Local News

Fallen officers honored at memorial service

May 4, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Dozens of citizens, along with well over a hundred Pasco County law enforcement officers, joined together at the Historic Dade City Courthouse to honor fallen officers — both past and present.

Fallen officers, both locally and nationally, were honored during a 90-minute ceremony at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service on April 29.

During the solemn occasion, several speakers — including Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera — discussed the importance of law enforcement, commemorating those that have fallen, and those who presently serve the community.

Lopez-Cantera highlighted the state’s 2015 crime rate dip, saying, “We talk about how great it is to live in Florida and we talk about how many people are moving to our state, but don’t think for one second that we don’t always remember and recognize that we would not have these communities, these businesses moving to Florida if we did not have a 44-year low in our crime rate.

Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom addresses the crowd at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom addresses the crowd at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

“We do not forget that these men and woman protect our families, protect our business and even protect those that level meritless criticism against them,” Lopez-Cantera added. “We say, ‘thank you’ to those that have served, currently serve and their families.”

Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom told the crowd he hopes “some year we could come to these services to remember those that have only lost their lives in the line of duty in the past, and we would have no new names to add to the memorials here or across the country.”

The 35-year veteran of law enforcement pointed out nationwide increases in line-of-duty deaths by gunfire, with 17 incidents thus far in 2016.

“We wonder why this is going on and despite all the many changes we’ve made over the years, we still see the violence and the death,” Velboom said, noting there’s been a national upheaval in policing since the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.

Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. The shooting prompted protests for weeks in the city, a suburb of St. Louis.

“While it’s been proven the officer acted appropriately, the event cast a shadow over the department, its practices and cultures,” Velboom said, adding “and law enforcement all around the country is being painted with that same broad brush.”

Velboom acknowledged the importance of law enforcement officers to earn the trust and respect of the citizens they serve to prevent issues in the future.

“We must continue to work on building positive relationships with our community and be as transparent as we can,” he explained. “We must work on this every day, with every action.”

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco discussed the cultural significance of the “thin blue line,” a symbol of solidarity for police officers and their families.

More than 100 law enforcement officers and dozens of citizens were present for the memorial service.

“We sometimes hear a few people talk about the thin blue line in a negative manner — where they think the blue line represents a policy where law enforcement officers have a protocol…to protect criminals who wear a badge,” Nocco said.

But Nocco said, “We actually hold the greatest responsibility to hold up the integrity of the badge, especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while wearing it,” Nocco said.

Despite recent negativity and pessimism toward law enforcement nationwide, Nocco, Pasco’s sheriff since 2011, said, “our world consists of men and woman, and families who understand there is good and evil in this world and evil must be defeated, no matter how ugly that may look.”

The sheriff went on to say, “Most importantly, our world is made up with true heroes, who are filled with so much bravery and love that they’re willing to give up their earthly body to protect another human being.

“We honor their sacrifices — not just on one day, but every day,” Nocco said.

Pasco County fallen officers

• Lieutenant Charles A. “Bo” Harrison

End of Watch: June 1, 2003

Cause: Gunfire

• Deputy Sheriff John Herbert “Bert” McCabe

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office

End of Watch: June 26, 1948

Cause: Automobile accident

• Deputy Sheriff William Henry O’Berry

End of Watch: Jan. 1, 1926

Cause: Gunfire

Constable Arthur Fleece Crenshaw

End of Watch: Oct. 4, 1922

Cause: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Sheldon S. “Shelley” Nicks

End of Watch: May 8, 1909

Cause: Gunfire

Others honored:

• Deputy Sheriff John Charles Mecklenburg
Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: July 3, 2011
Cause: Vehicle pursuit

• Trooper James Bradford-Jean Crooks
Florida Highway Patrol
End of Watch: May 19, 1998
Cause: Gunfire

• Federal Prohibition Agent John Van Waters
United States Department of the Treasury – Internal Revenue Service – Prohibition Unit
End of Watch: Oct. 4, 1922
Cause: Gunfire

Papal honors bestowed during special ceremony

May 4, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The pastors of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes and Saint Peter the Apostle in Trinity have received honors bestowed by Pope Francis.

The Rev. Ron Aubin and the Rev. Dennis Hughes now have an additional title, besides pastor and father — they now also bear the title of monsignor, a designation that is bestowed on those who have been named a Chaplain of His Holiness.

