Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Park fees still in place for group meetings

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LUTZ  Many Lutz-area organizations and community leaders have worried new fees charged for use of Hillsborough County parks and buildings would derail Lutz’s traditional celebrations.  However, those concerns may have been overstated, county park officials said last week.

“I’ve been talking with some people, including the department’s director Mark Thornton, and the Lutz Fourth of July parade will be able to go on without fees,” said John Brill, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. “It is considered a community event and therefore there is no fee to use the park.”

There had been concern by many in the community that the Lutz Independence Day celebration in Bullard Park by the Lutz Train Depot would be canceled this summer, much like Christmas in the Park was cancelled last month because of the new fees. So concerned was Lutz Guv’na Suzin Carr that she wrote a letter to the Hillsborough County Commissioners.

“I spoke with Commissioner Ken Hagen and I am waiting for something in writing now,” Carr said last week. “He and Mark Thornton talked and they’ve assured me the parade can go one without the fees. I’m thrilled with that, but the people of Lutz need to understand we need their help to put on the event. The letter wasn’t meant to railroad the commissioners, but to get the people here to step up and volunteer at the event.”

Carr is calling for help at the event for two reasons. The first is the county has cut its special events crew that had helped with setup at community events.

“The county will provide things like the tables and chairs, but there is no more crew,” Brill said. “The setup will have to be done by the community putting on the event.”

The second reason is more to spread out the workload.

“The same people put together all the events each year, and some of them are getting up there in years,” Carr said. “Even if we don’t have fees, the event won’t go on if the community doesn’t pitch in and help. If people wait until the week before the Fourth of July to act, then we still won’t have the parade.”

The parade and celebration draws from both north Hillsborough and Land O’ Lakes. While the news of no fees from the county seems like good news for Lutz and Land O’ Lakes residents, it is still unclear if everything will go on as usual.

“We have to be sponsored by the county because we are using their equipment and land,” Carr said. “I have no problem with that because we are borrowing their equipment and they should get recognition for that, but I want to know what that means for everyone at the celebration. For example, will kids selling cotton candy have to give the county half of what they make because they are the sponsor?”

The issue of the park fees arose last November when the locks on the Lutz Civic Center doors were changed. Before then, several groups used the center for meetings, including Boy Scout Troop 12, the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. To use the center, all nonprofit groups must pay $20 an hour, and $40 an hour for other groups.

“It still isn’t right that they are charging to use the Civic Center that was built by the people of Lutz,” Lutz resident Marilyn Wannamaker said. “I’m still not sure if the parade will go on, but even if it does we shouldn’t be charged to use that facility.”

Wannamaker is the president of the Woman’s Club, but emphasized she was speaking only as a concerned citizen of Lutz. The club has been meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center in Pasco County since the locks were changed.

Hillsborough Parks and recreation offered to allow the Woman’s Club to use the center if they made the county its sponsor for all events. Wannamaker said the club is just starting to discuss that possibility, but has not made a decision.

The club helped organize Christmas in the Park until last year, when they opted out because of the new fees. Wannamaker said she thought the fees would be enforced for using the Civic Center, Bullard Park and the train depot, a total of $60 an hour, to put on the event.

“There was never going to be any fee for the Christmas celebration in Lutz,” Brill said. “We were ready to give what support we could, but there won’t be any fees for those kind of community events.”

When asked about other events, such as the Lake Park Arts and Craft Festival, which is the first weekend of December each year, Brill said those events require park rangers and therefore would have a fee. Cars entering the festival last year had to pay $2 to enter for the first time.

“We are still trying to work out all the little details of the new fees situation because it is all new to us too,” Brill said. “However, we were never contacted to offer support for the Lutz Christmas event.”

Wannamaker did not see it that way.

“We never had to call them before, but we don’t have keys to get into the Civic Center now,” she said. “The information on the department Web site was very clear that we would have to pay those fees. We don’t have that kind of money, so why would be bother calling them?”

Carr will not be satisfied until she has something in writing.

“I’d love to take them at their word, but I want something concrete that says no one will be charged,” she said. “It’s still confusing, so I want to avoid any potential conflict.”

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS—For many seniors navigating a computer can be very tricky, which is why the Pasco County Library System is offering many classes geared towards technology.

