The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco Schools seek solutions for disrespect, disruption

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An increasing number of fights in Pasco County Schools prompted Superintendent Kurt Browning to issue a warning to students and parents in March.

In essence, that message was: Fighting will not be allowed in district schools. If it happens, principals should refer students engaged in fighting for expulsion.

In a videotape announcing the crackdown, Browning said it’s not that the district wants to exclude students from school but that it simply will not tolerate that type of behavior.

Browning said the increasing number of fights indicated that the district had been too lenient.

At the Pasco County School Board’s June 7 meeting, Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong asked Browning: “Was our crackdown on fighting effective?”

Megan Harding

The superintendent responded: “Yes, it was. I don’t have the exact numbers, but I do know our numbers dropped significantly for the fourth quarter, after I made my announcement: I wasn’t playing.

“Staff has asked me: Is that going to be in place for next year?

“The answer is yes. It’s going to be in place next year, and we’re going to continue pushing it out and letting parents know that we’re not playing and you need to have conversations with your children about what appropriate behavior is, in a public setting.

“One fight and you will be put up for expulsion. It’s that simple.

“Harsh? Maybe. It depends on if you are a parent or a student or the teacher that is having to deal with, or the administrator that’s having to deal with it.

“For our teachers and administrators, it may not seem harsh enough.

“I do believe that it takes kind of a drastic step to get the attention of families and kids, to let them know that we are here to educate children. We are not here to referee fights.

“Unfortunately, where society has placed us, we often times play the role of a parent and that’s with the help of the state Legislature because they continue to require schools to do so many things that I believe ought to be being done at home, but they’re not. That’s another story, for another day.”

School board member Megan Harding said she understands there are tougher rules in place regarding fighting, but she wants to know how the district will address other behaviors that also are unacceptable.

“There are a lot of behaviors that need to be addressed, not only at the secondary level, but the elementary level, as well,” Harding said.

“I’ve heard stories of children throwing chairs, yelling, screaming and causing disruption. I’ve also seen students who are upset and leave the classroom, and support staff and admin are having to follow that child around.”

Megan asked if the board could have a discussion on that topic.

Armstrong agreed that the issue needs attention. “I think that’s a topic that we’re all interested in and it’s certainly a concern of the teachers and parents,” she said.

Browning responded: “Discipline continues to be a challenge. I will continue to say that it all starts in the home. It doesn’t start in the school. It starts in our homes. It manifests itself in our schools, and yet we’re the ones left to deal with the behaviors of these kids. Not all of our kids are ill-behaved. It’s usually a smaller group of kids that tend to consume the majority of time of our administrators and teachers,” he said.

“We continue to work on that. I will tell you, finding solutions is like nailing Jello to a tree. It’s near impossible to do that because the problem is so big, it is so complex and there’s not one single answer to it,” he said.

Browning noted that dealing with fighting it is easier mete out discipline.

“You have videos, in almost every school. You can see it. There’s no shadow of a doubt who hit whom,” Browning said.

But when it comes to disrespect, to cursing, to bad behavior — it’s difficult, Browning said.

“Our goal is not to place kids outside of school. It does not serve the child well. It does not serve the family well. It does not serve our community well, when we put kids out of school.

“But, we’ve got to make sure for those children who are disruptive, there’s some consequence for their behavior, so we can educate the ones who want to be in school,” Browning said.

The superintendent told the board that staff would provide an update when it had some firm ideas for addressing the issue.

Published June 22, 2022

North Tampa Bay Chamber in running for being the nation’s best

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber is a finalist in the 2022 Chamber of the Year award, an honor presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

The ACCE, based in Alexandria, Virginia, has members affiliated with more than 1,600 chambers of commerce, and related business and economic development organizations. In total, it represents more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

The award recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber is one of 12 from across the country that has made it to the final round. There are three finalists in each of four divisions, which are based on annual revenue, membership, area population and other factors.

The winners will be announced on July 27, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Hope Kennedy, CEO and president of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Javan Grant will be heading to Indianapolis next month to see if the chamber is named the nation’s best, in its division. (B.C. Manion)

Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, and Javan Grant, the chamber board’s chairman, said they are delighted and gratified by the chamber’s recognition.

