The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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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

New K-9 training complex breaks ground

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office soon will have a full-fledged facility dedicated to the tactical training of its K-9 units.

Ground was broken during a Nov. 15 ceremony for the Helen A. Rich K9 Complex — as part of the larger forensics research and training center project in Land O’ Lakes known as FIRST, an acronym for Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics.

Located at the intersection of Lucy Dobies Road and Central Boulevard off U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, the K9 Complex is scheduled to have:

  • A 10,000-square-foot indoor training facility
  • A veterinary science center
  • A kennel for 40 dogs
  • An outdoor obstacle course and agility field
  • A rubble pile for search and rescue training

The K9 Complex will be completed in phases, with some features finished as soon as late 2019, according to Pasco Sheriff’s Capt. Justin Ross, who is overseeing the project.

A Nov. 15 groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction for the Helen A. Rich K9 Complex. The $5 million project is expected to be complete in phases, beginning in fall 2019. (Kevin Weiss)

The project alone is expected to cost about $5 million, not including other FIRST facilities, according to the sheriff’s office.

In addition to teaching standard K-9 tactics, the training grounds will be used to help develop advanced K-9 techniques in airport security, explosives and drug detection, and search and recovery.

It will also include an academia-based research component focused on the health and wellness of working and retired police dogs.

“It’s kind of that synergistic partnership between researchers and practitioners, where we want them to really improve upon the use of working dogs and dog safety,” Ross explained.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco described the forthcoming K-9 project as “special” and “absolutely incredible.”

Nocco explained: “It’s really about finding ways to make us safer, make our communities safer, and it’s about building a legacy for the next generation.

“One day somebody will be saved because of the training that goes on there (at the complex),” he predicted.

Besides the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the K-9 facilities will also be used by other local and regional law enforcement agencies. “We want to make sure we bring as many people as we can for the K-9s,” the sheriff said.

The K9 Complex is named after Wrigley gum heiress and Odessa resident Helen Rich, who donated more than $480,000 toward the construction of the project, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a brief statement at the ceremony, Rich said the gift was a “no-brainer” because the project goes to support both dogs and law enforcement.

“Why did I do it? Because God told me to. That’s it,” the 70-year-old Rich said, of the donation.

Ground was broken in September on the entire FIRST campus.

A resource for universities, forensic scientists and law enforcement in the entire state, FIRST will serve as an aid to improve crime scene operations and investigations in the realm of homicides, missing persons cases and so on.

At its build out, the multiple-building forensics research center campus will have a laboratory, classrooms, a morgue and evidence storage space, where work will be done in the fields of legal medicine, forensic intelligence, aviation reconstruction and cyber forensics.

There’s also potential for training in the use of robotics, drones and data processing in the arena of public safety and workforce training, among other fields.

The FIRST campus received $4.3 million in state funds this year. It is expected to also be complete in late 2019.

Published November 21, 2018

Fire rescue cadets scale new heights

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Towering 75 feet above the ground, 16-year-old Mason Hawthorne, of Lakeland, places his arms out to the side while performing a ‘lock in’ exercise atop the aerial ladder. The ‘lock in’ or ‘trust’ exercise is conducted so that the cadet can be certain that the locking mechanism that is attached from the ladder rope to the harness he is wearing will hold. Hawthorne has been in the program for two years and plans to pursue a career in firefighting. (Christine Holtzman)

Members of Zephyrhills Fire Rescue Cadet Post 650 have a chance to find out what’s involved in the life of a firefighter and emergency responder through a program operated out of Fire Rescue Station 1, at 6907 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

Billy Jeffries, the lead cadet advisor of Post 650, puts the youth through their paces. The Wesley Chapel resident also serves as the Florida Fire Chief Association section vice chair and has been a cadet advisor for 13 years. He knows how the cadets feel, as they’re learning about what’s necessary to become a firefighter, because he was one himself, 18 years ago.

To be eligible for the program, hopefuls must be ages 14 through 20, must be enrolled in school and must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, must be free of a criminal record and must desire to help the community.

