The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Substation expansion plan sparks controversy

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Some area residents are protesting a proposal by Duke Energy Florida to expand an electrical substation at Smith Road and Satin Leaf Lane in Wesley Chapel.

Opponents claim the project will devalue their properties and create unsightly views.

The request for a special exception permit for the New River Substation expansion has been put on hold.

The Pasco County Planning Commission granted a continuance at Duke Energy’s request during an Aug. 9 public hearing in Dade City. The rescheduled hearing will be Sept. 6 at 1 p.m., in the Pasco County Commission’s chambers in Dade City.

The delay will give Duke Energy and area residents time to discuss conditions of the expansion.

While opposing the substation expansion, area residents said at the very least the power company should consider moving the substation from the southeast corner to the north side of the site. They say that would minimize impacts to property values, and lessen potential noise and visual pollution.

Resident Lee Schmidt spoke against the proposed expansion. “It will most definitely affect my property values,” Schmidt said.

Residents also said Duke Energy didn’t do enough to fully explain their plans, either in the letters that were mailed to residents or a July meeting with eight residents.

The energy company sent letters to 19 residents living closest to the project site to invite them to a meeting, according to a Duke Energy memorandum.

Resident Joshua Kling said Duke’s outreach “was really more reminiscent of a marketing campaign.”

Most of the proposed expansion would happen on the existing site, according to Duke Energy. But, additional acreage would be added to expand the parcel to about 10 acres.

The expansion is part of upgrades to the grid system necessitated by the merger several years ago between Duke Energy and Progress Energy. Duke Energy representatives said the company has a deadline of December 2021.

The nearest residences to the New River substation are within the Meadow Pointe and Ashley Homes communities. Residents receive their power from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, not Duke Energy.

Access to the substation is off Satin Leaf, which is a private road. Additional access will be off Smith Road, a county-maintained roadway.

The expansion wouldn’t provide additional power, but would increase the capacity and reliability of Duke’s electrical grid, said attorney Manuel Vilaret, who represented Duke Energy.

Buffering of the site would include a fence, a berm and trees.

Sara Guntrum, Duke’s lead substation permitting specialist, said additional landscaping would provide “less (negative) visual impact than there is today.”

But, David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, said there were too few details on the buffering.

“It’s not clear to me,” he said. “You need to fix this condition.”

Goldstein said more details are needed on the heights of the berm and the trees, and the spacing distance between trees.

Planning Commissioner Michael Cox wondered if Duke had scouted other sites for a substation.

Guntrum said the nearly 30-day delay would give the company time to address concerns, and provide additional details on the project.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 29, 2018

Market Place at Hibiscus Park prepares for new season

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The Market Place at Hibiscus Place in Dade City will be marking its fifth season, with its first event this year set for Sept. 1.

The market is held on the first Saturday of each month, September through May, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Narvel and Debby Pettis, of Trilby, had a booth featuring their Alpaca farm, during a previous Market Place at Hibiscus Park. (Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

The event is free, and both people and pets are welcome.

Shoppers will have plenty of choices, said Lucy Avila, event coordinator.

“We have a variety of vendors,” said Avila.

“We could be as many as 25 to 30.”

Some of the items that will be available for purchase include soaps, birdbaths and feeders, honey, fresh produce and jewelry.

Patrons also can purchase cookies and scones, enjoy Italian ices and hot dogs, and sample various wines.

Guests can stroll through the park, relax at picnic benches, listen to music — or step up to perform for others with the help of a karaoke machine.

From left, a shopper checks out the scents of various soaps at the Dade City Soap Company booth, during a previous Market Place at Hibiscus Park. Also shown, Marilyn O’ Rourke, of Dade City (white blouse), and Lucy Avila, coordinator of the market, as well as Veronica Boise, of Dade City, and her daughter, Lorraine Boise, owners of Dade City Soap Company.

“It’s a hometown feeling because Dade City is that,” Avila said.

