The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Mixed-use project approved in Connected City

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a mixed-use development made up of 525 residences and 106,285 square feet of office uses on 158 acres, in an area known as Connected City.

The site, which is currently vacant and used for agricultural purposes, is at the northeast corner of Elam and Kenton roads, about 6,600 feet east of Interstate 75.

The Connected City corridor consists of about 7,800 acres in a state-approved development district meant to foster residential communities and employment centers that are the wave of the future. Its borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

The area is meant to feature cutting-edge technology, including gigabit Internet speeds and innovation.

The rezoning had been recommended for approval, with conditions, by the Pasco County Planning Commission and county planners.

The approved residences are expected to consist of a mix of single-family detached, attached and/or multifamily, courtyard houses, row houses, townhouses and possibly garden-style apartments.

This particular area of Connected City is known as the Community Hub, which is intended to be used for projects that create a blend of employment and housing opportunities, according to Clarke Hobby, the attorney for the applicant.

That portion of the plan requires medium density standards of 3.25 residences per acre.

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative owns 12.18 acres of the site.

Hobby noted that extensive efforts have been made to mitigate impacts on neighbors, including a series of private agreements relating to trees, landscaping and buffering.

Eight of the 10 neighbors signed letters of no objection.

Michael Pultorak, who lives on Kenton Road, expressed concerns about the potential for area flooding, if the water levels rise in King Lake.

Pultorak told the board that he’s pro-development and pro-responsible growth, but he is concerned about potential flooding in the area.

He said he realized that this particular project may not cause the potential flooding he’s concerned about, but said the next one could.

He asked the board to intervene to prevent that from happening.

Commissioner Mike Moore told Pultorak he would make sure that someone would be out to meet Pultorak for a closer look at the issue.

Board members voted 4-0 to grant the rezoning, with Commissioner Ron Oakley, absent.

Published June 01, 2022

Dade City encourages residents to clean up

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(metrocreative.com)

Dade City has scheduled a Community Cleanup on June 11 from 8 a.m. to noon, so residents can use the time to clean up their properties and remove unwanted debris from their yards.

The city will provide two garbage trucks and one roll-off dumpster, to use to dispose of household waste.

Acceptable materials include glass, wood (8 feet or less), fence, carpet, household trash, furniture, mattresses and plywood.

The city will not accept hazardous waste, appliances, batteries, paint and tires.

All unwanted items can be taken to one of these three locations:

  • 17th Street and Carter Avenue
  • 17th Street and Beauchamp Avenue
  • State Street and Moceri Avenue

For information, call 352-523-5050, ext. 420.

Volunteers are also needed to join the team to help pick up litter. The city will provide disposable gloves, trash bags and water.

To register to volunteer, visit DadeCityFl.com.

Published June 01, 2022

Board is pushing for faster progress on emergency response times

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The Pasco County Commission is turning up the heat on its administration’s efforts to improve response times for the county’s emergency crews.

During a recent budget workshop, board members wanted to know why it isn’t possible to bring fire stations online quicker than is currently planned.

The questions surfaced during the board’s May 24 budget workshop.

The discussion came after repeated appearances at board meetings by members of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 4420, representing Pasco’s firefighters, who have complained that they aren’t able to respond to emergencies fast enough.

They said the delays pose a risk to Pasco residents, who need medical attention and to properties that are in danger of destruction.

During the budget discussion, Robert Goehig the county’s budget director, updated the county board on progress regarding fire stations being built through the general obligation bonds approved by voters.

Fire Station 17 is under construction at 2951 Seven Springs Blvd., in New Port Richey, and Fire Station 9 is being built in Land O’ Lakes.

Fire Station 3, which will be located in Beacon Woods, is expected to be put out for bid in the next few weeks, Goehig said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano wanted to know why more progress hadn’t already been made on Beacon Woods, given the fact the county has owned the property for several years.

Commissioner Mike Moore asked: “What can we do, when it comes to purchasing, to prioritize? I know obviously, when you’re moving something up, something else pops down.

“But we’re talking about public safety. Obviously, that should take priority.

“So, what can we do?”

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the county attorney’s office prioritizes its legal work based on the county administrator’s priority list.

