The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

New Dade City Hall ready for debut

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Dade City residents will get their first official peek inside their new City Hall at a ribbon cutting on March 11 at 10:30 a.m.

City employees and law enforcement officers, however, are already getting accustomed to the new, 22,000-square-foot building. They moved in about three weeks ago.

“We’ve gotten settled in,” said Gordon Onderdonk, the city’s public works director.

(Courtesy of Wannemacher Jensen Architects)
(Courtesy of Wannemacher Jensen Architects)

Now, it’s the public’s turn to explore the new seat of city government, and the headquarters for the Dade City police department.

Ribbon-cutting festivities will include a performance by the Pasco High School Band, as well as speeches by guest speakers, a flag raising and a rendition of the national anthem. Those attending will be able to go on guided tours of the complex, and refreshments will be served.

Wannemacher Jensen Architects created a design for two separate buildings that are joined by an entryway canopy and a courtyard. One side of the complex houses city offices; the other is headquarters for the Dade City police force.

In preparation of the celebration, the Dade City Commission approved the temporary closure of Meridian Avenue from Fifth Street to the U.S. 98 Bypass from 8 a.m. to noon on March 11.

Construction on the new City Hall began in March 2015 on the site of the old building.

In the 1920s, developers planned a hotel at the location, but that was never completed.

During the Depression, the building found new life as a federal work project and served as the hub of city government for decades.

Through the years, city agencies outgrew the space and moved into other buildings.

During construction, some City Hall employees were relocated to an annex building and to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot on U.S. 98 at U.S. 301.

Consolidating offices in one building will make it easier for people to do business with the city, Onderdonk said.

“This is one-stop shopping for them to take care of everything. It’s all in the same building and will be convenient,” he said.

The city’s police department vacated its previous location on Pasco Avenue.

The new facility has typical features of a police department, including interview rooms, holding cells, a booking area, a special area for the K-9 unit and a conference room. But, there also is new and upgraded technology.

The city commission chamber also will benefit from technology upgrades, including a projector screen that will make it easier to observe meetings.

The approximately $5.9 million budget for the building’s construction came from the countywide Penny for Pasco program and the city’s reserve fund.

Published March 2, 2016

Parent input sought for grant application

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Pasco County Schools is seeking federal grant money for a before- and after-school program for some students at Cox and Quail Hollow elementary schools, and wants to hear from parents during the process.

The application requires community input, said Tony Harroun, a senior grant writer for Pasco County Schools.

So, a community night is planned for March 3 at 6 p.m., at R.B. Cox Elementary School, at 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City.

Quail Hollow’s community night was set for earlier in the week, on March 1.

The idea is to give parents a chance to weigh in on what they would like to see offered as part of the program, Harroun said.

The emphasis of the before- and after-school program will be on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, he said.

But, children may be interested in specific topics in science or other subjects, and the district would like to hear parents’ suggestions, Harroun said.

If the district receives the grant, he estimates that the program at Cox and at Quail Hollow possibly could accommodate about 50 children each.

The district hopes to receive funding for both schools, so it can provide additional ways to engage children in learning and make it more interesting and fun for them, Harroun said.

The district already has this program at one elementary school and at an afternoon program at three middle schools, including Stewart Middle School, Harroun said.

The application will be submitted for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.

The program it would fund is called STAR, which stands for Success Through Academic Readiness.

Children from private schools also are eligible for the before- and after-school program, but the school district would not be able to transport them, Harroun said.

Parents of private school children who are interested in learning more about the program and who would like to offer suggestions about the programming are invited to the community meeting, he said.

What: Community meeting
Why: To solicit parent input on a potential before- and after-school program.
Where: Cox Elementary School, 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
When: March 3 at 6 p.m.

Published March 2, 2016

CrossFit En Fuego part of growing fitness movement

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Peter and Jennifer Abreut have been operating a CrossFit gym even before the fitness movement became mainstream just a few years ago.

They have witnessed the rapid growth of CrossFit firsthand since they opened a 1,200-square-foot fitness warehouse — near the Tire Kingdom in Lutz — over six years ago.

