Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County officials grant 10-year extension to 2021

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

WESLEY CHAPEL — Doomed by the recession, environmental guidelines and legal issues, the Cypress Creek Town Center at SR 54 and I-75 has been put on hold.

In November, Pasco County officials granted the developer’s request for a 10-year construction extension to 2021. Commissioners previously granted the Richard E. Jacobs Group extensions in 2008 and 2009.

Commissioners still must rubber stamp the extension, which so far has been approved by the Development Review Committee and Local Planning Agency.

“They have cleared two hurdles already,” said commissioner Ted Schrader, noting that the commissioners’ OK in December is a mere formality “unless something comes out of left field. At least it gives them some time to allow the market to recover.”

The Cleveland-based developer faced a Dec. 31, 2011 construction deadline for the 510-acre project. The first phase was to include a 1.2 million-square-foot mall, 600,000 square feet of retail space and 120,000 square feet for offices. Plans also called for 350 hotel rooms, 230 apartments and a 2,582-seat movie theater.

Despite the delay, Schrader said he thinks the mall will eventually be built.

“I firmly believe that you’ll see a mall there one day,” he said. “I think Cypress Creek Town Center will draw a tremendous amount of shoppers from Hillsborough County.”

Meanwhile, two malls in Wesley Chapel — The Grove and The Shops at Wiregrass — have opened and expanded in the past year.

For State Rep. Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), whose family lives in Wesley Chapel and shops at both new malls, delaying Cypress Creek makes perfect sense.

“I just don’t think the demand is there right now,” Weatherford said. “I think (the extension) is a good thing. They’ve got 10 years to figure it out.”

The delay could change the landscape of storefronts when and if Cypress Creek opens. The granted extension led to Target backing out. That potential anchor joined Linens ’n Things and Circuit City, which both backed out earlier this year because they went out of business.

The delay will also provide time for litigation to work out.

Earlier this year, the Army Corps of Engineers suspended the developers’ permit after muddy water flowed into Cypress Creek, which feeds into Hillsborough County’s drinking water supply. When Jacobs Group agreed to pay nearly $300,000 in fines for violating the Clean Water Act, permits were reinstated in September.

There are outstanding lawsuits with the Sierra Club filing against the corps for issuing the permit and Kearney Construction and Jacobs Group filing countersuits against one another.

“They’ll get past all that,” Schrader said.

By Ashley Reams Dunn

News Editor

WESLEY CHAPEL — When James Kelske looks at a piece of firewood, he doesn’t see a chunk of timber. He sees possibilities.

Kelske uses a chainsaw to turn logs into art. Dolphins, flamingos, pelicans, penguins, bears, turtles and tiki gods dot the lawn in front of The Tree Feller, a tree removal and land clearing business on SR 54 in Wesley Chapel where Kelske has been selling his creations for the past three weeks.

“If you can see what you want to make in a piece of wood, you can make it, I reckon,” he says.

Kelske, of Zephyrhills, has worked with wood all his life, which he claims has been quite long. When asked his age, he responded: “I am 443.” He’s only been carving for the past couple years though.

What got him into it?

“Hunger,” he says, as his dry sense of humor becomes even more obvious.

He saw someone carve a flamingo out of a log with a chainsaw about two years ago.

“I said, ‘I can do that,’” he recalls.

He picked up his saw, found a log, and made his own flamingo on the first try. Now, he says he can carve anything as long as he has a picture to look at.

“If you’ve got an idea of something that you want, I can pretty much make it,” he says.

Kelske — also known at the Tiki Man — first sold his artwork on SR 54 closer to Zephyrhills near the New River Library. He stopped about six months ago and began taking his creations on the road, setting up at locations in Brandon (where he grew up) and Tampa. But loading and unloading the heavy wooden pieces made traveling difficult.

So, about a month ago, he got in touch with The Tree Feller’s Dave Morrissette and Owner Walt French, to ask about setting up at their location at the corner of Ellerbee Road and SR 54 in Wesley Chapel. For Morrissette and French, it was a win-win situation.