“Fire Station No. 3 is No. 4 on the current ranking,” Steinsnyder said.

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick responded: “It’s needed now. It’s imperative.”

County Administrator Dan Biles responded: “I want to remind the board that before we even took the bond to the voters in 2018, we outlined a phasing program for all nine fire stations.

“We phased the building so that when they come online, we have the funding to operate them.

“If you build them too early, you don’t have the funding to operate them,” Biles said.

“So, right now, (Stations) two and four, we don’t have the funds in ’23 to actually operate them, if they opened in ’23.”

He said the phasing was requested by the board, to ensure the county would have funding for operations.

“So, that’s what we’ve done,” Biles said.

Growth prompts need for faster action
Commissioner Mariano said the decision that was made at that time made sense.

“However, with the surge of growth that’s out there right now, with the extended times that people are taking to get service, I think it’s time we need to re-look at it, and make an adjustment.”

Mariano said he doesn’t understand why it would take so long for architectural work related to the buildings, since they can be essentially the same buildings.

Biles said each building has to be individually sited to make sure the footprint of the building fits on the site.

“You have to do the civil work and adapt it to the site, because every site is different. Every site has different site constraints, different access points. All of that stuff is different for every site,” Biles said.

Biles told the board a proposed “peak-hour rescue program” can be initiated to help reduce the response time for rescue calls.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey asked about the possibility of adding private rescue companies.

“If our dilemma right now is not having enough rescue, we can contract out, temporarily, until we have more of our own. It’s our same firefighters that are working for those companies that are manning that could be available, parked around the county that could help us.

“Right now, I think they just do transport, but I’ve been told they can do rescue,” she said.

Biles responded: “There are different classifications of transport and we allow the privates to do a certain level of that. We don’t allow them to do the initial emergency response.”

The county administrator said part of the problem stems from neighborhoods springing up in areas that are not close to fire stations. Another problem is that the county went a considerable number of years without adding any fire stations.

“We went over a decade without building a new fire station,” he said.

Meanwhile, “we added 100,000 people in Pasco County and we didn’t build a fire station.”

Biles noted that the corridors of U.S. 19, State Road 54 and U.S. 301 are where the peak-hour calls are happening.

The county has existing facilities in those corridors, Biles added. “So, it’s put the peak-hour rescue units in, the facilities that we have and let them be mobile.

“Every new fire station is going to help, but the issue right now is the peak call volume. So, the peak-hour rescue program that we’re already working to stand up, is the right way to attack it,” Biles said.

Commissioner Moore asked Steinsnyder if the county could pursue a Municipal Services Taxing Unit to attempt to force new growth to pay for itself.

Steinsnyder said he’s not aware of any government entity that has crafted that approach and he’s certain it would hold up, legally.

But the attorney did note that impact fees for capital fire projects have not been increased in numerous years.

Published 06/01/2022

This work is for the birds

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The well-being of bluebirds is on their shoulders — two volunteers from Lutz, who maintain the birds’ habitat and nest boxes at Lake Park.

A female bluebird sits atop one of the 25 bird nest boxes throughout Lake Park, at 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in Lutz. (Mike Camunas)

Joni Hartzler and Gary Krotz, a husband and wife duo, diligently keep a watchful eye on the 25 bird boxes throughout the park.

They are members of the Tampa Audubon Society, the longstanding environmental conservation group that focuses on birds and other wildlife.

Each week, they jump in their golf cart and check on each box during nesting and mating season, which runs from January to June. In this time, the bluebirds — along with other species such as Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren and the Titmouse — use the boxes to build nests, lay and hatch eggs, nurse chicks and then send baby birds out into the park.

“We love it,” said Hartzler, who, along with Krotz, has been maintaining the boxes and tracking the bluebirds for three seasons now. “We’re big bird lovers, and when you go out and check, each time is like a surprise. You don’t know if there will be a new nest or more eggs, or if those eggs have hatched or if the nest is empty.

“You just never know what you’re going to get!”

When Hartzler and Krotz took over three years ago, they set out to improve the bird box program at Lake Park. It was not in disarray, but the couple, who have no educational background in environmental sciences or Ornithology (the study of birds), just knew of potential ways to make it better.

