Local News

As Florida goes, so goes the nation…again!

November 16, 2016 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

This was an election like no other.

Once again, the Sunshine State was at the epicenter of it all.

For months on end, Florida was the center of attention in the national and international media, with its 29 Electoral College votes up for grabs — the largest number of any swing state.

Dr. Susan A. MacManus stands in front of a bus parked at the first 2016 presidential debate. The bus is touting CNN’s coverage of the 2016 race for president between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Courtesy of Susan A. MacManus) — Dr. Susan A. MacManus stands in front of a bus parked at the first 2016 presidential debate. The bus is touting CNN’s coverage of the 2016 race for president between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
(Courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)

The candidates visited here over and over. During the last 100 days of the campaign, Trump visited Florida 100 times and Clinton 87 times.

Each made multiple stops here the final week before the election. Other states never saw either of them.

More than $49 million was spent on TV ads run in the Orlando and Tampa media markets — more than in any other media market in the nation.

But by the time it finally ended, Floridians were just happy it was over. The general consensus seems to be that while it was a very engaging campaign, it was too long, too negative, too expensive, and too divisive.

At the end of a very long, fiercely-fought, and contentious presidential election, Florida kept its record of picking winners intact, albeit by a very narrow 1 percent—the same margin by which Barack Obama won Florida in the 2012 election.

Few realize that since 1964, Florida has voted as the nation at-large in every election except for 1992, when George Herbert Walker Bush narrowly defeated Bill Clinton in his first race for the White House.

Pre-election polls had generally predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the Sunshine State. So when the networks called Donald Trump the winner at around 11:30 p.m. on Election Night, it came as a shock to many political analysts around the globe. It verified that the polls were unable to capture the extent of the “shadow” Trump vote.

A closer look at turnout and voting patterns reveals that Clinton was not able to repeat what Obama had done in Florida in 2012. Turnout and support levels among millennials and black voters were lower, offset by significantly higher rates among white voters in the state’s rural and suburban areas. The women’s vote was less cohesive than in 2012 and the Latino vote, while greater, was less unified than projected. Economics mattered more than other issues, and change mattered more than the status quo. In the end, those desperate for a change in direction of the country slightly outnumbered those valuing experience and the continuation of Obama’s policies.

How did Trump defy expectations?
There are 10 big reasons for Trump’s win, based on election results and a national press pool exit poll of around 4,000 Florida voters:

Reason No. 1: Trump ran up a large margin of victory in the famous Interstate 4 Corridor (the Tampa and Orlando media markets) where 44 percent of the state’s registered voters reside. Trump won the corridor 51 percent to 45 thanks to the area’s suburban counties where turnout and the vote margin for Trump was high. Trump did considerably better in three bellwether suburban counties (Pasco, Polk, and Manatee) than Romney did in 2012. Clinton won only three of the 18 counties in the corridor—Orange, Osceola, and Hillsborough—all large urban counties. Among them, the turnout rate fell in the largest (Hillsborough), although it did increase in Orange and Osceola.

Statewide, more than (54 percent) of those voting came from suburban or rural areas and most of both areas chose Trump. A majority of voters from urban areas picked Hillary.

Reason No. 2: Clinton did not do as well as Obama had in 2012. Clinton underperformed Obama’s share of the vote in every market except Miami, and underperformed his margin of victory in every market but Miami and Gainesville (narrowly). The falloff in the vote share of Clinton was steepest in the Tampa Bay media market (from 49 percent for Obama in 2012 to 44 percent for Clinton in 2016).

Reason No. 3: The state’s black voters did not turn out at the high level they did for Obama in 2012 nor did they give Clinton as wide a margin. In 2012, Obama’s margin of victory over Romney among black voters was 91 percent; hers over Trump was 76 percent. Trump gained some support within the black community from Haitian voters around the state, thanks to his visits to Little Haiti and an aggressive radio ad campaign aimed at concentrations of Haitians around the state, including Clearwater. The falloff in black turnout has been attributed to less enthusiasm for Clinton than for Obama among some who saw breaking down the racial barrier to the White House as a bigger motivator to vote than cracking the gender glass ceiling.

Reason No. 4: Even though the Latino share of all voters increased significantly in 2016, Trump did better than expected among the state’s Hispanic voters. He received 35 percent of the Latino vote—a figure well above what many polls had projected in light of Trump’s harsh comments about immigrants. Press coverage of the impact of the huge influx of Puerto Rican votes into the state inferred that the bulk of Hispanics would vote Democrat and that would be enough to propel Clinton to the White House. (It is true that without the solidly pro-Clinton vote among Puerto Ricans, she would have lost Florida by more than 1 percent.) However, such accounts did not accurately describe the diversity of Florida’s Hispanic voters. According to the exit poll, 54 percent of Cubans voted for Trump as did 26 percent of Florida Latinos with ties to other Latin American countries—Venezuelans and Colombians more than Mexicans, not surprising in light of Trump’s comments about “rapists” coming into the U.S. from Mexico and his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. (Cubans made up 6 percent of all Florida voters; non-Cubans, 10 percent).

Reason No. 5: Clinton did not do as well among women voters as expected. Among women voters who were the majority of all voters, Clinton got 50 percent, Trump 46 percent, and other candidates 4 percent. Her 4 percent margin of victory fell short of Obama’s 7 percent in 2012—in spite of Trump’s degrading comments about women revealed in the Access Hollywood tape. Clinton did better among single than married women, and among older women more than younger women, especially millennials. The fact that Clinton would have been the first female president had led many to predict that the women’s vote would be much more solidly for her than usual. Instead, as has been true so often throughout history, the women’s vote was not as cohesive as expected.