Firewood is piled up outside, and sometimes it has to be thrown out.

“Instead of wasting it, we’re recycling it,” Morrissette says.

They say they’re also hoping Kelske will bring in more business for their tree care business, which offers free mulch, tree removal, tree recycling, land clearing and senior discounts. Business has been waning lately because of the economy, and the holiday season isn’t going to make it any better.

“This is our slowest time of the year,” Morrissette says.

The set up is also nice for Kelske, who now has a seemingly limitless supply of wood for his artwork.

On Nov. 19, he was carving a giraffe, a project he had started the day before.

“Some pieces take longer than others, but I like to get a couple made in a day,” he says as he looks out over the sea of parrots, gnomes and other chainsaw art he’s created. “This stuff goes in spurts. Sometimes I can keep up. Other times I can’t.”

Kelske admits that he’s always been creative — he also likes playing guitar, for example — but he approaches his woodwork in a down-to-earth way.

“People think this is special,” he says. “I think it’s basic, really.”

Pieces range in price from $20 to $1,000 depending on the size and how much time they take to make. Kelske can usually start and finish a big piece in two days, but he gives himself a week for special orders. He has to be in the right frame of mind before he begins.

“I can’t just come out here and force stuff to come out,” he says. “It’s gotta come out on it’s own.”

James Kelske sells his artwork at The Tree Feller, 5835 Ellerbee Road in Wesley Chapel. Call him at (352) 206-2872 or (813) 312-0710. For more information about The Tree Feller, call (813) 909-2002.

Adventist church serves free Thanksgiving dinners

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — Thanksgiving is a day for people to come together and give thanks for what they have, and one local church is helping the needy do just that.

The East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills, is giving away 100 turkey dinners on Thanksgiving this year. Dinner will be served in a sit-down setting at 1 p.m. at the church.

“We wanted to help people on Thanksgiving, not just on a day near it,” said Nancy Canoy, community service director at the church. “Lots of other groups do great things for the needy around the holidays, but not so many do things on Thanksgiving. We want to help them give thanks on that special day.

“We especially want to help needy families with children, the elderly and the homeless,” said Canoy, 51, who helped come up with the idea for the dinner. “We have tried to get the word out as best we can, and hopefully we’ll have lots of people show up.”

Canoy has received few reservations to this point. Those interested should call (813) 715-6356 for reservations, which are granted first come, first serve.

Canoy’s husband, Dave, has been helping her put together the dinner. The two moved to Zephyrhills in 2000, and Dave, 53, is the church’s music coordinator.

“We have been looking for a way to reach out to the community,” said Pastor Art Stagg. “It is a little daunting because we’ve never done anything like this before. You could say there is never a good time to have to do programs like this, but this is a good way to start. If people are in need we’ll help in any way we can, but we wish our help wasn’t needed by so many.”

Stagg has been the church’s pastor for eight years. The church is trying to reach out more to the needy in the community with programs like the free dinners.

“We are starting a program to help feed the homeless with the Metropolitan Ministries after the new year,” said Canoy. “So the free dinners will be our way to start our outreach program. Our church’s mission is outreach to the needy and we want to do just that.”

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is donating eight 20-pound smoked turkeys and a few small items for the dinner. The rest the feast is coming from church members’ donations.

“Hopefully we can make it a tradition here,” Stagg said.

Church members will be cooking the food on Thanksgiving, and Stagg will say grace and a few words about Thanksgiving before the meal.

“The dinner is kind of a sacrifice because most people do things all day with their family on Thanksgiving, but I can’t wait to serve the dinners,” said Canoy. “We know the people coming for the dinner will get a lot out of it, but I think those of us that are donating food and serving it will get even more out of it.”

Thanks for playing

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LAND O’ LAKES — The prep football playoffs got under way Nov. 20 with Land O’ Lakes, Pasco and Hudson holding the county’s hopes of celebrating a state championship — albeit to no avail after first-round losses for each.

