Local News

City awards ZEDC $50,000 grant

June 8, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The Zephyrhills City Council recently awarded a sizable grant to The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce to foster business growth and economic development in the area.

The council unanimously voted last month to renew a $50,000 grant to the chamber to continue to maintain the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition.

Melonie Monson, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, will help manage the ZEDC. (File Photo) — Melonie Monson, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, will help manage the ZEDC.
(File Photo)

The ZEDC is a unified effort between the city, the chamber, Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., and local businesses to support economic growth and business retention in Zephyrhills. It has more than 30 members.

Under the grant agreement, the chamber is obligated to do each of the following:

Manage the ZEDC
Develop marketing strategies that benefit the economic development of the Zephyrhills area
Cultivate business partnerships through outreach and advocacy
Collect relevant information that may be used for improved programs and services for local businesses

Melonie Monson, the chamber’s executive director, is responsible for managing the development coalition from the chamber office.

Monson said the coalition’s three main focuses for 2016 are job creation and business growth, city infrastructure such as roads, and the development of an educated and trained workforce.

Also, for the first time, the development coalition will handle marketing strategies and campaigns, in collaboration with the city.

Previously, the municipal marketing strategies for the development coalition were developed and implemented by the Pasco Economic Development Council. But, now the strategies will be completely turned over to the local development coalition, including the “Clearly Zephyrhills” marketing campaign.

Monson said the Pasco EDC would only get involved in future marketing strategies if they benefit the entire county.

Skip Skairus chairs the ZEDC Advisory Council. (Courtesy of CenterState Bank) — Skip Skairus chairs the ZEDC Advisory Council.
(Courtesy of CenterState Bank)

“At this point, we have our feet on the ground, we know the direction to go, we know how to run this program, so we’re OK that they’re backing away a little with us, and they have turned the campaign over to us to manage through the chamber and through the ZEDC,” Monson said. “They were instrumental to us in helping to start the ZEDC, and gave us ideas on what directions to go.”

Monson said one of the long-term priorities for the Zephyrhills development coalition is to attract a major industry to the city’s airport industrial park property, also referred to as the “Sysco Property.”

The 440-acre site is adjacent to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport and next to the CSX rail line.

The chamber director said the location is an ideal spot for a “big industry” to house its operations.

“The glory of this area is that it is the only site in Pasco County that’s large enough for an industry to come in,” Monson said. “This property is on the train line…that goes to Orlando, Miami and to the Tampa port. There’s not a lot of areas that have that ability, so this is ideal for some type of big industry.”

“Eventually, we would like this to be a mega site which is 2,000 acres or more, but we’re starting with this 440-acre site and trying to get it site-ready,” she added.

The development coalition also is exploring the feasibility of establishing a vocational-technical education center in the city.

Monson said a vocational aviation school has been under discussion for several months, even though Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a $1.5 million aeronautical program at the municipal airport in 2015.

“We just find that our airport is an ideal location to bring an academy to. We have the availability property-wise, and we just feel like it’s a market for our youth to be trained and not to have to go elsewhere to get this training,” Monson said, adding, “I think we need to be a little more prepared on how to bring that before the Governor this time around.”

The ZEDC was formed in April 2012. It is made up of two components: the ZEDC Stakeholder’s Advisory Council — a voluntary committee of business and community leaders in the Zephyrhills area striving to create a sustainable business and economic climate; and the ZEDC Steering Committee — a group of economic development practitioners, including key staff from partner organizations, such as the city, the chamber and the Pasco EDC.

ZEDC Advisory Council chair Skip Skairus said the development coalition benefits Zephyrhills because it helps facilitate ideas and programs that ultimately advance the city’s economic development.

“Prior to the formation of this organization, there were a lot of good ideas from a lot of folks in the city in regards to economic development. However, it would seem that for whatever reason, (ideas) would stall because there really wasn’t a formal organization to enact the different things in regards to marketing, research, site development and government advocacy,” Skairus said. “That’s where I really think the biggest benefit to this group is: to take the great ideas that have always been in place, but to make sure they all fall into action.”

$50,000 grant renewed for ZEDC
Funding allocations:

$15,000 toward managing the coalition through the chamber office
$15,000 toward marketing and promotional support
$10,000 toward business outreach and advocacy
$10,000 toward research and program delivery

Published June 8, 2016

Saint Anthony’s makes history again

June 8, 2016 By B.C. Manion

At a place that can trace its history back to the 1880s, Saint Anthony Catholic School marked another milestone on June 3 with a ceremony to bless the completion of a renovated building constructed in 1922.

It was the second time in two years that Saint Anthony Catholic School paused to celebrate the completion of a construction project.

This view of the new school shows the St. Anthony Catholic School sign. The façade on the old school is plain red brick.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The first event occurred on Feb. 5, 2015, when the Rev. Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, presided over the dedication of the school’s new building. That building, designed to architecturally match the existing building, was funded through the Diocese’s Forward in Faith Capital Campaign.

At last week’s event, Abbott Isaac Camacho, of Saint Leo Abbey, presided over the ceremony to bless the school’s newly renovated 1922 building. The Saint Anthony Parish community is covering the cost of the $1.8 million project.

