Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Sports community rallies for late coach Harry Olsen

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Beef O’ Brady’s proceeds, golf tourney benefit family

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

WESLEY CHAPEL — The family of revered baseball coach Harry Olsen, who suffered a fatal heart attack in October, has benefited from the giving spirit of the local sports community.

A golf tournament in November raised more than $13,000 for Olsen’s widow Sara and their children, 15-year-old son Harry IV and daughters Grace, 13, and Anna, 11.

Next up is a Dec. 16 fund-raiser at Beef O’ Brady’s in Wesley Chapel, with raffles and 75 percent of the proceeds from that evening’s business (5 p.m. till closing) earmarked for the family. Harry O. Wings and Beer Night is billed as a family event for “good food, good people and good memories.”

“It’s just, basically, to give them another check for the holidays; just to help them out,” said Mike Hamilton, a longtime family friend who also coached Little League teams alongside Olsen. “I’m happy we could come up with a nice event just to say Merry Christmas to them.”

Additionally, a Poker Run motorcycle ride in April will generate money for the Olsens. That event is being organized by Hamilton, who rides a Suzuki.

Olsen, who passed away at 42, was a longtime baseball coach in leagues at Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel. While coaching Little League teams in Land O’ Lakes, the Wesley Chapel resident worked diligently with parents in that community to start leagues of their own. Olsen was among a dozen adults who founded the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association 10 years ago.

While many people have known the Olsens for a long time, first-year Wiregrass Ranch baseball coach Jeff Swymer did not know Harry for very long before his unexpected passing. Nonetheless, Olsen made a lasting impression on the new coach.

“When I took the (Wiregrass Ranch coaching) job in August, Harry was the first guy to approach me and offer his help,” Swymer recalled.

Swymer initially planned a golf tourney in October as a fund-raiser for the baseball team. Olsen’s passing prompted Swymer to rename the event at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club to the Harry Olsen Memorial Golf Tournament.

“I knew how much he worked with those kids,” Symer said. “It was a no-brainer for me.”

In addition to assisting with the Wiregrass Ranch baseball team, Olsen dedicated time to that school’s softball team in between head coaches. Being there when someone needed help was what he was known, and loved, for.

“He was one of those guys who would give you the shirt of his back,” Hamilton said. “Harry helped so many families that people just want to help out his family now.”

On Dec. 2, Olsen’s widow received a check from the golf tourney while at dinner with Swymer and Land O’ Lakes Little League coach Joe Ganci.

“She didn’t want to accept it,” Swymer recollected. “She felt it was putting out the baseball team, but I told her, ‘No, you have to accept it.’”

Pack 12 Webelos become Boy Scouts

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Tocobaga District makes crossing over bigger than ever

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LUTZ — Before Cub Scout Jacob Tactuk, 10, could cross over to Boy Scouts, he had to earn the Arrow of Light award, the most important achievement for any Cub Scout.

Cub Scout Pack 12 Webelos earn their aquanaut activity badge in July. Pictured are Webelo Scouts Ryan Fisher, Evan Hopkins, Kristian Fedor, Jacob Tactuk, Liam McGann, Camrin Cowden, Nathan Burnside and Lonnie Wooton. Special to The Laker/Lutz News.

All Cub Scouts Webelos have to earn the award before they move on to Boy Scouts. To earn the AOL, scouts must earn activity badges from 20 Webelo activities. Some of the activities include: fitness, aquanaut, citizen, communicator, outdoorsman, artist, scholar and handyman.

“It wasn’t hard work because it was so much fun,” said Tactuk, of Pack 12 in Lutz. “I like doing all the activities and getting awards.”

Matt-Burnside — Webelo Den Master Matthew Burnside holds up one of the Arrow of Light awards that were given to nine scouts in Cub Scout Pack 12 on Dec. 10. Burnside’s sons, Jacob Tactuk and Nathan Burnside, where two of those scouts. Photo by Kyle LoJacono.

