The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

State Road 56 extension moving forward

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Construction on the State Road 56 extension is on track for its scheduled completion in late 2019, according to Florida Department of Transportation officials.

The approximately 6-mile extension will give motorists a new four-lane route between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

Work began in February 2017.

City planners in Zephyrhills are looking ahead to the project’s completion, and its impact on development.

Construction crews work on medians for the State Road 56 extension from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills. (File)

“We have a lot going on over here already,” said Todd Vande berg, Zephyrhills planning director. “It’s going to be a game- changer with State Road 56 coming here as a four-lane road.”

But, Zephyrhills officials also are pursuing an additional extension to State Road 56 that would link to State Road 39.

They requested $1 million in the Florida 2019 budget to fund a planning study for the project. Legislators are expected to approve a budget by March 9.

The budget then would go to Gov. Rick Scott, who has line-item veto authority.

Added connectivity helps the entire area, Vande berg said.

“We could have a true, multicounty arterial road,” he said.

Current roadwork will extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. A 10-foot wide multi-use trail will run along the south side of State Road 56. A 5-foot sidewalk will be installed on the north side.

Seven-foot bicycle lanes will be striped off in each direction.

Traffic signals are planned at Morris Bridge Road, at its new intersection with State Road 56, and also at U.S. 301 where it will connect with the new extension.

New residential and commercial projects are anticipated.

Four developers are planning master-planned communities along State Road 56.

The Zephyrhills Municipal Airport also will benefit from the project. The airport is undergoing upgrades.

About 440 acres adjacent to the site also are being prepared for future development, and will be marketed as site-ready.

As of Feb. 20, a checklist of milestones from state highway officials on the State Road 56 extension included:

  • 15 retention ponds, of 17 total, are nearly complete
  • About 75 percent of the stormwater drainage system is installed
  • The first three layers of asphalt has been laid on nearly 2 miles of the 6-mile road
  • About 3 miles of concrete sidewalk is complete
  • About 1 mile of the multi-use path is complete

The westbound segment of the bridge work over New River also is finished and work is underway on the eastbound segment.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/ycx2x3y5.

Published March 7, 2018

Local park’s new name reflects its historic role

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A park that has played a historic role in Land O’ Lakes now has a name to reflect that fact.

Officials gathered on March 1 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renaming of the former Land O’ Lakes Community Center. The center and adjacent park is now known as Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

On March 1, elected officials and community leaders gathered at the park for the site’s renaming.

A new marquee has been unveiled near U.S. 41, which reflects the new name.

A new marquee sign with the masthead ‘Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park’ overlooks U.S. 41. (Kevin Weiss)

Festivities included a presentation of colors by American Legion Post 79 and a variety of speakers, who detailed the history and significance of the park.

“We’re thrilled about the renaming of this park,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, who served as master of ceremonies for the event.

“It’s important that we recognize the history of the area, and recognize the citizens that came forward and actually put a lot of effort into the park.”

The name change has been known for some time. The Pasco County Commission adopted the new name of the community center and park in November, at Moore’s request.

Moore consulted with members of the board of directors for the Heritage Foundation before making the suggestion. That was after the newly built Heritage Stage made its debut in August at the park.

The completion of the stage resulted from years of effort and partnerships between government, businesses and community volunteers.

For years, the Land O’ Lakes Community Center has been located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., while the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway.

The similarity of names has been a source of confusion.

“It is not uncommon for folks to get mixed up with the two facilities,” said Brian Taylor, Pasco County’s parks and recreation manager.

Heritage Park Foundation president Sandy Graves acknowledged the community center and park probably should’ve been renamed “long ago.”

“We always thought that it needed a name change because it needed branding on its own, and now it has it,” she said.

Terri Dusek, of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, is credited with initially coming up with the “Heritage Park” moniker.

She said the name change marks “the final touch” on the park’s recent upgrades.

Besides the new stage for community events, the park has undergone $2.3 million worth of improvements since 2015. Other additions have included new ball fields, a playground, a concession stand and restrooms, and a walking trail.

“Our community already has a very rich heritage, and I feel like now we’re adding to it. For me the only fitting name was Heritage Park,” Dusek said.

Published March 7, 2018

Shedding light on depression, mental illness

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Tracy Daniels knows what it’s like to battle mental health issues.

