The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Getting down and dirty in summer camp

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It’s a few minutes before class will start and 6-year-old Elix Danahue, 10-year-old Elizabeth Lankist and 11-year-old Karis Williams are looking forward to the day’s lessons.

The children are in a class being taught by Eden Santiago-Gomez.

The three children are among a group of 21 in a Farm to Table Summer Youth Camp, offered by the University of Florida/Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences and Pasco County Extension in Dade City.

Eden Santiago-Gomez helps children in a Farm to Table Summer Camp work on an experiment. The youths next to Santiago-Gomez, from left, are Isel Chavez, Alan Guzman and William Lopez. (B.C. Manion)

“It’s a summer camp that teaches kids how to grow their own food,” said Gomez-Santiago, who is the Extension Office’s community gardens program assistant. Among other things the camp teaches is “the importance of nutrition, as well as water conservation,” she said.

All three kids said they’ve been enjoying the camp and would recommend it to friends.

That may be due to the teacher’s approach. She limits how long she talks and instead concentrates on letting kids learn by doing.

She also brings in guest speakers to give the kids a deeper look at various topics.

It’s the first time that Gomez-Santiago has offered a summer camp for kids, but it won’t be the last. There’s a possibility she could offer this camp again near the end of the summer, if there’s enough demand.

Otherwise, she’ll likely offer it twice next summer, she said.

“Each day, I have a different theme. The first day was Gardening 101,” Santiago-Gomez said.

“Yesterday, we talked about good bugs vs. bad bugs,” she said.

“They got to do a scavenger hunt, where they looked for these good and bad pests, and different elements that plants need.

Each day of the week has had a different emphasis.

On Wednesday, the children focused on learning about the importance of conserving the environment.

Gomez-Santiago asked the kids to tell her what they knew about pollution, then she shared some video clips on the topic.

Next, they did an experiment that involved making edible water bottles.

Later in the morning, an agent was slated to visit the class to talk about vermicomposting, which uses worms to turn food waste into compost called worm castings. Worm bins tend to take up less space than traditional compost bins and can even be kept inside.

“Kids will get to make their own little bins and will take them home,” she said.

Other days of the week involved lessons on food conservation, aquaponics, different forms of farming and gardening.

There was even a visit planned involving an agricultural agent to talk about chickens and manure.

Karis and Elizabeth said they especially enjoyed the gardening.

“I’ve always had a knack for gardening,” Elizabeth said.

“I like gardening,” Karis agreed.

Elix said he pretty much likes everything about the camp.

“It’s just so fun,” the 6-year-old said.

Published June 13, 2018

Baldomero Lopez was more than a local hero

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When motorists drive past the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, chances are they won’t know much about the history of the man for whom the facility is named.

That’s where Bill Dotterer comes in.

This iconic image was taken of 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez leading troops in an invasion at Inchon during the Korean War. Lopez died minutes after the photo was taken.
(Bill Dotterer)

He’s a volunteer with the Tampa Bay History Center and he shared the story of 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez’s life and his heroic actions during a talk earlier this year at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library. The history center and library jointly presented the free program.

Lopez may not be widely known in many circles, but he is in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dotterer said.

“Lopez is a very important person in Tampa Bay’s history,” the speaker added, noting Lopez was the first person who grew up in Tampa to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Dotterer shared details of Lopez’s early years.

Lopez grew up during a time when Ybor City and West Tampa were vibrant places, with a thriving cigar industry, with people living there who had come from Spain, Cuba, Italy and Sicily, Dotterer said. There were social clubs, baseball teams and dominoes, he noted, and Lopez grew up in that milieu.

“In the neighborhood where he lived, he was well known as a baseball player. He had a paper route. He was just an All-American kid,” Dotterer said.

Lopez also was interested in the military.

He attended Hillsborough High School, where he was in charge of the ROTC program. He marched in the Gasparilla Parade one year, leading all of the junior ROTC units, Dotterer said.

Baldomero Lopez
Company A, 1st Battalion
5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Born: Aug, 23, 1925
Died: Sept. 15, 1950

The speaker noted that much of his talk was based on information he gleaned from a conversation he had with E.J. Salcines, a former judge and noted Tampa historian.

Lopez was third in his class when he graduated from Hillsborough High in 1943. He decided to enlist in the Navy, Dotterer said.

Initially, Lopez was sent to Quantico, Virginia, but he was pulled from that program and sent to Annapolis for an officer training program, Dotterer added. Next, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, as a second lieutenant.