After earning the award, the scouts receive a badge that is sewn onto their Boy Scout uniform. The badge is the only one carried over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

In past years, Cub Scouts crossed over to Boys Scouts when they received their AOL award, but the Tocobaga District, which covers all Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops in north Hillsborough County, decided to do something different this year.

Instead of crossing over to Boy Scouts when they received their AOL award, all north Hillsborough Cub Scouts will cross over together at group campout. The event, called Webelo Woods, will be Jan. 22 and 23, 2010 at Camp Brorein on Boy Scout Road in Odessa.

Tactuk is a fifth-grader at Lutz Elementary and started in Cub Scouts as a Wolf scout. He and his stepbrother, Nathan Burnside, were two of nine Webelo scouts from the pack that earned the award on Dec. 11. Their father, Matthew Burnside, is their den master.

“I’m very proud of what they’ve both been able to accomplish, and it’s been a great bunch of years helping them in Cub Scouts,” Burnside said. “Both my two boys and the other Webelos have all worked hard and will be very ready to be Boy Scouts…We go on more campouts than most Cub Scout dens to try and make them ready to be Boy Scouts. I’m biased, but I think they are the most ready to become Boys Scouts of any den in the area.”

Burnside said his oldest son, Matt, is a Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop 12, of Lutz.

The camp will have eight stations designed to teach the boys skills needed in Boy Scouts. Some of the stations will include: first aid; navigation skills and an axe yard to teach the scouts knife, axe and saw safety.

“I think it’s a good idea to have the district cross over together,” Burnside said. “Lots of boys drop out of scouting after they earn the AOL. It’s easy to lose interest without events like this one to prepare the kids and keep scouting in their lives.”

Tactuk said of earning the award, “I’m ready to start in Boy Scouts right now. The campout will real be fun too…My dad has helped me and Nathan and all the other scouts get our AOL.”

For more information on Cub Scouting, visit www.scouting.org. For information on the Tocobaga District, e-mail or visit www.boyscouting.com.

Pack 12 Webelos who received their Arrow of Light Award on Dec. 11 include:

Nathan Burnside
Camrin Cowden
Krisztian Fedor
Ryan Fisher
Evan Hopkins
Jacob May
Liam McGann
Jacob Tactuk
Lonnie Wooton

New Zephyrhills Chamber director brings fresh approach

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — The search is over for the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce executive director.

“We thought long and hard about all the potential applicants, and it came down to two very qualified people,” said Mike Mira, chamber president since October. “It was very close between the two, but in the end, Vonnie Mikkelsen had just what we were looking for.”

Vonnie Mikkelsen was named the new Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce executive director on Dec. 10. Mikkelsen was one of 44 applicants for the position. Photo by Chris Drews.“We thought long and hard about all the potential applicants, and it came down to two very qualified people,” said Mike Mira, chamber president since October. “It was very close between the two, but in the end, Vonnie Mikkelsen had just what we were looking for.”Mira said 44 people applied for the position, which was news to Mikkelsen.“I had no idea that many people tried to get the position,” Mikkelsen said. “That makes me feel even more honored than before.

Mira said 44 people applied for the position, which was news to Mikkelsen.

“I had no idea that many people tried to get the position,” Mikkelsen said. “That makes me feel even more honored than before.

“When I applied for the position, I didn’t know where I stood, but I knew I was qualified and would be able to bring something to the chamber. I guess I just fit what the board was looking for in an executive director.”

Mikkelsen, 46, lives in Land O’ Lakes and spends much of her time volunteering at the Pasco County Animal Services’ animal shelter. For her work with the shelter, she received the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Citizen of the Year award in 2009. She also earned the PCAS’ Outstanding Volunteer and the Presidential Volunteer Service awards in 2008.

She has also spent time volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem, which is a program in which volunteers make sure abused and neglected children adjust smoothly to state intervention. Some of the duties these volunteers have are to check in on the children regularly and help the kids during court appearances.