Dotty Chandler, branch manager at New River Library in Zephyrhills, teaches classes for seniors where they learn how to use e-mail, work with programs like Skype and manage files.

“Not only does it keep seniors connected, it also keeps the brain active,” Chandler said. “It is great for keeping seniors connected with friends and family using programs like Skype. That is really nice because then they can stay connected and they can see their grandchild grow up. Also they can go on and access Web sites for news or for medical information.”

Ellen Ball, of Zephyrhills, said she has learned something in every computer class she has taken so far at New River Library.

“I think these classes are great for seniors because we haven’t grown up with computers like our grandchildren have,” Ball said. “It keeps us from getting too far behind in the world.”

Niles Ball, her husband, said the skills he is learning are helping him feel freer with computers.

“I learned how to get on-line with my broadband,” Ball said. “It is great because now I know how to get on the Internet when I am out places like at the library. I am now more free to go out places and use my laptop.”

Fred Olive, of Zephyrhills, said he has been enjoying the classes so much; he keeps coming back for more.

“Before I was taking these classes, I had no clue how to use my e-mail,” Olive said. “I learned today how to categorize emails and how to attach files to an e-mail. It helps me to communicate with my children and grandchildren.”

Isabelle Featherston, reference and teen librarian at New River Library, said it is important for seniors to learn how to use computers for many reasons.

“There is a huge need for older adults to learn the computer when you combine the fact that most of government benefits sites and Medicare are on-line now,” Featherston said. “If you can’t use the Internet, then you are at a distinct disadvantage. The computer is not just for fun anymore.”

Through her Internet for seniors class, Featherston teaches seniors why the Internet is something they need.

“We start by talking about the basic things they can do like using e-mail, Facebook and Scype,” Featherston said. “We also teach them about Web sites for older adults like the National Institute for Health site and the Medline Plus site which has information on everything from the Mayo Clinic to the CDC to the American Medical Association.”

In addition to learning about the Web sites offering information on benefits from the government and non-profit groups, seniors can also learn about some of the things they can do for fun like keeping in touch with their children and grandchildren.

“The Internet is great for contacting family and friends and it has other great uses as well,” Featherston said. “If you don’t have cable T.V., you can go on Hulu and find a lot of current shows as well as old shows that you can’t find anywhere else. It is also great for finding discounts on travel, investigating hobbies and touring places using Google Satellite.”

Even though Featherston encourages seniors to get on the computer and look around, she said it is also important for them to be safe which is why the New River Library will have a free Seniors’ Crime Forum Jan. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas will offer the program with guest speakers Jody Ferguson-Hensler, Richard Zutell, David Dewey, Little Horatio, Kathy Cornwell and Jane Occiollini. Topics discussed will include SHINE, Medicare fraud, free victim services, free 911 cell phones, free fingerprinting and The National Family Caregiver Support Program. For more information, visit pclsseniors.blogspot.com or visit New River Library’s blog pclsnewriverlibrary.blogspot.com.

The Pasco County Library System also offers a variety of technology classes for seniors, for more information, call (813) 788-6375 or visit pclsseniors.blogspot.com.

Small citrus fruit draw huge crowds

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

DADE CITY — For one day each year, more people pack into downtown Dade City than any other place all year in Pasco County. All those people make the trek for a peculiar orange fruit that comes into season each winter — the kumquat.

Specifically, they come for the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce’s annual Kumquat Festival.

“The fruit isn’t that well known like other citrus, so it gets people’s attention when they first here about it,” said Joey Wubbena, GDCCC president and co-chairman for the event since it began 13 years ago. “We don’t have turnstiles, but we have estimates of anywhere from 28,000 to 35,000 people who come out each year.”

This year’s festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 30 and is free to the public.

“It’s just amazing how many different types of crafts are available at the festival,” said Nita Beckwith, GDCCC executive director. “It’s a great place to go shopping for any type of arts and crafts because we’ll have about 380 vendors, plus a farmers’ market and prepared food too.”

Performers from several area dance studios will entertain audiences in the National Guard Armory, while country music bands play outside on the Florida Lottery Stage. Children can play in the bounce house, create with sand art or visit the butterfly garden, “Go Natural Butterflies,” where kids can see the insects up-close.

