The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz News

‘Papa’ Jay Muffly is retired, but still eyes Guv’na title

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When the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club wanted “Papa” Jay Muffly to run for Lutz Guv’na this year, he said yes. But in reality, they didn’t give him much of a choice.

“They’ve been trying to get me to run for Guv’na for what, 10 years?” Muffly said. “They called and said, ‘Well, the club already voted on it.’”

Jay Muffly has a number of items lying around his Lutz home that recalls his days with the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association. One of them is a large check — in both size and dollar amount — the organization used to create annual scholarships for local students. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Jay Muffly has a number of items lying around his Lutz home that recalls his days with the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association. One of them is a large check — in both size and dollar amount — the organization used to create annual scholarships for local students.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Muffly, 72, was clearly the one the group wanted to sponsor, and they got their wish: The longtime board member and president of the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association is one of five candidates for the ceremonial title of Lutz Guv’na. The candidate who raises the most money for local groups is declared the winner at a ceremony during the annual Fourth of July celebration.

While Muffly has never run before, he’s very familiar with the process. He’s attended several Guv’na debates, understands its purpose, and likes the idea of raising money to help local groups that need funding.

“Last year there were 20 different organizations that got funds from the Guv’na’s race. That’s the biggest thing,” he said.

“For some of these things, that’s the only money they get and that’s how they make ends meet,” said Barbara Muffly, his wife of more than 30 years. The couple lives on property once owned by her grandfather not far from the Old Lutz School.

Muffly also is familiar with helping out locals. When the fire association closed last year after the county took over fire rescue services, they set up a fund with more than $260,000, which will provide scholarships for local students for decades to come.

Muffly is from Watsontown, Pennsylvania, a borough that takes up around one square mile and 2,200 people. It was less crowded when Muffly lived there. He recalls a small-town feel where kids could play safely and everyone knew each other.

His grandfather was a local firefighter, as was his father and uncles. And after serving in the U.S. Air Force and relocating to the area, Muffly kept the idea of community service. During emergencies or times of need, it’s the local community that usually bands together and gets things done, he said.

“You see it all over America, like when there’s a flood or something, how these volunteer organizations in a local community just pour together,” he said.

Helping local organizations with Lutz Guv’na funds fits in with that philosophy.

To reach the goal of raising the most money, Muffly’s campaign has had plenty of fundraisers. Drawings, dinners and garage sales are some of the activities designed to put him over the top and claim the title of Guv’na.

The race usually includes outlandish campaign promises, and Muffly has a few ideas to undo some of the changes he’s seen over the years and bring back some favorites that aren’t around anymore.

“One of the things I told them was if I ever ran for Guv’na, I was going to tear down Winn-Dixie and build Whataburger back,” he joked.

If he does win, he won’t tear down any businesses, but he will take part in the events expected of the office. The grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of two knows, however, he’s not going to match the enthusiasm and activity of the current titleholder.

“Suzin Carr has raised the bar,” Muffly said. “She’s out there doing stuff all the time. There’s no way I can match that.”

Carr, a two-time Guv’na, has done an excellent job representing the community, he said.

Although he was almost more of a recruit than a volunteer to the race, Muffly said he likes continuing a tradition that lets surrounding areas know that Lutz has a proud, distinct identity that isn’t going away.

“The biggest thing about it is it supports all the nonprofits in Lutz and it kind of says, ‘Yeah county, we’re still us!’” he said.

Published June 25, 2014

Running for Guv’na, Gulash will try, try, try again

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If Susan Gulash seems at ease managing a business, a magazine, an Internet radio show and a Lutz Guv’na campaign at the same time, it’s because she’s done it all before.

“I actually ran last year,” Gulash said. “It was an amazing experience just to meet the different community businesses.”

Guv’na candidate Susan Gulash runs her magazine and graphics business out of a room in her Lutz home. She also uses it to broadcast a weekly Internet radio program with her husband, Brian. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Guv’na candidate Susan Gulash runs her magazine and graphics business out of a room in her Lutz home. She also uses it to broadcast a weekly Internet radio program with her husband, Brian.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Suzin Carr won last year’s event to earn the ceremonial title of Lutz Guv’na, given to the candidate who raises the most money for local organizations. But Gulash enjoyed the experience so much, she decided to do it again.

