The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Zephyrhills’ police unveil city’s crime statistics

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A report generated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation finds overall crime and arrests decreased in Zephyrhills last year, but violent crime and domestic offenses went up.

Zephyrhills police Capt. Derek Brewer presented the city’s 2016 uniform crime statistics, during a March 27 city council meeting.

The figures were generated through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR), which the police department reports to semi-annually, to provide a useful barometer for addressing crimes citywide.

The city’s total crime rate, which incorporates violent and property offenses, decreased 4.7 percent in 2016, the report shows.

Violent crimes rose 3 percent (a total of 51 offenses). Property crimes fell 5.2 percent (a total of 879 offenses).

Among property crimes, the city saw the largest decrease in burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. Burglaries were down 19.6 percent (86 actual offenses), and motor vehicle thefts were down 16 percent (21 actual offenses), in 2016.

Meanwhile, the uptick in violent crimes, Brewer said, is oftentimes attributed to narcotics offenses. (In the UCR Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.)

To address the issue, Brewer noted the police department is taking a proactive approach toward narcotics arrests, using a special response team for surveillance and intelligence gathering “to attack the problem at a broader level.”

“We’re going to focus on getting search warrants, as opposed to just controlled, street-level offenses, hoping that we get the bigger fish as opposed to the small ones,” Brewer explained.

The most staggering figure from the crime report, perhaps, is the jump in citywide domestic-related offenses.

Those incidents, which include simple battery and assault, skyrocketed 27.6 percent, with 125 actual offenses in 2016.

To tackle that problem, the police department has begun collaborating with Sunrise Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center, based in Dade City.

Both groups are working together to “break the cycle” of domestic incidents, via education and awareness efforts.

“We’re hoping to take a stronger approach to domestic violence cases,” Brewer said.

Besides crime rates, total arrests decreased 12 percent (832 total) in 2016.

Brewer pointed out the department, instead, placed a greater emphasis on reducing property crime and drug offenses, and working on code enforcement and the city’s homeless initiative.

Those arenas, Brewer said, “took away from some of the focus on the actual arrests.”

Following the presentation, councilman Charles Proctor expressed his support for the Zephyrhills police department, particularly for its ongoing initiative to combat narcotics-related offenses.

“I am excited…that we are getting into a more active, gathering intelligence about the drugs. That’s been a pet peeve of mine for a long time, and I believe that we’re making great strides in the area,” Proctor said. “I believe that will definitely help lower the crime rate, if we can get rid of (drug usage) going on in the community.”

Meantime, the city’s police force remains understaffed.

The department currently has three unfilled positions, including a detective vacancy.

In other business, City Manager Steve Spina suggested that regular city council meetings be held in the Zephyrhills Public Library’s conference room, once the current city hall is demolished and city staff takes up temporary quarters in the former police station.

Meetings were originally planned for the Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave. But, Spina noted the library conference room is already wired for audio-visual capabilities and offers a more ideal sound system, Spina said.

Council members unanimously supported Spina’s suggestion.

Construction is slated to begin in June on a new City Hall complex, replacing the existing building, at 5335 Eighth St.

Council meetings will likely begin in the library this summer.

Published April 12, 2017

Expo offers summer camp lowdown

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The season of summer camps is just around the corner.

That means parents are facing a daunting task of sifting through dozens of options to settle on the summer camps that work best for them and their children.

This year, Family-Friendly Tampa Bay is launching its first Family-Friendly Camp Expo on April 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event will be at Florida Hospital Center Ice, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Families attending the Florida-Friendly Camp Expo on April 8 will have a chance to explore Florida Hospital Center Ice, which opened in January. Expo attendees will receive a ‘Buy One Get One’ free skate offer from Florida Hospital Center Ice.
(File)

The complex is visible from Interstate 75, at the interchange for State Road 56, east of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Families can meet one-on-one with Tampa Bay camp directors and staff members.

Event-goers will have the chance to review a range of choices, including sports camps, day camps, STEM camps, special needs/autism camps, art camps, performing arts and academic camps.

“I realized there wasn’t anything like this in Pasco,” said Miriam Cook, a Pasco County parent who founded Family-Friendly Tampa Bay in 2014.

The website, at FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com, provides current information on affordable events, discount coupons and special deals for area families.

