The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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North Pointe Church to have a home of its own

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There was a time when North Pointe Church prayed over an 11-acre site, hoping that a door would open for the land to become the location for the church’s first permanent home.

That was in 2008.

That prayer wasn’t answered.

Pastor Steve Wells said North Pointe Church’s new site demonstrates God’s word in action. “God’s word says he’ll give you exceedingly more than you ever asked, dreamed or imagined — He’s given us exceedingly more than we could have ever asked, dreamed or imagined.” (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Pastor Steve Wells said North Pointe Church’s new site demonstrates God’s word in action. “God’s word says he’ll give you exceedingly more than you ever asked, dreamed or imagined — He’s given us exceedingly more than we could have ever asked, dreamed or imagined.”
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Instead, another property — three times the size of the parcel the church prayed over — became available in 2015.

And, it’s in essentially the same spot, just facing the other direction, said North Pointe’s Pastor Steve Wells.

The incredible thing was that the church had been hoping for at least 10 acres to plant its permanent home, but then decided that a 3-acre site was probably more feasible, given its finances.

When it learned about the 33-acre property where it’s planning to build, it simply was seeking to buy a few acres, Wells said.

The owner told the church it could buy a few acres, or all 33, for the same price.

Wells saw the hand of God in that transaction.

“God’s word says he’ll give you exceedingly more than you ever asked, dreamed or imagined — He’s given us exceedingly more than we could have ever asked, dreamed or imagined,” Wells said.

On April 10, the church celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction on a 12,000-square-foot structure that will serve as the church’s first permanent worship center.

The site is off County Line Road and Amanda Park Drive, in Lutz.

Plans for the first phase include a 12,000-plus-square-foot worship center, with gathering areas, administrative offices and spacious natural places on the property. The goal is to open the new sanctuary by late December or early January.

Wells is excited about the church finally having a home of its own.

Members of North Pointe Church enthusiastically toss dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony for the church’s first permanent home. (Photos courtesy of Northpointe Church)
Members of North Pointe Church enthusiastically toss dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony for the church’s first permanent home.
(Photos courtesy of North Pointe Church)

North Pointe had its first meeting in 2004 in the auditorium of Wharton High School, as a church planted by Belmont Church of Temple Terrace. The following year, North Pointe became its own church, Wells said.

In 2008, it moved from Wharton to a warehouse space in Land O’ Lakes, and then it moved again, in 2015, to Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes.

The church has grown from 40 members to more than 300, Wells said. It draws members from as far west as Odessa, as far east as Zephyrhills, as far north as San Antonio and as far south as Thonotosassa.

Because its members come from numerous communities, the church was delighted when it found a location that’s so centrally located, Wells said.

North Pointe aims to be a church that helps people deal with life’s practical challenges, and encourages them to grow spiritually.

North Pointe Church’s new building is deliberately designed to allow a variety of uses within the building, says Pastor Steve Wells.
North Pointe Church’s new building is deliberately designed to allow a variety of uses within the building, says Pastor Steve Wells.

“A church is a place for you to find hope and freedom in Christ,” Wells said. “But, what we realize is that people aren’t looking for hope and freedom in Christ — people are looking for help and healing. And so, what we want to be able to do is offer programs in our community that offer help and healing, in hopes of being able to introduce them to hope and freedom.

“People face impossible situations all of the time. Our Bible teaches us, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’ which means, the impossible is possible through Christ.

The church aims to help people with everything from marriage counseling, to weight loss, to addiction recovery, to budgeting.

“People want to learn to quit smoking, or stop drinking. Countless families in our church are going through foster and adoption processes,” he said. “We want to be an advocate of foster care and adoptive care.”

Hard hats, shovels and an earth mover signify a big day for North Pointe Church in Lutz.
Hard hats, shovels and an earth mover signify a big day for North Pointe Church in Lutz.

Eventually, the church wants to build a second structure that will house its various programs aimed at helping people address practical challenges in life.

“We all struggle with stuff. We believe that when you add God to the equation, the practical problems that you’re facing really become something that you can navigate,” Wells said.