All proceeds will go toward the Dade City Youth Council, which will be taking an active role at The Market Place.

Camille Hernandez, Mayor of Dade City, oversees the Youth Council and has been instrumental in helping its members broaden their horizons.

The Youth Council has had the opportunity to visit City Hall, where members have been able to learn about different aspects of government and how to officiate meetings.

The group also has shown movies to students at Rodney B. Cox Elementary School.

Avila hopes that the event will encourage patrons to attend other Dade City events, including the Festival of Christmas parade, during the holidays, and the Kumquat Festival, which is held each spring.

For more information, call Avila at (352) 424-4972 or email her at .

The Market Place at Hibiscus Park
Where: Seventh Street & Bougainvillea Avenue, Dade City, FL 33525 (In front of the Dade City Garden Club)
When: First Saturday of the month, from September through May, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free
Details: Vendors will be selling goods, food will be available for purchase and there will be entertainment at this pet-friendly event.
Info: Contact Lucy Avila at (352) 424-4972 or .

Published August 29, 2018

The Laker/Lutz News announces staff changes

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Staff writer Kathy Steele has retired from her post at The Laker/Lutz News, stepping away from the county government, development, business and transportation beats.

Those responsibilities will be assumed by B.C. Manion, editor of the newspaper.

At the same time, Brian Fernandes, a graduate of the University of South Florida’s journalism program, has joined the staff, and will be concentrating his efforts on feature profiles, community events and general assignment reporting.

The Laker/Lutz News appreciates Steele’s dedication to accuracy and her ability to track wide-ranging issues that are important to our readers.

At the same time, the newspaper is excited to expand its coverage of the people and places within the region through the addition of Fernandes to the editorial team.

In recent months, The Laker/Lutz News has increased its use of photography to help tell the story of community life within our coverage area.

Those visuals have been generated by regular contributor Christine Holtzman, who has demonstrated her ability to capture a broad spectrum of life through her artistic eye and outstanding photography skills.

As always, The Laker/Lutz News welcomes story ideas and pitches for feature profiles, event coverage or photo opportunities. We evaluate every idea we receive.

If you have a suggestion for us to consider, please email us at .

Published August 29, 2018

Do you know the ‘Muffin Man? How about your muffin pan?

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I am always looking for quick, easy, unique recipe ideas – this time I had a convenient source of inspiration. I just reached into my kitchen cabinet and pulled out a common baking pan – the muffin pan!

The beauty of cooking in a 6- or 12-cup muffin pan is that recipes become individual, pre-portioned servings, that are very portable (grab and go) and can easily be served. Some can even be frozen for reheating/eating at a later date.

You can make appetizers, breakfast, main dishes, side dishes and even desserts.

The muffin pan is a very versatile pan that produces its own unique shape. The pan comes in mini (12 or 24 wells), standard (6 or 12 wells), and jumbo (6 wells).

Of course, I have them all.

The pans are now produced in silicone, as well as the traditional metal pans — which also come with a nonstick finish.

In the past, I primarily used my pans in various sizes mostly for a wide variety of muffins and cupcakes.  However, I did branch out at times to line them with corned beef hash with an egg in the center of each cup and for mini-meatloaves. But, that was about as creative as I got.

Since retirement, I have had more time to participate in family reunions and covered-dish community events, so I have been experimenting a little more.

My old family favorite recipes, such as crustless sausage quiche for breakfast, and baked macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs easily can be converted to muffin pan cooking.

Recipes can be created to use up leftovers and will save cooking time because of the smaller size.

At this time of year when kids are starting back to school, these kid-friendly recipes will come in handy.