The first 250 families at the expo will receive goody bags.

Attendees also will get a printed list of available summer camps. This list will include expo participants, as well as summer camps that are unable to send staff members to the expo, Cook said.

The Easter Bunny also will hop through the expo, giving away candy and posing for free pictures.

Families get the added bonus of exploring the new Florida Hospital Center Ice. The complex, which opened in January, is the largest hockey complex in the southeast.

Expo attendees will receive a “Buy One Get One” free skate offer from Florida Hospital Center Ice.

In addition, there will be educational workshops, a parent-pamper section, health and wellness resources, live entertainment, a kids’ fun zone, and mini-sports clinics. Families can also enter to win free weeks of camp when they register online.

The hunt for summer camps is a yearly ritual that isn’t easy to decipher, Cook said. “It’s so hard. There’s so many.”

But, when parents can meet with the people who run the camps and ask questions, they can find the right fit for their children and their budgets, Cook said.

Where: Florida Hospital Center Ice
When: April 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Parents can learn about a myriad of summer camp options to help them sort out summer plans for their kids.
Info: FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com

Published April 5, 2017

Passover begins April 10

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The holiday of Pesach, or Passover, is an eight-day festival celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. This year, it runs from April 10 to April 18. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Following the rituals of Passover allows the Jewish community to relive and experience the freedom of their ancestors.

Observances: Passover is divided into two parts. The first two days, April 10 and April 11, and the last two days, April 17 and April 18, are full-fledged holidays.  Candles are lit at night and feasts (Seders) are enjoyed the first two days. The middle four days are referred to as chol hamoed, or semi-festive “intermediate days.”

Seders: The highlight of Passover is the Seder, which is observed on each of the first two nights of the holiday. The Seder is a 15-step, family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast.

The eight-day festival of Passover runs from April 10 through April 18 this year. The highlight of Passover is the Seder, observed on each of the first two nights of the holiday. Symbolic foods of a Passover Seder include maror, saltwater, charoset, zeroah, beitzah and karpas.
(File)

The focal points of the Seder include:
Eating matzah, or unleavened bread
Eating bitter herbs to commemorate the bitter slavery endured by the Israelites
Drinking four cups of wine or grape juice to celebrate the newfound freedom
The recitation of the Haggadah, a liturgy that describes the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah is the fulfillment of the biblical obligation to recount the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover.

Symbolic Seder foods:
Maror—bitter herbs, usually horseradish, to serve as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery
Saltwater—symbolizing the tears of the slaves
Charoset—sweet paste made of fruit and nuts, symbolizing the mortar the slaves used to build the Egyptian pyramids
Zeroah—shank bone, representing the Passover sacrifice
Beitzah—hard-boiled egg, symbolic of life and birth associated with the spring season
Karpas — a leafy green vegetable, usually a piece of lettuce, symbolizing hope and redemption

Some traditional Ashkenazi Passover dishes include gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, brisket, tzimmis (sweet carrot and fruit dish), and macaroons and sponge cake (made from matzah meal) for dessert.

Expanded Menu for Passover: In November 2015, the Conservative Jewish movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards issued a ruling allowing the consumption of kitniyot (legumes) during Passover. For thousands of years, Ashkenazi Jews have followed the tradition of not eating kitniyot on Passover. (The custom was not adopted by most Sephardi Jews.) Kitniyot includes beans, corn, rice, millet, peas, soybeans, peanuts, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, mustard and sometimes garlic.

Passover events
Where: Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel
What: Community Passover Seder, complete with a gourmet Passover dinner and holiday rituals.
When:  April 10 at 8:15 p.m.
Cost: Suggested donation of $30 per person and $100 per family.
For information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
What: Passover 2nd Night Seder
When: April 11 at 7 p.m.
Cost: $45 for adults, $32 for children (kids under 3 years old eat free)
For information, call (813) 962-6338, or visit KolAmi.org.

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
What: Passover Services, with joyous songs and macaroons
When: April 11 at 9:30 a.m.
For information, call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: Congregation Beth Am, 2030 W. Fletcher Ave.
What: Second Night Passover Seder
When: April 11 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For information, call (813) 968-8511, or email .

