The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

International business increasing in Pasco

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Pasco County has been making strides in the arena of international trade, and Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey provided a briefing on the topic at a recent North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

In introducing Starkey, Hope Allen, president/CEO of the North Tampa Chamber said: “Kathryn Starkey is a huge advocate of Pasco County.

This rendering shows the future campus for TouchPoint Medical Inc. (File)

“It’s wonderful that Pasco now has a seat at the table, now on the global level, and it’s because of her work and the work of Pasco Economic Development Council, making Pasco part of the conversation.

“She is involved in developing international trade, with a focus on Europe and South America,” Allen said.

Starkey has a pulse on what’s happening locally, and also nationally, on the international trade scene.

She is chair of the International Economic Development Task Force at the National Association of Counties (NACCO). She also was nominated by the White House and NACCO to serve on a committee that looks over trade agreements and makes recommendations. She is among four commissioners who represent the voice of local government, she said.

She’s still undergoing her FBI background check, so at this point, she can participate in calls, but can’t read the information.

Starkey said her introduction to manufacturing came in 2004, when she was on the Pasco County School Board and she made a visit to a training program offered in Okaloosa public schools.

“What they had done was they interviewed their business community, and then they figured out how to start programs in their school system that taught the high school kids how to enter into that workforce when they graduated,” she said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey

Because of her interest, Starkey traveled to Germany five times — to see for herself and to show others how the Germans do their system of apprenticeship training.

“It was really important to go and see how the world’s premiere training program works.

“If you don’t see it, you can’t understand it. They have the gold standard in manufacturing,” she said.

“What we have done here in Pasco County, Hernando and Pinellas County, is that we’ve set up a training and manufacturing program based on the European model of apprenticeship training,” Starkey added, referring to a program called AmSkills.

“We take high school students and we take students who have graduated, and we take adults who need retraining, and we take them through the process here and we get them very knowledgeable about manufacturing, training and jobs, and then we help them get meaningful jobs here in the community,” she said.

Over time, Pasco County Schools also has established several career academies. It also opened Wendell Krinn Technical High School this year, on the former Ridgewood High campus.

Mettler Toledo opened its 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Northpointe Village, off State Road 54.

In partnership with Marchman Technical College, Wendell Krinn provides students access to 14 different technical education programs, including auto collision/repair, biomedical sciences, commercial art, computer systems, cosmetology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, digital cinema, electricity, HVAC, marine service, robotics, and welding.

Pasco’s workforce development is helping to attract international companies, Starkey said.

She also has been involved with Pasco EDC in trade missions to help local companies find foreign markets, and has helped host events to teach local companies how to grow their business in other parts of the world.

Pasco’s outreach efforts, its workforce development and its willingness to offer incentives to attract companies offering high-wage jobs has resulted in international companies setting up shop in the county.

Some of those companies include:

  • TouchPoint Medical Inc., a global supplier of technology-based health care delivery systems, will bring 116 new high-paying jobs to Pasco County. Company officials plan to relocate their headquarters to prime vacant land in Land O’ Lakes. They will build an approximately 125,000-square-foot facility, including a parking lot, on the northwest corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54. The site is part of the South Branch Ranch property. The facility is expected to open in late 2019.
  • Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo opened its 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Northpointe Village in April. The Swiss-based company is a global supplier of precision scales and services used in research, and the packaging and production of food and pharmaceuticals.
  • TRU Simulation: TRU Simulation + Training celebrated the opening of a $30 million expansion of its Pilot Training Center in Lutz in February 2017. The facility opened in a 15,000-square-foot facility at 1827 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway. TRU Simulation has contracts with companies such as King Air, Boeing and Cessna.

Starkey noted that it’s not enough to get international companies interested in Pasco, it’s also important to treat them well after they arrive, and to continue to form relationships.

Taking a page out of book she read about how the international community developed in North Carolina, Starkey makes it a point to take CEOs of international companies to visit assets around Tampa Bay.

It’s a great way for the CEOs to get to know each other and also for them to develop a deeper understanding of Tampa Bay’s strengths, Starkey said.

“I am trying to take really good care of your CEOs here, and they are spreading the word to their friends back overseas, or to their business friends, that Pasco County is a great place to do business,” Starkey said. “We want them to feel very welcome.”

Revised December 5, 2018

Using facial recognition tool to help reunite lost pets

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For many pet owners, their pets aren’t just furry companions — they’re full-fledged members of the family.

So, when a dog or cat goes astray, the experience can be overwhelming.

Now, however, a new tool may improve the odds of reuniting owners with their lost pets.