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

Recipes 

Cheesy Broccoli-Rice Cups
(Use standard 12-cup muffin pan)

 Ingredients

  • 2 cups brown rice (or white), cooked
  • 2 cups broccoli (fresh or frozen – thawed and patted dry), chopped
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese (mild or sharp yellow), shredded and divided by 2
  • ½ cup ranch dressing
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan
  • In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients (retain 1 cup of cheese) until well-mixed
  • Divide evenly into the 12 wells and top with the remaining cup of cheese
  • Bake for 25 minutes to 30 minutes or until edges of cheese start to brown
  • Remove from oven and run a knife around the edge of each one to remove easily and cleanly

Yield: Makes 12 muffins. (2 muffins = 1 main dish serving)

Note: Cooked/canned chicken could be added to increase protein.

This is what the Tuna-Tomato Melt looks like after baking. (Betsy Crisp)

Tuna-Tomato Melts
Ingredients

  • Olive oil cooking spray (or butter/margarine to grease wells)
  • 3 light whole grain English muffins, split in half
  • 2 cans (7 ounces each, or three 5 ounce cans) light or Albacore tuna, packed in water and drained
  • 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ small lemon, zested and juiced
  • 3 Tablespoons spring onions (scallions), chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 teaspoons, dried)
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded or 6 slices of cheese (sharp cheddar or Italian Blend/mozzarella)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Spray each well with cooking spray
  • Press half an English muffin into each well
  • In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayo, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion, parsley, Italian herbs, and pepper. Gently stir to mix.
  • Evenly divide tuna mixture into each well on top of English muffin
  • Top each with a slice of tomato and a slice of cheese
  • Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and starting to brown

Yield: 6 servings.

Crusty Loaded Mashed Potato Cups
(Use a standard 12-cup, nonstick muffin pan)

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (or margarine)
  • 4 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated
  • 8 Tablespoons Italian breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup light sour cream
  • 1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh chives (or scallion tops), chopped
  • 3 tablespoons precooked bacon pieces (or approximately 3 strips cooked and crumbled)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups leftover mashed potatoes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Mix parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs together
  • Grease each well with butter/margarine. Divide breadcrumb mixture evenly into each well, and press on bottom and up sides to form a crust.
  • In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream
  • Add cheese, chives, bacon, pepper, mashed potatoes, and mix well
  • Divide evenly into the 12 wells (cups)
  • Bake 30 minutes or until the potatoes begin to pull away from sides of the pan and cheese is golden brown
  • Let the potatoes cool for 5-10 minutes in the pan. Slide knife blade around the edge to help loosen before removing and serving

Yield: 12 servings.

Note: Using this same three-ingredient “crust recipe,” you can substitute your favorite baked macaroni and cheese recipe for the potatoes mixture. Just be sure to make a little more of the crumb mixture to sprinkle on the top!

Published August 29, 2018

Enjoying nature’s grand displays

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Any time that Lillian Cucuzza and her husband, Dave, want to take in a nature show, they just look out their back window, step out into their backyard or walk around the cul-de-sac to a pond near their yard.

Lillian and Dave Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoy daily nature shows in their backyard.(B.C. Manion)

The Land O’ Lakes nature lovers enjoy a visual feast every day.

They see hummingbirds, Carolina wrens, cardinals, red-shouldered hawks and all of the birds of prey.

There are birds that come by to grab a bite from a feeder, enjoy the nectar from a plant, or make a snack on insects.

“If you want to attract the really nice birds, get the golden safflower bird feed,” Lillian advised. “It doesn’t sprout. The black birds and doves and pigeons — they don’t like it because it’s bitter to them.”

“We get our bird feed from Wild Bird USA,” Lillian said. “It’s nonsprouting, so it doesn’t grow weeds.”

She also noted: “We used to put out a hummingbird feeder, where you had to put the sugar water out. But, you have to change it almost every day, otherwise it’s not good.

This male pileated woodpecker was in the woods, chopping the wood to get to the bugs. (Courtesy of Lillian Cucuzza)

“I’m like, ‘I’m not doing that.’

“We also have a suet feeder out there that we get from Wild Bird. It’s the suet dough. It’s not greasy. We get a lot of the woodpeckers and different warblers,” she said.

Dave’s in charge of stocking the feeders.