Peter and Jennifer Abreut opened the 8,500-square-foot CrossFit gym a little over four years ago. (Photos courtesy of Peter and Jennifer Abreut)
Peter and Jennifer Abreut opened the 8,500-square-foot CrossFit gym a little over four years ago.
(Photos courtesy of Peter and Jennifer Abreut)

At that time, their gym’s membership totaled about 20 members, essentially consisting of close friends and family members.

A lot has changed relatively quickly.

The Abreuts now operate CrossFit En Fuego, a CrossFit Inc. affiliate, which is housed in an 8,500-square-foot facility, at 3320 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

CrossFit En Fuego, a play off Peter’s Cuban roots and past experience as a firefighter, has nearly 200 members, and also includes a kids’ program for ages 4 to 17.

According to a report by the Harvard Business School, CrossFit Inc., is the fastest growing community of fitness service businesses ever.

In 2005, there were 13 CrossFit affiliates. That figure rose to over 12,000 in 2015, according to that report.

“When we started, not many people knew about CrossFit,” Peter said. “It wasn’t on ESPN. We just had to go out there and tell people. Now, we get people all the time that say, ‘I saw that on TV, and I think I want to do it.’”

CrossFit En Fuego incorporates a broad range of ages, body types and levels of fitness.

On weekdays, several classes are held from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturdays, the Abreuts offer a free class at 9 a.m.

CrossFit En Fuego includes members of all ages, body types and fitness levels. Workouts can be scaled down or suited to match each participant’s abilities.
CrossFit En Fuego includes members of all ages, body types and fitness levels. Workouts can be scaled down or suited to match each participant’s abilities.

The combination of a group (usually eight to 12 people) setting and hands-on instruction has made the fitness craze an attractive option, compared to the typical workout experience.

“You make friends when you come in and build a community…so you motivate each other through that, and you’re held accountable through your peers,” Jennifer said. “People are always together within a group and with a coach, so it’s almost like personal training.”

With new workouts plastered across a dry erase board each day, members can walk in without the worry of planning out an exercise routine.

“People love it because they don’t have to think. They come in, look at the workout of the day, and we guide them through it and work with them,” Peter said. “We’re going to teach you how to do all the movements correctly and make sure you’re moving safely, and getting the right kind of workout for your level.”

While some current or prospective members may have certain aesthetic goals — leaner build, more defined muscles — CrossFit’s focus is more about completing the workouts, and building off that progress to get faster, stronger and more flexible.

“It’s much more fun to take the focus off of trying to do something because you want to tone up, and then just try to do something because you want to get better or be competitive with somebody in your class,” Peter explained. “In doing that, I tell everybody, ‘Your body is going to respond, and it’s going to start changing. Your body has no option but to get in shape.’”

As opposed to running on a treadmill or gliding on an elliptical machine, CrossFit workouts are often based around Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics movements and traditional plyometric exercises, which involve jumping movements.

CrossFit En Fuego is located at 3320 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It is owned and operated by Peter and Jennifer Abreut.
CrossFit En Fuego is located at 3320 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It is owned and operated by Peter and Jennifer Abreut.

Everything from squat racks, monkey bar rigs, gymnastic rings, box jumps, rowing machines, medicine balls, kettle bells and barbells are used in the workout routines, which typically last an hour.

“We don’t use very many machines,” Peter said. “What we’re teaching is for you to move well. Putting something overhead is a lot different compared to if (a machine) just goes up and down.”

Every day, the routine changes. One day, members may find themselves using a jump rope and doing pull-ups. The next, they may run a 5K outdoors.

Not having the same exercise everyday helps keep members interested and on their toes, Peter said.

“We’re trying to be as balanced as we can. It’s called GPP—General Physical Preparedness, where you’re trying to hit everything at once,” he said. “That’s one of the cool things about it—you’re hitting all the fitness domains. You’re getting stronger, you’re getting faster, and you’re getting more aerobic endurance. You’re developing all that together, instead of specifying one thing.”

According to Jennifer, members have seen noticeable results—both body and mind— in as little as six weeks.

“Your body realizes how to recover from (the workouts),” she said. “With the interval training, your body releases the happy hormones (endorphins.) Within a couple hours after the workout…your body feels that extra burst of energy.