Those gathered at last week’s ceremony expressed gratitude for the education the school provides.

Retired U.S. Army Col. Peter Quinn was among those attending the ceremony. His son, Gabriel, just graduated from the school, and his twin daughters, Faith and Grace, are seventh-graders.

These children are sharing a special moment in history at Saint Anthony Catholic School as they witness the blessing of the school’s renovated 1922 building. They are from left in the front row, Sofia Trevino, Andrew Werckman, Cora Woodard and Taylor Young. In the back row, from left are Abigail Kocher, Boden Ballinger, Kyle Bueno and Joseph Hammond.

“We got here three years ago. This is a pearl of joy for us,” Quinn said. He noted that he searched all of the Diocese, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Brandon, before choosing to enroll his children at Saint Anthony.

“I wanted a place where my parish life and my kids’ school life would be one and the same.

“When I found this place, with the sisters in residence, that was it.

“The surrounding community is just so supportive,” Quinn said.

Leo Brand and Kyle Christmas, both members of the Knights of Columbus, were there, dressed in their full regalia.

They came to present the school with a gift: A pole and a stand, to hold the school’s banner.

“They’ve always borrowed ours for years,” Brand said. So, the Knights of Columbus San Antonio Council 1768 decided to purchase one for the school, he said.

Abbott Isaac Camacho, of Saint Leo Abbey, presides over the ceremony which included blessing the restored building, room by room. Brother Lucius Amarillas stands to the abbott’s right.

Christmas noted that one of his family members helped build the school decades ago. “He’s got his name on one of the bricks up on the top of the roof,” he said.

Christmas said he’s pleased to see that the school is building for the future.

“It’s nice to see that they are expanding and that they’re getting busy enough to expand, that people are taking advantage of a Catholic education,” Christmas said.

Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader was at the event — but not in his role as an elected leader. He has closer ties to the church and school.

“I’m an alumnus. It’s my parish. My church. It’s a great part of our community. My parents were actually married in the church,” Schrader said.

The renovation of the 1922 school building marks a proud moment for the parish and school, Schrader said.

“The community just came together. They recognized the importance of a Catholic education,” Schrader said.

Leigh DiMaria has three children at the school.

Sister Alice Ottapurackal takes the stage during the June 3 dedication and blessing ceremony for the renovated 1922 building on the Saint Anthony Catholic School campus. She spent the majority of her time expressing gratitude for the project and thanking those who were involved in making it happen.

“I love the fact that they were able to restore a lot of the old elements,” DiMaria said.

She’s pleased that her children, Faith, Vincent and Nolan, attend Saint Anthony, and that her family is part of the school’s community.

“The community around here, the support, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s amazing,” DiMaria said.

Abbott Camacho presided over the ceremony, but others took part, as well. Rev. Garry Welsh, the current pastor, Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the current principal, and Sister Roberta Bailey, the Prioress at Holy Name Monastery and former principal of the school, also offered remarks.

Students took part, too. Hannah Fox, led the assembly in “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You,” Lindsay Golliday read a selection from scripture, and Aiden Fox and Adeline Shiver were altar servers.

Abbott Camacho reminded those gathered that “one of the characteristics of us Benedictines (who founded the school) is to welcome the other, as Christ, no matter who the other is. To see in them, the image of Christ.

“It’s not about the teachers. It’s not about the good reputation of the school. It’s about the other. Can we see Christ in the other, no matter their background? If we see in them, Christ, things start to change for good,” Abbott Camacho said.

Sister Bailey recalled Saint Anthony Catholic School’s rich history, and noted that it has faced some tough times.

“We owe a great deal of credit to the pastors that were in this area. There was a day when the principal and the bookkeeper would come up with budget, based on the tuition that we knew we could collect. And, whatever we thought we couldn’t collect, we gave that debt to the pastors, and they figured out how to support the school,” Sister Bailey said.

But through prayer, God’s blessings, the help of the Diocese, and the generosity of the parish and community, there’s now a new school building and a renovated building, Sister Ottapurackal said.

“Our school looks beautiful, and it is ready for 21st century learning. We are proud of how it came out, because of God’s blessing and people’s help,” the principal said.

Published June 8, 2016

Lutz is gearing up for the Fourth of July

June 8, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Fourth of July is just weeks away, and Lutz is gearing up for its annual festivities.

This is a place that enjoys its Independence Day traditions, and it likes the community to join in on the fun.

So, if you’re thinking about being in the Fourth of July Parade, it’s a good idea to let Cheryl Benton know. She’s the one that makes sure you get your form filled out, so she can reserve you a spot in the parade lineup.

And, if you’re looking to earn some bragging rights for your baking skills, it’s a good time to get in touch with Karin D’Amico to find out about the rules and categories in the Cake Bake competition.