Published April 5, 2017

Tour a $1.9 million home, enjoy a party, raise money for charity

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You don’t have to be among the rich and famous to dip into the lifestyle during the Party at Bella Lago, a charity event set for this weekend.

Waterford Designs is hosting a benefit for the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research on April 8, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The party will be at the Bella Largo Model Home, 18707 Cypress Shores Drive in Lutz.

A poolside view, looking back to Lake Cooper.
(B.C. Manion)

Party-goers will see distinct features wherever they look, in the $1.9 million house designed and built by Toliver Payne, on Lake Cooper in Lutz.

During a preview tour for The Laker/Lutz News, Payne pointed out some of the unique features in the Tuscan-style home, which has 7,720 square feet of space under roof, including 5,405 square feet of living space.

For instance, when party-goers walk through the front door, they will be greeted by a soaring 23-foot ceiling in the foyer and a faux-stone vault, which leads to the rear of the home and a beautiful view of the lake.

As they walk through the vault, they’ll discover a massive room that stretches across the entire rear of the house.

Talk about being spacious — there’s certainly plenty of room in the master bath’s shower at Bella Lago.

Though it’s one single room, he uses beams to create a sense of separation between the gathering spaces on both ends, and kitchen outfitted with high quality equipment, in the middle, Payne said.

On one side of the house, there’s a transition zone leading to a study, a huge walk-in closet, a master bedroom, and a master bath, which includes a giant walk-in shower, a soaker bath and other special features.

The first floor also has a formal dining room and a wine room. And, on the other side of the house, for privacy, a guest bedroom.

A single staircase leads to a second-floor landing, where separate staircases split off leading to bedrooms on both sides of the house. There’s also a room that seems to offer an ideal place for kids to play.

Outdoors, there’s a swimming pool, a baby pool and a Jacuzzi, as well as steps leading down to a fire pit area, closer to Lake Cooper.

There are plenty of spaces where people can have quiet conversations, or gather in larger groups all over the property, indoors and out.

This soaker tub will offer future residents a nice place to relax.

And, those are just a few of the highlights awaiting those attending the Party of Bella Lago, or checking out the house during the 2017 Parade of Homes, presented by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Beyond touring the home, those attending the Party at Bella Lago will be able to partake of an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, live music and dancing, a fashion show, a live auction, a 50/50 raffle and valet parking. Tickets for the soiree are $75 each.

Waterford Designs Inc., owned by Payne, is a luxury homebuilder with more than 200 custom homes in communities, including Eagle Crest in Lutz, Sanctuary on Livingston in Lutz, Brookside in Wesley Chapel, Saddlewood Estates in Wesley Chapel, Turnbury Tampa Palms and Stone Lake Ranch in Thonotosassa.

Other sponsors for Party at Bella Lago include Stone Saver Inc., Scarboro Design, Olde Town Pavers, Total Design Source, Belgium Diamonds Inc., Meares Plumbing, Beaute Savage, SaltBlock Catering Co., and Princess Boutique.

Party at Bella Lago
What: Benefit for American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Research
Where: Bella Lago Model Home, 18707 Cypress Shores Drive in Lutz
When: April 8, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person
Details: Event-goers can explore a Tuscan-style $1.9 million home on Lake Cooper, featuring 7,720 square feet under roof and unique design details. The party includes an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, live music and dancing, a fashion show, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and valet parking. RSVP: (813) 948-4160. For more information, bit.ly/partyatbellalago.

Published April 5, 2017

Egg hunts and services planned to celebrate Easter

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If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Easter season, you’ll find plenty of options across the region.

There are fun events, such as Easter crafts and egg hunts, solemn Good Friday events and Easter service celebrations.

Here are few highlights from around the area covered by The Laker/Lutz News.

They are presented here, in chronological order.

  • The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, has created a new event called the Jelly Bean Fling that will debut on April 8, and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for anyone over 5 years old, and parking is free.

Natalie and Nolan Kassabaum pause for a photo op with Jasper the Easter Bunny, who will be one of the highlights at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Jelly Bean Fling, set for April 8. The photo was taken at The Book Shack.
(Courtesy of Pioneer Florida Museum & Village)

The schedule begins with “Breakfast with Jasper, the Easter Bunny” at 9 a.m. A pancake breakfast, with bacon or sausage, will be served for $3 each. After breakfast, kids can make their own Easter bonnet, with hats provided to decorate, while supplies last. Then, they can march in the Easter Parade with Mr. Tommy.