The Rev. Ron Aubin, left, of Our Lady of the Rosary, has received the title of monsignor. He is shown here with the Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. (Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church) — The Rev. Ron Aubin, left, of Our Lady of the Rosary, has received the title of monsignor. He is shown here with the Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
(Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)

The Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, nominated the men for the honor, which was officially conferred during a special ceremony on April 17 at the diocese’s Bethany Center in Lutz.

The evening also included the award of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal to 14 recipients. One person also received the Benemerenti Medal.

To be nominated to be designated as a monsignor, one must be at least 65 years old, Aubin said.

It’s typically a recognition for efforts made over a lifetime of ministry, said Aubin, who said he grew up in Catholic family, attending Catholic schools and felt called early on to be a priest.

He was surprised when he got the call from the bishop, informing him he was being nominated for the honor.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” Aubin said, adding that he thinks the older parishioners at Our Lady of the Rosary were more excited than he was by the honor.

While he is grateful to Bishop Lynch and Pope Francis for the designation, he said, “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better title than Father.”

Aubin also noted: “when the kids started calling me Papa Ron, that was the best honorific.”

“I’m just a pastor. That’s all I am. It’s all I wanted to be,” Aubin said.

The Rev. Dennis Hughes, pastor of Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Trinity, also has received the title of monsignor. (File photo) — The Rev. Dennis Hughes, pastor of Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Trinity, also has received the title of monsignor.
(File photo)

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal, considered the highest honor which the church awards to its lay and religious members, is granted by the Pope following the nomination of a bishop, who provides a case statement regarding the nominee’s worthiness for the designation.

Including those designated during the ceremony, only 62 men and women in the diocese of St. Petersburg have received this distinction in the past 20 years.

Local recipients of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal were: Gerald Phillip Giglia, of St. Timothy Church in Lutz and, Arthur Francis Kirk, former president of Saint Leo University, of St. Leo Abbey/St. Rita Catholic Church, Dade City.

Published on May 4, 2016

Trekking to Iowa to compete at World Finals

May 4, 2016 By B.C. Manion

After competing together for years, a local Odyssey of the Mind team has finally accomplished its goal of qualifying to compete at the World Finals in Ames, Iowa.

Now, the team is busy raising the $5,000 they need need to make the trip.

They’re doing car washes, a garage sale and restaurant fundraisers, and are hoping for the community’s support to help make their dream come true.

The four-member team is made up of students attending three different high schools.

Two of them — Kaden Robinson and Donovan Snider — attend Wesley Chapel High School. Another — Kayla Gutierrez — attends Wiregrass Ranch High School. And, Alec Guillen attends Eastlake High School.

The coaches for the team are Kayla’s mom, Tammy and Kaden’s brother, Devin.

Coach Tammy Guitierrez, left, will be accompanying a local Odyssey of the Mind team who is making the trek to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa, at the end of May. From left are three members of the team, Kayla Guitierrez, Kaden Robinson and Donovan Snider. Alec Guillen, the other member of the team and Devin Robinson, the other coach, are not pictured. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Coach Tammy Guitierrez, left, will be accompanying a local Odyssey of the Mind team who is making the trek to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa, at the end of May. From left are three members of the team, Kayla Guitierrez, Kaden Robinson and Donovan Snider. Alec Guillen, the other member of the team and Devin Robinson, the other coach, are not pictured.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The students from Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel have been competing together since they have been in middle school.

Other team members have come and gone, even as late as this year.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international program that encourages youths to work together as teams to use their creative and analytical skills to solve problems.

Last year, the team was on the brink of qualifying for the World Finals. They placed third at state, but only the top two teams advance to the world stage.

The year before, they came in fifth.

The core group has been together for five years, and that’s an advantage, Gutierrez said.

“We’re able to get working faster because you know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. You know who works well with what and who doesn’t, so you’re really able to divide and conquer the workload and get things done quickly,” she said.

Robinson noted another benefit: “It’s much easier to motivate each other, as well. Being together for so long, you tend to form a bond, like family.”

It’s a bond that extends beyond Odyssey, Robinson said. “We’re there in support for each other, whenever we’re going through anything in life.”

Snider agreed: “We’re a family first and a team second.”

The team has done most of the preparation it needs to do before making the 20-hour trip to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, for the competition that will be held May 25 through May 28.