Reason No. 6: Clinton had difficulty generating support (and turnout) from the millennials and GenXers who make up half of Florida’s registered voters. These generations voted heavily for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but more than a third voted for Trump in 2016. There was also stronger support among younger votes for the third party candidates—Johnson and Stein—than among older generations. It was obvious Clinton was having trouble generating the same level of support among these younger voters as had Obama by where she held events during the last two weeks of the campaign—primarily on college campuses across Florida. For many younger voters who had leaned toward Sanders (Democrats) or Rubio (Republicans) in the March Presidential Preference Primary, Clinton represented the status quo—a continuation of the two-party system that many view as corrupt, in large part due to elected officials’ heavy reliance on campaign contributions from special interests.

Reason No. 7: Nearly half (48 percent) identified the economy as the most important issue facing the country. Of those, 49 percent voted for Clinton, 46 percent for Trump. But other economic questions tell a different story. Two-thirds of Florida voters have a negative opinion of the current condition of the national economy; 67 percent of them voted for Trump. Likewise, more than 70 percent describe their own financial situation today as worse or about the same (stagnant) as four years ago. A majority of each group voted for Trump. Obamacare was another economic issue that helped Trump. Nearly half of Florida voters said it “went too far” and of those, 77 percent voted for Trump.

Reason No. 8: A huge portion — 73 percent — of Florida voters were dissatisfied or angry with the federal government. Of those 59 percent voted for Trump. Anti-Washington sentiments have run deep for almost a decade. The national exit poll results show that nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of voters across the country said the country was headed in the wrong direction—albeit for different reasons. Other surveys have shown an even deeper dislike/distrust of Congress over the same period.

Reason No. 9: Clinton’s promise to continue the policies of the Obama administration made it easier for voters wanting change rather than the status quo to choose Trump. A plurality (40 percent) of Florida voters identified the ability to bring change as the candidate quality that mattered most to them, followed by experience (21 percent), cares about me (16 percent), or has good judgment (18 percent). Trump won a whopping 85 percent of those wanting change. Hillary won 88 percent of those who valued experience and 63 percent of those desiring caring or good judgment.

Reason No. 10: The underestimation of the enthusiasm gap between Trump and Clinton supporters was one of the greatest missteps by the press and the Clinton campaign. Their erroneous assumption was that the far larger crowds Trump was drawing was more out of curiosity than any strong attraction to his platform calling for change. Yet history tells us that after one party holds the White House for two terms, enthusiasm among those identifying with the other party is greater in the next election (Republicans in 2016).

Dr. Susan A. MacManus is a distinguished professor at the University of South Florida. She is recognized widely for her expertise of Florida politics, and is a resident of Land O’ Lakes.

Published November 16,2016

Fundraiser set for local teacher battling ALS

November 16, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Students and staff at Steinbrenner High School have banded together to help raise money for one of their own.

Mike Leist, a history teacher at Steinbrenner, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS, last spring. His wife, Liz, is a math teacher at Steinbrenner. Their three daughters also attend the school.

The condition, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the nervous system. It weakens the muscles and reduces functionality.

Steinbrenner faculty members show their support for Mike Leist by wearing ‘Kick it for Leist’ T-shirts. Leist is a history teacher, who’s battling ALS. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School) — Steinbrenner faculty members show their support for Mike Leist by wearing ‘Kick it for Leist’ T-shirts. Leist is a history teacher, who’s battling ALS.
(Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School)

Slightly more than 6,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year, according to the ALS Association. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from time of diagnosis, the association reports.

In an effort to aid Leist’s family and treatment, Steinbrenner High has organized a kickball game fundraiser, “Kick it for Leist.”

The event, set for Nov. 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., will pit 20 students and 20 teachers against one another in a friendly game of kickball, at the school’s football stadium, 5575 West Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Optional donations will be collected at the door, and various clubs will be selling food and drinks to the entire student body. All proceeds raised will benefit Leist and his immediate family.

The event was the brainchild of Beverley Jarrett, an Advanced Placement psychology and social studies teacher, who works in the same department as Leist.

“It hit me really hard when Mike told me last spring,” Jarrett said, adding, “it dawned on me one day, ‘Why don’t we have an event?’

“I thought a kickball game would be funny between students and teachers,” Jarrett said.

There was immediate interest, from students and teachers.

“Faculty members were fighting, trying to get on the team,” she said. “When the word got out that we were having a faculty team, they came out of the woodwork.”

Meanwhile, students playing in the game were voted on by their peers, and represent each of the school’s four grade levels.

“The kids were so excited about trying to be on this team,” Jarrett said.

Jarrett noted both students and faculty have consistently rallied around the event, even purchasing “Kick it for Leist” T-shirts.

Nearly 500 shirts have been purchased, she said. Monies used to purchase the shirts also go into the fundraiser account.

“It’s been a whole Steinbrenner effort,” Jarrett said. “The faculty all wore the shirts one day last week, just to get the kids talking about ‘Kick it for Leist.’ The administrators were wearing them, and they never wear T-shirts.”

School officials describe Leist as a teacher who “carries a happy and positive energy with him every day.”

“He’s a formerly very athletic, active man,” Jarrett said.

Yet, she acknowledged that her colleague’s voice has gotten worse “almost by the week” due to ALS.

“His speech — that’s what being affected the most,” she said.

Jarrett, who has had family members affected by the disease, said Leist originally requested all proceeds to be donated to the ALS Association.

But, she persuaded him to allow the effort to benefit his family.

“It’s a tricky, tricky horrible disease,” Jarrett said. “There are so many costs that nobody thinks about.”

For any additional information, donations, or questions regarding the event, contact Steinbrenner High School at (813) 792-5131.