Besides providing worship and other church services, Wells envisions the church as being a place that will attract a variety of other uses, such as live theatre productions, awards ceremonies and corporate events.

“It’s going to be a picture-perfect place to get married,” Wells added.

The pastor is excited by the possibilities that having a permanent church home presents.

“Buildings don’t change lives. It’s what goes on inside,” Wells said.

“Although this (groundbreaking) is a great celebration, it’s not a finish line.”

“Really, it’s a starting line moment,” Wells said.

North Pointe Church meets on Sundays, at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O Lakes. For more information, visit NorthPointeFl.org.

Published April 13, 2016

Patience dwindling on Ridge Road

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When it comes to the extension of Ridge Road, one Pasco County commissioner said it’s time to fish or cut bait.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore wants an answer from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the project by mid-May, or he’s ready to drop it.

The county has been waiting for 16 years for a permit on the project.

Moore reluctantly joined other commissioners on March 29 to approve a new consultants’ contract to pursue the permit, but said his tolerance is waning.

Mike Moore
Mike Moore

“I can’t continue this year after year,” Moore said. “I can’t continue even six months to give more and more funds (to a project) that I don’t know is going to happen.”

Moore signaled earlier that he had concerns about a six-month extension to a contract with consultants at Dawson & Associates.

The firm, based in Washington D.C., is helping steer the county’s permit application through the rules and regulations of multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

At the time, commissioners agreed to the contract extension, but lowered the monthly payments of $38,500 down to $28,500.

The new contract is for one year, retroactive to February 2016, with the potential for month-to-month extensions for an additional three months. The fee remained unchanged.

The contract can be terminated with 30 days’ notice.

Dawson & Associates have submitted a new road design, with more bridges, that is part of a packet under review by the federal agency.

The agency is expected to respond within a month or so, said Dwight Beranek, senior advisor with Dawson & Associates.

“We’re seeing continuous progress, and even accelerated progress, in these last months,” he said.

The federal agency rejected the county’s permit application in April 2015, citing insufficient data and analysis of 17 construction alternatives.

Additional information and the modification of one alternative have been provided, but the application remains in the bureaucratic pipeline.

The 8-mile extension is viewed as high priority as a hurricane evacuation route, and as an additional east/west connector. But, there are objections about environmental damage to the area, and additional harm if more development is encouraged.

The road would run through about 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate wetlands lost during construction of the Suncoast Parkway.

The road currently dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey.

The extension would link to U.S. 41, with a route to the parkway in Land O’ Lakes. There would be no access to the preserve from the road extension.

The county’s budget, for several years, has included $42 million for the first phase of the project.

Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey also expressed frustration with the lengthy process.

Pasco’s application is believed to be the longest pending permit request in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s history, but Starkey said delays aren’t unusual.
“This is a major problem with the Army Corps. It’s not just the county,” she said. “We’re not the only ones going through this.”

In agreeing to the new contract, Moore issued an ultimatum:

“I’m giving you (Dawson & Associates) until mid-May, or I’m done.”

Published April 13, 2016

Jeffries House undergoing major restoration

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Renovations are underway to the Historic Jeffries House in Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) general contractor, Restoration Concepts, recently completed the leveling of the building, at 38533 Fifth Ave. The contractor replaced and added piers under the structure, replaced the latticework and replaced rotten wood on the building’s exterior. Windows were repaired, too.

The home’s porch was replaced by Dwight Hopkins, a longtime Zephyrhills resident. (Photos courtesy of Gail Hamilton)
The home’s porch was replaced by Dwight Hopkins, a longtime Zephyrhills resident.
(Photos courtesy of Gail Hamilton)

After the siding is scraped and sided, the historic house also will get a new paint job.

“They’re really moving along,” said Gail Hamilton, CRA director for the City of Zephyrhills. “They’ve raised the side of the building. It’s still a little off, but it’s a whole lot better than it was.

“We’re getting there. It’s going to be gorgeous when it’s done,” Hamilton said.

The porch floor was replaced, thanks to material and labor donations from Dwight Hopkins, a longtime city resident.