Mikkelsen was named the Pasco County Volunteer of the Month in August 2008 for her work with the Ad Litem program.

“Working as an Ad Litem volunteer is what I’m most proud of,” Mikkelsen said. “Helping these children in difficult situations does so much for them.”

Mikkelsen graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Ore., in 1985 with a double major in political science and international relations.

Mikkelsen has worked as a project coordinator and manager. She is fluent in Japanese.

“I was only going to spend about one year in Japan teaching English to students, but it turned into 16 years,” Mikkelsen said. “I worked with Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting in Tokyo developing programming for Cartoon Network Japan.”

The new executive director also earned a nonprofit management certificate from the University of South Florida in November.

“Her going to USF for nonprofit management is one of the things that tipped the scales toward Vonnie,” Mira said. “She also is a fresh face here in Zephyrhills. We’ve found that many of the same people here do all the fund-raising, charitable work and other up-front activities. We wanted someone new in the area to bring a fresh approach, and that is something Vonnie will offer the chamber and its members.”

Mira said the chamber is trying to create a new image for itself with its new director and a new Web site that will launch sometime in the next two months. He said this new approach was made to retain the chamber’s 400 members while attracting new ones from the 4,000 businesses in the Zephyrhills.

“I’m very confident in the leadership of the board of directors the chamber has, and the businesses of Zephyrhills should be too,” Mikkelsen said. “The leadership is very serious about what it wants to accomplish and has clear goals to do that. They are receptive to new ideas and in moving forward. I’m very excited about the future.”

Mikkelsen received the news of her new position in an unusual place.

“I was in the pet store getting dog food when I got the call around 1:30 (p.m.) from the chamber,” Mikkelsen said. “The food was for my Australian shepherd named Tucker and my shepherd mix named Sierra that my husband (Dennis) and I adopted from a shelter. I’d have to say I didn’t imagine that would be how I’d get the news, but it was still perfect.”

Cross Country – Wiregrass Ranch aims to build on record-breaking season

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Bulls claim 3 SAC awards

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

WESLEY CHAPEL — Wiregrass Ranch cross country coaches Don Howard and Chris Loth couldn’t be happier about a record turnout, which led to the best season in school history for the boys and girls teams.

Now that the bar has been set high, the numbers could be even greater in the future.

In all, 51 runners (30 boys, 21 girls) turned out for this year’s teams that set school records by sweeping Sunshine Athletic Conference, Class 3A, District 3 and, 3A, Region 2 titles. Both fourth-year squads also cracked the top 10 in state meets by placing sixth.

While the boys won their first conference and district championships, the girls defended their crowns at both of those levels.

“I think it establishes us as one of the best programs in the area in the last decade or so,” said Howard, who coaches the Wiregrass Ranch girls. “We both have a lot of youth, so I think we can continue.”

Loth concurred, adding, “Having both squads establish themselves among the top tier programs in our district and region fulfills a goal we both set at the start of the season. That will continue to fuel our motivation to succeed down the road.”

No team in Pasco County garnered more SAC honors than Wiregrass Ranch with a dozen runners making the list. Next up was Land O’ Lakes with 10.

For their team’s efforts, Howard and Loth were named coaches of the year in the SAC. Plus, freshman Nikita Shah was the SAC Girls Runner of the Year.

Land O’ Lakes’ Matt Schwartz prevented a clean sweep by the Bulls by being named the SAC Boys Runner of the Year. The senior placed 11^th in 16 minutes, 19 seconds at the state meet. That followed victories in district and regional races.

Although he didn’t crack the top 20, Wiregrass Ranch’s Ryan Pulsifer finished 26^th for the second-highest finish among county runners in the state meet at Little Everglades Ranch. Pulsifer also was third in regionals at Withlacoochee River Park with teammate Delonzo Sharp right behind at fourth.