Joni Hartzler and Gary Krotz, two Lutz residents who are members of the Tampa Audubon Society, maintain and monitor 25 bird boxes throughout Lake Park. Bluebirds and other species of birds use them to lay and hatch eggs during nesting season, which ends in June. (Mike Camunas)

“It’s a big job,” Hartzler said. “Moving boxes, for sure. But keeping track and going to each box, and when we started they didn’t let us use a golf cart, so being able to do that has been a huge help.

“But Gary fixed the roofs on the boxes, and we installed precautions for predators and other elements, too.”

Krotz hand-built predator guards out of sheet metal to keep out several types of mammals, and the two also put substances on the poles to keep out certain insects.

“I’d never done anything like (building something out of metal), but it was an experience,” Krotz said. “I like putzing around and doing little things, but especially going around the park and maintaining the boxes.

“We’re bird lovers, we’ve been to bird conventions and we’ve been bird watchers (since 1987), so we love this and we just love being outdoors.”

Hartzler and Krotz keep detailed logs of the 25 bird boxes in Lake Park. This includes if the box has a nest or not, eggs or not, and chicks or not. If the nest is empty, after the eggs have hatched and the baby birds have left, they clean out the box. Most likely a week later, a new nest will already be in place.

As volunteers, they do it for the love of nature and birds. However, those at the park know programs like this wouldn’t exist without Tampa Audubon or its members.

“We’re a little short-staffed,” said Senior Park Ranger Jim Malley, who is in his 16th year with Hillsborough County Parks.

“Having volunteers like this from the Audubon Society is just an excellent, wonderful thing. I’ve learned how to put the guards on the poles, thanks to them.

“Bluebirds are a yearly thing at the park now thanks to the Audubon society and without them it wouldn’t be happening. We’re grateful to have them,” said Malley.

Tampa Audubon Society

Details: Established in the 1940s, the Tampa Audubon Society is an active chapter that serves the greater Tampa Bay area and its suburbs, from Citrus Park, Brandon, Odessa, Riverview and Seffner. Its mission is to conserve and restore ecosystems, focusing on birds, wildlife and their habitats, through education, advocacy and community involvement.

Info: TampaAudubon.org

 

Inside the 25 nest boxes at Lake Park in Lutz, hatchlings can be observed huddled together, waiting to be fed by mother bluebirds. (Mike Camunas)

Published on May 25, 2022. 

Benefit concert to feature patriotic music, fun

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It’s taking a village to start a new village.

In December, ground broke for the Let Us Do Good Village, a 75-acre mortgage-free community of homes for catastrophically injured veterans, surviving widows and children of fallen military and first responders. It’s located in Land O’ Lakes, right off Parkway Boulevard, about a half-mile east of Ehren Cutoff.

Ground has been broken and work is underway on the Let Us Do Good Village, a neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes devoted to giving mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans, and for surviving widows and children of fallen military and first responders. (Mike Camunas)

Now, the Land O’ Lakes and Pasco County “villages” are coming together to help the organization — the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation —  with a free benefit concert.

On May 28, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, there will be the patriotic Let’s Do Good Memorial Day Concert, featuring numerous musical acts, vendors, special guests, activities and more.

“While looking at Heritage Park, the name really felt like it went with Memorial Day,” said Kevin Wright, who, with Chandler Entertainment LLC, organized the event. “Because Memorial Day is a special day to honor those who have given their lives to our country and special effort is made to remember them. … I thought (a benefit concert) was the perfect way to not only show support for these (veterans), but for neighbors to learn more about the neighbors that will soon be here.”

The foundation was overjoyed when Wright approached it wanting to host a benefit concert and event. While the foundation has its own fleet of volunteers, the foundation’s volunteer coordinator in Florida, Christa Vutera, said Wright and his handful of volunteers are handling the whole show.

“We had about 200 volunteers approach us to work this event, but we just don’t need that many,” Vutera said. “We’ll be there, but they’ve graciously taken care of everything.

“When Kevin came to us with the idea for a concert benefiting the village, we were like, ‘Yes, please! Thank you so much for putting this together!’ Because it has been nothing but extraordinary to see how the public has come forward and embraced a mission that benefits people who need (the village). Because it takes a village to put on these events.”