“I always tell them, ‘We’re keeping you out of that nursing home.’”

After several months, more substantial results begin to kick in, Peter said.

“I can’t even count how many members — after six to 12 months — have said, ‘My doctor just took me off three medications,’ or ‘I’m down 10 percent body fat.’ And that’s awesome to hear,” he said.

“The bottom line is, it does work,” he said.

Depending on the length of commitment, membership costs range from $135 to $165 a month.

Jennifer said some prospective members may initially be “scared” by some of the CrossFit exercises and movements, but they quickly realize the environment isn’t as intimidating as they perceived.

“The hardest part is walking through that door,” she said.

CrossFit En Fuego
What: Family-owned and operated facility featuring group workouts based on functional movements, reflecting the aspects of gymnastics, weightlifting, running and rowing
Where: 3320 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Hours: Weekdays from 5:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Cost: $135 to $165 a month
More information: CrossFitEnFuego.com, call (813) 601-4183, or email .

Published March 2, 2016

 

Zephyrhills man turns trash into art

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From crafting hand drawings to designing T-shirts, Steven Spittka loves art.

The 51-year-old Zephyrhills resident and Navy veteran still recalls getting “straight A’s” in his high school art classes in Michigan.

Inside his workshop, Steven Spittka trims the edges of a soda can to make his art sculptures. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
Inside his workshop, Steven Spittka trims the edges of a soda can to make his art sculptures.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

Having that creative mindset sparked the idea that he could make art sculptures “out of trash” — about five years ago, when he saw empty cans littering the yard near the now-defunct Crosslight Baptist Church in Zephyrhills.

“I was cutting grass one day, and I saw trash all over the church’s yard and ditches. …I picked up an empty soda can, I looked at it, and I said, ‘You know what? You can make something out of this trash and give it away to other people,’ and that’s’ where I got started,” Spittka said.

“I can make somebody else happy out of trash and cans, basically.”

For Spittka, the projects are a fun hobby, and a way to give back to the local community.

He’s made soda can replicas for Woodland Elementary, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, and the Zephyrhills police and fire departments, without any charge.

Spittka even met with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, and presented him with a soda can sculpture that included two guns and a pair of handcuffs.

“He loved it,” Spittka said.

Steven Spittka creates everything from classic cars to musical instruments out of empty soda cans, hot glue and paint.
Steven Spittka creates everything from classic cars to musical instruments out of empty soda cans, hot glue and paint.

Most of Spittka’s artwork is given away for free, though some recipients insist on giving him “a few dollars.”

“Everybody says, ‘You are so kind-hearted that you give all your things away,’ and I say, ‘Well, that’s my nature,’ he said.

“I just enjoy doing things for other people,” he said.

With a combination of soda cans, hot glue, and paint, Spittka can design anything from classic cars and motorcycles to animals and musical instruments.

He noted he’s gotten “better and better” at creating figures from soda cans over the past few years.

Depending on the scope of the project, Spittka may use anywhere from a few soda cans to more than 50.

Some pieces may take less than an hour to several hours over multiple days.

His ideas for the art pieces come at a whim inside his personal workshop.

Spittka used recycled cans to create the patriotic image of a flag.
Spittka used recycled cans to create the patriotic image of a flag.

“I’ll go out there and think, ‘What can I make?’ So, I’ll start twiddling and cutting and molding the cans,” said Spittka, who also works at a local clothing store. “It’s all out of my head. I don’t look at anything.”

To find enough supplies to make all of his art, Spittka rides his bicycle around Zephyrhills searching out all sorts of empty soda cans. He also recycles the cans that his family has emptied to make sculptures.

“People just give me ideas. They’ll slip and give me a hint, like, ‘Oh, I like butterflies, and it triggers,’” Spittka said.

While Spittka could likely turn his skill into a side business, he prefers to just keep it as a hobby, and give away his works for free.

“I just enjoy doing things for other people,” he said. “It’s something different.”

Published March 2, 2016

Serving seasonal sweetness

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This time of year is particularly good for fresh Florida strawberries.

The sweet, red, and juicy heart-shaped little fruit is packed full of vitamins and minerals, but low in calories.