On the girls side, Shah ran a 19:32 to finish a county-best 17^th, not far ahead of Mitchell standout Kelli Williams, who wound up 23^rd. Shah was a district runner-up and took fifth at regionals.

While most of the county teams competed in 3A, the best runner in 2A was Pasco’s Anthony Plourde, who won a district title and placed fifth at regionals.

“He’s got lungs like bellows,” Pasco coach Barry Grayling said. “He never runs out of air. He runs all day.”

Although they did not fare as well as Wiregrass Ranch or Land O’ Lakes in the SAC awards, Pasco and Wesley Chapel sent boys and girls teams to regionals with the Anclote boys also advancing to that level.

All-Sunshine Athletic Conference Cross Country

Wiregrass Ranch, in just its fourth season, has five postseason championships. This year’s boys and girls teams matched postseason achievements with conference, district and regional titles. Last year, the girls won conference and district crowns. That places the Bulls among the best cross country programs in the Tampa Bay area.

Here is a list of the best runners and coaches in the Sunshine Athletic Conference as voted by coaches from Pasco County’s 12 public schools.

Boys Runner of the Year: Matt Schwartz, Land O’ Lakes.
Boys Coach of the Year: Chris Loth, Wiregrass Ranch.
Girls Runner of the Year: Nikita Shah, Wiregrass Ranch.
Girls Coach of the Year: Don Howard, Wiregrass Ranch.

Anclote: Michaela McCarthy and Chris Sorrick.
Gulf: Tyler Best, Colleen McAuliffe, Natalie Smith and Kara Stosur.
Land O’ Lakes: Alea Basulto, Ashley Ford, Brooke Gonzalez, Lailoni Kailimai, Morgan Keppel, Hendrix Lafontant, Alyssa Lonsway, Zach Lonsway, Renea Porsch and Matt Schwartz.
Mitchell: Michael Irwin and Kelli Williams.
Pasco: Dillon Dunbar, Katlyn Eble and Anthony Plourde.
Ridgewood: Alyssa Baladad, Tyler Camacho, Mason Chilmonczyk, Alex Coffey and Kolby Watson.
River Ridge: Thomas Fiorello and Devon Gottman.
Sunlake: Deena Dutkowsky, Kenneth Fessel, Guillermo Ishida, Erin Mauthner, Brendan McNellis and Robert Stewart.
Wesley Chapel: Naphlim Olwe.
Wiregrass Ranch: Ian Cassette, Alex Diepholz, Ariel Gray, Sam Hippely, Taylor Hixson, Ryan Pulsifer, Josh Reilly, Logan Selzer, Nikita Shah, Delonzo Sharp, Kayla Stiftinger and Kelsey Sturman.
Zephyrhills: Lindsey Knowlton and Carrick Virtue.

— Steve Lee, Sports Editor

Pasco graduation rates improve

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Ashley Dunn

News Editor

PASCO COUNTY — The Pasco School district announced Dec. 4 that its graduation rate has improved and that the district performed about the state average during the 2008-09 school year.

The state uses three different calculations to measure graduation rates: the Florida graduation rate, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) rate; and the National Governors Association (NGA) rate.

Based on the Florida graduation rate, Pasco’s rate was 83.5 percent in 2008-09, up from up from 79.5 percent in 2007-08 and 73.7 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 78.6 percent.

Based on the NCLB rate, Pasco’s rate was 79.8 percent in 2008-09, up from 75.5 percent in 2007-08 and 69.2 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.2 percent.

Based on the NGA rate, Pasco’s rate was 77.8 percent in 2008-09, up from 73.4 percent in 2007-08 and 67.8 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.3 percent.

Schools with the highest graduation rates were: Wiregrass Ranch, 91.3 percent; Pasco, 91.3 percent; and River Ridge, 88.2 percent.

