The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Atlas shrugs off competition, becomes Lutz Guv’na

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Talk about your power couple.

Raising nearly $12,000, Atlas Cortecero became the 2022 Lutz Guv’na after the town’s annual Independence Day Parade.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Lutz Train Depot, in front of the Lutz Branch Library, near the corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and U.S. 41.

Cortecero follows in the steps of his wife, Michele Northrup, the 2007 Guv’na. She’s now assuming the title of First Woman of Lutz.

Atlas Cortecero holds up the big key and wears the sash for becoming the 2022 Lutz Guv’na after raising nearly $12,000 in donations. (Courtesy of Lutz Guv’na Committee)

“We are the first married couple to both hold the office of Guv’na,” said Northrup, also known as The Saucy Queen because of her local hot sauce business. “(Campaigning for Atlas) was so much fun, but we noticed that everyone wanted to pitch in, whether it be small or large. Everyone wanted to give to the community. It was so heartwarming to see Lutz come together.”

Cortecero, who was born and raised in São Paulo/Brazil, added: “You have no idea how much fun (running for Guv’na) was. The parade was so much fun, being able to march in front of the General Lee we rented and just wave the American flag.

“It was a beautiful parade and a beautiful welcome to becoming Guv’na,” said Cortecero, who claimed the title by a narrow margin.

He raised $11,919.11. David Penzer, another candidate, brought in $11,024 and Stacee Campbell, the third candidate, hauled in $2,135.96.

The grand total of $25,079.07 will support local charities and other nonprofit organizations.

“The goal of Guv’na for all these years is to bring people together,” Cortecero said. “I think the main thing is to get the money to the people of Lutz, for it to stay in the community and help this community,” he said.

Cortecero’s total is believed to be the third most raised in the history of the Guv’na race, just behind 2004 Guv’na, the late Dean Rivett, who raised $12,452.

The most ever raised? Nearly $17,000 by none other than the current First Lady of Lutz, Northrup.

The race, which started in 1991, is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association and raises several thousand dollars for about 20 Lutz nonprofit beneficiaries.

Prior to 1991, the race was sponsored by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s club. Candidates earmark 10% of what he or she raises to the Lutz charitable organization of his or her choice.

One of Cortecero’s campaign promises was to use proceeds raised for renovations to the Old Lutz School House.

He intends to keep that promise.

“The door, you look at it — almost all of (the school house) — is in disrepair,” he said. “Of all the charities, the one that needs it the most is the schoolhouse.”

Penzer plans to donate his 10% to the GFWC, while Campbell is giving her 10% to Lutz Softball.

Guv’na Committee members said candidates hit the campaign trail hard this year, certainly looking to make up for the lack of fundraising when COVID shut down those events, as well as the parade.

Because of the hiatus, Amy Lancaster, the 2019 Guv’na, held on to the honorary title for more than two years.

“I think that everyone is just ready to get back to it — it’s part of the community; it’s tradition,” Guv’na Committee’s Stephanie Ensor, who won the title in 2010, told The Laker/Lutz News in May. “It means a lot to a lot of people, and to the candidates, who do it to raise money for charities, nonprofits and the community.”

Cortecero hosted several fundraising events at local businesses such as Chicago’s Best Burgers, Station House BBQ and Auzalu’s Artisan Market & Pottery Studio. He also sold nearly 50 “Atlas For Guv’na” shirts, as well as discount cards that can be used at several Lutz businesses. Cortecero also auctioned off several items throughout the campaign, including a puppy that was donated to him from Lutz breeder, Brooklyn’s Boxer, and quickly raised $500.

Campbell, owner of Lutz Scoops, gave away free ice cream with any Guv’na donation, sold Lutz merchandise and also held donation events at Station House BBQ and Chicago’s Best Burgers.

Penzer, a real estate agent, wrestling announcer and longtime resident of Heritage Harbor neighborhood, held several events, including a bingo night, a putting contest and cornhole tournament, and live music fundraisers at Double Bogey’s Tavern and Grill.