Three-a-half-year-old Logan Freelen got an early start at the one-mile run during Fourth of July festivities last year in Lutz. The little boy makes his way up Lutz Lake Fern Road with his dad, Richard Freelen of Riverview, during the last leg of the run before the start of the parade and festivities. (File Photo) — Three-a-half-year-old Logan Freelen got an early start at the one-mile run during Fourth of July festivities last year in Lutz. The little boy makes his way up Lutz Lake Fern Road with his dad, Richard Freelen of Riverview, during the last leg of the run before the start of the parade and festivities.
(File Photo)

If you’re planning to run in the 5K or take part in the 1-mile fun run or family walk, Terry Donovan is the guy who is in charge of those activities.

The main thing is, if you want to take part, it’s not too early to begin gearing up for the annual event.

One of the highlights each year is the auction that takes place after the parades, where cakes and pies that have been entered into the Cake Bake competition go home with the highest bidder.

And, finding out who will win the annual Lutz Guv’na race is always fun, too.

This annual competition, which raises money for local organizations, is a good-natured competition where the only qualification that the winner must possess is the ability to raise money. Whoever raises the most money wins.

This year, Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona are squaring off to see who will claim the title and be sworn in over a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.”

The 5k and fun run get things rolling, generally drawing in the neighborhood of about 600 participants, said Donovan, the race director.

Runners begin arriving around 6 a.m., to register or pick up their packets.

The 5k is a chip-timed event.

The race, which originates at the Lutz Community Center, has been going on for decades.

And, many of the runners have been racing since they were young, Donovan said.

“I don’t really run anymore, I shuffle,” he joked.

The cake and pie competition also tends to get a lot of repeat entries.

Last year’s cake and pie contest drew 28 entries, including a 5-pound apple pie, a cake shaped like a fish and another with the look of the community’s iconic train depot.

Wilma Lewis had eight entries in the competition.

And, Shirley Simmons entered her famous, made-from-scratch pound cake, which fetched $75 in the auction after the parade.

Those interested in entering the competition should touch base with D’Amico to find out the various categories.

The parade — which has an old-fashioned feel — tends to attract scouts, schools, politicians, community organizations, law enforcement and local businesses.

It also draws a wide assortment of vehicles, ranging from antique fire trucks to flatbed trucks, military vehicles to classic cars, and bicycles to convertibles.

The parade route, which goes down Lutz-Lake Fern Road, turns to go in front of the Lutz Branch Library.

“We have 11 different trophies,” Benton said. “We have one for antique vehicles. One for bicycle entry. One for commercial. One for a family entry. Most comical. Most patriotic. Neighborhood entry. Walking unit. Youth entry. Judge’s favorite. Grand Marshal’s Choice.”

She thinks people enjoy the Fourth of July festivities because it’s a fun way to start off the holiday.

“It’s crafted after an old-timey Fourth in the park,” Benton said.

“It’s a community thing. It’s something for the kids to do on the Fourth of July,” Benton said.

All sorts of entries are welcome, she said. But, she does have a request: “Please no high-powered water guns,” she said.

“Because they have soaked little babies before,” she explained, and that’s not cool, she added.

Benton is in charge of getting the parade entries lined up along the route.

That requires marking spots on the street, based on the size of the entry, she said.

“It’s a hot job, I can tell you that,” she said, noting the spot for each entry must be painted on the street.

“They can email me, and I can email them an entry. It’s .”

Lutz Independence Day festivities
July 3
Cake entry drop off: Call Karin D’Amico at (813) 786-8461 for time and location

July 4
Festivities take place at 101 First Ave. N.E., in Lutz

6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.: Cake registration deadline. For information, call Karin D’Amico at (813) 786-8461

8 a.m.: 5K begins (registration and packet pickups begin at 6 a.m.) For information about the 5K, 1-mile fun run and family walk, call Terry Donovan at (813) 949-6659

8:45 a.m.: 1-mile fun run and family walk begins

9 a.m.: Flag raising ceremony

9:30 am: Race trophies presented

10 a.m.: Lutz Community Parade begins. To sign up to be in the parade, email Cheryl Benton at Although she prefers emails, she can be reached by telephone at (813) 948-0823.

11 a.m.: New Guv’na sworn in; parade trophies awarded; Cake Bake Auction

Parade breakdown begins immediately after the festivities. Volunteers are welcome to help.

Published June 8, 2016

Sludge disposal passes the smell test

June 8, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Getting rid of thousands of wet tons of sludge each year – also known as biosolids – isn’t as easy as flushing a toilet and watching it drain out of sight —beyond anyone’s smell.

Pasco County is looking toward new technology and biosolids management company, Merrell Bros. Inc., to deliver a solution.

Pasco County commissioners heard a presentation during a May 17 workshop regarding a proposed facility that can turn sludge into dry fertilizer that can be sold.

Consultants from CDM explained how the system would work to commissioners.

Merrell would construct and operate the facility, which would be owned by the county and located at the Shady Hills solid waste complex.

County officials estimate a cost savings of as much as $750,000 a year based on a service agreement with Merrell. Construction costs would not exceed $13 million. The facility could be online within two years.

The Indiana-based company is the second to seek the county’s business. In 2011, commissioners selected Earth, Wind & Fire Technologies to handle the county’s sludge, but the company folded before negotiating a contract.

