Local News

Automotive section launches today

December 13, 2018 By Diane Kortus

This week The Laker/Lutz News is expanding our business coverage with a new automotive section that we’re calling “autoMOTIVES.”

We emphasize the word “MOTIVES” because we believe this section’s outstanding content will educate and motivate you to keep up with the latest automotive trends, and help you decide what is the best vehicle for you and your loved ones.

Our editor is Nitish Rele, an accomplished automotive writer who lives in New Tampa and is under contract with several automobile manufacturers to test drive and write stories for industry publications and blogs.

Rele has been writing product reviews, test drives and reporting automotive news for more than 20 years. He will be doing the same for The Laker/Lutz News, but with a heavy emphasis on local automotive and dealer news for our readers in Pasco and north Hillsborough counties.

Rele is also the founder and publisher of Motoring Tampa Bay, a comprehensive auto enthusiast guide in print and online since 2009. Also notable, Rele was at The Tampa Tribune from 1989 to 2009 and was the weekly automotive columnist for his last 11 years there.

Rele received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and has been a Tampa Bay resident for nearly 30 years. I’m proud to add that he is a longtime, regular reader of our newspaper.

“Buying a vehicle is one of the biggest expenses a family incurs,” said Rele. “Our goal is to give readers timely and informative automotive news and professionally sanctioned test drives to help local people make informative decisions about their next vehicle.”

It is interesting to note that according to our 2017 readership buyer’s survey, 38 percent of our readers plan to purchase a new or used vehicle in the next 12 months —or 13,557 vehicles.

“We want to educate readers early in the buying process — when you are still considering your top vehicle choices and deciding how much you want to spend,” said Rele.

“Our goal is to give you information to make intelligent automotive decisions, and to help you find your next vehicle close to home at a dealership that is convenient and which provides service, body and warranty work.”

The Laker/Lutz News is able to add automotive news to its coverage because of the support of our inaugural advertisers — Christian Brothers Automotive, Maus Family Chevrolet, Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel and Wesley Chapel Toyota/Lexus/Honda.

All are locally owned, family businesses, just like we are at The Laker/Lutz News.

My staff and I sincerely thank these advertisers for their support, and if you have an opportunity to visit these neighborhood businesses, please be sure to thank them for bringing automotive news to your community newspaper.

Published December 12, 2018

This club aims to help improve community life

December 13, 2018 By Brian Fernandes

The prospect of teenagers showing up at the door Halloween night asking for canned foods as opposed to sweet treats may seem unusual.

However, that is what the Wesley Chapel LEO club has set to do – stand out in the community in a positive way.

As part of the Wesley Chapel Lions Club youth division, the LEOs – which stands for leadership, experience and opportunity – is a group of teenagers ranging from age 12 to 18.

Members of the Wesley Chapel Lions Club and its youth division, the LEOs, help to pick up an area along a 2-mile stretch of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., on Nov. 11. Shown here, from left, are: Maeher Sukhija, Tricia Gregoire, Zoe Gregoire, Seth Gregoire, Tom Tokish and Tom Mavor. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel Lions Club)

This fall, the LEOs placed flyers door to door in their Wesley Chapel communities informing residents they would be back, hoping for a liberal donation of canned goods.

Sure enough, on Oct. 31, they kept their promise — putting an entirely new spin on ‘trick-or-treating.’

They collected more than 190 pounds of food, which was donated to the Helping Hands Food Pantry at Atonement Church in Wesley Chapel.

The youth division of the Lions Club is nothing new. The first one began in 1957, with the help of the Glenside Lions Club in Pennsylvania.

It since has grown to have an international presence — with more than 6,500 clubs in more than 140 countries. In addition to encouraging good deeds, the organization has a scholarship program for its members.

Tom Mavor, president of the Wesley Chapel Lions Club, has witnessed the great work the youths have done. He hopes their parents will see them as contributing and competent young adults.

“Their kids are engaged, they’re fun, they’ve got great ideas and they want to do great things,” he said.

LEOs can either be organized through a school or a local Lions chapter – the Wesley Chapel club chose the latter.

“We wanted something that would bring kids from different schools and different cultures together in a place where they can work collaboratively,” reasoned Mavor.

The Lions Club encourages the LEOs to brainstorm ways to help their community, and then take the initiative to put the plans in motion.

