The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Engines to roar in downtown Zephyrhills

By

Get ready and get set for motorcycles to be on grand display in downtown Zephyrhills for the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles event on Sept. 14.

Bikers can show off their hot rides of various colors and sizes, along Fifth Avenue, between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

This aerial shot shows the lines of vendors, motorbikes and patrons that take up Downtown Zephyrhills for the Music & Motorcycles event. This year’s function on Sept. 14, will be no exception. (Courtesy of Anna Stutzriem, director at Main Street Zephyrhills)

With nearly 100 vendors on hand, visitors will be able to choose from a wide range of foods, crafts and merchandise.

Local shops will be open for business, too.

Those wishing to partake in adult beverages must stop at the check-in booth and show their ID to get a wristband and cup, then they can purchase drinks by presenting their ID, the wristband and the cup.

And, as patrons walk the strip, Bluetooth speakers will amplify the live performances of the returning Bearded Brothers band.

Also, anyone can register their motorcycle in the 10-Class, Ride-In Bike Show while at the event. First- and second-place winners will receive trophies.

Admission and parking are free.

Proceeds from the event will help support future Zephyrhills functions and art projects.

To find out more, please contact Main Street Zephyrhills at (813) 780-1414 or MainStreetZephyrhills.org.

15th annual Music & Motorcycles
Where: Downtown Zephyrhills along Fifth Avenue
When: Sept. 14 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Downtown shops and vendors will offer food, crafts and other items. The Bearded Brothers band will provide live music and the bike show will showcase unique motorcycles.
Info: Call Main Street Zephyrhills at (813) 780-1414, or visit MainStreetZephyrhills.org.

Published September 11, 2019

San Antonio welcomes back outdoor market

By

The San Antonio Farmers Market is set to return with an array of unique merchandise, starting on Sept. 14.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can visit numerous vendors offering produce, bath and body products, honey, jams and plants, among other things.

A local winery also will offer samples of fruit-flavored wines to entice potential buyers.

Multiple park benches will be available for relaxation and to enjoy food, including Mr. Jim’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Also, kids can be dropped off at their own station where they can create free crafts.

For a $1-ticket, visitors can enter a drawing to win a gift basket.

The Barking Dogs will perform, too.

Admission and parking are free, and the event is pet-friendly.

Proceeds will support future projects of the San Antonio Rotary Club.

The function will be held at the San Antonio City Park at 12202 Main St., in San Antonio.

The market will take place the second Saturday of each month from September through May 2020.

For additional information, please call Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161.

San Antonio Farmers Market
When: Starting Sept. 14 and continuing every second Saturday of each month through May 2020. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., each time
Where: San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio
Cost: Free
Details: Patrons can shop for various products in an outdoor setting. There also will be music and activities for kids.
Info: Call Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161.

Published September 11, 2019

Motorists soon to have smoother ride on Willow Bend Parkway

By

Willow Bend Parkway in Lutz is set to undergo repaving starting the week of Sept. 9.

Willow Bend Parkway will undergo road modifications through the month of September. The work will be done during the evening to minimize disruptions. (Brian Fernandes)

Pasco County chose the modification as its program maintenance project, which will stretch from the road’s intersections with U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, to Collier Parkway.

Willow Bend Parkway’s eastbound and westbound lanes will be milled and resurfaced. The road also will be restriped, and new pavement markings will be added.

The work will be done between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., on Sundays through Thursdays, during which time there will be single-lane closures.

Message boards will be posted during work hours to guide traffic.

The project is estimated at $966,000, and is being paid for as part of the county’s budget.

The goal is to complete the work by Sept. 30, barring any weather disruptions.

The road is popular with motorists because it links to County Line Road, which connects to North Dale Mabry Highway, where there are a number of service providers and commercial businesses.

Published September 04, 2019

Sticky fun is popping up everywhere

By

While some may see bubbles as just soapy pockets of air, Blaise Ryndes uses them to bring smiles to faces nationwide.

With his Spheres Bubble Show, the Land O’ Lakes resident creates unique bubble performances.

Bubble performer Blaise Ryndes, of Land O’ Lakes, opens his recent ‘Spheres’ show at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, with a massive amount of bubbles. (Christine Holtzman)

He is a solo entertainer, but his parents, Dave and Nadine, accompany him at each show.

“I like to consider my act to be a fusion of art, science and magic,” the 18-year-old said.

Just like many kids, he had an affinity for magic and balloon animals growing up.

But, at age 9, he decided he wanted to become a performer — not just a spectator.

His dad bought him his first magic kit, and he began learning how to master tricks. He also found creative ways to contort balloons into various shapes.

