The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Library hours restored for patrons

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Pasco County Libraries has restored Monday hours at the Hugh Embry and Hudson branches, as of Oct. 15. Patrons will now have four libraries to choose from to visit on Mondays.

The restoration of hours at more locations was a priority of the Pasco Board of County Commissioners for the fiscal year 2018-2019 budget.

In October 2017, the Regency Park and Land O’ Lakes branches were the first to restore hours, with the addition of Monday hours and some evening hours.

The Pasco County library locations that are now open on Mondays are:

  • Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway
  • Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City
  • Regency Park Branch Library, 9701 Little Road in New Port Richey
  • Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road

All libraries will remain closed on Sundays.

According to Bob Harrison, libraries public communications specialist, the restored hours give patrons on both the east and west sides of the county more access to everything they love about the libraries.

For information on hours of operation for all seven branches in the Pasco County Library System, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Information on the library catalog, e-content, programs, events and links to all the branches also can be found on the website.

Published October 24, 2018

Snakes, scorpions and tortoises, oh my

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Whether it was to learn about snakes, check out a Wild West Show, do a bit of arts and crafts, shopping or listening to music — visitors to the 52nd annual Rattlesnake Festival had plenty of choices. A crowd, estimated at over 9,000, visited the two-day show with near-perfect weather this past weekend at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City.

Pam Mendenhall displays a common black snake. Part of the show involved teaching the audience the difference between poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes. (Fred Bellet)

The lineup for the festival, which moved this year from San Antonio, featured reptile shows, Croc Encounters, Gopher Tortoise Races, nonprofit wildlife exhibits and performances by several local bands, including Jesse and Noah Bellamy. There were also bounce houses, a petting zoo, carnival rides, and barbecue and other food vendors.

“Moving to the fairgrounds gave us twice the space to expand the festival, plus room to grow in the future,” said Joe Simmons, who headed up the event. “We had more to offer, including moving the wildlife shows inside fair buildings, and adding more businesses and arts and crafts exhibitors.”

Simmons also said the move allowed the organization to offer free parking that was close to the event.

All money raised at The Rattlesnake Festival, after expenses, supports The Thomas Promise Foundation, a nonprofit that provides weekend meal packages for 1,200 underprivileged children who attend 27 Pasco schools.

Published October 24, 2018

Conner Heimes gets a close view of a corn snake as he peers through a glass cage housing the slithering snake. It was part of the ‘live’ display of snakes at The Rattlesnake Festival at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. The 4-year-old was at the event with his mom, Christina Heimes, his brother, Hunter, 10, and grandmother, Rebecca Heimes, all of Zephyrhills.
Inflating a balloon to be snapped by a bull whip, Mike ‘Lefty’ Remmert, of Tampa, readies the target, still in his mouth, as Cowboy Tom Glasco, of San Antonio, cracks the whip during his Cowboy Tom Wild West Show.
A large wooden rattlesnake head is controlled manually by Pam Mendenhall to open its mouth to show what the snake’s fangs look like. Pam, and her husband, Jim, presented the Mendenhall Snake Show displaying a variety of snakes.
Bernice DellaPorte, of Brooksville, works on a ‘Tree of Life’ sculpture, part of her Copper Forest Design line. She makes the piece from copper wire. Each Sculpture uses 170 strands of copper, which are each 16 inches long. The sculpture takes a day to create.
An Asian Water Monitor climbs off the shoulder of reptile exhibitor John Anderson, of Brooksville. The 2-year-old critter’s name is ‘Precious.’ The J&T Reptile exhibit was a popular feature at the Rattlesnake Festival.
Pythons like to climb to the highest branch, which is why this snake made its way to the crown of Courtney Graham, Miss Pasco County. Derek Dykstra, who is with the Rattlesnake Conservatory, brought the snake to the Rattlesnake Festival. (Vic Anthony)

The Laker/Lutz News claims 18 awards in state contest

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The Laker/Lutz News brought home 18 awards from the Community Papers of Florida 2018 Awards for Excellence competition.

The annual statewide contest recognizes outstanding work in advertising, writing and photography.