Fourteen-year-old Jillian Tokish is president of the Wesley Chapel LEOs, and her grandparents have been Lions Club members for as long as she can remember.

Her grandfather initially approached her with the idea of starting the youth division. She liked the idea and over the summer the club began.

“It’s a really cool experience,” she said.

It gives youths a chance to put aside their phones and gain a greater appreciation of nature, and people, in general, she said.

One Sunday morning in early November, the youth club, along with the assistance of the Lions Club, cleared trash and debris along a 2-mile stretch of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The experience gave the youths a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining a safe and clean environment, Mavor said.

After Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, the group joined with other LEO clubs to assemble personal hygienic kits for those needing help.

“What really drives them is seeing success,” said Mavor. “We’re helping children to learn that giving back is important.”

They also have started visiting local nursing homes to spend quality time with the elderly.

“You see the smile on people’s faces – that just brings so much joy,” Tokish said, describing the responses that club members receive.

The group now has 15 members, and they wear their club T-shirts to club gatherings, as well as to school, to advertise their cause.

In the future, they plan to deliver baked cookies to the Wesley Chapel firefighters to thank them for their service.

The Wesley Chapel club also wants to partner with local schools, to implement programs aimed at anti-bullying and also helping youths to interact socially.

They expect to send a representative of their club next year to a U.S.-Canada Leadership Forum, which will be held in Arizona. The forum will give club members from both countries a chance to learn in various workshops.

Mavor sees a difference between how his generation grew up and current millennials, but he said they have something in common: A willingness to help mankind.

Published December 12, 2018

Sunlake senior wins countywide honor

December 13, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Since she stepped foot upon Sunlake High School’s campus four years ago, Jillian Gordy has strived to make a difference within her school and community.

Sunlake High School student Jillian Gordy has been named Pasco County Schools’ 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior. The award is given on the basis of academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and evidence of commitment to school and community. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

She’s spearheaded new school traditions.

She’s been involved in numerous clubs and service organizations.

And, she’s managed to maintain a 4.0-plus grade point average.

The 18-year-old’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Last month, the young woman from Lutz was named Pasco County Schools’ 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior Award.

The award is given on the basis of academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and evidence of commitment to school and community. Students considered for the award are nominated by the student body, principals, faculty and staff. Nominees from each high school in Pasco are then interviewed by a panel of administrators who ultimately narrow the selection to one student to represent the school district.

Gordy said she was surprised to even be nominated for the senior award because she only takes one class on Sunlake’s campus.

She takes the rest of her senior classes off-campus at Pasco-Hernando State College.

“I’m just really honored to be able to represent Sunlake, and honored to be named for this award,” the 18-year-old said in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News. “I wasn’t really expecting it.”

What she lacks in classroom time at Sunlake, Gordy makes up for in student involvement.

She serves as executive student body president and has been an officer in student government for four years.

In the senior leadership role, she’s already helped enact two new traditions at Sunlake.

Within the first few months of her term, Gordy persuaded school administration to enable seniors and school staff to paint their parking spots as a way to encourage school spirit.

While a relatively common practice for many other high schools, it marked a first for Sunlake.

“I was really proud of seeing that come to fruition,” Gordy said. “People don’t like their spots being taken in the morning, so this was something that the kids really looked forward to and the staff really loved, and it was really a morale boost.”

Her other tradition? Making goodie bags for incoming freshman during orientation.

Gordy refers to the goodie bags as “survival kits.” They contain applications for clubs, athletic information and homecoming information. The idea is to encourage new students to get involved.

“I wish that all schools could do that because it gives everyone a chance to get involved and no one can say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that club in freshman year,’” Gordy said.

Besides being involved in student government, Gordy also is president of the French Honor Society and French Club.

Her mother’s family is French-Canadian, she said, noting, “I was kind of connecting with my roots through French Honor Society and learning about French culture.”

Gordy also is a member of the National Honor Society and class director of Sunlake’s Key Club, a volunteer and service organization.

She’s racked up more than 450 volunteer hours through Key Club.

During her sophomore year, she led the club’s first Toys for Tots gift drive. (Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.)

During that effort, she asked her peers to bring in more gifts for teenagers, after noticing that youths ages 13 to 17 are often overlooked by donors.

Gordy became a volunteer with Toys for Tots when she was just 5. She credits her mom, Carol, for getting her involved.

