The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Land O' Lakes News

Dogsledding in Florida? It’s a pastime with some bite

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“Hike, Hike!” Peggy Wright loudly calls out to the group of dogs in front of her, spurring them to start running.

At her command, the dogs bolt, pulling a two-wheeled sled that she’s standing on. As they move, each time she approaches a bend on the paved trail outlining the placid lake, Wright yells “Gee!” to direct the dogs right, or “Ha!” to send them to the left.

Boisterous, 6-year-old Kyra howls and barks as she sprints along with the rest of the pack, burning pent-up energy and thriving in the company of other huskies, malamutes, Akitas, and other sled dog breeds.

Peggy Wright, foreground, leashes her two huskies, Minka on the left and Bear on the right, prepping them for a sled run in Freedom Lake Park. Behind them, Matt Aamold is with his female husky mix, Bianca. (Photo courtesy of Peggy Wright)
Peggy Wright, foreground, leashes her two huskies, Minka on the left and Bear on the right, prepping them for a sled run in Freedom Lake Park. Behind them, Matt Aamold is with his female husky mix, Bianca. (Photo courtesy of Peggy Wright)

This isn’t the harsh snows of the Arctic Circle. Instead, it’s Freedom Lake Park on a brisk Sunday afternoon in Florida, filled with plenty of trees, calm waters and grassy pastures.

Kyra is one of three Siberian huskies belonging to Carol Robinson, a massage therapist from Lutz, who is a member of the Sandy Paws Dog Sled Club in Pinellas Park.

“These dogs are strong and fast,” said Robinson, who joined the club in 2011 and regularly attends its monthly meetings. “It’s a little difficult sometimes to contain them because they get so excited, (but) they’re working as a team.”

Robinson and some of the other dog owners flank the pack, running about a mile with them around the lake. Without the owners at their side, the pack can run up to 20 miles an hour with a 150-pound sled and two people on it.

“Halt!” Wright booms. The command causes the dogs to come to a complete stop after their first lap. Before taking their second or even third cycle on the trail, the dogs and their owners take a break to mingle, rest and drink lots of water.

Wright started the dog sled club about four years ago with four of her friends. All five had Siberian huskies. Northern dogs like these huskies are naturally very active, and they can be destructive if they’re not strenuously engaged.

“By having this group, we’re able to teach people how to keep their dogs out of trouble,” Wright said. “When dogs are disciplined and correctly exercised, they are much happier and healthier.”

Wright and her friends wanted to open the club to everyone with Siberian huskies and similar breeds, so they created a website and used social networking sites like Meetup and Facebook. The club went from five to more than 170 members from all over the Tampa Bay area.

The sledding get-togethers happen monthly, except during the summer when it’s too hot for the dogs to run. Wright said the gatherings generally draw about 30 to 50 members at a time. The club gives her a chance to meet with other dog owners, while the dogs themselves play with each other.

“When we’re all together in a group, we can share stories or ideas,” Robinson said. “What’s the best brush to get that undercoat out? What food are you using to keep their coat?”

Robinson also likes to spread the word about pet adoptions because of her involvement with a dog rescue center.

“Sometimes we bring some of our dogs there and say if anyone’s looking to adopt, we have this one or that one,” she said. “We’ve had some successful adoptions through just networking.”

While Robinson greets and talks with the other owners, Kyra, with her pale blue eyes and soft thick black-and-white fur, joins in with her fellow dogs. Before they get ready to pull a sled, the dogs socialize by howling, sniffing and jumping on each other.

But because of their high energy levels, their owners keep them leashed.

Siberian huskies like Kyra were initially bred in the Arctic climates of northeastern Asia — mainly to serve as transportation for nomadic tribes, which didn’t have horses, donkeys and camels to rely on.

“For the original tribes, they would load up the sled with all their personal belongings,” Robinson said. “They were putting their housing, their tents, their blankets — everything went on these sleds. It was the dog’s job to pull it to the next location.”

Huskies have built-in stamina, lots of energy and strong stocky bodies. They were bred to run long distances in cold weather, and they also love to be around other dogs and people.