Published November 16, 2016

Election results defy pollsters and pundits

November 16, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Donald J. Trump is next president

Pasco County voters joined the nation in selecting Donald J. Trump as the United States’ next president in the 2016 general election, while a majority of Hillsborough County voters selected Hillary Rodham Clinton, who had sought to become America’s first female president.

At Precinct 73, Karen Hanzel, a resident of Lexington Oaks , proudly displays a Trump/Pence sign as voters made their way to the polls. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — At Precinct 73, Karen Hanzel, a resident of Lexington Oaks , proudly displays a Trump/Pence sign as voters made their way to the polls.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

Scores of voters took advantage of early voting, but hordes turned out on Nov. 8, eager to cast their ballot on Election Day.

They offered different points of view — in an election widely characterized as being historic, and divisive.

At the Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills, 57-year-old voter Chris Corporra said he voted for Trump because he’s a political outsider.

Corporra said he agrees with many of Trump’s stances.

“You hire a politician, and you get political results. You get somebody on the outside, and they’ll take care of it,” Corporra said. “Trump isn’t the most polished…but, you know exactly where you stand with him.”

As Corporra drove around Zephyrhills before Election Day, he said he noticed long lines at several early voting locations. “They were out in droves. The silent majority is coming out in force.”

Kody Roberts, a registered Republican, also voted in Zephyrhills. She supported Jill Stein.

At Precinct 70, a long line forms and is reflected in a puddle of water left behind by the irrigation system early Tuesday morning.

“I like what she stands for; I like her objectives,” the 22-year-old Roberts said. “I can’t agree with some of Trump’s beliefs, and I definitely cannot agree with some of Hillary’s, so I was just like, ‘You know what, I’m going to go third-party this time.’”

Zephyrhills resident Eric Pinson favored Trump mainly because of his platform to establish immigration controls. Pinson also expressed concern about what could happen to his Second Amendment rights, under a Clinton administration.

Meanwhile, at The Groves, Land O’ Lakes resident Jill Shelton stood in a long line to cast her vote. She brought her children, Lucy, 5, Caroline, 8, and Nicholas, 10.

“It’s history,” Shelton said, explaining why she wanted them to be there as she voted for Clinton, the first female presidential nominee of a major political party.

“This is a big moment,” Shelton said.

She did note, however, that her support for Clinton was not absolute: “I have some questions about trustworthiness for her,” she said. But, she added: “I feel Donald Trump is not fit to be our president. I think he is beyond ridiculous.”

Casey Otto, 36, brought his 4-year-old daughter, Indie, to the Lutz Community Center on Election Day. He even dressed her in red, white and blue to mark the occasion. He supported Gary Johnson. ‘I tend to be Libertarian — fiscally conservative and socially liberal. He’s most in line with my line of thinking. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Casey Otto, 36, brought his 4-year-old daughter, Indie, to the Lutz Community Center on Election Day. He even dressed her in red, white and blue to mark the occasion. He supported Gary Johnson. ‘I tend to be Libertarian — fiscally conservative and socially liberal. He’s most in line with my line of thinking.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Fifty-eight-year-old Gordon Brown, who cast his vote at the Lutz Community Center, thinks that Clinton is the one unfit to be president.

Brown characterized Clinton as “morally bankrupt, criminally corrupt and totally untrustworthy.

“And, those are her good qualities,” he added.

Casey Otto, 36, who brought his 4-year-old daughter, Indie, with him to cast his ballot, also voted at the Lutz Community Center.

He dressed his little girl in red, white and blue to mark the occasion.

Otto supported Gary Johnson. “I tend to be Libertarian — fiscally conservative and socially liberal. He’s most in line with my line of thinking,” Otto said.

Seventy-eight-year-old Mary Gaulden, of Land O’ Lakes, sat on a stool near the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, proudly holding a Trump sign. She wanted to demonstrate her support to passing motorists and people streaming in to vote.

“I think America is at a crossroads,” Gaulden said. “I really want Donald Trump to win the presidency.”

She criticized President Barack Obama.

“Our president is not being the Commander-in-Chief that he needs to be. Our military is weakened,” said Gaulden, who arrived at the polling place at 10 a.m., and was still there in the late afternoon.

Throughout the day, she said motorists reacted to her sign.

Some honked as they drove past.

“I’ve got a thumb’s up; a thumb’s down; a bird of paradise,” Gaulden said.

Some hollered “No,” at her. Others stopped and told her they voted for Trump.

One passerby even pretended to be taking aim — with an imaginary gun — to shoot at her, she said.

Her response?

“I just waved and smiled,” Gaulden said.

No matter where they stood, voters wanted their voice to be heard.

Pasco County boasted a 72.8 percent voter turnout, with 244,620 of its 336,037 registered voters casting ballots. Turnout was slightly lower in Hillsborough County, where 606,224 of the county’s 849,843 registered voters cast ballots, or 71.3 percent.

While the presidential election clearly took center stage, voters decided many other important races and issues.

Voters gave U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Republican in District 12, another term in Congress. He defeated Robert Matthew Tager.

A majority of Pasco and Hillsborough voters concurred with other Florida voters to send Marco Rubio back to Washington for another term in the U.S. Senate. He defeated Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy.

In state races, State Sen. Jack Latvala retained his seat in the Legislature, and Amber Mariano defeated Amanda Murphy in the race for State House District 36.

Pasco County Results:

Paula O’Neill defeated Roberta Cutting for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
Gary Joiner defeated Jon Sidney Larkin for Property Appraiser.
Ron Oakley defeated Dimitri A. Delgado for District 1 on the Pasco County Commission.
Kathryn Starkey defeated Barry Horvath for District 3 on the Pasco County Commission.
Jack Mariano defeated write-in opponents for District 5 on the Pasco County Commission.

