owners of Latino descent,” Paulsen said. “We don’t want to turn away anyone. We just want to make sure we are open to Latinos and to people who want to reach the Spanish community. We just hope people coming to the meeting will understand there are business owners that do not speak English.”

One of the main reasons Paulsen wanted to have a Hispanic Chamber is to offer workshops and meetings where Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs can come together to learn.

The first workshop the chamber will have will teach people how to give a successful presentation in English. The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. In order to find out the address and to register, visit www.pilarortiz.com. The workshop will be $30.

“This workshop will help them to sharpen their public speaking skills,” Paulsen said. “We will have Spanish and English workshops so people will be able to speak in whatever language they feel comfortable.”

The inauguration celebration will be 7 p.m. April 29 at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club, 10641 Old Tampa Bay Drive in San Antonio.

“We are hoping to get about 200 small business owners for the kick-off celebration,” Paulsen said. “

The next meeting for the Hispanic Chamber will be 1 p.m. March 18 at the Best Western Summer Crest, 5639 Oakley Blvd.

For more information, e-mail Paulsen at or call (813) 909-6965.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

Since the January merger of Central Pasco and East Pasco Habitat for Humanity, the organization has been trying to find a way to get their message out.

John Finnerty, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco, said he wants people to know there is help available.

“We are trying to keep children from having to sleep on floors or in leaky houses,” Finnerty said. “This is not just a problem for low-income families, there are hardworking, honest people who can’t make it on their own. We want to work with people to get them into simple, decent housing.”

To further their goal of reaching out to the community, the organization hired Jerry Sterner and Ed Blommel to work part time in the Land O’ Lakes area.

Jerry Sterner is the new director of community relations for Habitat. He recently retired from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

“The key is to get out and meet with people,” Sterner said. “I am going to make presentations about Habitat and all the wonderful things it does. The homes we replace are not satisfactory at all. We build decent beautiful homes that people can be proud of. It helps the economy and it helps families. Habitat is changing the lives of people all over the world.”

Sterner will be working out of the new office in Lutz, 1523 N. Dale Mabry Highway. He said he is looking forward to seeing more homes built in the Land O’ Lakes community.

“At the dedications there is not a dry eye in the group,” Sterner said. “The home owner grows close to the community and the community to them. It is a privilege to be able to work with this community.”

The organization is currently searching for a location to build a ReStore in Land O’ Lakes. The store will sell donated building materials, furniture and appliances.

“We get donations from Lowe’s and Home Depot and reduce the prices and sell them,” Finnerty said. “It is a great way for people who can’t afford to go to the big box stores to be able to fix up their homes.”

Blommel is the new director of retail for Habitat. It is his job to open a ReStore in Land O’ Lakes. He recently retired from Tampa Electric.

“I am working with realtors and investors to find a location here in the Land O’ Lakes area,” Blommel said. “Though, it has proven to not be the easiest task, things are looking very promising now.”

The ReStore in Land O’ Lakes will be similar to the one already established in Dade City, 14940 Citrus County Drive.

“We try not to be a thrift store because there are enough good stores around and we don’t want to compete with them,” Blommel said. “We have had one in Dade City for five years and that has been very successful.”

Blommel said the ReStore serves several purposes.

“We go to houses that will be torn down and take out things like the fixtures, appliances, cabinets and fans,” Blommel said. “It helps to keep that stuff out of landfills and it gives people a good deal. Habitat uses the ReStore to cover administrative overhead. When someone donates money to Habitat, it is because they want it to go towards a home for a family.””

Blommel is looking forward to the future of Habitat.

“We are excited to be in the Land O’ Lakes area,” Blommel said. “Land O’ Lakes is growing. There are a lot of good opportunities to partner with the business community and a lot of people to help.”

The two organizations merged to combine their efforts so they can help more people. In the past 10 years, the Central Pasco Habitat for Humanity built four homes and the East Pasco Habitat for Humanity built 73 homes.

Finnerty said he is looking forward to working with the community.

“We are excited about being able to come over and join the community and help where we can,” Finnerty said. “We have a big job ahead of us. We are serving the community from the Suncoast Parkway all the way east. We will be covering about two-thirds of the county.”