Kennedy, who has been a chamber executive for about two decades, said this is the first time that a chamber she’s affiliated with has been named a finalist for the national honor.

“This is like the Academy Awards for chambers of commerce,” Kennedy said.

When she found the chamber was a finalist, she said: “I made sure I read the email three times.”

Chambers are invited to compete for the honor, based on data they already have submitted to the organization. Once invited, they must submit a detailed application, she said.

Initially, Kennedy wasn’t sure if the chamber could put together a competitive application, within the available time frame.

“They had an informational webinar, and I will not lie, I was extraordinarily intimidated,” Kennedy said.

But Grant told her: “Hope, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

So, she and Grant enlisted some help and divvied up the duties to compile the necessary information, create the desired presentation and meet the deadline.

The exercise, Grant said, reminded him of the chamber’s many accomplishments — which he said are easy to forget about in the moment, but add up over time.

This isn’t the first time the North Tampa Bay Chamber has been singled out for excellence.

It was named the 2019 Chamber of the Year for the state of Florida.

That award was based on work accomplished in 2019, Kennedy said. The national award covers the years 2020 and 2021.

As part of its 31-page entry, the chamber submitted a synopsis of two specific programs for the judges to consider.

One program involved the chamber’s work to help its members during COVID-19 to get the word out that they were open for business.

One way it did that was through a Chamber Road Show that Kennedy put together. She visited companies to talk with business owners about their services and how they were managing to stay open during the pandemic. The stories were shared through videos posted on the chamber’s social media channels.

Another way it helped its members was by partnering with a chamber member, ACME on the Go, which is a digital billboard company. The digital billboards were placed in front of companies to spread the word that the business was open.

In another initiative, the chamber reimagined its annual awards ceremony.

It conducted the ceremony virtually, with scattered watch parties. And, it based its awards on the chamber’s core values of integrity, innovation, collaboration and inclusion. It also recognized people who served as community heroes during the pandemic.

The chamber’s submission for the national award covers everything from how it generates income, to how it identifies its key advocacy issues, to how it positions itself to address future challenges.

Forward thinking has served the chamber well in the past, Kennedy said, explaining how its ability to harness technology enabled it to adapt quickly when COVID-19 shut everything down.

The chamber’s move away from a reliance on events to generate income also proved prescient, when the pandemic forced cancellations of big public gatherings.

By that time, the chamber had already shifted to a membership-fee based organization.

Now, 85% of its revenue comes from membership fees, and the remainder comes from rental income, events and sponsorships.

Its rental incomes come from subletting office space.

The leases are for a year and when someone moves out because they require a larger space, that’s a reason for celebration, the chamber’s submission says. So far, four businesses have moved up to bigger spaces.

Grant said the North Tampa Bay Chamber works to be a catalyst for change in the region.

Currently, one of the biggest challenges is getting the business community re-engaged, both Kennedy and Grant said. Before COVID hit, the chamber was a vibrant organization with enthusiastic and engaged members. Now, it is working to revive that level of engagement.

“Our challenge is getting those individuals who are in their PJs, or whatever they’re wearing, out and recognize the benefit of mingling with others,” Grant said.

Plus, it’s not enough to focus on the needs of today, Kennedy said.

“We have to be planning for our future. What’s next? What’s next for our community? What’s next for their business? What’s next for us to tackle?”

“What does the workforce of the future look like? Now, more than ever, that’s going to play such a pivotal role in what we’re doing here at the chamber,” she said.

Still, the recent recognition feels good and is energizing, Kennedy said.

It would be great to walk across the stage, carrying a shiny piece of hardware, she said.

But in one sense, the chamber already is a winner.

“There is no other Florida chamber in any of the other finalist categories,” she said.

Published June 22, 2022

Pasco is expected to gain 6,000 jobs

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A new development planned for 965 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52 is expected to generate 6,000 jobs.

The Pasco County Commission approved an incentive deal on June 7 to help pave the way for the development.

The Pasco Town Center, as the proposed development is known, is expected to include 4 million square feet of industrial space; 725,000 square feet of office space; 3,500 housing units, 400,000 square feet of retail and 300 hotel rooms.

The agreement with Columnar Holdings includes a $55.8 million incentive package, funded mostly through property tax rebates, as specific milestones are met.