In the end, though, it was Cortecero who celebrated by donning the Lutz Guv’na sash.

“You know, it’s funny. When someone wins (the Super Bowl), they say, ‘I’m going to Disney World!’” Northrup said. “When we found out he won, I was like, ‘You know where you really need to go because they were such a big supporter.’”

“I’m going to Station House BBQ,” he said.

Published July 13, 2022

This story was revised on July 13, 2022.

During disasters, they’re ready to help — and reliable

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It almost goes without saying that hurricane winds wreak havoc on power lines and make it harder to communicate — and that those damages often occur at precisely the same time when communications are critical.

D.M. Barrett modulates over his ham radio set, utilizing an antenna he designed. (Fred Bellet)

When that happens, there are volunteers who stand ready to step in and help.

They’re called ham radio operators.

Volunteer amateur radio operators provide a free public service to their communities during a disaster or emergency — without the need for a cellphone or the internet.

Dan Lindberg tunes in on his radio and prepares to check-in on the air.

Members of the East Pasco Amateur Radio Society recently took part in the national Amateur Radio Field Day, to demonstrate the ability of ham radios to work reliably, under almost any condition and from nearly any location.

The field day exercises were held over the weekend of June 25 and June 26, at the San Antonio Train Depot, 32700 Railroad Ave., in San Antonio.

The field day demonstrated how ham radios can be used to establish an independent communications network.

The East Pasco Amateur Radio Society is affiliated with Pasco County Emergency Management and many members of the group belong to the Amateur Radio Emergency Services. Some are certified in Pasco County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The Amateur Radio Emergency Services consists of FCC licensed amateur radio operators who are trained in emergency communications and voluntarily registered with their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in public service, when called upon or when a disaster strikes. It provides support as a reliable back-up system, if regular means of communications fail.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Services provides communications as public service to the federal, state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations.

For more information about the East Pasco Amateur Radio Society, visit EPARSonline.org.

For information about the Amateur Radio Emergency Services, email , or call 813-991-7160.

Published July 13, 2022

Wearing his call letters on his cap, 85-year-old Bill Roller, of Zephyrhills, was the first to arrive for the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise at the San Antonio Train Depot on Railroad Avenue, in San Antonio.
Using a hand-held microphone, Chris Bloxsom makes contact with another amateur radio club and uses call letters to identify the East Pasco club. The field day exercise is crucial for ham radio operators, who often provide a vital link of communication during emergencies.
Volunteer Tim Cunningham coordinates Pasco County amateur radio groups during the field day, as a volunteer for Pasco County Amateur Radio Frequency Services. Here, he contacts a west Pasco amateur station participating in the field day event. Cunningham is a former member of Pasco County Fire Rescue.

Panel says Tampa market enjoys diverse economy, quality of life

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While debate rages on about what’s going to happen with the national and local economy, a panel of experts recently convened to talk about the Tampa Bay region’s current strengths and challenges.

The speakers brought a wealth of experience to the State of the Market discussion, organized by Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor offered a snapshot of what’s happening in the City of Tampa’s economy, and nationally known economist Ryan Severino offered a big-picture outlook on the economy, during the June 23 event at the Cuban Club in Ybor City.

Other panelists talked about current local conditions and trends in industrial, commercial and residential real estate.

Julia Silva, managing director for JLL, has been involved in industrial real estate for 27 years in Tampa. She told those gathered that before the pandemic, about 12% of retail sales were attributed to e-commerce.

Before COVID-19 hit, e-commerce was expected to grow to about 35% over a 10-year period, she said.

“During the pandemic, we condensed that 10-year period into a six-month period,” she said.

“People who would have never ordered online are now very comfortable getting their groceries online, seeing the value and efficiency of not having to go to a store,” she said.

The online shopping trend is expected to continue, she said.

As population grows “which is the story in Florida, specifically Tampa — one of the hottest markets in the country,” she said, retailers are following that growth and need warehouse space to stock items for online orders.

The ability to deliver goods to 25 million people within an eight-hour drive time from Lakeland accounts for the surge in industrial warehouse space along the Interstate 4 corridor, Silva said.