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco will continue to operate from the Dade City office, 15000 Citrus County Drive, Suite 420. For information call (352) 567-1444 or visit ephabitat.org.

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

Dietician Morgan Zinsli suggests people think twice before dismissing vegetarian meals as tasteless and unsatisfying.

She invites skeptics to delight in eating their words when East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills host the 7^th Annual Vegetarian Taste Fest March 21. Participants will enjoy samples of more than 20 recipes, from spicy vegetarian chili to homemade breads and crackers.

Zinsli, who works out of Florida Hospital, will speak at the event.

“Vegetarian food is full of flavor,” Zinsli said. “It’s also healthier. Vegetarians live longer and are at less risk for disease.”

Florida Hospital and the Seventh-day Adventist Church have partnered for more than a decade to bring the best of vegetarian eating to the community. This year’s event is at the church, 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills. The taste fest has three seating times, 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. Participants will sit for a tasting, then hear from speakers. Florida Hospital Director of Wellness Ethan Bird will speak to the 11 a.m. group, Zinsli to the noon and 1 p.m. crowds.

“This is an opportunity for people to learn more about the vegetarian lifestyle,” said Arthur Stagg, senior pastor at Seventh-day Adventist. “You know what they say, you are what you eat.”

The third stop for taste fest participants is a room with informational literature and dairy-free milk samples to try. There will be almond and soymilk products, including dessert-type treats.

On the way out, people will receive a copy of the taste fest’s cookbook. Recipes include sweet potato soup, vegetarian meatballs and black bean salad. Ingredients are anything but bland. A variety of spices and sauces add a kick to each recipe. The ingredients are also packed with vitamins and nutrients.

“Good health starts with good food choices,” Zinsli said.

Myriam Parham, diabetes program coordinator for Florida Hospital, agrees.

“People want to feel better and have a better quality of life,” she said.  “Eating vegetarian has multiple health benefits. Vegetarians are at less risk for heart problems and diabetes.”

Parham has been a vegetarian since the 1980s, when good veggie meals were a little harder to find. Today, she said most restaurants offer delicious meat-free menu items.

“There are really creative dishes out there, like vegetarian calzones and tofu Asian dishes,” she said. “You’d be amazed how many restaurants now accommodate vegetarians.”

Parham is also a member at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Many members are vegetarian because people of the faith believe in a connection between physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Stagg said becoming a vegetarian is a personal choice.

“I’ve been a vegetarian since I was about 25,” he said. “As a Seventh-day Adventist I believe the brain is what God uses to communicate with us and guide us. The healthier the body is, the healthier the mind is and the healthier our relationship is with Him.”

Zinsli will also talk about how our eating habits coincide with the world around us.

“How we eat actually affects the environment,” she said. “I started out being a vegetarian because I didn’t like where meat came from but there are so many more reasons to be a vegetarian. This taste fest is a way to promote one of the healthiest ways of eating.”

In past years, the taste fest has been a big success. More than 200 people are expected to attend this year.  Reservations are required. For information and to make a reservation, call (813) 782-2000.

PHOTO: Morgan Dollar

Morgan dollars, 1878 to 1921, are especially valuable because they are 90 percent silver.

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

As the April 15 tax-filing deadline approaches, many people are finding that for the first time they are paying taxes on money made selling gold and silver.

“I’ve absolutely seen an increase in people selling their gold and other precious metals,” said Mark Perkins, co-owner of Gold 2 Cash in Lutz. “The economic downturn is the main reason and also the price of gold per ounce is the highest in most people’s lifetime.”

Gold 2 Cash buys all precious metals in any form.

“People don’t realize that things like silverware and dental gold is worth just as much as coins and jewelry,” Perkins said. “It doesn’t matter what the form is as long as it’s gold or another precious metal.”

The recession has even enticed people to go into the gold buying business.

“The gold market has really increased, so me and my husband (Bo) started buying last year,” said Tamara Bernal, co-owner of The Kings Gold in Wesley Chapel. “We wanted to start our own business because we knew the market for gold was good right now and we didn’t like the way a lot of other gold dealers treat their customers.”

Bernal said she had worked for a large gold dealer in the past, which she declined to name.