Some birds hang out in a birdhouse out back or in the nearby woods. Others make their home in a pair of palm trees near the couple’s front door.

“We get little cardinals. They make little nests in there,” Lillian said.

Besides observing wildlife in their backyard, the couple also enjoys sightings of deer,

blue herons, ibises, white egrets and other winged creatures in or near a pond, on a neighboring property.

“There’s a little gator in there,” Lillian said. “I saw it recently. A little 3- or 4-footer.”

When she was waiting for the gator to make an appearance one day, a trio of deer showed up.

This blue-gray gnatcatcher was in the Cucuzzas’ backyard snacking on whatever gnats or bugs he could get. These birds are tiny — only about 4 inches from the tip of their beak to their tail, and they’re quite quick — catching gnats mid-air.

Some pointers for creating your own backyard habitat
If you’d like to make your yard a welcoming place for birds, butterflies and other creatures, here are some pointers from Lara Milligan, a natural resources agent at Pinellas County Extension. She provided these tips during a seminar she gave earlier this year at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park community center.

“We’re exploding with development and construction, leaving less opportunities for our native wildlife to live and exist,” Milligan said. “Any little bit that we can do in our yards, or in your community or neighborhood, is helpful and beneficial for wildlife.

“Just like us,” she reminded the audience, “wildlife need food, water, cover and space.”

When it comes to creating conducive conditions to attract wildlife, it’s important to think big, and small, she said.

“We often think of wildlife as some of these bigger creatures, but it’s really important that we’re also attracting the little creatures. If you don’t have the little guys, we’re not going to be attracting anything else,” Milligan said.

Here are some of her tips.

Tip No. 1: Limit the amount of lawn that you have. Turf grass doesn’t do much for wildlife. Consider providing alternative ground covers, such as beach sunflower or sunshine mimosa.

This Carolina Wren was sitting on the bird feeder baffle. They are small birds with a big sound.

Tip No. 2: Increase the vertical layering in your yard. You want stuff to be at all levels, from the ground level up to the tops of trees. When planting, think about what the plant will look like at maturity. You don’t want giant gaps in your landscape.

Tip No. 3: Keep those dying and diseased and knocked over trees in your landscape, unless they pose a hazard to your house. Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters rely on these snags for shelter. Screech owls can’t excavate their own cavities, so they rely on woodpeckers to do that for them.

Tip No. 4: Keep brush piles in your yard, but not next to your house. They provide shelter for the smaller organisms, which are an important part of the food chain.

Tip No. 5: Provide water. Any source of water you provide in your yard will benefit wildlife.

Tip No. 6: If you have a birdbath, remember to keep it filled at 2 inches to 3 inches of water. Birds won’t use it if the water is too deep. Also, keep it clean and don’t use chemicals to clean it. A sturdy scrub brush should do. It’s also important to keep the space around it clear so birds can see potential predators.

This female northern Cardinal caught a bug in the yard.

Tip No. 7: Plant native plants in your yard. They resist pests and diseases, and generally require less care. If you want butterflies, be sure to have plants that are appropriate for caterpillars and for butterflies. Create a small moist area of sand in your yard. Butterflies will suck water out of moist sand to give them the minerals and nutrients they need.

Tip No. 8: Add bird feeders. The diversity of bird feeders that you install will increase the diversity of birds that you attract. The same goes for seeds. Be sure to keep your bird feeders clean.

Tip No. 9: Manage your pets. Cats and dogs can have a really huge impact on native wildlife species.

Tip No. 10: Seek natural solutions to pest problems. Being vigilant can help nip pest problems in the bud. Often, spraying pests off with a hose can solve the problem. If pesticides are needed, use sparingly.

