Special to The Laker/Lutz News

“The Streak” lives on

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LAND O’ LAKES — In Pasco County, it is simply known as “The Streak,” which appeared in serious jeopardy as the 2009 prep football season wound down.

Fittingly, Land O’ Lakes’ 12-year county-record playoff run was threatened by a team having its best season in school history. Mitchell, which began 8-0, followed up a loss to three-time district champion Pasco by pushing the Gators to the brink of playoff elimination.

Ultimately, however, Land O’ Lakes joined the Pirates as the two playoff teams from Class 3A, District 7. The Gators survived two late Mitchell scores with touchdowns of their own in a thrilling 21-17 victory to qualify for a 13^th straight postseason.

That loss was devastating for the Mustangs, primarily because it left them on the outside looking in after such a great start. For the Gators, the win rewarded a group of seniors and underclassmen that vowed not to be the ones responsible for the demise of “The Streak.”

Land O’ Lakes and Pasco are among three county teams in this year’s playoffs. They are joined by Hudson, which narrowly topped resurgent Wiregrass Ranch for the last postseason berth.

While teams like Wiregrass Ranch and Sunlake should be commended for turnaround seasons by winning more than once for the first time in their brief histories, it’s time to focus on the postseason. That means predicting just how far Land O’ Lakes, Pasco and Hudson will advance.

Judging by their track record, the Pirates are the best bet to go the furthest. Three-time district champion Pasco was a state semifinalist last season and lost early this year. That defeat, at the hands of South Sumter, made the Pirates hungry for another run at state.

As for Land O’ Lakes, extending “The Streak” was one thing, but winning in the postseason is another. The Gators have not advanced far since back-to-back region finals in 2002 and 2003. New coach Matt Kitchie could stick another feather in his cap with a playoff win or two.

Then there’s Hudson, which boasts the county’s most prolific passer since Drew Weatherford set the North Suncoast passing record before heading off to quarterback Florida State. Zack Wynn, the Cobras’ leader, is a longshot to challenge Weatherford’s mark of 7,657 passing yards.

Don’t bet on it, though. The Cobras are likely to be the first of the three eliminated.

By Ashley Dunn

News Editor

ZEPHYRHILLS — Two more business have signed leases with the Zephyr Commons Shopping Center on Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills. Pet Supermarket and the UPS Store should both open in January.

Pet Supermarket has leased a 7,800-square-foot space to the right of Publix. The store sells pet supplies and fish.

The UPS Store has leased a 1,500-square-foot space to the right of Pet Supermarket on the end cap.

“We’re really looking forward to having them join us,” said Carol Smiddy, Leasing and Sales Associate for Primerica Group One, which is handling leasing.

Zephyr Commons is located at the north side of Zephyrhills at 7838 Gall Blvd., between Kossik and Pretty Pond roads. It is a combination commercial/retail development.

Publix opened in the shopping plaza on April 2. It’s located in a 54,300-square-foot space.

Primerica handed over an 18,437-square-foot space to office supply store Staples in September. Now, Staples plans to open in February, Smiddy said. It will be located to the left of H&R Block, which signed a lease in August and is on schedule to open by Jan. 1 in a 2,800-square-foot space.

Tijuana Flats also signed a lease in August for a 2,866-square-foot space, however they are a bit behind their originally scheduled opening date in January. Smiddy said the Tex-Mex restaurant should open within the first quarter of next year.

“We have several other leases that are being negotiated,” Smiddy said. “… Things are moving along very well.”

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — While the Boy Scouts of America Handbook states only two percent of all boys involved in scouting reach the rank of Eagle Scout, Troop 33 in Land O’ Lakes defies convention.

“We didn’t all plan to become Eagle Scouts,” said Eagle Scout Kyle Stottlemyer. “I know I just was having fun with my friends camping and doing other scout activities. It’s really cool that we’ve all done it though because it takes a long time to become an Eagle Scout.”

Kyle lives in Land O’ Lakes and has been home schooled since the third grade.

Five boys in the troop have earned the rank since 2008. They include: Adam Jones, of Land O’ Lakes; Greg Landry, of Dade City; Alex Davis, of New Tampa; Kai Gose, of Spring Hill; and Kyle. All of the boys are members of the Panther Patrol. BSA troops are broken into patrols of between five and 10 scouts.