The onset of the so-called second season meant the conclusion of the 2009 regular season. It also wound up The Laker’s second annual Friday Night Lights, a good-natured contest featuring local advertisers trying to beat the weekly picks of yours truly.

In the inaugural season of Friday Night Lights, I finished as the runner-up to Chris Drews, who along with Shelley Ketchum and Terri Williamson sold advertising space to the contestants. Drews bowed out this year — you know, that whole quit while you’re ahead thinking — and I hung on for a narrow victory over Mike Mira.

The owner of Maine-ly New England, a seafood restaurant in Zephyrhills, also coaches the Zephyrhills High girls soccer team. That insight into the prep sports scene, not to mention his community involvement, helped Mira get 55 picks right. That was just one fewer than me.

Still, competition was not what Friday Night Lights was all about. The fun of picking each week, and having folks at football games I covered come up and rag on me for the losses, made it a fun-filled venture.

I also got a kick out of staff members Gena Crowder and Carolyn Bennett tracking down weekly picks, and co-workers Mary Rathman and Stefanie Burlingame hounding me for updates on Monday morning deadlines.

A special thanks goes to Mira and the seven other participants, each of whom picked their shares of winners and losers. That group included Alex Altenhoff, Gary Bailey, Tino Gonzalez, Kevin Hansut, Jeff Martin, Shael Morgan and Kevin Ryman.

Now for the best part. All eight participants, along with publisher Diane Kortus, Drews, Ketchum, myself and staff writer Kyle LoJacono, who shoulders most of the sports load for the Lutz News, will gather at the Plantation Palms Clubhouse on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. for a free lunch. Hey, it’s the least we could do.

Plus, Ketchum has made arrangements for a tacky trophy with the names of all who took part in Friday Night Lights engraved on it. In the tradition of the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup, everyone will take possession of the Cup — er, tacky trophy — for 30 days before passing it on.

And that, folks, could lead to an entirely different column.

Land O’ Lakes, Hudson eliminated

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

DADE CITY — One and done.

That marked the theme for the county’s three playoff teams with Pasco, Land O’ Lakes and Hudson bowing out in the opening round on Nov. 21.

The host Pirates battled St. Petersburg Lakewood tough in a 36-25 loss at W.F. Edwards Stadium. That dashed any hopes the Pirates had of matching last season’s postseason run that ended in the state semifinals.

The Gators, who under first-year coach Matt Kitchie clinched their county-record 13^th consecutive postseason berth in the ninth week of the regular season, lost 43-22 at Jefferson.

The Cobras, who lost to Land O’ Lakes in the regular-season finale, also played on the road. The result was not good as Gainesville posted a 17-0 shutout of Hudson.

Although Pasco’s quest to return to the state tournament ended abruptly, the team has become a perennial playoff contender with three straight district titles and back-to-back Sunshine Athletic Conference championships.

“Hopefully, we’re learning to do things to win,” said Tom McHugh, who has coached the Pirates for three seasons. “(Returning players) have something to build on, something to come back for.”

Trailing 22-15 at halftime, Pasco capitalized on a Lakewood miscue to knot the score at 22 early in the third quarter. One play after a Trey Dudley-Giles interception, Janarion Grant tiptoed inside the left pylon for an 8-yard touchdown run.

Brennan Allen, who struggled before halftime with a missed field goal and two errant point-after kicks, converted for the tie. Allen later kicked a 47-yard field goal that came after a 79-yard pass play from quarterback Jermiel Douse to Bernard Reedy.

“You don’t have to accept (losing), but you have to understand it’s going to happen,” McHugh told his players in a postgame huddle. “There’s only one team that doesn’t lose, the team that wins the state.”

Pasco (9-2) got on the scoreboard first with Grant’s 61-yard catch setting up Clifford Phillips’ 11-yard touchdown run. With Allen missing the extra-point attempt, Lakewood came back to take a 7-6 lead on Douse’s 8-yard run and Max Thuriere’s kick.