“A lot of gold buyers try and undersell people and we didn’t want to do that.” Bernal said. “The thing people should always do is make sure they have a lot of information before they sell anything. They should make sure they know everything about the purity of their gold and silver.”

The Kings Gold buys gold, silver and platinum.

One of the most common forms of precious metal is old coins.

“People have been coming in and selling old coin collections because they are worth more now with the price of silver and gold,” said Art Pinto, president of Legacy Coins in Lutz. “A lot of people have told me they inherited collections that they have no interest in keeping, so they bring them in to sell. We buy coins even if they aren’t made of silver and gold.”

Legacy Coins opened in October 2009. Pinto said the reason people give for selling their coins range from their child getting braces to just needing money to buy gas for the week.

A coin store in east Pasco is Charlie’s Coins in Zephyrhills.

“I’ve loved collecting coins since I was a little kid,” said Charlie Proctor, owner of Charlie’s Coins. “With the way silver and gold prices keep going up it becomes more and more profitable to buy and sell coins for businesses and for the average person.”

Charlie started his coin business three years ago.

All dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollar coins minted in 1964 or before are 90 percent silver. These almost pure silver coins, plus 100 percent gold coins, are no longer made today, with the exception of silver and gold proofs that are not put into pubic circulation.

“I would suggest that anyone go and get as much information as they can before they buy or sell anything made of precious metals,” Pinto said. “That is especially true with jewelry because when you buy jewelry you pay a premium for it. A gold buyer will try and pay something like 10 percent of that because they just want the metal and nothing else.”

Those selling precious metals are not the only one who needs to be careful.

“People can’t just start buying gold unless they get a license and go through the process with the sheriff’s office,” said Dot Murphy, owner of Dot’s Thrift Stop in Lutz. “People can get into serious trouble if they don’t follow the laws, but the market for gold is good now.”

For more information on the current price of precious metals, visit www.kitco.com.

Price of precious metals per ounce*

• Gold $1,109
• Silver $17
• Platinum $1,613
• Palladium $465

* As of March 12

Who buys precious metals or coins?

• Charlie’s Coins, 5529 Eighth St., Zephyrhills, (813) 780-1858
• The King’s Gold, 27615 SR 54, Wesley Chapel, (813) 838-1141
• Dot’s Thrift Stop, 19033 US 41, Lutz, (813) 949-9101
• Gold 2 Cash, 23116 SR 54, Lutz, (813) 948-4653
• Franklin Jewelers, 2153 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes, (813) 909-4888
• Kiefer Village Jewels, 24144 SR 54, Lutz (813) 230-3417
• Legacy Coins, 1707 N. Dale Mabry, Lutz, (813) 948-8777

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

The future of Village Lakes Shopping Center remains unknown. When Wal-Mart moved out of the center last fall to its new mega-center on US 41, people began speculating what would fill the space.

Property management company Ramco Gershenson Properties Trust should have an answer within the next 30 to 60 days.

“Right now we are in negotiations with retailers,” Michael Sullivan, senior vice president of investment, said. “There are two scenarios. In one scenario, there will be one user in the space. In the other, there will be several tenants in the space.”

Shoppers and employees at Village Lakes have their own opinions about how to best use the space.

“I’d rather see one retailer than several,” said Dawn Chiacchio, hair stylist at Euro Concepts Salon. “I can maybe see two businesses there, but I don’t see how more than two would work.”

Shopper and Land O’ Lakes resident Gladys Romain agrees.

“I’d like to see a store go in like an outlet,” she said. “I think it should be a big-name store where middle class people shop, like a Kohl’s.”

Ben Pumo, owner of Benedetto’s, thinks several retailers would be risky.

“There would be more of a chance that the businesses would go out of business,” he said.  “One big retailer would be better because it would be consistent.”

According to Sullivan, a major retailer is a definite possibility. His main goal is to keep Village Lakes open and thriving. He has no intention of letting the center empty out.

“This property is a keeper for us and we are committed to making it work,” he said. “We want to redevelop the property for the next generation.”

Built in 1987, Village Lakes is the oldest shopping center of its size in Land O’ Lakes. Throughout the years, smaller businesses have come and gone from the center. In 2009, Jam Music went out of business  and Room Exchange and Weck’s Deli relocated to other centers.