The development company also will install key roads and utility connections beyond the Pasco Town Center Property – providing $70.1 million in public infrastructure, with no direct cost to taxpayers, according to David Engel, the county’s director of the office of economic growth.

The infrastructure includes sanitary sewer, potable water, reclamation lines and roadways, Engel said.

“The project completion of all of this $70 million worth of infrastructure is in three phases, with a terminating target date of Dec. 31, 2028.

That public infrastructure “will expedite and attract job-creating industrial and employment center development” in the area, according to details in the county board’s agenda backup.

“We’re proposing to provide $46.2 million in ad valorem equivalency grants. That’s (in) the form of a rebate. The developer pays taxes in Year 1 and he gets rebated a portion of the taxes in Year 2, which is 33% for most of the development and 20% for the multifamily,” Engel said.

The agreement also provides $9.6 million in cash reimbursements to the company toward constructing the master utilities within the employment center area of the master-planned unit development. That will be paid for with $2 million in Penny for Pasco proceeds and the rest through county funding.

Laying the groundwork for employment growth
Engel noted the developer has requested assistance because the county wants “to accelerate creating a development-ready environment in the employment center,” Engel said.

“Because of the pressures in the marketplace and our lack of inventory, we do not have suitable space for companies to come in to that area right now, and we have tremendous demand for that.

Engel also noted: “We’ve requested — and the developer has agreed — to increase the industrial entitlement from 1.8 million square feet of industrial to 4 million square feet of industrial.”

Pasco Town Center is within the Employment Center area of Connected City.

After incentive rebates, the new development is expected to generate over $300 million in revenue for the county over the next several decades, Engel told the county board.

The agenda memo notes that “all the described incentive payments will be deferred and accrued in a county escrow account for the benefit of the company until 1 million square feet of industrial and/or office space is built, which may include occupied or ‘spec’ (speculative) building space.”

Based on the development phasing schedule provided by the company, the county estimates the project will yield aggregate ad valorem revenue totaling $386,581,404 during the 40-year ad valorem rebate payment period, the memo says.

It also is expected to create nearly 6,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, at build-out, the memo adds.

Engel’s office forecasts a 10-year return on investment equaling 35 times.

“The benefits of the project, related to economic growth, are profound because we’re focusing on installing all of the public master roadway and utility infrastructure in the Connected City employment area,” Engel said. “That will be on the developer’s property and off-site, to serve the entire area.

“This is the most productive agreement that I’ve brought forth to date to the board,” Engel said. “The Rooker project, for example, which we provided Pads and Pours funding, was $9.80 a square foot. This is $9.60 a square foot.

Once the project is complete, $1 contribution by the county will give us $100 in return to the local economy,” Engel said.

Michael Wolf appeared on behalf of Columnar Holdings, which plans to develop the site.

He told the board that the company is part of Traylor Construction Group, which helped to build the Howard Frankland Bridge back in the 1990s. Traylor is a third-generation company, run by four brothers today, Wolf noted.

“We buy raw land, entitle it and do these infrastructure improvements. We also have construction arms for doing vertical construction, as well.

“We’ve had a very strong presence in the Orlando market for the past 15 years, developed almost 5,000 lots there in major master-planned communities, largely adjacent to Disney World,” he said.

The company is “very experienced in the space — construction, development.

“We’ve also got horizontal development going on in Austin, as well as in Denver, as well as southwest Florida.

“We’ve got experience in all asset classes, from residential, industrial, multifamily, single family and so on,.” Wolf said.

Developer will pay attention to design
Wolf assured board members that the developer won’t “just lay out large industrial buildings, but ( will) work on place-making, as well.”

It is collaborating with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences on creating a sustainable design, including fitness components, he said.

It also wants to create dining and entertainment options for employees and residents of neighboring master-planned communities, he added.

The agreement won’t take effect until after the site receives the county board’s approval of a master-planned unit development rezoning request.

That approval appears highly likely, based on enthusiasm expressed by county board members.

“I think it’s a win-win for the county and for our developer,” said Commissioner Ron Oakley, noting the project is located within his district. “I appreciate you being here and building this kind of product for us.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano added: “This is a very exciting project.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told Wolf: “This looks really fantastic. I’m really excited we’re getting this quality of development at (I) 75 and (State Road) 52. I’m sure you’re going to be very successful there.”