Allen’s 33-yard field goal gave the Pirates another lead at 9-7, but the Spartans (9-2) rallied with two touchdowns and a field goal before the break.

Grant, Pasco’s freshman sensation, answered one of those scores by returning a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.

JEFFERSON 43, LAND O’ LAKES 22: After spotting Jefferson a 7-0 lead, Land O’ Lakes countered with a field goal and a touchdown to go ahead 9-7. But that was as close as the Gators came as the Dragons reeled off 23 unanswered points for a decisive playoff win.

Land O’ Lakes (9-2) got a 37-yard field goal from Brennan Stack and 22-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Weatherford to Alex Robinson before Jefferson’s scoring outburst.

The Gator defense was no match for quarterback Quentin Williams, who passed for three scores and ran for two more. Jefferson (9-1) also got stellar efforts from Demetrius Russell, who gained 110 yards, and Andre Davis, who had two scoring receptions.

Weatherford finished with 210 passing yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He threw another scoring pass to Robinson and one to Jason Tello.

GAINESVILLE 17, HUDSON 0: The Cobras, who at barely snuck into the playoffs, were no match for host Gainesville (10-1).

Four-year starting quarterback Zack Wynn, the second-leading passer in county history, led Hudson’s offense with 147 passing yards. Wynn also had a 32-yard field goal attempt blocked in the first quarter.

(Glance box. SL)

Football Playoffs

St. Petersburg Lakewood 36, Pasco 25

Jefferson 43, Land O’ Lakes 22

Gainesville 17, Hudson 0

Patriots lose to Countryside, 17-7

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

CLEARWATER — Freedom set a school record with seven wins this season, but lost to Countryside in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals, 17-7.

The Patriots (7-3) were unable to complete the upset of the Cougars (10-1), but that does not take away from their historical season.

“We did an excellent job of reaching our first phase of goals this season,” first-year Freedom coach James Harrell said. “We wanted to have a winning season and make the playoffs, and we did that. But the ultimate goal is to win a state title and we, unfortunately, couldn’t do that.”

Harrell knows what a state championship-caliber team looks like. He was the defensive coordinator for four years at Plant, where his teams won two 4A titles.

Despite the year coming to an end, Harrell sees this season as a stepping-stone to something greater.

“This year we were just happy to be here,” Harrell said. “Next year we want to get back here and get some wins. This is just the beginning for us.”

The final score does not indicate how close the game was. The Cougars got on the board with a field goal — the only points of the first half. The Patriots defense kept the Countryside offense in check for most of the first half by forcing a turnover on downs and with the help of a Robert Lohnes interception.

Freedom’s offense had trouble moving to ball most of the game. Quarterback Tyler Guy was sacked six times, but was able to lead his team down the field on a scoring drive that ended in a 30-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Mutcherson.

On Countryside’s next possession, Mutcherson sacked Jimbo Chmelik. The hit forced a fumble that Mutcherson recovered. The Patriots had the momentum to start the second half, but could not put up any more points.

The Patriots defense bent all night long without breaking, but the larger Cougars were finally able to wear them down by the fourth. The final frame started with a 14-yard touchdown run by Terry Johnson that put the Cougars up for good.

Even though his high school career is over, Mutcherson knows the season has helped all the players.

“It was hard to follow coach Harrell’s system in the beginning because it is so tough,” said Mutcherson. “At first I thought this is too hard, but when I saw that it was making us all better I knew it was the right system. Coach Harrell is a great coach and has made us all much better players.”

ARMWOOD 22, SICKLES 9: The team with the most wins in Sickles history came up just short of upsetting Armwood.

The Gryphons (8-3) scored nine straight points to take a fourth-quarter lead, but the Hawks (11-1) came right back with 15 in the final quarter.