The year-round program can accommodate 16 members; it has 13 presently.

As 16-year-old cadet Novalee Dries, of Wesley Chapel, observes, 17-year-old Cadet Lt. Makala Hall, a Zephyrhills High School senior, left, gets help fastening her harness from Zephyrhills firefighter paramedic Ryan Thun, right. Hall has been a participant of the cadet program for four years.

The purpose of the program is to give local youths a chance to get an early start at learning what it takes to be a first responder. There are weekly classes that include classroom instruction, and there is hands-on training and exercises.

Cadets can earn certificates they can use in the future for their careers as first responders. Certifications that are typically earning include Emergency Medical Responder and CPR.

Besides practicing, the cadets can test their skills in competitions statewide, including the Florida Winter Fire Games, scheduled to take place in Kissimmee, in February 2019.

There is a one-time enrollment fee of $40, which covers insurance and membership fees for the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.

For more information about the cadet program, email Lead Cadet Advisor Billy Jeffries at , or call (813) 780-0035.

By Christine Holtzman

Published November 21, 2018

From left: 18-year-old Kayli Coleman, 17-year-old Kelsey Narhi, 17-year-old Cadet Lt. Makala Hall, 17-year-old Bree Hampton, all of Zephyrhills; and 16-year-old Novalee Dries, of Wesley Chapel, cheer on one of their comrades, as the cadet reaches the top of the 75-foot ladder.
The cadets train all year long and compete in many competitions statewide, including the Florida Winter Fire Games in Kissimmee, in February 2019.
Eighteen-year-old cadet Kayli Coleman descends the 75-foot aerial ladder during a recent training exercise. The Zephyrhills High School senior has been part of the cadet program for four years. The program is geared toward young people who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or firefighting. Coleman said it’s scary being at the top of the 75-foot ladder, which is pitched at 60-degree angle. ‘You can feel the ladder move and shake.’ But, she also noted: ‘The view is amazing up there.’
With his turn on deck, 15-year-old Orin Vaughn, of Zephyrhills, receives words of encouragement while getting geared up by Ryan Thun, a Zephyrhills firefighter/paramedic, left, and Darron Branscum, an assistant advisor Lt. Paramedic. Vaughn said he’s interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement and wanted to join the cadet program because it teaches responsibility.

 

 

Great American Teach-in exposes students to careers

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An animal service worker and an attorney were among nearly two dozen guests who dropped into Wesley Chapel High School on Nov. 14 to talk about their careers as part in the Great American Teach-In.

The goal is to give students an idea of the broad array of career choices they have, and to allow people from the community a chance to share their knowledge about what students need to know to thrive in their line of work.

Clementine Conde, left, an attorney, and Sarah Sukhram, an associate at Pasco County Animal Services, took part in the Great American Teach-in at Wesley Chapel High School on Nov. 14. (Brian Fernandes)

Schools across Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties took part in the Great American Teach-In on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15.

Speakers talked about what they do for a living, what inspired them to pursue that line of work, and what skills and knowledge they need to be successful.

The event gives students a chance to hear directly from professionals. It also can introduce them to career choices they may not know about, and can be a source of inspiration to pursue additional education.

Teach-In speakers at Wesley Chapel High ranged from nurses and marketing administrators to radio personalities and aviation technicians.

When one student mentioned she’d heard that law is a boring major, criminal defense attorney Clementine Conde responded: “It depends on the type of law that you do. Once you get out there and practice, it’s a lot more interesting.”

Conde told students that studying law can be daunting, but the reward outweighs the work.

Since receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, then a law degree from Western New England University, she has been practicing legal work for 26 years.

During her class visit, she broke down the difference between the federal and state court system, and she emphasized how a police record can hinder someone’s effort to land a particular job, or get into the school of one’s choice.

She said it’s important that students know their Miranda rights, to avoid self-incrimination.

“A lot of them [students] don’t know they have the right to remain silent if an officer is asking them questions,” said Conde. “It’s important for them to know.”