In keeping with her persistent advocacy for trails and for making it easy for people to get around, Starkey asked the developer to pay attention to that issue.

Wolf agreed with Starkey: “We just think it’s so important to really, truly get that activation, to have folks be able to run, bike, golf cart, what have you. If we don’t have those components, we won’t be able to activate that space.”

As he reiterated his support for the project, Oakley noted that when he left Pasco to go off to college, he was able to return to work in the citrus industry.

Others that left for college were unable to come back for jobs in their professions. Projects like this increase job opportunities and help to change that picture, Oakley said.

Wolf told board members that the proposed rezoning for the project is working its way through the process.

Wolf told commissioners that the developer hopes to get a shovel on the ground this year.

Published June 22, 2022

More than $12 million in state funding coming to Zephyrhills

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The City of Zephyrhills has announced it will receive slightly more than $12 million for three local infrastructure-related projects.

The state allocations were approved as part of the 2022-2023 Florida state budget, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 2.

The City of Zephyrhills has announced it will receive slightly more than $12 million in state funding for local projects. (Mike Camunas)

The funds will be used on work at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, road projects and sewer and water main improvements.

“Receiving these appropriations helps to improve the infrastructure throughout the City of Zephyrhills in a multi-faceted approach,” Billy Poe, city manager for the City of Zephyrhills, said in a news release.

Poe also expressed his appreciation to Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, Sen. Danny Burgess, and Rep. Randy Maggard for their support of the Zephyrhills community.

Poe also thanked Gov. Ron DeSantis for “seeing the value in these infrastructural improvements in the City of Zephyrhills.”

Here are the specifics:

Municipal Airport improvements: $6.6 million
Several projects are already underway at the airport, including a runway extension that is expected to be completed soon. The additional funds will be used to design and construct a new Fixed Based Operator (FBO) Terminal Building, Taxiway F and two new box hangars. Future development of the airport and the adjacent Industrial Park is expected to attract new corporate and recreational aircraft operations, including increased jet traffic. When this happens, new jobs are expected from the increased capacity for aviation businesses, including pilot lessons, new hangar construction, mechanical businesses and corporate relocations and from maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses.

Kossik Road and Fort King Road Sewer Main/Water Main Extension: $3.5 million
This is the second part of a three-phase project to improve utility access in the north end of the city. When completed, the overall improvement will create a looped system, allowing for redundancy, as well as improving fire flow and water quality.

The sewer part of the project will allow decommissioning of up to 400 existing septic systems and prevent nearly 2000 new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems. It also will provide reclaimed water to benefit the Hillsborough River Basin minimum flow levels.

South Avenue Extension – National Guard Entrance Road: $1.94 million
This funding is intended to provide to access a new Florida National Guard facility that is planned for Zephyrhills. In 2021, a $25 million appropriation was approved to to construct a new facility in Zephyrhills. The Guard selected a location just north of Sixth Avenue and South Avenue and the airport. However, the proposed site does not have improved access from Sixth Avenue. The extension project consists of purchasing the right-of-way, a quarter-mile roadway to access the Guard site, stormwater and extension of 1,300 linear feet of water main and sewer main to service the site from the Sixth/South Avenue intersection. The industrial access road is a critical segment to access both the armory and future industrial development.

Poe said these funds couldn’t come at a better time, especially as the city has numerous projects already in the works or on the books.

“With the growth we’re experiencing (in Zephyrhills) — not just residential, but commercial and citywide,” Poe said, “that comes with improving the water and the sewers and the streets and even the airport. These are all much-needed improvements.”

Published June 22, 2022

Audio park tours now available

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Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management has created audio tours for 14 of the county’s most popular preserves and conservation parks, according to a news release.

Residents now can take a guided tour of select Hillsborough County locations, courtesy of their cellphone.

Lettuce Lake Park is just one of 14 parks and preserves throughout Hillsborough County that residents and visitors can explore through a new audio tour app. (File)

The Hillsborough FL Nature Tours app outlines each park’s popular features and amenities, and describes the flora, fauna, and points of interest specific to each property.