On the advertising side, The Laker/Lutz News design staff garnered 11 awards in these categories:

  • Advertising campaign: First place, Stefanie Burlingame and Matthew Mistretta, The Lakes Floral & Gifts; and Second place, Stefanie Burlingame, New Age Medical Center
  • Professional Services Advertising – less than half page: First place, Stefanie Burlingame, Evolution; and Second place, Stefanie Burlingame, Pet Point Animal Hospital
  • Self-promotion: Stefanie Burlingame, First place
  • Theme promotion: First place, Matthew Mistretta, Faith and Worship; and Second place, Matthew Mistretta, Home Section
  • Automotive advertising: Third place, Matthew Mistretta, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube
  • Real estate advertising – half page or more: Third place, Stefanie Burlingame, Advantage Real Estate Services
  • Real estate advertising – less than half page: Third place, Stefanie Burlingame, Allen Collins Realty
  • Spot color: Third place, Stefanie Burlingame, Treasured Pets Resort & Spa
The Lakes Floral & Gifts ad campaign garnered first place for Stefanie Burlingame and Matt Mistretta in the Community Papers of Florida 2018 Awards for Excellence competition.

The judges provided comments only for entries receiving a first place honor.

For the Evolution ad, one judge wrote, “this ad looks three-dimensional. The blurry Christmas tree in the background makes everything in the foreground stand out. The use of space and offer is perfect.”

For the Faith and Worship Theme Page, a judge noted “the overall layout and presentation of this page gives the reader several easy-to-find church services in the community. Each ad is clean and easy to read.”

In the Advertising Campaign category for The Lakes Floral & Gifts, one judge commented, “These ads are in full bloom! The use of color and composition make the ad series consistent and appealing to the reader. Well done.” Another judge pointed out “the color really makes this campaign POP!” Another judge noted, “A consistent look with strong, dominant artwork and vibrant colors makes for an effective campaign.”

Diane Kortus, the newspaper’s publisher, received third place recognition for a personal column she wrote about Valentine’s Day. The column observed that Valentine’s Day is not just an opportunity to celebrate romantic love, but also love for family, friends and colleagues.

The editorial team of Fred Bellet, Christine Holtzman, B.C. Manion, Kevin Weiss and Randy Underhill received honors in four categories.

  • News Story: First place
  • Best Original Writing: Third place
  • Best Original Photographic Spread: Second place and Third place
  • Best Independent Photo Feature: Two second-place honors

Manion won first place for her news story about local students at Wiregrass Ranch High School, in Wesley Chapel, joining a national walkout in the wake of the Valentine’s Day shooting spree that left 17 dead and 17 injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida.

One judge said the piece was “well-sourced” and called it “a descriptive narrative of this event.”

Weiss won third place for his profile about a reality show featuring the Bellamy Brothers, their music and their life on a 200-acre ranch in Darby.

Holtzman took home two second-place photography honors in the best independent photo feature category. One was for her photograph of a small child blowing a bubble and the other for an appearance that Mr. Tommy made at a local library.

Bellet received second place in the Best Original Photographic Spread Category for his collection of photos of a softball team for players with special needs. Underhill captured third place in the same category for his photos of a father-daughter dance at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

Published October 17, 2018

Pasco commissioners seek way to stop panhandlers

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They already have an ordinance on the books that addresses panhandlers, and another one that addresses trespassing.

But, the Pasco County Commission still hasn’t found an effective way to put a stop to panhandling.

“We have a panhandling ordinance in place. We write a lot of tickets to all of the people that are doing the panhandling. One gentleman has 240 tickets,” Commissioner Jack Mariano said during the commission’s Oct. 9 board meeting.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano (File)

Pasco County sheriff’s deputies don’t know what else to do, he said.

“They don’t want to take them to jail to fill up the jail. What do you do next?” the commissioner said.

Mariano has an idea.

He wants to try to dissuade people from giving donations to panhandlers.

He wants the county to send a message that “we don’t want you donating to the panhandlers.”

He thinks that would help put a stop to the panhandling problem.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agrees that there’s a problem. She told her colleagues that she was aware of a panhandler working on one side of a turn-lane on Starkey Boulevard who was cited, so he simply moved to the other side of the road.

“Apparently, it’s site specific when you cite them. I think we have to readdress that ordinance,” Starkey said. She thinks the ordinance should address panhandling that happens anywhere in the county.

Senior Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims explained the actions the board has taken to date.

“So, when the board enacted its ordinance concerning road solicitation, or panhandling — that is a civil violation and yes, tickets were written,” Sims said. “People would turn the tickets over and use them as another sign, on the backs of their tickets. It was not being paid. It wasn’t particularly effective with some of the panhandlers in the county.