Attracting butterflies to your backyard

These plants will help

This fuzzy flower is a magnet for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. (File)

Nectar plants

  • Firebush
  • Pentas
  • Salvia
  • Dwarf powderpuff
  • Jatropha
  • Firespike
  • Blanket flower
  • African blue basil
  • Beautyberry
  • Ironweed

Host plants

  • Native, not tropical milkweeds
  • Dutchman’s pipevine
  • Passionvine
  • Cassia
  • Partridge pea
  • Wild lime
  • Plumbago
  • Frogfruit
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Fennel

Published August 29, 2018

Hillsborough County files ‘opioid’ lawsuit

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Hillsborough County has filed a lawsuit in the 13th judicial circuit court in Hillsborough County against 14 manufacturers and distributors alleging they have played a role in the opioid epidemic in the county.

The county has hired a national team of lawyers to represent them in the lawsuit, with attorney Mike Moore as the lead litigant. Moore, a former Mississippi attorney general, is now handling a number of similar suits on behalf of local and state governments nationwide.

Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandra Murman

The list of defendants in the county’s lawsuit includes Purdue Pharma, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, McKesson Corporation, CVS Health Corporation, Walgreens and nine others.

At a news conference announcing the lawsuit, Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandra Murman said, “Today is an important day, but today is just like every day in Hillsborough County. There’s a baby being born that’s substance exposed because the mother was on drugs. We have many children every single day being removed from their homes, put in foster care because their parents are substance exposed and addicts.

“We have young people every day that are dying of opioid overdose,” Murman said.

The county’s lawsuit “alleges that manufacturers of these drugs misrepresented the risk of opioids and marketed the drugs for chronic pain, when in fact, there’s not one single valid scientific study that supports the use of opioids for treatment of long-term chronic pain, Murman said.

The county intends to prove that drug distributors shipped excessive amounts of pain pills into the community, flooding county streets with pain pills, the commission chairwoman added.

The opioid epidemic is widespread, crossing socioeconomic boundaries, she said.

“It affects our seniors. It affects adolescents. Children. Families,” she said.

There have been 1,072 opioid overdose deaths in Hillsborough County since 2012, Murman said. The county also has seen a 24 percent increase in opioids over a period of five years.

“That’s a direct result of the fraudulent marketing of the drugs and the excessive amounts of drugs shipped into our county by these defendants,” Murman said.

“Hillsborough County is leading the state in the number of babies born addicted to opioids,” Murman said. “That is totally unacceptable.”

There were 579 cases of babies addicted to opioids reported in Hillsborough County in 2015, she said.

“For me, it’s personal.,” Murman said. “My sister, who was addicted to painkillers, committed suicide.”

At the news conference, Moore said he was involved in helping to resolve the BP oil spill.

“What we have here is a pill spill,” Moore said. “Close to 40,000 people in your county are opioid addicts.”

Moore characterized the problem as a “ticking, ticking time bomb.”

“We want these companies to pay to clean the pill spill,’ Moore said.

Moore challenged a perception that some may have about the types of people who die from opioid abuse. It’s not just a problem faced by people who live on the streets, he said.

“It’s somebody’s 19-year-old college student.

“It’s a 35-year-old lawyer.

“It’s a housewife,” Moore said.

State attorney Andrew Warren, who also spoke at the news conference, agreed: “It’s a public health crisis. It does not discriminate.”

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, weighed in, as well. He put it like this: “We must dry up the supply. This is not an epidemic we’re going to arrest our way out of.”

Hillsborough’s lawsuit follows a national trend for local governments to fight against the distributors and manufacturers of opioid medications.

The Pasco County Commission voted in January to become one of several plaintiffs in litigation that seeks to replicate the kind of payouts attorneys won in the late 1990s against the tobacco industry.

Pensacola-based Levin Papantonio is representing Pasco County. The law firm is part of a consortium that is pursuing lawsuits in several states including West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

In 2016, Pasco County had 165 drug overdose deaths, and 120 were related to opioids.

Published August 22, 2018

Annual school photos capture moment in time

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Those annual photos that parents, grandparents and friends take on the First Day of School are a fun way to mark the beginning of a new year of learning.

They also offer a way to record changes in height, hair styles and fashions, over time.