Earth, Wind & Fire planned to create a synthetic diesel fuel from the sludge.

Pasco annually ends up with about 23,000 tons of sludge that fills about 1,100 dump trucks, according to Anthony Pevec, environmental engineer with CDM.

Much of it is composted or hauled to landfills in Georgia. But, some also goes to St. Cloud, where the largest bio-landfill in central Florida is located. Tipping fees there rose about 13 percent in the last year, according to data from CDM.

Pevec told commissioners that getting rid of sludge is expensive and is getting more so as state regulations limit available sites. Counties worried about protecting clean water also are restricting new site permits, including Pasco.

According to CDM, St. Petersburg’s disposal method is estimated to cost about $80 million.

Nearly four years ago, Hillsborough County spent more than $25 million on a process that couldn’t eliminate the odor issue.

Merrell is proposing a 15-year agreement with Pasco, with three, 5-year renewals, according to county records. The proposed facility would have a 50,000-ton capacity. In addition to Pasco’s sludge, Merrell anticipates contracting with other counties to treat and convert their product to fertilizer for sale.

But Michael Carballa, the county’s utilities engineering director, said, “Our sludge always has priority.”

The facility would have a greenhouse “pod,” a pasteurization building and an odor control system. A pilot program tested the procedure by using some of Pasco’s sludge.

It passed the test.

“We wanted a high level of odor control,” said Pevec.

Published June 8, 2016

Eve’s Garden finds a new paradise

June 1, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Evie Lynn is moving to greener pastures.

To be precise, she is staking out 55 acres of an old orange grove in Groveland that will be populated with bonsai, bamboo and beefalos.

Evie Lynn, owner of Eve’s Garden Inc., is moving her nursery and gift shop to a large pasture in Groveland. (Courtesy of Evie Lynn) — Evie Lynn, owner of Eve’s Garden Inc., is moving her nursery and gift shop to a large pasture in Groveland.
(Courtesy of Evie Lynn)

The beefalos are her husband’s idea after spotting a herd of them on his drive to Groveland. The cows are a cross between domestic cattle and bison.

The couple are the proud owners of a baby beefalo, bringing their herd up to a count of one dozen.

Evie Lynn glowed with pride last week at the news of the calf’s first steps at the Lynns’ new pasture.

But, she was also deep into the details of shutting down Eve’s Garden Inc., after 33 years in Land O’ Lakes — and relocating her enterprise to Groveland.

The retail shop and garden, at 5602 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., are favorites of local gardeners who are looking for bonsai and bamboo plants, and who benefit from the expertise of Lynn and her staff.

But, the business primarily sells wholesale nationwide to gift shops, nurseries and large companies, such as Publix and Walgreens, and to Disney for the Chinese and Japanese pavilions at Epcot.

Eve’s is one of the largest bonsai nurseries in the nation.

On June 10 at 10 a.m., Higgenbotham Auctioneers will auction off about 7 acres of lakefront commercial property at 5602 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Two statues of lions greet visitors at the entrance to Eve’s Garden Gifts. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Two statues of lions greet visitors at the entrance to Eve’s Garden Gifts.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

The site will be sold as two parcels. One is about 2 acres, and fronts U.S. 41. The other is nearly 5 acres, and includes the shop and warehouse. Following the auction of the land, plants and supplies, Koi fish, statues, entrance gates and more also will be auctioned.

A preview of the property, and its inventory, will be held on June 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Currently, Eve’s Garden is offering 30 percent or more off on everything in the nursery.

Investors representing potential hotels, restaurants, and even a day care center have made inquiries, Lynn said.

For many years she has been looking for a larger property that opened up more opportunities for her business.

When she started Eve’s Garden, Land O’ Lakes still had rural appeal. But, Lynn said her property is too valuable for a plant nursery now that development and growth are changing the landscape of Land O’ Lakes.

And, she is ready for a quieter lifestyle.

Lynn grew up in New York. Her interest in bonsai came early when her mother would drop her off at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. At age 8, she would spend hours learning the ancient art of bonsai.

By trimming, shaping and wiring, a plant specimen can become a miniature version of what is found in a natural landscape.

Colorful and shapely vases are for sale at Eve’s Garden. The property and inventory will be auctioned on June 10.

“It’s very relaxing,” Lynn said. “You become one with them. It’s almost like a work of art, but it’s living art.”
Initially, Lynn thought about keeping a small shop open in Land O’ Lakes, but instead she hopes that customers will make the scenic, one-hour drive to Groveland.

She is in early stages of building a garden and gift shop with an Asian theme. A greenhouse and a 25,000-square-foot warehouse and packing plant are new additions to the property.

When she first eyed the site, Lynn said, “It was weeds, and you could barely go through it.”

Long-term, she plans to tap into the growing trend of agritourism that is popular, especially in central Florida.

The customer base is growing, as people seek activities that are farm-based and pastoral.

Within about five miles of Groveland, developers are planning to expand The Villages, a retirement community outside Orlando. About 2,000 new homes will be built.

Lynn is planning ahead to a grand opening of the new Eve’s Garden in Groveland in December.