There will be Easter egg hunts, with four different age groups, up to age 12, which will have staggered start times, beginning at noon.

Other highlights will include face painting, a petting zoo, touch a truck, a bounce house, a slide, train rides and many games to play. There also will be armbands for $5 each for unlimited selective activities. Individual pricing will be available as well.

Mr. Tommy will perform at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the Gazebo. The concession stand will be open with freshly made hamburgers and hot dogs. There also will be food trucks.

For information, call Brenda Minton at the Pioneer Florida Museum (352) 567-0262 or (352) 206-8889.

  • First United Methodist Church, 38635 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, invites children through fifth grade to a free Easter egg hunt on April 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. To maximize fun and fairness for all, four separate hunts will take place. The groups are: Infants to 2-year-olds; 3- and 4-year olds; kindergarten through second-graders; and, third- through fifth-graders.

Additional activities will include a petting zoo, pony ride, jumpy house, games with small prizes, snacks and crafts. All activities are free and there is no event admission.

  • The San Antonio Farmers Market is offering a Spring Market on April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., in San Antonio.

The market will feature a basket chance drawing, with more than a dozen baskets containing everything from gift certificates to chocolates to Irish Coffee ingredients.

Vendors will sell fresh produce, free-range brown eggs, jams and jellies, wine, organic plants and seeds, old-fashioned roses, dried herbs and herbal oils, honey, jewelry, woodwork, dog treats, and several types of yard art. Jim’s Hot Dogs will offer hot dogs, coffee and sodas for sale, and there will be free Easter crafts and games for the kids. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio. For information about the Farmers Market or the Rotary Club of San Antonio, contact President Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161 or .

  • Saint Leo University’s Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and the First Year Experience team are hosting Easter Eggstravaganza on April 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children of all ages from the community, as well as faculty, staff, and students, are welcome to attend the free event, which will be in The Bowl, behind Saint Francis Hall and the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library. The university is at 33701 State Road 52. Take Exit 285 off Interstate 75 and go 4 miles east.
This cross, shrouded in purple, is a sign of the Lenten season at Saint Leo University. Many area churches will be having Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter services, so check the local church’s bulletin or website for more information.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Activities will include an Easter egg hunt, egg toss, egg race, games, and more. Candy and snacks will be available. Tri Sigma also will have a tent where participants can make tie blankets for the March of Dimes. For information, contact .

  • Grace Community Church, in Wesley Chapel, is inviting area residents to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9 at 10:30 a.m. Plans include an outdoor worship service on the church property, 7107 Boyette Road, with a large shade tent and comfortable church chairs. There will also be a full-length Grace Harbor program for kids from newborns to fifth-graders. After the service, there will be a hot dog lunch, bounce house and an egg hunt. For information, visit ExploreGrace.com.
  • The Tampa Bay Moms Group is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and Craft event April 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Northdale Park, 15550 Spring Pine Drive in Tampa.
  • Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road in Lutz, has scheduled Holy Week services, including Maundy Thursday on April 13 at 7 p.m.; Good Friday on April 14, at noon and 7 p.m.; and Easter Sunday on April 16, with a sunrise service at 7 a.m., and a worship service at 10 a.m. For information, call (813) 9494-7173, or visit HolyTrinityLutz.com.
  • Harvester United Methodist Church, at 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, has scheduled its Holy Week services, including Maundy Thursday on April 13 at 7 p.m.; Good Friday on April 14 at 7 p.m.; a community Easter egg hunt on April 15 from 10 a.m. until noon; and Easter services on April 16, at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. For information, call (813) 948-2311, or visit HarvesterUMC.com.
  • Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz, has schedule Easter weekend services for April 15 at 6 p.m., and April 16, at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m. It will have a kids’ egg hunt after each service, so be sure to bring baskets for the kids. There also will be live music and a special message of “Hope and Purpose.” Also, there will be children’s classes for all ages. The atmosphere is casual, and there will be free refreshments. To find out more, call (813)909-4080, or visit YesHeritage.com.

Many area churches have special celebrations planned for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter. Check their websites or church bulletins for more information.

Published April 5, 2017

Could homestead exemption be $75,000?