Strawberries make a healthy snack by themselves, or can enhance the flavors of all kinds salads, desserts and other recipes. (Courtesy of Betsy Crisp)
Strawberries make a healthy snack by themselves, or can enhance the flavors of all kinds salads, desserts and other recipes.
(Courtesy of Betsy Crisp)

Those who’ve attended the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City are likely aware of how delicious the berries taste in strawberry shortcake — served to festival-goers on sponge cake or a biscuit, whichever they prefer. This year’s festival runs from March 3 through March 13.

Food trend predictions for 2016 from researchers at University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences say that a premium-flavored/sweeter variety strawberry could be coming to a supermarket near you this year. This is the second year the UF/IFAS is marketing “Sweet Sensation,” a medium-sized, moderately firm and juicy strawberry.

March is National Nutrition Month, but you can celebrate with strawberries all year long: for breakfast in a yogurt parfait; for lunch on a spinach salad with cooked chicken and almonds; for an afternoon snack, just as they are; and, in assorted recipes for dinner and dessert.

Strawberries are very healthy, too. Just eight of them provide more vitamin C than an orange.

By Betsy Crisp 

Betsy Crisp is an Extension Family & Consumer Sciences agent and a licensed dietitian for the University of Florida/IFAS. She is based in Pasco County and can be reached at

Recipes

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup 1 percent or nonfat milk
½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

1 cup frozen strawberries (Note: you can make your own from fresh berries by removing green cap, rinsing, and freezing on a cookie sheet until firm and store in a freezer zip-top bag)

1 medium banana, broken into 4-6 pieces

8 ice cubes

Directions:
Add all ingredients in a blender. Cover and process for 30-45 seconds until smooth.  Pour into four glasses and serve immediately.

 

Simply Wonderful Strawberry Breakfast Parfait
Layer into clear glass:
½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
½ cup sliced strawberries
½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Top with 2 Tablespoons granola

Makes one serving.

Strawberry-Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
Salad
4 cups Romaine lettuce, torn
4 cups fresh spinach
2 cups fresh strawberries, quartered
1/3 cup red onion, sliced
12 ounces cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast, sliced (Note: Leftover rotisserie chicken works well)
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds
¼ cup dried cranberries
½ cup (2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese

Salad Dressing (In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together.)
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVO)
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon water
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
To prepare salad, add first 5 ingredients to bowl and toss gently.  Divide salad mixture into four salad bowls.  Layer with sliced chicken in each, followed by dried cranberries, blue cheese, and almonds. Drizzle top with dressing.

Published March 2, 2016

 

Zephyrhills chamber names new director

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Zephyrhills native Melonie Monson has been named as the new executive director for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

She was appointed to the post on Feb. 16 and will begin work on Feb. 29.

She replaces Rod Mayhew, who held the job about three months before stepping down in January.

Monson, 54, spent the past year working as assistant city clerk for the city of Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills High graduate previously was the chamber’s member services coordinator for about a year, where she worked alongside former chamber director Vonnie Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen left the position in July 2015 to take on a similar role in Springfield, Oregon.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce hired Melonie Monson to serve the role as executive director, effective Feb. 29. She will be the chamber’s third executive director in nine months, following Rod Mayhew and Vonnie Mikkelsen. (Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce hired Melonie Monson to serve the role as executive director, effective Feb. 29. She will be the chamber’s third executive director in nine months, following Rod Mayhew and Vonnie Mikkelsen.
(Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Monson stood out during the hiring process because she’s a local resident, is familiar with the inner workings of the city and is a former chamber employee, said Tim Linville, chamber president and search committee chairman.

Another bonus for the selection committee was Monson’s business experience, Linville said. She owned and operated a hair salon business in Utah for more than 30 years.

Her background gives her perspective that will help in her new role, the chamber president said, noting, “our chamber is made up of mostly small business owners, so that makes it easier to understand their concerns.”

Linville said Monson’s familiarity with the city’s business and political leaders makes her an ideal fit for the position.

“Her starting point is so much quicker as compared to if we hired someone from the outside, where it would take six months to a year to get somewhat familiar with who the different players are and understand the (city’s) makeup,” he explained.