“If you’ll recall, when it started, it (panhandling) was ubiquitous — on almost every corner and growing.

“There was certainly a hard-core population of people who are violating the road solicitation ordinance, so this board went further and implemented a trespass ordinance that allows the sheriff to trespass them off of public property, intersections and yes, that is site specific,” the attorney said.

If that’s not working, Sims suggested two options. One would be to work harder on the trespass option, or two, violation of the ordinance is theoretically punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

“However, we would need to fund and pay for representation for indigent defendants to do that,” she said.

“The only thing left is jail,” Sims said. “I can’t make a certain segment of panhandlers care that they’ve received a citation.”

Mariano thinks the county should warn people who are giving to panhandlers that they should stop doing so.

“I think when someone gets a couple of warnings, they’re going to stop. When the panhandlers see that these people are being warned not to donate, I think we can deter it that way.

“Because obviously, what we’re doing is not working. We need some type of change. I think this is something, that this would be a very positive move to try to diminish what’s happening out there,” Mariano said.

Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., said he favors taking action to reduce panhandling because he worries about the safety of people who are seeking donations.

Mariano suggested having a workshop to discuss updating the ordinance, and commissioners asked County Administrator Dan Biles to put together a list of the county’s priorities so they can discuss during their next meeting when they might want to set up that workshop.

Biles agreed to bring back that list.

Published October 17, 2018

110-foot observation tower in Dade City gains approval

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The Pasco County Commission has cleared the way for a 110-foot observation tower to be erected on a property off St. Joe Road in Dade City.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a conditional use request, submitted by Terry D. and Mary McKnight.

The application received a recommendation for approval by the Pasco County Commission, on a 3-2 vote, and a recommendation for denial by the county planning staff.

The staff said the proposed tower is not in keeping with the character of the area, but a majority of planning commissioner said it could be approved, along with a lengthy list of conditions.

The County Commission agreed with the Planning Commission’s recommendation.

Some area property owners objected to the tower. They claimed it is not a compatible use and could pose an invasion of privacy.

Terry McKnight, of 36210 St. Joe Road, told county commissioners that just five of the 19 neighbors receiving notice of the request had objected to his proposal.

“Nobody, that is not on our land, would be able to see all of the tower,” McKnight said.

Plus, he added, “relatively few people would be able to see the tower, at all.”

Those who would be able to see it — at most would be able to see about 50 feet of it, he said.

“But, they’ll be seeing it at some distance,” he said, and would be seeing the cabin, which is about 7 feet by 7 feet.

McKnight also showed commissioners some photographs taken by a drone at the exact spot where the observation platform would be.

Those photos essentially showed treetops, a lake and the sky.

“As you can see, the homes won’t even be visible from the tower, if it were to be erected,” McKnight said.

But, Stephen Futch, whose family owns property next to the McKnights, submitted a letter outlining 11 points of opposition.

“My great-grandfather was a county commissioner when this courthouse was built. So we have a long legacy in Dade City. That goes back 109 years ago,” Futch said, noting his mother used to live on the property, which is now part of an estate.

“Would you want to have a 110-foot tower next to your property?” he asked commissioners.

Another nearby resident, Doug Stentz, of 36125 Lynan Farms Drive, across the lake from the proposed tower, said he’s worried that the request could set a precedent.

“We don’t want a lot of towers around our lake,” Stentz said.

Two others spoke in support of the McKnights’ request.

Charles Waller, of 38038 Americana Ave., in Dade City, said he has an ownership interest in some nearby property, and he and his partners have no objections to the observation tower.

He noted that the McKnights’ property already has some unique features.

“This property has an iron fence along the front of it. That fence that came from a public housing project, over in Tampa.

“The bricks in the columns came from Sunken Gardens in St. Pete.

“There’s a beautiful fireplace out back that came from the stone in the Old City Hall here in Dade City,” Waller said.

He also noted that McKnight “has a vital interest in the Boy Scouts. He thinks that this will be an educational situation for them, and I certainly agree.

“These fire towers, which have been such an important part of our life here in Florida, are being decommissioned at a steady rate, and to have this one preserved here, I think is going to be an asset for us.

“It’s not going to harm any person. It will be a good thing for the community,” Waller said.

A room with a view
Margaret Woods, of 36332 St. Joe Road, said, “I’m the third property east of the McKnights.”