A retired combat war veteran, Daniels spent seven years in therapy following his second tour in Iraq.

Following a 37-year military career, Daniels now seeks to help others who are dealing with mental health issues.

Tracy Daniels, a master-level practitioner at Baycare Behavioral Health, was the featured speaker as part of a depression awareness seminar at Pasco-Hernando State College. He discussed issues regarding depression and other mental disorders, including how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, risk factors and ways to cope with the disease. (Kevin Weiss)

Daniels is a master-level practitioner at Baycare Behavioral Health. He was the featured speaker at a depression awareness seminar at Pasco-Hernando State College. The Feb. 21 event was part of the state college’s ongoing Community Awareness Series, open to the public, students, faculty and staff.

The talk touched on how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, risk factors, and ways to cope with the disease.

The speaker touched on the stigma associated with mental disorders, such as depression — and the belief from some that sufferers are “crazy,” “psycho” or just plain “attention-seeking.”

Those attitudes are often because people are ill-informed about mental health problems, and they base their thinking from what’s portrayed in media.

“If there’s something going on with me, it does not mean I’m a crazy individual. It means that I need some help,” Daniels said.

“We think people that have mental issues are going to do things and act in a certain way, and that’s the furthest thing from the truth,” he added.

Daniels steered much of the conversation toward depression.

As it turns out, that illness is widespread.

The National Institute on Mental Health estimates that in the United States, 16.2 million adults over age 18 had at least one major depressive episode in 2016.

This number represents nearly 7 percent of all U.S. adults.

Additionally, one in five adults in the U.S., display some sort of mental health disorder each year. Anxiety is reported as most common, followed by major depression and substance use disorder.

Depression can drastically affect a person’s ability to work, carry out daily activities, and engage in satisfying relationships, Daniels said.

Physical symptoms can range from fatigue and lack of energy, to unexplained aches and pains, as well as irregular sleeping and eating patterns, he said.

Behavioral symptoms can include crying spells, withdrawal from others, neglect of responsibilities, loss of interest in personal appearance, loss of motivation, slow movement, or use of drugs and alcohol.

They may also exhibit feelings of guilt, confusion and low self-esteem.

In addition to serious mood, cognitive and physical symptoms, depression is associated with higher rates of chronic disease, increased health care utilization, and impaired functioning.

Daniels said the impact of moderate and severe depression is comparable to someone with multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic hepatitis B, and even someone who’s quadriplegic.

“We don’t think in those terms of how depression shuts us down, but it does,” he said.

The speaker cautioned against bombarding depression sufferers with intrusive questions. He also noted that constantly watching them could create anxiety, and cause them to feel more “helpless” and “hopeless.”

“Do not keep asking them, ‘What’s wrong?’ People that suffer with depression — half the time they can’t even tell you what’s wrong with them because they don’t even know,” Daniels explained.

The speaker also said family and close friends need to determine if a depression sufferer is getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep, he said, can exacerbate depression symptoms and cause psychotic-like behavior because “they can’t shut themselves down.”

He offered several best practices in helping someone deal with depression:

  • Don’t touch the person, unless they give you permission
  • Avoid direct eye contact, and refrain from staring
  • Avoid sudden or rapid movements
  • Don’t make promises you cannot keep
  • Be genuine with them
  • Talk calmly to them, and ask what you can do to help

Depression-related suicide was also broached during the seminar.

Daniels said a “red flag” to watch out for is sudden mood changes — such as overt happiness — as it may indicate “they’ve made up their minds to complete the suicide.”

Said Daniels, “All along they’ve been depressed, they talk about it, all of a sudden one day they say, ‘I’m OK now. Everything is fine.’

“We miss it by thinking, ‘They’re OK now. They’re doing so much better.’

“That’s when you need to ask questions.”

Daniels also urged students dealing with mental disorders to not be afraid to seek help. His life improved after he sought treatment, he said.

“I had to understand what I was dealing with and how to deal with those situations in my life. There’s nothing wrong with being transparent and letting people know certain things,” he said.

“All of us go through problems in life.,” Daniels said. “There’s no shame in that.”