The industrial real estate expert also told the audience that banks are taking back office parks in the suburbs and are considering knocking them down to create industrial space.

“I’ve never seen that in 27 years,” Silva said.

The pandemic also has had an impact on commercial space.

In some ways, companies are delaying leasing decisions by extending their leases for one- or two-year terms, said Brent Miller, managing director JLL.

But some companies are beginning to make longer-term decisions.

“There’s more clarity around a hybrid arrangement for employees. There’s more clarity about square footage,” Miller said.

Commercial real estate is changing
The notion that office is going away “is way, way, way overhyped,” said Scott Garlick, managing partner for Cushman & Wakefield.

“It’s a great headline,” he said. But he added: “Office space has been evolving since the first day they put an office in New York City.”

As the commercial office market moves forward, he said, companies are asking: “What does it look like? What is used for? How often will people use it? Where will it be located?”

Businesses also are recognizing that if they want employees to come back to the office, they need to offer amenities, Garlick said.

The commercial real estate expert is upbeat about the local economy.

“The beauty of the Tampa market, specifically, is we accelerated our decreased vacancies during the pandemic, which you can’t say for more than maybe a handful of markets in the world. That’s an exciting story,” Garlick said.

“The influx of new companies coming here is accelerating in a way that we have never ever, ever seen before that will soften some of the macro-negatives of office space,” he added.

Kyle Koller, a research manager for JLL, said the diversity of industries in Tampa’s market is a chief strength. The local economy has representation from tech firms, finance, health care, logistics and tourism, he explained.

“We’re not necessarily over-leveraged in any of those categories. So, when we saw the downturn, we weren’t hit as hard and we recovered faster again — from a commercial real estate and jobs perspective — than a lot of the other Florida markets,” Koller said.

Craig Richard, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, said “there’s no doubt that Florida, and Tampa, in particular, has been on a roll.”

He, too, touts Hillsborough County’s wide-ranging industries.

The county ranks No. 2 out of 3,200 counties across the country, in terms of the diversity of its economy, Richard said. That mix is important because it gives the county a greater ability to rebound, in the face of economic downturns.

“Case in point, during the pandemic, our economy fared very well compared to other economies our size,” Richard said.

In-migration is playing an important role, too.

“When you start putting together a spreadsheet, in terms of the quality of life, Tampa is high on that list. We have good-paying jobs. We have the type of life that people would admire,” he said. Plus, he added, the area’s weather is good for about nine months out of the year.

“We are on the map,” said Bob Glaser, president and CEO of Smith & Associates, a real estate company.

Tampa isn’t growing as fast as Miami or as some other cities, but is growing at the right pace, Glaser said. “A lot of smart things are happening,” he said.

Multifamily and industrial are the hottest sectors of the commercial real estate market, according to Todd Jones, a principal for Real Advisor, and a real estate appraiser by training.

The growth in multifamily, Jones said, has been fueled by “the highest levels of in-migration in the state” that he’s seen during his 40-year career.

Impact of interest rates
Lorena Colin, of JD Lending Group, works in the mortgage lending industry.

She said, “raising interest rates, of course, are affecting the affordability of the homes and they are creating an impact, also, on investors.

“However, I still see a lot of activity for people who have the knowledge or the cash.

“I think knowledge is power. If you know how to use your tools, for instance, there are products on the markets,” she said.

Regulatory costs can affect housing affordability, too.

Darryl Shaw, who has considerable real estate holdings in Ybor City, said there are ways the public sector can reduce regulatory costs.

He offered these suggestions: Accelerate the permit process; allow more administrative approvals; and, OK pre-approved plans, instead of requiring each plan to go through a process.

“There are a lot of levers we can pull,” Shaw said.

Doug Griesenauer, of the United Way Suncoast, addressed concerns about the lack of affordable housing.

“The biggest challenge is housing, right now,” he said.

“We’re not just competing with residents here,” he said.

The competition here includes a much broader pool, including people moving to the area, and investors from across the country and overseas.

Some local residents are losing the housing affordability battle.