Taking a First Day of School photo is a tradition for many families and, as the years roll by, they become miniature time capsules — offering a visual reminder of the children that were, and the young adults they’ve become.

Thanks, to our readers, who shared their First Day of School photos with us.

Julia O’ Connor on the first day of school. She is a first-grader at Sand Pine Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of George O’ Connor)
Baylor Frisco, wearing a gray shirt, on his first day of his senior year at Sunlake High School, along with his brother, Cannon, who is in his freshman year at the school, located in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of the Frisco family)
Nicholas Chapman heads to his first day of third grade at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Kimberly Chapman)
Kate Murdock has her photo taken near the sign at Learning Gate Community School, in Lutz, on the first day of the 2018-2019 school year. (Courtesy of Betsy Murdock)
Nathan Crowder and his little sister, Delanie Hadley, give each other encouragement as they head to fourth grade and kindergarten, respectively, at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Sarah Crowder)
Thirteen-year-old Colin Mendoza and 10-year-old Kayla Mendoza on the first day of school. Colin is in eighth grade at John Long Middle School and Kayla is in fifth grade at Seven Oaks Elementary School. Both schools are in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Rowena Mendoza)
Liam Perkins, of Zephyrhills, on his first day as a sixth-grader at Stewart Middle School. (Courtesy of Amanda Perkins)

 

 

 

 

 

New traffic signals aim to improve safety

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A new traffic signal has been installed and is now operating at Eiland Boulevard and Handcart Road, and another traffic signal installation is underway at Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road.

A ribbon cutting for the traffic signal at Eiland and Handcart is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 9 a.m.

The installation of that light was completed in time for the 7 a.m. start of the school year on Aug. 13.

“It’s been a very dangerous intersection,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley.

A new signal is expected to be operating at Eiland and Geiger by late November.

The traffic volume along Eiland Boulevard has been increasing as the county experiences more development, Oakley said.

The Eiland and Handcart intersection is among three that Oakley said were priorities.

In addition to the Eiland traffic signals, a third one is planned at Chancey Road and Coats Road. That signal will be operating in late October.

And, along with the traffic signal, Eiland and Handcart had other improvements, including guardrails and road resurfacing.

Pasco County completed a 30-day traffic operations study at the intersection to collect traffic data.

The analysis showed that the traffic signal was warranted “based on Handcart (Road) southbound approach volumes and the amount of left turn vehicles turning east onto Eiland Boulevard.”

The study also found that two crashes occurred from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013. The crashes “may have been prevented with the installation of a traffic signal,” the study found.

From Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014, the study also documented two angle crashes that occurred at the intersection.

However, the number of crashes alone didn’t indicate a “historic trend,” or meet national standards of five or more angle crashes that could be prevented by installing a traffic signal.

The Pasco County Commission approved the design plans for the project in 2016. Construction began in March 2018.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 22, 2018

Local entrepreneur creates healthy desserts

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After tiring of drinking the same old protein shakes, James Doyle decided to brainstorm some new ideas.

He figured there was a way to turn his protein powder into a dessert.

So, the 29-year-old Wesley Chapel man began experimenting.

Inspired by how Jell-O works, Doyle developed FREEZINda, a liquid and dry mix product that transforms any whey protein powder into an ice cream-like, frozen dessert.

Wesley Chapel resident James Doyle is the creator of FREEZINda, which turns whey protein powder into an ice cream-like, frozen dessert. (Courtesy of James Doyle)

Throughout a lengthy trial period, Doyle estimates he tested more than 100 different ingredients and about 3,000 pounds of frozen dessert in his kitchen.

Doyle’s friends and family members — even his dog, Buddy — taste-tested recipes.

As he toyed with countless combinations early on, his taste-testers were brutally honest.

“I had my dad try one of the formulas, and he straight up told me, ‘It tastes horrible,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, man! It (froze) right, it had the right qualities, it looked good,’ and then we tasted it and it was like, ‘No!’”

He said it took approximately 19 months “to get the formula down.”