She noted that out of those notified about the McKnights’ request, just five objected.

“The rest of us have not objected,” Woods said. “Most of the neighbors that I talked to thought it was kind of a cool idea. We were excited about it from the very beginning.

“When you’re in the national forest and you see a fire tower in the forest, is it a blight upon the scenery in the forest? No, it isn’t.

“Certainly from the drone pictures you can see, there’s no privacy issue. Nobody is going to have anybody looking through their windows because of the tree canopy.

“I don’t see it as posing a danger for anyone. I don’t see it posing a privacy issue for anyone.

“And, I really don’t see that it ruins the view,” Woods said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley made a motion to approve the request.

“I don’t find that it’s going to be an eyesore,” Oakley said. “You’re going to be looking across a beautiful area of Pasco County, which is right here in East Pasco, which is pretty remarkable in itself, with our hills and trees.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said “My first thought on this was, ‘It’s very odd.’”

But, she added, “I’d probably want to stop by and climb it.”

“If you didn’t have the canopy and you could look down on everybody’s yards, that would be a little creepy, but I think you’ve got a good canopy. And, quite frankly, anybody could fly a drone these days and see much more than they should.

“I think the conditions are good conditions,” Starkey said.

Published October 17, 2018

Pasco County to hold first Alzheimer’s walk

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When Jennifer Graff realized her mother was losing her independence, little did she know that she would become a full-time caregiver.

Graff’s mother, Rose, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, after a horrific car crash.

Since then, she has resided in several living facilities while gradually losing her memory.

On Oct. 20, attendees of Pasco County’s first Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be able to take part in the 3-mile journey and learn more about supporting the cause. (Courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Facebook page)

Graff will walk on behalf of her mother on Oct. 20 during Pasco County’s first Walk to End Alzheimer’s program.

The event will be held at Starkey Ranch District Park in Odessa, open to both the public and their pets.

“We want it to be as accessible as possible for everybody,” said Kaylie Male of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. “Whether or not you can afford to make a donation, you can still come out.”

Participants can register either individually or as a team, beginning at 8 a.m. Donations are welcome, but not required.

Everyone who is registered will receive a Promise Garden flower. The flowers will come in four colors – purple, blue, yellow and orange – each representing the participant’s relation to Alzheimer’s disease.

The Promise Garden Ceremony will be at 9 a.m., where everyone will get to display their flowers.

“It’s a really wonderful opportunity for people to bond,” Male said, noting the ceremony serves to unite strangers.

After that, there’s a 3-mile walk, which is expected to attract more than 300 walkers.

This will be Graff’s fourth walk. She said she generally heads to the front of the line so she can turn around to marvel at the number of those present.

“I’m so proud of the people standing around me and everyone trying to help find a cure,” she said.

Graff visits her mother on weekdays at a Tampa assisted living facility, helping to make sure her needs are adequately met.

“My mom is almost a completely different person from who she was,” Graff said reflecting on her mother’s transition.

Although she has witnessed the slow regression, she said she takes solace in knowing her mother is content and at peace with the world.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. More than 14,000 of those are Pasco residents.

“We really knew there was a need in the area,” said Male, on why the county was chosen for this year’s walk.

The event will provide education on the disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical studies enrollment and support programs.

The Edward Jones corporation is the 2018 National Presenting Sponsor for the Alzheimer’s Association. It has already pledged to raise $4 million for this year.

The company’s New Port Richey branch will accept ‘early bird’ donations on Oct. 18, as well as Wesley Chapel Nissan on Oct. 16.

Donations also can be made through the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter’s Facebook page or by using the Walk to End Alzheimer’s phone app.

To preregister before the event, visit Act.alz.org/pasco.

For additional information, contact Kaylie Male at (727) 578-2558 or .

Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Where: Starkey Ranch District Park, 11880 Lake Blanche Drive, Odessa
When: Oct. 20; registration at 8 a.m., and walk at 9 a.m.
Cost: Free
Details: The public is welcome to join Pasco County’s first Alzheimer’s walk to raise funds and awareness.
Info: Contact Kaylie Male at (727) 578-2558 or . Preregistration and donations can be made online at Act.alz.org/pasco.

Published October 17, 2018

Emerging commercial markets in Pasco County

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It doesn’t take a master’s degree in economics to see that Pasco County’s commercial real estate market is going strong.