Possible signs and symptoms of depression

Physical:

  • Fatigue
  • Lack of energy
  • Irregular sleep patterns
  • Irregular eating patterns
  • Constipation
  • Changes in weight
  • Headaches
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Loss of sexual desire
  • Unexplained aches and pains

Behavioral:

  • Crying spells
  • Withdrawal from others
  • Neglect of responsibilities
  • Loss of interest in personal appearance
  • Loss of motivation
  • Slow movement
  • Use of drugs and alcohol

Psychological

  • Sadness
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt
  • Anger
  • Mood swings
  • Lack of emotional responsiveness
  • Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
  • Irritability
  • Frequent self-criticism, self-blame, pessimism
  • Impaired memory and concentration
  • Indecisiveness and confusion
  • Tendency to believe that others see you in a negative light
  • Thoughts of death and suicide

Source: Baycare Behavioral Health

Published March 7, 2018

Regional talent show lets area youths take center stage

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The 35th annual “Spotlight on Talent” will showcase a multitude of talents by area contestants.

Two shows will give students a chance to shine, and offer the audience the opportunity to be entertained by accomplished young singers, dancers and musicians.

More than 170 students, making up 90 acts, auditioned during a 12-hour day for the producers — for the opportunity to be named a finalist. A total of 65 acts, consisting of 142 students, were chosen to perform at the finals, according to a news release.

Jessica Twitmyer received the top scores to win a $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship, last March during the 34th ‘Spotlight on Talent’ competition. (File)

Two shows are planned to give finalists a chance to compete for honors. The Heritage Arts Center Association, which produces the show, will again be presenting a $1,000 “Pasco Heritage Scholarship” to the graduating Pasco County senior who receives the highest scores from the judges. Last year’s scholarship recipient was Jessica Twitmyer, a singer.

Both shows will be on March 10 at Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

Act I begins at noon, with the younger solos and groups. Act II begins at 7 p.m., and will feature older solos and groups. Tickets are $12 for adults per show, or $20 for both shows; $6 for students through high school, or $10 for both shows; and free for children under $5. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.

The emcee for the show is Grace Badillo.

The competition draws contestants from across the region, representing numerous performers from a variety of studios and instructors.

Two professional panels of judges will select winners for cash prizes. A total of more than $4,000 in cash, trophies, and ribbons will be presented to winners in eight categories.

Performances will vary from jazz to classical, Broadway to rock.

Piano selections will range from Chopin to “Hamilton” to the “Greatest Showman.”

There will be Cirque du Soleil number, a trumpet solo, and a flag dance, to name just a few.

“Spotlight” is a family affair, with three sets of sisters competing, one family with three siblings competing; husbands and wives who volunteer together; and, producers who are mother and daughter.

The competition is celebrating its 35th season and has come full circle, with Spotlight alums now handling various responsibilities for the production.

Three of those alums sit on the Heritage Arts Board of Directors, and the two assistant producers, Michael Roberts and Rebecca Friedman Groomes, were annual contestants from the age of 5.  The Spotlight competition costs more than $18,000 to produce, and would be impossible without the support of area businesses and individuals.

Barbara Friedman is the executive producer of the annual talent showcase.

35th annual Spotlight on Talent
Where: Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel
When: Act I, noon on March 10; Act II, 7 p.m. on March 10
Cost: $12 for adults per show, or $20 for both shows; $6 for students through high school, or $10 for both shows. Free for children under 5. Tickets are available at the door.
Details: Regional talent show gives youths an opportunity to be in the spotlight and win recognition for their work.

Published March 7, 2018

Moonshine, Turpentine and Timber

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The theme of this year’s 108th Founder’s Day in Zephyrhills is “Timber, Turpentine and Moonshine.”

The trio of products played an important role during Zephyrhills’ early days.

Vast pine and cypress were abundant throughout the area and provided raw materials for building. Besides timber, they provided turpentine and related products.

Around 1931, 19-year-old Lonnie Tucker watches for revenuers. He is pictured in Wesley Chapel with his moonshine still. (Courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise)

Greer’s Lumber Mill, operated by Jim Greer, was the largest employer for the first two decades and fortified settlers with resources to build their cracker homes.

The Great Depression closed Greer’s Lumber Mill.

But, the town began to flourish again after 1932, when I.A. Krusen purchased 13,000 acres and opened the Krusen Land & Timber Company.