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A proposed constitutional amendment to increase homestead exemptions to $75,000 could be a boon for homeowners, but a bust for local governments that stand to lose millions in property tax revenues.

State Sen. Tom Lee

If approved, homeowners potentially could add another $25,000, excluding school taxes, to the current $50,000 homestead exemption.

At least 60 percent of voters statewide would have to approve the increase in a 2018 referendum.

The Senate Community Affairs Committee, headed by State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, recently approved the amendment. Senate subcommittees also must weigh in. A similar amendment proposal is anticipated in the Florida House of Representatives.

Estimates peg the loss to Pasco County’s revenues at nearly $1.4 million annually. More than 60,000 parcels would be removed from the tax rolls, said Ralph Lair, Pasco County’s government affairs officer.

“It’s nice to give people the exemption, but how far do you want to go?” Lair said.

The proposal to increase the homestead exemption was one of the issues that Lair covered, as he gave an update on 2017 legislative issues to the Pasco County Commission at its March 28 meeting.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey

Lair said the revenue losses in some small counties could be so severe that “they’re not going to have a budget to work with.”

Counties, including Pasco, already are struggling to find revenues to pay for basic services, said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“Instead of trying to keep our parks and libraries open, we’ll be shuttering them,” Starkey said.

The Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties oppose the increase.

Legislators also are considering a bill that would stop local governments from approving new regulations for businesses, professionals and occupations, Lair said. Any regulations passed after Jan. 1 would be null and void.

If approved, the new law would affect local control of licenses issued to such establishments as liquor stores and bingo halls.
Lair said the bill is broadly written and counties also could lose the ability generally to approve ordinances that impose fees.

Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore said there was push-back on that bill. He didn’t anticipate it being approved.

Another bill is backed by utility companies that want to place cell towers of 60 feet or shorter in rights of way without consulting with local governments first.

“AT&T is pushing this,” Lair said. “If they see they can get this, they’ll go further.”

State Rep. Richard Corcoran of Land O’ Lakes, who is the Speaker of the House, is pushing a House bill to phase out community redevelopment agencies, or CRAs.

If approved, the bill would eliminate all existing agencies on their current expiration date or by Sept. 30, 2037, whichever is earlier.

Meanwhile, no new community redevelopment agencies would be permitted after July 1. Also, existing agencies would be barred from starting any new projects or programs effective Oct. 1.

A similar Senate bill also is in play. Both bills also include ethics training for “commissioners” of CRAs.

Community redevelopment areas are established as special tax districts. Oversight is provided by a redevelopment agency, whose members often are chosen from elected officials within the district.

Each year a portion of property tax revenues collected by counties is reinvested into community projects within those districts. There are rules and limitations on how the money can be spent, but generally the purpose is to end blight and poverty.

The tough stance on CRAs appears to have started with long-standing accusations of mismanagement of the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency in Miami-Dade County. But, the proposed legislation would cover all CRAs in the state.

Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey all have CRAs.

At their March 28 meeting, county commissioners had concerns about overly broad interpretations of how CRA money can be spent. Their focus was on what they deemed questionable expenditures within CRAs in New Port Richey and Port Richey.

Pasco is seeking to schedule workshops in the future to discuss the matter.

No one from the CRAs was in attendance to respond.

The legislature concludes on May 5, with a budget that then goes to Gov. Rick Scott and his veto pen.

Published April 5, 2017

Super Saturday offers a swingin’ good time

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It might’ve been April Fool’s Day, but this softball event was no joke.

This dog belongs to Mackenzie Pavloff, of Lutz. The service dog, named Koda Bear, is a 5-year-old Pitbull-mix, who seems to like the sounds of the softball games at Oscar Cooler Youth Sports Complex. The pet’s owner said she played softball at the complex years ago.
(Fred Bellet)

It’s called Super Saturday, and it’s an annual fundraiser for Lutz Softball, a recreational fast-pitch league for girls ages 5 through 18.

On April 1, several hundred softball families gathered to cheer on more than 20 teams, soaking in the daylong festivities at the Oscar Cooler Youth Sports Complex.

Besides a full slate of softball matchups, there was plenty to keep attendees amused, from family friendly games and activities, to numerous vendors and countless raffles.