By then, it was 1947 and the war had ended.

Lopez was sent to China, to lead a mortar platoon, and after that, he returned to Camp Pendleton, where he received orders to become an instructor at the Basic School in Quantico, Dotterer said.

Lopez was still at Pendleton when the Korean War broke out and his unit was assigned to go overseas, Dotterer said. Lopez wanted to go with them.

Dotterer then shared this account, which he said came from Salcines.

Lopez was a on a train, heading from California to Virginia, Dotterer said.

“Every place that the train stopped, he got off and called and said, ‘Please change my orders. I want to go with my unit.’

“When he finally gets to Quantico, they say, ‘OK, you can rejoin your unit.’,” Dotterer said.

Lopez heads back to California, but at that point, his unit is already gone. Somehow, he catches up with them, across the Pacific, Dotterer continued.

The Korean War began when the North Koreans attacked south of this 38th parallel, which is what divides North Korea and South Korea, Dotterer said.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the head commander of allied forces in Korea, and he decided to take back Seoul, Dotterer said.

The invasion is made at Inchon Harbor, near Seoul.

It wasn’t an ideal place to invade because it had the third-highest tides in the world, going from zero to 40 feet in a day. It also had 40-foot seawalls around it, which the Marines had to build ladders to scale, Dotterer said.

“The anchorage, itself, where all of the ships would end up for the invasion, was pretty small. It was pretty tight to get in there,” he added.

At the same time, however, the limiting factors at Inchon also may have made it a good place to invade because the enemy would never expect it, he said.

Lopez demonstrated courage
Lopez, who was 25, was on one of the landing ships.

Before the invasion, he wrote his parents a final letter, not knowing it would be his final letter, Dotterer said.

“Basically, he said, ‘Hey, I chose to do this, so if anything happens, I decided I wanted to be a Marine officer, so here I am. Secondly, please send me some good cigars.’

“On Sept. 15, the invasion begins. He is with Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, and they’re going into Red Beach,” Dotterer said.

This historic marker in downtown Tampa commemorates the heroic actions that 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez took during the Korean War.
(B.C. Manion)

There were two hills, which meant the enemy was at the top of the hill shooting down.

An iconic photograph, taken during the invasion, shows Lopez leading his troops up a wooden ladder over the seawall, Dotterer said.

“Sad to say, this is minutes before he is killed. He’s leading his troops over the seawall. There’s a machine-gun, automatic type position here, that they are trying to take out.

“He had actually pulled a pin on a grenade to throw it into the pill box,” Dotterer said.

Instead, “he gets hit with automatic weapon fire. One in the shoulder. One in the abdomen or chest. He’s shot down. That grenade has the pin out.”

Within seconds, Lopez decided to save his troops. He scooped the grenade under his body.

“He took the full brunt of the grenade in the explosion. His troops were essentially saved. They went on to take that pillbox,” Dotterer said.

Since then, Lopez has been honored in various ways.

There’s a historic marker commemorating Lopez’s heroics in downtown Tampa and there’s a memorial for him at Hillsborough High School. There’s a public elementary school named after him in Seffner and there’s a memorial to Lopez at Veterans Memorial Park.

In 2012, the Tampa Bay History Center received a Korean War Veterans Medal on behalf of Lopez, presented by Jong-Hoon Kim, a member of the 19th National Assembly and Chair of the International Relations Committee, Saenuri Party. Kim was accompanied by Choi Young-Jin, the Korean Ambassador to the United Nations and other Korean Dignitaries.

Additionally, there’s Lopez Hall at the Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, a dining facility that was dedicated in 2013, and there’s a navy ship named in his honor.

And, the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, (MCA&F), bestows The Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Honor Graduate Award to the Marine of each graduating company from the Basic School who demonstrates the highest potential for future leadership and responsibility in the Marine Corps.

In essence, Dotterer said, “he was an amazing hero.”

Published June 6, 2018

Figure skating heats up in Wesley Chapel

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As Tampa Bay becomes synonymous with hockey this time of year, another ice-based sport is heating up in the region.

For the first time, the Florida Sports Foundation selected Pasco County to be the host community for the annual Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships.

The competition took place at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, from May 18 through May 20.

The games drew more than 300 male and female skaters of all ages, with skaters and their families trekking all the way from the First Coast to South Florida, and everywhere in-between, to compete in the statewide, Olympic-style program.