And she didn’t wait for another Guv’na race to stay involved in the community. She used her design and marketing talents at Gulash Graphics to design the Old Lutz School website, and her Florida Creative Living Internet radio show will broadcast the community’s Fourth of July celebration.

Gulash was born in South America but moved to the United States when she was just 2. She settled into the Tampa Bay area just a few years later. Now she lives in Lutz with her husband, Brian, and her daughters, Madison and Makayla.

She enjoys the small-town feel of the area, and was interested in another campaign to raise more money for local groups.

“That’s what really drew me to run again,” Gulash said. “It’s really helping the local community here in Lutz, from the Boys & Girls Clubs to the Old Lutz School, and all the different organizations that really do need help and funding throughout the year.”

An extra year of experience also means being better prepared for the upcoming Fourth of July parade, she explained. Last year, Gulash participated in the parade by getting the family in the car and driving the parade route. But Gulash wasn’t expecting such an enthusiastic turnout. While she was impressed with the great community response, Gulash felt like they could have done more to be an active part of it.

This year, Gulash has plans that involve music and a stronger presence during the parade.

“This year we’re going to step it up a notch,” she said.

Gulash also is leveraging her existing businesses to raise money for her Guv’na campaign. By making a donation and joining her “cabinet,” individuals and businesses can get mentioned in Florida Creative Living magazine, as well as the Internet radio show that goes by the same name. She’s also planning to participate in a bowling event with other candidates and possibly a car wash.

The Guv’na’s race is also known for outlandish — and usually impossible — campaign promises, and Gulash has a special one for her contributors: Donate to her campaign, and she’ll erase your age so you don’t have to worry about celebrating birthdays or getting older.

Keeping busy is part of Gulash’s regular routine, and she enjoys having the independence that comes from running family businesses. But that wasn’t always part of her career plan.

Gulash worked in a pharmacy for several years, but was let go after suffering from epileptic seizures. While she was disappointed, Gulash used the opportunity to forge a new path and take more control over her career.

Her business ventures offer affordable advertising rates to give her fellow small business owners an opportunity to market themselves in a cost-effective way, she said.

And the Lutz Guv’na campaign gives her an opportunity to raise money for the community, which is in line with her own family philosophy.

“Growing up, my mom and my father taught me good values, to help others in need, so that’s what I try to teach my own girls,” Gulash said. “And my husband, his philosophy is the same. Help others.”

The Gulashes host their radio show together.

While Gulash has a strong game plan for her Guv’na candidacy, she already has the future in mind if she comes up short in the race for the title. Not only would she consider running a third time, but she might recruit, too.

“I may even bring some people in to run for Guv’na,” she said. “The more people who are putting the effort into raising money, the more money the community of Lutz receives.”

Florida Creative Living is available with the free iHeartRadio application for smartphones and tablets. It broadcasts Thursdays at noon.

The Gulashes also are part of a program that airs the same day at 11 a.m.

For more information about Gulash Graphics, visit GulashGraphics.com. For information about the Florida Creative Living magazine or broadcast, visit FloridaCreativeLiving.com.

Published June 18, 2014

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Massive project in Lutz gains county’s approval

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The Hillsborough County Commission has cleared the way for a massive project at the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway.

The land, characterized by its towering stands of pines and open fields, has been rezoned to allow a mixed-use development including upscale houses, multifamily dwellings, offices, retail uses and a congregate care facility.

A pair of rezonings would transform land near the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway into planned developments that call for upscale homes, retail, office, multifamily and possibly congregate care uses. (File Photo)
A pair of rezonings would transform land near the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway into planned developments that call for upscale homes, retail, office, multifamily and possibly congregate care uses.
(File Photo)

Commissioners approved the rezoning request, without debate.

While Lutz residents have a reputation for battling proposals they believe will disrupt their way of life, in this case they worked with the applicants to devise a plan that the Lutz Citizens Coalition and nearby communities supported. It even had coalition president Mike White saying that at the time that “thus far, the system has worked exactly as it was intended to.”

The development must undergo a site plan review by the county before any construction can begin, White said. But he expects the county will ensure the plan follows the conditions approved by commissioners.

Attorney Joel Tew represented Geraci Land Acquisition LLC, and attorney Richard Davis represented Standard Pacific Homes of Florida on the side-by-side rezonings, covering approximately 251 acres. The rezoning applications were presented as companion requests at an April 21 public hearing before a land-use hearing officer.