“There will also be an antique car show all day in the parking lot of the old courthouse,” said Susan Frimmel, festival co-chairwomen. “We will also have a horse drawn carriage giving people rides, the quilt challenge and a 5K (five kilometers or 3.1 miles) and 10K walk and a 5K run. So there is something for everyone.”

Frimmel has lived in Dade City for 15 years and has been a co-chairwoman for at least six years. She works for Pasco Regional Medical Center, which has been the presenting sponsor for the festival every year.

“I can’t even remember how many times I’ve been to the festival,” she said. “I just love all the arts and crafts and walking the streets seeing them. If you’ve never been to it you don’t know how much fun you’re missing out on.”

Kumquats may not be the most common piece of produce, but Pasco County actually grows more of the grape-sized fruit than anywhere else in the world. Kumquat Growers Inc., the world’s largest producer and shipper of the fruit, is based in St. Joseph, which is a few miles to the west of Dade City.

“They plant 45 acres of kumquat trees each year,” Wubbena said. “That might not sound like a lot, but because the fruit is so small you get a lot of them from each tree.”

The Kumquat was first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Unlike most citrus, the skin of the small fruit can be eaten. The only parts that are inedible are the seeds.

“I just love kumquat pie,” said Frimmel. “I don’t like it frozen solid, but I like it slightly frozen…They are pretty good for you too because one to two kumquats will give you your daily requirement of vitamin C.”

Wubbena will have the fruit any way.

“I love them just as a snack when they are in season like they are right now,” he said. “We are lucky because the growers got all of them picked before that long freeze happened a couple weeks back. Otherwise we might not have a festival this year.”

While it is a chamber event, the city has a lot to do with putting the festival together.

“Without the help of the city we couldn’t pull it off each year,” Wubbena said. “We get help from the Dade City Police Department and a lot of other government and volunteer organizations too to help with logistics and everything else that you need to put on something this big.”

For more information on the Kumquat Festival, visit www.dadecitychamber.org and click on the Kumquat Festival link on the left side of the screen.

KUMQUAT PIE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• One 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
• One 8-ounze container of whipped topping
• 2/3 cup pureed kumquats
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup lemon juice

PREPARATION

• Wash fruit, cut in half and remove seeds. Place in blender or food processor and puree until very smooth.
• Strain out most of the liquid with a cheese cloth. Too much liquid will make it hard to combine.
• Beat condensed milk and whipped topping together. Add lemon juice and beat until thickened. Add pureed kumquats, pour in pie shell and chill in refrigerator for four to five hours.

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES—Twelve-year-old Jodye Bracey jumps up and down in the hall at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church. Bracey is excited about starting her first season as a cheerleader for Upward, a Christian youth sports league through the church. The program, which combines athletics and Sunday school teachings, is now enrolling children grades K-6.

“I can’t wait because I’ll be cheering for my friends on the basketball team and I’ll be cheering for God,” Bracey said. “I love Upward.”

Myrtle Lake brought Upward, a national ministry, to Land O’ Lakes in 2008. The pre-made sports program is available to all churches. Host sites are supplied with uniforms, equipment, practice items and teaching tools by the main organization.

Myrtle Lake started out offering only soccer. More than 70 children on about 10 teams played in summer 2008 and 2009. The soccer program’s success inspired Michael Maragelis, Upward’s local director, to offer basketball and cheerleading this spring. Games and practices will be held at Academy at the Lakes beginning Feb. 27.

“The great thing about Upward is that all the kids get to play an equal amount of time and there’s no team superstar stealing the show,” Maragelis said. “There’s competition but it isn’t all about winning. It’s about having fun and it’s Christian based.”

Upward divides participants by age group. The teams are balanced so children of every skill level are represented on each team. Maragelis evaluates participants to make sure no one team dominates another.

Rhea Davis, mother of Tyler, 11, describes the program as uplifting.

“The program is about motivating the kids,” Davis said. “We’re always high-fiving the players. It isn’t about who’s better than who. I like that.”
Tyler, who attends Denham Oaks Elementary School, chose to play Upward basketball this spring instead of joining a school team.

“I liked playing on the soccer team, so I’m looking forward to basketball,” he said. “I keep handing out pamphlets at school to get my friends to sign-up.”
Tyler said he prefers Upward because everyone involved has a positive attitude. He likes taking time out at practices for prayer and Biblical study.