The majority of the participants were girls between the ages of 10 to 14.

Ten-year-old Jordan Scott, of Wesley Chapel, won the juvenile girls free skate event and was a recipient of the Betty Stark Award as the games’ top juvenile skater.

Skating sisters shine
A pair of young sisters from Wesley Chapel fared among the best.

Twelve-year-old Haley Scott and 10-year-old Jordan Scott each earned gold medals in their respective competitions.

Haley won the novice ladies division with a personal-best in the free skate (84.96 total score).

Jordan, meanwhile, won the juvenile girls free skate event (48.75 score) and was a recipient of the Betty Stark Award as the games’ top juvenile skater.

Haley won the same award back in 2016 for first-place finishes in the juvenile girls free skate and intermediate ladies short events.

She also won the games’ Dorothy Dodson Award in 2017, named after the late long-time figure skating judge that recognizes the highest combined score in the intermediate ladies free skating and short program events.

The success in Florida has translated to the national stage, for Haley.

Between October and January, she skated in the South Atlantic Regional Championships in Ashburn, Virginia (second place, Intermediate Ladies); the Eastern Sectional Championships in Foxborough, Massachusetts (second place, Intermediate Ladies); and in the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California (10th place Intermediate Ladies).

Twelve-year-old Haley Scott, of Wesley Chapel, won the novice ladies division with a personal-best in the free skate (84.96 total score). Her younger sister, Jordan Scott, 10, also earned a gold medal in the juvenile free skate. (Courtesy of Julie Scott)

But, her proudest skating moment came the year before, when she earned a bronze medal in the juvenile girls division at the 2017 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ranked among the nation’s top young figure skaters, the Olympics may be a reality someday.

“My goal is just to keep having fun, keep pushing to my potential, just enjoying the journey,” she said. “The Olympics would be great.”

The Scott sisters have each been skating for about six years, when they first tried it out at a friend’s birthday party.

They’ve been hooked ever since.

“I like the challenge of it. Each day you get to do something new and try to push yourself,” Haley said.

Added Jordan: “I also love competing. It’s really fun to ice skate.”

In the juvenile division, figure skater Kaitlyn Wright, 6, left, talks with friend, Briana Reich, 7, of Wellington. The two girls are coached by Lauren Salzlechner, also of Wellington. Wright and her family may be moving to Wesley Chapel in order to live near Florida Hospital Center Ice. (Fred Bellet)

A convenient training ground
The skating wunderkinds, along with their mother Julie Scott, moved to Wesley Chapel from Port Orange, chiefly for the offerings at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Labeled the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern U.S., the 150,500-square-foot, two-story complex features five ice rinks — an Olympic rink (200 feet by 100 feet), three National Hockey League-sized rinks (200 feet by 85 feet) and a mini rink.

While living in Port Orange, the family would commute three hours everyday to a skating facility in Jacksonville.

They made the daily drive for about four years, until Florida Hospital Center Ice launched in January 2017.

Now they’re just minutes away from sheets of ice.

“This facility is probably the best in the southeast right now. It really is. You really can’t beat it,” Julie Scott said.

The Scott sisters, who are home-schooled, use the Wesley Chapel facility about six days a week for practice and training. Their team of coaches is also stationed there.

“They’ve got ballet here. They’ve got yoga. They have it all. They have a trainer. It’s all in-house, which is really nice,” their mother said.

Other skating families are relocating to Wesley Chapel to access those opportunities.

Josh and Marissa Wright and their two children soon plan to move to the area from Boynton Beach. They want to be within a 15-minute drive of Center Ice.

They recently made the 3 ½-hour drive from South Florida so their 6-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, could participate in the games’ basic series event.

When Josh first toured the facility, he was awestruck with the complex located off Interstate 75 at the State Road 56 interchange.

“It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable. I mean, there’s nothing like this,” he said, adding the facility his family currently uses only has one rink.

Florida’s figure skating surge
The first Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships began 32 years ago in Clearwater with less than 60 skaters.

It’s grown nearly fivefold since, and has been hosted at several other locations over the years, including Tampa, Ellenton, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, among others.

Twelve-year-old Avery Kelley and her coach, Steve Belanger, both of Jupiter, made the trip to the annual Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. Kelley, a competitor in the intermediate division, skates with “elegance and poise,” according to her coach. (Fred Bellet)

Betty Stark has served as the games’ figure skating director since its inception.