“We really haven’t had an official leader for about nine months. It’s about…making sure things are running correctly and then…make sure we’re on our strategic plan which we have set up for March.”

Monson, who’s been living in Zephyrhills for the past five years, said she’s “excited to get back in the community and make a difference.”

One of Monson’s main objectives is to facilitate the development of downtown Zephyrhills.

“The nice thing about me being over here at the city for the last several months is I now see the vision the city has, and the direction they’re trying to go with form-based code and “reimagine” Gall Boulevard. I also understand the direction the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is going in our downtown corridor… so I really think we can work together and find some businesses that will do great here,” Monson explained.

“The Zephyrhills Brewing Co., is going to be coming downtown. I’d love to be in on that, and help find a couple other businesses to come in and bring more people downtown,” she said.

Monson acknowledged that it will be a “bit of an adjustment” to go from being a member on the chamber’s staff, to assuming the leadership role.

“There’s always a challenge when you were working with people side-by-side and then you go back in, and now you’re over them,” Monson said. “But the (staff) is amazing, and we work well together, so I don’t anticipate too much of a challenge.

“I’m not sure if any confidence has been lost with things being changed so quickly, so I’ll watch for that and see if that needs to be addressed when I get in there,” she said.

In addition to her own ideas, Monson wants to garner feedback from fellow chamber employees on additional programming.

“It’s a team effort. It’s not a one-person job,” she said. “We all have to work together with the same type of goals.”

When she worked as the chamber’s membership services coordinator, Monson said she “learned a lot” from Mikkelsen about the duties of the executive director position.

“I learned how she interacted with people…and understood that relationships are far more important than anything monetary. …Most of the executive director position is being out there in the community and seeing what’s needed,” Monson explained.

“I learned a lot about understanding the role of a nonprofit, which was new to me and a little bit different,” she said.

Monson will make her own daily agenda.

Her first plans in office include completing the new chamber directory and locking in a permanent venue for the chamber’s annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ and Blues Festival.

Published February 24, 2016

Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street could meet in the middle

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Discussions on opening up Mansfield Boulevard in Pasco County’s Meadow Pointe community and linking it to Kinnan Street in New Tampa’s K Bar Ranch hit dead-end after dead-end for years.

Pasco County and the City of Tampa sparred over how to divvy up road improvements and pay the costs.

So, the two roadways that cut through expensive subdivisions on either side of the county line still don’t connect. Instead, they end at a barricade that has become a magnet for illegal dumping.

Kinnan Street in New Tampa’s K Bar Ranch is on the other side of a barricade where Mansfield Boulevard dead ends in Pasco County’s Meadow Pointe subdivision. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Kinnan Street in New Tampa’s K Bar Ranch is on the other side of a barricade where Mansfield Boulevard dead ends in Pasco County’s Meadow Pointe subdivision.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

In a recent medical emergency, one K Bar Ranch resident learned just how unsafe the divide could get. Confusion over which agency should respond and the lack of road access left him waiting 45 minutes for medical attention.

There is renewed hope, however, that opposing sides can find common ground.

“It’s like the stars are in alignment,” said Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione.

Just as she was nearly ready to hit send on an email to Pasco County commissioners, she got a call from Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Both wanted to restart discussions on connecting the roads.

“He didn’t know I was even sending the letter,” Montelione said.

And, the developer of Meadow Pointe had scheduled a meeting with Pasco officials to discuss the same topic.

On March 9, Moore, Montelione, Pasco staff members and Tampa staff members will meet to consider options.

Moore reported to fellow commissioners last month of his conversation with Montelione.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey quickly offered her support.

“I’m all about connectivity,” she said.

Lack of connections kept K Bar Ranch resident, Otto Schloeter, in agony for 45 minutes after a neighbor made a 911 call for him.

Schloeter suffered third degree burns on his arm due to an accident while cooking lunch. Outmoded 911 technology contributed to confusion regarding which rescue unit from which county should respond, but Montelione’s letter cited another culprit as well – the barrier between Mansfield and Kinnan.

It took nearly two hours for Schloeter finally to reach Tampa General Hospital for a severe injury that required skin grafts, according to Montelione’s letter.