“I wouldn’t say that we go around telling the boys they have to get Eagle or putting pressure on them to reach the rank,” said John Russell, Troop 33 Scout Master. “We give them the tools they need, and our district, the Allohak District, has merit badge classes and other resources to help the kids.”

The Allohak District comprises all Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops east of the Suncoast Parkway in Pasco County. It is part of the Gulf Ridge Council, which covers all of Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando, Sumter, Citrus, Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.

Troop 33 meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, located at 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The troop has scouts from Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa and Dade City.

Russell has been Scout Master for Troop 33 since 2005. His oldest son, Chris, earned his Eagle Award in 2006, and his second son, Tim, is a Life scout.

“It goes in cycles with kids getting Eagle,” Russell said. “These boys will all be graduating from high school this year, so it was their time to get the rank if they were going to. They just overachieved as a group. It’s all because they’re great kids with strong families that have supported them.”

Boys must earn their Eagle Awards before turning 18.

There are seven ranks in BSA that include, from lowest rank to highest: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second class, First class, Star, Life and Eagle Scout. Each of the ranks has a series of requirements that must be completed to move up. There are 86 total requirements listed in the current BSA handbook.

One major requirement is earning merit badges, which requires more than most would think. An Eagle Scout must earn at least 21 badges, 12 of which are required. Each badge also has a series of requirements needed to earn it.

For example, the camping merit badge, one of the required badges for Eagle Scouts, has 10 requirements. One is to spend 20 days and nights camping at BSA campouts in tents the scout helped pitch.

The biggest step toward earning the award is the Eagle Scout project, during which the scout has to plan, develop and execute a service project for a religious or community organization or a school. There is no set amount of hours required to complete the project, but most take more than 100 hours.

“For my project I put in physical fitness stations for (San) Antonio Elementary,” Greg said. “We put in pull-up bars, balance beam, hand walk and a sit-up bench.”

Landry moved to Dade City three years ago and decided to make the weekly journey to Land O’ Lakes to stay with the troop he grew up in.

All the time put into scouting has made a lasting impression on the Panther Patrol Eagle Scouts.

“I use the things I learned in scouting every day,” Alex said. “It has been such a big part of my life. I’m hoping to get into (the University of) Florida and my entrance essay was all about scouting…It’s a great program for any kid to get into, even if they don’t make it to Eagle Scout.”

Each of the Eagle Scouts echoed Alex’s opinion on scouting, and also thanked their parents and Russell.

“They’ve all put in numerous hours to help me become an Eagle Sco

Organizers aim for $100,000

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

ZEPHYRHILLS — The race is on to surpass last year’s charitable fund-raiser by the David Reutimann Foundation.

And why not, since proceeds from the renowned auto racer’s annual golf tournament and silent auction have increased each year.

The fifth annual David Reutimann Charity Golf tournament is Nov. 27. As always, the golf outing, as well as a silent auction and cookout the night before, will be hosted by Silverado Golf & Country Club in Zephyrhills.

Organizers are aiming to raise $100,000 for local charities, which would top last year’s total by about $20,000.

“It’s really grown,” said Brantley Smith, Silverado’s owner and one of the initial organizers of the event. “There are a lot of race fans around here.

“David’s certainly the draw for it. He’s a very down-to-earth young man. We’re all so proud of him.”

Reutimann, who won his first NASCAR race this year, gladly lent his name and support to the fund-raiser when requested by Smith in 2005.

“I’ve always been extremely proud of where I’m from,” said Reutimann, who grew up in Zephyrhills and followed a family tradition of auto racing. “It’s special to come back each year to hold an event like this that gives back to our community and those in need.”

Unlike years past, in which proceeds were donated to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, organizers are targeting several local groups this year: The Pasco School District, Women’s Pregnancy Center in Zephyrhills and Camp Boggy Creek, a central Florida camp for children with life-threatening or chronic illnesses.

“He’s trying to diversify it a little bit to some of the organizations that don’t receive a lot,” said Shawn Wenkman, Silverado’s golf pro and event manager.