Hillsborough County Results:

Andrew Warren defeated Mark Ober for State Attorney, in the 13th judicial circuit.
Shawn Harrison defeated Lisa Montelione for District 63 in the State House.
Pat Frank defeated Eric Seidel for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
Sandra Murman defeated Jeff Zampitella for District 1 of the Hillsborough County Commission.
Pat Kemp defeated Tim Schock for District 6 of the Hillsborough County Commission.
Bob Henriquez defeated Todd Donovan Jones for Hillsborough County Property Appraiser.
Tamara Shamburger defeated Joe Jordan Robinson for District 5 of the Hillsborough County School Board.
Lynn Gray defeated Cathy James for District 7 of the Hillsborough County School Board (Pending a recount).

Regarding the four Constitutional Amendments on the ballot, a majority of Pasco and

Hillsborough voters weighing in on those issues agreed with the majority of voters across the state to decide the outcomes.

They voted down an amendment relating to solar power.

They approved amendments regarding medical marijuana, a tax exemption for totally and permanently disabled first responders, and a homestead tax exemption for certain senior, low-income and long-term residents.

—Laker/Lutz News staff writers Kathy Steele and Kevin Weiss contributed to this report.

Published November 16, 2016

Election Day brings out voter passions

November 16, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The line of voters stretched down the sidewalk at The Groves in Land O’ Lakes, as people waited patiently for the doors to open at 7 a.m.

Even after voting began, the line continued to swell.

Long lines also formed at Lexington Oaks, off Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

By 9 a.m., the line in Lexington Oaks was gone, replaced by a late morning trickle of people coming and going.

Wesley Chapel resident Dashawn Williams, who voted at Lexington Oaks, said lines during early voting had been much longer.

On Nov. 8, he said he was done in about 5 minutes. “It was easy,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, off Collier Parkway, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis stopped by in his tour bus.

He began his rounds in Dade City and planned to make 19 stops.

“It’s a good opportunity to thank the volunteers,” Bilirakis said.

Here’s a synopsis of what some voters had to say on Election Day 2016.

James Beverly, Wesley Chapel
James Beverly said he lives in a neighborhood that’s apparently filled with Donald J. Trump supporters.
Beverly, however, is not one of them.
“The man is a complete idiot,” Beverly said. “He’s a joke.”
He’s worried about what happens after the election. “It scares me,” Beverly said.
The election of Hillary Rodham Clinton as the nation’s first woman president, on the other hand, would be historic.
“It will bring world peace and harmony,” Beverly said. “It would make the world stop looking at us like a joke, like at SNL (Saturday Night Live).”

Jim Beidler, Land O’ Lakes
Jim Beidler, a Navy veteran from Land O’ Lakes, supported Donald J. Trump.
“I don’t like her lies and her attitude toward Benghazi. That is wrong,” he said of Clinton.
Beidler thinks more highly of Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, than he does of Trump.
“He’s more well-rounded,” Beidler said. “He has a filter. He’s not throwing words out.”

Lori Wright, Land O’ Lakes
Lori Wright, of Land O’ Lakes, said Hillary Rodham Clinton would be dangerous as president.
“I don’t think she has the best interests of the American people at heart,” she said. “She put us in danger with her lazy handling of information. And, she allowed men in Benghazi to die.”
But, she also said she would accept the election’s outcome.
“I believe God will put whomever He wants in office,” she said.
On the other hand, she added, “I’m here doing my part.”

Melina and Adam Mays, Land O’ Lakes
Melina and Adam Mays looked to their faith to inform their presidential decision.
They cast votes for Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence at The Groves. The couple was joined by their children, Kaelyn, 4, and Wyatt, 2.
“We’ve been praying a lot about it. I’m very pro-life and Catholic,” Melina Mays said.
The couple was troubled by the ugliness of the election.
“We’re tired of the commercials. It’s been a rough campaign,” Adam Mays said.

Sherri Maged, Land O’ Lakes
Sherri Maged said she came out to vote at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center to fulfill her civic duty.
She voted for Donald J. Trump, but wasn’t enthused about Trump or Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“This was very difficult. I don’t like either one of them,” Naged said, adding she has never felt as conflicted about an election as she did this year.

Jamie Nevitt, Land O’ Lakes
Jamie Levitt, 34, of Land O’ Lakes, said she voted for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“I feel like they both have a lot of issues,” she said, a sentiment she believes was shared by most voters.
Still, she thought Clinton was the superior candidate.
“We all have to kind of decide who we think would do best for the country, even though the choices are not spectacular,” said Nevitt, who gave her dad a ride to the Lutz Community Center on Election Day, so he could vote.

Deb Goldman, Lutz
Deb Goldman came to the Lutz Community Center three times on Election Day.
“I teach Jazzercise. I taught a class at 5:45 this morning, and at 7, the line was out the building. So, I went home. I came back at 8:10 and there were still more cars than this in the parking lot. So, I go do my class (at 8:30). So, I came back. This time, no lines, no waiting.
“I supported Donald Trump. I thought he was the better candidate.”

Jill Weber, Zephyrhills
Jill Weber, 67, who voted at the Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills, had issues with Amendment 2, the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative.
“I think they need to rewrite that,” she said. “I am for medical marijuana, but they write other things in there that makes it not good.
“I don’t want kids being able to go into these quick gas stations and buying Spice (synthetic marijuana).”
Weber added that marijuana “should be sold at a doctor’s office” and shouldn’t be legalized for recreational usage, which she thinks will increase crime.
“Somebody’s got to look at it with some common sense,” she said.
Weber said she voted for Trump based on his economic plans.

Laker/Lutz News staff writers B.C. Manion and Kevin Weiss contributed to this report.

Published November 16, 2016

Veterans receive warm recognition at ceremony

November 16, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Veterans were recognized in a special way at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club in San Antonio on Nov. 11.