Later, Camp Number 39 of Hercules Powder Company was opened in Zephyrhills and had the distinction of being the largest employer in the city from 1946 until its closing in 1962.

Farmers and ranchers within a 35-mile radius contracted with Hercules to remove pine stumps, which were processed into products such as rosin, turpentine and pine oil, as well as byproducts used in paper, paints, varnishes, adhesives, asphalt emulsions, gun powder and dynamite.

Although Zephyrhills was less distinguished for moonshine than neighboring communities, such as Wesley Chapel, an occasional settler turned to moonshine stills, as well as charcoal kilns and cash-crops, to subsist.

When Prohibition banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol, moonshine stills provided an alternative source of liquor. Even after Prohibition ended, occasional moonshining continued until the 1950s. Several families still hold moonshine recipes.

Marlo Hilton, a hometown girl and 1998 Zephyrhills High School graduate, remembers using a metal detector at her family’s ranch to explore the area to the west of her home, where Stanley Ryals, her great-grandfather, had his moonshine still.

“They were a tough breed,” said Hilton, who spoke lovingly of her iconic great-grandfather, who died in 2000.

Ryals used profits from bootlegging, as well as the sale of sweet potatoes, to purchase 640 acres in the Zephyrhills area. Later, he opened Zephyr Lumber and Saw Mill where he logged, cut and sanded timber.

Ryals contributed much to the city, serving as president of the chamber of commerce in the late 1950s and as a founding member of Zephyrhills Noon Rotary Club, where he had a 30-year perfect attendance record.

Ryals’ father-in-law was Wesley Wells, the chief of police in Zephyrhills.

Stanley Ryals, for whom the Founder’s Day brew, ‘Ryals n’ Shine,’ is named, is shown here with a draft horse in Zephyrhills. He was 45 at the time. Ryals was a Zephyrhills businessman who operated the lumberyard and earned funds in his early years from moonshining to purchase a section of land. Much of that land is still owned by his family on Eiland Boulevard. (Courtesy of Marlo Hilton)

His grandson, Boe Hilton (who is Marlo’s father and a 1971 graduate of Zephyrhills High) observed that his grandfather understood people and knew how to build upon their strengths.

The most notorious bootlegger in the area was Clarence Lane, who described himself, in a 2005 interview, as one of the top 10 moonshiner/bootleggers in Florida.

Lane said during the 1930s many of his customers were law enforcement officers and judges.

Lane said he began moonshining as a teenager, learning the skills from his father. His first still was in Kathleen. Later, he moved to Zephyrhills.

At age 19, Lonnie Tucker from Wesley Chapel, worked in Zephyrhills for I.A. Krusen during the day in the Lumber Company. He also operated a still near the current location of Saddlebrook Resort.

Tucker later worked at Moody’s Hardware, in Zephyrhills, for more than a quarter-century.

His daughter, Anna Jo Bracknell, will be on hand at Founder’s Day for one of the porch talks at the Howard B. Jeffries house.

She plans to share stories about moonshining during her 1 p.m. talk on March 10.

Zephyrhills’ 108th Founders Day
When: March 10 (Parade begins at 10 a.m.)
Where: Downtown Zephyrhills in the morning and early afternoon; Zephyrhills Airport in late afternoon
Cost: Free admission
Details: There will be an old-fashioned hometown parade; food and drink available for purchase; children’s activities, a skydive demonstration and fireworks to cap off the day.

By Madonna Jervis Wise

Published March 7, 2018

Pasco County Fair offers heaping helpings of fun

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Nine-year-old Hannah Creech, a fourth grader at The Academy at the Farm, shows her newly cleaned, 6-month old crossbred pig, ‘Pancakes.’ (Richard K. Riley)

The 71st annual Pasco County Fair, which wrapped up on Feb. 25, offered spectacle, entertainment, challenging competitions, and, of course, fair food.

The event gave artists a chance to exhibit their work, gave livestock owners an opportunity to compete with their animals, offered fair-goers an assortment of amusement options, and gave the young and old alike a place to spend some time simply enjoying themselves.

Published March 7, 2018

Dusty Myers of Jumpertown, Mississippi, has been a rodeo clown for 20 years. He is with Tayloe Glass of Hayneville, Alabama, a wrangler with the rodeo organizer.
Darrell and Chris Freeman present Southern Gospel Country Music in Dan Cannon Auditorium.