“We’ll make it a splendid Asian thing,” said Lynn.

Published June 1, 2016

Center Ice to open in October

June 1, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The walls are up, the ice has been poured, and droves of hockey players soon will visit Pasco County.

A hard-hat tour of the 150,500-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice Complex revealed significant progress of the $20 million project, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Road in Wesley Chapel.

Ice was poured on the rinks just a few weeks ago. There will be four full-size rinks, and one mini-rink. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — Ice was poured on the rinks just a few weeks ago. There will be four full-size rinks, and one mini-rink.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

A crowd of more than one hundred Pasco county business leaders and representatives toured the facility recently to learn about its features, and about available programs and sponsorship opportunities.

The facility is set to open “sometime in late October,” with a soft opening expected earlier, officials said.

Described as the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States, the building will house five ice rinks, a multipurpose sports floor, a 2,600-square-foot fitness facility and an indoor sprint tack.

There also will be a full-service family restaurant on the second floor and five party rooms totaling 17,000 square feet. Several corporate events have already been booked.

Florida Hospital also will have an office there, focusing specifically on enhancing sports performance and injury prevention.

“We’ve come a long way on this project (since) when we were looking at just an empty field,” said George Mitchell of Z Mitch, the facility’s developer. “It took a lot of imagination from the beginning.”

An indoor track is one of the more unique features at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Officials believe the massive facility will attract 1.5 million to 2 million visitors annually, with 40 percent coming from outside Tampa Bay.

Former hockey pro Gordie Zimmermann, a Z Mitch partner, said the colossal edifice is creating a buzz as far north as Toronto and Montreal, two hockey-crazed cities.

“People up there are already talking about this building,” Zimmermann said. “We had some teams up there that are in the junior leagues that actually want to come down here and do training camps and tournaments here.

“It’s going to be great for our community to have the tournaments and programs — like the girls’ Olympic (hockey) team training, world-class figure skaters, USPHL (United States Professional Hockey League) teams here; we’re really looking at a top to bottom programming,” he added.

Zimmermann, who was an integral cog in developing the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, visited approximately 500 ice rinks throughout North America to conceptualize the Wesley Chapel venue.

Area business leaders and representatives were on hand for a hard-hat tour. They learned about available programs and sponsorship opportunities.

One of the complex’s features that is drawing quite a bit interest from hockey directors in Canada isn’t even ice-related — it’s the indoor sprint track.

Zimmermann said more hockey players and athletes are using sprint tracks for conditioning, but Canada’s bitter cold temperatures make it difficult to train outdoors year-round.

“A lot of those program directors up there were looking at our website, saying, ‘Wow, you’ve got an indoor sport track to train on.’ They thought that was really good; that’s an attraction for them,” Zimmermann said.

Zimmermann already has a hockey and skating department in place.

Kevin Wolter, who spent 30 years within the USA Hockey Coaching Education program, was named as the facility’s general manager. Shari Trotter, the figure skating director at the Ashburn Ice House in Washington D.C., was hired to serve as the facility’s executive figure skating director.

Moreover, two maintenance staff members will be coming aboard in June to begin managing the facility’s refrigeration program.

In total, 20 full-time and 30 part-time employees will be working at the facility, Zimmermann said.

The initial opening was set for October 2015, but it was delayed by the weather and issues with the installation of the refrigeration system.

Florida Hospital Center Ice
Facility overview
The 150,500-square-foot complex will be the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States. Here are some details:

One Olympic-size rink (200 feet by 100 feet)
Two North American standard-size rinks (200 feet by 85 feet)
One multipurpose sports floor/ice pad-multipurpose pad conversion
A 2,600-square-foot fitness facility
An indoor sprint track and conditioning area
An onsite athletic trainers and sports performance program
Five corporate/birthday party rooms
A family sport restaurant
Private and public locker rooms
A hockey skills training area
A revolving entrance door to control inside temperature environment

Florida Hospital Center Ice will have numerous programs and uses, including:

Local, regional, national and international hockey tournaments
University and high school teams’ practices and games
Recreational leagues
Hockey development programs
Roller and street hockey
Camps, clinics, multisport training
Figure skating
Public skating, birthday parties
Sled hockey
Indoor sports: box lacrosse, volleyball, basketball
Sports Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention programs
Corporate events, public meetings

Published June 4, 2016

Local history project heads to national competition

June 1, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Land O’ Lakes High School freshmen Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon weren’t even sure if they could squeeze competing at the local History Fair into their crowded school schedule.

But, the pre-International Baccalaureate students decided to give it a shot, and even pulled an all-nighter to finish their exhibit on time.

The hard work paid off.

They came in first at the district competition and placed second at state.

Isabella Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Lauren Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are traveling to College Park, Maryland, to competed in the National History Day competition. Their exhibit, behind them, has been selected to represent the state of Florida in a display at The Smithsonian. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Isabella Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Lauren Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are traveling to College Park, Maryland, to competed in the National History Day competition. Their exhibit, behind them, has been selected to represent the state of Florida in a display at The Smithsonian.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Soon, they’ll be traveling to College Park, Maryland, to be among more than 3,000 students from around the world competing at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. The event is being held June 12 through June 16.