“My mom has really influenced me to be a volunteer for life and really dedicate my life to service,” Gordy said.

Over the years, Gordy said she noticed that most of the gifts provided for teenagers involve sporting equipment, such as basketballs and footballs.

To help improve the situation, she made a donation list for fellow Key Club members, asking for gifts such as books, science kits, art supplies and beauty products.

She’s continued the initiative ever since, and is now working with Kiwanis of Greater West Pasco to expand awareness and increase donations for teens.

Gordy underscored the importance of addressing that issue: “Those are the children that are usually taking care of their younger siblings, and they’re more of like a parental figure, and so we really need to take care of them during the holiday season.”

Because of her work with Toys for Tots, Gordy received the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award last year. The award is presented by the Florida Holocaust Museum to one junior in each of the public and private high schools in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Besides her service and leadership qualities, Gordy’s academic achievements are admirable, too.

She’s been named to the All-As Academic Honor Roll every year of high school.

She won the AP Scholar Award for getting 5s — the highest score possible—on every AP exam she took.

She also earned the Science Achievement Award in AP Environmental Science as a sophomore.

In addition to her AP course load, Gordy has been taking dual enrollment courses since her sophomore year — earning 35 college credits to date. She was also awarded the English Achievement Award for dual enrollment as a sophomore and junior, and made the PHSC Honor Roll both semesters of the 2017-2018 school years.

Gordy credits much of her success to her teachers at Sunlake and PHSC.

“My teachers have been amazing,” Gordy said. “I’ve learned so much from my classes and they’ve really shaped me as a person, and they shaped what I want to go into.”

That also includes her mother — who is a marine science teacher at Sunlake.

Gordy noted education was “very, very emphasized” in the family’s household.

“She definitely taught me the meaning of education and how important it is,” Gordy said, “and how much that education can influence others, as well as yourself, and how everything can be achieved through education. I definitely learned to love school and to love learning through her.”

Gordy said she’s still undecided on which college she plans to attend. But, her sights are on becoming a civil engineer and working for Engineers Without Borders, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that assists developing communities worldwide with engineering projects.

Reflecting on her high school career, Gordy is appreciative of the level of support she’s received from the Sunlake teachers and administration.

She’s also grateful for the numerous opportunities afforded to her through school clubs and other organizations.

“The amount of school spirit at Sunlake when I was a freshman was so amazing that I wanted to be more involved,” Gordy said. “I just wanted to be part of like the change at our school.”

Published December 12, 2018

Guardian ad litem volunteers advocate for children

December 13, 2018 By Brian Fernandes

One of the greatest opportunities a child can have is to be raised in a safe, caring foundation, surrounded by those they know they can trust.

According to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), there are more than 400,000 children in the United States living in foster care — many without any understanding of what it is to have a permanent home.

Abuse and neglect are the primary reasons why youths are removed from their homes, and CASA is a nationwide organization which assists children through the court system to be placed in homes.

Guardian ad Litem is a child advocacy group, operating under the auspices of CASA, which offers services across the 20 judicial circuits of Florida.

Larnelle Scott, left, and Mariela Ollsen, of the Guardian ad Litem Sixth Judicial Circuit, work on behalf of children in Pasco and Pinellas counties placed in foster care. (Brian Fernandes)

Guardian ad Litem is made up of a team of volunteers, attorneys and child advocate managers whose sole purpose is tending to the needs of foster children.

Guardian ad Litem, of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers both Pasco and Pinellas counties, was established in the early 1980s.

This year the circuit has the second highest rate of abused and neglected youth in and out of home care – with more than 2,000 reported cases.

Larnelle Scott and Mariela Ollsen both work for Guardian ad Litem in the Sixth Circuit.

While there are different factors for why the rate in this circuit is so high, both women attribute much of it to the rise in the opioid epidemic, which has also plagued the country at large.

With adult supervision hindered by drug use, it can lead to child neglect in a big way said Ollsen, circuit director for Guardian ad Litem.

That void can be filled by volunteers of the organization, who come from all walks of life. The volunteers check in on foster kids and establish a good rapport with them.

However, they first must go through a thorough training and vetting process to ensure they are suitable for the task.

A report of abuse, whether by a family member, teacher or the police, is relayed to an abuse hotline, which in turn gets the court system involved – then Guardian ad Litem is appointed.

The Sixth Circuit in Pasco County holds hearings at two courthouses, the one in Dade City and in New Port Richey.