“We get to learn about Christ,” he said. “That makes it even better.”

During practices, kid athletes are taught the Gospel and learn motivational scripture. Each team’s coach is responsible for taking time out to share what it means, for Christians, to be saved.

“Here, you know the values of the coaches and how the coaches are going to deal with the kids,” Maragelis said. “You know they are going to teach them, not scream and yell at them, which is something that happens sometimes in recreational leagues, but not in Upward.”
Parents can coach their own child’s team, or volunteer to assist.  Maragelis’s daughters, Sabrina, 11, and Alyssa, 6, participate in the program. For them, it’s a family affair.

“With soccer, I’ve always been Sabrina’s coach and my wife was Alyssa’s coach, so that’s a benefit because you get to be involved,” Maragelis said. “The kids might keep score but the adults don’t. We’re just having fun.”

Teens are also invited to help coach and referee the games.

Brian Bowman, 18, doesn’t mind spending Saturdays as a ref at the games.

“I love sports and its great to be a mentor to the kids,” he said. “Watching the little ones run around is the funniest part. They’re full of energy.”

Registration for basketball and cheerleading is open until the first practice, Feb 27. The current enrollment cost, which includes uniforms and equipments is $69.95. The first game is scheduled for March 13 at Academy at the Lakes, 2220 Collier Parkway.

For information or to register, call (813) 967-1884.

Store offers wine, education

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

WESLEY CHAPEL—When entertaining at home, it is sometimes difficult to decide which wine would be the best to pair with the evening’s food, which is something WineHarvest is hoping to help people with.

The store, which recently opened in Wesley Chapel, is hoping to provide those answers and much more when it comes to wine. WineHarvest, 1269 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., offers a wide selection of wines and a nice atmosphere to enjoy it in. Joshua Bradley, store manager, said he likes to share his extensive wine experience with customers.

“Our motto is it is all about the good life,” Bradley said. “This is a place for people who are thoughtful about wine and interested in learning more about wine to slow down and enjoy the good life. Our philosophy is the right wine every time.”

The store offers wine tasting events, a wine club and other deals to help the community learn more about wine while also saving some money in the process. Through the wine club, customers select a membership level like silver, gold or platinum. Each month the customer will get two bottles of wine along with exclusive discounts and offers. Each Friday, there are free wine tasting events from 5 to 7 p.m.

“We want this to be a place for the community,” Bradley said. “Some people come to a wine tasting interested in learning all there is to know while some just want to have some nice white fruity wine and just have a good time, we like to cater to both crowds. We also have different themes for our wine tasting like an Italian night where we offer wines from Italy.”

The selection of wine includes mostly domestic wines from California and some from Oregon and Washington along with many imported wines from all over the world. In the future, the store will add Florida wines and organic wines.

“We have some of the wines that can be found at area liquor stores, but this a serious wine shop where we focus on allocated and hard to get wines,” Bradley said. “We are interested in boutique wines and other wines that can’t be found anywhere else. We also have a good selection of microbrew beers available.”

Bob Ong of Wesley Chapel said he loves the new store. He said he thinks it is much better then when it was a Cork & Olive.

“It is a lot more inviting and not so stark,” Ong said. “When I walk in, I feel like I want to sit down and have a drink. I like the bar and the artwork on the walls. I think it makes it look more inviting. It feels like a wine shop in SoHo in New York.”

Carol Worthingon of New Tampa said she loves the new place especially since members of The North Tampa Art League are showing their artwork there.

“I have been to the Friday wine tasting and I think they are great,” Worthington said. “I have learned about a couple wines. It is nice because they make it such a great place to hang out.”

In order to help members of the community get back and forth from the Gasparilla Day Parade Jan. 30, WineHarvest will have a Gasparilla Party Bus. The fee will be $40 per person and will include a champagne toast, beads and other pirate bounty.

“This is one thing we can do for the community,” Bradley said. “It is nice for people who live in the area to have a person to drive them there and back. They will be able to get right in to the party and won’t have to worry about parking. Also the bus will give them some sort of home base.”

On the Web site, the store offers a social networking platform, wine vault auctions, a wine education series with videos and live news and more. For more information, visit wineharvest.com.