Rachel Stever, of Pasco County Animal Services, holds a furry new friend. With a program like Finding Rover, Stever hopes this kitty, along with other strays, will be reunited with their owners. (Brian Fernandes)

John Polimeno launched the app, Finding Rover, in 2013, to help locate lost dogs and cats through facial recognition.

And, Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), just like Citrus and Manatee County, has begun using the program.

“It’s a wonderful partnership we have with them,” said Rachel Stever, education and outreach coordinator at Animal Services. “It’s absolutely revolutionary.”

Animal Services, which serves all of Pasco County, operates out of an office located in Land O’ Lakes.

Animal Services coordinates with independent animal shelters in the county, and these organizations can now be more beneficial to one another with Finding Rover.

Pet owners can register their dog or cat on Finding Rover online, via Facebook or directly from the app.

To register, owners upload a mugshot of their pet onto the program, where the picture is carefully scanned. The scan picks up on certain facial features unique to the animal, such as a birth mark, scars or eye color.

Additional information can then be added to the app’s profile detailing the specifics, especially if the animal has a microchip implant number, which Stever said is most helpful.

Every stray that is brought into Animal Services is scanned for a microchip. A microchip can pull up a profile on the pet’s name, address and veterinarian, which can help to track the owner.

Unfortunately, not all dogs and cats brought into shelters have a microchip, so this is where Finding Rover can step in.

Once Animal Services takes in a stray, they post their own profile of the animal, including a picture.

When an owner alerts the app that their pet is missing, the mugshot on profile begins to do a search with profiles at Animal Services and any other shelters who partner with Finding Rover.

If an exact match is found, the app will give the location of the shelter.

If the app is not certain, a GPS will show the shelters within proximity that have potential look-alikes.

“The great thing with Finding Rover is it automatically updates their side of the system,” Stever explained. “They’re getting the same pictures, the same updates that we do all day.”

What’s more, those who find a lost pet can quickly download the app, take a snapshot of the animal and potentially trace the owner as well.

This is reassuring for Stever and her colleagues as they’ve seen an increase in strays in 2018.

Stever stated that an estimated 6,400 animals have come to the shelter this past year, an uptick by almost 1,100 from last year.

Under Animal Services’ policy, animals with a microchip can be put up for adoption if not claimed within 72 hours of admittance, while those without a microchip are put up after 48 hours.

Finding Rover also assists in an adoption process, as potential owners can scroll through pictures of dogs and cats at nearby shelters.

Although Stever said the goal is to find a good home for these animals, nothing beats reconnecting pets with their true owners.

“I’ve seen people that are reunited after a couple of days, and it’s just as emotional as when they’ve been separated for months,” Stever said.

The app also is a testament that no matter how similar two animals may look, they each have qualities which make them unique and special.

Published November 28, 2018

Pasco sets its legislative priorities

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The Pasco County Commission has identified a list of priorities it would like the Pasco County legislative delegation to support.

The delegation is scheduled to have its annual public meeting on Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pasco County School Board’s campus, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The session allows members of the public and various interest groups to address the delegation before the beginning of the 2019 Legislative Session.

Among the priority items on the Pasco County Commission’s list are a redevelopment plan for Land O’ Lakes, a pedestrian/bicycle overpass at the Starkey Gap Trail, widening a segment of State Road 52 to four lanes; and improvements to the Zephyr Creek watershed.

Commissioners are seeking $1.5 million in state money to support a Land O’ Lakes redevelopment plan.

Calling U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, “the primary spine in the Land O’ Lakes community,” the county is seeking the state’s help in coming up with a plan to spur new uses along the road, according to a pamphlet outlining commissioners’ priorities.

The federal highway is a major north-south connector within the region, linking Brooksville in Hernando County to employment centers in Hillsborough County, the county says, in a document outlining its priorities for consideration by the Pasco County legislative delegation, which will be meeting in December.

“This highly travelled route is marked by a suburban development pattern, which has immense untapped potential for creating new jobs and transit-supportive communities,” the document adds.

To that end, the county is seeking state assistance to study the area’s redevelopment potential, identify opportunities for land assembly and encourage catalysts that could result in local employment centers that are served by multiple transportation options.

If completed, the redevelopment plan would:

  • Identify large-scale redevelopment implementation strategies
  • Include an area-level evaluation of land assembly
  • Include conceptual design layouts for identified prime catalyst site, such as Transit Centers or Transit-Oriented Developments and their associate development programs
  • Provide evaluations of needed regulatory changes, incentives and other needed mechanisms to facilitate implementation.

The priority list also identifies the need for a bicycle/pedestrian overpass at the Starkey Trail (Starkey Gap) trail at State Road 54. That project, estimated at $4 million, would provide a safe, grade-separated crossing, across the six-lane highway.

The last unfinished segment of the trail, south of State Road 54, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2019. It is part of the statewide Coast to Coast Trail network.