Ground for the village broke back in December, with the first of 110 houses estimated to be completed and given to a veteran by this December.

The foundation provides mortgage-free homes for recipients in its Smart Home, Fallen First Responders and Gold Star Family programs. They are specially designed Smart Homes, which are one-floor homes and built on 100-foot-wide lots. The neighborhood also will feature brand-new amenities, including an indoor basketball court, pool, tennis court, an ADA-accessible gym, a theater, an outdoor playground, a game room and more. 

The neighborhood will be the first of its kind in the country.

The foundation is named after Stephen Siller, a firefighter who had finished his shift and was on his way home when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred at the Twin Towers. Siller was one of 343 firefighters who perished that day.

He left behind five young children.

Wright says ever since he heard that story and about the foundation’s Let Us Do Good Village, he just felt the need to help in any way possible.

Especially when he learned the parcel of land on which the neighborhood will be located was donated by the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation.

“I just thought it would be a great, patriotic way for residents and people around here to express their gratitude and show support for its veterans, who have given so much for this country,” Wright said. “(The foundation which donated the land), they could have sold that and made beaucoup bucks, but they instead gave it to a great cause.

“I just thought (the concert) would give the community a chance to show how much they support these people. That’s what this is really all about,” he said.

Let’s Do Good Memorial Day Concert
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
When: May 28, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Details: A free concert, along with vendors, special guests and other activities. The event will benefit the Let Us Do Good Village, a 75-acre mortgage-free community of homes for catastrophically injured veterans and their families in Land O’ Lakes and Corsos For Heroes, which provides service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.
Featured music acts: Soul Circus Cowboys (headliner), Fred Chandler, Charles Goodwin, Cruz Er Mac, Elizabeth Ayres and Travis White
Info: Rain date is Sept. 10. Visit Tunnel2Towers.org and CorsosForHeroes.com for more information or to donate to either charity.

Published on May 25, 2022.

Wesley Chapel Boulevard widening projects are a step closer

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a state-funded incentive grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) relating to the construction of a portion of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The board took the action at its May 17 meeting, with no discussion, as part of its consent agenda. The consent agenda includes several items that are approved in a single action.

The agreement with FDOT covers a stretch of the road, from north of State Road 54/State Road 56 to north of Magnolia Boulevard.

By way of background, the county board approved an incentive program agreement with FDOT on May 23, 2017, relating to acquiring right of way for the project. The estimated right of way cost for the project is $11.7 million, with FDOT contributing about $5.9 million.

The construction cost for the project is estimated at about $36.4 million, with FDOT agreeing to fund slightly more than $5.7 million, according to information in the board’s agenda packet.

The overall project includes a six-lane urban typical section roadway, with a sidewalk, bicycle lanes, a multi-use path, lighting, and new signals at the intersections of Wesley Chapel Boulevard (also known as County Road 54) and Stagecoach Village Boulevard; and, Grand Oaks Boulevard and Compark Drive. (The signals at Grand Oaks already have been installed.)

Right of way acquisition is expected to be completed in the winter of 2022/2023. Construction is scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2023 and to be completed by Summer of 2025.

In another action at the May 17 meeting, the county board approved the state-funded grant agreement with FDOT for the construction of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, from north of Magnolia Boulevard to north of Old Pasco Road.

The project includes two new lanes in a 48-foot median to tie into the existing six lanes to the east and proposed six lanes to the south. Most of the lanes will be 12-feet wide, with some sections having 11-foot lanes. Traffic signal adjustments will be made to accommodate the new

six lanes, with new striping and pavement markings.

The project’s estimated cost is slightly more than $1.1 million, of which FDOT has agreed to fund about $569,400.

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2023 and be completed by July 2025, according to agenda backup materials.