IF YOU GO

• WHAT WineHarvest
• WHEN Mon. thru Thurs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• WHERE 1269 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel
• For more information, call 813-388-6898

Bob Winters and Jim Johnston honored for 35 years of service

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — The work of a volunteer firefighter is dangerous, time consuming and exhausting. There is no paycheck but Bob Winters, Fire Rescue of Zephyrhills president, said the job itself is reward enough.

“I’ve been with the volunteer fire rescue since 1973,” Winters said. “It’s just something I love doing, and to do it you have to love it. It’s truly a calling and I was called to do it.”

Bob Winters and volunteer Jim Johnston received ornamental axes last Christmas to honor their years of service. FRZ gives out the axes to those who have served for at least 35 years. The axes are 36-inches long and made entirely of bronze.

“It was a very nice gesture from the station,” said Johnston, operations coordinator for the Pasco County Office of Emergency Management. “It is special…I love the people I’ve worked with and serving Zephyrhills.”

Most people probably think of an ax as just a tool, but to volunteers it has a deeper meaning.

“Axes are special to firefighters,” he said. “Trumpets are also given out as awards by some fire departments because those tools are some of the ones we work closest with. They just have a special meaning to firefighters.”

Dale Barnett, vice president of FRZ, speaks highly of his fellow volunteers.

“They are just the best guys in the world,” Barnett said. “(Firefighters) are really part of a brotherhood. I mean you depend on the other guys for your life.”

Barnett said he has fought fires with Johnston and Winters in the past, and that there is no one he would rather have on his side.

While the men can think back on all the good times they have had serving the community together, other moments are not so happy.

“Downtown caught on fire once early in my career, and that was very dangerous,” Winters said. “There was fire everywhere and it took a long time to put out.”

Johnston said of the downtown fire, “The thing about that fire was how big it was, and of course when you have a fire in the middle of downtown it’s a little different.”

The fire downtown was a memorable one, but if Johnston and Winters were just starting as volunteers they might have been able to avoid a blaze so intense.

“The biggest thing that has changed since I started volunteering is the advent of smoke detectors,” Winters said. “I don’t know what the actual figures are, but I’d say that putting smoked detectors in buildings has reduced the number of calls into the station by about 60 to 65 percent.”

The FRZ was the first fire-fighting agency in Zephyrhills. The city did not hire its first firefighter and fire chief until 1969.

Barnett explained that very few people ever make it to 35 years of service because they usually get the training need to be a paid firefighter.

“It takes a special kind of person to do this for nothing,” Barnett said.

Even though Barnett has more than a decade less of service than Winters and Johnston, he will be in line for an ax of his own in less than a year.

“I’m looking forward to my own ax, even though it will be the smaller one,” he said. “I guess I’ll just have to keep doing it to get my own big ax, and I will because there is a certain special challenge in doing this. All three of us have been involved in the Zephyrhills community for years, so we want to give back as long as we can.”

Winters and Johnston agree the axes are special and look good, but both had a minor defect when it arrived.

“It had a chip in it,” he said. “They got me a new one though for over my fireplace.”

Johnston’s was also chipped, but has also been replaced.

“I don’t have a fireplace to put mine over like Bob, but it’s up on my wall,” Johnston said. “It’s a full-size ax, so it can’t just go anywhere. It certainly stands out on my wall.”

Other volunteer firefighter awards from 2009

• Pete Rodhrig 25 years
• Jim Kuhn 25 years
• Ralf Velez 20 years
• Kevin Wong 15 years
• Michael Gibbs 15 years

By Sarah Whitman

Senior staff writer

Personal trainer Samantha Taylor knows the pain and frustration of fighting an eating disorder. She was a binge eater for most of her young adult life. Six years ago, after being named number-one-trainer by Lifestyles Family Fitness, Taylor found herself downing slices of pizza at a local buffet and realized something had to change.

“I had eaten eight slices of pizza and four dessert pieces,” she said. “The waitress came to the table and said, aren’t you that trainer who writes articles for the local paper? I was mortified. My public life and what I considered a private personal problem had finally met. I rushed straight to the gym, got on the treadmill and started to cry.”
Taylor went home that day and began to pray. She asked God to heal her food addiction, a problem she had hidden by maintaining weight through exercise. Three months later, she was feeling free, no longer preoccupied by a desire to eat.