Another priority — which carries a price tag of $73.9 million — requests to widen State Road 52, from U.S. 41 to Bellamy Brothers Boulevard. The design is completed and the right of way for the project is partially funded. The project needs an additional $9.7 million to acquire the additional right of way needed for the project. The estimated construction cost is $64.2 million, which is not funded.

The Zephyr Creek watershed project, estimated at a cost of $5.1 million, seeks to alleviate flooding. The improvements would reduce expected flood levels, which would result in reclassifying 59 structures as lying above the FEMA floodplain.

Published November 28, 2018

Making a case for higher learning

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Dr. Jeffrey Senese, the president of Saint Leo University, talked about the role and importance of higher education in today’s society during a breakfast meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

The leader of one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities tackled what he called public misperceptions regarding the words “liberal arts.”

Saint Leo University President Dr. Jeffrey Senese speaks about the importance of a college education during a Nov. 6 breakfast meeting at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus. (Brian Fernandes)

“They’re ‘bad’ words today,” Senese said, noting that the word “liberal” has a political connotation and the word “arts” has the stigma of unemployment attached to it.

Senese contends that those notions aren’t true.

“Math and sciences are liberal arts,” Senese said, and so is the study of “universal principles.”

Indeed, the state requires that a large portion of an academic degree be focused on the liberal arts, “so when people leave the university, they have this broad skillset in addition to their major,” Senese said.

The image of higher education also has declined, the Saint Leo president acknowledged, noting that 61 percent of the population doesn’t like the direction in which it is heading.

Reasons contributing to that include the media’s portrayal of institutions and the  hyperpolitical partisan environment in which we live, he said.

The private college president also addressed the concern about rising tuition.

Some costs result from meeting campus regulations, and also from the expense of hiring personnel who can meet students’ expectations and needs, he said.

Academia itself is also at fault for its image because learning institutions do a poor job of communicating and justifying the benefits of a higher education, Senese said.

Professors allowing their political views to influence their teaching and employers’ dissatisfaction by the inability of recent graduates to perform well in the workplace also contribute to negative views, he said.

To help change that, Senese implored business owners and employers in the audience to play an active role on advisory boards to ensure that students graduate with the necessary skills.

“If you’re not getting what you need, speak up and help us,” Senese said.

He also addressed the perception that online courses are not up-to-par with the traditional classroom setting.

Online courses, he explained are provided as a matter of convenience for students, especially older ones, who are bound by their job and family life.

“A lot of online students would love to take in-class [courses] if they could,” the college president said.

Despite criticisms of higher education, Senese noted that an academic degree has definite benefits.

The unemployment rate is much lower for those with a bachelor’s degree, he said.

Liberal arts graduates also tend to have a 30 percent to 100 percent chance of being in a leadership role, and they are  22 percent to 66 percent more likely to contribute back to their society in a charitable way, he said.

And, on a personal level, those with degrees tend to have longer marriages and better family lives, he added.

Senese was named the university’s 10th president in July. He had been serving as acting president since April, after William J. Lennox Jr., stepped down from the role.

Senese’s remarks came during the chamber’s monthly business breakfast meeting on Nov. 6, at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Senese is a Pennsylvania State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He also has a master’s degree in criminology at Indiana State University and has a Ph.D. in criminal justice/research methods/statistics from Michigan State University.

Published November 28, 2018

Spend a little time ‘off the grid’ — and have some fun

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Going off the grid can be therapeutic.

So can browsing through antique and home decor stores, boutiques, and wine and cheese shops.

Petal & Vine in Antique Alley, in Belleair Bluffs, is a combination florist and gift shop, with an array of home decor, baby items and more. (Karen Haymon Long)

Or so I tell myself when I decide to head to stretches of two roads with shops I like that are close to each other in Largo, Clearwater and Belleair Bluffs, in an area north of West Bay Drive in Pinellas County.

I turn off my cellphone, so I can shop totally uninterrupted, something I rarely do on an ordinary day.

Sometimes, I take along my lunch and eat in the car between stops.

Other times, I treat myself at Wildflower Cafe, a pretty “ladies who lunch” spot, or a diner called Greek Islands, both close to the Largo shops.

My favorite shop along Clearwater-Largo Road is The French Nest Marketplace. It’s owned by Julianne Marie Bourdreaux, a friendly woman who offers classes on milk paint furniture painting. She greets customers with a lilting “bonne journee” and an offer of hot tea in a flowered china cup.

Coastal Living, a shop in Largo, specializes in coastal repurposed furniture, seashells, lamps and more.

She sells antiques and new home decor, holiday gifts, charming greeting cards, lamps and an array of French linens, tableware, soaps and signs. Outside, in what she calls her rustic garden, you can find a revolving selection of recycled garden statuary and planters.