Guardian ad Litem doesn’t have any say in whether a child is removed from the home or where they are placed, but they can make recommendations based on their case studies and interactions with the children.

While they are ultimately trying to provide security for those in foster care, sometimes the kids don’t see it from that perspective.

“Court can be a scary thing for kids,” explained Ollsen. “There’s a lot of trauma involved with the kid when you remove them. Even in a dysfunctional environment, for most of our kids, that dysfunction is their norm.”

This makes it all the more important for Guardian ad Litem volunteers to form trusting relationships with these children, offering counseling, as well as considering their academic and medical needs.

Once removed from home, children are placed in either a licensed foster home or group home, if there is no extended family with whom they can stay.

Scott and Ollsen said they would prefer that foster care be a last resort if a child can stay with someone who is not only trustworthy but a familiar face.

Ollsen acknowledged that the biggest reward for a Guardian ad Litem volunteer is when a child has found a sense of “permanency” – an environment that is stable and not constantly changing around them.

Educating the public on foster care is also something that Guardian ad Litem is committed to whether it be at Rotary Clubs, churches or schools.

“I do community information sessions a couple times a month in the libraries,” said Scott, who is a regular at both the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library and the Hugh Embry Branch Library.

Parents concerned about their child’s well-being sometimes reach out to her, as they know she will advocate for what is in their child’s best interest.

As the community outreach coordinator, Scott has become a familiar confidant in the children’s lives as they sometimes divulge their deepest feelings.

She affirmed that: “The foster home placement might change, the case manager may change, the schools might change, but the Guardian ad Litem is usually that one anchor that they know is going to be in their corner.”

If interested in becoming a volunteer, visit GuardianAdLitem.org.

Weekly information sessions are every Tuesday at the New Port Richey office at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Dates for the monthly sessions at Land O’ Lakes Library and Hugh Embry Library can be found at HeroToAChild.org.

Want to help?
If interested in becoming a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, visit GuardianAdLitem.org.
Weekly information sessions are each Tuesday at the New Port Richey office at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Dates for the monthly sessions at Land O’ Lakes Library and Hugh Embry Library can be found at HeroToAChild.org.

Published December 12, 2018

This crowd was bullish on East Pasco’s prospects

December 12, 2018 By B.C. Manion

Speakers at the recent “Discover Dade City” symposium cast a spotlight on East Pasco’s development opportunities.

The event, held in the conference center at the East Pasco campus of Pasco-Hernando State College, focused on ongoing projects, as well as those on the drawing board and future prospects.

Dewey Mitchell, the keynote speaker at ‘Discover Dade City’ said that as Dade City grows, its biggest challenge will be to preserve its authentic charm. (B.C. Manion)

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Greater Tampa Realtors and Central Pasco Association of Realtors (which merged with the Pinellas Realtor organization), hosted the inaugural event on Nov. 29.

Larry Guilford, who moderated the two panels of speakers, said “so many things are already happening in Dade City, and so much more is going to happen.”

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said since becoming mayor in 2012, she has tried “to make sure that Dade City has a seat at the table.”

The city continues to look at ways to enhance its quality of life, through such amenities as recreational trails, a bike hub and a splash park, Hernandez said.

It also wants to find ways to repurpose its old buildings, and to explore a Farm-to-Table initiative, she said.

As the city grows, it wants to be sure it plans appropriately, Hernandez added, so it can preserve the “quaint authentic nature of Dade City that you won’t find anywhere else.”

New roads to progress
State Rep. Danny Burgess talked about the extension of State Road 56, which now ends at Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, but is being extended to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

The road will create a new east-west artery that will help ease congestion and promote economic growth. Burgess said, “That will open up so many opportunities.”

David Gwynn, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, said it looks like the State Road 56 extension could be completed as early as next spring, or at least by summer.

The transportation leader talked about a number of other projects that will have a significant impact in East Pasco.

The biggest investment involves projects on State Road 52, starting at the Suncoast Parkway, with stretches being widened all of the way over to U.S. 301, he said.

“This summer, in June, we’re going to let over $150 million in state projects just on State Road 52,” he said. “Widening to six lanes the portion between the Suncoast (Parkway) and (U.S.) 41; some other projects between (U.S.) 41 and the interstate (I-75); and, the realignment (of State Road) 52 all of the way out.”

