The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Simple Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special

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Handmade gifts always seem to be bundled with extra love, knowing that someone put time and effort into making it.

For Valentine’s Day, Bella Home Market in Lutz is featuring handmade products by local sellers that you can’t find in the Valentine’s Day aisle at big box stores.

Toffee To Go is making a return after its popularity during Christmas time. The treats come packed in a box and bow, ready to be delivered to your special someone. Jade’s Soap Shop also will be making an appearance. The Dunedin-based business specializes in aesthetic soaps of all unique patterns with a blend of specialized scents. Tres Monkey Skin Care will feature its products at Bella Home, for men and women. This includes hygiene products, soap scrubs and bath creams, many of which would make a great gift basket also paired with Jade’s Soap Shop.

“It’s spectacular we can feature so many local sellers during the holidays,” said owner Lou Malerba. “These thoughtful gifts are perfect for anyone on Valentine’s Day that likes gifts with meaning.”

Throughout the year, Bella Home Market is known for its upscale décor and memorable merchandise. They’re the only elite retailer of the popular DIY paint, Dixie Belle, that is locally based. Nowhere else in Lutz can you find every line of Dixie Belle product. The store offers all-inclusive classes throughout the year that teaches the Dixie Belle painting techniques, and sends you home with a decor item you’ve created.

For online orders and Dixie Belle class signups, visit BellaHomeMarket.com.

Published January 26, 20222

Glaring Home Improvements Aren’t Going Anywhere. Your Tax Refund Can Help.

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Tax refund season is here, and it’s understandable to consider lavishly spending your money on a vacation to the beach or a weeklong mountain getaway.

However, those necessary home improvements will still be there when you get back. It’s a much wiser and more beneficial decision to your family to use the money to update your home’s mechanical systems.

“With inflation rising and the cost of goods increasing at a rapid rate, a wise investment would be to take your tax return and invest the money back into your home’s mechanical systems, prior to additional price increase and to avoid any future shortages,” said Miguel Silva of Cornerstone Pros Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical in Land O’ Lakes

Silva explained that if your home was built in the past 12-20 years, it is likely overdue for a new A/C system, water heater and possible electrical panel.

A tax refund could cover the cost of converting to a tankless hot water heater, replacing your electrical panel or upgrading your outdated electrical panels to better fit today’s energy demand. Plus, it can be a significant down payment toward a new A/C system.

“Many people wait until their A/C system completely fails, or end up spending too much money on repairs trying to keep it going,” said Silva.

He explained that replacing your home’s mechanical systems typically pays for themselves within a few years. Replacing your aged A/C system with a high-efficiency air conditioner can lower your energy bills significantly when it gets hot.

“If you take care of these home improvement projects now before our busy summer months, we’ll get your job done within a day or two, and are offering some great coupons to reduce your cost,” Silva added.

Cornerstone Pros was founded in 2006 in Land O’ Lakes and has been serving our local community for over 15 years. Over the years, it has built a strong, long-term relationship with the community that is evident by its customer ratings.

“Every morning, we are stocked and prepared to address any customer dilemma that might arise,” said Silva. “Please call us today to get a quote for your home improvement project, so you’re ready to go when your tax refund comes in. We look forward to serving you and having you be one of our satisfied customers.”

Tax Refund Specials & 18 months No Interest Financing

$200 OFF Energy savings Bundle
Upgrade to a high efficiency A/C and tankless water heater at the same and receive a free nest

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$75 OFF Generator

Published January 26, 2022

UPS becomes final occupant in spec building project

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The Asturia Corporate Center, a speculative building project supported by Penny for Pasco funding, has reached full occupancy, according to a Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., news release.

UPS has become the final tenant in the 235,000-square-foot building that is now filled to  capacity, with a mix of occupants, representing various target industry sectors.