I can’t go there without buying something: an antique whiskey decanter or a first-edition “Treasure Island,” with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. And, always, I pick up some greeting cards by artist Vicki Sawyer, whose whimsical birds, sheep and rabbits never fail to make me smile.

On the same street, but with very different inventory, Oddities and Antiques sells everything from concrete moon faces to an assortment of old dolls hanging from the ceiling – some with fish hooks dangling from their foreheads and stomachs. It has crucifixes, old dental equipment, vintage postcards, driftwood, a boy mannequin, bones, books and old bottles.

Outside, hanging from a chain, a human skeleton, adorned with metal butterfly wings, twirls in the wind.

It’s like an old museum of grab bag items thrown together. It’s fascinating and a little creepy. A sign over one door even says 666 – the devil’s sign –  and its motto, “a unique blend of unusuals.” A stuffed wolf – or is it a dog? – wears a stethoscope and sits on a table behind pink and blue eyeballs and a ceramic hand. Beware: It’s only open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I also like Marcotte’s Design Salvage, where I recently bought a linen tea towel with a map of Florida on it. It’s too pretty to use as a towel, so I will use it as a tablecloth instead. This shop sells furniture, chalk paint, vintage lighting, architectural salvage, pillows, cabinet knobs, green glassware, barn doors, baskets, napkins, lamps, signs – many with coastal colors and themes.

The French Nest Marketplace feels like an inviting shop in France, where the owner offers cups of hot tea while you shop and greets you with a friendly ‘bonne journee’ when you arrive.

Next door, Marcotte’s Coastal Market is also worth a spin around. There just aren’t many stores like these in our area, so it’s a treat to see what they have.

Coastal Living, on the other side of Clearwater-Largo Road, sells seashells, nautical lamps and tableware, clothes, repurposed furniture and an assortment of antiques, and new gift and decor items. A few years ago, I bought a beautiful antique lamp there that has palm trees on a reverse painted shade.

Recently, I saw a lamp made from a ship’s porthole there, another lamp with a crab base and a wreath of oyster shells.

For a more whimsical, eclectic experience, make your way to Pirates of Largo, which is jam- packed — inside and out — with yard art, signs, glassware, framed posters, knickknacks, jewelry and a wild array of other things. A framed photo of Marilyn Monroe gazes out at an Elvis head. Across the room, sits a blue dog and, on one wall, there’s a vintage Miami poster.

You never know what you will find, which is part of the fun.

Other treasures await over in Belleair Bluffs, along Indian Rocks Road, where I like to check out Antique Alley, with its cluster of shops. Down the road there are a few nice women’s clothing boutiques, and a wine and cheese market called Bella Vino.

My favorite spot in Antique Alley is a combination florist and gift shop called Petal & Vine. It sells holiday and garden items, sail bags, baby gifts, jewelry, clothes, greeting cards, some food items and unusual cut flowers.

I saw some tempting Halloween decorations – a concrete pumpkin with a gold stem, a lime green pumpkin, a black cat ornament, a skeleton tea towel – on my last visit.

Oddities and Antiques sells everything from this wolf wearing a stethoscope to crosses and old dental equipment and spooky dolls.

Down the alley, a shop called Nostalgia sells framed black-and-white old photos of Havana and the Florida Keys for $40 each, dishes and other home goods with Cuban themes, as well as coastal items.

Mango Etc. art gallery sells artist Frida Kahlo-inspired pillow cases, artwork and dolls that are sure to please her fans, me included.

Next door, at Chloe’s Home Decor, I bought a glass jar with a bird on its lid that I filled with limes. For Thanksgiving, I subbed them out for baby pumpkins.

Collum Antiques, next door to Antique Alley’s much-heralded Astoria Pastry Shop, specializes in Civil War guns, swords, bowie knives, decoys and American Indian turquoise jewelry. Its owner Charles Edward Collum says he’s been there 30 years and knows where everything is in his chock-a-block shop.

South from Antique Alley, on Indian Rocks Road, I enjoyed browsing through For the Love of Boutique and two other shops called Suzette’s On the Rocks Boutique and Suzette’s Too, owned by sisters. All three sell clothing, shoes and jewelry in tranquil settings.

Tranquility, I found, is possible if you click off your phone, take your time, and explore a part of Florida you’ve never been to before. For good measure, take home a Florida tea towel souvenir to remind you of your travels.