The app includes maps of the parks and preserves, and uses GPS to show visitors their current location. As a person approaches a specific area, the app brings up photos and an audio tour.

For example, at Lettuce Lake Park, the app includes photos and information from eight points of interest within the park, providing visitors details about everything from alligators and the observation tower, to roseate spoonbills and the ancient cypress trees.

There are three ways to use the audio tours: Download the app and listen at each stop; use the QR code provided on signs at each stop; or, go to the drop-down menu in the app for photos and text, which can be particularly useful for those who are deaf or hearing impaired.

The app is free through app stores.

Audio tours are available with these 14 parks and preserves: Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park; Alafia River Corridor South Nature Preserve; Apollo Beach Nature Preserve; Bahia Beach Nature Preserve; Bell Creek Nature Preserve; Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve; Edward Medard Conservation Park; Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve; Lake Frances Nature Preserve; Lake Park Conservation Park; Lettuce Lake Conservation Park; Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve; Triple Creek Nature Preserve; and, Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park.

Published June 22, 2022

Having a grand time, at the ‘prom’

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The dancers came in all ages, sporting various styles.

Some did solo numbers, while others danced in pairs. Some formed a conga line and danced around the floor at the recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park.

Participants at the Dance your Dream party seemed to be having a great time, as they snaked around the Wesley Chapel District Park gymnasium. (Fred Bellet)

All in all, about 100 people were there to move to the music, have some refreshments and simply enjoy themselves at  “Dance your Dream,” a free event on June 11. The gathering was sponsored by HOPE Services, a vocational service organization.

The two-hour event brought people living with disabilities together for a chance to look great and groove to the music. They came from as close as Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Tampa to as far away as Seffner and Brandon.

Those attending were encouraged to wear their “prom attire” and to get on the dance floor to show off their moves.

Besides dancing, there were refreshments provided by Chick-fil-A and a chance to meet the Chick-fil-A mascot.

In addition to providing the opportunity for a good time, the event doubled as a fundraiser for HOPE Services’ new Life Skills Center, which is expected to open this year.

Event-goers could bid on silent auction items and try their luck in some raffles.

The new Life Skills Center will assist people living with disabilities with everyday life skills and employable skills in food services, construction, hospitality, retail, and computer skills.

Published June 22, 2022

Cerebral palsy did not stop 36-year-old Jason Wenner, of Wesley Chapel, from rocking out in his wheelchair, as he delights to the music at the Dance your Dream party. Jason’s mother, Linda Wenner, left, said Jason was born premature and weighed just 12 ounces at birth. She described him as the family’s ‘miracle baby.’
If anyone was having a great time at the Dance your Dream party, it was clearly 39-year-old Josh Goldsmith, as he gets in on a group photo with 32-year-old Kim Gordon and 44-year-old Steven Moran, all of Tampa. About 100 people who live with disabilities attended a free prom attire dance party at the Wesley Chapel District Park gymnasium and activity rooms.
Early-arriver Brandon Wheeler, a 21-year-old from Seffner, got everything started at the party — showing off his dance moves on the floor, and concluding with a spectacular finish.
Thirty-six-year-old Keishawn Tolberg, left, is led on to the dance floor by her mother, Felicia McCardy, right, of Seffner. Keishawn’s smile lit up the dance floor at the Dance your Dream prom attire dance party.
Thirty-two-year-old Kim Gordon and 44-year-old Steven Moran dance the night away.
Twenty-two-year-old Joshua Tapia, of Wesley Chapel, shows off some fancy footwork, as he dances with his friend, Race Herron, of Lutz.
Dancing solo, Kimberly Watkins, 45, of Brandon, shows her dance technique, as she and others dance to the sounds of music from the DJs of Sandwich F.M.

Pasco County still aiming for October takeover of jail

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Pasco County is continuing the process necessary to pave the way to transfer operations of the jail from the Sheriff’s Office to under the county’s control.

The Pasco County Commission approved a resolution on June 7, enabling it to stay on track for a potential Oct. 1 takeover.

“We have a draft interlocal (agreement) that we are reviewing internally,” County Administrator Dan Biles told the board.

A representative for the clerk’s office also informed the board that a firm has been hired to complete transition accounting that was authorized by the board and the work is expected to be completed on schedule.