Published May 25, 2022

Dispatching annual Zephyrhills Police awards

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The Zephyrhills Police Department (ZPD) held its annual awards and recognition ceremony on May 12 at the Zephyrhills City Hall Council Chambers. Chief of Police Derek Brewer handed out awards to spotlight the feats and accomplishments of members of the police department from 2021. Here are the recipients:

Zephyrhills Police Officer Pedro Milliano, right, is given the annual Officer of the Year Award from Police Chief Derek Brewer, left. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Police Department)

Officer of the Year: Officer Pedro Miliano
This award recognizes a sworn police officer who has displayed professionalism, courtesy, proficiency and continuous exemplary service. Miliano, a one-year officer, has a positive attitude that has been infectious. He also has remained committed to his daily responsibilities.

Employee of the Year: Lisa Jones
This award honors non-sworn personnel who have displayed professionalism, courtesy, proficiency and continuous exemplary service. Jones, who has been with the department a year and a half, is considered a model employee because of her work ethic and her desire to constantly seek additional knowledge on how to improve at her job.

Lisa Jones is awarded the Zephyrhills Police Department Employee of the Year and is seen here, from left to right, with City Manager Billy Poe, Chief of Police Derek Brewer and Mayor Gene Whitfield.

Volunteer of the Year: Gwendolyn Beasley
This award honors a volunteer who has displayed professionalism, courtesy, proficiency and continuous exemplary service. As a crossing guard at the busy school zone of West Zephyrhills Elementary, Beasley, or ‘Aunt Gwen,’ as she is known, helps students and pedestrians cross safely twice a day.

Life-Saving Award: Officers Steven Chimeri and Rocco DeSio
This award honors an employee or employees whose actions are directly responsible for saving or prolonging human life. On Nov. 25, Officers Chimeri and DeSio found a person discolored and with no pulse hanging over the guardrail by Zephyr Park. They performed chest compressions and helped the person resume breathing. The individual fully recovered once transported to a hospital.

Sandra Waters, center, receives the Chief’s Award from Zephyrhills Chief of Police Derek Brewer, right, and Mayor Gene Whitfield, left.

Distinguished Performance Award: Sgt. John Oleson
This award honors an employee who has performed a specific duty, action or assignment at a level that demonstrates exceptional professionalism and commitment to duty. On Aug. 25, Olsen was dispatched to the railroad tracks by Chancey Road where a suicidal subject was armed with a gun. Olsen diffused the situation and persuaded the subject to relinquish the firearm.

Chief’s Award: Stephanie NelsonThis award honors members in special recognition solely from the Chief of Police. Nelson was recognized for her extensive experience and knowledge that has been passed on as a mentor within the agency.

Chief’s “Lifetime Achievement” Award: Sandra Waters
Waters has been with Zephyrhills Police for 23 years, and is considered the ‘Google’ of the agency, given her knowledge and experience. She has worked for five police chiefs and has been a part of the evolution of the agency in her tenure.

Other Zephyrhills Police personnel were recognized, as well, with awards in Assignments, Tenure, Safe Driving, Perfect Attendance, Employee Recognition, Unit Citation SRT/CID and Communications.

Published May 25, 2022

Letter carriers food drive restocks local pantry

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This food was delivered from the Zephyrhills Post Office to Atonement Lutheran Church, in Wesley Chapel. The food was collected as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, conducted annually on the second Saturday in May. (Steve Vinik)

Steve Vinik, who often contributes photographs of wildlife to The Laker/Lutz News, turned his camera to another topic last week.

He recorded the work of volunteers at Atonement Lutheran Church, 2961 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, who sorted food that had been collected through the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 2 were stationed at the Zephyrhills Post Office, where they received, weighed and loaded the food onto trailers for delivery, to stock the Helping Hands Food Pantry at the church, according to Vinik.

At times, the pace was so brisk, it was like watching a colony of ants, hard at work. (Steve Vinik)

Fifty-four volunteers — ranging from teenagers to retirees — sorted out the 14,535 pounds of food that had been donated by people throughout the community and collected by the letter carriers on their routes.

The items have been added to the pantry’s food supply.

Carla Haberland, director of the food pantry, said, “It took an entire community to accomplish this. This will help us get through the summer. God bless you all for remembering those less fortunate.”

Throughout the year, food is sorted into family portions and distributed each Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to the nearly 400 folks who are signed up for the food program, Vinik reported.

Published May 25, 2022

A new public access is planned for Starkey Wilderness Park

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The Pasco County Commission has approved an agreement that will provide public access to J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park from the Starkey Ranch residential community, next door.