“This is probably the biggest Super Saturday we’ve ever held,” said Mike Cook, president of Lutz Softball Inc.

“Every year, it’s gotten bigger and bigger and bigger,” added event coordinator Jennifer Bommarito. “This is quite a bit bigger than it started out to be.”

Ten-year-old Sicily Jordan, of the visiting Wesley Chapel Pink Rockets, gets a hit against the Renegades during game action last Saturday at Oscar Cooler Youth Sports Complex.

Held each spring, Super Saturday is one of the league’s two major fundraisers. The other is Fall Festival, in October.

Amid softball rivalries and competition, Super Saturday gives young athletes a chance to unwind.

“This is actually like a fun day for them,” Bommarito said, “where they actually get to goof all a little bit…and not have to be so serious.”

Mike Bosworth, who has coached in the league since 2013, said the annual shindig also helps foster positive interactions among families.

“People are…competitive with one another, and when you do an event like this, it gets you to know other people, and it softens those relationships on the field,” he explained.

Other parents agreed.

After playing his Little League game, 5-year-old Wyatt Gingras, of Lutz, totes his favorite bat and backpack to watch Leaguerette softball and cool off with an icy beverage. Wyatt was with his grandfather, Scott Knoeppel, of Lutz, and spent the day enjoying the family fun event at Oscar Cooler Youth Sports Complex.

“I think it brings us closer,” said parent-coach Rainey Rosenberger.

“It’s just fun to get families together from the community,” parent Natalie Brown added.

Another parent, Maggie Mixon, believes the event has nearly become a Lutz tradition.

“It’s phenomenal — just to see the community come together, in the spirit of collaboration,” she said. “It’s just a good, old-fashioned, small-town gathering.”

Among the afternoon’s top highlights was the parents’ tournament — and it’s unlike any other.

A 16-inch blooper ball was used, bases were run in reverse, fathers batted with their non-dominant hand, and kids served as coaches.

“It’s fun and confusing — everything’s backwards,” Rosenberger said, smiling.
The sports complex’s ballyhooed concession stand was another draw.

From biscuits and gravy during early morning games, to mushroom Swiss burgers and buffalo chicken wraps, there’s never a shortage of tasty grub offerings.

Bosworth, whose wife, Alissa, is the concessions manager, said parents from other youth leagues — Brandon, Carrollwood, Wesley Chapel —can’t say enough about the ballpark’s spreads.

Bryan Bounds, of Gainesville, watches softball action with friend, Charlene Ierna, of Lutz. Ierna’s 15-year-old daughter, Emma Ierna, plays on the softball team called the Rebels. Ierna is also the team’s sponsor.

“The parents are always like, ‘You guys have got the best concession stand we’ve ever seen, anywhere,’” Bosworth said.

Super Saturday, meanwhile, couldn’t have come at a better time for the softball organization.

On March 8, two suspects burglarized the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex during early morning hours, causing losses in excess of $5,000.

“That (robbery) threw us for a loop tremendously,” Mike Cook said.

In wake of the incident, the league has received “overwhelming” community support, with donations from the likes of Home Depot, Walgreens, Lowe’s and Ford.

Over $1,920 has also been raised, via a GoFundMe page.

Lutz Softball, formerly known as the Lutz Leaguerettes, also has seen quite a transition since January 2016, when the organization announced it was offering a recreational fast-pitch league for the first time in its 37-year history.

Just six months later, its slow-pitch leagues were discontinued because of dwindling registration and an overwhelming preference for fast-pitch. The fast-pitch league now claims to have about 200 participants, the highest figure in several years.

Lutz Softball Inc., is a PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) Softball affiliate.

Published April 5, 2017

 

The amazing attitude of my sister, Karen

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My younger sister, Karen, and I are three years apart. We typically see each other just two or three times a year, because Karen lives in my home state of Minnesota and I live in Florida — more than 1,300 miles away.

While there’s a great distance between us, Karen and I have always been close.

We share many common interests — traveling, gardening, dogs, cooking, outdoor activities, history and our faith. We have often talked of spending more time together when we retire.

Just a few years ago, we began seeing more of each other after Karen and her husband, John, starting wintering outside Thomasville, Georgia. They wanted to get away from Minnesota’s snow and cold, and they needed a warm climate where they could train their dogs to compete in AKC Retriever Hunt Tests.