Additionally, Pasco’s dropout rate for 2008-09 was 1.2 percent, down from 2.1 percent in 2007-08. The state average was 2.3 percent. All of Pasco’s schools are below the state average. Six high schools had a dropout rate under 1 percent. They were: Wiregrass Ranch, 0.4 percent; Gulf, 0.5 percent; Hudson, 0.6 percent; Sunlake, 0.6 percent; Pasco 0.8 percent; and J.W. Mitchell, 0.9 pecent.

“We are extremely proud of our entire team for their concerted efforts to ensure the success of all students,” said Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. “As we celebrate the hard work of our students, staff and other stakeholders, we are mindful that even one child failing to graduate has negative implications for that child and our community.”

First National Bank of Pasco gets five stars

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Local bank uses conservative economic policies to keep its good rating

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — Despite the banking industry suffering during the recent economic downturn, First National Bank of Pasco continues to rate highly.

“We’ve had a five-star rating for the last three years and have been in good financial shape for much longer than that,” said Kerry Westbrook, bank senior vice president and chief financial officer. “Our capital has always been good, and we are also a top-five rated bank in the state.”

Westbrook, of Zephyrhills, has worked in the banking industry for more than 30 years, the last eight with the FNB of Pasco.

The five-star rating superior was awarded by Bauer Financial Inc., an independent bank rating and research firm. Only 21 banks in Florida received a five-star rating.

“First National Bank of Pasco’s ability to earn our five-star superior rating speaks to its strength, stability and longevity,” said Karen Dorway, president of the research firm. “In a banking environment that is struggling with loan quality and delinquencies, it is an honor and a pleasure to recognize First National Bank of Pasco and the values it represents.”

FNB of Pasco was founded in 1986 with two locations, one in Zephyrhills and one Dade City. A second Zephyrhills location was added in 1999.

“The real reason we’ve been able to keep the rating for three years is we are more conservative with our practices than some other banks were,” Westbrook said. “We stuck to tried and true methods of banking that have worked for hundreds of years and will continue to work in the future. It’s those basic banking principles that have worked for us…The rating shows that we run a tight, conservative ship here.”

On the negative side, 40 state banks received a zero-star rating from the research firm.

Westbrook continued to say FNB of Pasco never gave sub prime loans, such as interest-only loans, high adjustable interest rate loans or other high risk lending that got other banks into financial trouble.

“We’ve had some past dues happen, but we try to work with our customers as much as possible,” Westbrook said. “We pride ourselves on being a community bank first, and as a member of the community we want to do as much as we can to help our neighbors. I’ve worked in bigger national banks, and I can say without question community banks are much better to work for and for the community.”

To see where other local banks rank, visit www.bauerfinancial.com and click the star rating tab on the top the Web site.

For more information on FNB of Pasco, visit www.fnbpasco.com.

Other Florida banks that received a five-star rating

American National Bank in Oakland Park
Bank of Belle Glade in Belle Glade
Bank of the South in Pensacola
City National Bank of Florida in Miami
Community State Bank in Starke
Drummond Community Bank in Chiefland
First Federal Bank of Florida in Lake City
First National Bank of South Miami in South Miami
First National Bank of Wauchula in Wauchula
First Navy Bank in Pensacola
Friends Bank in New Smyrna Beach
Gulfsouth Private Bank in Destin
Hillsboro Bank in Plant City
Intercontinental Bank in West Miami
Madison County Community Bank in Madison
Peoples Bank of Graceville in Graceville
Peoples State Bank in Lake City
Sunshine State Federal Savings and Loan in Plant City
Valrico State Bank in Valrico
Warrington Bank in Pensacola

Surprise home for the holidays

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

PASCO COUNTY — It has been an exciting week for April “Shannon” Harrelson and her boys, 11-year-old Ethan and 8-year-old Loghan.

Ethan, April, Loghan, and new puppy “Bubba Dunn” Harrelson. Photo by Richard K. Riley.