Plans call for substantially less development than would have been allowed otherwise under the county’s long-range plan. One rezoning incorporates the Landings at Lake Pearl, a previously approved rezoning that includes 650 multifamily units and 70,000 square feet of office.

Besides those existing entitlements, the rezoning allows 240 single-family houses and 177 multifamily dwellings.

Standard Pacific Homes plans to build a gated, high-end residential community on the property.

The approved zoning allows about 25 percent of the residential development than would have been possible under the county’s long-range land-use plan. The retail uses, under the rezoning, represent about one-third of the potential allowed under the long-range plan designation.

Representatives from all sides testified at the public hearing that considerable effort was made to work out conditions that addressed concerns expressed by the community, while delivering a quality project.

“We have had a total of eight meetings with the major community associations that are directly affected by this project,” Tew said. “We’ve had very valuable, constructive input from them. We’ve listened to their concerns and we’ve made significant changes to the plan.”

The proposed developments include conditions that exceed the county’s land development code, including requirements such as increased setbacks from surrounding properties, enhanced landscaping, more stringent sign requirements, and even conditions dealing with building orientation.

Both zoning requests received favorable recommendations from the county’s planning commission and land development staff.

Conditions of the Luce’s recommended approval includes a number of transportation improvements. One calls for a signalized intersection at Exciting Idlewild Boulevard and North Dale Mabry Highway, and another calls for a new alignment leading into the Veterans Expressway that essentially will square up that intersection.

The plans also show a single access point off of Van Dyke Road, instead of the three access points that were initially requested. The limited access on Van Dyke was essential to gain the support of area residents and the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who were concerned about traffic impacts both on Van Dyke and nearby neighborhoods.

Published June 18, 2014

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New Tampa Players prep Dr. Seuss musical with local talent

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The Grinch lives in Lutz.

Cameron LeVine, a freshman at Blake High School, has been cast as the iconic Christmas villain in the New Tampa Players’ musical production of “Seussical.” The play is based on the characters and stories created by popular children’s author Dr. Seuss.

From left, McKinnley Nelson, Darby Spiegel, Alicia Spiegel and Cameron LeVine go over songs at an early rehearsal of the New Tampa Players’ production of ‘Seussical.’ LeVine will play Yertle the Turtle and the Grinch in the play, which debuts in August. (Courtesy of New Tampa Players)
From left, McKinnley Nelson, Darby Spiegel, Alicia Spiegel and Cameron LeVine go over songs at an early rehearsal of the New Tampa Players’ production of ‘Seussical.’ LeVine will play Yertle the Turtle and the Grinch in the play, which debuts in August.
(Courtesy of New Tampa Players)

LeVine will play both the Grinch and Yertle the Turtle when the play gets under way this August. For now, he’s excited to tackle the roles and start rehearsing.

“I’m so honored. The Grinch is my favorite out of the Dr. Seuss stories,” LeVine said. “I love how over the top mean he is, but not in a bad way.”

LeVine is just one of 50 performers in the cast. His sister, Madison, also is part of the play as an ensemble performer. In all, “Seussical” has more than a dozen actors from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, and director Craig Hartfield said there was no lack of talent when they had auditions late last month.

“This audition process was terribly difficult, not because of (problems) finding talented people, but rather juggling them all,” he said.

Hartfield went into auditions thinking he wanted around 35 for the production, but expanded it when he saw the potential among those who auditioned. In most versions of “Seussical,” many actors take on dual roles, so it was easy to split them up to make room for more performers, he said.

Hartfield hasn’t seen any performances of the Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty creation, and he prefers to keep it that way. Watching it could influence the New Tampa Players’ production, and it’s important to simply read through the script and assemble the play based on his own vision, Hartfield said.

He is, however, very familiar with the stories the musical is based on, and was attracted to the play partially due to growing up with the popular characters that will be represented on stage. Hartfield also is familiar with LeVine’s work, and chose him due to the versatility he’s displayed in previous plays.

“I’ve seen him in shows and been impressed with his ability to really change himself to take on different roles,” Hartfield said. “I saw him recently in a show where he played two different characters, and he did them so differently that I think a lot of people wouldn’t have recognized him as the same guy. He changed his whole physicality.”