The dog sled club outings serve as an outlet for all their natural inclinations.

The club’s next outing is Sept. 22 at Freedom Lake Park, 9990 46th St. in Pinellas Park, for the group’s first real sledding event since last May.

For more information on the group, visit sandypawssleddogclub.com.

 

By Marie Abramov

Dennis Realty: 40 years of putting customers first

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Juanita Dennis had a vision of bringing all her real estate agents together in one place. And in 1994, the co-owner of Dennis Realty did just that, opening what would become a landmark on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and County Line Road.

It was a family philosophy both Dennis, and her husband Robert, had stood by since Dennis Realty was founded 40 years ago in 1973. And it’s that philosophy that has helped the business continue to thrive through the rollercoaster ride of the housing market, and be on top of its game today.

“We’re the big fish in the small pond, but we’ve learned from experience how to stay strong, no matter what the market throws at us,” said Carl Stratton, the broker and general manager at Dennis Realty, who first joined the company in 1999. “There are very few offices where you can walk in the front door, and have your choice of agents already there waiting for you.”

There have been several housing bubbles since Dennis Realty first opened its doors, but none were as devastating as the most recent one that burst in late 2006, not long after Stratton was promoted to general manager.

Pat Germino remembers when she had to answer phones at the old Dennis Realty location just down the road from its current site. Germino, who gets a helping hand from broker and general manager Carl Stratton, has been with Dennis Realty for most of its 40 years. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Pat Germino remembers when she had to answer phones at the old Dennis Realty location just down the road from its current site. Germino, who gets a helping hand from broker and general manager Carl Stratton, has been with Dennis Realty for most of its 40 years. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Everyone suffered, especially Realtors. Dennis Realty went from a peak of selling 120 homes in a month, to just eight. The company also closed a pair of satellite offices, and centralized all of its operations back in Lutz.

“Even when we were losing money, the one thing we did do was keep our advertising up,” Stratton said. “Our agents have been through this cycle before, and we knew at some point it would come back up. The agents that stayed in the business and kept their marketing going, they are the ones who are finding success right now.”

Dennis Realty now partners with 85 full-time agents, but does more than just sell homes. During the last decade or so, the company has expanded to include a title company, property management, insurance and more.

And all of it is in the two-story building that brought the first commercial elevator to Lutz.

“We have traditional values, and we adhere to those values,” Stratton said. “There are a lot of companies out there who think they have a better way of doing things, like discount brokers. But there is a lot of sacrifice in discounting — something has to give.”

Home values are on the rise. This past spring, the average sales price of a home jumped nearly 12 percent compared to the year before, according to Florida Realtors. And the number of days a home is sitting on the market is now less than two months, compared to nearly three months in spring 2011.

Yet many homes are not on the market, but are still in the middle of foreclosure. And many homes bought as investments are still finding plenty of people willing to rent.

“I don’t have a statistic, but I think people renting homes is at an all-time historic high in America,” Stratton said. “The fact is there are a lot of folks who lost their homes and are now renting houses because they are not able to buy homes. There’s just a big base of renters right now.”

That has promoted Dennis Realty to expand its efforts to help investors manage those properties, since no landlord is looking forward to that call in the middle of the night for an emergency repair.

In 2009, Dennis Realty managed the rentals of just 50 homes. Today, it’s 550. And it continues to grow.

“We focus on individuals who own homes, and not big corporations that might have hundreds of them.” Stratton said. “These are people who are upside-down on their house, and don’t want to short-sell or let their house go. We are offering ways to help.”

Sadly, Juanita Dennis died on 2001, but Robert keeps things moving, and staying close to the original philosophy.

The next 40 years should be an interesting time for Dennis Realty. But if history has any say, the company is ready for whatever the housing market might throw at it.

“We are a marketing company, and if you’re not out there marketing, then what are you doing? You’re out of business,” Stratton said. “It’s all about paying attention to the client, and giving good service. That’s what has always carried us through.”