As he recalled: “I was always really shy as a child. I noticed when I got into magic, that when I would start to perform for other people, I came out of my shell a little bit. It gave me confidence.”

He drew inspiration from the Cirque du Soleil entertainers and the Blue Man Group.

One day, his dad showed him a YouTube video of the bubble performer, Tom Noddy.

Bubble performer and Land O’ Lakes native Blaise Ryndes releases a bubble infused with helium and the smoke from a mini fogger.

After watching Noddy’s act, Blaise was inspired to learn about bubbles himself.

Acquiring skills took much trial and error, but he said his persistence allowed him to create his own bubble techniques.

Blaise was attending Countryside Montessori Charter School, while performing shows.

As he gained notoriety, he took Pasco eSchool online courses during high school.

Over the years, he has performed at birthday parties and sports arenas, while being invited to venues in Massachusetts and Texas.

Locally, he has done shows at the Lutz Preparatory School, Glazer Children’s Museum and Great Explorations Children’s Museum, to name a few.

At 16, he was selected to perform his bubble act on the television series, America’s Got Talent, which exposed him to the nation.

Chosen as volunteers from the audience, identical 5-year-old twins Annika Johnson, of Odessa, left, and her sister, Kaitlyn, stand still, as Blaise Ryndes covers them inside a giant bubble.

“They flew me out to Los Angeles, California,” Blaise recounted. “I did my show, the judges loved it. It was really a great experience.”

“Blaise is a rock star in the bubble world,” his dad said. “He’ll probably do close to 200 shows this year.”

One of those events was at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Aug. 10. There, the Children’s Room was packed with parents and kids alike.

The crowd watched in awe as Blaise inflated a large bubble illuminated by an LED-lit platform, then used a straw to blow wind ripples inside the bubble.

During the “UFO,” he used a special device to blow smoke into the bottom of a bubble, forcing it to move upward into a saucer shape.

The audience continued to erupt in cheers as he performed the “Galaxy” — using a straw to create a big bubble, which he filled with smaller bubbles inside, spinning like planets.

One part of his act had the crowd counting down before he gently released a vertical chain of bubbles into the air, like a rocket.

After doing a trick, performer Blaise Ryndes catches a giant bubble on his face, before popping it.

In another, a rectangular frame held a film of glossy bubble liquid. Blaise poked an opening in the film using a thin, knotted string and formed a bubble on the audience’s side. He then slowly pulled back the string with the bubble fully intact on his end.

Some kids had the chance to become a part of the show. One by one, each became immersed in a bubble wall, as Blaise lifted a hoop, surrounding them.

The library function was the first time Blaise incorporated new props to a show, such as fire and laser beams.

He enjoys entertaining at these venues, but also performs in places where sad children need a smile.

During the finale of his recent show at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, bubble performer Blaise Ryndes cuts a perfect circle through his ‘wall of bubbles,’ and then stretches his arm through it.

“Out of all the shows I do, by far, the shows that are the most rewarding are charitable performances,” Blaise said.

He has put on shows for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Children’s Cancer Center and Best Buddies International.

His dad couldn’t hold back tears as he recalled the joy Blaise brought to the kids at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Saint Petersburg.

“It feels so good to help make their lives a little better,” Blaise said. “Even if it’s just one second that you can take their mind away from all the negative things that they’re having to deal with, and just have a cool experience. That’s the reason I do this.”

He also noted that while he’s a star, Spheres Bubble Show really is a family business, and he’s happy to have his parents supporting him every step of the way.

For more information, or inquiries for the Spheres Bubble Show, visit SpheresBubbleAndMagicShow.com.

Published September 04, 2019

Under Construction 09/04/2019

By

A new Hampton Inn & Suites will soon be open to guests visiting Pasco County. (Brian Fernandes)

Hampton Inn & Suites
Hampton Inn & Suites currently is constructing a new hotel in Odessa. Located at 11780 State Road 54, the resort will hold 99 rooms on four floors. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a breakfast bar. Construction for the 59,352-square-foot structure began November of last year. It is expected to open in October.

 

 

 

Wesley Chapel will have a new senior care home with the Blue Heron Health & Rehabilitation Community. This four-story facility will offer skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care services.

Blue Heron Health & Rehabilitation Community
The opening of a new senior care home is approaching in the Wesley Chapel region. The Blue Heron Health & Rehabilitation Community will be located at 5885 Eagleston Blvd., off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The four-story building will accommodate residents with skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care. It will also have a downstairs dining room, therapy and game rooms, as well as a salon. Construction for the project began in June and is expected to be completed by late 2020.