As she left the class, she offered a piece of advice that she gives her own 16-year-old son. She told them to set a long-term goal, a vision which is obtainable.

Kymone Hinds, another guest speaker, said he hopes to help others to “see past the limits that others have put on them and the limits they’ve placed on themselves.”

Hinds shared his experiences as an author, podcaster, and the owner of a business called Ideas to Life.

His business revolves around coaching and consulting inspiring entrepreneurs, while collaborating with other companies for projects and events.

A native of Tennessee, Hinds is a recent Wesley Chapel transplant and has been using his podcast for the past two years to promote his business.

Like Conde, Hinds, who has a daughter at Wesley Chapel High, wanted students to take away the message that it is important to have some agenda set in place, even if things don’t pan out the way they were intended.

“I wanted them to understand that it’s important to have a vision for your life,” he explained. “A vision is something that carries us beyond our present circumstance. When we face obstacles, our vision is what keeps us motivated,” he said.

Sarah Sukhram, an animal service worker, told students that no matter what skills they possess, they may find themselves in a field they never imagined.

With an education in corporate risk analysis, Sukhram had no idea that she would one day find herself dealing with the issue of stray animals. But since January, she has worked for the Pasco County Animal Services in Land O’ Lakes as a volunteer and foster care coordinator.

Although she has always had a love for animals, she never thought her skills in corporate risk analysis would be transferrable into caring for animals.

She encouraged students who were at least 16 to consider becoming volunteers.

She also asked how many of the students own pets, followed by a question regarding how many of the pets wear tags or have been micro-chipped. More hands went up for the first question than for the second.

Many pets, she said, end up in shelters because of a lack of identification.

Besides working directly with animals, other opportunities exist at Animal Services, including social media work, graphic design and customer service, she said.

Sukhram said that students shouldn’t have to feel boxed in to higher education, but instead should focus on what they are passionate about doing.

“I think that education is always important, but I do think there are a lot of opportunities out there for those that may not want to go the college route, and that’s OK,” she said.

Published November 21, 2018

District park to get recreational center

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Back when plans were originally developed for the Wesley Chapel District Park, the intention was to build an indoor recreation center as part of the complex, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

“Over time, with the downturn and people were saving money — cutting budget, it never happened,” Moore said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore is pleased that the county is pursuing plans to build an indoor recreation center at the county’s Wesley Chapel District Park. He’s excited about the new opportunities it will create for area residents. (B.C. Manion)

Now, plans for the indoor center are again proceeding for the district park at 7727 Boyette Road, in Wesley Chapel.

“I asked it to be put in last year’s budget,” Moore said, noting he expects the county to soon select a design firm to design the building.

A county staff committee reviews the qualifications of those seeking to do the design work, Moore said.

“Once they choose the firm that meets the qualifications, they bring their choice to us,” Moore said. Generally, that’s approved by the board without debate, he said.

He expects the indoor recreation center to be similar to the building at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, on Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The center will be approximately 15,000 square feet, and the budget for the project is approximately $3 million, Moore said.

He knows the indoor center will be a welcome addition to the community.

“I’ve been very involved at Wesley Chapel District Park for a number of years,” he said, noting he’s coached baseball, soccer and flag football.

“There’s a lot of people out there on a daily basis,” Moore said.

“Right now, they’re playing basketball outside. The leagues are playing outside, plus, just the general public is playing outside.

“Well, the downfall, it’s hot in the summer — and then, rain,” Moore said. “You figure if it’s 100 degrees outside, it’s 120 (degrees) on that court.”

An indoor facility can be used year-round, he noted. And, “it doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside. It doesn’t matter how hot it is.”

Plus, he said, “it’s just a safer environment for the kids.”

The new center also will give the community a chance to offer volleyball leagues, Moore said.

“I know for a fact, a lot of the girls and guys who are playing in volleyball are going to other places, whether it be Collier Parkway or New Tampa,” Moore said.

But, sports-minded people aren’t the only ones who will benefit, he said.

It also will create a new gathering space for the community.