Plantation Palms finds new trouble, with Swiftmud

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Golfers are making their way back to Plantation Palms Golf Club after a brief closing in August. But now there’s another sand trap in the way.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, better known as Swiftmud, could file a lawsuit against the golf course owners, saying they overpumped nearly double the amount of water they were permitted to use to irrigate the course.

A call Friday to one of the golf course’s owners, Jason Ray, was not returned.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is accusing the Plantation Palms Golf Club of pumping far too much water to irrigate its greens, penalizing the owners nearly $12,000. The complaint could end up in court. (File photo)
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is accusing the Plantation Palms Golf Club of pumping far too much water to irrigate its greens, penalizing the owners nearly $12,000. The complaint could end up in court. (File photo)

MJS Golf Group LLC, which owns Plantation Palms’ golf course, was using 144,500 gallons of water per day on average over the summer, despite the fact they were permitted to use just a little more than 76,600 gallons. That was 89 percent more than the golf course was supposed to use, according to Swiftmud. That’s enough water to nearly fill four standard swimming pools.

This complaint comes after the golf course was notified in 2011 that it was using more than 117,000 gallons per day, 54 percent more than was permitted.

Swiftmud penalized MJS just under $12,000 for the overpumping, adding another $1,000 for its enforcement costs. However, MJS didn’t respond to the order, and that might force Swiftmud to take the golf course owner to court.

While Swiftmud is in charge of enforcing the amount of water commercial properties extract from the ground, it’s not very often the government organization is forced to go to court, said Swiftmud spokeswoman Terri Behling said.

Swiftmud “is hopeful we can still resolve the compliance issue through a consent order, but if that is not successful, the district would then issue an administrative complaint,” Behling said. “If a compliance issue arises, it is usually resolved by our regulatory staff, and very few compliance matters are referred to our legal department for enforcement. Of those compliance matters that are referred to our legal department, a very small number must be resolved through litigation.”

Plantation Palms Golf Club got some unwanted attention last month when the golf course closed for nearly a week. Ray, who co-owns the course with Mitch Osceola and Steve McDonald, told The Laker/Lutz News the temporary closure was because of the economy and the summer.

“It’s been too hot, and it’s been raining, and the culmination of all that just resulted in not a lot of people playing golf,” Ray said at the time. “Summertime is always tough for all the golf courses.”

MJS purchased the course in May 2011 through a $2.18 million mortgage through Native American Bank of Denver. It features 18 holes, a driving range, clubhouse and a lounge.

Public has chance to weigh in on taxes

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The public will have a chance to tell Pasco County commissioners what they think about a proposed property tax hike and a nickel-a-gallon gas tax at a public hearing on Sept. 10.

Commissioners are likely to get an earful.

The county’s proposed property tax rate is 7.49 mills, up from last year’s rate of 6.86 mills. Its proposed municipal fire rate is 1.71 mills, up from 1.54 mills last year.

Each mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. That means the owner of a $100,000 house, assuming a $50,000 homestead exemption, would pay $33 a year more.

The 5-cent tax would affect anyone who buys gas in Pasco County.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader and commissioners Pat Mulieri, Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano voted in favor of advertising the proposed tax rate in July. Commissioner Henry Wilson voted against it, and said recently that he was still trying to find places to cut the budget.

The proposed property tax hike has drawn criticism from taxpayers who think the county should cut its spending, as well as pleadings from people who don’t want commissioners to cut their programs.

Commissioners have also heard from opponents to the proposed gas tax hike.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Chris Nocco has not given up on his bid to seek more money in his budget. On Aug. 27, however, commissioners passed a resolution allowing a portion of the Penny for Pasco to be spent on unmarked detective cars and other vehicles for the Sheriff’s office. They took that action because the language included in the Penny for Pasco referenced marked cars, but did not specify unmarked cars could be purchased with the tax proceeds.

Commissioners are set to have their public hearing on the taxes at their 6:30 p.m. meeting on Sept. 10 at the Dade City Historic Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. in Dade City.

The board will cast its final vote on the property tax rate at its 6:30 p.m. meeting on Sept. 24 at the government center in New Port Richey, 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey.