Now, they’re focusing mostly on fundraising and have a number of events planned in coming weeks.

At the world competition, they’ll be testing their skills against teams who are converging on Iowa from all over the globe. About 800 teams are expected to compete and countries that will be represented there include Russia, China, India, Poland, Japan and Morocco, to name just a few.

During one part of the competition, they’ll be presenting a play. The theme of their presentation will be “Saying Goodbye to Odyssey,” which draws on their years of competing in the competition, and which draws on their creativity and problem-solving.

“We have 8 minutes for set up and performance,” Gutierrez said. “We’re bringing past Odyssey into the present so we can move through to the future because we’re all moving on,” she said.

The entire team plans to shift into judging OM after this year because Robinson is graduating and will no longer be able to compete with them.

Snider said he’s grateful the team has held together for this long and is happy to be going out on a high note by competing at the international level.

“We’ve been trying for five years,” Snider said.

For more information about the team or the competition, or to help the team, contact Tammy Gutierrez at

Fundraisers for Odyssey of the Mind Team

Carwash: 5811 Ehren Cutoff, Land O Lakes, May 14 and May 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Moe’s fundraiser: 28211 Paseo Drive Suite 100, Wesley Chapel. May 7 and May 14, 3 p.m. to closing

Texas Roadhouse fundraiser: 26409 Silver Maple Parkway, Wesley Chapel, May 16, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser: 26725 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel, May 9 and May 18, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Garage Sale: 30546 Eastcourt Drive, Wesley Chapel, May 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Published May 4, 2016

She’s back in the saddle again

May 4, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Christina Glenn is back to training and riding thoroughbreds on a daily basis.

The 18-year-old was sidelined for a few years because of surgery required by a congenital heart condition.

She was born with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, meaning she had an extra electrical pathway between her heart’s upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventricles), resulting in episodes of rapid heartbeats (tachycardia).

The rare condition affects about four out of every 100,000 people.

Christina Glenn and her former horse, Longo, leap through a jumping obstacle. Longo has jumped as high as 5 feet and has won several equestrian circuits. (Courtesy of Christina Glenn) — Christina Glenn and her former horse, Longo, leap through a jumping obstacle. Longo has jumped as high as 5 feet and has won several equestrian circuits.
(Courtesy of Christina Glenn)

Now a freshman at Pasco-Hernando State College, Glenn began riding horses at about age 7, but had to stop to have a heart procedure.

“When I was little, I always liked horse movies…and being outdoors,” said Glenn, noting she has an affection for all animals.

“It’s all she wanted to do since she was a little girl,” her mother, Monique said. “She would always say, ‘I want to ride horses, I just want to ride horses.’”

Shortly after she began riding as an adolescent, Glenn’s cardiologist advised her to stop the activity until she had heart surgery. The surgery removed the extra electrical pathway through the use of a catheter-based procedure, otherwise known as ablation.

Heeding her physician’s recommendation, Glenn stopped riding for about five years before being receiving the OK to resume equestrian-related activities.

She hasn’t stopped riding since.

“I like the adrenaline and the thrill,” said Glenn, who trains horses at Showcase Farms in Lutz. “I’m actually the only one in my family that really likes (riding) horses; we’re actually all allergic to horses.”

Shortly after starting back up, Glenn “fell in love” with Longo, a 1,200-pound horse named after Tampa Bay Rays all-star third baseman Evan Longoria.

Formerly mistreated when it was younger, Longo came to Glenn as a very “scared and skittish” horse, making its training a lengthy work-in-progress.

“He was like the horse that no one wanted to ride in the barn,” said Glenn, a 2015 graduate of Sunlake High School. “When we went to our first (equestrian) show, we couldn’t even get a saddle on him. He was rearing up and bucking and would try to run you over.”

To contain the horse, Glenn would work with Longo four days to five days a week, training him as a show hunter and jumper over a period of about four years.

“There’s a lot of therapy with horses,” Monique said. “They worked together and created that bond and strengthened each other, and helped with each other’s weaknesses.

“They both healed each other,” Monique added. “I think she healed his heart and he healed hers, too.”

Glenn developed Longo—who’s show name is ‘Home Run Hitter’— to the point where he was able to surpass 5-foot jumps, and perform well in several equestrian circuits throughout the state, including the 2015 HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) Horse Show in Ocala, where together they placed first in a class of 60 entries.