 

Two Pasco students get ready for a ride on an elevated circular swing.

 

A fairgoer, Tammy Pilcher of San Antonio, is lost in the wall of balloons and prizes.

 

The Ferris Wheel at the Pasco County Fair was a beauty, with its elevation and lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rallying to protect the environment

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Opponents of the Ridge Road extension are digging in for a battle with Pasco, and if need be, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, over a road that would cut through a portion of the Serenova Preserve.

About 75 people showed up in hiking clothes on Feb. 16, to walk trails at the Serenova Tract, at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park.

Richard Stauffer, of Aripeka, studied the trail map of the Serenova Tract. He is a regular visitor to the park and a member of the Florida Native Plant Society. He joined a large group of people on Feb. 16 for a walking tour at the Serenova Tract and a rally against the proposed extension of Ridge Road. (Fred Bellet)

It was a Facebook-promoted rally to bring attention to natural habitats that they fear will be lost if Ridge Road is built.

“Our concern is fragmentation of habitat and how much the county will pay for the road. It’s a Pandora’s box,” said Josh McCart, a member of the Sierra Club. He also helped organize the rally, sponsored by Save the Serenova Coalition. More than 30 area groups belong to the coalition, including the Sierra Club.

Coalition member Dan Callaghan was heartened by the turnout. He hopes it will be an inspiration to others to get involved.

As he watches development gobble up large tracts of land in Pasco, Callaghan worries that conservation lands, and wildlife habitats, will be lost.

“That’s the direction we’re heading in, if we don’t stop this. Serenova is a test,” he said. “If we don’t stop it here, Pasco is gone.”

The fight over this road began nearly 20 years ago.

Pasco County officials hope for a resolution, and a work permit from the Army Corps, by the end of this year.

Josh McCart, front right, of New Port Richey, helped organize a walking tour at the Serenova Tract. McCart, a member of the Save the Serenova Coalition, said he posted information on Facebook and was overwhelmed by the large turnout.

The proposed project is for an 8-mile extension of Ridge Road, which now dead-ends at Moon Lake Road. The new road would link Moon Lake in west Pasco to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, across from an entrance into the master-planned community of Connerton.

The road is a county priority that would serve as a new east-west evacuation route during hurricanes.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr. said, via email, that the new route would significantly reduce evacuation times for about 180,000 people who live within that evacuation zone.

“The road would also provide relief to people currently using (State Road) 52 and (State Road) 54,” Wells noted.

The county has set aside about $40 million toward an estimated $68 million for construction of the first segment from Moon Lake to the east side of the Suncoast Parkway exchange. An additional $2.5 million is allocated for right-of-way purchases.

No funds are available, as yet, for the second phase of construction, which would take the road to U.S. 41. That phase isn’t expected to be built until development occurs on land along that portion of the route.

The funding of Ridge Road is a sticking point for opponents, who say the county isn’t being transparent on the costs. They peg total costs as high as $150 million.

They also object to the monthly fee of about $28,500 paid to Washington D.C. consultants, with Dawson & Associates, to lobby for the road’s work permit.

Dan Rametta is an opponent of the Ridge Road extension through the Serenova Preserve. He has worked against the project for 20 years.

The project gained new momentum in 2017, as the Trump administration issued an executive order meant to speed up permits for infrastructure projects. Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis also sent letters of support.

No decision has been made, but Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said, “We still expect it later this year.”

Attorneys for the Sierra Club recently submitted an 80-page document contesting the project.

“They sell it as a done deal,” said McCart. “It’s not a done deal. There are a lot of costs associated to this road. The (Pasco County) commissioners are not telling us the true costs.”

The money is what bothers New Port Richey resident Barbara Sullo, who was at the rally. The county needs to fix its flooding problems, which are especially chronic in west Pasco, she said.

“They say they don’t have money to fix the roads, and yet, they spend millions on the Ridge Road extension,” Sullo said. “I don’t think people realize it’s our money.”

County data, per Wells’ email, shows that the per capita costs for the 180,000 residents within the evacuation zone, and within 2 miles of Ridge Road, would be about $400 per person.

“That doesn’t seem like too much to ensure the safety of our residents facing hurricane evacuations,” Wells said, in his email.