 

 

 

Construction is underway for the Kiddie Academy at Wiregrass Ranch. The Wesley Chapel school will accommodate infants to children 12 years of age.

Kiddie Academy at Wiregrass Ranch
Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care will be opening a new branch in Wesley Chapel. Kiddie Academy at Wiregrass Ranch will be located at 2900 Hueland Pond Blvd., and will serve infants up to children age 12. At approximately 10,000 square feet, the school will have a kitchen, teacher’s lounge and offices, in addition to multiple classrooms. It also will have a playground. The facility is scheduled to open for the 2020-2021 school year.

 

 

 

Moffitt outpatient center at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
Construction has begun on a new outpatient clinic by Moffitt Cancer Center in partnership with AdventHealth. The 98,000-square-foot medical office will be on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hospital. The three-story building will include 20 exam rooms, and will provide medical and radiation oncology services. The facility also will accommodate patients who are in post-treatment for cancer and in remission. The outpatient center is expected to open the fall of 2020.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Published September 04, 2019

New Pasco clerk seeks technology upgrades, more

By

New Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles isn’t wasting much time in trying to implement some new initiatives within the clerk’s office.

She was formally appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month, following the retirement of her predecessor, Paula O’ Neil.

The new clerk outlined a number of her ideas during an Aug. 27 East Pasco Networking Group breakfast meeting in Dade City.

Newly appointed Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles was the featured guest speaker at a recent East Pasco Networking Group Meeting in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss)

One of her primary aims, she said, is to boost the office’s technology capabilities, which will improve efficiency and cut costs in an agency that staffs over 300.

The technology improvements include the development of a case management system, which would provide electronic court files to the county’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, she said.

Alvarez-Sowles pointed out that Pasco County is the only one out of 67 counties in the state that still requires paper files.

That system costs her office time and money, she said.

“We have this huge, expensive budget related to paper…so what we’re trying to do is leverage our technologies,” she said.

Related to that, Alvarez-Sowles said her office is developing an automated docket program to streamline simple actions, such as indexing case numbers “to take the workload off of the team, so they can focus on the more complex and complicated functions.”

Alvarez-Sowles said she’s also looking into the feasibility of organizing attorney consultations within the clerk’s legal resource center at both county courthouses in Dade City and New Port Richey — to help unrepresented individuals or those unable to afford an attorney in civil matters related to divorce, residential landlord/tenant, small claims and so on.

The program would model larger counties, such as Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas, Alvarez-Sowles said, whereas the clerk’s office partners with local general practice attorneys to offer 15 minutes or so of legal guidance, at a rate of about a $1 per minute. The program could take at least a year to implement, she said.

Alvarez-Sowles said the affordable consultations “wouldn’t create an attorney-client relationship, but it just gives (unrepresented individuals) the ability to maneuver through and know that they can do it on their own.”

She underscored the need for such a service in the county: “So many times, people come to our front counter and we cannot give them legal advice. We know that they need to file a motion, but we can’t say, ‘You need to file a motion,’ because we’ll get in trouble for the unauthorized practice of law…”.

More generally, Alvarez-Sowles in her new role said she wants to build upon the office’s values of compassion and helpfulness toward others.

“When someone comes to our office, we don’t judge them,” the clerk said.

“People coming into our world in the clerk’s office, for the majority, they’re on like the worst time of their life. They’re coming in, they’re scared, they’re stressed out, they’re hurt, they’re angry, they’re not in a good place.

“We can pull up their case information and see what’s going on in their life very quickly  and easily, but at any time, any one of us could be on the other side of that counter… so whatever it is, we’re here to help them find a better day, we’re there to help them get to that better day.”

Alvarez-Sowles is the county’s eighth clerk and comptroller.

She was named an interim successor by Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino, upon O’ Neil’s retirement on July 1. She received DeSantis’ appointment on Aug. 9.

Alvarez-Sowles is filling out the balance of term for the post vacated by O’ Neil.

The new clerk said at the breakfast meeting she plans to run for election in 2020. “I will be putting my name in. I do intend to run,” she said.

Prior to her appointment, Alvarez-Sowles was serving as the clerk’s office chief operations officer (COO) under O’ Neil since 2010, a position she said is still unfilled.

The transition to the more senior role has been seamless for her, she said, however, it comes with added responsibility.

“There has been no hiccups, nothing that has tripped me up,” Alvarez-Sowles said. “The difference is before, I would do the research and make a recommendation. And now, I make the decision, so the pressure is a little more weight on the shoulders.”

The new clerk also gave kudos to her predecessor.