Tips for the Trip: Where to Shop

In Largo and Clearwater:
The French Nest Marketplace, 556 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open daily

Marcotte’s Coastal Market, 607 Clearwater-Largo Road N., Largo; open daily

Marcotte’s Design Salvage, 617 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open daily

Coastal Living, 904 Clearwater-Largo Road, Largo; open Wednesday-Sunday

Oddities and Antiques, 1764 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Clearwater; open Thursday-Saturday

Pirates of Largo, 1780 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater; open Wednesday-Sunday

In Belleair Bluffs:
Antique Alley, 596 Indian Rocks Road, N.; some shops closed Sunday and Monday

For the Love of Boutique, 428 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday and Monday

Suzette’s on the Rocks Boutique and Suzette’s Too, 400 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday

Bella Vino Wine & Cheese Market/Espresso & Wine Bar, 100 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday

Where to eat:
Wildflower Cafe, 1465 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater; open for breakfast and lunch daily

Greek Islands, 1501 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open for lunch and dinner daily

By Karen Haymon Long

Published November 28, 2018

Students should learn about credit scores

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Your credit score is a three-digit number that has a long-lasting effect on your buying power.

When you apply for credit, your score will be checked. Employers and landlords also can do a credit check. The higher your credit score, the better the chances are that you will be approved.

It’s important to know your three-digit credit score when applying for credit and loans. (Courtesy of CardGuru)

Students should become familiar with their credit scores, which can determine whether you get a loan and what your interest rates will be.

There are several scoring methods, but the most widely accepted one comes from FICO. Scores can range from 300 to 850.

These calculations make up a FICO score:

Thirty-five percent is based on your payment history. Pay your loans and credit card bills on time. Early payments will result in a higher number than on-time payments, which, in turn, will have a higher score than late payments.

Thirty percent is based on outstanding debt. Outstanding debt is how much you owe on car loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc. The number of credit cards you have and if those cards are near the maximum borrowing limit will hurt your score.

Fifteen percent is based on the length of time you have had credit. The longer you have been borrowing money (using credit) and paying it back in a timely manner, the better your score will be.

Ten percent is based on new credit. If you have opened several new accounts, that will have a negative on your score. Also, the more inquiries on your credit report in a year, the lower your score will tend to be.

Ten percent is based on the types of credit you currently have. Refrain from going overboard on a bunch of new loan and credit cards in a short period of time, which makes it look like you are desperate for credit. But, it is a good idea to have a credit mix, such as revolving debt and installment loans.

A credit score is derived from a credit report, which is made up of your identification information, such as current and previous addresses; and your history of dealing with credit, such as payments on student loans and credit cards.

It’s important to make sure the information on your credit report is accurate, and it is up to the individual to have any errors fixed.

Get free access to a credit score/report from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion or CreditKarma, once every 12 months, from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Published November 28, 2018

If you’re having a holiday party, these recipes may help

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Planning to entertain for the holidays?

Whether you’re planning a small gathering with “finger foods” or a full meal, these ideas may help you get started.

Hors d’oeuvres  — which literally means “apart from the main work/meal” — can be a great way to feed your guests during a cocktail hour, or, can take the place of a meal.

Ready to eat, or give away. (Betsy Crisp)

In the United States, we often refer to these foods as “appetizers.” They are small bites of food items meant to be eaten mostly by hand and typically served before the main course.

There’s another French word — Canape — that refers to a particular type of hors d’oeuvre.

This one-bite treat, which is small and decorated, and usually salty or spicy, also is meant to be eaten with the fingers.

Canapes are usually constructed on a base or “couch” of bread and cut into fancy shapes, and then decorated (piped frosting or cream cheese and garnished).

When it comes to sweets, there are tiny decorated cakes called petits fours (“small ovens”). These date back to the 18th century when these were made in a small oven, next to the oven, to use the heat that was still present as the main oven cooled down.

Petit fours can be savory or dry.

Any of these following recipes can help you make your entertaining elegant and memorable.

Bon Appetit — which means, enjoy your meal.

Happy Holidays, too.

Betsy Crisp is a Professor Emeritus, UF/IFAS Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences.

Recipes

Pepperoni Cheese-Bread
Ingredients
1 loaf (1 pound) French bread

3 Tablespoons butter, melted

1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

3 ounces sliced mini-pepperoni

3 Tablespoons finely diced green pepper (optional)

3 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cut loaf of bread in half width-wise and cut into 1-inch slices.

Brush butter on both sides of each slice.

Sprinkle each slice with shredded cheese.

Top with pepperoni, green pepper, and parsley (in that order).

Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients
16 medium/bite-sized fresh mushrooms

¼-cup shredded Swiss cheese, shredded

1 Tablespoon Parmesan, grated

2 Tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

¼-teaspoon minced garlic

1/8 teaspoon salt

Italian seasoning (or dried oregano) to taste

Butter-flavored cooking spray

Directions
In a small bowl, combine cheeses, bread crumbs, 2 Tablespoons butter, garlic and salt; set aside.