She said it’s “a good tune-up” for skaters with aspirations of reaching qualifying competitions, like regionals and sectionals, later in the year.

“A lot of the kids that participate in the Sunshine State Games get the opportunity, if they place, to go on to the State Games of America,” she said, noting several homegrown skaters have wound up competing nationally and internationally.

Stark, a former club figure skater herself at the University of Florida, has also witnessed the sport’s surge in the state across the past three decades.

“It’s been taking off a lot.” she said. “The number of rinks and the interest in figure skating has increased a lot. Coaches have been coming down here starting up programs. Guests coaches from across the country love to come down for the warm weather…and some of them just wind up staying here; and they bring their expertise from their years of skating and their coaching.”

Meantime, the figure skating event may remain here for the foreseeable future.

Pasco County Tourism Manager Consuelo Sanchez said the county plans to bid to keep the state games in Wesley Chapel for the next few years.

“We are interested to keep it here because it is the most important (figure skating) competition in the whole state of Florida,” she said.

Further, the event may be a springboard for drawing even larger figure skating competitions at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

“The good thing about bringing the Sunshine Games is we’re going to show that we can host big events,” Sanchez said.

“We’re already having conversations with USA Figure Skating to try and bring regionals and, hopefully, national championships here. But, they wanted to see that we have the capability of hosting these events, and this is a great experience.”

The facility is already no stranger to the big stage.

It was the training home for the USA Hockey Women’s National Team that won gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

It has also hosted multiple National USA Hockey championships and is the training home for international athletes — including six-time French national champion figure skating pair Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres.

And, it’s bucking the notion that ice sports are reserved for northern states and colder climates.

Said Julie Scott, “Everybody always asks us, ‘Why ice skating in Florida?’ But, why not? You’ve got these great facilities.”

Published June 6, 2018

Wesley Chapel road study looks for traffic solutions

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Pasco County is moving forward with efforts to find consensus on easing traffic congestion in Wesley Chapel and building road connections between Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

About 100 people attended a public meeting to discuss the draft of the Wesley Chapel Road Connection Study.
(Kathy Steele)

Consensus appears elusive, however, on the proposed linkage between Mansfield Boulevard, in Pasco County and Kinnan Street in Hillsborough County.

Pasco residents don’t want more traffic whizzing down a boulevard that already is gridlocked at peak hours.

But Hillsborough residents want a more direct route to shops, restaurants, churches and jobs just across the county line.

About 100 people attended a public meeting on May 22 at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus to discuss a 450-page draft of the Wesley Chapel Road Connection Study.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and consultants with AECOM presented an executive summary of the study’s findings.

The study looks at the pros and cons of four alternatives for road connections, without making a recommendation. A no-build option also is included.

“We don’t have any bias in this study,” said Ali Atefi, a transportation engineer with the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization. “We looked at it objectively.”

The choices are no-build; linking Mansfield Boulevard with Kinnan Street; linking Mansfield and Kinnan, as well as extending Meadow Pointe Boulevard to Hillsborough County; and the final option calls for linking Mansfield and Kinnan, extending Meadow Pointe Boulevard and extending Wyndfields, also to Hillsborough County.

Moore said he favors the Meadow Pointe extension, which would link to a future road in K-Bar Ranch.

A count of residents’ preferences from a 2017 public meeting showed that road project had strong support.

“I’ve got to be concerned about my residents here in Pasco County,” Moore said.

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, who attended the May 22 meeting, said all three connections are necessary. His constituents in New Tampa especially want Mansfield and Kinnan connected.

“I understand it’s not a black and white issue,” Viera said. “It’s gray. But, that is a real potential game changer. Hillsborough County is a stakeholder in this.”

Hillsborough County commissioners in 2017 approved $250,000 toward linking the two roads.

There could be one point of agreement on Mansfield and Kinnan, which currently dead-end at the county line — roughly 30 feet to 40 feet apart.

A gate could be installed that would provide access to emergency vehicles only. The cost would be about $7,000 for each county.

But, the Mansfield and Kinnan connection remains a hard sell for many Pasco residents.

“Adding traffic is what I’m worried about now,” said Ray Kobasko.

The Meadow Pointe extension makes more sense, he said. “It’s been planned all along, All the people who bought over there were told that,” he said.

Mike Hanna also opposes a Mansfield-Kinnan link.

“Connections have to be made but not all three of these,” he said. “A lot of people drive Mansfield every day and have accidents now. I’d not be in favor of more traffic coming up there.”