The Gryphons were without their starting quarterback, John Melvin Hendrick, who dislocated a growth plate in his left wrist the week before. Backup Scott O’Donoghue had 93 rushing yards in the triple-option offense, while Hillsborough County rushing leader, Cary White, had 71.

Sickles’ only touchdown came on a 29-yard pass from wide receiver Chris Nahat to Brieann Dollard.

CARROLLWOOD DAY PREP 61, FOUNDATION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 21: Carrollwood Day Prep rebounded from losing its last regular season game by crushing Foundation Christian Academy.

It was a productive but painful game for the Patriots. Darius Bing had 84 rushing yards before breaking his rib. Matt Monteilh had two rushing touchdowns and 122 yards before breaking his foot. Billy Embody had 256 passing yards and three touchdowns, two to Michael Kanter.

On defense, Deuce Gruden had 16 tackles, while Dillon Floyd had three interceptions.

(Glance box.)

Football Playoffs

Countryside 17, Freedom 7

Armwood 22, Sickles 9

Carrollwood Day Prep 61, Foundation Christian Academy 21

Local residents compare their customs to the first Thanksgiving

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — Everyone has different foods traditional to their Thanksgiving table, but a few items are almost universal.

“We have turkeys a bunch of different ways,” said Harry Wright, founder of Hungry Harry’s Bar-B-Que. “We always have some smoked, some fried and some baked. I personally love the smoked ones because there is nothing better than eating a turkey right off the grill.”

Wright, 59, was born in Winter Haven and moved to Land O’ Lakes in 1984. He opened his original restaurant in Land O’ Lakes in 1985, which is located at 3116 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

“Then we’ll have gravy, cranberry sauce, dressing, green bean casserole and pecan pie,” Wright continued. “We like to keep things simple and traditional.”

Suzin Carr, current Lutz Guv’na, said of her traditional Thanksgiving table, “We always have a baked turkey. I always have stuffing, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry relish and pecan pie too. Those things need to be on the table, but the turkey is the most important thing.”

Turkey is what most seem to think of during Thanksgiving.

“I’m always up for trying something new, but to me, its turkey on Thanksgiving,” Zephyrhills Mayor Cliff McDuffie said. “To me that’s tradition, so that’s what I want each year. Spend time with family and have turkey.”

While most have turkeys on their mind during this holiday, these birds were not the centerpiece of the first Thanksgiving.

Many details are lost to time, but most believe the main course of the first Thanksgiving feast was five deer according to Kathleen Curtin, food historian at the Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, the Native Americans in Plymouth, Mass., also ate wild fowl, such as swans, ducks and a few turkeys. The rest of the meal was mainly seafood, including lobsters, oysters, clams, eels, seals and fish. The first Thanksgiving took place in late September or early October of 1621 and lasted three days.

Some people have kept the tradition of serving seafood on Thanksgiving.

“We have oyster dressing each year for my wife, Sherry,” Wright said. “We always have that so maybe it comes from the first Thanksgiving. I couldn’t really say.”

Plants were not a main part of the feast, but dried fruit, corn, chestnuts and gooseberries were on the menu.

“While they did not dine on pumpkin pie, pumpkins were a staple in the diet of Native Americans,” said Betsy Crisp, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Pasco County Extension in Dade City. “It is believed that colonists made the first pumpkin pie by slicing off the top of the pumpkin and scooping out the pulp and seeds. They then added milk, honey and spices and baked in the hot ashes of a fire.”

However, that early pumpkin dish did not start until years after the first Thanksgiving. In fact, the Pilgrims did not have any kind of pie because they had no milking cows and their supply of butter and flour had run out, according to Curtin. The Pilgrims also did not have mashed or sweet potatoes because Europeans believed them to be poisonous until years after 1621. Stuffing poultry also did not start until the 1700s.