The state also is studying whether State Road 56 could be further extended from U.S. 301 over to State Road 39 to create another corridor leading to Interstate 4.

Another big project, referred to as the Diverging Diamond, is expected to begin construction in early 2019.

Aimed at reducing congestion at State Road 56 and I-75, the project is expected to make traffic in that area more challenging during construction.

The planned construction of an I-75 interchange at Overpass Road also is expected to provide a significant improvement to transportation in East Pasco.

Preparing future workforce
On the education front, Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools, said a new technical high school expected to open in 2022 on Old Handcart Road will expand opportunities for students, while helping to boost Pasco’s economy.

The school will serve students from the Dade City, Zephyrhills and greater Wesley Chapel areas.

The goal is to build a school that helps students to develop skills that are needed by employers, which will benefit the school’s graduates and companies seeking to fulfill workforce needs.

The district is doing its homework now, to ensure that the school is equipped to offer relevant programs, Browning said.

“We don’t want to build a building and then figure out what programs we’re going to teach,” the superintendent said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley addressed the need for local government to pick up the pace with regards to permit approvals.

“That’s the worst part of government — how slow it moves,” Oakley said.

He pledged: “Pasco County is not going to hold up the builders and others who want to do things the right way. We’re going to make it so it’s more streamlined for them to get those permits.

“There’s nothing wrong with controlled growth,” Oakley said.

Opportunities for all
Another panel talked about investments being made in East Pasco.

Jason Newmyer, administrator for Florida Hospital Dade City, said next year will be a transformative year at the hospital, as a $22 million makeover begins.

Michael Lawson, director of operations for Metro Development Group, talked about Connected City, which is intended to be a place where there will be opportunities for everyone, ranging from large companies to small entrepreneurs.

“We’re going to create this environment that will promote this growth,” Lawson said, noting the 50-year plan for Connected City calls for the development of 10 million square feet of nonresidential and 40,000 residential units.

Connected City is in a corridor covering about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County. It borders Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

Some things are already happening.

Epperson, a community in Connected City, became the first community in North America to open a manmade turquoise lagoon, known under the trademarked name, Crystal Lagoon.

“Crystal Lagoon has been a game-changer for the industry. We were proud to be the first in the U.S. We’ll see these deployed all over the country, but that’s just one element (of Connected City). There are going to be so many more.

“I look at Connected City as basically being an iPhone with unlimited ability to put Apps on it,” Lawson said.

Dewey Mitchell, co-owner of Capstone Tropical Holdings Inc., was the symposium’s keynote speaker.

Agreeing with other speakers on the agenda, Mitchell said there’s no doubt East Pasco is poised for growth. He also touched on an issue raised by Dade City Mayor Hernandez.

“I think the biggest issue for Dade City going forward — as all things happen, and they are going to happen — is keeping the charm the city has currently. I think that’s going to be the biggest issue.

“I kind of like to look at the city of Dunedin. They’ve done a really good job of merging the old city with newer development.

“It’s a pleasant place to be. There’s restaurants and shops. It’s lively. They have a bike path through.

“It sounds easy, but it’s not,” he said.

“At the risk of being offensive to someone, take St. Pete Beach. They messed it up,” he said, and now, “they’re struggling to get back what they once had.

“They just didn’t do it right. Dunedin did,” Mitchell said.

The symposium’s aim was to raise awareness of development opportunities in the East Pasco area, and provide networking opportunities for developers, brokers and property owners, according to John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Saint Leo University was the presenting sponsor, assisted by Pasco-Hernando State College, First National Bank of Pasco, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Properties Group, Florida Hospital Dade City/Zephyrhills, San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, the City of Dade City and The Laker/Lutz News.

Published December 12, 2018

Local agency helps people to stop smoking

December 12, 2018 By Brian Fernandes

While some people wait until New Year’s Eve to make a resolution to quit smoking, experts say there’s no time like the present to get started on the effort.

Those who have tried to quit smoking understand the uphill battle in attempting to kick the habit to the curb.

But, help is available.

Through its tobacco cessation program, the National Area Health Education Center has been training health care professionals nationwide to help smokers overcome their addiction.

As part of the National Area Health Education Center, Nicole Kelly works as a specialist in helping smokers quit throughout Pasco County. (Courtesy of the Gulf Coast North Area Health Education Center)

In Florida alone, the organization has 10 centers covering all 67 counties.