On Dec. 8, the family thought they were going to their future home in Lacoochee for a photo shoot with East Pasco Habitat for Humanity, which was partly true. The family didn’t know that they would be greeted by television cameras and Warrick Dunn. They didn’t know they would receive their home on this day or an additional $5,000 off their mortgage, not to mention that the Warrick Dunn Foundation completely furnished the home, right down to the apple pie on the table.

The community came together to make this happen. Michael Fremlin, the construction manager for East Pasco Habitat for Humanity and many habitat volunteers worked right up to Dec. 8 to make the home perfect for the family. A continental breakfast was donated by Carlos’ Catering in Seffner for the surprise home dedication.

The Warrick Dunn Foundation had volunteers from all over the state come in and help decorate. The Greater Trilby Community Association/North East Pasco Security Patrol helped to secure the home. East Pasco Quilters donated an heirloom quality quilt. The Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee extended a free membership to the children moving in the home. Many television stations covered Warrick Dunn presenting the home to the Harrelson, and the children said now that they had a home, they wanted a puppy.

Stephanie Black, director of Family Services for Habitat, called April Harrelson to see if having a puppy was a responsibility the family wanted to undertake, recognizing owning a dog is an emotional and financial commitment. Terry Dyar in Largo had a dauchound puppy she wanted to give the family, so the staff from East Pasco Habitat drove to Largo and picked up an 8-week-old puppy.

On Dec. 10, the Warrick Dunn Foundation and East Pasco Habitat for Humanity presented the puppy to the boys as a surprise gift at Habitat’s Holiday Hope Christmas Open House with a crowd of about 150 people. Tiffany Williamson was there on behalf of Dade City Animal Clinic and donated veterinarian services, puppy shots and a gift basket with brochures, shampoo, clippers, everything you might need for a new member of the family. The boys named the dog “Bubba Dunn.” April and the boys are so grateful and amazed by the outpouring of kindness, generosity and love from the public. It has been an exciting week for the Harrelson’s and an exciting new start for a family.

East Pasco Habitat for Humanity is not a give-away program. Habitat builds houses with East Pasco families in need. Volunteer labor is used to build houses to keep the building costs low. Partner families invest a minimum of 400 hours of their own sweat equity into building their houses and the houses of others.

Fast-pitch all-star team wins championship for ‘The Cure’

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Players from Pasco, Hillsborough lead Havoc

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LAND O’ LAKES — The Florida Havoc, a 12-and-under fast-pitch softball team, picked an opportunistic time for its first tournament victory.

The team of all-stars from Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties captured first place in the Gold Division of the National Softball Association’s Pitch For The Cure at Ed Radice Park in Tampa. Proceeds benefited the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Havoc, which includes ballplayers from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa and Wesley Chapel, has been a runner-up in three other tourneys this year. That includes posting a 2-1 record and making it to the championship game of the NSA Fall State Warmup series on Dec. 6 in Sarasota.

“They really turned it on and did a great job,” said Maria Brockway, the team’s statistician and scorekeeper. “They played together as a team. They didn’t get down and just kept going.”

The Havoc made it a clean sweep in the Pitch For The Cure tourney by posting a 5-0 record and beating the St. Pete Fury 6-4 in the final. Along the way, the team of all-star players from local Little Leagues outscored the opposition by an impressive 31-12 margin.

The Havoc also displayed some power and speed when three players sent softballs deep into the outfield and legged out inside-the-park home runs. Megan Lane and Lindsey White rounded the bases with solo shots during games before the championship round. Kendall Tipton blasted a two-run homer in an earlier game as well.

On the mound, White and Tipton turned in stellar pitching performances. White earned a pair of complete-game victories, scattering 22 hits and striking out 23 of the 94 batters she faced. Tipton fanned seven and allowed just one hit while pitching to 13 batters.

The defense for the Havoc was solid throughout the series with Maddy Scheerhorn earning a most valuable player award for two fine catches in right field, as well as for her batting.