Residents can comment on the study through June 15. A final study will be released in August or September.

A citizens’ survey also is planned in coming months, giving residents a chance to weigh in on potential projects. The MPO is scheduled to make its recommendation in October.

Pasco County commissioners will have the final say on which, if any, of the alternatives are selected for construction.

Published June 6, 2018

 

 

 

Lack of building permits halts work

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Pasco County issued a stop work order at Epperson, after a routine county fire inspection found 19 structures lacked building permits.

A 7.5-acre recreational pool by Crystal Lagoons is being built at Epperson.
(File)

The May 10 inspection came less than two weeks after Epperson kicked off the anticipated opening of the Crystal Lagoons amenity. The festivities, to mark the first development in the United States with this type of amenity, featured an appearance by Michael Phelps, the most decorated athlete in the history of the Olympics.

The massive pool, with a patented technology to keep its waters crystal clear, covers about 7.5 acres at Epperson.

Pasco County building officials were notified of the problem immediately, and the stop work order issued the same day, said Anthony Mastracchio, the county’s deputy building official.

County officials said most of the structures without permits were tiki bars and cabanas.

Representatives of Metro Development Group, which is developing Epperson, met with building officials about the permits on May 14, and permit applications are being pursued, Mastracchio said.

“This is a great project and the county wants it to move forward,” he said.

However, the county will assess penalties by doubling the cost of the permit fees.

Mastracchio said some of the structures weren’t placed on the initial site plan submitted a year ago but Metro Development has provided new drawings which include the structures.

Building inspections, including plumbing and electrical, are done by a private company, which then files reports with the county.

Mastracchio said the county only does the fire inspections.

“Our process actually worked,” he said. “He (fire marshal) alerted us immediately. Our concern is for life safety.”

Metro Development’s president, Greg Singleton, wasn’t available for comment.

Epperson officials did release this statement: “The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson unfortunately did not open as we all hoped on May 19th. Here’s why: This is the first-ever Crystal Lagoon in the United States, and while exciting, that means the review processes are all new, and that is requiring more certifications. We know this is disappointin

g, and we apologize. We are working closely with Pasco County partners, and we appreciate their diligence. Meanwhile, we are doing everything we can to welcome everyone to the lagoon as soon as possible.”

Published June 6, 2018

Pasco Sheriff’s Office has new tool to track missing persons

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has a new tool to help find people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism or other cognitive disorders who wander off.

Sheriff Chris Nocco held a news conference last week to talk about using scent kits to help locate missing persons with cognitive disorders.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputies Chris Miller and Jimmy Hall, explain how Buster, the bloodhound, tracks the scent of a missing person.
(B.C. Manion)

“What we’re trying to do, as quickly as possible, is to find those loved ones who go missing — find those missing children who have wandered off from the house; those who are dealing with mental disabilities that wander off,” Nocco said.

“The stress on the family is overwhelming,” Nocco said, noting that in addition to other calls, his department handled 1,200 calls regarding missing persons in the past year.

“The faster we can track them, the faster we can find them, the faster that we save them,” the sheriff added.

Besides protecting the missing persons from harm, a quick result alleviates concerns of loved ones and enables the law enforcement agency to deploy its forces sooner to respond to other types of calls, Nocco said.

The scent kits will be distributed through the department’s SafetyNet Program, said Det. Gennis Holsom.

That program uses a transmitter attached to a SafetyNet particpant, which is tracked by deputies with radio receivers. The scent kit will add another tool to that program.

That program focuses on the cognitive disorders community, Holsom said.

“If they wander off, we’ll respond to the scene with receivers, we can put in the unique radio frequency that that particular transmitter emits and we’ll basically track the sound. We can track right to them.

“To add to the toolbox of the Safety Net program, we’re adding the scent kit, starting in June.

“The scent kit is specifically for our bloodhounds. It will be a pure scent, which will be kept at that individual’s house,” he said.

To collect someone’s scent, sterile gauze is rubbed on exposed skin, such as the arm or neck. The gauze is then sealed in a glass jar. The scent can remain viable for 5 years or longer. Care must be taken to collect the scent properly, to be sure there is no cross-contamination.

During the news conference, the department gave a demonstration of how the scent kids will be used.

A bloodhound named Buster was given a sniff of a scent that had been collected and stored in a jar. Working with K-9 deputy Chris Miller, Buster followed a trail that led to a man who was hiding in a stand of pine trees.