In April, the Corps chose one of 17 proposed routes through the Serenova Preserve as “the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative.” Additional review is being done.

The focus is on land that was set aside in a court settlement to mitigate about 200 acres of wetlands lost during construction of the Suncoast Parkway.

The Army Corps has regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act.

Save the Serenova coalition member Dan Rametta said the settlement is being circumvented.

“How does a four-lane road keep it in its natural state?” he said. He points to the Ridge Road connection that will link with Connerton, and also will cut through a portion of the Bexley Ranch property.

“It’s basically a developer’s road,” Rametta said.

County officials said wetlands lost due to the road project will be mitigated through preservation of other lands. About 2.3 acres of wetlands will be impacted, but about 82 percent of wetland impacts have been reduced, they said.

And, bridges already built, and parts of the proposed road, are elevated above the conservation land.

“You can’t say we haven’t worked through the process to reduce the impact,” Biles said.

Save the Serenova coalition members said there will inevitably be environmental losses.

“Every time you divide a large parcel up, you diminish the land, the plants, birds, everything,” said Aripeka resident Richard Stauffer.

He is a member of the Florida Native Plant Society, which belongs to the coalition. There are concerns among its members about a federally protected plant – the pond spice.

Some plants were found in Serenova, though so far not within the proposed construction area, Stauffer said, adding that more research should be done.

Sharon Holding, also is a member of the native plant society. She handed out fliers and helped with the walking tour.

“Certainly, it will impact people out here,” she said. “We need these places as reprieve from the busyness of our lives.”

Pasco also needs conservation land for ecotourism. “I’d like to see us promote that” Holding said. “We can’t stop people from moving to Pasco. We can plan our developments a lot smarter.”

Rametta said the movement to block Ridge Road is getting stronger.

“Commissioners need to pay attention,” he said. “There are voters here. There are consequences.”

Published February 28, 2018

This flea market — a woman’s club tradition — has bargains galore

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The Old Lutz School, at 18819 N. U.S. 41, was abuzz with activity on Feb. 26, as scores of volunteers prepared for the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club annual flea market.

“It’s our second largest fundraiser of the year,” said Pat Serio, a club member, as she consulted with other club members about where to put various donations.

Pat Serio is holding a cigar box purse that will go for $15. (B.C. Manion)

“It’s always much anticipated by the community because we’ve been doing it for so many years. We started out many decades ago,” Serio added.

“We started out at the Train Depot Park, but we quickly outgrew that, and we’ve been at the Old Lutz School ever since.

“We fill each of the classrooms with items, and we have a larger and larger footprint outdoors, adding tents each year,” she said.

Donations come in from the community and from the woman’s club members.

“We have everything from antiques and collectibles – silver, china, crystal in one special room. We have a home goods room, with kitchenware and décor items. We have a huge selection of beautiful clothing. Ladies, men, children’s clothing.

Club member Jean Palmieri sorts through hardcover books that will be sold for $1 each at the flea market, March 2 and March 3, at the Old Lutz School.

“Outdoors we have florals. We have a little mini-garden center, with artificial flowers and plants. We have toys, baby equipment, sports equipment, tools — something for everybody,” Serio said.

Volunteers were all over the place, getting ready for the sale. They were hanging clothes on racks, putting housewares on shelves, carrying donations inside, or arranging them in tents outside.

Club member Jean Palmieri was helping to sort books.

“We have a huge collection of books. Hardcover books are only $1. Soft covers are a quarter,” Serio noted.

But, those aren’t the only good deal, she added. “We have super bargain prices.”

“All proceeds go back to the community. This is our second-largest fundraiser of the year. Second only to the big arts and crafts show,” Serio continued.

The proceeds support scholarships and provide assistance to a wide assortment of community causes, including schools, libraries, Boy Scouts, and so on.

There will be a food booth, with hot dogs, breakfast items and soft drinks.

And, there will be a plant booth, too.

“The funniest thing is that we club members are our best customers. We donate the bulk of the goods, and we buy the bulk of the goods. We buy each other’s clothing, then next year, these fashions show up in the clothing racks of donations again,” Serio said.

It’s also a great place to catch up with old friends, Serio noted.

Club member Helen Fornino holds a painting and asks Pat Serio, another club member, where the item should go.