Business Digest

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Wesley Chapel Chamber mixer
The Laker/Lutz News is partnering with the Tampa North Flight Center to host the September business mixer for the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce. The event will be on Sept. 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Tampa North Flight Center, 4241 Birdsong Blvd. in Lutz. The event will feature food, fun and networking, and will give people a chance to check out the flight center’s new food and beverage area, The Happy Hangar Café.

Zephyrhills chamber breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have a chamber business breakfast Sept. 5 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd. It is sponsored by Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. Networking is from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., followed by a $7 breakfast buffet.

Dancing with our Stars
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring “Dancing with our Stars 2013,” with proceeds to benefit the art of dance in Central Pasco and the chamber. This year’s event is set for Sept. 21. Go to www.biddingforgood.com/CPCC to provide an auction item, bid on an item, purchase tickets or make a donation.

Big Lots unveils remodeled stores
Closeout retailer Big Lots has remodeled 15 of its stores, including its location in Land O’ Lakes and another in North Tampa. The Land O’ Lakes store is at 2414 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., while the North Tampa store is at 14948 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa. Big Lots also has a location in Zephyrhills at 4840 Allen Road.

Barb Conrad joins Cooper Financial Services
Insurance specialist Barb Conrad has joined the staff of Cooper Financial Services. Conrad specializes in long-term care insurance, life insurance and disability insurance. Cooper Financial Services has offered financial planning, insurance and investment services in the Tampa Bay area since 1994. For more information about its services, visit www.cooper-financial.com, or call (813) 996-6100.

Lennar promotes Randall Smith
Lennar’s Central Florida division has promoted Randall Smith to director of construction in the Tampa region. Smith, who has 30 years of experience, joined Lennar last year as a construction manager. Before that, he was a vice president for another construction company. In his new role, he will work with the construction team on schedules, prioritizing work activities, maintaining customer and trade partner relations, inspection of home for quality compliance, construction documents, recruiting hiring, and supervising the construction staff.

Florida fishing industry is boon to state economy
The Florida fishing industry contributes an estimated $5 billion to the state economy, according to the latest economics commentary report from Florida TaxWatch, an independent taxpayer research institute. More than 1.2 million visitors to Florida fished during 2013, according to TaxWatch. Besides attracting anglers from around the globe, the state also hosts boating and fishing expositions throughout the year, which draws visitors and their money to the state. “Florida’s unique location and variety of fishing opportunities position the state as the world leader in sport fishing tourism,” said Dominic M. Calabro, president and chief executive officer of Florida TaxWatch, in a release.

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several speakers for the coming months. The group meets every other week at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills. Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m. Here’s the group’s slate of upcoming speakers:
–Sept. 10: Faith Knight, chief operations officer for Apollo Group
–Sept. 24: Maureen Moore, director of communications for Saint Leo University
–Oct. 8: Danny Burgess, mayor of Zephyrhills, and Minerva “Minnie” Diaz, candidate for the District 38 state House of Representatives seat
–Oct. 22: Paul Stonebridge, teen services manager of Pasco County library, and Cheryl A. Pollock, business development director Premier Community HealthCare Group, Inc.
–Nov. 12: Gary Loman, professional education manager for Rasmussen College
–Nov. 26: Tom Jackson, columnist for The Tampa Tribune

Hillsborough County technology grants
The Hillsborough County Economic Development Innovative Initiative has awarded more than $300,000 to 23 programs during its first round of grant awards. The county’s economic development department launched the program, known as EDI2, in June. It aims to build a vibrant and sustainable startup community, centered on the use of technology and innovation. Several grants went to programs designed to build better community forums for exchange of ideas and increase connections between established businesses and startups.
Among the grant recipients:
– Learning is for Everyone Inc. received $18,250 for Robocon Tampa Bay 2013, an event slated for October
– New Market Partners received $4,150 for its Grow the Bay, scheduled in October
– Tampa Bay Technology Forum received $2,000 for the Engine Peer Network, scheduled in October
— Startup Weekend Tampa Bay received $9,437 for Startup Weekend Tampa Bay 2013, scheduled in November
– MOSI received $4,500 for STEAM Professional Leadership Forum, slated in October 2013
EDI2 aims to support the technology entrepreneurship ecosystem in Hillsborough County. It has a $2 million budget, to be distributed over three years.
Applications for the grants are expected to be available early this month. The deadline to apply for its second funding cycle is Nov. 15.
Additional program and application information is available online at www.HillsboroughCounty.org/EDI2.
For more information about EDI2, contact Stephanie Cvetetic with Hillsborough County’s economic development department at (813) 272-6217.