“They won a lot of competitions together—a lot of really good competitions together,” Glenn’s mother said.

With Longo aging—he’s approximately 20 years old — and Glenn’s desires to compete at an even higher level, she made the tough decision to sell the aging horse in December to Kaycie Smith, a fellow equestrian.

“This is kind of his retirement job because he’s jumping 2 (feet) to 3 feet now,” Smith said. “He’s not jumping as high now that he’s a little older.”

“It worked out the best way possible,” said Glenn, noting she’s often able visit Longo at the stables in Lutz. “He can still jump, but we don’t want to injure him.”

Glenn’s current project is a 1,400-pound, 5-year-old horse named Zen, whom she bought from an owner in Colorado a few months back.

Zen is still in the beginning stages of his training and development, Glenn said, adding she plans to start competing with the horse this summer.

“He’s very hard to train, and didn’t (initially) know what I was asking him, but these last few weeks, he’s already gotten 50 times better than he’s been,” Glenn explained. “We’ll probably do a few shows this year, get him off the property and get him used to the environment of showing.”

As she continues to work with Zen and to continue her equestrian career, Glenn hopes to one day become a full-time horse trainer.

“I’m thinking about…majoring in Family Counseling and Psychology, and working with children and horses in some kind of a therapeutic way,” she said. “That’d be my dream job.”

As for her heart condition, Glenn said she had a few episodes during her senior year of high school, where she would sometimes get dizzy and “pass out” during intense physical activity.

While noting she’s fine now, Glenn and her family continue to closely monitor her health.

“We’re just keeping an eye on it and (keeping) our fingers crossed,” her mother said.

Published May 4, 2016

Putting the spotlight on substance abuse

May 4, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Taking aim at substance abuse requires a new mindset, if efforts are to succeed, speakers said at the fifth annual Substance Abuse Prevention Conference on April 29.

The biggest crisis hitting Florida today is the heroin and opioid epidemic, but the issue isn’t treated that way, said Mark Fontaine, executive director of Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

“We have 13 cases of Zika virus and we write all about the 13 cases of Zika virus.

“We have people dying every day in this state from heroin and from other drugs — we have more deaths in Florida than from auto accidents or from firearms, from addiction. That is not on the front page every day.

“In the city of Delray, there were 163 overdoses from January through the end of March,” Fontaine added. “We need a higher profile around this issue.”

His remarks came during a panel discussion at a conference that drew about 400 people to the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. The conference was presented by BayCare Behavioral Health and the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP).

The panel was just one of many ways that conference-goers could learn more about substance abuse issues and ways to tackle the problem. There were vendors there and numerous breakout sessions during the afternoon.

During the panel discussion, Fontaine said it’s not enough to merely focus attention on the problem of substance abuse, there’s also a need to shift society’s attitude about addressing it.

“This is a health condition. This is not a criminal justice condition. People have drug problems and they are addicted to drugs. We need to change the conversation to this being a condition that needs help, it needs assistance, it needs information, we need to make treatment available,” Fontaine said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco characterized the issue as a community problem, requiring a united response.

“Our jail is probably the largest hospital in the county because we’re dealing with so much addiction,” Nocco said.
“Our role is to break up the criminal enterprise. But law enforcement alone cannot win the war on drugs,” he said.

People with substance abuse will find a way to fuel their addiction, he said. “That’s a mental health issue. That’s a healthcare issue.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said the issue hits close to home because she has a relative who has struggled. She said the county has taken aim at drug houses, through the county’s code enforcement efforts.

Michael J. Napier, administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, said a more coordinated approach is needed, tied to specific goals.

“We’re really at a point where we need to be able to do an assessment of — what is the status of Pasco County?” Napier said.

He suggests that it’s time to “put a stake in the ground, set some measures and then hold ourselves each accountable that we accomplish that measure.

“It isn’t always about dollars. It’s about organizations and aligning resources,” Napier said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning agreed with both Nocco and Napier.

““It is a community problem. We are in this together. We have to get it fixed together,” Browning said. “We need to have a coordinated effort. We need to have a plan. We need to be committed to it.”

The substance abuse problem is widespread, Browning said. “We deal with affluent families and we deal with families in poverty. What I find is that substance abuse issues cut across all socioeconomics.”

It’s a problem that can affect any family, agreed Kelly Mothershead, owner of A Focus on Fitness, based in Wesley Chapel.