Shawn Reutimann, David’s cousin who serves as the racing team’s spotter when not managing the body shop at Buddy Foster Chevrolet, has been in on the organizing end since the fund-raiser’s inception.

“We really get after it,” Shawn Reutimann said.

As always, the field for the golf tourney is filling fast.

“It has filled up every year we’ve had it. It really gives me a good feeling,” said Smith, who after building Silverado in 1987 sold it in 1990 before buying it back with his wife, Susan.

Tee time for the Nov. 28 golf tourney is 9 a.m. and costs are $150 per person or $600 for a team.

The cookout and silent auction begin at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. Reutimann’s 00 Toyota will be among several race cars on display, and there will be plenty of memorabilia available. That includes donated items from Tampa Bay area professional sports teams — the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.

Additionally, the Nashville Express will entertain the crowd with country music. Cost for the cookout and silent auction is $20. Children under 12 will be admitted free. For more details, call (813) 788-1225.

By Gary S. Hatrick

The Laker Correspondent

ZEPHYRHILLS — Few Pasco students can boast that their senior project touches the lives of hundreds of people. But Charlie Daniels certainly can.

In October, the senior at Zephyrhills High’s Heath Career Academy headed up a blood drive that resulted in almost 200 students and teachers donating 191 pints of blood to BloodNet USA.

And since one pint of blood can save up to three lives, one can conclude that Daniels’ senior project will help up to 600 people.

And that’s not a bad way to launch a medical career. Daniels’ career goal is to be a registered nurse, and then use that education and experience to become a doctor. His dream is to be a general practitioner and return to Zephyrhills to set up his practice.

Daniels originally planned to conduct the blood drive by himself, but after learning of liability and insurance issues, he arranged to piggyback his senior project with a BloodNet USA drive already planned at the school.

Daniels supervised the drive and bridged the gap between BloodNet operations and students. His involvement recruited many more student donators than BloodNet ever anticipated.

“I really like phlebotomy and coordinating a blood drive sort of goes with it,” said Daniels. A phlebotomist is a medical professional trained to draw blood.

When Daniels graduates this spring from the Heath Career Academy as a certified nursing assistant, he will be on his way to reaching his goals.

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LUTZ — Britten Dental, located at 213 Crystal Grove Blvd. in Lutz, raised more than 200 pounds of Halloween candy during its Combat Candy program.

“It was even better than we anticipated, and we can’t thank the community enough,” said Dr. Nick Britten, Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Nick works with his father, Leonard, Doctor of Dental Surgery, who started Britten dental in Lutz some 20 years ago. Nick’s twin brother, Todd, received his D.M.D. from the University of Florida with Nick in May, and their older brother, Matt, received a master’s of International Business degree from UF also.

The Combat Candy program ran from Nov. 2 to 6, and Britten Dental planned on paying people $1 for every pound of Halloween candy they donated. However, the community changed things up for the practice.

“Everyone was very kind,” Britten said. “Almost everyone told us to keep the money and use it for postage to ship the candy to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have such a great community here.”

Britten said people from Carrollwood, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and even further came to donate candy. All the candy was given to the Lutz Patriots to send to the troops with their normal care packages.

“We knew Britten Dental was going to be dropping off the candy they collected at our flag waving, but we didn’t know how much,” said Judy McCray, Lutz Patriots member. “Then when they showed up with 200 pounds, we were like ‘whoa.’ They helped us load it onto a truck and even donated a $100 check to help us ship the packages to the troops.”

McCray said the Lutz Patriots plan to ship about 12, 60-pound boxes to the troops, and the Combat Candy will go a long way to help them fill those boxes at their packing party on Nov. 21. The packing party was originally planned for Nov. 14, but it had to be moved to the following weekend.

McCray also said the Patriots are looking to donate as much of their materials to local troops overseas as possible. But to do so, they need the soldier’s families from the area to tell them where they are stationed. To inform the patriots where local soldiers are, e-mail them at .

Britten Dental had a couple kids who went above and beyond all others. Taylor and Tanner Armstrong, who attend Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes, gathered 100 pounds of candy from kids at the academy and donated it to the practice on Nov. 6.

So much candy all at once was even too tempting for a dentist.