Publix and Walgreens getting new look in north Tampa
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, designed the redevelopment plans for the 47,000-square-foot Publix Super Markets location and the 13,000-square-foot Walgreens drug store at South Village on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. Construction is expected to be completed this fall. Regency Centers of Jacksonville is the developer of South Village.

Rotary golf tournament
The Rotary Club of Zephyrhills Daybreak is hosting the 21st annual Fall Businessman’s Breakaway Golf Tournament on Oct. 4, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. at the Scotland Yard Golf Club, 8900 Wire Road in Dade City. For more information, contact Chris Robin at (813) 715-0565, or Theresa Sommers at (813) 788-3369.

Wesley Chapel hospital exceeding expectations in first year

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When Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel was preparing to open its doors last October, it expected to have 400 employees.

Less than a year later, it has 600.

“For the 600 jobs that we have, we had over 25,000 applicants,” hospital chief executive Brian Adams said last week. “Not all of those applicants, of course, were qualified for roles in health care. But even in nursing, for every one job, we had more than 10 applicants.”

A look at the interior of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (File photo)
A look at the interior of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (File photo)

Adams was sharing the news with the economic development committee of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. Having so many applicants means the hospital can really be selective, and focus purely on talent. The Wesley Chapel hospital, for example, has an average of 10 years experience.

And the hospital has outpaced projections in other areas as well. Its 26,000 emergency room visits and 380 baby deliveries are roughly double original expectations, Adams said. Other first-year figures include 3,800 admissions and 1,800 surgeries.

Business owners may wonder if people will travel into Wesley Chapel to get health care, and the answer to that is that they do, Adams said.

“The economic development piece of having a business that not only employs 600 people in the community, but also attracts people into Wesley Chapel, is a real benefit,” he said. “Many of the individuals who now come to Wesley Chapel for care were traveling out of the county for care, so they were going down into Hillsborough County, which means they see physicians in Hillsborough County, which means they stop for lunch on their way to see those physicians in Hillsborough.”

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel sits on 52 acres on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, west of SR 56. It has 83 beds, with the capability expanding to 299.

The hospital itself is three stories now, but can rise to six when the hospital needs more room to handle increasing health care needs, Adams said. And it might be sooner rather than later. Figures by the hospital show population growth in the area between 2.9 percent and 4 percent by 2017.

There are other factors to consider as well beyond just population growth, and that’s something the Wesley Chapel hospital stays cognizant of, Adams said. One is how much health care people are using.

“In this community, it’s going down, mainly because of the shift of cost from employer-based health plans to individual-based health plans,” Adams said.

The age of the population also figures in. In a community like Wesley Chapel, where the population is growing younger, the amount of healthcare used is lower than in a community like Zephyrhills, where the population is older.

The hospital is working to be a good neighbor, and may even reach out to Pasco-Hernando Community College after it opens its Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in January. The college is taking shape on a site near the intersection of SR 56 and Mansfield Boulevard, not far from the hospital.

“Having PHCC in the community will only benefit all of us,” Adams said. “I’ve had a number of conversations with the leadership at PHCC, and we believe part of our role is to create opportunities for students to learn and grow in a real-life setting.”

That’s common in the medical field, especially in the nursing field, he said. Having PHCC offer a transition to bachelor’s-level nursing can only help surrounding hospitals like Wesley Chapel’s.

Finally, with the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act on the horizon, Adams was optimistic that many pieces of the federal plan will benefit the community.