The Gulf Coast North Area Health Education Center (GNAHEC) covers five counties, including Pasco.

Established in 1993, this center has long been affiliated with the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine. It provides resources to help end tobacco use.

The Gulf Coast center offers courses through funding provided by the Florida Department of Health.

“They contract with us to do the in-person group classes,” said Nicole Kelly, tobacco program manager for the center.

Kelly’s background in public health serving Pinellas County was put to good use when she joined the center’s staff in 2013.

After undergoing additional training for her position, she became certified in holding tobacco cessation programs – which aims to help smokers to kick the habit.

The Gulf Coast center offers two free tobacco cessation programs – ‘Tools to Quit’ and ‘Quit Smoking Now.’

‘Tools to Quit’ is a one-time, two-hour session that helps attendees to make plans and prepare to quit smoking.

Specialists, like Kelly, identify the withdrawal symptoms that are expected, how to deal with them as they arise and offer nicotine replacement therapy, if needed.

“We encourage them to set a quit date a week or two after class, so they don’t feel like they have to quit that day,” she explained.

One-time sessions are usually followed up with an evaluation to check on the person’s status seven months after the class.

While walk-ins are welcomed, those who plan to attend are asked to register in advance.

This helps to get an idea beforehand of how long they have been smoking, how often and if they have taken any medications.

‘Quit Smoking Now’ is a six-week program. Class members meet one hour each week.

It’s the same methodology as ‘Tools to Quit,’ but at a more gradual process.

Between classes, members are supposed to put into action the techniques and advice given.

At each session, they report their progress and, by the third week, are asked to quit cold turkey.

The Gulf Coast center is planning to implement a third program in January 2019, which would accommodate large classes at behavioral health sites.

Programs can be held at various locations from medical establishments to libraries.

“Most hospitals and health care systems don’t have tobacco cessation programs that they provide, so we fill that gap perfectly,” said Kelly.

The program also partners with establishments at on-the-job sessions for employees battling with addiction.

This was the case on Nov. 15 for the Great American Smokeout when Gulf Coast center specialists helped encourage workers at their job site to quit smoking.

During the annual event, put on by the American Cancer Society, thousands of smokers across the country make a pledge to quit.

In 2006, Florida voters accepted an amendment that would allocate funds into tobacco cessation programs, thus supporting the Gulf Coast center and creating the Tobacco Free Florida Bureau in 2007.

Tobacco Free Florida opened up courses not only for cessation to end chain-smoking, but also courses for prevention as well.

These organizations also aim to prevent smoking, especially among youths.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the state has made improvements among high school students.

In 2018, 3.6 percent of students were reported as cigarette smokers, a decline from 8.5 percent just five years before.

However, electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, have become a popular alternative to traditional ones among Florida teens.

In 2013, 5.3 percent of high school students were consuming the product where now, in 2018, it has nearly quadrupled, to 24.8 percent.

The Gulf Coast center does not advocate the use of e-cigarettes or vaping as a method within its program.

As part of the reasoning, Kelly stated: “Our program is evidence-based. We follow the clinic practice guidelines for tobacco dependence.”

She added that there are seven medications known to help and “we only promote the ones that we know there is strong research to show that they can help someone quit.”

While Kelly works mostly with adults, she said she gets excited when younger smokers come to the sessions because she can help stop smoking earlier in life.

Many older adults experience a health scare, which triggers their decision to quit smoking, she said.

To find an upcoming tobacco cessation class in your area with contact information, visit GNAhec.org/tobacco-cessation.

Published December 12, 2018

Shopping, tradition and Brunswick stew

December 12, 2018 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

There was essentially something for everyone at the 39th annual Juried Arts & Crafts Holiday Show, presented by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.

After handing Santa a notebook that contains his Christmas wish list, 7-year-old James Kern of Odessa, left, listens as Santa, reads the list aloud inside the booth operated by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. (Santa couldn’t be there, so he sent his helper, Tom Bock, of Lutz, to fill in). Donations made at the booth will benefit the YMCA. (Christine Holtzman)

Thousands flocked to Keystone Prep High School, at 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa, to check out offerings from about 350 vendors, to enjoy a bite to eat and to socialize. Some were there to confer with Santa, too.