The scent kid enables the bloodhound to smell an item that has just the missing person’s scent on it, K-9 deputy Jimmy Hall explained.

“Sometimes, if we take a scent article from the house, three or four other people within the house might have touched it,” Hall said. “If you were to hand me a shirt, there’s no telling how many different scents are on there.”

Those who are interested in learning more about the program should contact Shelby Homko, at (727) 815-7119.

Published June 6, 2018

 

Lutz Guv’na hopefuls face off in amusing debate

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The afternoon was hot and sizzling — and so was the 2018 Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School.

So much so that the May 19 event ended in a tie, a first in the debate’s long history.

Kandy Sinquefield of American BellyDance Studio and returning candidate Jessica Sherman of Pinch A Penny each earned the same number of “votes” (most guests in the audience)— earning a split of a $100 campaign donation from Flip Flop Embroidery Shoppe.

Besides the Guv’na debate, candidates displayed their skills in other competitions, like curling— concocting the best hairstyle on a wig using a curling iron. Returning candidate Jessica Sherman, left, shows off her masterpiece. (Kevin Weiss)

A third candidate, Domenic DiFante of Panini’s Bar & Grill, couldn’t make the debate. He was instead represented by one of his employees, Alex Robertson, who diplomatically threw his full support behind his absent boss.

Said Robertson, “He’s a great man, and I think he will give the community a great service by being your next Guv’na.”

The annual affair isn’t your typical “political” debate.

The candidates were required to ring a bell before answering a series of satirical questions from a few dozen Lutz residents and family members in the crowd.

Other games and fun activities were mixed in throughout the fun-filled afternoon, which was emceed by Paul Vahue of First Baptist Church in Lutz.

Among the most intense “hot button” debate questions: “Are you a liberal or conservative when it comes to pizza toppings, and should there be punishment for ordering pineapple on pizza?”

Sherman advocated for “pizza freedom.”

Sinquefield supported the right to choose any pizza topping, but added, “just don’t ask me to clean up for you when you get sick from eating it.”

Robertson, on behalf of DiFante, took a more hardline approach to the pizza topping issue.

“There’s just a few things in life that just don’t go together,” he said, “and pineapple on pizza is one of them.”

Another “controversial” topic dear to Lutz residents was also broached: “Should Lutz secede from the state of Florida?”

In true political fashion, Robertson avoided the topic entirely, redirecting the conversation to Difante’s “tax plan” and campaign promise of “chicken wings, overstuffed sandwiches and cold beer at every corner of the city.”

To quell other “voters” concerns, Sherman and Sinquefield both said the unincorporated town should remain a part of the Sunshine State.

Said Sherman, “I think Lutz is just fine the way it is. If I win Guv’na, I’m not going to do anything. Everything’s just fine.”

Added Sinquefield: “I don’t think Lutz should secede from the union. If people don’t like what we do in Lutz, then they need to move to Carrollwood…”

Another Lutz-centric debate question that drew wonderment from many — “Which object should be dropped in Lutz on New Year’s Eve?”

Sinquefield mentioned a rhinestone-covered replica of the Lutz Train Depot.

Sherman liked the idea of dropping a giant alligator.

Robertson— trying to appeal to the crowd’s appetites — proposed unloading a 75-foot tall, 1,500-pound “overstuffed” sandwich — a Panini’s staple. “Everybody bring a fork,” he quipped.

In between the many colorful debate questions were a series of “Olympic-type” activities.

Except, they were just slightly different from the real thing.

The “curling” competition required the trio to use a curling iron on a synthetic wig — concocting the best hairstyle possible. Sinquefield reigned supreme in that.

Meantime, the makeshift synchronized swimming event required candidates to shake and wave swim noodles attached to tennis shoes, to mimic the symbiotic motion of legs and feet behind the veil of a blue tarp that served as water.

The routines drew more cackles than points for grace, but each earned a participation prize.

Guv’na candidates also used the debate platform to show off their special talents.

Sherman displayed the same “epic dance moves” from last year, comically resembling those popularized by “Seinfeld” TV series character Elaine Benes, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Sinquefield, unsurprisingly, shared a belly dance routine.

Robertson conceded the talent show entirely, bowing to Sinquefield’s performance. “There’s nothing I can do that can follow that,” he said modestly.

At the end of the debate, each candidate revealed their official campaign slogan.

Sherman stayed true to last year’s “Keep Lutz Local” slogan.