He envisions a wide range of people using the center, such as the Rotary Club, community associations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, aerobics classes, yoga classes, and various other classes and organizations.

“Think about those things they’re doing at Collier (Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex), we could do them here,” Moore said. “I think about some of our retirees, our seniors, during the day — people could have Bridge Club or knitting.”

Right now, there are about 500 boys and girls in the basketball league each year, ranging from age 7 to 17, and there are no volleyball leagues at the park.

“My assumption is that you would see the leagues increase.

“I think it’s a deterrent for people to join when you play outdoors, because of the heat and everything,” he said.

There will be more parking, too.

“When you expand capacity, obviously you need additional parking,” Moore said.

He hopes the center is completed in time to open in early 2020.

Published November 21, 2018

Dade City author debuts suspense novel

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Birth, death, fear, hatred and love are the complexities of life, which all happen to be packed in Penny L. Freeman’s debut novel, “Heartache to Happiness.”

The Dade City native has been working on her book for three years, and it has now seen publication through RoseDog Books.

In her office at Saint Leo University, Penny L. Freeman proudly displays her first published novel, ‘Heartache to Happiness.’ (Brian Fernandes)

The story revolves around Kelsi, a young, pregnant woman whose world is turned upside down when her parents are brutally murdered and she becomes a prime suspect, sending her on the run.

The plot continues to escalate after Kelsi gives birth and her newborn is then kidnapped by her parents’ murderer.

Freeman said the story came to her spontaneously, with one idea leading to the next.

She hopes readers will take away the message that, like the story’s main character, they too can overcome life’s  obstacles.

As a member of a fifth-generation Dade City family, Freeman said her humble beginnings were a far cry from that of her story’s main character.

Her father was a professional roofer and she had a stay-at-home mother.

“We had a great childhood – didn’t have much money, but we really enjoyed ourselves,” said Freeman, describing her growing-up years with her parents and her sister. “It was wonderful.”

Even during her early years, she knew she had a knack for literature, and she enjoyed writing poems and short stories.

As an author, she enjoys a wide range of genres, and traces of them can be found in “Heartache to Happiness.”

“I put a little bit of everything in it,” said Freeman. “It has murder, it has mystery and some romance,” she said, but it is not graphic in nature.

Freeman received her associate degree from what was previously known as Pasco-Hernando Community College, before starting a family.

It wasn’t until she was in her 30s, and was raising two children, that she decided to return to school.

She now has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in business administration from Saint Leo University, where she’s been employed since 1999.

She has represented the university as a member of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce for four years, which she characterized as “a really great experience.”

She currently serves as the university’s senior academic coordinator for English, fine arts, philosophy, theology and religion.

If she didn’t love her current position, she would probably be teaching in a classroom, instead of working in an office, she said.

She still writes short stories, and said that her stories always come from her imagination — instead of from real life.

One technique she enjoys using is to write out of sequence — creating the beginning of the story, then the ending, and then filling in the gaps.

With a fresh new novel out, she’s ready to begin work on her second one.

Published November 21, 2018

Excellence in Business Awards announced

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber has announced the winners of its 2018 Excellence in Business Awards, which are bestowed during an annual celebration to acknowledge extraordinary contributions by local community members, businesses and organizations in the Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Trinity and Odessa regions.

This year’s winners are:

New Business of the Year: Holiday Inn Express – Trinity

Small Business of the Year: Buttermilk Provisions

Large Business of the Year: Shriners Hospital for Children – Tampa

Business Leader of the Year: Dr. Kevin O’Farrell

Volunteer of the Year: Damaris Rios

Dorothy Mitchell Legacy Award: John Gallagher, retired Pasco County administrator

Also, The Board Member of the Year award went to David DeWeerd, CPA, and Dr. Kevin O’ Farrell received the Chairman’s Award. Both of those awards were given by Jennifer Cofini, chair of the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s board.

The event was presented by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and was held in the Sierra Center at Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel.

Event sponsors were Design & Construction Innovations, Wiregrass Ranch, Avalon Park West, and the Tampa Bay Times.

Published November 21, 2018