“People having access to the health care, at the primary care level, is probably the best way to best reduce our overall healthcare spend,” he said. “The most expensive time to care for a patient is when they have reached a point in their health where the intervention takes heavy resources.”

It also means taking steps now to prevent more serious health problems in the future.

“If you can help someone who didn’t have insurance to go to a physician and get their diabetes under control before that diabetes wreaked havoc on their heart, it’s a totally different approach,” Adams said.

But there will also be changes in the way employers handle insurance, by some employers no longer covering spouses that can get insurance elsewhere, and the proliferation of high-deductible health plans as companies try to offer affordable insurance to low-wage employees.

Ultimately, Adams thinks that consumers will drive the need for quality care, especially if they are paying the first $10,000 of their health care costs out-of-pocket due to high deductibles in their insurance plans.

Habitat for Humanity helps woman who helps others

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Tiffany Porter is accustomed to helping other people. But she never expected the tables to be turned, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.

Porter, a compassion ministry director for Victorious Life Church in Wesley Chapel, is the area’s newest Habitat homeowner, receiving the keys earlier this month for the home at 15054 Gainesville Road.

“I had no idea that Habitat even did this for people like me,” Porter said. “I thought they only helped single moms, or people who were destitute and homeless.”

Volunteers through Habitat for Humanity’s National Women Build Week program put up a wall for Tiffany Porter’s house during its construction in north Land O’ Lakes. Porter, who dedicates her time to helping others through her church, moved in earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Black)
Volunteers through Habitat for Humanity’s National Women Build Week program put up a wall for Tiffany Porter’s house during its construction in north Land O’ Lakes. Porter, who dedicates her time to helping others through her church, moved in earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Black)

In fact, Porter was trying to help a family get a Habitat home, and realized through the process that she actually qualified.

“So I said, ‘what the heck, let’s try this thing,’” she said. “My best friends kept telling me that all they could do is say no. And they didn’t.”

Porter, 29, grew up in New Mexico, but realized at a young age she wanted to be a pastor. But it was while she was in seminary, she discovered an even more direct calling.

“I wanted to be more hands-on and see people’s lives improve,” she said. “VLC gave me the opportunity to do that.”

Porter started as an intern at the church in 2003, and since 2005 has served as the compassion ministry director. She runs the church-owned Lily of the Valley food pantry outreach center in Wesley Chapel, where she not only helps feed those who are hungry, but provides other help when they need it.

That includes even her home, where she has served as a foster mother for teenagers who need a home.

“With my budget, I was not able to find a place that was able to foster a young child,” Porter said. Just before moving into her new home, she was living in a mother-in-law suite that was not in the best living conditions.

But now she can apply to take in younger children, thanks to having a safe home in a safe neighborhood.

And while Habitat’s mission is to provide homeownership for those who may not have had it otherwise, it’s certainly not a handout, said Stephanie Black, director of development and public relations for Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County.

“I think the biggest misconception is that Habitat gives away homes, but they don’t,” Black said. “We provide a zero-interest, no-profit mortgage, but it’s still a mortgage.”

Candidates for home ownership have to meet certain income levels ranging from between $11,950 to $31,850 annually for one person, to between $21,150 and $56,400 for a family of seven.

Families have to demonstrate a need for affordable housing and currently live in a substandard home. However, they also have to prove they can make mortgage payments, and have a steady job with no recent bankruptcies or court judgments.

“Most of our home payments are less than what people are paying for rent,” Black said. “That includes their taxes and their insurance.”

And while Habitat is always looking for volunteers, their biggest need recently has been qualified candidates.

Porter’s home was the 117th Habitat home built in East and Central Pasco County. It was constructed over a seven-month period, and was a women-built project. The entire construction crew was female, part of an international campaign to encourage more women to join construction teams typically dominated by men.

All of that is just a bonus for Porter, who is enjoying her new home with plans to stay in it for quite a while.
“I didn’t grow up here, but I just love this area,” she said. “I never know what might happen next, but right now, I don’t plan on living anywhere else.”

For more information on how to apply for a Habitat home, call (352) 567-1444, or visit www.ephabitat.org.