Visitors to J.B. Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., in New Port Richey, can hike and bicycle through gorgeous Florida scenery. (File)

The park, at 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., is owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and managed by Pasco County. People across the county visit the park for its recreational opportunities and beauty.

The action taken by the county board allows TSR CDD, the owner of the Starkey Ranch residential development next to the park, to provide recreational access to the general public at two access points.

At the access points, TSR CDD will construct gates, and provide informational signs with park hours, a map, and allowed uses.

It also will maintain liability insurance and assume all risks related to use of the access points, according to the agreement.

Also, at one of the access points, TSR CDD will construct a foot bridge crossing over the South Branch of the Anclote River.

The agreement also calls for TSR CDD to pay for engineering and construction as well as for future maintenance, repair and/or replacement of the foot bridge, subject to approval by the county and the Southwest Florida Management District.

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said efforts to create these access points began a long time ago and she’s happy that people will finally be able to get access the lower portion of the park.

Published May 25, 2022

A good morning, for barbecue

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Anthony and Allison Fonseca are used to being up early.

Not only are the firefighter and former schoolteacher new parents, but rising early comes with the territory of cooking barbecue.

Anthony and Allison Fonseca, owners of Station House BBQ in Lutz, were chosen to compete in the Ultimate Pitmaster Contest on ‘Good Morning, America,’ appearing on the show live on May 13 from Old McMickey’s Farm in Odessa. (Courtesy of Allison Fonseca)

So when the Temple Terrace couple and owners of Station House BBQ, at 16319 N. Florida Ave., in Lutz, were asked to compete in the Ultimate Pitmaster Contest on “Good Morning, America (GMA),” they had no problem being up before sunrise.

“Making barbecue definitely comes with seeing the sun rise, so it’s something we’re used to, even if it meant being on national television,” Allison said. “What a huge blessing from God to be asked to be on ‘Good Morning, America.’”

On May 13, GMA, along with host Sam Champion, came down to Old McMickey’s Farm in Odessa and set up the competition. The Fonsecas were pitted against another husband-and-wife barbecue duo: Johnny Ray and Pamela Smith.

Johnny Ray is a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back, and his wife Pamela, is a former Bucs cheerleader. They own Jazzy’s BBQ, at 5703 W. Waters Ave., in Town N’ Country.

“We had never met them before, but we’d heard good things about their barbecue,” Anthony said. “I think it never really sunk in — being on national television — and still really hasn’t. It was a fun experience that I’m so glad we got to be a part of.”

The competition had each couple prepare a popular dish and side. Jazzy’s prepared its ribs with a spicy barbecue sauce and signature baked beans, while Station House prepared its 14-hour smoked brisket and apple slaw.

It was then down to the judges: former Buccaneers and Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks; chef Joe Isidori, who owns JoToro restaurant at Sparkman Wharf in Tampa; and WWE star and local philanthropist Titus O’Neil. 

The first vote was from Brooks, who selected Jazzy’s. Then it was Isidori, the chef, who chose Station House. On the final vote from O’Neil, he chose Jazzy’s.

Anthony and Allison said they were disappointed not to win, but were extremely encouraged and grateful that the chef judge chose Station House over Jazzy’s.

“We really liked that!” Allison said. “We were swayed to make the slaw for the side, but, in retrospect, maybe we should have gone with the mac and cheese!”

The show gave backgrounds on both couples, too. The Smiths have been running Jazzy’s for 26 years, while Anthony and Allison started out as a catering and food truck company, using modified fire trucks. They opened the restaurant right at the start of the pandemic, but have thrived, even as Anthony juggles his time with the restaurant and working at Station No. 40 in Lutz.

In the end though, the Fonsecas still felt like winners.

The owners of Station House BBQ in Lutz, Anthony and Allison Fonseca, prepared their 14-hour brisket and apple slaw to be judged live on ‘Good Morning, America’ on May 13. (Courtesy of Allison Fonseca)

“There are no real losers in this competition,” Anthony said. “Yeah, we would’ve been overjoyed to win, but being on (the show) shines a light on both businesses, on the community and on great barbecue. Everyone won, really.”

Published May 25, 2022.