Other MVPs were: Lane (game-winning RBIs), Tipton (pitching), White (home run, pitching) and Cassidy Brockway (batting, fielding).

Florida Havoc (5-0)

National Softball Association’s Pitch for The Cure Tournament

Opponent Result

Christina Flames W 4-3
Lady Phantoms W 11-0
South Tampa Spartans W 6-2
Tampa Mustangs W 4-3
St. Pete Fury W 6-4

Pet of the week

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Jake is a 3-year-old Yorkie mix. He is a rescue dog and loves to play with his sisters: Kailee, a Great Dane mix; and Bean, a Collie mix. Jake loves to pretend to be a statue and wait for the squirrels in the yard so he can chase them. He has a heart of gold and always lets us know when another animal that needs help wanders into our yard. He has many “cat friends.” Jake lives with his owner, Susan Levin, in Dade City.

Patches is a 14-year-old mixed breed and is also known as Fat Boy, Walking Hairball and Mr. Independent. Patches came to his owner as a stray cat when he was about 8 weeks old. If you are into cute, cuddly lap cats, forget about this big boy. His mama has to beg for affection, attention and thank yous. Patches is about as independent as a cat can be and likes to think it is his house and you are allowed to live there. He loves to eat, lounge and get in your face when you are reading your favorite book. Patches is not “purr”fect, but he is loved by his proud owner, Carol Kocalis, of Land O’ Lakes.

We can dress them up, but we can’t get them off

December 16, 2009 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Remember them basement parties, your brother’s karate
The all day rock and roll shows
Them homesick blues and radical views
Haven’t left a mark on you, you wear it well
A little out of time but I don’t mind.
— “You Wear It Well,” Rod Stewart

By Randall Grantham

Community Columnist

Growing up in Lutz, we had neighbors with children around the ages of my siblings and me. The daughter and I were fast friends. Her brother, two grades ahead of me, was also my friend, although when he got older he didn’t want to hang out with “little kids.”

One day, when I was in the seventh grade, we watched an educational movie with his ninth-grade class. I forgot the movie, but I remember very well the events leading up to it.

We sat together getting ready for the show, when a female classmate of mine walked by and asked if I had a piece of gum. I didn’t and told her so, but my older friend made a dirty, crude remark to me under his breath and I made the mistake of writing it in a note I passed to her.

You can guess what came next. She gave it to the teacher, who gave it to the principal, who promptly called me into the office and called my parents. I was disciplined, of course, but you may be wondering why I am telling you this story.

Because that day, I learned an important lesson that golf icon Tiger Woods apparently hasn’t: Never put anything in writing that you wouldn’t want to share with the world. That’s the advice the principal gave me, almost verbatim, after administering my punishment and explaining why (Something about girls’ reputations, blah, blah, blah).

Woods may not have passed a dirty note to a classmate, but he left behind a trail of evidence in the form of text messages and voicemails that will cost him a small — make that large — fortune.

In addition to potentially losing endorsement deals and speakers’ money, I read that he’s renegotiating his pre-nuptial agreement to more than double his wife’s payout and reduce the time until it vests. Plus, he’s reportedly forking over $5 million to keep her around in the short run.

It’s hard enough for a superstar like him to sneak around, what with all the surveillance cameras and paparazzi, but he’s not even thinking when he’s texting one girlfriend at 2 a.m. and calling another to leave a voicemail asking her to help him cover his tracks. And doesn’t he realize that his surreptitious messages are worth money? Legalized blackmail is what it looks like.

In today’s digital world, everything that is filmed, recorded, or tapped out on a keyboard is saved forever. Contrary to what many people think, our e-mails and text messages are not stored in some database after they are sent. They go to the database FIRST, where they may or may not be purged, according to company policy.

So, while we may think of digital workflow as being fleeting and ephemeral, it is, in many ways, much more enduring than yesterday’s dirty note written with good, old-fashioned pencil and paper.