She said of O’ Neil: “I had one of the best mentors anyone could ever have asked for, her community outreach and her caring for our Pasco County.”

Born in Tampa, Alvarez-Sowles played soccer at the University of South Florida then earned her law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.

From 2000 to 2005, she practiced real estate law with the Tampa firm of Echevarria, Codilis & Stawiarski P.I., and spent a year as real estate development manager for the nonprofit Housing & Education Alliance Inc., before joining the Palm Beach Clerk & Comptroller’s Office as director of branch court services.

Alvarez-Sowles said she stopped practicing law because “it didn’t fill my cup up of what was my purpose.”

Her purpose instead, she said, lies in the public service arena because “that’s how I feel I can give back to our community.”

Published September 04, 2019

Zephyrhills to remember fallen of 9/11

By

As commemoration ceremonies take place across America to honor the victims of Sept. 11, Zephyrhills, too, will host its annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.

The public event will begin at 11 a.m., and is expected to last an hour.

Zephyr Park will host this year’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to honor the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. (File)

Marine Corps League Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Curtin Detachment 1124 will host the event.

The league is named after a fallen first responder at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Rodney Rehrig, of the club, will be the master of ceremonies – conducting the memorial service.

The Zephyrhills High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) will display flags as they post the colors.

And, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Honor Guard will perform the ceremony’s rifle salute.

Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield and Danny Burgess, executive director of the Florida Department of Veteran’s Affairs will offer remarks during the commemoration.

Spectators will be able to play a role by saluting the flags, singing the American national anthem, and mingling with those who have served the nation.

The event will be at Zephyr Park at 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

For additional information, call Rodney Rehrig at (813) 481-0718, or email him at .

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills
When: Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to noon
Cost: Free
Details: The Star Spangled Banner will be sung and various organizations will perform ceremonial salutes to the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield and Danny Burgess, executive director of the Florida Department of Veteran’s Affairs, will be the day’s guest speakers.
Info: Contact Rodney Rehrig at (813) 481-0718 or .

Published September 04, 2019

New fire station opens in Wesley Chapel

By

Pasco County has opened Fire Rescue Station 38, a new station built to serve Wesley Chapel.

A ribbon cutting took place on Aug. 27 to celebrate the new station, which began operation several weeks ago.

This is the first station added to a fire coverage area in the county since 2009, and is intended to reduce emergency wait times.

Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 38 had its grand opening ceremony on Aug. 27. The Wesley Chapel facility is located in the Watergrass community and will help cut down on response times during emergencies. (Brian Fernandes)

A big crowd gathered to celebrate the moment, including Pasco County officials and firefighters, as well as Fire Chief Scott Cassin.

“This is yet another great day for Pasco County Fire Rescue, and [an] absolutely awesome day for citizens of Pasco County,” the fire chief said.

The estimated $3.5 million project broke ground last September and has been a decade in the making. This was funded primarily by the county’s fire impact fees.

The fire station is situated in the Watergrass community, off of Overpass Road.

“This station, itself, will help the response time to get better safety, emergency help, and fire help [to the] community, and strengthen the fire services for the entire county. That’s so important to our residents,” Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said, during the ceremony’s opening remarks.

“With the ever-growing emergency call volume here in the Wesley Chapel area, and the other surrounding portions of Pasco County, this additional capacity stands to do just that,” Cassin added.

The 10,850-square-foot facility is the county’s second largest fire station. It can accommodate up to 13 firefighters.

The station is equipped with four bi-fold, bay doors that slide open at a quicker rate than the traditional overhead doors that roll up.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles, left, Pasco County Attorney Jeff Steinsnyder, Chief Scott Cassin, Pasco County Commissioners Ron Oakley and Jack Mariano, Kathy Creighton and Andy Taylor take part in the ribbon cutting for Fire Rescue Station 38. Pasco residents were welcomed to celebrate the Wesley Chapel facility’s opening on Aug. 27.

It now has a paramedic engine and an EMS supervisor SUV, but it can house up to eight vehicles at once.

“The station is also environmentally friendly, highly energy-efficient and storm-hardened, which are all critical elements of today’s infrastructure,” Cassin said.

Features include a vehicle exhaust extraction system – the first to be installed in a Pasco County fire station. This helps to deter the spread of diesel fumes, which have been identified as creating an increased risk of lung cancer.

The station’s call alert system is designed to handle a high demand of inquiries, with six to eight crew members working on any given shift.

Amenities at the station include a kitchen, a gym, multiple bunk rooms and climate-controlled storage rooms.

Several housewarming gifts were presented to add to the station’s interior. Those included a signed promotional poster for actor John Cena’s upcoming film. The Pasco County resident was not present at the event.