“I’m actually a parent of an only child who died from a prescription drug overdose five years ago. It was devastating,” Mothershead said. “None of us thinks our child will be a prescription drug addict.”

Her son was in culinary school and was injured at work. He was prescribed Oxycontin, and it snowballed from there. He went through rehab, was injured at work again, and once again received a prescription for Oxycontin – despite Motherhead’s objections. He died of an overdose three days later.

She decided to get involved.

“We need to talk about it. We don’t talk about drug addiction because there’s a stigma attached to it. We don’t want anyone to know that our child is addicted to drugs. We don’t want anyone to know that there’s someone in our family that’s a recovering addict,” Mothershead said.

That has to change, she added.

“It’s a disease and we need to come together to fix it.

“We have to educate ourselves, our businesses, our communities — not just our kids,” Mothershead said. She suggests delivering some of this education in the work place, to give working parents access to the information.

Involvement is exactly what’s needed, said Lt. Commander Michael Muni, who served on President Barack Obama’s National Heroin Task Force and was one of the event’s keynote speakers.

It’s difficult work, Muni said.

“There’s not very much recognition for doing this work. There is no fame. There is no fortune in this work,” he said.

But it’s essential to have goals, in order to make progress, he said.

He encouraged conference-goers to be inspired and to step up their efforts.

“The time will never be right. The place will never be right. The situation will never be right. You have to make the opportunity. You have to make the conscious decision that you want to do something great.

“Greatness is a lot of small things, done well. And, it’s done at a local level,” Muni said.

Published on May 5, 2016

Panhandling off-limits in Pasco

May 4, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners have approved a ban aimed at preventing street-corner panhandling in the county.

That action came despite pleas from those who had been selling newspapers in the county on Sundays.

By adopting a total ban, the county would cost workers’ wages and jobs, opponents said.

“I’m begging you, please understand you are affecting so many people,” said Renee Contreras, who oversees workers who sell newspapers on Sundays in the Wesley Chapel area.

Commissioners were unmoved, and on April 26 unanimously approved the total ban.

The ordinance is similar to ones in Hillsborough County and the City of St. Petersburg.

It bans “soliciting or attempts to solicit employment, business, contributions, donations, or sales or exchanges, of any kind from the driver or an occupant of a motor vehicle, or distributing or attempting to distribute any goods or materials to the driver or an occupant” of the motor vehicle.

Data presented to commissioners reported 173 pedestrian-related crashes in 2015, with 13 fatalities. The highest volume of fatal crashes happened on Saturday and Sunday, and occurred more often in daylight than evening.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco also said that people were taking advantage of the Sunday exception to the ordinance.

“They are switching over from selling newspapers to panhandling,” he said. “By afternoon, they switch out signs. It goes back to — there is a public safety issue.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells brought up the issue in March after hearing about a veteran who was killed while selling newspapers along U.S. 19.

Commissioners then directed staff members to draft the new ordinance.

“It’s an unsafe practice for all involved,” Wells said, adding that he believes Pasco does everything possible to help residents in need.

While Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano sympathized with those selling newspapers, he said, “It’s just not working out. It’s unfortunate we have to take this strong step.”

Hugh Townsend, of the Hunter’s Ridge homeowners’ association, said panhandling “is of grave concern.”

Residents have dealt with litter, broken lights around the community’s monument sign and destruction to landscaping.

“I’d rather see them set up in a parking lot,” Townsend said.

From his wheelchair, Clifton Levigne told commissioners that he and others need the money they earn from selling Sunday newspapers.

“We have to count on selling newspapers, or else we can’t have enough to get through the week,” he said. “We’re not panhandlers.”

Contreras said the ordinance would hurt people trying to work for a living, but probably won’t stop panhandling.

“They (panhandlers) just cost us all our jobs,” she said.

Published on May 4, 2016

Enjoying a free concert with mom

May 4, 2016 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Mother’s Day is coming up. That probably means flowers and a card for your mom, your spouse or someone you know who is a mom.

And that sounds like a nice way to recognize them: Flowers and a card. Not very creative, of course. Maybe a little boring when you think about it. But nice, I guess.

The question is, do you want to be boring, or do you want mom to know she’s special? Does she really want another year of flowers to throw away and a card to put in a shoebox? Or does she want to spend some quality time with you and the family?