Eventually he found what he considers the ideal combination of mixing agents that bind together to form a texture that mirrors a sweet icy, syrupy sorbet; with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, erythritol (sugar alcohol), guar gum and xanthan gum, and just a gram of sugar per serving.

FREEZINda officially launched last November and is now offered in 21 stores across the United States. It is non-genetically modified, low sugar, fat free, lactose free, gluten free, low glycemic (low net carbs) and vegetarian friendly.

Preparation is easy. Mix any whey protein powder with a cup of water or milk — like a protein shake — then add the FREEZINda liquid and dry mix, and place in the freezer overnight.

Doyle’s favorite concoction? Mixing in just about any type of chocolate mint whey protein powder, specifically the flavor made by Adaptogen Science.

To further customize the high protein ice cream dessert replacement, Doyle recommends adding nuts, fruit, sprinkles and so on.

Doyle noted: “It definitely does satisfy your sweet tooth and your cravings that you would get, so once you eat it, then you’re like, ‘OK, I’m good.’”

And, there’s no question he’s a fan of his own product.

For about eighth months straight, Doyle said he ate about 2 pounds of FREEZINda each day.

“I still eat it,” he said, “but not 2 pounds a day.”

Computer specialist turned entrepreneur
Doyle was born in New York but went to high school in Leesburg, right outside The Villages.

He later settled in Wesley Chapel with his older sister, to attend and graduate from the University of South Florida.

After college, Doyle worked as an IT specialist locally.

He was forced to quit his career as lingering vision issues prevented him from staring at a computer monitor all day long.  “It was pretty tough,” Doyle said, of having to give up IT work.

FREEZINda contains mixing agents that bind to form a texture that mirrors a sweet icy, syrupy sorbet. It includes such ingredients as vegetable glycerin, erythritol (sugar alcohol), guar gum and xanthan gum, and just a gram of sugar per serving.
To prepare, mix any whey protein powder with a cup or water or milk — like a protein shake — then add the FREEZINda liquid and dry mix, and place in the freezer overnight.

Not sure where to turn next, the concept for FREEZINda suddenly popped in his head while he basked in the sauna at the New Tampa LA Fitness one spring day in 2016.

“It’s kind of weird how, like, when doors close, another one opens,” he said.

Once he had the idea, the next step was to figure out how to get it to market.

Doyle leaned on a minor degree in entrepreneurship, as well as advice from several family members who own businesses to help FREEZINda off the ground.

“I kind of figured out my way from there,” he said.

As a sole entrepreneur, Doyle works from his Wesley Chapel home office, where he can facilitate supply chain duties between a commercial kitchen in Oldsmar, and a co-packer and fulfillment center in Texas.

He’s had to learn how to navigate other aspects, including patents and trademarks, and ensuring the product is compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

He’s also had to figure out innovative ways to market his product and generate more sales.

“There’s quite a bit to owning your own business,” said Doyle, who works six days a week. “There’s so many different areas, from fulfillment to marketing. There’s so many different areas, it’s unreal.”

FREEZINda is offered in retail nutrition and mom-and-pop stores as far away as Texas and California. It is also sold in Florida.

Locally, it can be found at Total Nutrition USF, 2720 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa.

It’s also available on Amazon and several other nutrition-focused websites.

Next month, Doyle plans to introduce new packaging and a new FREEZINda formula that’s sugar-free, and substitutes sea salt for baking powder.

He’s searching for a food broker, too, to help promote FREEZINda to additional chain wholesalers, retail stores and independent wholesalers.

“I’m hoping to pick up more traction, with better retail boxes and a little more enhanced formula,” he said.

He also dreams of appearing on the hit Emmy Award winning reality show “Shark Tank.”

He applied in January and made it through a couple rounds of casting interviews before talks dried up.

While Doyle  aims to be successful in business, he also wants to help people to become healthier.

For more information, visit Freezinda.com.

Published August 22, 2018

Voters head out to polls in Florida’s primary election

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Voters will be heading to the polls on Aug. 28 in Florida’s primary election.

