The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Staying safe on the Internet

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PSO) recently shared some tips to help people stay safe while using the Internet.

(Stock photo)

Like protecting a home, digital security is essential to prevent online hacks and attacks, according to the PSO’s posting.

Here are the PSO’s suggestions:

Ensure firewalls are always turned on for computers.

Install antivirus software to prevent malicious software from attacking and embedding.

Install available updates and anti-spyware technology to ensure private information stays safe.

Be mindful of downloads and links.

Turn off computers when not in use.

Published February 14, 2024

A Closer Look: Everglades Equipment Group — Central and South Florida’s Home for John Deere

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The Tampa area is home to Everglades Equipment Group, central and south Florida’s premiere dealership of farm equipment, with a total of 18 locations, including in Largo, Odessa, Plant City, Palmetto, and the newest in the area, Brooksville.

Starting as a farming operation in 1963, Everglades has blossomed into the go-to source for John Deere, STIHL, Honda and farm equipment from dozens of manufacturers,

And the reviews are true — Everglades is consistently rated one of the top dealers nationwide for customer satisfaction, due to their highly-trained staff’s relentless commitment to customer service, which was ingrained in the company by its founders John and Eleanor Schlechter.

We spoke with Rick Miller, site manager of the Brooksville location, about his Everglades journey and what sets his company apart.

“I have been in the equipment industry for over 30 years, starting shortly after leaving the U.S. Navy in 1989,” Miller told us. When John Deere wanted a presence in Hernando County, they partnered with Everglades, and soon Miller was on board, helping to open the location in 2019.

We asked Miller what sets Everglades apart from other dealers. “Easy, the employees and the culture ingrained at the very core of the company — we take care of one another, and most importantly, take care of our customers!” he explained. “All our employees have the authority to do whatever it takes to address our customers’ needs and problems as they arise. They do not need to contact a corporate manager to solve a problem, they can get it done themselves. As the saying goes, the buck stops here, at the store.”

And, Miller added, “We also do not charge dealer fees and all the rest of those ridiculous fees you see added on to the price after you decide to purchase it.”

Beyond their world-class reputation as farm suppliers, Everglades is an active member in the community, supporting and donating to a wide range of organizations, including agricultural organizations like the local FFA, and those supporting veterans and first responders including the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Plus they’re always looking for more ways to give back — “Not because it might win us more business, but because it is the right thing to do, and something the Schlechter family is very passionate
about,” Miller added.

Given their sterling reputation as a farm supplier, as well as their commitment to civic health, it’s clear why Everglades has been a valued and integral part of our community for over 60 years.

For more information about Everglades Equipment Group, visit EvergladesFarmEquipment.com.

Serving others with a smile

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club serves lunch at the Trinity Cafe in Tampa every month. The women greet the homeless and food-insecure with a warm smile, and serve chef-prepared meals, in a comfortable setting, with dignity and grace. For more information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page. From left: Shirley Willhite, Pam Blumenthal, Deb Cardona, Jeannie Sheets, Melba Pineiro, Gina Caper and Nancy Branham.

Poker Run set to raise funds for Gulfside Hospice

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Several motorcycle clubs work to raise money for Hittin’ the Road for Hospice. Shown here are some of the participants in the 2023 run. (Courtesy of Gulfside Hospice)

A motorcycle poker run is set for Feb. 10 to raise money for Gulfside Hospice patients and families, in the 12th annual Hittin’ the Road for Hospice.

Bikers will cruise through scenic areas of Pasco and Hernando counties, with the event beginning at 9 a.m., at Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey, on State Road 54 and will end at the Moose Lodge, in Zephyrhills.

Along the way, bikers will stop at designated spots to collect cards for their poker hands. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three poker hand winners. Additionally, the “Wings and Wheels Award” will be presented to the top fundraising team at the event.

Pre-registration is open now for groups and single riders. Day-of registrations also will be accepted. Event details and registration can be found at HittinTheRoadForHospice.org.

All event proceeds will benefit Gulfside Hospice and provide hospice care and resources for patients and families in Pasco County, regardless of their ability to pay.

Published February 07, 2024

Cutting fat, sugar and salt, without sacrificing flavor

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If you’re looking for ways to enhance the flavor of your meals, while also making them healthier, consider the humble herb.

Well, think about herbs and spices.

Lots of people want to cut back salt, sugar and fat, but they don’t want to be stuck with bland food.

Luckily, herbs and spices are great flavorful substitutes to salt, sugar and fat.  

Whether fresh or dried, these can add zest to dishes without adding excess calories.  