When asked if he ate any candy, Britten said, “Guilty as charged. I ate one piece of Laughy Taffy, but I did brush my teeth and floss after.”

Grasshopper co-founder from Wesley Chapel

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

NEW TAMPA — Few would say field hockey is their favorite sport, but those who love it are fanatical about it.

“It’s just a great game to play,” Tampa Bay Grasshoppers president Jeff Grosvenor said. “We have people from all over the area coming to play and practice, and that shows how much they love field hockey.”

Grosvenor, 63, was born in Trinidad and moved to Wesley Chapel seven years ago from New York. He no longer plays field hockey because of recent left-knee surgery and pain in his right ankle.

Grosvenor, several of his co-workers at a financial services firm in Tampa and other fans of field hockey started the Grasshoppers in 2003 with five players. The club now has 35 men and women, many who attend the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa, that range from age 16 to 65.

One of Grosvenor’s co-workers and founding members is Ravinder Kullar, 54, of New Tampa. Others include Charlie Joseph of New Tampa and Michelle Legesse, team secretary, of Lutz.

Kullar, who plays center-half, was born in Nairobi, Kenya and moved to New Tampa at the same time as Grosvenor. He lived in London as a young man and played on the Under-22 English National Team.

“It’s a great time to run around and play field hockey,” Kullar said. “Jeff and I loved playing (on the same team) up north and wanted to find a place to play down here.”

The hardest thing for the Grasshoppers originally was to find a suitable field suitable for the sport. Kullar said the game is meant to be played on artificial turf because long grass makes the ball hard to control. The first site they tried was a baseball field in the Brandon area, but the grass was too long.

“It was fun, but (Ravinder) told me we needed to find a field with grass short enough so that we could see the ball once it is dropped,” Grosvenor said. “We have those fields now.”

The team practiced each Wednesday evenings until daylight saving time ended on Nov. 1 at the New Tampa Community Park. The Grasshoppers cannot practice in New Tampa because the field has no lights, but they will return to there when daylight saving time begins next March.

They also practice and play their games on Saturdays in Clearwater.

“We’re part of the Florida Field Hockey Association that has another team in south Tampa and ones in Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and other places in Florida,” Grosvenor said. “Our season is March to October, and we play tournaments too.”

The Grasshoppers finished third in the seven-team league last year, and Grosvenor was recently named interim president for the FFHA.

“I won’t know how I feel about being interim president until the season starts, but I think I’ll like it,” Grosvenor said. “I like playing best, as referee second and as an organizer third; but I still love just being around the game.”

For more information on the team, visit www.tbfieldhockey.com or e-mail Grosvenor at .

By Gary S. Hatrick

The Laker Correspondent

DADE CITY — Jazzercise Bosom Buddies of Dade City raised $27,000 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, more than any other team in Pasco County, and qualified as one of the top 20 teams in country for the American Cancer Society benefit.

“That makes us so proud,” said Kris Dail, an instructor with Jazzercise Bosom Buddies. “We love to exercise together, and that is the common denominator that brought us all together. But our common goal is to beat cancer.”

Dail said she never imagined that her group would raise so much money.

“I started it four years ago when I was approached by another instructor to take over as team leader,” she said. “The first year we did a bake sale and a car wash. We raised $900 and I thought that was amazing.”

Although it may sound “fishy,” most of the this year’s money came from one major event that brought in $18,000 — a fishing tournament at St. John’s Pass called Reeling for Racks, Dail said.

Linda Davenport, a member of the Jazzercise Bosom Buddies and a breast cancer survivor, organized the tournament.

“The combination of good weather, a good cause and a good silent auction of donated time and items from the Jazzercise women was the recipe for success,” Dail said. “It was great to see the spirit of everyone giving.”

Fund-raising goes on all year, Dail said. The group has already started raising money for 2010.

“We have a really high bar to meet next year,” she said.

Anyone interested in donating can call Dail at (813) 714-9272 or (800) FIT IS IT.

Countryside Montessori Elementary gets new landscaping donated by Land O’ Lakes business

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — Recent economic difficulties have forced everyone to save every penny, but when a little girl asked if Tony Holbrook of Tropical Landscaping Design Inc. could make her school look better, he could not say no.