She explained: “Lutz is a very special community. Ninety percent of our business owners are local, Lutz owned and operated businesses, and it’s super important we keep that family vibe that we don’t have in a lot of places, like Carrollwood.”

Sinquefield’s slogan was more brash: “I don’t want your vote—I want your money!” she said.

Difante’s slogan was “Let’s get overstuffed!”

The meaning was explained in a statement read by Robertson: “I’ve mastered the overstuffed sandwich. Now I want to overstuff your wallets, bank accounts and bellies!”

The whimsical debate was all done in an effort for candidates to drum up as much support as they could, hoping to raise as much money as possible for their “campaigns,” which ultimately go to benefitting several nonprofits and local organizations in Lutz.

The annual Guv’na Race fundraiser continues through the Fourth of July weekend, where the winner is announced, and earns the coveted “sash” and honorary title from the prior year’s winner.

The race started in 1991 and is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association.

It typically raises several thousand dollars for about 20 beneficiaries.

Dignitaries at the event included a handful of former Guv’na winners and candidates, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, and representatives from the Old Lutz School and the Lutz Civic Association, among others.

Lutz Guv’na candidate upcoming fundraisers

Candidate Domenic DiFante

  • Kill the Keg: May 31 from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., at Panini’s Bar and Grill, 3973 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. There will be music and karaoke, corn hole, jumbo Jenga, jumbo Connect Four, beer pong and more. Wristbands for “Kill the Keg” are $15. For information, call (813) 962-3479.

Candidate Jessica Sherman

Candidate Kandy Sinquefield

  • BellyDance 4 A Cause: June 10 at 2 p.m., at the Sydney Center, 102 Whitaker Road, Lutz. A belly dance show to benefit the Lutz Guv’na race that will feature many styles of belly dance, colorful costumes and uplifting music. Tickets are $15 and available at Kandy4LutzGovna.com or at the door, if available. For information, visit Kandy4LutzGovna.com.
  • Barbecue and Belly Dancing: June 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at UNION72 Barbecue, 2000 Piazza Ave., Suite 150, in Wesley Chapel. Bring the whole family out to eat at UNION72 and help support Kandy. A portion of the bill will be donated to the Guv’na’s race by the restaurant. For information, visit Kandy4LutzGovna.com.
  • Miss Lutz Pageant: June 23 at 7 p.m., at the Sydney Center, 102 Whitaker Road, Lutz. Contestants are still needed to show off their talent and an evening gown. Participants must be older than age 18, live in Lutz and be available for the Lutz 4th of July Parade. Tickets are $15. For information, visit Kandy4LutzGovna.com.

Published May 30, 2018

Democratic clubs set meetings

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Trinity Democratic Club
The Trinity Democratic Club will meet May 23 at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 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. 

The club will host Ryan Torrens, candidate for Attorney General, and Roy David Walker, candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.

For questions, call (415) 609-3633, or email .

Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club
The Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club will meet June 6 at 6:30 p.m., at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 108, in Lutz.

The special guest will be Robert Tager, candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida-District 12.

There also will be a discussion on plans to increase voter turnout to positively impact upcoming elections in 2018.

For information, visit MakingPascoBlue.com.

Democratic Hispanic Caucus
The Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Pasco will meet June 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Los Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 5335 Village Market in Wesley Chapel.

This is the group’s second meeting, and is looking for new members.

For information and questions, email .

Lutz girl making TV show debut in ‘Kid Stew’ airing on WEDU

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Twelve-year-old Madison Maxwell has done hundreds of commercials, beginning when she was just 4.

But, the sixth-grader at Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes has never been involved in a television show.

Until now.

She’s one of nine cast members in a new series called “Kid Stew.”

Madison Maxwell, a sixth-grader at Academy at the Lakes, is a cast member of a new show called ‘Kid Stew,’ which will be airing in June on WEDU. (B.C. Manion)

The show was created by James Patterson, an internationally known author of books written for young readers.

Four episodes of “Kid Stew” have been filmed and four more episodes are slated for production this summer.

Each episode, which lasts 30 minutes, features humor, skits and a fast-paced delivery to provide an engaging approach to learning.

It’s been described as sort of a combination between a kid-friendly “Saturday Night Live” and the old PBS television show “Zoom,” said Sue Maxwell, who is Madison’s mom.

The cast members wear funny wigs, crazy facial hair and dress up like French waiters, sleazy record promoters, stuffy British TV hosts and famous historical characters, according to a news release.