We likely associate certain herbs with a particular food or cuisine, such as dill commonly in potato salad, basil frequently paired with tomato dishes, cilantro regularly in Mexican dishes, and oregano as a staple in Italian dishes. (Courtesy of CNN Interactive Food)

Besides adding flavor, they can add nutrition, too.

Fresh herbs, like leafy vegetables, have vitamins A, C and K, and are anti-inflammatory.

But first, what is the difference between an herb and a spice?  

You could say it’s essentially a matter of location.

Herbs are from the leafy part of the plant, while spices are from the root, flower, fruit, seed, or bark.  

Spices have a stronger flavor, so they are needed in smaller amounts than herbs.

When you use herbs and spices together, that’s called seasoning.

But first, let’s focus on herbs.

If a recipe calls for fresh herbs and you only have dried, or vice versa, just remember you’ll need to make adjustments.

A tablespoon of fresh herbs is equal to 1 teaspoon of dried herbs, or ¼ to ½ teaspoon of ground, dried herbs. As this example indicates, grounded herbs are the most potent.  

Also, remember, if you’re doubling a recipe, don’t double the herbs. Instead, increase it by 1.5.  

And, if you’re not sure how much of an herb to use, start out with ¼ teaspoon.  

You don’t want the herb to overpower the dish. So, begin small and add more, as desired.

If using fresh delicate herbs, such as basil and cilantro, add them at the end of the cooking process to retain their flavor and aroma.  

Less delicate herbs, such as rosemary and thyme, can be added within the last 20 minutes of cooking.

Fresh herbs should be stored in the refrigerator and will last two weeks to three weeks, though they start losing flavor after the first week.  

Dried herbs may not actually expire, but their flavor and aroma decline over time.  

Dried herbs stay fresh for one year to three years.

If you bought too much or your garden has excess, you can preserve your herbs by drying or freezing them.  

You can dry them with a dehydrator, an oven, a microwave or by air drying.  

Dehydrator: Wash the herbs first in cool running water and then shake the water off.
The dehydrator manual should have the specific temperature to set it to.
Place the leaves on the dehydrator trays in a single layer.
Depending on the humidity and size of the herbs, drying time can take nine hours or longer, or three hours to six hours with smaller herbs.
Once the leaves crumble and the stem easily breaks when it’s bent, they are done.

Oven: Dry them in the oven on parchment paper at less than 180 degrees for three hours to four hours, with the oven door open. Again, dry them until they can crumble easily.
Drying them in an oven that’s too hot can bake them. Also, oven drying affects the flavor and not a typically recommended preservation method.

Microwave: Microwave them in 30-second increments until they are crisp but not burned.
Layer the herbs between two sheets of paper towels, no more than two cups at a time.

Air drying is one method of drying fresh herbs. Other methods include using a dehydrator, microwave or oven. Herbs can be a flavorful substitute for salt, sugar and fat (Courtesy of Caitlyn Porter)

Air dry: You can also air-dry fresh herbs, which will take several days.
Hardy herbs such as rosemary and parsley can be tied into small bundles and air dried, preferably indoors.
Tender-leaf herbs such as mint and basil should be tied together and hung inside a paper bag and closed off with a rubber band to catch any fallen leaves.
Cut small vent holes on the top and side of the bag to prevent molding.

Storing herbs
Once you have dried them, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place and use within six months to 12 months.

You can also freeze herbs in one of two ways.

Wash and pat dry with paper towels, place them on a cookie sheet and transfer to the freezer.  

Once frozen, place them in airtight containers and store in the freezer. 

You can also chop them and put them in ice cube trays, cover with water, and freeze.  

Thaw the cubes as needed for your next dish or simply place in the dish as it is cooking. 

Because they become wilted and lose their color when frozen, it’s best to use them in a cooked dish instead of a garnish or in a non-cooked dish, such as pasta salad.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County. Pasco County Extension.

RECIPES
Here are some dried herb blends you can make at home, from the UF Extension article Cooking with Fresh Herbs, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FY1209.

Salt-Free Blend—makes about ⅓ cup
1 Tablespoon mustard powder
2 teaspoons parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons thyme
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dill weed
2 teaspoons summer savory herb
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons lemon peel

Italian Seasoning—makes about 1 ½ cups
½ cup dried oregano
½ cup dried basil
¼ cup dried parsley
1 Tablespoon fennel seeds, crushed
2 Tablespoons dried sage
1 Tablespoon hot red pepper flakes

Poultry Herbs—makes about ⅓ cup
2 Tablespoons dried tarragon
1 Tablespoon dried marjoram
1 Tablespoon dried basil
1 Tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried lovage 

Fish Herbs—makes about ½ cup
3 Tablespoons dried dill weed
2 Tablespoons dried basil
1 Tablespoon dried tarragon
1 Tablespoon dried lemon thyme
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 Tablespoon dried chervil
1 Tablespoon dried chives

Published February 07, 2024

Hillsborough seeking ‘environmental champion’

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Stokes’ Aster is native to Florida’s wet pinewood. It has very splashy flowers in the summer. Its bright flowers attract bees and butterflies. It prefers wet, but well-drained soil. (File)

Hillsborough County is seeking nominations for its Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award.