A trio of computer businesses under one roof

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When Michael Sawyer recently set up shop in Lutz, he brought together three businesses offering a broad array of computer services.

The storefront at 18125 N. US 41, Suite 101, is the new home for Aware Media, TechGuyToGo and Tampa Technology Training.

Aware Media Marketing focuses on design work, ranging from business cards to website design. Sawyer had that business before he opened his new storefront.

Michael Sawyer works at his computer in his new storefront in Lutz, which has three computer businesses under one roof. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Michael Sawyer works at his computer in his new storefront in Lutz, which has three computer businesses under one roof. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

He added TechGuyToGo to bring consumers into the shop for computer repairs, as well as repairs to the screens on their hand-held devices and computers. Sawyer also offers business services and technical training.

He launched Tampa Technology Training to provide courses for those wanting to improve their computer skills. Sawyer wants to share his knowledge with students, whether they are seeking a job, want to handle new responsibilities, or are interested in engaging in creative pursuits.

A part-time teacher at Hillsborough Community College, Sawyer said he’s excited about launching his training center because he wants to create an educational environment he believes will help students thrive.

“This is a small class. I have eight seats,” said Sawyer, who also previously taught at Aparicio-Levy Technical Center in Hillsborough County. “I might go to 10 eventually, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be a small-class environment. I just think the dynamics of the whole class changes, when you have that small classroom size.”

Personal interaction is helpful in computer courses because students arriving at class often come with wide-ranging levels of experience, he said.

“You have people who think they know, and they don’t. And, you have people who have no clue,” Sawyer said.

When people lack experience, they tend to be tentative, Sawyer said.

“You have to break down some of that intimidation. You have to make sure there are some steps for people to follow,” he said.

Small classes encourage greater collaboration in the learning process, Sawyer said.

“I think it makes people feel more comfortable because they’re not afraid about asking a question because they’re not holding up 29 people,” Sawyer said.

He plans to offer a wide array of courses, including those for people who want to get a better job, but may not be so strong with their computer skills. Sawyer will also offer classes for those looking to get into Web design.

He also plans to provide corporate training classes, as well as classes focused on desktop publishing. Training will be geared toward preparing students to obtain certification.

Because it is his own business, Sawyer said he is able to offer classes when he wants, usually around his HCC teaching schedule. However, he is planning to survey students to find out when they would like classes to be offered.

Sawyer moved to Lutz about a year and a half ago because he was attracted by the community’s natural beauty and quiet nature, he said. He chose to locate his storefront on US 41 because the busy highway that bisects the community brings thousands of cars past his business each day.

The location is also about midway between computer repair shops to the north and south, Sawyer said.

To learn more about Mike Sawyer’s businesses, visit:

www.awaremediamarketing.com

www.TampaTechnologyTraining.com

www.TechGuyToGo.com

Local schools add 1,000 students to rolls

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More students are walking through the front doors of area schools as communities in Pasco County continue to grow.

The 39 schools in east and central Pasco County added 1,000 students since this time last year, according to population numbers released by Pasco County Schools. On average, the student population growth in east and central Pasco would be equivalent to adding a classroom per school. The additional students bring the total public school population to 30,800 — a 3.4 percent increase.

Samantha Touriello, an incoming fifth-grader at Connerton Elementary School, gets some reassurance from principal Aimee Boltze while her mother Jessica Cottrell looks on during the first day of school last week. Samantha was able to wipe away her tears, and make her way to her new classroom. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Samantha Touriello, an incoming fifth-grader at Connerton Elementary School, gets some reassurance from principal Aimee Boltze while her mother Jessica Cottrell looks on during the first day of school last week. Samantha was able to wipe away her tears, and make her way to her new classroom. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“We’re not exactly sure where they are coming from as we haven’t had a chance to analyze it just yet,” said Christopher Williams, director for planning services at Pasco County Schools. “There are certainly some new houses being built, but I’m not sure how much of that has impacted the schools.”