Taxpayer funds, generated through Penny for Pasco revenues, have supported this speculative building project, which is now 100% occupied by a mix of tenants, bringing new job opportunities to Pasco County. Voter-approved Penny for Pasco revenues are designated for a variety of uses, including economic development, public safety vehicles and equipment, conservation of land and natural resources, transportation infrastructure, and enhancements to school facilities. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

Building speculative space is a risky business considering the costs of developing infrastructure, the Pasco EDC release points out.

“Early in the current development cycle, the Penny for Pasco, a Pasco taxpayer approved $0.01 sales tax, helped bridge capital gaps with loans to developers willing to build speculative space,” the release adds.

The goal of bringing new office and industrial space to market to attract new and expanding industries has proved successful, the release continues.

“In 2018, Pasco County Commissioners approved a 10-year, $7 million Penny for Pasco loan to HP Asturia, LLC (Harrod Development) to build Asturia Corporate Center, a $26 million, 235,000-square-foot speculative “Flex-Industrial” project to meet the demands of Pasco’s rapidly growing industrial sectors.

“Many companies don’t have years to search for a location and build out an entire facility, and that’s why these speculative projects are so important,” Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president/CEO, explained in the release.

“I can’t emphasize enough the importance of having a local government who truly understands the support our business community needs. Now Pasco is experiencing sustained growth and market demand attracting speculative development that would not be possible without the Penny for Pasco.”

Asturia Corporate Center’s tenant mix includes UPS, Lowe’s, Stratford Care and Belmar— bringing 286 new jobs to Pasco, when all the tenant improvements are completed, the release says.

It is expected to create up to 400 total jobs created over the life of the leases, the release adds.

The news release also points out that once fully completed, the project is expected to bring close to $35 million, annually, in positive economic impact to Pasco’s Gross County Product over the next 10 years. Those figures are based on estimates from Pasco County’s Office of Economic Growth, according to the release.

The county board chairwoman also weighed in.

“The success of the Asturia Corporate Center is a perfect example of Pasco’s Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) strategy.

“We encourage developers to design business parks into their residential developments, and when we work together, great companies with high paying jobs want to move to Pasco,” Pasco County Commission Chairman Kathryn Starkey, said in the release.

Penny for Pasco has twice been approved by Pasco voters. It is a tax, paid at the rate of 1 cent per each dollar per sale, up to a sales amount of $5,000, according to the Pasco County website.

The funds are designated for economic development, public safety vehicles and equipment, conservation of land and natural resources, transportation infrastructure improvements, and enhancements to educational facilities.

The first Penny for Pasco Local Government Infrastructure Surtax was passed by Pasco County voters on March 9, 2004 and was in effect from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2014, and collected more than $320,000,000.

On Nov. 6, 2012, voters approved the continuation of Penny for Pasco for 10 additional years, garnering support from 70% of the county’s voters. Under that vote, the county began collecting Penny for Pasco revenues in January 2015 and will continue collecting them through  Dec. 31, 2024.

Proceeds from the second round of Penny for Pasco are expected to exceed $700,000,000, the website says.

Published January 26, 2022

Zephyrhills seeks input on resiliency, economics

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The City of Zephyrhills is hosting a public workshop to gather community input and to discuss the creation of an Economic Development and Resiliency Plan, according to a city news release.

The meeting is set for Jan. 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the City Hall Council Chambers, 5335 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills.

The city will be engaging the public to identity existing assets, and conduct an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats — to create an economic development and resiliency plan, the news release says.

The new plan is intended to provide city staff and elected officials with a concise vision for the future. It will establish goals and implementation strategies to strengthen the city’s market position and its ability to withstand economic stresses, the release adds.

The document ultimately will be a guide for future plan and policy decisions. The exercise will be facilitated by Kimley-Horn.

Published January 26, 2022

An unmistakable image

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This great blue heron was sitting in the pond at Steve Vinik’s home in Lexington Oaks, in Wesley Chapel, squawking at something. After gazing fixedly for some minutes and then swiveling its head when Vinik tapped at the window, the heron suddenly lifted off across the pond.