Biles also informed board members that he’s “trying to make sure that the county has enough in the current budget to capture the costs that will be out there, when the county takes over the jail, on or about the first of October.”

The county administrator added: “The first of October is kind of an important date because that’s when all of the benefits are set in place for the year. That’s the easiest date to do the transition from an employee/employer relationship. We’re still targeting that date.”

On another matter, Biles reported that the county’s bond rating improved on its half-cent sales tax.

“Our new bonds are going out soon. We actually got an increase from Double A to Double A-plus, which probably will save us over $400,000, over the term of those bonds.”

In other action, the board:

  • Approved additional purchasing authority for as-needed cremations and/or burial services with Dignity Funeral Services Inc., d/b/a Michels and Lundquist Funeral Home (Dignity Funeral Services), in the amount of $80,000, resulting in the new Not to Exceed (NTE) amount of $263,225 for fiscal year 2022, and a new cumulative total not-to-exceed amount of $629,675 for the three-year contract ending Sept. 30. The county’s Human Services department requests additional funding to prepare for the increase in cremations and burials that are anticipated.
  • Approved the appropriation of $50,000 to begin the planning phase of the Villages of Pasadena Hills Super Park. The county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department I is nearing the final phase of the land acquisition for the park. To prepare for the planning of the park site, the department will be conducting a study with Pasco County Schools to identify if the site is adequate to co-locate the school, with the park.
  • Approved an agreement related to the county’s housing program to spend $100,000 to renovate a single-family residence. The residence will be used to provide safe and affordable rental housing for a family at, or below, 80% of the area median income.
  • Approved the appointment of Lee Middleton to the CareerSource Pasco Hernando board.
  • Approved a budget amendment to a Cares Act contract with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas to increase funding by $30,608 and to extend the term through Sept. 30.

Published June 22, 2022

These artists create to their own beat

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Admittedly, Jasmine Williams didn’t have a name for the painting.

A portrait of the artists and the works they created during an evening of music and art during Beats ‘N’ Brushes, an event held at the James Irvin Civic Center, during Dade City’s Juneteenth Week. (Mike Camunas)

But at the same time, she holds no illusions that she’s an artist.

“I teach dance for (Pasco County) Parks and Rec,” said Williams, who works out of the James Irvin Civic Center in Dade City. “So it doesn’t have a name — maybe ‘Paint The City.’ But really it’s all about shapes when you add the buildings. It can be New York City or downtown Tampa — even this one here has a little Taj Mahal look to it,” she said, with a laugh.

Williams was referring to paintings completed by about a dozen adults and children who came to the first Beats ‘N’ Brushes.

They gathered for an hour-and-a-half on June 15, listening to music and painting their version of a sunset scene.

“I’m very happy with the turnout,” Williams said. “It’s nice to be able to do something a little different and for the community.”

The event was developed by Sandra Wright, who started The Wright Movement, which raises awareness about pancreatic cancer, and Kimberly Miller, a coordinator for parks and recreation.

Nine-year-old Olivia King, of Zephyrhills, is focused on her piece of art, during the Beat ‘N’ Brushes event.

Miller came up with the idea for the event.

Each of the women also painted a skyline.

“There are already a lot of paints with adults, so this was something that was fun that also kids could do,” Wright said. “They can stay inside from the heat, instead of (playing) something like kickball or basketball, and do something a little different — and paint like adults.

“Plus, something like this helps bring a little more awareness to taking care of your health, pancreatic cancer and also the community. … It was a great turnout, and I can’t wait until next year and see if it gets even better,” Wright added.

Beat ‘N’ Brushes was among several events scheduled in Dade City during Juneteenth Week, to commemorate the historic end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.

Other events slated during the week included a Family Bowling Night, A Night To Remember Exhibit at Pioneer Florida Museum & Village and a Juneteenth Community Celebration at the Civic Center on June 18.

Published June 22, 2022

Bermice Thomas, of Dade City, adds a palm tree to her painting, giving it a local feel, during Beats ‘N’ Brushes.
A closer look at one of the skylines created during the event.

Local coffee shop also brews up trivia, live music

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The only thing Jason Mitchell used to know about coffee was how to drink it.