More than a dozen surviving World War II veterans were recognized and celebrated at the ceremony.

“Veterans Day is something we don’t want to forget,” said John Benvengo, the ceremony’s organizer.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis addresses veterans and their families during a ceremony at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club in San Antonio. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — Congressman Gus Bilirakis addresses veterans and their families during a ceremony at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club in San Antonio.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

The event featured a number of speakers, including Brig. Gen. Sean Jenkins, who’s stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

Speaking to an audience of more than 100 invited guests, Jenkins highlighted the importance of continually honoring “those who sacrifice their own lives for our country.”

He noted: “We must not forget the actions of those that have served. Their commitment to duty has made our nation safer in the world of new dangers. Their actions have also upheld the ideals of America’s founding.”

It’s equally imperative, Jenkins said, to honor the families and caregivers of veterans.

“Without them, there would be fewer veterans walking amongst us today,” Jenkins said, describing veterans as “the unknown heroes walking among us.”

Veterans serve as a symbol for “courage, decency and hope,” he added.

Jenkins also pointed to the importance of ensuring the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) “takes care of those that have served.”

More than dozen World War II veterans attended a Veterans Day ceremony at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club in San Antonio.

“We’re losing too many heroes,” he said, “Not just because of age, but because of the loss of hope.”

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, another guest speaker, said his No. 1 priority is to assist veterans.

He criticized the VA, characterizing it as “confusing bureaucracy” that has a “general lack of communication and transparency.

“I believe this agency is in some serious need of culture change,” said Bilirakis, who serves as vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

He continued: “Our veterans have done their duty and kept their promise to protect our nation. It is now up to us to fulfill our promise to them and remain committed to honoring their service.”

Within the past three years, Bilirakis has introduced two pieces of legislation (COVER Act, PROMISE Act) to help veterans get better access to primary medical care and to address the prevalence of mental health issues amongst veterans. Both have since become laws.

“There is much more work to be done. Our congress must come together on these issues in a bipartisan fashion,” he said.

Bilirakis noted the next step in helping veterans is offering supplementary assistance through additional workforce, housing and education programs.

Said Bilirakis: “The military spends six to 12 months preparing soldiers for their assignments, and yet, we only spend three to five days to help them reintegrate into civilian life. That’s unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, the congressman commended veterans for their “altruism and patriotism.

“They’re very, very special people,” he said. “They represent the best of this great country.”
He added: “We would not be the nation we are today without those who served.”

The ceremony also featured comments from State Rep. Danny Burgess, R-San Antonio.

Burgess, who’s also a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Judge Advocate, said veterans “exemplify what service is all about.”

The state representative added that seeing veterans inspired him to join the military: “They are the reason that I decided to wear the uniform and serve.”

Published November 16, 2016

This festival is more than a little fishy

November 16, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Folks got their fill of fish and festivities at the Pioneer Florida Museum’s first Mullet & Music Festival on Nov. 12.

Mark and Jenny Hanna, of Dade City, are impressed with the generous portions served at the Mullet & Music Festival (Richard K. Riley/Photos) — Mark and Jenny Hanna, of Dade City, are impressed with the generous portions served at the Mullet & Music Festival
(Richard K. Riley/Photos)

The event began at 10 a.m., and continued until 4 p.m.

It featured fried mullet and smoked mullet dinners, musical entertainment and assorted activities, including a smoked mullet competition, a mullet head competition and mullet toss.

For $10, diners could enjoy a plate of fish, grits, greens and hushpuppies.

For those not particularly fond of fish, festivalgoers could purchase hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries.

Mullet smokes on a grill at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village’s first Mullet & Music Festival.

There was a beer and wine garden, too.

Admission to the event was included in the admission charge to the museum and village, which features exhibits and artifacts from the pioneer era.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s pioneer heritage.

Published November 16, 2016

Rocco DeSimmon, of Wesley Chapel, takes a photo of the antique fire engines on the museum grounds.

Joseph Alexander, of Dade City, provides the alternative, fat-fried mullet. Customers could choose smoked or fried mullet for the same price.

Approvals recommended for Connected City pilot

November 16, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The framework for the Connected City corridor is falling into place.

Members of Pasco County’s development review committee recommended approval of new documents establishing fees that will be paid by developers, a utilities service plan and a master roadway plan.

State legislators approved the Connected City in 2015, and selected Pasco as the site for a 10-year pilot program to create communities and new jobs based on cutting edge technology, including gigabit Internet speeds.

The initiative also envisions alternative transportation, including lanes for golf carts, and trails and paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Pasco County commissioners will make the final decisions on implementing rules for the state-approved special development district, which covers about 7,800 acres in rural northeast Pasco.

Boundaries generally are Interstate 75, State Road 52, Overpass Road and Curley Road.

That final vote and public hearing, is tentatively scheduled for March 7.

But, the Pasco County Commission is scheduled to have a Dec. 6 workshop to discuss Connected City.

Though the state’s pilot program is for 10 years, build out in the district would take another 40 years, with completion expected around 2065.

Preliminary data from the county suggests that in the first phase, from 2016 to 2040, Connected City could generate on average about $20 million a year in property tax revenues. From 2040 to 2065, the annual haul in property tax revenues could be as much as $30 million a year.

The net affect on the county’s budget – balancing expenses and revenues – is not known yet, but county staff members are crunching data.

Within the district’s boundaries, it is up to property owners and developers if they want to participate in Connected City.

Rules provide an opt-in choice that requires an application process, and a mandated set of requirements and responsibilities.

Overall developers opting in would pay additional mobility fees and surcharges, but also receive incentive credits for such items as building alternative traffic lanes for golf carts and bicyclists.