Diane Kortus, left, and her sister, Karen, during a kayaking trip at a spring close to Tallahassee.
(Courtesy of Diane Kortus)

Thomasville, which is just north of Tallahassee, is a four-hour drive from my home in Land O’ Lakes — making it close enough for weekend visits.

The rest of the year, Karen is back in Minnesota.

She has a fulfilling and happy life there with John, their sons, three grandchildren and, of course, their beautiful dogs.

As we all know, though, unexpected things can happen that turn your life upside down.

In my sister’s case, that happened three years ago when she began having trouble with her vision and spatial awareness. When she was dressing, for example, she often put her tops on backwards. When she drove, she found it increasingly difficult to stay inside the proper lane and would sometimes drift onto the shoulder.

Karen assumed that a change in her vision was causing the problems.

So, she had her eyes examined and bought the best pair of lenses available.

The new glasses didn’t help, and Karen’s vision problems persisted. So, she went to another eye doctor for a second opinion.

The second optometrist told her the new glasses were right on the mark, and couldn’t explain why she was still having trouble with her sight.

Karen’s visual spatial and perception problems grew worse, and they became apparent to her husband and other family members.

In October, she saw her family physician and told her about these problems. The doctor referred Karen to a neurologist.

After a series of test to rule out everything from cancer to blood disorders, she underwent a CAT scan.

She was diagnosed in 2015 with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), described as a variant of Alzheimer’s and also known as Benson’s syndrome. The disease causes shrinkage of the back part of the brain, causing a decline in vision.

The disease usually affects people at an earlier age than typical Alzheimer’s cases, with initial symptoms often experienced in people in their mid-50s or early 60s.

Karen was 56 when she was diagnosed. Most cases of Alzheimer’s disease occur in people age 65 or older.

She was very surprised to learn that her vision was not the source of her problems after all.

Because her disability was getting worse, shortly after her diagnosis she gave up driving and resigned from her position as a registered nurse.

The disease is a progressive disease. Early symptoms include difficulty writing, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and problems with depth perception and navigating through space.

Additional symptoms include apraxia, a disorder of movement planning; alexia, an impaired ability to read; and, visual agnosia, an object recognition disorder.

Some studies have found that about 5 percent of all Alzheimer’s cases are diagnosed with PCA.

Like all Alzheimer’s diseases, there is no cure for PCA.

Medications are available to slow down the degeneration of the brain tissue, and studies show that such drugs can give Karen and other PCA patients 10 years or longer to live.

Instead of being distraught with her terminal diagnosis, Karen is excited about life.

She’s grateful her disease is progressive. She tells me it gives her great peace to be able to plan for the future, knowing how much longer she has to live.

Since her diagnosis, John and Karen have done many things that they had planned to do someday. But now, they do these things today.

It is the rest of the family that worries and mourns about what’s ahead for Karen and John. We marvel at how positive this couple of 33 years is about their future, and admire their attitude of “why wait — let’s do it today.”

It’s a philosophy we all should adopt —whether it’s estate planning and completing your will, buying new carpet and furniture, traveling to someplace you’ve always wanted to visit or reading Moby Dick.

It’s an attitude of living every day as if it was your last, and making sure the people you care about know how much you love them.

When I asked Karen about writing this column, she wanted to make sure I reported that PCA often goes undiagnosed for years, because many eye doctors are not aware of the disease.

Most people diagnosed with PCA first go to their optometrist because they believe they needed stronger glasses. When new glasses or contacts don’t eliminate their visual problems, they often visit other eye doctors — who often are unfamiliar with the symptoms of PCA.

If a PCA patient sees a neurologist sooner, it can be diagnosed and treated earlier, with the potential of slowing down the disease, and saving themselves and their family years of stress and anxiety.

So, next time you see your eye doctor, please ask him or her if he or she is aware of PCA, and if not, to please research the disease to understand how to respond if a patient complains about problems with driving, penmanship and spatial awareness.

Do this for yourself and those you care about.

And, do it for me, and my sister, Karen.

Published April 5, 2017

Roadwork underway at U.S. 41 and Leonard Road

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A history of crashes, including two fatalities in 2016, is prompting changes to a median on U.S. 41, at Leonard Road.