“That’s pretty much it,” said Mitchell, who now owns Mitchell’s Coffee Time, a small coffee shop and restaurant in Lutz. “Always wanted to own one, but never could because of my deployments (in the military). But we’ve been here since April 2020 now.”

Mitchell is a 20-year veteran. He retired in 2017, after numerous deployments and dozens of countries visited.

Jason Mitchell stands behind the counter at Mitchell’s Coffee Time with his daughter, Alexxus, who works there part-time as a barista. Jason’s three daughters all work for the family business in Lutz that features coffee, light food and weekly events, including trivia and live music. (Mike Camunas)

He was running his car detail business, but wanted to operate the coffee shop he now owns.

“I met the previous owner because we had been detailing his car for three years,” he said. “He wanted to sell, and we basically jumped right into the 45-day transition.

“He taught us everything we needed to know about having a coffee shop business. I did my own research and looked at YouTube videos, but we do our own thing here.

“We do things a little differently,” he said.

Indeed, the Mitchells do.

More than half his family works at the shop.

His 22-year-old twin daughters, Alexxus and Destiny, are baristas, while his 15-year-old daughter works occasionally, when she needs to earn money.

Mitchell’s Coffee Time serves up more than coffee. It hosts events, from trivia every Thursday, to Bible study group meetups, to Zumba classes and live music.

Kyra Kalodimos, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoys an iced coffee while listening to music and doing a little midday work at Mitchell’s Coffee Time in Lutz.

Jason likes to consider it more of a hangout than just a coffee shop.

Indeed, for many, it’s a place they go to for more than just a cup of joe.

“I can tell when (customers) are meeting a client, whether it be Realtors or an insurance salesperson,” he added. “Which I think is great. We don’t want to be like some chain coffee place where you get your coffee and get out.”
Mitchell is a hands off-type owner because he has a full-time job working down at MacDill Air Force Base.

He pops into the shop a couple times a week, mostly for a coffee, but the baristas run the place.

They have the freedom to experiment with new drinks and just have fun, as well.

“We’re very different from a chain coffee shop,” Destiny said. “From the coffee to just the stuff we have and events. But I’m glad. It’s better to be different.

“It’s so much fun, even though we didn’t know that much about coffee. Once you work at a coffee shop, you’ll learn so much more about coffee than you ever thought you could know about coffee. We learned on the go. It was a process, but, honestly, it was a fun one.”

And Jason plans to include more fun.

Curbside service is on the horizon, but more events will be coming, such as painting with a twist for both adults and kids, and bingo for older customers.

“Word of mouth definitely helps us, especially when they find out that we host a lot of things like trivia and music,” Jason said.

“Sometimes it’s a little hard to see us because of the way (State Road 54) is built, but once they come in or find it, they’re like, ‘didn’t know this was here, but I love it,’” he said.

Mitchell’s Coffee Time
Where: 22299 State Road 54, Suite 102, Lutz
When: Mondays, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Details: This coffee shop, which is family owned and operated, offers drinks, light food and weekly events, including trivia and live music.
Info: Call 813-428-6550, or visit MitchellsCoffeeTime.com.

Published June 22, 2022

An American Dream — with a (karate) kick

By

Janise Man-Son-Hing recalls the days when her husband, Christopher, would drive by a martial arts academy and point it out to her.

It was his version of the American Dream, she said.

He didn’t just leave it at that.

“Here is someone who did it. It wasn’t easy, but he didn’t give up,” said his wife, of 22 years.

Lutz resident and martial arts instructor Christopher Man-Son-Hing works with some punching pads with a student. Man-son-Hing arrived in this country as a teenager, with $20 in his pocket. He worked his way up from his days in the U.S. Navy and as a Tampa Police Officer, eventually opening his own martial arts academy which he has operated for more than 20 years. (Mike Camunas)

Christopher Man-Son-Hing was just 14, with $20 in his pocket, when his parents sent him and his brother from their South American home country, Guyana, off to live with other families.

Guyana had become a socialist state. His parents wanted more for their children, so they sent them to live, first in Trinidad and then in New York.

“It is a tribute to my mom and dad,” Christopher said. “They wanted a better life for me, and America is the land of opportunity. In the socialist country Guyana became, only certain people were to be successful. They wanted more for us.”