Estimates peg infrastructure costs, including roads and new schools, at about $329 million over the 50-year time frame.

“We weren’t going to force anybody to participate in Connected City,” said Earnest Monaco, the county’s assistant planning and development director. “If they did nothing, they could continue business as usual.”

Oversight of projects would be transferred from the county’s development review committee and planning commission to a seven-member management committee. County commissioners would still make final approvals.

The goal is to speed up the process for land use changes, rezoning and permitting.

Members would include the District 1 county commissioner, three people appointed by Metro Development Group, one property owner not part of Connected City, one school district appointee, and a county staff member named by the county administrator.

Metro Development is partnering with Pasco on the initial projects in Connected City. The company plans to build a mixed-use community at Epperson Ranch, which will have a 7-acre manmade “Crystal Lagoon” as a featured centerpiece.

During public comment, concerns were raised about whether incentives given to Connected City property owners would be unfair to property owners who choose not to participate.

“I’m not sure how this is supposed to be,” said Randy Maggard, who owns property in the district. “Is this really a level playing field. That’s my concern. Is it fair and equitable for everybody at the end of the day?”

Attorney Joel Tew, who represents Metro Development Group, said data shows “there’s more than a level playing field.”

Residents along Kenton Road — which under the road plan would be expanded from two lanes to four lanes — were split in their support for Connected City.

Resident Jennifer McCarthy said she worried about losing the rural character of a two-lane road where residents enjoy open spaces.

Todd Stevenson, who also lives on Kenton, said he understands why developers are focused on this area of northeast Pasco.

“It’s largely undeveloped,” he said. “Of course, residents who live there are pretty upset. They like the peace and quiet of the unfiltered space. We have a lot of open space. We enjoy that. It (Connected City) potentially negates why we are there.”

But, Chris Joy said he welcomed Connected City even though he would lose land to the widening of Kenton Road.

His property fronts Kenton for nearly a mile, but he said, “It’s something in my opinion whose time has come. It’s not very pedestrian friendly. We’re very much in support of having this despite that our property is going to be split in two.”

Published November 16, 2016

Let’s talk turkey — a few pointers about holiday foods

November 16, 2016 By Betsy Crisp

When the holidays arrive, you usually find families and friends gathering around the dining room table. That is precious time that we get to spend catching up on each other’s lives and eat until we are stuffed — like a turkey!

Each holiday usually comes with some sort of tradition and favorite foods of the season. For most, it would not be Thanksgiving without a turkey, but where did this custom begin?

Title Traditionally, the main dish was a roast goose, and since they would migrate, they were only available around certain holidays/times of the year like Thanksgiving/harvest time, Christmas/Hanukkah/winter solstice, and were an important part of many ancient celebrations and rituals.

Just like turkey or chicken, a goose is a white meat. However, its breast meat is darker than a chicken or turkey breast, with a stronger flavor. That’s because geese fly and develop more breast muscles, while turkeys and chickens are raised for food, and don’t exercise their wings as much.

Although chicken/turkey/goose are all considered “white meat” and similar in nature, goose consumption (one-third pound per person per year) has declined and turkey has risen (17.5 pounds per person per year).

So, now that we’ve talked a little turkey, let’s focus on some food safety tips.

To have a happy and safe holiday meal this year, be sure to follow these food safety tips.

Thawing: Thaw your chicken/turkey/goose in the refrigerator for two to three days, depending on the size and weight of the bird. Or, you can use a sink of cold water for the thawing, but be sure to change every 30 minutes. (If you run out of time, you can thaw in the microwave, but you must immediately start cooking to keep bacteria from multiplying.) A turkey can be kept frozen up to a year for best quality, but thawing a turkey correctly is very important for food safety concerns. Do not leave turkey at room temperature for more than two hours because bacteria grow rapidly in the “danger zone” (40°F and 140°F).
Cross-contamination: Bacteria on raw poultry can contaminate anything that it touches. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria to your food and family.
Leftovers: Nontyphodial Salmonella is the second most common bacterial cause of foodborne illness in the United States. (Nontyphodial Salmonella is associated with undercooked poultry and cross-contamination). Clostridium perfringens is the third most common cause of illness, due to failure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. This cause of illness increases during the holiday season, when meat and poultry account for 92 percent of foodborne illness outbreaks. So, it is important to refrigerate leftovers in the refrigerator at 40°F or below within two hours of preparation and serving — to prevent food poisoning.
Stuffing: It is best not to stuff your turkey, but rather in a casserole dish to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. If you do choose to stuff the turkey, do so just before cooking and use a quick-temp food thermometer to make sure the stuffing’s center reaches 165°F.
Cooking: Preheat the oven to at least 325°F (I prefer 350°F). Place the completely thawed turkey with the breast side up in a roasting pan (2 inches to 2-1/2 inches deep). Cooking times will vary depending on how many pounds the turkey weighs. To make sure the turkey is done, check by using a rapid-rise food thermometer inserted into the thickest portions of the breast, thigh, and wing joint until it reaches 165°F. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing all stuffing from the cavity and carving the meat.

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 .

Fall Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat bread, cubed
3 cups white bread, cubed
1 pound ground turkey sausage
1 cup onion, chopped
¾ cup celery, chopped
2 ½ teaspoons dried sage
1 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 apple (golden delicious or Granny Smith), cored and chopped
¾ cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup parsley, chopped
1 cup low-sodium turkey stock or low sodium chicken bouillon
4 tablespoons butter/margarine, melted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a large sheet pan. Bake 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted. Add to large mixing bowl.

In a large skillet, cook sausage and onions over medium heat while stirring/breaking up the lumps until evenly browned. Add the celery, sage, rosemary and thyme. Cook while stirring for 2 minutes to blend flavors.