Take a drive down the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, and you’ll see new developments popping up, and for sale property signs planted everywhere.

As spaces along that corridor become too expensive or less available, more activity is expected along U.S. 41 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, and U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills near the end-point of the State Road 56 extension, predicts Jim Engelmann, a broker with Commercial Partners Realty Inc., who will be moderating a fall forum on commercial real estate in Wesley Chapel on Oct. 18.

Jim Engelmann, a commercial real estate broker, will be the moderator at a commercial fall forum on Oct. 18 in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

“It’s a really good time to lock in in Zephyrhills right now,” Engelmann said, because the prices will increase once the State Road 56 extension is done.

“It’s a fantastic time to buy right now.”

“There’s not a lot of high-quality office space available in Zephyrhills right now. There is some, but there’s not a lot.

“What’s going to happen is that slowly, people are going to buy and either remodel, or they’re going to buy, demolish and rebuild.

“They’ll start to put up better quality over there, but that’s 10 years down the road.”

“The challenge we’re starting to see along (U.S.) 41 now is that the property that’s available doesn’t match up with what the users can pay, in a lot of cases,” he said.

“What you see right now is a lot of owners who are not willing to develop the property. It’s just a piece of bumpy, flat land,” he added.

Engelmann also noted that Pasco County has been taking steps to attract more commercial development.

“Pasco is doing some really good things to bring business into the county. They’re doing incentives,” said Engelmann, who is president-elect of the Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes and a board member on the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco County waives mobility fees for some target industries and offers loan forgiveness for projects meeting specific criteria, he said.

Engelmann also noted that Wesley Chapel continues to be a hot market.

Wiregrass Ranch continues to attract interest, Engelmann said, praising the approach the Porter family has used to promote quality growth.

“It’s incredible what they’re doing out there,” he said. “They’re being smart about what they’re doing.”

Looking to lease commercial space?
Jim Engelmann, a commercial real estate broker, said these are some things you should keep in mind:

  • Know what the rent includes.

Who pays for janitorial services? Who pays for water and sewer?

Who maintains the air conditioning and heating?

“If you are responsible for the air conditioning, you need to find out: Do you have service records on the air conditioning?

“Have you had a bi-annual inspection and upkeep? If they haven’t, I would push back on that, as a renter.

“You have to protect yourself as a tenant, to make sure the property has been maintained adequately.

  • Before leasing, talk to other tenants.

“A lot of people won’t do that. They don’t want to bother anybody.

“You know what? Every tenant wants to tell their story. If you go ask somebody, ‘How do you like it here?’

“They will tell you whether or not they like it. They’ll tell you the five or six things you need to be aware of, with that landlord.

“People who have already experienced those things that go wrong, let them tell you what went wrong.”

  • Be sure the property meets your needs.

“If you have an office and people come to you, you’re a destination for them, it doesn’t matter what the traffic is like. But, if you are a retail user looking for drive-by traffic, you’ve got to know what the traffic counts are out on the street in front.

“Go sit there during the day. See what type of traffic flow there is.”

  • Have your attorney check out the lease.

“Every single lease is completely different. I’ve seen two-page tenant leases; I have seen 40-page tenant leases for the exact same type of property.”

  • Remember, everything is negotiable.

“There is nothing in a lease that is not negotiable. Every term, as far as payments, security deposit, when you pay, how much your share of something might be. Everything is negotiable.”

Also, don’t rule out a space, even if it seems too pricey.

“A lot of times people will look at a price of something listed online, and they’ll see that it’s $37 a square foot, (and they’ll think) ‘Yeah, but you know I can only afford $32, so I’m not going to bother calling.’

“You know what? If it’s been on the market six months, eight months, a year, they’re going to talk to you.

“It’s always worth the phone call.”

Commercial Fall Forum
Where: Hilton Garden Inn in Wesley Chapel, 26640 Silver Maple Parkway
When: Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $20 for members of Central Pasco Association of Realtors; $25 for others (fee includes lunch)
Details: This forum features a variety of topics related to commercial real estate and will include several speakers.
Info: (813) 948-6966

Published October 17, 2018

Annual Autumn Day event set at Old Lutz School

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If you want to learn about butterfly migration, visit an old-time school or purchase some items from vendors, you’ll have your chance at Autumn Day on Oct. 20, at the Old Lutz School in Lutz.