“Right now, people are leaving. I know people who are moving up to Georgia. I have friends who have left to Ohio, for jobs. There are individuals who can’t afford to live here anymore, so they are leaving,” Griesenauer said.

It’s even worse in Sarasota County, he said, noting, “rents there, on average, for a two-bedroom are $2,200.”

Solutions are urgently needed, he said.

“Economists say you should be paying about 30% of your income on housing— that is not true in our community these days.”

Published July 13, 2022

Fourth of July weekend offers activities for all ages

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The Lutz’s Fourth of July Parade drew an enthusiastic crowd.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue’s Engine 24 gets an escort from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s motorcycle patrol, at the beginning of the 2022 Lutz Fourth of July Parade. (Fred Bellet)

“It was wonderful, of course,” said Jennifer Rankin, parade chairwoman.

“After two years of not being there —  I’m sure we messed up somewhere. I’m sure we forgot something, somewhere — but at the end of the day, everybody had smiles on their faces and I heard wonderful reviews from people,” she said.

Emma and Evelyn Fiedler, of Land O’ Lakes, keep a sharp eye on the approaching parade as Alex Campion, 12, of Odessa captures some video from the front row at the Lutz Fourth of July Parade.

“Some people had to cancel at the last minute, due to either heat or sicknesses.

But people stayed upbeat and volunteers kept things running smoothly.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club had invaluable helpers, she said.

“There were tons of them there, making sure to direct things. If there were problems, (they were right there) getting on top of it,” she said.

Overall, she continued: “We had a great turnout.

The Lutz Chiefs Cheer team float rounds a turn on the parade route.

“People stuck around to hear the results of the parade and who won what trophies.

“People stuck around to see who won the Guv’na.

“And, people went inside and auctioned on the cake,” she said.

Five-year-old Sade Stice lets out a long yawn, while waving her flag as the parade approached up Lake Lutz Fern Road. The little girl from Lutz was with her mom, Jessica Stice and her 8-year-old brother, Reed, watching the parade. They sat at the corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Second Street N.W.

While Zephyrhills dealt with rain, Lutz endured heat.

“It was hot. It was very hot,” Rankin said.

She had a great time.

“I’m ready for next year, already,” Rankin said.

In Zephyrhills, the weather wasn’t exactly cooperative on July 2, during the early part of Summerfest in Zephyrhills.

Some folks didn’t let the drizzling rain — or periodic downpours — deter them from attending the free family friendly event. They came out to Zephyr Park to check out what the food trucks had to offer, to listen to music, and during the evening to watch fireworks over the lake.

While the weather put a damper on the early part of the event, when the weather cleared the crowd picked up, according to Kevin Tucker, event manager and marketing manager for Florida Penguin Productions.

By the time the fireworks went off, he estimated that about 3,000 people had turned out to watch the show.

“Our events are rain or shine. We pushed through and the community loved it,” Tucker said, via email, characterizing the festival as “a great event.”

Published July 13, 2022

The entrance to the Zephyrhills Summerfest at Zephyr Park was a puddle-jumper’s delight during the early part of the July 2 event.
Twelve-year-old Lulu Bell, a Blue Heeler Australian Cattle Dog, wore a patriotic necklace as he tries to go one way and owner Jason Aiken, of Zephyrhills, goes the other way. The patriotic pooch and owner checked out the vendors at the Zephyrhills Summerfest, on July 2, at Zephyr Park.
Customers duck under the cover of an umbrella to escape the rain. Tonya Neely, left, and daughter, Faith, purchase fare sold by Shawn Anderson, at The Wok.

Tax Collector’s branch office making temporary move

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The current office of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s on Pet Lane in Lutz has temporarily relocated for renovations.

The move took effect on July 11.

The tax collector’s office will be operating temporarily at 4614 Pet Lane, Suite 109, in Lutz — just one building away from its normal location.

The improvements being done are intended to allow the office to better serve the community, according to a news release from the tax collector’s office.

Additional service windows and more seating in the lobby area will make the office more comfortable for our customers.