Pour sausage mixture over bread cubes in bowl. Add chopped apple, dried cranberries, parsley and mix well. Pour turkey stock and melted butter and mix lightly. Fill a buttered casserole dish (or allow to cool and stuff turkey loosely just before cooking).

Another recipe option for a smaller gathering (cooking a turkey breast in a slow-cooker)

Fresh-Herbed Turkey Breast
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons butter/margarine, softened
¼ cup fresh sage, minced
¼ cup fresh tarragon, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 split turkey breast (3 to 4 pounds)
1 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:
Thaw turkey breast (1-2 days in refrigerator), if frozen.

Remove skin and discard. Combine butter, sage, tarragon, garlic, pepper and salt. Rub butter mixture all over breast.

Place turkey breast in electric slow-cooker. Cover. Cook on low 8-10 hours, on high 4-5 hours, or until turkey reaches 165°F on a quick-temp food thermometer and no longer pink in the center.

Transfer turkey breast to serving platter; cover with foil to keep warm.

Turn slow-cooker to high; slowly whisk in cornstarch to thicken cooking liquid. When the sauce is smooth and thick, pour over turkey breast. Slice and serve.

Makes 6-8 servings

Published November 16, 2016

Refreshed by a reunion of old friends

November 16, 2016 By Tom Jackson

I was confronted recently by the enduring question posed by the Clash and memorably highlighted in an ad for Choice hotels: Should I stay or should I go?

I’m talking about the King High School Class of 1971’s 45-year reunion.

Brenda Nichols Pressly and Jim Evans enjoy themselves at the King High School Class of 1971 reunion. (Tom Jackson/Photos) — Brenda Nichols Pressly and Jim Evans enjoy themselves at the King High School Class of 1971 reunion.
(Tom Jackson/Photos)

It’s always easier to invent reasons not to go, of course. What’ll we talk about? Haven’t I heard all their stories? Haven’t I told all of mine? Don’t I see the people I care about from time to time anyway? I didn’t lose those 20 pounds. I really could use that weekend catching up on, I don’t know, something.

A further wrinkle cropped up a month or so ago: Some of my work for the late, lamented Tampa Tribune had made the finals in the Florida Press Club’s annual contest; the awards banquet announcing the fate of those efforts (in commentary and feature writing) was set, in St. Augustine, for the second night of our reunion.

My decision, then, wasn’t merely binary: Should I go or should I stay? It was tertiary: Should I go here or should I go there, or should simply chuck it all, put my feet up and stay home?

In the end, for me there was only one viable option.

I went to my high school reunion. After all, they come around only every five years. And, truth be told, as one of those pushing for it when some of the usual organizers thought of calling it off, I’d crossed the point of no return ages ago.

From left: Debbi Stevens Haverty, Vilia Johnson, Herb Fluitt, Marsha Spain Fuller, Dennis Asbel, Lynn Munoz Murray and Nancy Ringelspaugh Johnson pose for a group shot at the 45th reunion of the King High School Class of

It’s not like sticking by my commitment wasn’t complicated. The heir apparent, who is built like a dream offensive tackle but preferred beating a bass drum to getting his head beaten on — wise lad — was, that Friday night, a part of the Senior Night festivities at Tampa Catholic High.

Now, I’m a big fan of the traditional reunion first night mingle, but Senior Night happens just once a lifetime. So, while my classmates were snacking on hors d’oeuvres and reacquainting with one another, the redoubtable Debbie and I escorted The Boy to midfield for polite applause and photographs, then settled in for the Crusaders’ annual drubbing by the Jesuit Tigers.

Even then, however, it never crossed my mind we wouldn’t go. Never mind the event site was nearly an hour away in Indian Rocks Beach, and that most everybody — because we have achieved a certain vulnerable age — would have packed it in.

After the final horn, we caught up with The Boy to say our farewells and reiterate our expectations — he was about to be home alone for the next 36 hours or so; it would be excellent if he didn’t burn the place down. And then we set off. Finally, close to midnight, we arrived to find a healthy collection of stragglers around tables near an outdoor bar.

Here’s another perspective of, from left, Robert Harrison, Rose Campisi and Lois Snow at the 45th reunion of the King High School Class of 1971.

Just as I was about to attribute this lingering to alcohol-fueled inertia, someone sang out one of the sweetest phrases known to humans. “There you are! We’ve been waiting for you!”

To be clear: I was not one of the cool kids, exactly. I was a perpetual ’tweener: Not quite an athlete (I was a football placekicker), not quite a scholar, not quite a politician (though I ran frequently, I lost routinely), never (ever) a stoner. I was fringy, associated with lots of groups, rarely occupying the center of any.

Once upon a time, I was not the guy two dozen of the happening kids would have waited to catch up with. Not just in high school, but certainly not at the 10-year or, probably, even the 20-year reunions.

But time — with our class, anyway, and I expect it’s this way with most — peels away clique structures. As the years mount, and the memories fade, we warm to those who shared our coming-of-age experience. This strikes me as against the odds, but the phenomenon is real.

Public high schools throw together collections of kids from backgrounds, family structures, socioeconomic status, ethnicities and ambitions so varied, each and everyone of them could serve as a sociologist’s dream laboratory.

Then there’s the expectation this random population ultimately will gain sophisticated academic knowledge while developing the skills necessary to become suitable human beings — all while coping with surging hormones and awkward bodies. It has proved an imperfect system.

Indeed, it’s a wonder any of us emerge still talking to each other, let alone regarding ourselves as friends. For life. But, we do. People are weird.

And so we gathered, 60-some-odd of us out of a class of more than 500 (admittedly, we need to recruit better). We came together to remember the good times, smooth over some of the bad, refuse to talk politics (on the weekend before Election Day) and to ignore, as well as we could, the passage of years.