“Our women see neighbors and former neighbors. People come back, year after year, even after they’ve moved.

“It’s always the first weekend in March, so they know to anticipate that,” Serio said.

Old-time Lutz residents and former residents also enjoy spending time at the Old Lutz School, Serio noted.

“They reminisce about going to school there. So many people come through and they go, ‘This was my classroom.’

“They get all nostalgic,” Serio said.

Palmieri, who has been a woman’s club member for three years, said she enjoys being involved.

She said she joined because she wanted to help the community.

But, she said, pitching in has rewards of its own.

“It helps me feel good to know that I’m doing something beneficial for other people,” Palmieri said.

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club annual flea market
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 N. U.S. 41 in Lutz
When: March 2 and March 3, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Bargain hunters will find plenty of good deals during this market, which features everything from crystal and china to pots and pans. There’s furniture, hardcover books, potted plants and all sorts of other stuff. This is the club’s second-largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds are used to support scholarships and benefit a wide assortment of local community groups.

Published February 28, 2018

Debate continues over best response to Parkland killings

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Students, faculty and staff are expected to begin the long journey back toward normalcy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this week in Parkland.

But, the debate over the best response to the Valentine Day’s slaying of 14 students and three teachers remains embroiled in controversy.

Audience members bow their heads as a prayer is given for the 17 students of Parkland Florida and local student, Christian Robinson, who were killed due to gun violence. (Randy Underhill)

In the aftermath of the shooting spree, conducted by a lone gunman using an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, thousands of angry students descended on Tallahassee demanding that lawmakers take action, to prevent a future tragedy.

There was a lie-in in Washington D.C., walkouts at schools across Florida and almost nonstop coverage of the issues on cable television networks.

Student survivors of the massacre have led the charge in demanding action from lawmakers.

Some are demanding a ban on the sale of AR-15s, which so far does not appear to be making headway.

President Donald R. Trump met with parents of school shooting victims and with student survivors for a listening session.

And, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature have developed school safety proposals.

The specifics are expected to be fiercely debated, but Scott and legislative leaders expect school safety legislation to be passed before the session ends, which is scheduled for March 9.

At the local level, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis met in a school safety workshop session with Pasco County School Board members and school district staff.

Nicholas Ketterer, age 15, and Ethan Laws, age 15, both students at Sunlake High School, react to what is being read at the candlelight vigil for the students killed in Parkland, Florida and Port Richey.

Bilirakis asked the district to weigh in on what’s needed to improve school safety and how Washington can help.

“We’re going to have congressional hearings on this issue, the safe school issue. I wanted to hear from our school board,” Bilirakis said.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn said the district needs more funding to pay for additional school resource officers, to improve mental health services and to upgrade safety features on school campuses.

Pasco County School Board member Allen Altman concurred that those seem to be the three things at the top of the list, based on conversations he had during visits to nine schools over the course of three days, following the killings in Parkland.

School board member Alison Crumbley said there needs to be “extremely limited access” to military-style weapons.

“I am very concerned that a 19-year-old can purchase military-style weaponry, and has no training for this weaponry. We require training and licensing to drive a car, but not this. I think that’s a huge problem,” she said.

But, Crumbley also made it clear that she supports the 2nd Amendment: “My husband is a sportsman. He hunts. I’m not talking about those types of weapons, or guns.”

She’s against the idea of arming teachers, a suggestion that has been made by some.

Karen Hoffman, of Lutz, sits by herself, silently grieving 17 students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, and local student Christian Robinson, of Chasco Middle School, recently killed in Florida due to gun violence.

“I don’t want that responsibility put on our teachers,” Crumbley said.

Another part of the problem is distinguishing real threats from false information.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Lt. Troy Ferguson told those gathered: “Since Feb. 14, tips are coming in by the hour about suspicious activities, conversations heard online.

“Often, it’s been repeats of stories heard on the news that have been misconstrued as a threat in Pasco County,” he said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district has been swamped with calls and emails since the tragedy in Parkland. Some of the emails have been about threats, others with suggestions to help solve the problem, he said.

Social media exacerbates the problem of false information, Browning said.

“Kids are being reckless on social media,” he said.

“I don’t know how many times they have posted something stupid out on social media and then, when the sheriff’s office shows up at their door, it’s ‘Oh, I was only joking.’ Well, guess what, it is too late,” Browning said.