No matter how that turns out, the teenagers already have one claim to fame.

Their exhibit, “Sacagawea: Cultural Exchange Through New Encounters,” has been selected to be part of a special display.

“Every state affiliate gets to choose one project to represent the state. The state affiliate has chosen their project, and their project is going to be featured in The Smithsonian Museum,” said Jennifer O’Connor, coordinator of Pasco County’s History Fair.

Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are the only Pasco County students who have placed at the state competition, and just the top two in the state are selected to go to the national competition, O’Connor said.

Their project examines the role that Sacagawea played in the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition.

“We thought she was kind of the star of the expedition,” Pinero-Colon said.

Historians focus on Lewis and Clark, she said, noting they “don’t really show how much of an asset she was to the expedition. We wanted to show that.

“She basically administered all of the exchanges between the Native Americans they encountered. She made it a lot easier for them to travel,” Pinero-Colon said.

“She was passed around through tribes against her will, so she knew the land very well,” she added.

Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon conducted thorough research to create an exhibit tracing the life of Sacagawea and her contributions to Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery.

Sacagawea’s knowledge of the land and tribal languages made her invaluable, the students said.

“She served as an interpreter,” Pinero-Colon said.

Without Sacagawea, she said, ““We think that they wouldn’t have made it to the Pacific.”

The students tell the story of the Native American woman’s contributions through an elaborate exhibit tracing her life.

“They spent a lot of time looking for primary sources, and pictures and artifacts, that they could use, so that would help them in telling their story,” O’Connor said.

What sets this project apart is the quality of the research the students have done, O’Connor said.

“I think a lot of students will fall short, in that, they spend a lot of time on secondary sources, with the Internet,” O’Connor said.

Torres and Pinero-Colon, on the other hand, found information through the Library of Congress and tracked down researchers who specifically knew about Sacagawea.

“We spent time researching and interviewing professors for it, so we could kind of cross-examine all of the research, for different points of view on it,” Pinero-Colon said.

They wanted to be sure they were thorough, and relied on credible and knowledgeable sources, Torres said.

While they’ve earned the right to compete at the national level, there’s no funding available to cover the costs, so O’Connor and the students will be traveling at their own expense. They estimate that it will cost around $3,000 to cover travel expenses and contest costs.

This is some of the details included in the exhibit created by Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon. Their work captured second place in the state history fair.

The students have set up a Go Fund Me account, in hopes of attracting some community support.

O’Connor has been involved with the district’s History Fair for nine years. “It’s always interesting to see what students will come up with,” she said.

“Most of the students learn the process of putting together the History Fair project in middle school.

“At the high school level, if they’re going to do History Fair project, they have to do it on their own. It’s not like there’s class time devoted to this. They have to do it on top of their other classes, staying after school, doing research,” O’Connor said.

The annual theme is broad enough to permit a wide range of projects, O’Connor said.

“The NHD (National History Day) theme provides a focused way to increase students’ historical understanding by developing a lens to read history, an organizational structure that helps students place information in the correct context and finally, the ability to see connections over time,” according to the organization’s website.

Contests are held each spring in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and at international schools in Central America, China, Korea and South Asia, the website says.

Students create historical projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website.

Torres said she and Pinero-Colon wanted to compete because they believed it could help them in their college applications.

Plus, Torres added: “We just wanted to do something different. We don’t really participate in sports. We’re academic people. We wanted to apply knowledge and make something cool out of it.”

As it turns out, they did.

State History Fair winners from Pasco
Forty-six Pasco County Schools students competed at the 2016 Florida National History Day competition in Tallahassee in May.
Lauren Pinero-Colon and Isabella Torres won second place in the Senior Group Exhibit and earned them a right to compete at the national level.
Other Pasco winners were:

Akshaya Venkata, Land O’ Lakes High School: Economic Freedom Award, Senior Individual Website – Comparative Advantage of the Potosi Silver Mines
Jacqueline Cupo, Ariella Meier and Emerson Parks, Pasco Middle School: Third place, Junior Group Documentary – Hurricane Andrew and the Encounter with Florida
Shelton Ried, Paul R. Smith Middle School: Spirit of 45 Award, Junior Individual Documentary – Nazi Invasion of Florida
Pierce Thomas, Paul R. Smith Middle School: Third Place, Junior Individual Performance – Marco Polo and the Silk Road
Hannah Mayer, River Ridge Middle School: Outstanding County Award, Junior Individual Exhibit – Jeff Corwin Gone Wild
Ronak Argawal, Charles S. Rushe Middle School: Mayflower Scholarship, Junior Paper – James Cook

Published June 1, 2016

Good kids abound

June 1, 2016 By Diane Kortus

It’s easy to become jaded when hearing repeated media reports about our troubled youth — from drug addiction to repetitive crimes to disrespect of authority. Some days, one can’t help but wonder if there are any good kids left.

There are, of course.

This issue of The Laker/Lutz News is evidence that our communities are full of good kids.

It reaffirms that most teenagers obey the law, work hard, and have dreams and aspirations to make our world a better place.