Statewide, voters will decide who will represent the Democrats and who will represent the Republicans in a number of seats, including the race for governor.

On the local front, voters will cast their ballots for districts one, three and five of the Pasco County School Board.

The winner of those school board races could be decided, if a candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote. Otherwise, the winner will be selected in the Nov. 6 general election.

Voters also will be choosing judges and selecting candidates in a number of primary races.

Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley is not anticipating a heavy turnout.

“Generally, with elections, the best indicator is history, so when we’re talking about previous times, the most recent thing to go back to would be the last midterm, which would be in 2014.

“It pains me to report that the turnout was less than 15 percent.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll do better, we, as the electorate, but only time will tell,” Corley said.

“Midterm primaries are generally lackluster turnout,” he added.

There has been a slight spike in registration, but only about 5 percent, he said.

Corley also noted that “there has been a lot of anecdotal evidence of a youth voter surge, between 18 and 29 year olds,” but he said, he has not been seeing it.

“Compared to the same time in 2014, it’s about on par. That really, really surprised me,” Corley said.

Pasco County has slightly less than 347,000 voters, making it 12th largest in Florida. Of those, there are 134,824 registered Republicans, 108,520 registered Democrats, 100,637 registered as No Party and 2,791 registered as Minor Party.

Corley said there has been substantial interest in election security.

“If someone would have told me prior to the 2016 election, we would spend pretty much every waking moment since that November election focusing on, intensely, becoming hyper-vigilant on all things security — both physical and cyber — I would have said, ‘No, you’re crazy.’ But, here we are.”

Recently, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election, made national headlines by saying that Russia had penetrated Florida’s election systems.

Corley said it is difficult to respond to Nelson’s statement.

“It’s really, really challenging because I’m not sure exactly what Senator Nelson is alluding to. I know the Department of Homeland Security has sort of publicly refuted his comments. Of course, far be it for me to correct a senator on the intelligence committee. I just know of no information.”

Corley went on to say: “We have worked extensively with our state and federal partners. We’re talking about the FBI, even the National Guard, but particularly the Department of Homeland Security.”

He also noted that in 2017, the elections were declared critical infrastructure.

“We now have a seat at the table right next to nuclear power plants, for example, because how much more critical can you be than the underpinnings of our democracy?” Corley said.

The Department of Homeland Security has offered a myriad of services for advice, counsel and assistance.

“I can’t tell you, for obvious security reasons, and so that’s the balance, trying to reassure voters that we’re doing everything that we can to fortify the elections and letting them know there’s always a Plan B.

“For security reasons, I can’t tell my wife. I can’t tell my dog. I can’t tell anybody” he said.

Corley also noted that Pasco has added three new early voting locations.

“Early voting clearly has become very, very popular,” he said.

“We added Alice Hall. We added the Florida Hospital Ice Center complex. We jokingly say we literally and figuratively have the coolest early voting site. We added the Odessa Community Center,” he said.

Vote by mail is popular, too.

“We have record numbers of Vote by Mail. We’re almost at 70,000 vote by mail ballots that went out.

“There are literally, tens of thousands of ballots, sitting on coffee tables or on kitchen tables. All they have to do is fill out a few ovals and shoot it back to us, and it could change any race,” he said.

“What’s the old adage? ‘We get the government that we deserve,’” Corley said.

“Everyone remembers the infamous 2000 election. Everyone remembers, it came down to Florida,” he said. With 6 million votes cast, Bush had a lead over Gore of 537 votes.

Corley said what many people don’t realize is one fact that he “almost couldn’t make up.”

The number of Pasco voters skipping the presidential race that year was ‘1776,’” Corley said, adding “#Irony.”

Ride to the polls for free
Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) is offering free bus rides to the polls on Aug. 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This service is being provided to Pasco residents through a partnership between PCPT and Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley. Just present your valid Voter Information Card.

Published August 22, 2018