“I haven’t binged since,” Taylor said with a smile, seated in her office at Pure Health, her personal training studio in Lutz.  “Now I can help others to truly get healthy.”

Taylor, a certified trainer and nutrition expert, worked at lifestyles for three years; then went into private business in 2004. She trained clients at their homes; then opened her first studio on Dale Mabry Hwy. The newest Pure Health facility, located behind Ferman Auto on SR 54, opened a little more than a year ago.

Clients can sign-up for one-on-one or group training to improve physical, mental and spiritual health.

“Mentally you have to be in the right place before you can loose weight and keep it off,” Taylor said. “Otherwise, you just go back to old habits. Once you know the root of the problem, you’ll be able to eat right and stick to a fitness routine.”

Having struggled with food; Taylor said she offers clients more than book knowledge.

“Clients know I’m not a girl who’s always loved eating chicken and broccoli,” she said. “I grew up with a serious food addiction and had to work really hard. For a long time, I knew everything about nutrition and my body, but I just couldn’t stop eating. I wasn’t trying to be a hypocrite. I just had a problem and I got better. I want people to know they can do it too.”

Most of Taylor’s clients come to her in hopes of loosing weight.  She encourages them to do so in the healthiest way possible.  Loosing weight to fast isn’t good, she said, and crash diets do more harm than good.

“It is a process,” she said. “If clients follow the program, eat right and keep moving; they can loose two to four dress sizes in just weeks and feel great.”

Wendy Steinbaecher of Land O’ Lakes lost 40 lbs in six months.

“Samantha helped me get rid of the bad foods in my diet, then she started me on cardio and weight training,” Steinbaecher said. “Working with her is great because she knows your struggles. It’s nice to know she isn’t this perfect person who’s never eaten a bad thing.”

Steinbaecher said she feels at home at the Pure Health studio.

“Everyone is friendly and it’s a smaller environment, so it’s easier to feel comfortable here than it is at a big gym,” she said.

Suzanne House of Lutz agrees. She has lost 151bs since August, but says the greatest change she’s noticed is on the inside. She no longer feels burdened by unhealthy eating patterns.

“I’m feeling stronger and more energized,” she said.

House and Taylor share a common bond.

“Samantha focuses on the spiritual side of things, which is one of the reasons I came to her,” House said.  “My faith is a big part of who I am and she understands that.  She holds me accountable and helps me remember who really gives me the strength to do this.”

“It says in the Bible, your body is a temple,” Taylor. “The body was created to move. We were meant to eat natural foods, not processed foods.”

Taylor thinks upbringing has a lot to do with eating habits. She encourages parents to start their children off on the right track.

“I grew up eating sugar and fast food,” she said. “If you grow up on that stuff, it becomes comfort food and you associate comfort with it, even though its really hurting your body.”

Clients at Pure Health are taught to retrain their brains to think of eating in a different way.

“The next time you think a soda, don’t think about how it will taste or even think of it as a drink, think of it as a big glass of chemicals,” Taylor said.

When faced with temptation, Taylor turns to prayer. During the holidays, she ate a couple cookies. Sometimes, she’ll drink a soda when out to dinner; but food no longer runs her life.

“There’s no magic pill you can take,” she said, “but with the right tools people really can change. My goal is to get people to believe again.”

IF YOU GO

• WHAT Pure Health Studios
• WHERE 24140 SR 54, suite 103
• MORE INFORMATION (813) 909-4939

DADE CITY —A pending merger between the Central Pasco and East Pasco chapters of Habitat for Humanity means more help for low-income families.

“Our organizations’ goals are the same, so why duplicate our efforts when we can work together,” said John Finnerty, president of the East Pasco organization. “By combining our resources we will be able to build more homes.”

In the past 10 years, the all-volunteer Central Pasco Habitat has built four homes compared to 73 completed by East Pasco, which has eight employees and two VISTA volunteers.

To merge, Central Pasco will dissolve its non-profit corporation and the remaining organization will be renamed Habitat for Humanity of East Central Pasco. Three members from the current Central Pasco board —Danny Coleman, Randy Gailit and John Westfall — will be appointed to a combined 22-member board. The merger should be made official in March.

To get a jump on upcoming projects, board members met for a planning meeting Jan. 18 to discuss goals for 2010.