Remaining businesses include Sweetbay, Beef O’ Brady’s, Goodwill-Suncoast, The Dollar Tree, Murphy’s Pub, Gentle Pet Animal Hospital and Land O’ Lakes Dental.

Dental receptionist Kera Mandigo thinks the next tenant should mimic Wal-Mart’s success.

“I miss the Wal-Mart,” she said. “I think it would be good if another big store went there, something that would bring in a lot of people.”

Sam Hamdaoi owns Uptown Pizza in Village Lakes.

“I’ve heard a lot of rumors,” Hamdaoi said. “I’ve heard that the store is going to be divided into two spaces and about Beall’s Outlet leasing one of the spaces.”

Shopper Romain winces at the idea.

“Oh no, we don’t need another Beall’s,” she said.

Sullivan said he is unable to comment on what specific retailers are involved in negotiations. Still, he is optimistic that not too long from now, the mystery of Village Lakes will be announced.

“We don’t want to jinx anything but I can tell you we are working on finding the perfect fit,” he said. “Redeveloping properties is one of our greatest strengths.”

Village Lakes Shopping Center is located on SR 54, one mile east of US 41.

History of Zephyrhills rich and plentiful

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

When Howard Barth Jeffries bought 35,000 acres of land, he would not have been able to envision what the area would be like 100 years later.

Today that land is the city of Zephyrhills, which turned 100-years-old March 10.

“I’ve seen a lot of change over my time on the east side of Pasco County,” said Margie Partain, member of the Zephyrhills Historical Association board of directors. “It has gone from a little place with almost nothing but farms to a city with lots of people and businesses.”

Partain moved to Wesley Chapel in 1977 and then to Zephyrhills seven years ago.

Several community leaders have been preparing for the celebration for a long time.

“The Zephyrhills High School Centennial Committee has been planning for the anniversary for two years now,” said Zephyrhills historian Madonna Wise. “The other committee I’m on, the Main Street Zephyrhills (Inc.) centennial committee, has been working on the celebration for about six months. It takes a long time to plan for something that has been coming for 100 years.”

Wise has lived in Zephyrhills for 36 years and has worked in five of the six public schools from the elementary to the high school level.

“This city is just rich in history that you can never know it all,” Wise said. “I was so interested in the history that I wrote two books on it.”

Her first book is “Tapestry-Zephyrhills: An Anthology of its History Through Education,” and the second is “Zephyrhills: Images of America,” which was just released. Wise will be signing copies of the books at Jeffries house, 38537 Fifth Ave., at Founder’s Day March 13 and 14.

Before it became Zephyrhills, the area was called Abbott, named after a local doctor named J.M. Abbott. The word station was added to the town’s name after two train depots were opened.

Jeffries, who was a retired Union Army captain, first came to central Florida looking for a place to farm.

“A lot of soldiers moved to Florida and started farms because Union Army pensions were small,” Partain said. “They could get two harvests each year, which many people couldn’t pass up.”

Jeffries bought the land in 1909 from James Lee Greer, who owned Greer Sawmill. Jeffries first planted the property in 1910.

“The reason people say the town was founded in 1910 is because that’s when Capt. Jeffries divided up the land and started selling it to people,” Partain said. “That allowed other people to move to the area. You can’t very well have a town if no one can buy land and move in.”

Zephyrhills was officially incorporated as a city in 1914 when the Zephyrhills Colony Company was formed.

How the city got its name is not clear, but two main stories are generally accepted among the historical association. The first is that there was a strong breeze on top of LeHeup Hill, which is where Jeffries signed the contract for the land. The word Zephyr actually means breezes, so the name Zephyrhills stuck. The other speculation is the first person to survey the city had either a first or last name of Hill.

The city is not the only thing turning 100-years-old in 2010. The original Zephyrhills High School was founded in September 1910. It was first located on Gall Boulevard where the Clock Restaurant is today. It stayed there until 1926 when it moved to the present location of Raymond B. Stewart Middle School and finally to 12th Street.

“It was at Stewart Middle until 1975 when it moved to where it is today,” Wise said. “I taught at both locations and I’m so happy that we’re going to be dedicating Stewart Middle with a historic marker on March 13 at Founder’s Day. We’ll have a lot of politicians there for the dedication and it will be a great event for everyone to come and see.”