The Florida Orchestra's free concert on Mother's Day will include classics, contemporary pieces and fireworks. (Photos courtesy of The Florida Orchestra) — The Florida Orchestra’s free concert on Mother’s Day will include classics, contemporary pieces and fireworks.
(Photos courtesy of The Florida Orchestra)

Maybe this is the year to surprise mom with something she doesn’t expect, like an evening listening to live, classical music from an acclaimed orchestra. How often does she get to do that?

On Mother’s Day, May 8, the whole family can do something together when the Florida Orchestra performs a free concert at Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, in Tampa. It’s a nearly two-hour show with music you’ve definitely heard before, including some classic favorites. As in, legitimate classics.

Oh, and did I mention it’s free? I did? OK, just checking.

The Florida Orchestra has put together a Mother’s Day performance for the past few years, and the concert is very popular. Thousands of people bring lawn chairs, food, drinks, blankets and even leashed pets (the park is dog-friendly) to hear them perform.

And it’s not just a few parts of the orchestra. It’s the whole thing. Around 60 musicians will perform compositions like Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Offenbach’s Can-Can.

Never heard those, you say? Yes, you have. You might not know them by name, but when you hear it you’ll recognize it. There’s also going to be music from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and a tribute to The Beatles. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. Throw in the Olympic fanfare and finish it all off with some fireworks, and you have an evening of fun, unique entertainment.

otc-crowd rgb — Thousands turn out to enjoy The Florida Orchestra’s free show each year.

And how will mom feel about taking her to a free event? I think she’ll be proud to know that you listened to her about saving money and being responsible with your finances. And she’ll be honored that you’re spending time with her to do something unique and fun. No offense to flower shops and candy makers, but this is a memory that will last a lot longer.

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m., but you’ll want to get there early to get a good spot. Feel free to invite other mothers, too. Maybe you know a mom whose children don’t live locally, or aren’t with them anymore. They deserve to be recognized, too. So whether it’s a friend, neighbor or family member, invite them to come with you and enjoy some entertaining live music from a special group of performers. This isn’t some garage band playing at a neighborhood party. The Florida Orchestra has been around for decades, performed with Whitney Houston when she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl and presents nearly 100 concerts each year.

Except most of those concerts aren’t free.

This one is.

So Happy Mother’s Day, and enjoy the music.

By the way, if you can’t make it on Sunday, the full orchestra is performing a free one-hour set on May 7 — the night before the Mother’s Day concert — at Westfield Countryside Mall, 27001 US Highway 19 North in Clearwater.

It’s a bit of a drive, but if you want to see them for free and already have Mother’s Day plans, it’s a good way to catch the orchestra. That performance begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.

Published May 4, 2016

By Michael Murillo

Gulfport has ‘Old Florida’ charm

May 4, 2016 By Kathy Steele

If you’re looking for a day trip off the beaten path, Gulfport is a destination worth your time and travel.

It is a town with a sense of place rooted in Old Florida and often described as “a hidden gem.”

But, this quaint historical fishing village on the Boca Ciega Bay is far from hidden these days.

Gulfport offers beauty, and perhaps a bit of romance, as the sun settles down for the night. (Photos courtesy of the Gulfport Merchants Association)

With a reviving waterfront district, a historical casino ballroom, art galleries, neighborhood bars and gourmet dining spots, Gulfport is being discovered as the place to enjoy the old, and the new.

Rainbow-colored shops, boutiques and restaurants along and around Beach Boulevard add texture to subtropical Florida, evoking another historical town to the south.

“I think what most come here for is the Key West lifestyle, before Key West became commercial,” said Scott Linde, president of the Gulf Port Merchants Association. “It conveys remembrances of old Florida. It has an artsy feel to it. We have all ages, all lifestyles here.”

Gulfport’s downtown charms are apparent during the community’s First Friday Art Walks, which are year-round on the First Friday and Third Friday of the month, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Beach and Shore boulevards are alive with activities, as artists, crafters and live performers give visitors a chance to browse, shop and be entertained.

The next First Friday is May 6 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Visitors to Gulfport enjoyed their trip on the Gulfport Shopapalooza Trolley at the GeckoFest. (Photos Courtesy of the Gulfport Merchants Association) — Visitors to Gulfport enjoyed their trip on the Gulfport Shopapalooza Trolley at the GeckoFest.