Rinse, wipe clean, and remove stems from mushrooms.

Place mushroom caps, hollow side down, on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Broil 4 inches from the heat for 4 minutes to 5 minutes, or just until tender.

Turn over; stuff caps with cheese mixture and sprinkle lightly with Italian seasoning (to taste).

Spray tops lightly with cooking spray.

Broil 2 minutes to 3 minutes longer or until lightly browned and heated through.

Yield: 16 appetizers

Pretty Little Petits Fours
Ingredients
1 pre-prepared pound cake (make one in advance or pick one up from the grocery store to save time)

Glaze
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar           

2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons water

2 teaspoons orange extract

Frosting
6 Tablespoons butter, softened

2 Tablespoons solid shortening

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

3 Tablespoons to 4 Tablespoons milk

Food coloring (gel, liquid, or paste)

Directions
Cut cake into 1 ¼-inch squares.

Place cake cubes ½-inch apart on a rack in a 15-inch x 10-inch x 1-inch pan.

Glaze: In a large bowl, combine glaze ingredients and beat on low speed just until blended then on high until smooth. Apply glaze evenly over tops and sides of cake squares, allowing excess to drip off. Let dry. Repeat if necessary to thoroughly coat squares and let dry completely.

Frosting: In a small bowl, cream the butter, shortening and vanilla. Beat in confectioners’ sugar and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Makes approximately 3 cups of frosting.

Decorating and colors depend of the occasion: For example, if for an afternoon tea, bridal or baby shower, you might place ½-cup each in two bowls; tint one red/pink/blue and one green. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or zip-top plastic bag to decorate. Using a No. 104 tip, fill with pink frosting; pipe a rosebud on each petit four. Insert a No. 3 round tip into another pastry or plastic bag; fill with green frosting. Pipe a leaf under each rose. (Variations: For Fall/Thanksgiving you might do orange pumpkins or fall leaves, for Christmas you might do green wreaths with red bows, etc.)

Yield: 2 ½-dozen

Published November 28, 2018

Thanksgiving: Savoring turkey and nostalgia

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It’s that time of year again.

Turkeys stock home freezers.

Plans are made to gather with friends and family — whether they live a few miles away, or across the country.

There’s the anticipation of a veritable feast of Thanksgiving football games, and the not-so-subtle signs that Christmas is just around the corner.

And, as this day set aside for gratitude approaches, millions of Americans may choose to observe decades’ old traditions, while others try something new and spontaneous.

For some, it will just be a regular Thursday.

We talked with residents in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to see if they have special plans for Thanksgiving, and what the holiday means to them personally.

Carol Duren, a homemaker in Lutz, has a unique perspective on Thanksgiving. She thinks every day is a reason to celebrate. (Brian Fernandes)

For Carol Duren, a homemaker from Lutz, the spirit of Thanksgiving is not something attached to a specific day on a calendar.

“Every day is thankfulness to God,” Duren said.

As a native Californian, Duren recalls a time when it was easier for families to spend  Thanksgiving together.

It’s harder to achieve that unity today because loved ones are scattered and people work odd work hours, she said.

However, she said she’s looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with her children, who live out of state.

She also plans to dine on traditional favorites, including cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes.

Maryhelen Zopfi, also of Lutz, said Thanksgiving in her home is different from the Thanksgivings of her childhood.

Maryhelen and Simon Zopfi, married for 49 years, always look forward to spending Thanksgiving with their granddaughter.

“When I was growing up, everybody came and had dinners together,” Zopfi said. “Now, everybody seems to go out to restaurants to have dinners.”

She and her husband, Simon, have been married for 49 years. Sometimes, they host Thanksgiving dinner, while other times they travel out of town.

In Zopfi’s mind, Thanksgiving is similar to Veterans Day — because it’s intended to be a day set aside for gratitude.

She and her husband have shared the same holiday table for decades, but their choice of food is different.

“He likes the turkey and I’m vegan, so I’ll go for the vegetables,” Zopfi said.

Celebrating old traditions, making new ones
Land O’ Lakes resident Frances Laverghetta has a personal claim on the holiday.

“I was born on Thanksgiving, so it’s meaningful to me,” the Tampa native said.

She plans to spend the holiday with her son and his family, in Spring Hill. And, she said there’s zero chance that she’ll decline a chance to enjoy a nice slice of pumpkin pie.

Land O’ Lakes resident Anna Sykora, who originally hails from Ohio, has fond memories of old traditions — such as the sweet potato sauce, a special family dish that she still enjoys today.

Larry Peteet, a veteran, said his family lives in other states. He said he’ll take pleasure in spending this Thanksgiving with his British Labrador, Sandy Girl.