Browning urged parents to pay attention to what their children are doing on social media.

“There’s consequences. We’re talking about a second-degree felony. Kids don’t get it,” he said.

In the wake of the Parkland deaths, Browning has requested and has received regular patrols from the Sheriff’s Office at all district schools. He also has directed all principals to keep all gates locked and has directed teachers to keep all classroom doors locked.

Browning urges principals, students and staff to maintain a high vigilance regarding who is on their school’s campus.

After listening to the suggestions, Bilirakis said additional funding for school resource officers seems like a “no-brainer.” He also pledges to work on the possibility of seeking a federal grant to improve mental health care services.

To help promote healing in the aftermath of the Parkland shootings, the Pasco County Council PTA held three candlelight vigils across Pasco County.

Brandon Bracciale, principal at Chasco Middle School, attended the one at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

While the Parkland community was grieving the deaths of 17 people, Chasco Middle has been grieving the loss of Christian Robinson, a 14-year-old who has died, after a gunshot wound to the head on Valentine’s Day. He was in a car in Port Richey when he was shot.

“He was a very popular student,” Bracciale said.

Bracciale said the Parkland slayings have had a local impact.

He said his wife, an art teacher at Sunlake High School, noticed that her students were somber in the days following the Parkland deaths.

And, his middle school daughter, who attends Rushe Middle School, plans to participate in a nationwide school walkout, set for March 14.

As an educator, he believes that bulletproof windows and doors would help make schools safer. He also believes that restricting access to assault weapons and improved mental health care would help.

Victims of the Valentine’s Day shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Scott Beigel, 35; Martin Duque Anguiana, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Aaron Feis, 37; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Chris Hixon, 49; Luke Hoyer, 15; Cara Loughran, 15; Gina Montalto, 15; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena Ramsey, 17; Alex Schachter, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; Peter Wang, 15

Source: CNN

Welbilt will expand and add 110 jobs in Pasco

By

Welbilt, a global manufacturer of commercial restaurant equipment, plans to expand its facility in Pasco County, and hire about 110 new employees.

Company officials announced the expansion Feb. 20 at the Pasco County Commission meeting in New Port Richey.

Pasco County commissioners and Welbilt executives announced plans to expand Welbilt, a global manufacturer of commercial restaurant equipment. (Courtesy of Welbilt)

The outcome could have been different as company officials had looked elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area for a suitable location. Welbilt, formerly Manitowoc Foodservice Inc., opened in Pasco more than 10 years ago.

“We’re very pleased we’re going to stay in Pasco,” said Thomas Wooderson, engineering director for Welbilt.

Wooderson said the expansion would be done in phases, with new employees hired, as space and need are available. The average annual salary for employees is almost $69,000, which is 200 percent more than the county’s average annual wage.

The project represents about $13.5 million in capital investment and should be completed by mid-2019.

Welbilt will remodel its existing research and development laboratories at 2227 Welbilt Road in New Port Richey, and build an additional 42,000 square feet.

The expansion will have laboratory space, a test kitchen and a new customer service center. There also will be a 190-space parking garage.

Welbilt will receive $650,000 in incentives from Pasco, and about $480,000 from Florida’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program.

This rendering from Welbilt shows how the expanded facility will look on completion in late 2019.

An independent report showed that the Welbilt expansion will indirectly add more than 170 jobs that generate about $9.4 million in personal income annually.

It also will add about $10.9 million to Pasco’s Gross County Product, according to a news release from the Pasco Economic Development Council.

Welbilt is an international manufacturer, operating in 12 countries, with more than 5,000 employees. The company builds commercial restaurant equipment, including stoves, ice machines, grills, beverage dispensers, and walk-in freezers.

On average, about 2,000 customers visit Welbilt annually for specialized service in developing and designing kitchen systems, and products.

“That could double or triple,” Wooderson said, after the expansion.

Welbilt’s employees work collaboratively with chefs, restaurant chain operators, and independent restaurant owners, on customized design solutions, Wooderson said.

Connectivity and automation, especially, are becoming important in the food industry, he added.

“The industry is changing so fast we need to have a new corporate view on innovation,” he said. “We’re seeking greater opportunities.”

Published February 28, 2018