Today, we publish the names of 3,000-plus high school seniors in the Class of 2016 who are graduating from area high schools. These are the good kids who don’t make the news because they respect their parents and their teachers, and meet all of the requirements to graduate.

There are many, many more of these good kids, than there are of those who go astray.

The newspaper that’s delivered to your home lists the graduates from the two high schools closest to where you live. If you receive the Land O’ Lakes edition of The Laker, your schools are Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes. In Wesley Chapel, they are Wiregrass and Wesley Chapel. And in East Pasco, they are Zephyrhills and Pasco. If you live in Hillsborough County, you receive The Lutz News and your schools are Steinbrenner and Freedom. Private schools pull from various areas, so these graduates are published in all our zones.

You don’t have to be a graduate, or relative of a graduate, to peruse through our pullout graduation section. We want you to look for names of kids you know from your neighborhood, church, recreational activities and friends.

When you find graduates you know, honor them by sending a congratulatory text or email, or better yet, pick up your telephone and give them a call.

This year, several elected officials are recognizing local seniors with advertising in our graduation edition. I find it heartwarming to see these politicians express their belief and confidence in our students, and encourage them to participate in the democratic process.

As publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, I want to thank Pasco County commissioners Jack Mariano, Kathryn Starkey and Mike Moore. I also would like to thank State Rep. Danny Burgess and State Rep. Richard Corcoran, Florida’s incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives. Also, thank you to Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

I also want to thank the many local businesses and civic groups who support our seniors with advertising in today’s newspaper. Many of these businesses have advertised in our graduation edition for many years, and never hesitate to step up and help with the cost of publishing this section.

The Laker/Lutz News is honored to recognize our graduates — an accomplishment that will forever play an important role in their future.

Published June 1, 2016

Saint Anthony to dedicate renovated school

June 1, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Saint Anthony Catholic School is planning a dedication ceremony for its renovated school building at 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive in San Antonio.

The event is slated for June 3 at 10 a.m., and the ceremony will mark the completion of a project to rejuvenate a three-story brick building originally erected in 1922.

The building in the foreground is the recently completed renovated 1922 building on the Saint Anthony school campus in San Antonio. Portions that could be restored, were restored, and the rest was renovated in the $1.8 million project. (Photos courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School) — The building in the foreground is the recently completed renovated 1922 building on the Saint Anthony school campus in San Antonio. Portions that could be restored, were restored, and the rest was renovated in the $1.8 million project.
(Photos courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School)

“We are so excited,” said Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal, noting that Abbott Isaac Camacho of Saint Leo Abbey will bless and dedicate the building.

After the blessing, those attending will be invited to tour the building and to stay for light refreshments.

The $1.8 million project involved restoration where possible, combined with renovation, to prepare the building for use by students today and for future generations.

The project is being paid for by the parish community, and $260,000 is still needed to cover the costs, the principal said.

The renovation involved converting the top floor of the building into a cafeteria and recreation space. The second floor has a media room, a computer lab, an art room and a Spanish classroom.

The ground floor has a music room, two extra classrooms and storage space.

Students began using the renovated building two weeks ago, Ottapurackal said, because she wanted the eighth-graders to have a chance to use it before leaving the school.

The cafeteria, on the building’s top floor, has gleaming wood floors. The floors, which are original to the building, were beneath carpeting that was torn out.

The dedication ceremony is being held on the last day of school because the community was eager to tour the building, she added.

Over the years, thousands of students have been educated in the building at a school whose history dates back to the 1880s.

Saint Anthony’s wants to share its celebration with anyone who would like to attend.

It issued this invitation through a news release: “You are invited to stroll through the halls of history, rekindle fond memories, and perhaps find the calling to make new memories for your children or grandchildren.

“Please join us as this grand hall of learning is dedicated and blessed as it prepares to enter into the next chapter of its story. You may find yourself among the pages.”

The renovation is the second major project completed at the school in recent years.

This computer lab reveals Saint Anthony Catholic School’s desire to give its students opportunities to use modern technology. At the same time, the crucifix on the wall and the message on the bulletin board demonstrate the school’s emphasis on a Catholic education.

Last February, the school celebrated the dedication of a new building that was funded through the St. Petersburg Diocese’s Forward in Faith Capital Campaign.

The school officially opened in 1884, two years after San Antonio was founded as a Catholic colony.

The year before the school opened, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children. When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. Instead, she began teaching 14 children — including six of her own — in her kitchen.

Saint Anthony Catholic School is the oldest parochial school in the diocese and also is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida.

School Dedication
What: Saint Anthony Catholic School is having a blessing and dedication of its renovated 1922 school building. After the blessing, there will be school tours and refreshments.
Where: 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive, San Antonio
When: June 3 at 10 a.m.
Who: All are welcome, but please RSVP by calling (352) 588-3041. The school wants to be sure to have enough refreshments.

Published June 1, 2016

Cross Creek: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ spiritual home

June 1, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings followed an unlikely path from Rochester, New York, to a rustic farmhouse in hardscrabble Florida — and to international fame as the author of “The Yearling.”