But she embraces creating new traditions, too.

Celebrating the holiday is more than just a ritual, Sykora emphasized. It aims to honor what really matters in life.

“I’m grateful for what I have – my family,” said Sykora, and, she added, she’s also thankful to be in good health.

Land O’ Lakes resident Larry Peteet, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, takes a certain patriotic pride in celebrating Thanksgiving.

Now an independent software consultant, Peteet said his outlook about Thanksgiving differs markedly from when he was young. Back then, he said, it was all about being out of school for the holiday.

“It was never about giving thanks,” Peteet said.

His attitude has shifted because he now appreciates the value of gratitude.

His enthusiasm for traditional Thanksgiving foods has not wavered a bit, however.

“Turkey and ham [are] phenomenal,” raved Peteet. “I love the creamed green bean casserole. Sweet potatoes are awesome with marshmallows.”

Living alone at Thanksgiving can be tough, Peteet added, noting his family lives in Alabama and South Carolina.

Still, he plans to make the best of the holiday by spending it with his British Labrador, Sandy Girl.

John Mathe, who is diabetic, sees Thanksgiving as an opportunity to treat himself to some of his favorite dishes.

Seventy-one-year-old John Mathe, of Dade City, is looking forward to the holiday festivities.

With grown children living in both Florida and Pennsylvania, it’s difficult to gather everyone together for the joyous occasion, he said.

“You always long for those old traditions – lots of people, long tables, lay down on the couch and you go to sleep,” he reminisced.

He also noted, with a chuckle, that he looks forward to having foods he knows he shouldn’t — because he’s diabetic.

Mathe said the holiday should prompt consideration of those who are less fortunate.

“They need to be thought about,” Mathe said, and they need to know that people care about them.

Kristine Johnson, a Dade City resident, said her family celebrates when they can get the family together — usually a day or two before Thanksgiving because her daughter works in retail.

Though not celebrating on the specific holiday, the family does have a tradition: They enjoy wildlife and go camping, she said.

Also, in her opinion, when it comes to turkey stuffing, there’s only one way to serve it properly: With the dressing in the bird, not on the side.

Zephyrhills resident Betty Harris has lived in Florida for 45 years, by way of Tennessee.

She adopted her daughter 25 years ago, and said Thanksgiving reminds her of the precious nature of life.

Her Thanksgiving menu features many of the foods she enjoyed while growing up, including sweet potato casserole, green beans and mashed potatoes.

Carolyn Clark, a Zephyrhills bus driver, said it’s a priority for her to spend Thanksgiving with her family — back where she grew up in Texas.

When it comes to the menu, she said she won’t settle for anything less than ham, turkey and dressing.

Published November 21, 2018

Lutz Arts & Crafts Show features hundreds of vendors

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If you’re looking for some unique and interesting holiday gifts, you’ll have plenty of choices at the 39th annual Juried Arts & Crafts Holiday Show presented by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club on the weekend of Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.

Jim Murray, of Geneva, stirs this giant kettle as the intense heat rapidly pops kernels into kettle corn, during the arts and craft show last year. He wears protective gear to avoid injury from hot oil and sugar, if it splashes out. (File)

The event will be at Keystone Prep High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa.

The show, which raises money for scholarships and other community causes, will feature booths that are both outdoors and inside the school’s gymnasium.

Admission is free, but a $5 parking fee will be collected by Keystone Prep students.

Artist Terry Smith, who has been selling at the event nearly since the show’s inception,  has seen tremendous change through the years.

“In 1981, I entered the Lutz Art Show,” Smith explained. “It was at the Old (Lutz) School House (on U.S. 41) and I was actually inside,” he said.

He sold 16 of the 24 paintings he had on display.

Lucy Fraser, owner of Castle Green Art Glass, was among last year’s vendors. She uses mostly bead and wire to construct these intricate sculptures.

The artist — who enjoys painting landscapes and wildlife, said he always seeks out a corner booth so he can be spotted easily by patrons.

Initially, his works were in watercolor, but he’s expanded to include acrylics and oils.

This year’s arts and crafts show will feature a wide array of vendors, including those offering paintings, photographs, handcrafted jewelry, and artworks fashioned from wood and metal, as well.

Chuck Poppelreiter and his wife will be there with their quilted-wall hangings, wreaths and ornaments.

“We’ve been doing it so many years, we know the routine – what to do, what not to do,” said Poppelreiter, noting he’s been selling at the show for about 20 years.

Over the years, he has witnessed new generations attend, as children become parents and parents become grandparents.

Emily Behnke, of Tampa, checks out a jewelry display while her 2 ½-month-old niece, Madelyn Fannin, chooses to snooze during last year’s event.