“We are excited to be able to undertake these changes to our Wesley Chapel office,” Tax Collector Mike Fasano, said in the release. “Our goal as an organization is to make a visit to our office as easy and as simple as possible. With the changes we will be making that goal will be possible each time our customers enter our office. Our temporary location will literally be in the building next door to our current location. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The remodeling is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.

During this time, the office will continue to offer most services that it has been offering at that location, with the exception of concealed weapons permits and all written testing.

Those services will be offered at other tax collector office locations in the county.

For more information, call 352-521-4338, 727-847-8032 or 813-235-6076.

Published July 13, 2022

Grants available for nonprofits

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The Florida Support Autism Programs Specialty License Plate annually generates funds that support nonprofit organizations that provide direct services for individuals with autism and related disabilities in Florida.

(Courtesy of autismlicenseplate.com)

The Autism Services Grant Council in 2022 awarded a total of $124,160 in grants to 19 Florida-based nonprofit organizations, according to a news release.

All nonprofit organizations with a current Internal Revenue Service designation as a 501(c)(3) exempt organization, and a current State of Florida Charitable Solicitation Registration number that provide services to individuals with autism and related disabilities in Florida are eligible to apply for grants, the release said.

For information and to apply, visit AutismLicensePlate.com/grant-application/.

The deadline for proposals is July 31.

The Autism License Plate Fund and the Autism Services Grant Council are administered by Arc Broward, a nationally accredited Florida nonprofit, Section 501(c)(3) exempt organization, the release said.

“Every Autism license plate we put on the road is a rolling billboard reminding people that individuals with autism are a meaningful part of the community,” Dennis Haas, chair of the grant council, said in the release.

“It is amazing to see that even a small investment in a specialty license plate helps to fund the good work of these organizations throughout the state,” said Haas.

Published July 13, 2022

Planning board delays vote on new flood prevention regulations

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has delayed consideration of new flood prevention regulations until July 21, to make sure that details are worked out before it votes on the issue.

The planning board provides recommendations to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Before sending the issue to the county board, planning board members said they want to make sure that the changes being recommended do not have unanticipated impacts.

Jonathan Moody, who was sworn in as new planning commissioner on July 7, said he’s been working on the issue, alongside Barbara Wilhite, a private attorney, who often appears before the planning board to represent clients on land use and zoning issues.

Moody, who was named to the planning board as Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano’s appointee, is a civil engineering consultant who specializes in land planning, permitting and drainage design.

He asked the planning board and county staff if the issue could be delayed until the planning board’s July 21 meeting, to try to work out the details before voting.

Esther Oluyemi, an official with the county’s building department, represented the county on the issue. She said she thought it would be possible to address the loose ends by the July 21 meeting

Moody’s request for the delay came after he raised questions on some issues for which there were no immediately available answers.

Moody and Wilhite pointed out that county staff has been responsive, diligent and collaborative in working on the issue.

But more clarity is needed, Moody said.

Wilhite said the goal is “to make sure there is not unintended consequences.”

Changes are needed to the county’s land development code to bring the county’s flood damage prevention regulations in line with the model ordinance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and to coordinate with Chapter 18, buildings and building regulations of the Pasco County Code, according to Oluyemi.

The county participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and is currently a 6 on the Community Rating System, qualifying county residents for a 20% discount on flood insurance policy rates.

In 2021, the county had 19,015 policies and the discount represented $3.1 million in savings, Oluyemi said.

Summer’s here — a great time for grilling

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What’s for lunch?

Shall we have some barbecue, or barbeque, or perhaps BBQ?

Well, no matter how you spell it, if it’s a summer gathering, chances are that grilled or barbecued foods are on the menu.

People often use the words grilling and barbecuing interchangeably, but the cooking methods differ.

Technically, when barbecuing:

  • Food is cooked at about 225 degrees F
  • Food is cooked slowly, from 4 hours to 24 hours
  • The lid is closed to create an encircled unit of heat for flavor

This method works best for larger, tougher and fattier cuts of meat, such as ribs, shoulder and brisket.