The show will air locally, in a marathon scheduled for June 24 beginning at 9 a.m., on WEDU. It is being carried by more than 200 stations across the country.

Madison is involved in a recurring sketch, in which she and Blake McCall, another cast member, use a phone booth to travel back in time.

During those sketches, they visited Leonardo da Vinci, Cleopatra, Thomas Edison and Shakespeare, Madison said.

“That was very fun, except for the mosquitoes. I had 37 mosquito bites,” she said, noting the filming was done outdoors near a monastery, to give the time travel a historic feel.

Madison said it’s been fun to be in the show, and she was pleased to be selected for the cast. She found out about the auditions from her agent in Miami.

She said the show doesn’t require her to adopt an entirely new persona.

Madison Maxwell holds a ‘Kid Stew’ sign. The 12-year-old from Lutz has been in hundreds of commercials. This is her first television show.

“It’s your name, and you get to act like yourself and you are your own character,” she said. “You can just be free.”

The episodes are shot in Miami, Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale area, with seven of the nine cast members coming from South Florida and the other two, including Madison, from the Tampa Bay area.

A news release describes the show this way: “‘Kid Stew’ celebrates imagination, and encourages children’s interest in reading, music, art and creative expression. Featuring comedic sketches, music videos, fun facts, virtual visits around the globe, and guest appearances from creative adults and kids alike, the series offers four, half-hour episodes packed with fun in a ‘for kids, by kids’ format that appeals to elementary school age viewers.”

The creator, Patterson, is known for his tween-targeted franchises, which include “Jacky Ha-Ha,” about a 12-year-old girl who loves to make people laugh.

‘Kid Stew’ is co-produced by South Florida PBS and Patterson, and presented nationally by South Florida PBS via American Public Television.

Madison is excited about filming the rest of Season 1 and hopes there will be a Season 2.

She’s not sure what she wants to do in the future. At one point, she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. More recently, she’s been thinking about being an orthodontist, or perhaps a neurosurgeon.

At this point, it’s too soon to tell.

Madison lives in Lutz with her mom, Sue; her dad, Mike; and, her grandfather, Ki Kim.

Published May 30, 2018

Business park spurs talks on widening Old Pasco Road

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There is no disagreement that Old Pasco Road should be widened to four lanes.

But, the timing and funding for such a project got mixed reactions from Pasco County commissioners who approved a new business park on the mostly two-lane roadway.

Approximately 90 acres on Old Pasco will be the site for the county-initiated project, known as Overpass Business Park.

Intersection improvements will be made at State Road 52 and Old Pasco Road. County commissioners in the future want to see Old Pasco widened to four lanes.
(File)

Commissioners did include a condition to require developers to widen the road from the park’s entrance, north to Overpass Road.

The park is less than a half mile southeast of the intersection of Overpass and Old Pasco.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore pushed to widen the entire length – nearly two miles – of Old Pasco. Or, at least, he said it should be widened as far as Oakley Boulevard.

“I’m by no means against the project,” Moore said.

But, Old Pasco “needs to widened all the way through before we move forward with any actual project.”

The vote to approve was 3 to 1, with Moore the dissenting voter.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., was absent from the May 22 meeting in New Port Richey.

Other county commissioners worried that a requirement to widen the entire road would be too limiting.

“I just don’t see why we would force ourselves onto a condition when we don’t know what (project) will come before us,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “We’re tying our hands.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed.

He said the county would lose flexibility in attracting projects.

“We want to be able to move quickly when opportunities come forward,” he said.

The park is part of a county-driven effort to diversify the types of businesses and industries that are attracted to Pasco.

The land will be made site-ready, and marketed to prospective developers who will pitch their proposals to the county.

Starkey had a suggestion on funding for the road widening.

She cited an article in the magazine, Florida Trend, about a federal grant to Alachua County for a road project, aimed at boosting economic growth.

County officials said they already were working on an application to submit for a state grant.

Two other road projects are on tap to enhance Old Pasco at its intersection with State Road 52, and with Quail Hollow Boulevard.

County commissioners recently approved about $2.2 million for pavement reconstruction starting about 1,450 feet south of State Road 52, a sidewalk, stormwater, pond construction, signage and turn lanes.

The Florida Department of Transportation is in the midst of a major road widening project at State Road 52 and the Interstate 75 interchange.

In 2019, the county plans to begin intersection improvements for Old Pasco and Quail Hollow Boulevard.

Published May 30, 2018