Spending time at the arts and crafts show is an annual tradition for Nicole Reilly and her mother, Mary Lynn, and this year they were thrilled to introduce it to the newest member of the family, Nicole’s 7-month-old son, Lincoln.

Bonnie Duvall and Judy Curry, friends who live in Wesley Chapel, said they enjoy attending the event every year to shop for Christmas gifts and to enjoy the Brunswick stew served at the Boy Scouts booth

Heather Herzog, of Port Richey, and her mother, Debbie Denamen, of Hudson, also made the trek to do a bit of shopping.

They had plenty of choices.

There were booths indoors and out — offering handcrafted jewelry and home décor, soaps and candles, paintings, photographs, gourmet sauces and dips, and handmade clothing and quilts, among other things.

At the Burn Out Candle Company shop, Gail Allison, of Floral City, smells the inviting scent of a sandalwood soy candle. The shop owners are Allan and Vicki Spires, of Lake Placid.

Seven-year-old James Kern, of Odessa, took advantage of the opportunity to hand-deliver his Christmas wish list to Santa. Among the items he would like are a Hess truck, Disney passes and Play-Doh.

Karen Lee Kulas, owner of Exclusive-Lee Designed, a new vendor at this year’s event, had not considered there wouldn’t be electricity in her booth.

So, she improvised. She shined a flashlight on her handcrafted pendants, to show off sparkling opals, agate, jaspers and fossil jewelry.

Kulas, a snowbird from Wisconsin who winters in St. Petersburg, was at the festival, with her husband, Mike.

Event admission was free, but a $5 parking fee was collected to benefit Keystone Prep High School.

The festival is the largest fundraising event for the GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club, which uses the proceeds to support scholarships and numerous local community causes.

By Christine Holtzman

Published December 12, 2018

Seven-month-old Lincoln Reilly, of Tampa, sports cool shades while napping in the comfort of the baby carrier worn by his mother, Nicole. His grandmother, Mary Lynn, said she and her daughter attend the festival every year, and were thrilled this year to introduce the tradition to a new generation of the family.

Bonnie Duvall, left, and her friend Judy Curry, both of Wesley Chapel, admire the handcrafted Christmas wreaths made by shop owner Carol Matthews. Curry said that attend the show every year to shop for holiday presents and enjoy the Brunswick stew served at the Boy Scouts booth.

These 8-year-olds, Willa Jeckel, left, and Sophia Shelhart, were not about to let a little rain put a damper on their day of shopping. The girls, both from Tampa, make good use of a pink butterfly umbrella on the afternoon of Dec. 1 at the 39th annual Juried Arts & Crafts Holiday Show.

Six-year-old Nola Barber, of Lutz, left, and her 9-year-old sister, Crosby, search through a large bin filled with name engraved ceramic pendants used to make necklaces at the booth owned by Lora Thomas. They were hunting for the names of their beloved horses.

Run Hillsborough coming to Lake Park

December 12, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Hillsborough County has introduced a new 5K cross-country running series — hoping to get more residents to check out its collection of conservation parks and nature preserves.

It’s called the Run Hillsborough 5K.

The new Run Hillsborough 5K racing series is coming to Lake Park in Lutz on Dec. 15. The 3.1-mile route will feature rough and uneven terrain, with loose sand and large roots, passing by multiple lakes, over cypress swamps and through pine flatwoods. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation)

Created by Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, and Conservation & Environmental Lands Management, the program features races throughout the year at different parks located around the county, taking runners and walkers through an assortment of scenic trails and off-road terrains.

The program launched in October — with the first race at Wortham Park in Riverview.

The second 5K race is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 8 a.m., at Lake Park in Lutz.

Upwards of 250 participants are expected. Prizes will be awarded for the top three male and female finishers. All participants will receive a T-shirt and can claim a medallion at the end of the event.

The race promises to be unlike many local 5Ks, that are run on streets or hard, flat surfaces.

That’s because runners and walkers will have to traverse rough and uneven terrain, with loose sand and large roots, passing by multiple lakes, over cypress swamps and through pine flatwoods.

The 3.1-mile route at Lake Park was mapped out by Chris Kiddy, program coordinator for the county’s Conservation & Environmental Lands Management Department, who also helps oversee the Run Hillsborough initiative.

Portions of the course take place on some new trail extensions that were added to the park within the past year, he said.

“It’s a really nice trail,” Kiddy said. “It takes you through some really nice wooded areas, takes you through a couple of lakes — just a really nice nature experience.”