The Florida Department of Transportation will close the existing full median opening and replace it with a directional median opening.

The median modification project is scheduled for completion by the end of April, according to FDOT representatives.

The Florida Department of Transportation is replacing a full median opening with a directional opening at U.S. 41 and Leonard Road in response to crashes, and two traffic fatalities in 2016.
(Kathy Steele)

Motorists heading east on Leonard Road no longer will be able to turn left onto U.S. 41.

Motorists traveling north on U.S. 41, however, will be able to make a left turn at Leonard Road.

During the project, there will be intermittent lane closures from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The state transportation department’s data shows an increase in angle crashes, from three in 2013 to five in 2015 and five in 2016. Some accidents resulted in minor injuries, but in 2013 two serious injury accidents occurred.

Angle crashes occur when drivers leave the lane they are in and collide with another vehicle or roadside obstruction.

In April 2016, a motorcyclist died in a collision with an SUV. The driver of the SUV drove east on Leonard Road. There is a stop sign at Leonard where it meets U.S. 41 at a “T” intersection. The SUV driver turned north onto U.S. 41 from Leonard and into the path of the motorcyclist that was traveling down the highway, according to media reports.

Published April 5, 2017

Contract approved for Pasco’s new administrator

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Pasco County commissioners signed off on a contract to hire Dan Biles as the next Pasco County administrator, with an annual salary of $220,000.

County commissioners agreed to hire him on March 14, when he competed against four other candidates at a special public meeting in New Port Richey.

On March 28, commissioners made Biles’ hiring official by approving his contract.

Biles is scheduled to begin his new duties on May 1. However, his three-year contract also requires that he spend a few days in Pasco County before then, to take part in budget discussions with county staff for fiscal year 2018.

Dan Biles, deputy county manager in Jefferson County, Alabama, will be the new Pasco County administrator. He was among five candidates interviewed for the job on March 14.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)

Biles is leaving his job as deputy county manager in Jefferson County, Alabama, to step into a position being vacated by Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.

Baker opted to retire after four years, and not seek a contract renewal.

There will be some overlap of time between Baker’s departure and Biles’ arrival. Baker’s contract ends in mid-July.

“I think we’re extremely fortunate to have such a strong county administrator coming here,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “He is very impressive. He’s going to help us take Pasco to new heights.”

In addition to his annual salary, Biles’ contract includes benefits for a total package of about $278,000.

The county will pay $10,000 in moving expenses and up to $2,000 for temporary housing.

Biles also will receive an automobile allowance of $450 a month, term life insurance of $100,000, and retirement benefits.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley wants the county to schedule meet-and-greets with Biles, on the east and west sides of the county.

When county commissioners interviewed potential candidates, they anticipated two days of interviews.

But, Biles scored so well on the first day, they opted to immediately offer him the job.

“I think he’s the right fit for us,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Biles holds two civil engineering degrees from Texas A & M University.

He is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and also commanded three Air National Guard units.

His work experience includes engineering positions in the private as well as public sector in Texas and Washington State.

He was hired in 2014 as the first deputy county manager of Jefferson County, Alabama, which was newly formed.

Previously, he worked for four years in Corpus Christi, Texas, as director of engineering services and executive director of public works.

He also worked for private engineering companies in Washington State including Maverick Engineering Inc., and SBI Developing LLC.

As Jefferson County’s deputy county manager, Biles led the County Infrastructure Group, which included environmental services, roads and transportation, general services, land planning, inspection services and stormwater.

According to his resume, he developed a litter collection program that removed more than 100 tons of litter in its first four months.

Biles also coordinated road improvement plans in partnership with local cities and state transportation officials. And, he led a customer service improvement initiative in permitting. The Greater Birmingham Home Builders Association praised his efforts, his resume states.

Though Baker is slated to end her tenure with the county, Starkey suggested another option. She would like Baker to stay on and help shepherd the county’s longstanding request for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend Ridge Road. The road is a high priority for the county as an east-west emergency route. Environmental groups are opposed.

“No one can speak to this effort as well as our Michele Baker,” said Starkey. “I don’t know what that (job) would look like and if she wants to do that.”

Baker didn’t respond, and Moore said discussions on meet-and-greets and Baker’s status should wait until Biles arrival.

Published April 5, 2017