The dedication is at 2 p.m. after the Founder’s Day parade, which ends at Stewart Middle.

“I’m just happy that all the work the committee has done is starting to come together,” said Tim Urban, president of the school’s centennial committee. “Having the dedication at Founder’s Day is a great way to kick off our celebration of the school. We will have a big celebration on Oct. 22, which is homecoming next school year.”

Urban is an assistant principal at the school and will be a city council member in April.

“I just want to continue the rich history of learning here in Zephyrhills,” Urban said. “We want to keep shaping great young people who can go out into the community and make a difference. That was our goal for the first 100 years and that will continue to be our goal in the future.”

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

The recession has created budget shortfalls at every level, but road construction projects continue to be funded and move forward in east Pasco County.

The Pasco County Commission is expected to approve the low-bid contract of $22 million to widen SR 54 to six lanes form I-75 to Curley Road in Wesley Chapel on March 16.

“Pepper Contracting Services, which is based in Clearwater, had the lowest bid for the project at just more than $22 million,” said Pasco chief project manager Robert Shepherd. “They will get the project because they passed all of our background checks and were the lowest bidder. The project will add the lanes to 3.47 miles of (SR) 54.”

Shepherd said construction would likely begin April 5 and could take 21 months to complete.

“We need to keep building, especially new roads because the population in east Pasco is still growing,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader. “We sometimes get complaints sometimes from the people who drive the roads every day and want road projects completed faster. They don’t understand how much goes into a project. A lot happens behind the scenes to start a project.”

Schrader is from Pasco District 1, which covers all of Zephyrhills, Dade City, much of Wesley Chapel and some of northern Land O’ Lakes.

SR 54 is already four lanes at the western end of the project zone, but the road shrinks to two lanes at Pointe Pleasant Boulevard near Heritage Ford.

Schrader said the county had already purchased the land needed for the expansion and many of the affected businesses have relocated within Pasco. The construction that is currently happening on SR 54 is on utilities in preparation for the widening.

There are several steps before a county project can begin. The job is first advertised for at least 30 days and bids are then evaluated. The lowest bidder wins the contract unless they have something that disqualifies them.

“Companies can be disqualified if they have a history of not completing projects or other similar red flags,” Shepherd said. “The county has attorneys look at the bids also to make sure the math is correct and everything is as it should be. Basically it’s to insure the company can finish the project.”

The last steps are the contract is awarded and the winning company has to then get bonded and insured to protect the public’s investment.

“It’s very important that companies are bonded in case they can’t complete the project,” Schrader said. “When a company is fired from a Pasco County project the bonding company is responsible for getting another company to complete the project. The bonding company then pays any cost over the original contract. No additional public money would be used in those cases.”

These safeguards are especially important now after Pasco’s head of finance recently said the county would likely lose $17 million this year without property tax increases.

This bonding process will help Pasco complete two other projects in Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes. The largest of these is the extension of Collier Parkway through Hale Road and Parkway Boulevard. WDG Construction Inc. was working on the project before it was fired by the county Feb. 9.

“The bonding company has narrowed its list of companies to finish the Collier extension to six and they should make their recommendation soon,” Shepherd said. “The original building company received $1,489,000 for the work they had done, and 10 percent of that is withheld until the projects completion. The company that finishes the project will get that 10 percent.”

The original contract with WDG was for $4.3 million. The company was also fired from the project to connect Mansfield and Meadow Pointe boulevards in Wesley Chapel. Shepherd said that project is still scheduled to be completed in April even though a replacement company had yet to be named as of March 5.

Additional construction on Meadow Pointe from S.R. 54 to near Smith Road all started March 7. The project includes milling, resurfacing and restriping the road and one lane will be open at any point in time.  The project is expected to be completed within 30 days. The improvements to Meadow Pointe will provide a detour for residents and commuters during the widening of SR 54.

“We want all of Pasco County to continue to grow and that requires road projects,” Schrader said. “It’s a problem during the project with traffic being delayed and occasionally you have problems with the contractor, but in the end it will benefit all the people and businesses in the area.”