LeVine is ready to do the same for this production. Even though he also hasn’t seen any versions of “Seussical,” he already has an idea of how he wants to approach the Grinch.

“I feel that, as a character, he’d be very loose so he’d walk around goofy,” LeVine said. “And he would have this very distinct, mean face that’s cringing all the time at everything.”

Yertle the Turtle is a very different character, so he plans to approach that portrayal as an older animal with a more distinguished presence.

While this is LeVine’s first play for New Tampa Players, he’s already performed in nearly 30 productions. There are many opportunities to sing and act in the area, and community theater is alive and well, with actors he’s met from nearby communities like Dade City and Fishhawk Ranch in Lithia coming here to perform, he said.

He also gets to work with actors he knows very well. Since his younger sister also is in the play, LeVine will have an opportunity to share the overall experience with Madison as he prepares for his roles.

While they don’t get to perform together on a regular basis, he appreciates having a sibling with the same mindset during the run-up to opening night.

“It makes it so much easier, because now someone in the family understands my craziness when I’m talking about stuff about ‘Seussical’ or any other show we’re in together,” he said.

While rehearsals have just begun, Hartfield said the process has gone so well that he can shape the production to his liking without any singing or acting deficits in the cast.

“Honestly, in community theater, there’s often a role or two that you are still looking to fill after you’re done with auditions because there was nobody who showed up who was exactly right for this character. That happens more often than not,” he said. “But in this case I came out of this going, ‘I should have no problem having all the right sounds I need and all the actors are really great for what they’re going to be doing.’”

“Seussical” will be performed at CrossPointe Church of the Nazarene, 919 Debuel Road in Lutz, on the weekends of Aug. 1-3 and Aug. 8-10.

For more information about New Tampa Players, call (813) 386-6687, or visit NewTampaPlayers.org.

Published June 11, 2014

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New farmer’s market opens on U.S. 41 in Lutz

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For months, it was hard to figure out what was going on at the lot the east side of U.S. 41 just north of Newberger Road.

First, the field was empty. Then, the land was cleared.

Then a building that looked like a barn was built. Then, the earth was plowed.

Angela Madonia and her mother, Josephine Argento, own The Family Farm on 41, a business that wants to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to encourage healthy eating. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Angela Madonia and her mother, Josephine Argento, own The Family Farm on 41, a business that wants to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to encourage healthy eating.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

In mid-May, it became abundantly clear what was up — a new farmer’s market was opening on the Lutz site, not far from Land O’ Lakes.

The business, called The Family Farm on 41, opened May 23. It is co-owned by Angela Madonia and her mother, Josephine Argento.

The market has a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables, as well as a few flowering plants. Besides the old standbys of corn, potatoes, apples, melons, onions, zucchinis and tomatoes, there also are more interesting choices such as Italian squash, tomatillos, Hungarian wax peppers, specialty squash and jicama.

Beyond produce, the market stocks milk without hormones, farm fresh eggs, honey, cakes, jam, cheeses, ice cream and juices.

“The concept is providing the freshest and healthiest fruits and veggies to our customers,” Madonia said. “We will be growing strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, carrots, corn, radishes, pumpkins and okra. We will start harvesting in late August or early September.”

The market and the field where the fruits and vegetables will be grown are on an 8-acre plot on the north side of Newberger Road. Just across the street, on the east side of Newberger Road, the family is planning a pumpkin patch and hayrides on another 8-acre tract.

The family chose the location because it is ideally situated between Tampa and Land O’ Lakes, on a road traveled by thousands of people.

They chose to get into the fresh food business because they understand that people are becoming more interested in leading a healthy lifestyle, Madonia said. The business also fits her family’s personal goals. Madonia and her husband have two small children, and they want to teach them how to eat properly to maintain good health.

Eventually, the business will offer a “U-pick” option for customers.

The market’s hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., every day. At some point they plan to close one day a week, but they haven’t determined which day yet. That will depend on customer demand, Madonia said.

Published  June 11, 2014

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Guv’na candidate Cindy Perkins makes charity work a habit

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Chiropractor Cindy Perkins hails from Browns Valley, Minnesota, a city of about 800 people. And perhaps for that reason, she feels right at home in Lutz.