“We have plans to dedicate three more homes in central Pasco in 2010 and we’re hoping to open a retail store for all areas,” Finnerty said. “We’re also working to recruit more volunteers.”

The Central Pasco group dedicated its fourth and last home as an independent non-profit Jan. 16. Volunteers built the home for the Neeley family, Jasson, Ashlie and their three young sons — identical 3-year-old twins Christian and Cayden, and 6-month-old Gabrielle. The 1,400 square foot home in Pasco Lakes Estates has a wide front porch, three bedrooms and a bath. The subdivision is located in north Land O’ Lakes on US 41, about five miles north of SR 52.

“We moved in on Dec. 19, which was Jasson’s birthday and just in time for Christmas,” Ashlie said.

Next door to the Neeley’s, another Habitat home is being built. Central Pasco board member Gary Williams said the selection committee is currently reviewing applications to choose a family. East Pasco has been involved with the process.

“The board is really proud of what we’ve done and the merger steps up and allows us to build more homes,” Williams said.

Following the merge, Habitat might hire more employees to assist with new projects.

“Our staff is spread pretty thin to begin with,” Finnerty said. “We may recruit some part-time employees from the Central area. Its important our employees have an expertise on the area they are working in.”

Finnerty said plans are to hire retail staff, if they are able to open a store. The two groups are currently searching for a location in the Land O’ Lakes area to open a Habitat Restore, where they will accept donations of new appliances and building materials. If donated items are not needed in a local Habitat home, they are sold at Habitat’s Restore at significant discounts to the public.

Volunteers will also be needed to manage donations.

“We’ll always need volunteers,” Finnerty said. “Habitat runs on the heart and soul of volunteers.”

A reception celebrating the merger of East Pasco and Central Pasco Habitats is planned for March.

see related story

Lutz composer markets CD to pets

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

LUTZ  — Dottie Pino tried everything to relax her dog Bandit, a Lhasa Apsos she rescued from an abusive home two years ago. She gave him hugs and kisses. She took him for long walks. Still, Bandit was always a little bit on edge. At a loss, Pino decided to try something unusual. She purchased Animal Therapy Edition, a CD of songs to ease pet stress.

Composed by Lutz resident Connie Girard, the CD is a mix of soothing instrumentals and natural sounds.

“I put the CD on and left the room,” Pino said. “When I came back Bandit and my cat were lying flat on their backs with their feet up, completely relaxed.”

Bandit’s story is one of the composer’s favorites. His picture is up on Girard’s Web site, amongst other pets of happy customers. Girard, a musician since childhood, is excited to hear about how different animals are affected by her music.

“When I started composing, I was making something for people to enjoy, but then birds were flying to the window and squirrels were stopping outside,” she said. “I realized it was because of the music and that’s where I got the idea to market it to pet owners.”

Girard said all types of animals respond to sound. Years ago, she worked as an animal specialist with the former Metro Dade City in south Florida. There she learned to appreciate animals as emotional beings.

“They experience tension,” Girard said. “When something bad happens they feel it just like us.”

Jennifer Boron couldn’t believe it when her turtle, Mitz, seemed to be moved by the music. Boron had to give up Mitz’s turtle mate because she was becoming aggressive. Left alone, Mitz gave up on day-to-day life outside his shell.

“Mitz hadn’t been eating or moving around much,” Boron said. “I started playing the CD thinking my cats would like it. I turned it up and saw the water in the turtle tank vibrating. Mitz must have felt it because he started climbing again and eating again.”

Boron’s cats, Spunky and Curly, like the music too.

“My cats always get car sick and I had to take them on a road trip,” she said. “I put the CD on in my car and they didn’t get sick. I think its because they were more comfortable and relaxed.”

Girard believes animals experience stress in a way similar to humans.

“Their brains respond to calming effects,” she said.

Pino agrees.

“I put the music on late afternoon and at night,” she said. “I cuddle Bandit and he goes to sleep. I’d recommend the CD to anyone with a pet who has been abused.”

Animal Therapy Edition is currently for sale online at www.animalmusictherapy.com. The cost is $19.95. Girard is marketing it to stores and hopes veterinarians in the area will carry it as well. To get the word out, Girard will play the CD from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. People are invited to bring pets.