The honor goes annually to an individual or group exemplifying dedication to preserving the county’s natural resources, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The award is named after Theodore Roosevelt Jr., 26th president of the United States, who was a noted conservationist who placed more than 200 million acres under public protection.

Nominees must live or work in Hillsborough County or have lived/worked in Hillsborough during the time of their achievements. They should be “someone who shows persistence and dedication to long-term conservation of the county’s natural resources, demonstrates integrity in performance toward conservation goals, and displays attributes of true conservation stewardship,’’ according to the award criteria.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program General Committee, which will send a recommendation to the Hillsborough County Commission for approval. The Hillsborough county board will hold an award ceremony in the spring to coincide with National Arbor Day.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 29. For more information, call 813-672-7876.

Published February 07, 2024

Paving work on Mentmore Boulevard expected to take 30 days

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Construction work was slated to begin on Feb. 5 on Mentmore Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes, from State Road 54 to Sunlake Boulevard, in both directions, according to a Pasco County news release.

Crews will be resurfacing the existing roadway and adding new pavement markings. Drivers should be prepared for minor delays, the release adds.

The work hours on the project are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Motorists should expect to encounter single-lane closures, with message boards directing traffic.

The project is expected to take 30 days to complete, depending on weather conditions, the news release says.

Asphalt Paving Systems is the contractor for this county public works project.

Published February 07, 2024

This prom offers people with special needs a ‘Night to Shine’

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Trinity New Life Church will host the 2024 Night to Shine, an event designed to give people with special needs a chance to enjoy a prom night experience.

The joy was obvious, as prom-goers who have special needs, and their buddies, danced the night way at the 2023 Night to Shine, in the gym at Cypress Creek Middle School, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

The event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is “centered on God’s love” and hosted by churches around the world simultaneously on Feb. 9.

“Trinity New Life Church is excited to be part of this worldwide movement for the 10th year in a row,” according to a news release from the church, at 11134 Challenger Ave., in Odessa.

“God is using this event as a catalyst to change how cultures embrace people with disabilities and to rally the church worldwide to honor their local community of people with special needs, ensuring they know they are valued and loved,” the release says.

According to additional details in the release, the 100 guests will walk a red carpet to enter the church and will be welcomed by a cheering crowd and paparazzi. There will be a crowning by Ms. Pasco and a pinning of corsages and boutonnieres.

Once inside, they will receive the royal treatment, including a buddy for the night, a catered dinner with dessert, a DJ, dancing, professional and photo booth pictures, a party bus ride and personalized gifts, the release adds.

For more information on the Night to Shine prom or the weekly Shine ministry hosted by Trinity New Life Church in Odessa, visit TrinityNewLife.com/shine.

Published February 07, 2024

Academy at the Lakes builds toward its long-term vision

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Academy at the Lakes is fulfilling a master plan it envisioned more than a decade ago.

Shovels in hand, school officials, students and their family members recently broke ground on an 18,000-square-foot building that signals the start of the academy’s long-planned expansion.

The two-story building will house classrooms with leading-edge technology. It will have innovation hubs for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and will have an emphasis on the arts.

The Academy at the Lakes Wildcats’ mascot puts a paw to the shovel and digs in for the groundbreaking of a new education building at the private, independent school, which flanks both sides of Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. (Kathy Steele)

Community spaces, including a black box theater, will showcase performances and encourage collaborative projects to engage students, teachers and staff.

The campus redesign also includes a plaza for community gatherings. Other features include decorative fencing and new parking areas.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year, at an estimated cost of more than $7 million.

Significant progress has been made on raising the money needed to cover the project’s costs and additional community events are planned to continue those fundraising efforts.

“We’re breaking ground on a project that will transform the educational experience of thousands of students over the lifetime of the brick-and-mortars we will soon see rising on this very spot,” Mark Heller, head of school, said during the recent celebration.

Academy at the Lakes, at 2331 Collier Parkway, is a private, independent school with campuses on both sides of the road.

The recent groundbreaking marks the beginning of a significant expansion that is planned during the next five to seven years.

The ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the new education building also was the opening act for an afternoon of upbeat, school spirit. 

Students, faculty and staff enjoyed Friday Night Fanfare, the academy’s annual winter homecoming.

This rendering depicts Academy at the Lake’s planned 18,000-square-foot education building, which includes a black box theater, a maker space, an audio/video study, a computer lab, an office and conference spaces. The expansion also includes a plaza for community gatherings, and attractive fencing. (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

Middle school and high school students played a series of basketball games inside the school’s gymnasium. Meanwhile, lines formed outside for food trucks, games, and face-painting at the academy’s McCormick Campus.

Blue and white frosted cupcakes, popcorn and school T-shirts were available.

Kinjal Patel enrolled her students in Academy at the Lakes, and later became one of the school’s first-grade teachers.

“We are one huge family,” Patel said. “Everyone looks after each other.”

She believes the school’s expansion will “solidify” that community strength.

Next phase includes athletic fields
The new education building on the McCormick Campus marks the first phase of construction.

In the next phase, new athletic fields will be added as part of the long-awaited goal of creating an East Campus on 47 acres acquired from the MacManus family in 2013.

Development beyond the athletic fields at the East Campus will be determined by the academy’s future needs.

The fields will support a range of sports including soccer, football, baseball, softball, tennis, and track and field.

Cupcakes with blue and white frosting, and popcorn, were refreshments at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new education building at Academy at the Lakes. The school band entertained the crowd. (Kathy Steele)

The school’s FORWARD! expansion vision will evolve over the next few years as the McCormick campus expands and the East Campus is developed.

“Academy at the Lakes is one of the strongest independent schools in the state of Florida,” said John Faith, chair of the Board of Trustees, and one of the speakers at the ceremony.

“We are ready to take the next step into our bright future,” the board chair said.

Growing enrollment is a major reason for the expansion, Heller said.

“We are bursting at the seams,” he said.

The school attracts students from all over, including Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Zephyrhills, Trinity, and other Tampa Bay communities.

As Pasco County has grown, so has Academy at the Lakes, Heller said. He also noted the county’s new residents include employees of the hospitals and health care centers that are popping up across Pasco.

“We have so many medical people who are in our community,” Heller said. “We want Pasco to be a great place not just to live and work but to go to school. We have a really strong independent school that is competitive with anything in Hillsborough (County), and a great school culture. We’re working to make our facilities match that great program.”

Lines formed outside food trucks for Friday Family Fanfare, a winter ‘homecoming’ event that coincided with a groundbreaking ceremony for a long-awaited building expansion at Academy at the Lakes. (Kathy Steele)

A history spanning more than three decades
Academy at the Lakes opened in Land O’ Lakes 31 years ago with 32 students. Enrollment for prekindergarten at age 3 through high school has increased year by year, with current enrollment topping 500. The school anticipates that more than 600 students will be learning at academy within the next two years, Heller said.

The school’s early childhood and high school classes are at capacity, said Sue Gunther, director of admissions.

The new building will have four large classrooms, she said. Their uses will be determined based on student needs when the new facility opens.

She enthusiastically described the technology “shed” for STEM projects, and the black box theater. A balcony in the new building will overlook the lobby, and provide a gallery for student art. The school also will gain meeting spaces and workspaces for teachers, which now are in short supply, Gunther added.

Heller said the plaza will be central to giving the school a “signature visual Image.”

Lou MacManus, daughter of Lutz pioneers Cameron and Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, was among the audience members who attended the festivities.

The MacManus property will be central to the school’s future, and a legacy for MacManus’ parents.

“They’ve consistently done things that are very forward-thinking and visionary,” MacManus said, of the school. “We’re thrilled. We grew up here, so it’s wonderful to see this develop.”

Published January 31, 2024

Memorial service planned for Sgt. David Dixon, Zephyrhills officer for 15 years

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Sgt. David Dixon, who served on the Zephyrhills Police Department for 15 years, has succumbed to his battle with cancer. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

Memorial services have been set for Sgt. David Dixon, who served the residents of Zephyrhills for 15 years.

The visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 1, followed by the funeral at noon, at the Plant City Church of God, 2103 Mud Lake Road, in Plant City.

The public is welcome to attend.

The City of Zephyrhills and the Zephyrhills Police Department expressed “great sadness” at Dixon’s passing, when announcing the news last week.

“Sgt. Dixon succumbed to his fight with cancer. He will be missed!,” a city news release said.

Dixon began his law enforcement career with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where he served for four years before joining the Zephyrhills Police Department. He served as a patrol officer, school resources officer, field training officer and patrol sergeant.

Published January 31, 2024