“What I’m hoping to get from this is a road map to move forward,” said Montelione. “It’s not about everybody getting everything they want. It’s about getting to some mutual benefit agreement.”

Nearly three years ago, efforts to address the issue fell apart when the City of Tampa rejected Pasco’s request for city taxpayers or the developer to fund traffic calming devices on Mansfield, which is in Hillsborough County.

At the time, Pasco officials were hearing from Meadow Pointe residents who were concerned about increased traffic on Mansfield, if the roads were opened.

Mansfield is located off State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel, just beyond The Shops at Wiregrass.

The boulevard winds past Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, several subdivisions within Meadow Pointe, the construction site for the county’s elementary school “W,” and Dr. John Long Middle School before dead-ending at Kinnan and K Bar Ranch.

Tampa and Pasco officials also tried unsuccessfully to negotiate other grid improvements to improve circulation via Beardsley Drive and Meadow Pointe Boulevard.

Some contentious issues could be smoothed over by a 2015 agreement between the City of Tampa and MI/Homes, the current homebuilder for K Bar Ranch.

The company is open to paying for turn lanes, traffic signals, sidewalks and striping of lanes on Mansfield and Kinnan.

Traffic calming devices on Mansfield, however, are still at issue.

But, Moore said he is hopeful about an agreement.

Opening access for residents to move back and forth between counties is going to be vital, as both counties proceed with new development and expanding populations, he said.

“We want to think responsibly. You’re going to need these connections,” Moore said.

Published February 24, 2016

Human trafficking often unseen problem

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Edie Rhea said she was just 10, when her mother’s boyfriend began sexually abusing her and selling her to strangers for sex.

Others may have never suspected what was going on, because Rhea said she lived in a four-bedroom, two-bath house in a nice neighborhood. She also went to school, like other kids, she said.

Even though there were opportunities to tell someone else, Rhea said she was too frightened, because the man who was trafficking her had threatened to kill her.

And, she believed he would.

Edie Rhea said she spent several years of her life as a victim of human trafficking, being sold for sex, from the time she was 10 until she was 17. She now leads Healing Root Ministry, based at First Baptist Church of Lutz. The ministry is striving to raise money to build a transitional house for women rescued from human trafficking. Rhea wants to help those women reclaim their lives. A fundraiser is planned on March 5 to help raise money for the house, which will be called The Gate. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Edie Rhea said she spent several years of her life as a victim of human trafficking, being sold for sex, from the time she was 10 until she was 17. She now leads Healing Root Ministry, based at First Baptist Church of Lutz. The ministry is striving to raise money to build a transitional house for women rescued from human trafficking. Rhea wants to help those women reclaim their lives. A fundraiser is planned on March 5 to help raise money for the house, which will be called The Gate.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She finally escaped the situation when she was 17, and her mom kicked the boyfriend out of the house, but Rhea was kicked out, too.

She then found a boyfriend, got pregnant and the couple married, she said.

But, the problems didn’t end there.

“The first 10 years of our marriage was bad news,” she said, noting she was using drugs and alcohol, and was involved in marital affairs.

At one point, she was hooked on prescription drugs, she said. And, she attempted suicide several times.

Rhea said her husband wanted a divorce after 10 years of marriage, but gave her another chance.

One of her turning points came when her husband’s mother invited them to church.

“We accepted the Lord. The pastor told me, ‘You know, Edie, you really need to seek some counseling,’” she said.

She began counseling sessions to work on guilt, shame and trust issues, she said.

“The big doozy was when she (the counselor) told me we were going to start working on forgiveness. I told her, ‘I’ll never do that. I’m not going to do that.’’’

The counselor told her: “You need to learn to forgive yourself before you can forgive others,” Rhea said.

“That was a huge, huge, piece,” she said.

Six years ago, the man who had trafficked Rhea was in the hospital and asked to see her, she said.

She said she did go to see him, and told him she had forgiven him.

She also shared the gospel with him, she said.

“He accepted the Lord, and a couple of weeks later, he passed away,” Rhea said.

Four years ago, she launched Healing Root Ministry, a survivor-founded, survivor-run organization aimed at preventing human trafficking and advocating for survivors.