County officials joined the fire chief in a ribbon cutting, which was followed by a tour of the station and refreshments.

Published September 04, 2019

New $4 million pharmaceutical project in Pasco

By

Fleda Pharmaceuticals has announced a two-phase $4 million project to build a manufacturing facility in Odessa, according to the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

The company expects to open its doors on Byrd Legg Drive this winter.

Fleda purchased an existing office building and a 9,600-square-foot warehouse to initiate the first phase of its plans, the Pasco EDC news release says.

It is expected to create 30 new jobs for the area.

It also plans to construct a 30,000-square-foot facility and a research lab for generic medicine, in phase two.

“Pasco EDC assisted our company with expedited permitting, site consultation, and workforce analysis,” John Wang, CEO of Fleda Pharmaceuticals, said in the release. “Gathering that information for us was a tremendous help. We have been so welcomed already by their team and Pasco County.”

The company is in the process of turning the vacant warehouse into a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) dietary supplement manufacturing facility where it will produce gummy vitamins.

Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president/CEO, said Fleda’s “investment in Pasco County will help diversify our economy with high paying jobs and increasing the industrial property tax base.”
For more information on Fleda Pharmaceuticals, visit FledaUSA.com.

Published September 04, 2019

Bible tracker helps reveal family stories

By

Andy Smith has been quietly going about the work of helping to reconnect people with their old family Bibles, for more than a decade.

The Laker/Lutz News first profiled Smith and his unusual hobby three years ago, which led to feature stories about him broadcast on two local television stations.

The coverage resulted in people coming forward to ask the northern Hillsborough County man to help them reconnect Bibles — that had come into their possession — with descendants of the original owners.

Andy Smith spends a portion of his free time tracking down people who may be related to the original owners of old Bibles now being sold on eBay. He said the registry and matrimony pages of these Bibles can help tell a family’s story. (B.C. Manion)

Since The Laker/Lutz News story was published on July 27, 2016,  Smith estimates he has helped reunite more than 100 old Bibles with family members.

The buyers of those Bibles lived in such places as Alabama, California, Florida, Colorado, Indiana, New York, Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Smith said.

And, the family origins in the Bibles he has tracked down include places such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, New York, Indiana, Texas, Maryland, Iowa, Delaware, Ireland, England and Scotland.

“The greatest separation in generations was a man in Vero Beach who purchased a Bible that belonged to Daniel Layton and wife, Jane Vorhees – the man’s seventh great-grandparents,” Smith said. “Remarkably, he was able to purchase the Bible for just $15, which is far less than the selling price for most of these Bibles.”

Typically, the prices for family Bibles on eBay range from about $50 to $350, or more, Smith said.

Smith, who spent decades working as a newspaper professional, noted that his personal interest in old family Bibles stems in part from the Bible he inherited from his grandmother.

The sacred book originally had belonged to his great-great-grandparents, dating back to the 1870s, he said. Pages within the book help tell the story of his family.

After receiving the family heirloom, he decided to see what he could find out about his ancestors, and the more he delved into it, the more fascinated he became.

Pages such as these, in old Bibles, can yield interesting information about a family’s ancestors. (File)

Smith came to realize how much can be lost, when a Bible is separated from its family.

So, he decided to see what he could do to help reconnect families with Bibles that were somehow, over time, disconnected from them.

Smith devotes a portion of his spare time tracking down Bibles on eBay — with some dating back to the 1700s.

He records names and dates from the Bible’s registry pages and then searches for potential matches on family trees listed on Ancestry.com.

When he finds one, he reaches out — sending an email. It goes something like: “Greetings. No, we’re not related, but I’ve come across something that I think might be of interest to you.”

Then he shares the information that he copied from the registry pages.

He makes it clear that he doesn’t own the Bible and doesn’t know the person selling it. He merely acts as conduit, passing along information that may be useful to the recipient.

It’s entirely up to them, if they want to pursue the lead, he said.

His primary goal is to help families salvage information that, in some cases, may not be available anywhere else.

For instance, families typically were larger in previous generations, and there also were more childhood deaths from disease, he said. So, it’s possible that younger children whose names were recorded in the Bible, were never recorded in a census because they were born after one census was taken and died before the next one came along.

Smith said he doesn’t make a dime from his pastime, but enjoys the gratification that comes from helping make a connection.

“The responses that I get are so cool,” he said.

“It’s not how many people respond — it’s that one response that you get. You can just tell how much it means,” Smith said.

If you’d like to reach out to see if Smith can help you reconnect a family Bible, email him at .

Published September 04, 2019