Woman’s club steps up with book donations

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club donated copies of the children’s book entitled, ‘Twenty-One Steps,’ to Lutz, Miles and Connerton elementary schools. The book chronicles the little-known history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, in Washington D.C., and pays homage to America’s fallen, telling the story of the soldiers who guard the tomb. The book also illustrates the history of the ‘unknowns,’ marking the 100th anniversary of the first burial of an unknown World War I veteran. Dee Knerr, left, and Faith Sincich delivered the books.

Pasco gearing up for Big Shred V

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People who have sensitive or outdated documents they want to destroy can take advantage of free shredding services at The Big Shred V, presented by Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles.

Two shredding days are scheduled:

  • At the West Pasco Judicial Center, 7530 Little Road, in New Port Richey, on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. until noon
  • At the Robert Sumner Judicial Center, 38053 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City, on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon

The event coincides with Data Privacy Day, which is celebrated on Jan. 28, Alvarez-Sowles said during the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 11 meeting.

“People get in line super early because it is first-come, first-served. Once the trucks get full, that’s it, we cut off the line,” Alvarez-Sowles said.

“I want to thank our partners in this,” she added. Those include the Pasco County Commission, the county’s recycling department, Keep Pasco Beautiful, Covanta and Shred 360.

Record numbers participated last year, with 442 vehicles turning over 10 tons of sensitive paper in New Port Richey and 129 vehicles rendered just shy of 3 tons of documents for shredding in Dade City, according to the clerk’s website.

Participants may bring in the equivalent of two tall kitchen trash bags or three standard copy paper boxes for on-site shredding conducted by Shred 360 Tampa.

Published January 19, 2022

Pasco Schools sets up reunification shelter

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Pasco County Schools has signed a memorandum of understanding with RADDSports Pasco Wiregrass LLC to establish a reunification shelter.

The site will be used in the event an evacuation is required due to an emergency, resulting in students and staff no longer being able to remain in their regular facility, according to the agreement.

The district “will make every effort to notify RADD of evacuation possibilities with as much notice as possible so RADD can close its facility to the public as applicable.

“Contact information between the two parties shall be maintained in a separate appendix and is considered confidential information and is not subject to public disclosure,” according to the agreement.

Under terms of the agreement, RADD will open specific areas of buildings at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel, to provide bus access, shelter, and assistance to students and staff evacuated during emergency situations.

RADD will be responsible for opening the building and developing procedures for making the building accessible, including restrooms and an area with phone and internet connection, if available, to district administrative personnel.

The district will provide supervision for all students and staff during the time that the facility is used as an emergency shelter site, the agreement adds.

The district also agrees “that it shall exercise reasonable care in the conduct of its activities in said facilities and further agrees to replace or reimburse RADD for any items, materials, equipment or supplies that may be used by the district in the conduct of its sheltering activities.”

Under other provisions in the agreement, the district:

  • Agrees to accept responsibility for replacing, restoring or repairing damage, upon an itemized written request by RADD
  • Will reimburse RADD for any bona fide expenditure of personnel required to maintain the facility for reunification sheltering, including overtime costs, upon production of receipts or time sheets
  • Will provide all releases of information to the press and media

The initial term of the contract is for five years. It will automatically renew — with any modification agreed to by both parties — for an additional five years, unless either party provides a written notice of intent not to renew at least 60 days before the expiration.

Published January 12, 2022

Raisin’ cane, for the love of history

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(Fred Bellet)

Steam rises from the huge vat containing sugar cane juice, as volunteers Marcus Copeland, of Dade City, left, and Jasper Starnes, of Zephyrhills, right, work on skimming any impurities that bubble to the top during the sugar cane syrup-making process. The demonstration occurred in the Cane Mill during The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village Raising Cane and Moonshine Festival. See more photos from the festival in full story.