Parking is free, and trolleys also are available for this pet and family friendly event.

Something is always happening at Gulfport, a town where the cheeky, fun-loving gecko is the year-round mascot. He emerged into the Gulfport spotlight in 2001 with the GeckoFest and Mullet Mutiny.

In 2004, the gecko partnered with the Gulfport Merchants Association to keep the annual party rolling.

On Aug. 5, there will be a Gecko Art Show; on Aug. 13, the Gecko Pub Crawl; on Aug. 27, a ball with the theme “20,000 Geckos Under the Sea”; and, on Sept. 3, a blow-out street festival.

But, there is no need to wait for Gecko festivities to make a trip to Gulfport.

On an ordinary day, the town rolls out the welcome mat.

Every Tuesday, fresh produce, cheese, honey and shrimp are on sale at the Fresh Market, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Beach Boulevard by the waterfront. Arts and crafts, live music and more than a dozen restaurants add to the fun. Summer hours from June through September are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Clothing swaps are on the second Tuesday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as part of the Fresh Market.

In the fall, the Gulfport Historical Society celebrates the town’s history with a month of activities including the Flying Mullet 5K. The nonprofit also operates the Gulfport History Museum at 5301 28th Ave., S.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, cheese and seafood are for sale at Gulfport’s Fresh Market, every Tuesday in the waterfront district.

The history museum is open to the public, with no admission charge, and features an impressive display of historical documents and photographs from the town’s history and its families, dating to the 1880s.

The museum also hosts occasional exhibits and walking tours of the town’s brick-lined streets, and historical homes and businesses.

Other special events during the year include Spring Fest to celebrate the changing seasons; Get Rescued, an animal rescue festival; and, the Pink Flamingo home tour.

In Gulfport, it seems, there really is something for everyone.

Daniel Hodge found that out when he moved from San Francisco to Gulfport nearly a decade ago to live near family.

The freelance writer and disc jockey is now vice president of the merchants’ association, and a Gulfport fan.

“It was a great move for a lot of reasons,” he said. “(Gulfport’s) charm has really gotten a lot of notice and respect. We want to keep it small, quaint and colorful.”

To find out more about Gulfport, visit VisitGulfportFlorida.com.

Gulfport First Friday Art Walk

What: Artists, crafters and live entertainment will offer visitors plenty to see, enjoy and perhaps even buy during First Friday Art Walk festivities.

When: This takes place year-round, on the first and third Friday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The next one is May 6.

Where: 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport, 33707

How much: Free parking, free trolley rides, pet-friendly

Published May 4, 2016

Inmate labor proves cost-effective, will expand

May 4, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A program that assigns inmate labor to county departments worked so well in the past year, it is being tripled in size.

Pasco County commissioners have agreed to increase the program from one crew, up to three crews, effective April 25.

Animal services, public works, parks and recreation, and facilities management are the beneficiaries.

The funds for the expansion weren’t initially in the fiscal year 2016 budget. But, county staff members say the program saves the county from contracting for services or hiring additional employees.

“Staff believes we get a lot of bang for the buck,” said Heather Grimes, Pasco’s assistant county administrator.

Commissioners approved about $161,000 to cover the remaining months for fiscal year 2016, and about $215,000 as an ongoing annual amount for the program.

Inmates serving time for nonviolent crimes, and who have been screened by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, can be considered for the program.

Previously, several departments shared a single crew of five inmates who might work at one location in the morning, eat lunch and then be driven to another work site to finish the day.

Now, a five-member crew will work Monday-Friday at animal services; another five-member crew, also Monday-Friday, will divide time between parks and recreation, and facilities management. And, a four-member crew will work a four-day week with the public works department.

Duties will include cleaning cages and dog runs at the animal shelter, as well as roadside ditch cleaning, weed control, landscaping and maintenance, graffiti removal, roadside litter collection, street sweeping, and painting at various locations.

Inmate labor has been a success at animal services, said Mike Shumate, the county’s animal services director.

Previously, the animal shelter could stay open until 6:30 p.m., on Thursday only. Now, he said the shelter extends its hours to 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday through Saturday, with the goal of increasing adoptions and making it easier for residents to pick up their impounded pets.

The program’s expansion is another opportunity to improve services and adoptions, Shumate said.

For instance, he said, an animal behaviorist will show inmates how to train the dogs, so the animals interact better with people looking to adopt.