The event will be held on the historic school’s grounds, at 18819 U.S. 41, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ginny Grantham will make a return with her Ginny’s Gems for Autumn Day on Oct. 20. (File)

Lynn Barber of the UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension will offer a class at 10 a.m., to explain butterfly migration.

The course will also count toward community hours for parents with students attending Learning Gate Community School.

A variety of vendors will be selling food, crafts, jewelry and other items.

Those attending the festival can also go inside the school where they can tour its museum, which displays items collected from the community over the years.

A scavenger hunt will be held, to move visitors around the school and help them learn about its history.

“A lot of people don’t know that the schoolhouse is a historical landmark and it’s run by volunteers and donations,” said Stephanie Ensor of the Citizens for the Old Lutz School. “This is a good opportunity to educate people on that.”

Proceeds will go toward the Citizens for the Old Lutz School, which is hosting the event. The organization uses community funds to keep the two-story building intact as a local monument.

The event will have free parking and is pet-friendly.

For additional information, contact Stephanie Ensor at (813) 244-2256 or at .

Autumn Day
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41, in Lutz
When: Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the school museum, take part in a scavenger hunt and do a little shopping, too.
Info: Contact Stephanie Ensor at (813) 244-2256 or .

Published October 17, 2018

Political Agenda 10/17/2018

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Trinity Democrats
The Trinity Democratic Club’s Oct. 24 meeting will feature Jeremy Ring, the Democratic candidate running for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, at 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity.  Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour (self-pay) with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. For more information, call (415) 609-3633 or email .

Republic Club of Central Pasco
The Oct. 29 meeting of the Republican Club of Central Pasco will feature Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who is running for re-election in the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida’s 12th congressional district. The meeting is open to the public. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd, in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., with the business meeting beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.    

Endorsement
Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has endorsed Gus Bilirakis, who is seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives, in Florida’s 12th congressional district, according to a news release from Bilirakis’ campaign.

Lutz girl to star in upcoming musical

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Twelve-year old Olivia Carr says she loves the feeling of butterflies in her stomach when she’s on stage – a feeling she may experience for her upcoming performance, “Violet – The Musical.”

The musical, which includes a live orchestra, is a modern-day adaptation of the 1969 story, “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” by Doris Betts.

Olivia Carr, left, and Brianna Filippelli will both star as the lead character Violet in the upcoming production, ‘Violet – The Musical,’ starting Oct. 19. (Courtesy of New Tampa Players Facebook Page)

Olivia, a Lutz resident, will play the younger version of the lead character, Violet – with Brianna Filippelli as the older version.

The story takes place in 1964 and shows Violet’s journey through the U.S. South to meet an evangelist she believes will heal her of a face scar.

Olivia began acting three years ago, saying she was drawn to the stage after seeing a friend’s performance.

“I saw it — and how production came to life,” she said. “It really inspired me to go out and try it.”

While she has a prominent role, Olivia said it takes all of the actors and singers to create the show.

Olivia has always loved singing, but her parents said they weren’t aware of her desire to act and perform in public.

“We were really surprised,” recalled her mother Tami. “We didn’t know that she had this gift.”

The New Tampa Players (NTP) production of “Violet — The Musical,” will be held at the University Area Community Center in Tampa on Oct. 19 through Oct. 21 and Oct. 26 through Oct. 28.

The cast is made up of mostly adults and they’ve been supportive of Olivia – something her mother appreciates.

Olivia had performed in shows such as “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” before she made her NTP debut this summer in “Annie.”

The production company was established in 2002 and holds open auditions for every show.

Nora Paine, NTP president, wants the power of human interaction to be the take-away from the upcoming show.

“Each person that we come in contact with, we affect their lives and they affect ours,” she said.

Proceeds from the show will go toward the NTP and tickets can be purchased online at NewTampaPlayers.org.

For additional information, call (813) 644-8285, or visit the website.

Violet – The Musical
Where: University Area Community Center, 14013 N. 22nd St., in Tampa
When: Oct. 19 through Oct. 21, Oct. 26 through Oct. 28; Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. *The Oct. 20 performance will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 per adult; $23 for students, seniors or military; $20 for group of 10 or more
Details: The performance is about a young girl’s interactions with people through the South, while on a quest to meet an evangelist.
Info: Contact the New Tampa Players at (813) 644-8285 or NewTampaPlayers.org. Tickets can also be purchased online.

Published October 17, 2018