Festival features sugar cane syrup, and moonshine

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The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village has been raisin’ cane for years, at a festival featuring the art of making syrup from Florida sugar cane.

Jasper Starnes, of Zephyrhills, doesn’t mind getting steamed up, especially when he’s working on skimming any impurities from the 60 gallons of sugar cane juice boiling in the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village Cane Mill. When complete, the juice is boiled down to 6 gallons of sugar cane syrup. (Fred Bellet)

But this year, the event on Jan. 8 added a new element — showcasing the history of moonshine.

Pasco County’s history is replete with stories about moonshiners, and this year, for the first time, the pioneer museum shared part of that history with event-goers.

Jeffro Cotton, of Lithia, volunteered to man the moonshine shed, where he talked about  ‘moonshinin’ and explained how the mash was fermented into alcohol.

Meanwhile, visitors to the event had the chance to see demonstrations of syrup-making from sugar cane and to taste entries in the Southern Syrup-Makers Association Syrup-Tasting Contest Steve Melton, of Trilby, president of the Southern Syrup-Makers Association presented Jack Whitehurst, of Williston, with the first-place ribbon for his cane sugar syrup.

This year’s event had the largest turnout ever for tasting during the event.

Whitehurst said the key to making the syrup was taking his time and doing it the way the old-timers did it.

Beyond syrup-tasting, the event also featured Tarpon Springs Distillery, which offered samples of its products, and had a couple of moonshine cocktails and bottles available for purchase.

Event-goers also had a chance to do a little shopping, grab a bite to eat, enjoy live music and stroll around the 6.5 acres of building displays.

Published January 12, 2022

Jeffro Cotton, of Lithia, volunteered to man the moonshine shed, where he talked about ‘moonshinin.’ He explained how the mash was fermented into alcohol. Leon Rookey, of Dade City, right, passes by the old still, which is covered in verdigris, the green pigment that forms on weathered copper.
Steve Melton, of Trilby, president of the Southern Syrup Makers Association, right, congratulates Jack Whitehurst, of Williston. Whitehurst won the first-place blue ribbon for his cane sugar syrup, in what was the largest turnout ever for tasting during the event. Whitehurst said the key to making the syrup was taking his time and doing it the way the old-timers did it.
Steve Melton, left, president of the Southern Syrup Makers Association, is ready for more oak wood, as Joe Moragues, a volunteer, adds it to the fire, boiling off the 60 gallons to 70 gallons of sugar cane juice. Moragues’ wife, Jena, also is a volunteer. She helps out as a ‘cane stripper,’ she says, with a laugh.
Five-year-old Tanner Weeks, of Dade City, manages to recline on his dad Kyle Weeks, of Dade City, as he was talking cane with Joy Dew, of Dade City, about replanting the sugar cane stalk at home.
Little did 6-year-old Nikolai Hinson, of Dade City, know, but he was tasting the sugar cane syrup that was voted No. 1 by the Southern Syrup-Makers Association Syrup-Tasting Contest. Nikolai, his 9-year-old sister Isabella Hinson, and their aunt Marcia Nichols, who was visiting the family from Minnesota, tasted all 12 samples for judging.
Smoke billows from the chimney atop of the Cane Mill at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. The fire must be hot enough to boil the 60 gallons to 70 gallons of sugar cane juice down to 6 gallons to 7 gallons of sugar cane syrup.
After sampling the dozen sugar cane syrup entries in the Southern Syrup-Makers Association Syrup-Tasting Contest and listening to a U.S. Sugar presentation, Sid Lehman, of Frostproof, bit into the source of the cane syrup, a sugar cane stalk. Lehman, a snowbird from Indiana, said it was not only his first sugar cane festival, but it was his first time at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village.
Steve Melton brings out the first-, second- and third-place ribbons to be awarded to those winning sugar cane syrup entries. The popular vote gave Jack Whitehurst, of Williston, 77 points out of 259. There were 12 samples from association members in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.