When grilling:

  • Food is cooked at 500 degrees F, or higher
  • Food is cooked quickly, from 5 minutes to 15 minutes
  • The lid is removed and the heat source is directly beneath the food

This method works best for thin or ground meats, such as burgers, chicken breast, or steak.

Whether you prefer to grill or barbecue, chances are you’ll have plenty of opportunities to show off skills.

There are a lot of foods you can grill or barbecue, to serve at gatherings. When grilling, be sure to remember to cook ground turkey to 165°F. Ground beef and pork should be cooked to 160°F. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)

Some of the most popular occasions for grilling have already gone by this year.

The Fourth of July is the most popular day in America to have a barbecue. An estimated 73% of the country consumes barbecue on Independence Day.

Memorial Day ranks second, at 60%; and, Father’s Day, places third, at 45%.

But there’s plenty of summer left — which means opportunities for family picnics, birthday parties, reunions and other gatherings.

Here are a few fun facts about barbecue.

First off, it didn’t originate in the United States.

Spanish explorers encountered barbecue on the Caribbean islands in the 1500s, where the Native Americans were cooking meat and fish on a wooden frame made out of green wood – freshly chopped wood with a high moisture content – over fire. The explorers noticed how the wooden platform didn’t burn.

The natives called this cooking method barbacoa, and as the Spanish continued their journey north, they brought this “new” cooking method with them, where it eventually spread throughout the colonies, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

Pork became the predominant cooked meat, as pigs thrived well, once brought to America. The pigs needed minimal care, reproduced quickly, and lived easily on tobacco farms.

Hogs also could be cooked whole and could feed a big crowd, and because of that barbecued pork became the go-to meal for large social events or feasts.

As time went on, regions of the U.S. developed their own styles of barbecue.

Four regions with a distinct approach are the Carolinas, Texas, Memphis, and Kansas City.

  • The Carolinas: Pork is the traditional meat of choice. The sauce is typically vinegar-based, thanks to British influence, but also mustard-based, as many French and German immigrants settled in South Carolina, and mustard was common in their cuisine.
  • Texas: The Texas style has similar sauces to the Carolinas, but thanks to cattle farming, it expanded to more than just pork.

Of course, even within Texas, there’s a split between Eastern and Central with the different variations.

  • Memphis: Memphis cooks its barbecue with a sweeter sauce, typically tomato-based with molasses. Because the city was located along the Mississippi River, it had easy access to molasses. Like the Carolinas, pork is the main meat.
  • Kansas City: In the early 1900s, a Memphis-born African American man named Henry Perry opened up the first barbecue restaurant in Kansas City, and while he kept the sweet sauce tradition of Memphis, he mixed in beef in addition to pork, combining Texas and Memphis style.

He was known as the barbecue king.

Of course, there are as many variations as there are cooks who like to experiment.

Alabama has a white sauce, which is a combination of a mayonnaise and vinegar-based sauce.

If you’re not a meat-eater, there are vegetarian options, too, including veggie burgers, bean burgers, and meat alternative burgers that have similar taste and texture as meat.

RECIPE
Herbed Turkey Burger (Six servings) – Courtesy of the University of Illinois Extension:

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
½ cup minced parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon thyme
1 teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and form six patties.
Refrigerate burgers until ready for cooking.
Grill patties on medium heat for 7 minutes each side, or until burger reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
Add any toppings of tomato, leaf lettuce, cheese or sliced avocado to your liking, as well as your choice of bun.

By Shari Bresin

Published July 13, 2022

One vet and a truck

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Despite losing his leg, Zephyrhills veteran Ken Fabiani is still very active.

And he can move all kinds of furniture, too.

“I can do anything (anyone with two legs can do),” the former Navy sailor and Vietnam veteran said. “I play golf every Sunday. I putz around in my yard and I do move a lot of furniture.”