“The Lutz area drew me in because it’s a nice area,” she said. “It still kind of has that small-town feel, but you still have a lot of accessibility to city things. And it’s a nice place to raise a family.”

When Chiropractor Cindy Perkins isn’t treating her patients at the Back in Health Wellness Center, she’s vying for the ceremonial title of Lutz Guv’na. (Courtesy of Cindy Perkins)
When Chiropractor Cindy Perkins isn’t treating her patients at the Back in Health Wellness Center, she’s vying for the ceremonial title of Lutz Guv’na.
(Courtesy of Cindy Perkins)

Perkins has a son, Lyndon, 7, who wasn’t born when Perkins first moved to Florida. That happened a decade ago, and she has spent the past five years in Lutz.

Her practice, Back in Health Wellness Center, 18942 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 102, is located in Lutz as well. And if all goes well during her campaign, she hopes to be the next Lutz Guv’na.

The ceremonial title is given to the candidate who raises the most money for charity during the “campaign,” which concludes over the Fourth of July weekend. Armed with a number of fundraisers, Perkins hopes to raise the biggest total and come away with the title. But either way, she wants to be part of an effort to help area organizations.

The money raised by all the Guv’na candidates goes to local groups.

“It really appeals to me that the money that’s raised through the Guv’na campaign goes back to local schools or local nonprofits or the library,” Perkins said.

Helping charities already is part of her regular regimen. Perkins has been a team captain and served on the executive planning committee for Carrollwood Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. She also participated as the chiropractor for the sports medicine team at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in St. Petersburg, a 60-mile trek to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.

Aside from chiropractic services, Perkins’ practice also provides massage therapy, exercise rehabilitation and acupuncture. She performs most of the services herself, and said she enjoys working closely with different patients, treating a variety of issues and providing them with education regarding how to live healthier and resume enjoyable activities.

And while that education often includes specific and detailed treatments, the Guv’na hopeful has a quick tip regarding back health: Don’t stay in that chair too long.

“Our bodies weren’t designed to be sitting for four, six, eight hours a day, and it leads to bad things to your neck and for your back,” Perkins explained. “Get up and move around and stretch just a little bit every hour or two.”

Perkins has decided to be active when it comes to her campaign, with plenty of events designed to draw in the dollars. She has a Bunco event scheduled for June 13, a quarter auction on June 21 and a potential bowling event with the other candidates in the works as well.

In addition, Perkins is having a drawing for a one-year massage membership and offers “flamingo flocking,” where a person can have a friend’s yard decorated with lawn flamingoes for a donation. The recipient can then donate to have them removed and order their own flocking for someone else.

But even though she’s going all out to take the title, Perkins said she’s built a strong camaraderie with the other candidates, since they’re all active participants in the community and share a common goal of raising funds for needy local causes.

“It’s all in good fun. We’re all doing it for the same reason, to try and raise money for the community and try to make a difference in the community,” she said.

For more information about the Back in Health Wellness Center, call (813) 909-0961 or visit BackinHealthWellness.com.

For information regarding Perkins’ Lutz Guv’na campaign, or visit tinyurl.com/GuvnaPerkins.

Published June 11, 2014

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New Rotary Club forming in Lutz

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Business, professional and community leaders are forming a new chapter of Rotary Club International in Lutz, and the club is welcoming new members.

Doug Andrews, who is organizing the new Lutz Rotary Club, said the organization offers excellent opportunities to build business connections, meet new friends, get involved in service projects and take part in cultural exchanges.

Rotary Club of New Tampa is sponsoring the club until it forms its own chapter, which can happen as soon as it has 20 members, Andrews said.

The club meets on Tuesdays at 7 a.m., at Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway.

The club meets in the morning because Andrews said he thought it would be easier for people to make a morning meeting, especially commuters, than it would be to get to a meeting at noon.

Andrews is the foundation chair for the Rotary district including Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. That district has more than 45 clubs, with more than 2,000 members, Andrews said.

Those clubs are engaged in wide-ranging projects, he said. The Brandon club, for instance, is involved in a beekeeping project in Tanzania, while the Ybor City club is involved in a pediatric cardiac care project in Kingston, Jamaica.

Rotary Club of Tampa is providing 100 portable heart defibrillators to be carried in Tampa Police Department cruisers to provide life-saving help.

Other clubs are packing food to help feed the hungry, providing dictionaries for elementary school students, or helping out in other humanitarian ways.