“We originally started, just bringing awareness and prevention,” she said.

But, then she felt called to share her story, and to open a home for rescued women.

The ministry aims to build a house, to provide a transitional home for rescued women.

The house, which will be called The Gate, is intended to serve women from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, said Rhea, who is a member of First Baptist Church of Lutz, where the ministry is based.

“It’s an 18-month program, for women 18 and older. Once they come in, they can pursue their G.E.D. (General Educational Development exam), life skills, job skills,” she said.

The idea is to help these women to reclaim their lives, Rhea said.

“We want restoration. We want them to see that there is hope and that we believe in them,” Rhea said.

Human trafficking is a real problem, that is often unseen, she said.

People have the false notion that the problem is limited to other countries, she said.

They can’t imagine the problem happening to their daughter, or to the daughter of someone they know, she added.

They have no idea that Florida ranks third in the nation for human trafficking, and that Tampa ranks No. 1 in Florida, she added.

Rhea wants to change those statistics.

She also wants the ministry she leads to live up to the words that are written on her business card: “Empowering Women to Live the Lives that God Chose for Them.”

If you would like to help the ministry, or would like more information about it, call Rhea at (813) 458-5970, or visit HealingRootMinistry.com.

2016 Somebody’s Daughter fundraiser
When: March 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa
What: A gala including a dinner, dancing, exhibits at MOSI, a 50/50, and a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, vacation packages and other items. Christopher Gregory, of Homeland Security, will be the keynote speaker.
Why: The event will raise money for Healing Root Ministry, a nonprofit organization seeking to raise money to build a transition house for women rescued from human trafficking.
For more information, or to register, go to HealingRootMinistry.com.

To report a case or suspected case of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at (888) 373-7888.
To find out more about human trafficking, visit TraffickingResourceCenter.org.

Published February 24, 2016

Hockey complex making progress

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After a few setbacks, the Florida Hospital Center Ice complex may open sometime before Labor Day.

Initially, the opening for the $20 million project, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., had been slated for last October.

However, weather and installation of the refrigeration system pushed back the timetable for the 150,000-square foot complex.

The construction of Florida Hospital Center Ice has undergone a few setbacks, due to weather and technological hurdles. Initially slated to open in October 2015, the target date for completion is now late summer of this year. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice)
The construction of Florida Hospital Center Ice has undergone a few setbacks, due to weather and technological hurdles. Initially slated to open in October 2015, the target date for completion is now late summer of this year.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice)

Developer Gordie Zimmerman, of Z Mitch, said the facility’s opening is currently “at the mercy of the refrigeration company.”

“It’s not your average double-ice rink that you see in this area,” said Zimmerman, who helped develop the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. “To build five rinks in one building under one system, it really is a technological challenge — like going to the moon.

“We have (the issue) resolved. We just don’t know exactly the timeframe.”

Once complete, the complex will have four full-size ice rinks, and a mini-rink for ice hockey and figure skating — making it the largest ice rink complex in the Southeast.

Additionally, the facility will be multipurpose for other sports like basketball, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball.

“We can do a lot of other different things that other facilities— whether they’re a single sheet or a double sheet— can’t do. We have the ability to do more programming at the same time,” Zimmerman explained

“This facility is going to open up a lot of avenues, not just for hockey, but for figure skating, street hockey and multiple sports,” he said.

Zimmerman isn’t quite sure yet what membership costs or membership totals will be, but he said “we’ll probably double the size of USA Hockey membership in the Bay Area once we come on line.”

The facility expects to staff “somewhere in the area” of 20 full-time and 30 part-time employees, Zimmerman said.

“We have taken in probably 100 resumes…from people of interest,” he said. “We’re really looking for ice maintenance (employees)…because of all the new technology.”

Zimmerman already has a hockey department staff in place, and recently hired Shari Trotter, the figure skating director at the Ashburn Ice House in Washington D.C., to serve as the executive figure skating director for Center Ice.

Pasco County tourism manager Ed Caum said the sprawling facility will increase tourism and have a “major economic impact” for the Tampa area.

He believes it will “create a buzz,” from Pasco County to Bradenton.