“The old shoppers know us by name,” he said.

While there are many familiar faces, customer preferences have changed over time, he noted. Two decades ago, patrons were searching for “country items,” but that’s not true anymore, he said. And, as customer tastes change, vendors must respond.

There will be a food court available for guests to dine, and at 1 p.m., Santa will drop by for a visit on both days.

Vendors also have the opportunity to win cash prizes and ribbons in a juried show.

Parking fees will benefit Keystone Prep, while proceeds from the event will go towards the Woman’s Club in furthering their community causes.

The show will be on Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Patrons are asked to only bring service dogs if necessary, with the proper documentation.

For more information, call Lois Cohen at (813) 528-1179, or email .

39th annual Juried Arts & Crafts Holiday Show
Where: Keystone Prep High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa
When: Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; parking $5
Details: Shoppers have the chance to choose handcrafted items and unique holiday gifts from about 350 vendors. Santa will be dropping by for a visit, and there will be a food court, too.
Info: Call Lois Cohen at (813) 528-1179, or email

Published November 21, 2018

Dade City remembers Chief Raymond Velboom

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It was standing-room only at the Army National Guard building in Dade City, as police officers in dress uniform and members of the community turned out to honor the life of the community’s Police Chief Raymond E. Velboom, who passed away on Oct. 27.

Velboom’s death, at age 67,  followed a lengthy battle with throat cancer.

The celebration of Velboom’s life began with the solemn presentation of the colors by members of the Pasco County Sheriff’s color guard.

Friends, family and former fellow comrades came out to honor the life of Chief Raymond Velboom on Nov. 15 at the Army National Guard building in Dade City. (Courtesy of Richard Riley)

The audience stood as the color guard marched to the front stage, placing an American flag on one side of the podium, and a flag for the State of Florida on the other side.

The celebration took on a different tone, when “I’ll Fly Away” — one of Velboom’s favorite songs — was played in his honor.

The uplifting, jazzy rendition by the Blind Boys of Alabama, had members in the audience clapping and waving white handkerchiefs in the air.

Those attending the service had a chance to learn more about Velboom’s life.

He was born in Clearwater on Jan. 15, 1951, to Ralph and Ethel Velboom.

His dream of becoming a police office began in his childhood, and after graduating from Clearwater High School in 1969, he enrolled at Florida State University and earned a degree in criminal justice.

He worked as a probation and parole office, before joining the Orlando Police Department.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Department color guard displays the U.S. and Floridian flags at Chief Raymond Velboom’s memorial service on Nov. 15.

He became a special agent for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 1980, and in this position, he worked as part of the governor’s protective detail and also as an intelligence supervisor.

He married Julie Scott in 1995, a longtime friend he initially met in Orlando.

“Everybody that he met, he treated with respect, expected it back and got it,” his wife said, while fighting back tears.

She talked about her husband trying to lighten the mood by having her turn on Howard Stern’s radio show, while the couple was on the way to Moffitt Cancer Center.

While she wasn’t a big fan of the show, she said her husband found Stern funny and thought he was a great interviewer. So, she turned it on for his sake.

The couple had lived in South Tampa until around a decade ago.

Velboom had retired from FDLE in 2007, but just a year later — in March 2008 — he accepted the role as chief of the Dade City Police Department.

A memorial service was held Nov. 15 at the Army National Guard for former police chief of Dade City Raymond E. Velboom. Velboom’s style of policing was known as the ‘Ray way,’ as he was able to bond with the community in a friendly and cordial manner. (Courtesy of Dade City Police Department Facebook page)

“The main thing I wanted to talk to you about today was how much Ray loved his community,” said Julie.

Sometimes he would call her and say he was on his way home, and then he would spend the next hour driving around.

Sometimes he would stop to talk to people, at random, including the homeless. He also was known for playing cards with everyday folks.

To explain her husband’s commitment and work ethic, she quoted the lyrics from “It’s My Job,” by Jimmy Buffett, one of the chief’s favorite singers.

“It’s my job to be different from the rest, to be better than the best,” those lyrics say.

Father Dewey Brown of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dade City described Velboom’s dedication to work as “the Ray way.”

When he talked to Velboom, Brown said, the chief emphasized his concern about the need to bridge the gap between the community and the police.

Velboom, Brown said, was a “peace officer” and “he lived out that love for every other person he came in contact with.”

As the cancer progressed, Velboom was forced to have his voice box removed in the spring, but even though he couldn’t talk, he remained optimistic.

He would assure family and friends that he was OK, by giving a thumbs-up or a fist in the air.

His wife affirmed: “While he may have lost his ability to speak, he never lost his big heart.”

And, as she stepped off the stage, the audience applauded, and raised their thumbs in the air.

Published November 21, 2018