Once in the states, Christopher went to school, but about a year later he returned to Guyana — for his family.

He left again, but this time with his entire family, each with $20 in their pockets.

They settled in Miami.

The kids went to school there and the entire family started over.

“It’s not like they were destitute over there — it was about freedom,” Janise said.

Indeed they weren’t poor. Christopher’s father was an accountant, but in the states he became a janitor. His mother was an accomplished, award-winning photographer; she went to work at K-Mart.

Lutz resident and martial arts instructor Christopher Man-Son-Hing directs his students during a training session at his academy. Man-Son-Hing has run his academy for more than 20 years.

“They gave up a lot for us to come here,” Christopher said.

He added: “There was nothing wrong working those jobs, but we were happy to be here, so it didn’t matter that we had to start over.”

Christopher and his brother had high school diplomas from Guyana, but they were worthless here. So they had to earn new ones.

After that, Christopher joined the U.S. Navy, serving for eight years. Then, in 1988, he joined the Tampa Police Department. The police department found out he was skilled in Taekwondo, so he became a training officer, especially in unarmed, hand-to-hand training.

“I was (the kid that) never backed down and if a challenge was there, I took it,” Christopher said. “I really enjoyed being an instructor. I’ve been one for quite some time.”

Janise added: “His mom put him in martial arts when he was just 5 because, as she put it, he was just a ‘devil.’ On the first day, he challenges his instructor and gets knocked out. His mom brought him right back the next day and once he channeled his energy into martial arts, then he became an excellent student.”

Christopher holds a seventh degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and Hapkido giving him a ranking 159th in the World Taekwondo Federation.

The academy operated by Christopher Man-Son-Hing, a Lutz resident and martial arts instructor, has produced champions for more than 20 years. 

He finally opened his academy in 2000 — achieving his American Dream.

He met Janise when he was her training instructor at the Tampa Police Department.

“I came in as a cadet and we’re not to fraternize with trainers or date until we’re out of the academy,” she recalled. “I didn’t really like him because he represented pain to me — a trainer, who is hard on you, but I admired his skill.”

Janise also admired the story of his journey to America.

“I didn’t know the story until we had a chance to talk more,” she said. “To hear that story and know it now as his wife, I can see his grit, his substance and that it made him who he is.”

She feels the same sense of admiration every time she hears or reflects on his story because it is truly amazing, she said.

The Man-Son-Hings ran their martial arts academy on Waters Avenue until 2018 when they sold the building and Janise retired as senior corporal detective. Christopher retired in 2007 as a Master Patrol Officer and High Liability Trainer.

During those days, they’d put in long days doing their police work, and then run classes five days a week until 9 p.m.

They tried to retire the business, too, but “clients kept calling and calling,” Janise said. Between students and their love for martial arts, they weren’t ready to call it quits quite yet.

Janise and Christopher Man-Son-Hing met when they were both officers for the Tampa Police Department. They have been married for 22 years and have two children.

So their neighbors, owners of Happy Talk Farm (a horse riding facility), offered to rent out an upstairs studio in their home.

Man-So-Hing Academy still offers plenty of classes, but with fewer students so Christopher can devote more individual time to each.

“I truly feel I’ve accomplished what I set out to do, and this country provided all the avenues for me to do it,” Christopher said. “Tomorrow’s never promised, as they say, and the man upstairs will let me know when enough is enough.”

At 62, Christopher wants to enjoy retirement, but still “absolutely loves” teaching martial arts and “reaching students.”

“He’s a good master and he’s taught me about respect and learning manners,” 10-year-old student Nathan McDaniel said. “I really like coming to his classes.”

Nathan’s father, Sean, agrees.

“(When I started taking classes), I was not aware (of Chris’ journey),” he said. “I think very highly of Master Chris and Miss Janise. They are very representative of what I call American Patriots — to serve, Christians, doing things the right way.

“He’s living proof of the American Dream.”

Man-Son-Hing Martial Arts Academy
Where: 16749 Whirley Road, Lutz
Details: Academy and classes offering various martial arts techniques for adults and children, beginning at age 3.
Info: Visit mshmartialarts.com or call (813) 310-2390 or email .

Published June 15, 2022