Besides service projects, there also are opportunities for cultural exchanges. It includes a foreign exchange program for high school students and travel opportunities to other countries for adults, Andrews said.

Rotary also has a variety of programs aimed at helping to develop leadership among youths and young adults.

Anyone who is interested in learning about the Lutz Rotary Club can attend a meeting to see if they’d like to join, Andrews said. There is a $10 charge for a continental breakfast.

Published June 11, 2014

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Sandy Graves balances home of today, yesteryear

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There’s a lot someone can say about Sandy Graves that people in the area might not know already. But that’s what happens when you live in the same house you grew up in, in an area you watched grow from a population counted in the hundreds to one now tracked by the tens of thousands.

Sandy Graves, left, makes no secret about her political work. She’s been heavily involved in the Republican party over the years, including work on campaigns for Gov. Rick Scott, center, and former state Sen. Mike Fasano. (Courtesy of Sandy Graves)
Sandy Graves, left, makes no secret about her political work. She’s been heavily involved in the Republican party over the years, including work on campaigns for Gov. Rick Scott, center, and former state Sen. Mike Fasano.
(Courtesy of Sandy Graves)

Sandy’s community work is well known. She helps with a puppet ministry with Van Dyke Church of Lutz. She’s very active politically with the Republican Party. And she is putting in a lot of hours trying to redevelop Heritage Park at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center that would include an outdoor stage.

But one thing these same people may not know about Sandy Graves is that she spent 11 years as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines.

“I was going to Auburn University, and I had a sorority sister that had graduated the year before,” Sandy said. “When she came back, she was a flight attendant. And it sounded good to me. It was exciting, and I wanted to travel.”

Back then, Eastern Airlines dominated the travel market between New York and Florida, all during a time when luxury and convenience were staples of the flight industry — no matter how long the trip was.

“It was not as glamorous as some people might think,” Sandy said. “Especially when you had an hour-long flight, and had to throw out a meal to everyone, clean it up and throw it all away before we landed.”

Sandy left Eastern not long before the company folded in 1991. But instead of returning home to Land O’ Lakes, Sandy instead stayed in Atlanta where she lived during her time with Eastern, and became a youth minister there.

By 1995, however, Sandy and husband Steve decided it was time to move home, and did — eventually ending up in the same 1950s house she grew up in. But that took some adjusting.

“It’s strange at first, because this was my bedroom, but now this is my bedroom,” she said. “But we remodeled it and put our stamp on it. It has a different personality, because now it represents the grown-up me.”

Family remains important to Sandy, especially when it comes to siblings. She spends as much time as she can with her nieces and nephews, many times taking them camping at a place she and Steve maintain in North Carolina. With the horseback riding and canoeing, it reminds her an awful lot of life in Land O’ Lakes before the boom.

“I used to ride horseback all where Lake Padgett is now, and back where Pine View Elementary is now, as well as lots where Connerton and Avila are now, too,” Sandy said.

Harvey’s Hardware on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard was where Sandy and her family would get soft drinks and even gas. Grocery shopping was done at the beginning of Ehren Cutoff where LOL Transport & Moving Inc., is now.

Anything else required a trip to Tampa, and since Interstate 75 hadn’t been built yet, that meant a long trip down U.S. 41.

Pasco did have its own amenities, however, and Sandy has lots of memories when it comes to Quail Hollow Golf Course.

“My dad would join a bunch of his friends there to play golf, and he would drop me, my brother and my sister off at the pool,” Sandy said. “It was always so exciting, because we could go inside, then, and run tabs for things like hamburgers. We felt like royalty doing that.”

Land O’ Lakes is no longer the community off a small two-lane road connecting Tampa and Brooksville. It’s a bustling community of its own, which can’t seem to stop growing.

Sandy Graves, however, still has that small-town attitude. And she works hard to ensure the identity of Land O’ Lakes is never lost.

“Everybody knew each other growing up, and I could name all my grade school teachers,” Sandy said. “It’s not like that anymore, but now we have a chance to turn it into something special.”

Getting to know Sandy Graves

What song on the radio will make you sing out loud?
“Happy” from Pharrell Williams. I think everyone is listening to that song right now. But another one I actually love and used to play a lot is “Radioactive” (by Imagine Dragons) because sometimes I feel like people aren’t returning my calls because I’m radioactive.