Run Hillsborough 5Ks will be held quarterly, rotating the location each time. The county someday plans to put together a cumulative series with a grand prize for the top finisher of all the races.

“We really want to promote the running that you can have in our preserves. They’re excellent places to go and jog,” Kiddy said. “It’s just a great way to get people to come out and see all of our great parks, and kind of experience it in a different way.”

Besides offering fresh air and exercise in a nature setting, Kiddy also noted the Run Hillsborough program was developed to also introduce locals to the many features of the county’s parks and preserve properties.

The 589-acre Lake Park, for instance, offers more than just a series of trails and wildlife observation.

It, too, offers archery ranges, kayaking, horseback riding, BMX racing, a radio-controlled (RC) car track and primitive campgrounds, among other amenities.

Kiddy coined it as “one of the most unique parks in Hillsborough County.”

“If you’re not familiar with Lake Park, this is a great chance to get out and see what an amazing park this is. It’s got all kinds of different things,” Kiddy said.

Registration for the Run Hillsborough 5K at Lake Park costs $30 and will be open through the day of the event. Walkers and dogs are also welcome.

For information and to register, visit HCFLGov.net/RunHC.

Run Hillsborough 5K at Lake Park
What: Run Hillsborough 5K features races throughout the year at different parks located around the county. The races allow participants to compete against other racers on a journey through nature preserves, conservation parks, streams, trails, and a variety of terrains.
When: Dec. 15 at 8 a.m. (Packet pickup begins at 7 a.m.)
Where: Lake Park, 17302 Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz, FL 33548
Cost: $30 per participant
Info: Visit HCFLGov.net/RunHC

Published December 12, 2018

Spotlighting Pasco County for a good cause

December 12, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays? Stop by any Gulfside Hospice thrift shop and pick up a 2019 calendar.

The 15-month calendar features photos taken exclusively in Pasco County, a product of the Gulfside’s annual photo contest.

‘Welcome to the World’ by Debbie Olavarria (April) (Courtesy of Gulfside Hospice)

More than 300 photos of Pasco events, places, landmarks and wildlife were submitted for judging, and winning photos were chosen to make up the calendar honoring Gulfside’s 30th anniversary.

“I always look forward to looking through all the wonderful photos submitted for our annual contest,” said Linda Ward, president and CEO of Gulfside, in a release.

Ward added that she loves to see the highlights of the community through the eyes of Pasco’s local photographers.

Each winning photographer received a gift certificate to Gulfside’s thrift shops and a complimentary calendar.

Calendars are available for $5 at all thrift locations, which can be found online at GHPPC.org. All proceeds will help support Gulfside hospice care and bereavement services.

Each store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Published December 12, 2018

‘Traditions’ goes on, despite rain

December 12, 2018 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Traditions on the Green didn’t let the forecast of a rainy day wash out the Dec. 1 event. Instead, it shifted from its planned location at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park to Sanders Memorial Elementary School, at 5126 School Road in Land O’ Lakes.

Diana Journy, left, and her daughter, Elizabeth Richardson, browse the dozens of raffle prizes up for grabs during the ‘Traditions on the Green’ program. The Land O’ Lakes residents were at the concert to watch a performance by Elizabeth’s daughter, Journy — whose name honors the family’s name. She is a cheerleader at Pineview Middle School. (Christine Holtzman)

The Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes, which hosts the free holiday event, made the call to bring the concert indoors — instead of cancelling it.

Sandy Graves, who has been involved with the event for its 11-year history, said this was the first time it has been held at a different venue.

“The school district worked well with us to make sure that we had a place to hold this event,” Graves.

And, she told the audience that it would still be OK to call the event ‘Traditions on the Green,’ because the benches in the auditorium were green.

The change in location didn’t deter the crowd or its enthusiasm.

Hundreds of people were there to enjoy performances from Denham Oaks, Sanders Memorial Elementary and Lake Myrtle Elementary schools, Pine View Middle School and the Land O’ Lakes High School. Santa Claus dropped by, too.

Those attending could buy chances on raffle prizes, such as gift cards and gift baskets. Among the items up for grabs were two cookbooks donated by Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and an official flag that once flew over the U.S. Capitol, which was donated by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Proceeds from the chance drawings benefit schools taking part in the event.

By Christine Holtzman

Published December 12, 2018