The little girl is Giana DiFilippo, 8, who is a student at Countryside Montessori Elementary, located on Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes.

“I asked if Mr. Tony could make my school look as beautiful as our house,” Giana said.

Giana’s mother, Lynn DiFilippo, hired Holbrook to do landscaping work and to put in palm trees and other Floridian plants on her property.

“Tony did a great job on our house and did just what we wanted,” DiFilippo said. “I told Giana I would ask Tony if he could help us, but it had to be on a donation basis, and I wasn’t sure if that was possible.”

DiFilippo is a substitute teacher and volunteer at Countryside Montessori. Holbrook was able to donate the time and materials for the project, so administrative staff at Countryside Montessori only had to approve the project.

“We’ve done some charitable work at schools in past years, and we had the ability to do it again this year,” Holbrook said. “So when the daughter of a customer asked if we could help out at her school, I couldn’t turn her down. This community has kept our company growing through tough times. No amount of money can replace the feeling of giving and helping others.”

Holbrook, who has lived in the Tampa Bay area for 33 years, went to Lutz Elementary and moved to Land O’ Lakes from Tennessee four years ago. His partner at Tropical Landscaping is Jody Dickerson. Together, their main goal was to improve the drainage between some of the school’s buildings by putting in a river rock design. They also put in Floridian plants and did additional landscaping in the area.

“I also want to put in name tags so that the kids can learn about the plants,” Holbrook said. “I love plants, and maybe the area will spark some kid’s interest in plants, too.”

Dickerson, Holbrook and Holbrook’s son, Ryan, who recently was accepted at the University of South Florida as a pre-medical student, along with several others did the landscaping work on Nov. 6 and 7. Materials for the project cost between $3,000 and $3,500, and labor cost more than $1,000 a day. That brought the entire project’s cost to more than $5,000.

After the plants were put in, McGuire’s Beautiful Outdoors, located at 27251 SR 54 Suite B-14/525 in Wesley Chapel, put fertilizer on the plants and agreed to maintain the plants in the future.

“McGuire’s agreed to take care of the plants, which was a concern of mine because I want them to last so the kids can see them for a long time,” Holbrook said. “We work together with McGuire’s, and together we serve 1,000 customers from all over Pasco and down into Hillsborough.”

The area was revealed on Nov. 9 when the children and teachers came back from the weekend. Giana named the area the Peaceful Garden.

“To give that amount of time and energy into the school, it just amazing to me,” DiFilippo said. “The kids will have a much better school to go to every day now thanks to Tony.”

Holbrook did not just donate his time, energy and materials on the project. He also donated the day on Nov. 7 — his 40th birthday.

“I just planned the project and wasn’t thinking that it was my birthday,” Holbrook said. “Maybe I was trying to forget about it because no one wants to turn 40.

“When my son (Ryan) heard I was working on my birthday, he said as long as I was donating the day, he wanted to as well. He has done a lot of volunteering and earned an award for all the hours he has donated in high school, but this is special because it was last minute and was meant to help me on my birthday.”

Ryan has spent more than 300 hours volunteering while attending Tampa Catholic.

For more information on Tropical Landscaping, located at 5104 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes, call (813) 361-7004 or visit www.tropicallandscape.net.

Tiken aka Pudge
One day while glancing through the neighborhood flier news,
I came across an ad that read: free kittens to good home, you choose.
I called the number, then it rang, a lady picked up the phone.
She said the kittens are six weeks old, then gave directions to her home.
When I got to her home I knocked on the door,
Walked in the house and sat on the floor.
Here were five little kittens I so adore.
Decisions, decisions are so hard to make,
Which one of these kittens should I take.
Then this one little kitten crawled into my lap
Where he curled in a ball and took a nap.
Needless to say, he’s the one I took home,
For as long as he lives, he’ll be the king of his throne!
Tiken’s owner is Jean Herman of Zephyrhills.

Sweetie Pie is 11 months old with green eyes, a brown nose and lips, and three-inch-long eyelashes. She thinks she is part cat and jumps high on everything, including the dining room table. Sweetie Pie loves squeaky toys and her name fits her to a “T”. Her proud owners are Mr. and Mrs. Dan Benshoof of Lutz.