If you were elected President of the United States, what is the first thing you’d do?
I’d cut every single department in the United States by about 5 percent. When they did the sequester thing, they said they had to close down the Grand Canyon, but how do you close down the Grand Canyon? Do you throw a sheet over it?

If you could fly anywhere you’ve never been?
Portugal and Spain. I would love to see the Mediterranean.

If you could appoint someone locally as President, who would it be?
Our county clerk, Paula O’ Neil. But I would make me vice president.

Published June 4, 2014

Smalls makes big contributions to Lutz beyond Guv’na

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What makes Jerome Smalls want to be the next Lutz Guv’na?

Part of it is encouragement from the current one.

“We went to the same high school in Philadelphia,” said Smalls of himself and the current Guv’na, Suzin Carr.

Lutz Guv’na candidate Jerome Smalls started Soccer Gemz with his wife, Marchele, to provide a sports curriculum that could be enjoyed by children like his daughter Ivoryele, 5. They have programs for children as young as 18 months, so daughter Anora, 10 months, isn’t far behind. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Lutz Guv’na candidate Jerome Smalls started Soccer Gemz with his wife, Marchele, to provide a sports curriculum that could be enjoyed by children like his daughter Ivoryele, 5. They have programs for children as young as 18 months, so daughter Anora, 10 months, isn’t far behind.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

When they met a couple of years ago in Lutz, they realized they both attended Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, albeit at different times. They struck up a friendship, and Carr encouraged him to run for the ceremonial title, given to the candidate who raises the most money during the race. The funds collected by the candidates go to local charities and civic organizations.

Smalls declined to run last year against Carr — who earned her second stint as Guv’na — but now that her term is almost over, he’s thrown his hat into the ring.

Smalls is one of five candidates vying for the position, and even though he’s lived in the Tampa area for around eight years — Smalls and his family live in Town ‘N Country and are relocating to Westchase — he’s always been struck by the friendly and welcoming nature of Lutz residents.

“The people are probably the No. 1 thing. The people are really friendly and outgoing,” he said.

Smalls first got to know the people of Lutz when he started up his family business, Soccer Gemz, which uses the fields by Lutz First Baptist Church, 18116 U.S. 41, where his family also attends church. His wife, Marchele, played soccer at the University of Tennessee, and they decided to create a soccer program for children ranging in ages from 18 months to eight years.

The inspiration came from feedback from Smalls’ daughter, Ivoryele, when she started playing soccer at a young age.

“She enjoyed the practices and was having fun. But when it came to the games, she didn’t really care too much for them,” Smalls said. “And we noticed that that’s what a lot of kids do. They’re not into it at all.”

Soccer Gemz operates under a curriculum that eliminates what they believe isn’t enjoyable, while retaining what is considered fun.

The organization’s focus is based on teaching skills through positive reinforcement, and playing games that are really just exhibitions where they don’t keep score and don’t have an actual winner. The program allows children to learn the fundamentals of soccer without competitive aspects they might not enjoy at a young age.

Soccer Gemz also touts a “mommy and me” class where a mother or father can participate in lessons with their children as early as 18 months. At that age they might just be socializing and learning to kick a ball, but it allows for a unique bonding experience for a family and provides a basic introduction to sports.

For Smalls, a successful class isn’t necessarily one where a child becomes the next soccer star or flashes superior skills. It’s when he receives feedback from parents that their child enjoys participating and has a good time on the field.

“Kids are having fun. That’s the No. 1 principle that we decided to build our business on, is making sure that the kids are having fun while they’re learning,” Smalls said.

The format seems to be working, as Soccer Gemz also has added a location in Ruskin. But Lutz is special to Smalls, so he’s making a push for Guv’na with a series of fundraisers.

Smalls recently had a pancake breakfast, he has an event planned with other candidates at Mekenita Mexican Grille on June 5, and an ice cream social at the Tampa Community of Christ June 13 at noon.

And while he hopes to raise the most money and earn the title, it’s the charitable aspect of the race that appeals to him. Smalls participates in church drives and enjoys being able to give back to Lutz groups and help raise funds for worthy organizations. He wants to win the race, but will continue participating in area events either way.