Sight unseen, she and her husband, Charles Rawlings, took a risk on a working farm with 1,635 fruit-bearing trees and 150 “good” chickens.

Exterior view of the house where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived, at Cross Creek. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Exterior view of the house where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived, at Cross Creek.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

But it was there, in 1928, that Rawlings found her spiritual destination, a sense of place and belonging.

Today, visitors to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park may feel, as they step through a side gate to the farmhouse, that they are stopping by to visit a friend.

On a wooden sign, Rawlings’ own words say it all, “Here is home.”

A sandy path leads to the farmhouse. Chickens and roosters roam the yard, scratching in the dirt. Shirts and sheets on some days are pegged to a clothesline.

A rustic-looking barn, off to the side, is the gathering point for guided tours of the 19th century farmhouse. Otherwise, visitors are free to roam where they will, to peek through windows into a faded tenant’s house, imagine turning the key to a yellow 1940 Oldsmobile parked beside the house, or stroll in solitude among hammock trees and palmettos on trails that loop from farmhouse to tenant house.

This is the writing table where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings sat to compose books that were read around the world. One of them, ‘The Yearling’ won her a Pulitzer Prize.

“There’s a feeling people get when they come to the property,” said Rick Mulligan, a tour guide at the park. “It’s what she writes about. It’s peaceful. It’s restorative. It’s Old Florida. It’s essentially the same as when she was here.”

More than 23,000 visitors walk through that gate each year.

Some know scraps and pieces of Rawlings’ life, gleaned from two Hollywood movies based on “The Yearling” and her autobiography, “Cross Creek.”

But for some, the journey is a pilgrimage to the home of a writer they came to know in their childhood through the coming of age story of a young boy and his pet deer.

The state park is bare of commercial trappings. There is no gift shop, no bookstore. The parkland in soul and spirit is the same homestead where Rawlings lived for nearly two decades.

The citrus grove is gone, but fruit trees still thrive. A kitchen garden is planted and harvested by tour guides that work there. Chickens lay eggs in a barn that is a replica of the original one.

As Rick Mulligan guides tours at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, his admiration for the writer and his knowledge about her life are apparent

Almost all of the furniture in the house is original, kept in storage for many years after her death by her second husband, Norton Baskin.

It was here in the 1930s when Rawlings saw her first stories published, “Cracker Chidlings” and “Jacob’s Ladder.” Her first novel “South Moon Under” — about moonshining — followed in 1933.

Then, in 1938, “The Yearling” came out, and Rawlings won a Pulitzer Prize.

She had struggled in obscurity for years, writing Gothic-inspired stories that didn’t impress editors or readers.

Maxwell Perkins, a renowned editor at Scribner’s, encouraged Rawlings to abandon Gothic and write what she knew – the lives and often hard times of her neighbors who scraped by, living off the land.

“She truly found her inspiration when she came down here,” said Mulligan. “It was a crazy risk. She almost had to give it up.”

The kitchen in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ home was well-stocked, and the author was known for using fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and eggs in the meals she prepared for her guests.

After the 1929 Depression, Rawlings and her husband divorced, and she struggled to hold onto the farm.

With literary success, financial benefits followed. One of her first large expenditures was a bathroom and indoor plumping. But, an outhouse still stands, just outside a back door.

Daily, she sat at a table on the veranda, typing on a Remington Noiseless typewriter and chain-smoking Lucky Strikes.

She had a reputation for speaking her mind, though Baskin once described her as the shyest person he ever knew.

One thing she would never let pass – the mispronunciation of her maiden name.

It is KinNAN (with the emphasis on the second syllable), not Kinnan (with the emphasis on the first).

“She would correct you,” Mulligan said.

Rawlings entertained often at the farmhouse, inviting neighbors and fellow writers including Robert Frost and Zora Neale Hurston.

Perkins and actor Gregory Peck, when he was filming “The Yearling,” also came.

She relied on oil lamps until the house was wired for electricity in 1950.

Besides being an acclaimed writer, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was an avid reader, as demonstrated by these shelves filled with books at her Cross Creek home.

She suffered two bouts of malaria while at Cross Creek.

The farmhouse, room by room, is left as she lived in it.

When Rawlings died in 1953 at the age of 57, she willed her property to the University of Florida. Today, the state’s park system manages the property.

More than a half-century later, visitors continue to be attracted to the place where Rawlings worked and lived.

They come from everywhere, from Florida, New Hampshire, Arizona, North Carolina and Rawlings’ home state of New York. But, Mulligan said international guests also arrive, including residents of Poland and a professor from China who teaches Rawlings’ work to her students.

“She was a compelling individual,” the tour guide said.

What: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Where: 18700 S. County Road 325, Cross Creek, Florida
Hours: Park grounds open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; guided tours of the farmhouse from October through July, Thursday through Sunday, except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Tours are at 10 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 3 p.m.; and 4 p.m.
Cost: Parking is $3 per group in one vehicle. Tours are $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.
For more information, visit FloridaStateParks.org, or call (352) 466-3672.

Published June 1, 2016