Anybody who’s attended a high school reunion past the age of 50 knows the joke: Who invited all these old people?

Well. That might have made the rounds last time we gathered, but nobody uttered it all weekend. This is not definitive, of course. Super hearing is not among my powers.

Maybe the reason I didn’t hear it is because, frankly, for a bunch of folks staring down the barrel of full retirement age, we looked pretty good.

With the possible exception of your humble correspondent, the Class of 1971 has held up exceptionally well. Despite the gray (or white) hair — or lack of same — the full-time eye gear, and the lines of wisdom etched on our faces, it was still possible to detect a twinkle of the kids we were all those years ago.

There is a freshening, too, in reliving old stories. One talked about the summer he picked tobacco in North Carolina — dirty, backbreaking work — and another before our senior year when he and two football teammates acted as counselors in a Blue Ridge Mountains camp run by our head coach.

Then, Sunday night, after we’d dispersed to the lives we’ve fashioned apart from each other, I got a private message from this very classmate who, inspired by the gathering and the photos it produced, joined Facebook to enroll in our online family.

This is not someone who wears his sentiments on his sleeve. In fact, well-suited to his chosen field — engineering — he is the essence of reticence. He studies. He analyzes. So when he speaks, people lean in, as I did when this uncharacteristically revealing assertion popped up:

Getting the gang back together wasn’t just a weekend well-spent, he wrote. It made him feel 20 years younger.

It made me realize I’d felt springier in my steps, too. Somehow, a weekend among my high school mates stirred the optimistic, idealistic kid within.

He’s still there. All he needed was a little nudge from the past. Which brings me to a recommendation for others weighing the high school reunion stay-or-go question.

Go, by all means.

It turns out marinating in memories can be your own Fountain of Youth.

Tom Jackson, a resident of New Tampa, is interested in your ideas. To reach him, email .

Published November 16, 2016

Gratitude for two pups named Buddy and Travis

November 9, 2016 By Diane Kortus

I’m at that sweet spot in my life when my time is truly my own. My children are young adults with their own homes and families, and while we talk almost daily, I see my son and daughter just a few times a year because of distance, work and other commitments.

But, this does not mean I am alone. Instead of living with two children, I now live with two dogs — a beagle named Buddy and an Airedale terrier named Travis.

Travis, front, and Buddy lounge in their Land O’ Lakes home. (Courtesy of Diane Kortus) — Travis, front, and Buddy lounge in their Land O’ Lakes home.
(Courtesy of Diane Kortus)

Believe me, this was not how I envisioned my life after kids. In fact, I always believed after the family dogs that my children grew up with had passed on, I would live a dog-free life with no one depending on me for their daily existence.

I fantasized how luxurious it would feel to be out with friends and not worry about getting home to walk and feed the dogs. I relished the thought of sleeping late Saturday morning, without a dog’s cold nose nuzzling me to get up to feed him and let him out.

But, my fantasy was just that — a dream that fortunately was not meant to be.

My reality of a dog-free life lasted just two months after I lost Jonas a year ago. Jonas was my 10-year-old, much-loved Airedale that I had nursed through cancer treatments in the hope that he’d be with me for several more years.

But, when his cancer came back, it was just a few weeks before the tumors traveled to his brain, and I held him in my arms as he died.

If you ever lost a pet, you know how painful and empty that feels. And, you’ll understand why many people decide against getting another pet — because they don’t believe they can’t bear the pain of losing another four-legged companion.

Well, that was me.

After Jonas died, I had no plans to replace him. Instead, I wanted to give back to the Sunshine Airdalers of Florida — the rescue group that allowed me to adopt Jonas seven years earlier. I volunteered to transport dogs being surrendered, and offered to foster dogs for a week or two until their “forever” home was found.

It wasn’t long after agreeing to be a foster home that I was asked to take in Chomps, whose owner since he was a puppy was giving him up for adoption because of changes in his family.

Chomps was a handsome, 80-pound, 6-year-old who sat by my door patiently waiting for his master to return. After two days, Chomps finally refocused his attention on me, and within the week we had fallen for each other.

And, that’s how Chomps became my “foster failure.” I changed his name to Travis (could there be any worse name for a dog than Chomps?), and a year later there isn’t a sweeter, kinder, happier dog.

Except for Buddy, that is.

Two weeks before Travis found his way to my home, I had adopted Buddy, a 10-year-old beagle from the Humane Society of Tampa. I met Buddy at an adoption event and marveled at the dog’s good nature and air of confidence — despite the fact that all but one of Buddy’s teeth had been extracted because of terribly infected gums.

Between Buddy’s lack of teeth, and his very senior status, the folks at the Humane Society said Buddy had been in the shelter for several months because most people are looking for a young dog with no health issues. They said if I could open my heart and home to Buddy, there was no sweeter dog in their care that deserved a second chance.

After I was assured that a little warm water to soften his kibbles was the only special care Buddy needed, I brought him home to Land O’ Lakes. When Travis showed up a few weeks later, Buddy, with his shelter experience living with dozens of dogs, didn’t seem to mind. Within days, the two dogs settled into a mostly peaceful, co-existence routine.

I share my stories of Travis and Buddy in the hopes that it may encourage at least one reader to open their home and heart to adopting an older dog. As adorable as puppies can be, most people don’t realize how much time and work they are. Older pups, like Travis and Buddy, will be calmer, already housebroken and most likely trained to walk on a leash.

But, the biggest benefit is the unconditional love a hard-to-adopt pet will give you. My dogs show their affection and loyalty every day, and help keep my life centered and balanced.

Someday, I hope you will see the bumper sticker, “Who rescued who?” — and it will make your heart leap in gratitude, as it does mine.

Published November 9, 2016