“People will start calling us the ‘Ice-75’ corridor. From all the way up here to the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, there’s going to be a massive, massive need for time on the ice,” Caum said.

The tourism manager noted the facility will draw regional events, and perhaps, down the line, will attract national and international events, too.

“You can go after the USA Curling Championships. You can go after your artistic and dance-type events, and you can go after your big events like the NCAA Frozen Four.

“I know that (Zimmerman) does have a lot of friends up in Canada from when he played professionally, so I think we’ll see some international-type tournaments held in there, because people in the business know Gordie.”

While Caum doesn’t have a dollar figure on the amount of revenue Center Ice is expected to bring to Pasco County, he knows there’s already significant interest, because the county has five hotels in development.

“We don’t have the room stock that Hillsborough County does, so the economic impact is going to be shared with Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, because it’s going to be a regional draw,” Caum explained. “We’ve got good partners, and everybody’s going to benefit from this. …Even if people come here to skate at the ice center, they may want to stay on the beach or they may want to stay in Channelside.

However the tourists come, he said, “everybody wins.”

Published February 24, 2016

Easy Business Software wins regional award

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A  company that was born out of the necessity to help a sick 2-year-old in the family recently won third place in Bright House Networks Regional Business Awards.

This recognition comes in addition to the Land O’ Lakes’ company’s top honors in Business Technology from the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., last year, and its recent placement on the semifinalist list in the statewide Florida Companies to Watch program.

From left, Gary Gorsline, his wife, Mary Lynn, and their daughter, Leana, are shown during a Bright House Networks Regional Business Awards celebration. Their company, Easy Business Solutions, captured third place honors. (Courtesy of Gary Gorsline)
From left, Gary Gorsline, his wife, Mary Lynn, and their daughter, Leana, are shown during a Bright House Networks Regional Business Awards celebration. Their company, Easy Business Software, captured third place honors.
(Courtesy of Gary Gorsline)

Gary Gorsline is CEO, and his wife, Mary Lynn, is vice president of the company called Easy Business Software.

The software product that the company is known best for was inspired by their daughter Chelsea’s illness.

She was born with skin allergies that were so severe that they were life-threatening, Mary Lynn said.

As a result, the young girl’s medical chart was loaded with information, Mary Lynn said.

But, one day, when she took her daughter to the doctor’s office, the chart was flat — the records had been misplaced.

In addition to dealing with the missing information, Mary Lynn found herself feeling frustrated as she constantly repeated the story about her daughter’s illness to about 40 different doctors. She was worried she might give doctors inaccurate information, as the family pursued an effective treatment for Chelsea.

Mary Lynn said she turned to Gary to see if he could use his technology know-how to figure out a way that the information could be shared.

Gary, who developed an expertise in computer programming while working for the government, took on the challenge.

The goal of interoperability is to connect different clinical and health care IT systems, so they can exchange and use a patient’s medical history to create better care at lower costs, he said.

The result of his efforts was X-link Medical Software, an interfacing technology that pulls systems and data together. X-link provides the capability to bi-directionally exchange data.

Easy Business Software, which goes by EBS for short, also provides consulting services to health care organizations.

That information can help the providers reduce costs and improve patient care, Gary said.

Leana Gorsline, director of business development, said the company’s prospects are bright, as both medical technology and health care gain greater public attention.

Gary said he sees enormous potential for the collection and analysis of data to lead to improved health care.

“The connectivity that we dreamed of so many years ago is finally on the verge of mass adoption,” he said.

Gary and Mary Lynn, who live in Lutz, also are the owners of Copperstone Executive Suites, a Land O’ Lakes office complex, at 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The office complex has full-time tenants, part-time tenants, and a room that can be rented for luncheons, business meetings, parties, church services or other events. The Laker/Lutz News is among the companies leasing space at Copperstone.

Gary is the president of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, Suncoast Chapter and serves on a number of advisory boards.

Mary Lynn has been actively involved in the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce for years, and also serves on the Heritage Park Foundation, an organization that is working to get a stage for the arts built at Land O’ Lakes Community Park.

Published February 24, 2016

Editor Note: The name of the company was incorrect in the print edition on 2/24/2016. The correct company name is Easy Business Software.