The biggest student population jumps came in Wesley Chapel, where Watergrass and Wesley Chapel elementary schools added 382 students, many of them coming from Quail Hollow Elementary School, which is closed this year for renovations. Both schools already taught more than a combined total of 1,000 students, but this year are operating with 1,438 — a 36 percent jump.

Also on the rise is Wesley Chapel High School, adding 206 students from this time last year, and increasing its student body by nearly 16 percent. Wiregrass Ranch High School was not far behind, adding 159 students to cross the 2,000 mark with an 8 percent jump.

“The Wesley Chapel and (SR) 54 corridor is where we’re seeing the most growth,” Williams said, adding there are still serious overcrowding issues at schools like Seven Oaks Elementary, Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch.

And it will be that way, at least for the near future.

“We don’t have much of a budget for new schools, other than having enough money to build a new elementary school, in the next five years,” he said. “In the meantime, we’re doing what we can to help these schools.”

Local invention vying for spot on Walmart store shelves

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Time is running out for two local medical professionals to get their invention on the shelves of Walmart stores across the country. And they need your help.

BariBowl is an innovative portion control food container developed by Land O’ Lakes-based physician assistant Dezi Zevin and bariatric surgeon Dr. Tiffany Jessee. It’s designed to help anyone managing their nutritional intake for a healthy life, and it’s quickly advancing through Walmart’s “Get it on the Shelf” contest.

Dezi Zevin, a physician assistant based in Land O’ Lakes, shows off the BariBowl, a product she co-created with bariatric surgeon Dr. Tiffany Jessee. The two are in the final stages of getting their invention on the shelves of Walmart through the “Get it on the Shelf” competition. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Dezi Zevin, a physician assistant based in Land O’ Lakes, shows off the BariBowl, a product she co-created with bariatric surgeon Dr. Tiffany Jessee. The two are in the final stages of getting their invention on the shelves of Walmart through the “Get it on the Shelf” competition. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

BariBowl uses two 4-ounce dishes that can be subdivided right down to 1-ounce portions. It seems simple enough, and Zevin said she was surprised no one else had thought of it before.

“Dr. Jessee does weight-loss surgery, and I was her PA, and we talked about whether there was anything out there that would help patients keep track of their eating after surgery,” Zevin said. “I went home and researched it, and I found nothing. So she said we should come up with something.”

That was 2010, and later that year, both had created a company — BariWare LLC —and had a working prototype going. By 2011, they were manufacturing the BariBowl from a facility in Clearwater. The bowls come in pink, blue and green, and are both microwave and dishwasher safe.

So far, marketing and sales efforts for the BariBowl — which retails at about $20 — have been focused on doctor’s offices, especially those specializing in bariatric surgery. However, the product has a wide range of uses that go beyond that, whether it’s someone managing diabetes, trying to lose weight, and even body builders and athletes.

“I use this for my kids instead of going through the drive-thru at McDonald’s,” Zevin said. “I prepare their meals in the morning, and can use it throughout the day.”

Zevin says she can pack lunch for her kids, and then have a second one ready at the end of the day when she picks them up and takes them to soccer.

Since the product launched, sales have doubled year-over-year. Yet, getting into Walmart could push those numbers right through the roof. For that to happen, it’s going to take votes, however.

Walmart’s “Get on the Shelf” contest features a number of products evaluated by the store’s management staff, and then put up for a public vote to see what consumers might be interested in. The BariBowl was part of the contest last year, but did not advance. And with voting running through Sept. 2, Zevin and Jessee are hoping for a much different result this time.

And even if they do succeed and turn the BariBowl into a booming business, neither plans to give up their day job.

“It would be like a dream come true, and it would be a game changer for both our lives,” said Jessee, who was Florida’s first female bariatric surgeon. “We don’t have the financial ability to do much advertising, so to walk into a store and see your product on a shelf for a national chain, that is just unbelievable.”

Extra profits would be reinvested back into the company, Zevin said, to help them expand the BariBowl line to other complementary products. That could include a larger bowl for those who have to eat more but still want to portion food.

To vote for the BariBowl in the Walmart “Get on the Shelf” competition, visit tinyurl.com/nxsygt7.