Zephyrhills veteran Ken Fabiani goes through donated furniture at Value Store It Self Storage in Wesley Chapel with volunteer Dave Greene, as they will then take any furnishings or household items to a veteran located in the Pasco County or Tampa area. (Mike Camunas)

For the past three years, Fabiani, through Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731, has been collecting furniture and household items for veterans, who are set up with housing, however, don’t have any furnishings. Fabiani, the Veterans Committee chairperson and past exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, then loads up furniture and other items on a truck and/or a trailer, and delivers them himself.

At first, he made a delivery maybe once a week. Now, with the help of about a dozen volunteers that are either his neighbors or other members of the Elks Lodge, Fabiani could have up to five deliveries a week.

“Honestly, (I started doing this) because I was bored,” Fabiani said. “Once I got back on my feet after the amputation (because a rod in my reconstructed leg got infected), I needed something to do.

“The need is out there, but the donations are right there with it,” he added. “I’ll get two or three calls while taking out a donation and they’re like when can you be here, and I can’t give them an answer because I’m all over the place. … (Veterans) need everything, when they get a place. It’s just four walls, a ceiling and floor.”

When Fabiani started out, he gave his name and number to Domiciliary Rehab Clinic for Veterans, which then made sure his contact info also was at Tampa Bay Crossroads, New Beginnings and Hog Bash, all of which help veterans get back on their feet and with housing. Several communities, especially those in Pasco County, know how to get ahold of Fabiani, if they’re looking to help a veteran.

“We’ve gone to Scotland Yards, Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club, all over Zephyrhills and Dade City, and Pasco County and Tampa area,” he said. “The word just keeps spreading.”

Fabiani served in the Vietnam War and was in the Navy for eight years. In fact, he was on the infamous aircraft carrier, the USS Forrestal, which had an unusual number of fires, including the 1967 fire in which 134 sailors died and 161 more were injured. Fabiani considers himself lucky to survive that, as well as when he left the Navy, he didn’t need quite as much help as other veterans sometimes do.

Zephyrhills veteran Ken Fabiani takes a call while going through donated furniture he has collected from all over Pasco County and the Tampa area. He then will transport to a fellow veteran that has housing, but no furnishing or household items. Fabiani started doing this charity work because ‘he was bored,’ but also to look out for his fellow veterans, some of whom have nothing once they are discharged from the VA.

Alexis Key, an Army veteran, who served four years including a tour in Afghanistan contacted Fabiani after her caseworker gave her his number and, without hassle, her housing through Tampa Crossroads was furnished.

“Sometimes, donations can be shabby,” Key added. “However, I was thoroughly surprised at the quality, but also how he didn’t flake on me. All I had to do was call him up, have a simple conversation of what I needed, and he brought it over.

“(I got) two 2 dressers, pots and pans, a nutribullet, shower curtains, household items and a really, really nice Bible. … He is such a nice man and so kind — it’s just inspiring to see him looking out for us veterans.”

One of his volunteers agrees.

“This is a great and easy way to help veterans,” his neighbor, Dave Greene, said. “So far, he hasn’t been able to keep the supply up with the demand. You often wonder where it all comes from, but then he gets like three phone calls when we’re out taking furniture to another veteran.

“The demand is there, so you kind of wish there was another Ken.”

There’s no slowing down Fabiani, certainly not if there’s a veteran looking from anything to furniture to a microwave to even toiletries. As he sorts through the items at a nearly full, but also donated 10×20 storage unit at Value Store It Self Storage in Wesley Chapel, Fabiani knows nothing will stop him from helping veterans get furniture.

“Maybe a little rain, but, no, we’ll still go out and pick up or deliver furniture. It’s Florida, it’s going to rain, but these vets need the furniture. It’s really unbelievable to really see people in need — as long as they’re veterans, we’ll gladly help them.”

Donate furniture for veterans
If you’re a veteran or know of a veteran who needs furniture, or would like to help Ken Fabiani’s cause by donating furniture, he can be reached at 813-469-8093.

Published July 06, 2022

Woman’s club honored by county board for its good works

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Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club who attended the Pasco County Commission meeting on June 21 were operating in a different mode than usual.

Instead of being there to give, they were there to receive.