“Our Thanksgiving is just like most people with turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, but I like to think we are keeping the spirit of the Pilgrims in our traditions,” said Jeff Olsen, pastor of Grace Community Church in Wesley Chapel. “My family has a book that talks about the first Thanksgiving and how the Pilgrims put all their faith in God to provide and we do the same. I don’t know if we spend three days feasting like they did, but it is a weekend of celebration for my family.”

When asked if he might have a more original Thanksgiving dinner this year, Wright said, “No way. I have to have my traditional Thanksgiving dinner. That’s what my mom made for me and it is part of what makes Thanksgiving special. It may not be what the Pilgrims had, but it’s the best to me.”

By Gary S. Hatrick

The Laker Correspondent

ZEPHYRHILLS — A slow economy didn’t stop an estimated 20,000 people from coming out, or cars from selling, at the 25th annual Fall Auto Fest at Festival Park in Zephyrhills.

“Everything went very well. We had a record crowd for the November show and overall we were very pleased. In spite of the economy — we grew,” said Mike Sierra, whose family owns Festival Park and the Auto Fest

“We were right at $2.5 million. We had a ’55 Chevy that sold for $78,000, and with the premium it came to $82,680, which is a pretty big number,” Sierra continued.

Before the ailing economy began to curtail consumer spending, Sierra said some cars might have sold for $100,000 or more.

But the car auction industry has adjusted, Sierra said.

“Cars are selling for less money, but they’re selling, and we’re pleased about that,” he said.

With the exception of some drizzling rain on the morning of Nov. 12, the Fall Auto Fest enjoyed good weather, which Sierra accounts for the record crowds on Nov. 13 and 14.

He said he believes the poor economy contributed to this year’s increased gate because people are looking for affordable things to do close to home. Other recent outdoor events, such as the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival and the Pasco County Bug Jam, also reported record crowds.

Shows like the Fall Auto Fest give a boost to the local economy. Restaurants, hotels and retail establishments enjoy a larger customer base during these events.

Kurth Sombutmai, owner of the Two-Minute Restaurant down the road from Festival Park, confirmed the business increase.

“We are really busy on those days — really busy,” he said.

And it’s not just nearby businesses that benefit.

“We get a little pop on that stuff so there’s definitely a difference,” said Rod Lincoln, of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, located on the other side of Zephyrhills.

Georgia Downey, manager of Microtel Inn and Suites, said that room reservations increase during such events as well.

Plans for the Winter Auto Fest on the fourth weekend in February are well underway, Sierra said. Vendors began reserving space at the Fall Auto Fest.

“We’ve been growing through the years and each year we get a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger. We’re going to be there good or bad. I’m just gratified that it was good,” Sierra said.

For more information, visit zephyrhillsauction.com.

By Gary S. Hatrick

The Laker Correspondent

ZEPHYRHILLS — The noise of cannon fire was heard all day long at Zephyrhills High School as Civil War re-enactors demonstrated life in Florida 150 years ago during the Great American Teach-In recently at the school.

Rob Brown, agri-business and natural resources teacher, arranged for the living history lesson. He invited members of the Hardee’s Corps Civil War re-enactors to the Teach-In after he and students with Future Farmers of America participated in some reenactments themselves.

“I was impressed with their (Hardee’s Corps) professionalism and the way they presented themselves,” said Brown. “I wanted to give other students an opportunity to experience what we had seen.”

During the Teach-In, re-enactors displayed and talked about pistols, rifles and other weapons used during the Civil War. The biggest hit amongst students was a 12-pound mountain howitzer cannon, which re-enactors fired at the end of each presentation. Students learned that the howitzer cannon was rolled around the battlefield and shot at close range over the heads of friendly troops, Brown said.

Another popular demonstration was that of Jim McCallister, a Pasco County firefighter from Land O’ Lakes, who cracked a whip as a member of the Cow Cavalry.

Participating alongside the Civil War re-enactors were square dancers in period dresses whom Chorus teacher Louan Gore headed up.

Brown estimated that upwards of 800 students visited the Civil War re-enactments during the Great American Teach-In.