“We can socialize them a little better,” said Shumate. “We’ll get them ready to adopt out.”

Published May 4, 2016

Cleaning up Zephyrhills’ neighborhoods

May 4, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

When Gail Hamilton was hired to lead the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency about a year ago, she noticed an unsettling trend while patrolling the older, traditional city neighborhoods.

Scattered across several homeowners’ lawns were old appliances, rolled-up carpets, debris and fallen trees.

“I think nobody had done anything in a long time,” Hamilton said, regarding the condition of the historic Zephyrhills neighborhoods.

“The first thing when you start redeveloping an area is you look to clean it up,” she added.

To do so, Hamilton collaborated with several other city departments — Code Enforcement, Public Works, Police and Fire Departments—to create a so-called “Clean Team.”

Here is a map of some of the neighborhoods the ‘Clean Team’ is targeting for its neighborhood cleanup program. The red shaded area is where the crew’s third cleanup was on Feb. 27. They will focus on neighborhoods that fall within the green shade on May 21. (Courtesy of Gail Hamilton) — Here is a map of some of the neighborhoods the ‘Clean Team’ is targeting for its neighborhood cleanup program. The red shaded area is where the crew’s third cleanup was on Feb. 27. They will focus on neighborhoods that fall within the green shade on May 21.
(Courtesy of Gail Hamilton)

The “Clean Team” organizes neighborhood cleanups every other month, pinpointing a different geographical area within the city limits for each event.

The program offers an opportunity for city residents to get rid of unwanted junk, with public works crews and community volunteers lending a helping hand.

“We go in there…and clean up anything people can get out into their alley or curbside, because we don’t go onto private property and pick anything up,” said Shane LeBlanc, Zephyrhills Public Works director. “A lot of people will have roll-off construction dumpsters outside. A lot of people drop stuff off to us.”

“You can get rid of your junk, and you don’t even have to bring it to the site,” Hamilton said. “We have crews that are going up and down the alleyway within the area that we’re cleaning, and if you can just get it to the alley, we’ll pick it up. So for people that don’t have a truck or the means to get it to us, we’re trying to help them as much as we possibly can, so there’s no excuse that you don’t clean up your property.”

The third neighborhood cleanup, on Feb. 27, was labeled as the “most successful” yet, according to Hamilton. The cleanup encompassed the area between North Avenue and Sixth Avenue, covering neighborhoods all the way east to 20th Street.

Approximately 160 cubic yards of mixed debris, 24 televisions, 44 tires and one washing machine were hauled away.

Additionally, 39 residents dropped off their junk to the construction dumpsters at various staging areas set up by the clean team.

When cruising around town, Hamilton notices a sizable difference when she sees neighborhoods that have participated in the cleanup program.

“I think we’re beginning to turn a corner with the neighborhoods understanding what we’re trying to do, and appreciate the ability to bring their trash,” the redevelopment agency director said.

“We’re trying to attack it from each angle so nobody can say, ‘Well, it was too hard to clean up my yard.’”

The cleanups also serve as a warning for residents that may be in violation of the city’s code enforcement. Instead of immediately being issued a citation, residents have the opportunity to get rid of the trash in their yard without being fined, thereby being offered an amnesty of sorts.

Hamilton noted city officials are being as accommodating as possible with the program, saying, “We tell people, ‘this is your opportunity…to clean up your infractions or the problems you have on your property, but if you don’t, you will be cited for it.’ We’re still working on that, and getting through the neighborhoods and making people believe, ‘Yes, there will be consequences if you don’t clean up.’

“It’s the ‘carrot and the stick’ approach,’ Hamilton added. “The city will use the ‘stick’ from code enforcement to say, ‘OK, if you don’t clean it up, we’ll fine you.’”

Residents who receive a citation have 30 days to clean up their property.

The fourth neighborhood cleanup is set for May 21 from 8 a.m. to noon.

It will span from Gall Boulevard to 16th Street, generally encompassing the area between Fifth Avenue and South Avenue.

While the program was initially going to focus on the 520-acre CRA district, officials plan to eventually make their way through the entire city.

“We’re going to expand out,” LeBlanc said. “We’ve got other areas in the city that need attention as well.

“It’s a great service to people that can’t get rid of things,” LeBlanc said.

Published May 4, 2016