His goals? “Not only now, but after the race is over, to be able to get around and do things in the community and bring a little bit more awareness to things that are going on in the community,” Smalls said.

For more information about Soccer Gemz or to contribute to Smalls’ campaign, call (813) 421-5203, or visit SoccerGemz.com.

Published June 4, 2014

Pet care takes a village, and new app can help

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Laura Vinogradov stumbled upon Lutz six years ago during a statewide search for her dog care business, The Barking Lot.

She wanted a place with a country feel, but still close enough to civilization. But more importantly, Vinogradov wanted somewhere she could call home.

Laura Vinogradov has expanded her pet care service, The Barking Lot, to the cyberverse with a new app she says will simplify the lives of even the most complicated pets. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Laura Vinogradov has expanded her pet care service, The Barking Lot, to the cyberverse with a new app she says will simplify the lives of even the most complicated pets.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Lutz has fit all those requirements perfectly, and Vinogradov is happy with the success of her business, which employs six people literally in her backyard. She’s proud of the fact that she’ll take any breed of dog, thanks to an innovative system that keeps unfamiliar animals separate from each other. And even more, she’s happy that she’s finally focusing on a career doing something she truly loves.

Yet, Vinogradov knew there was much more she could do for animal lovers, since not many can afford the luxury of professionals to care for their pets. And that’s when TaskIt-Pets was born.

“A couple years ago, I was approached to build an app for the pet care industry, and I knew nothing about apps,” Vinogradov said. “It was a very steep learning curve.”

The idea was to build an app that would help a pet owner schedule tasks needed for their dog, cat, or any animal living at the house. It would range from walks to baths to feeding times to giving necessary medication.

And it hit close to home for Vinogradov. One of her dogs suffers from hyperthyroidism, and requires meds twice a day. But even the most dedicated pet lovers are human, and it can be easy to forget a dose from time to time.

“Over time, especially with a very busy life, I and everyone else might have to stop and think, ‘Did I give her medication?’” Vinogradov said. “It got to be one more thing on a very busy plate.”

TaskIt-Pets takes the question out of the equation, she said. While it might not be the first app that offers such help, it is one of the first to do something a step beyond that — network everyone together who might care for a particular pet.

The app links people together, providing real-time scheduling and updates to not only make sure tasks involving pets are done, but that everyone is held accountable. That could be a professional pet caregiver, a family member, or even the neighbor.

“Say you’re a professional pet care giver, and you have dog walkers working for you,” Vinogradov said. “You don’t know who showed up on time and who didn’t, but the app will tell you that. And the app will remind them when it’s time for them to go do it.”

The app launched earlier this month in Apple’s iTunes Store for iPhone and other Apple-based portable devices. It’s expected to be launched for Android and Windows platforms in the coming weeks.

The starting price is $1.99 annually, part of which will go back to Apple, Google and Microsoft for distributing the app in the first place.

Vinogradov feels she has a new product on the market that will prove quite popular. However, she also knows that it competes with about 1 million other apps — and that’s just what Apple offers. There have been a lot of success stories when it comes to apps, however, turning some developers into instant millionaires.

Vinogradov doesn’t know if she’ll ever get that kind of success, but she’ll be happy if something she helped create can improve the lives of animals and their caregivers — something she has been passionate about since she was a young girl.

“My first love is working with the dogs, and working with families with dogs,” Vinogradov said. “I can talk dog all day long. But having that said, this has been a phenomenal experience, and very exciting. I’ve loved this whole process from Day One.”

Developing apps isn’t for everyone, Vinogradov said, and it takes the right approach and a little bit of luck to find success.

The first step for someone wanting to step into those waters, however, is to first make sure there is a need for it.

“You have to do your homework,” she said. “Is there an app out there already? Of course, if there is, that doesn’t mean that you can’t develop one. But you have to look at other ways that you can improve on it.”

Vinogradov looked at a number of popular existing apps, researching the developers behind it, before settling on a Florida-based company to design hers.

“You need to find a developer you can work with, and they have to be reputable,” she said.

The idea of scheduling tasks for other people in a real-time environment has become the foundation for two new apps Vinogradov hopes to release in the future. One is focused on family life itself, while another would help address home health care needs of a loved one.

“There’s no telling where this could go,” she said.

To learn more about TaskIt-Pets and other apps, visit TaskItApps.com.

Published May 28, 2014