Typically, when the women show up somewhere, they are carting books to coin laundries,  delivering practical items to help residents of a domestic violence shelter, placing flags near the headstones of veterans at a cemetery or performing some other public service.

At the county board’s meeting, however, they were there to be honored.

Commissioners adopted a resolution to acknowledge the woman’s club’s “62 years of dedicated service to the residents of Pasco County.”

The Pasco County Commission honored the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club for its 62 years of community service. From left: Commissioners Ron Oakley and Mike Moore; GFWC club members Annette Bellingar, Elayne Bassinger (club president) and Nancy Taylor; and, Pasco County Commissioners Kathryn Starkey (chairwoman), Christina Fitzpatrick and Jack Mariano. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The club is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC).

The GFWC, according to the resolution, is “one of the world’s largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women’s volunteer service organizations.”

The Lutz-Land O’ Lakes club was founded on March 4, 1960, and currently has about 100 members. It focuses on six areas of community service projects: arts and culture; civic engagement; environment; education; health and wellness; and domestic violence prevention and awareness, the resolution says.

During the club’s history, members have donated more than 1.5 million hours of volunteer service and have raised almost $3 million.

In 2021 alone, the women completed 421 projects, volunteered 29,675 hours, and raised  $109,459 to support scholarships, projects and good works, the resolution adds.

The group’s fundraising efforts and charitable acts have been covered for decades in the pages of The Laker/Lutz News.

The volunteer group hosts two major fundraisers each year. It holds an arts and crafts show during the holidays, which features vendors from around the country and attracts thousands of shoppers from throughout the region.

The club also conducts a flea market — luring crowds of bargain-seekers.

The pandemic temporarily put the kibosh on those events — putting a significant dent in the woman’s club budget.

But the club kept rolling.

And, the events are back on.

Besides the big fundraisers, the women also host periodic small fundraisers to support various projects and activities.

They provide practical support, in all sorts of ways.

When Habitat for Humanity held a housewarming in Dade City, for instance, the woman’s club was there with gifts, including a wreath, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a water filtration system, a set of Tervis tumblers and other useful items.

Kate Frederick, of Wesley Chapel, left, and her sister, Ava, sit on the back of a golf cart decked out with streamers and a message of Lutz pride. The girls are members of the GFWC Little Women of Lutz. This photo was taken during the Lutz Fourth of July parade in 2019. (File)

Club members were at the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport, to provide a warm welcome — and a unique flag star — to veterans returning from an honor flight to tour the war memorials in Washington D.C.

The ladies also stopped by the Lutz Senior Center, to chat with seniors and serve breakfast treats. And, they helped on projects at a Sensory Garden on the grounds of Camp Idlewild in Land O’ Lakes.

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, club women delivered gift baskets filled with snacks, treats and fruit to eight local first responder stations in Land O’ Lakes and Lutz.

They also collaborated with the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library and its Foundry to install a little library on the campus of Shady Hills Elementary School in Spring Hill.

The woman’s club also knows how to have fun.

It holds luncheon fundraisers, fashion shows and other events to raise money for community causes.

Members can be entertaining, too.

At the Gulfside Hospice Charity Festival of Arts, in May, some club members dressed up as nuns and performed a number from “Sister Act.”

In addition to providing support for survivors of domestic violence and providing annual scholarships to help area students continue their education, the woman’s club has its hand in a wide array of projects.

It works to protect the environment, to promote education, and supply warmth and good cheer to veterans and the elderly.

It also supports efforts to mentor youths, through the Little Women of Lutz, various scouting organizations and other youth groups.

When Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles finished reading the county board’s resolution at its recent meeting, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore congratulated members who were there representing the club.

Moore told them: “You do so much for the community. It’s so greatly appreciated. The time and effort you put in, to all of these projects. You make Pasco County and the whole Tampa Bay region much better than it was.”

Elayne Bassinger, the club’s president, responded: “Thank you, commissioner. Thank you all for acknowledging what we have tried to accomplish over the last 62 years, to make our community a better place (in which) to live and to work. We appreciate it (the honor) so much.”

To find out more about the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Published July 06,202 2