Hopkins contacted the city’s building official Bill Burgess, to see if he could volunteer to replace the porch himself, Hamilton said. Once approved, Hopkins purchased high-quality marine wood and constructed a new porch resembling the original.

The porch replacement was needed, Hamilton said.

“You couldn’t walk on it,” she said, referring to the prior condition of the floor.  “The wood had rotted; the city had put up a ‘Do Not Enter’ sign. Dwight saw that… and he just thought the house deserved the best,” she said.

The City of Zephyrhills purchased the Jeffries House for $111,000 in February 2014. The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency received a $50,000 budget for restoring the historic landmark.
The City of Zephyrhills purchased the Jeffries House for $111,000 in February 2014. The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency received a $50,000 budget for restoring the historic landmark.

“I think that is something that is so great about a small community,” she added, commenting on Hopkins’ efforts.

The project’s final step will be to restore the building’s interior.

With a shoestring budget, the CRA director is currently soliciting bids to install a plumbing and electrical system.

“It wasn’t in my original budget, so I’m trying to get the best deal that I can,” said Hamilton, who was given a $50,000 budget from the city for the restoration of the building’s exterior.

Hamilton expects everything to be completed within the next three months, so the CRA and Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., can shift their daily operations into the building’s first floor.

The second floor will be open for any prospective Zephyrhills business in need of office space, Hamilton said.

“It would be an excellent incubator project,” she said. “I haven’t really created any guidelines or what exactly that would look like. I kind of was waiting to see if somebody was interested. …What a great problem that would be if I had four or five people interested in the second floor, and we try and take those people to the (city) council with a recommendation for use of the second floor.”

The City of Zephyrhills purchased the home — built in 1912 by Zephyrhills founder Capt. Harold B. Jeffries — for $111,000 in February 2014.

Laborers work on making repairs to the back of the Jeffries House.
Laborers work on making repairs to the back of the Jeffries House.

There was a possibility of adding $75,000 for restoration, but Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the appropriation which had been part of the budget adopted by the state legislature.

Preserving historic landmarks is important, Hamilton said.

“It is who we are and where we came from. Future generations will look back at us and determine if we were good stewards of our historical assets,” she explained. “It’s what makes Zephyrhills unique and different. If we don’t preserve our history, then we are just a spot in the road.”

Hamilton also noted: “If you walk down the street of any downtown, you should see the timeline: the evolution of the city.

“There should be homes and businesses and buildings that represent the different decades of that city, and really create that sense of history and place,” she explained. “You may not be crazy about mid-century architecture, but it shows a part of your history,” she said.

“And, all of those buildings should be preserved,” Hamilton said.

Published April 13, 2016

PHSC aims to prepare globally astute graduates

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Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, has been making the rounds to each of the college’s campuses in a run-up to a formal celebration of his inauguration as the college’s fourth president.

The events have had a different focus at each campus, with the most recent event at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch centering on leadership development and community engagement.

Before that panel discussion began, however, Beard shared his vision for the college and talked about steps that are necessary to ensure its graduates are ready for challenges they will face.

Dr. Timothy Beard outlines Pasco-Hernando State College’s quest to prepare globally astute graduates during a recent event at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. (File Photo)
Dr. Timothy Beard outlines Pasco-Hernando State College’s quest to prepare globally astute graduates during a recent event at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.
(File Photo)

The state college, formerly known as Pasco-Hernando Community College, is 44 years old, and has made its mark on the region, Beard said. However, he added, “we believe our best days are ahead of us.”

Beard told those gathered that it’s important to reach out to the community, and for the community to reach out to the college.

“We’ve learned over the years in order to be effective and efficient as a public institution, we all need each other,” Beard said. “At the end of the day, we want our students to be successful. We want our students to be able to complete whatever they started.”

The college wants to prepare students “who are globally astute,” Beard said. It also wants them “to be able to imagine, achieve and succeed,” he said. “In other words, we want them to be able to dream.

“This vision doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It needs fuel. It needs energy,” he said.

The college delivers its instruction through online learning, face-to-face instruction and through a hybrid approach, Beard said.

It is aiming to increase its college completion rates by 50 percent within the next five to 10 years, Beard said.

“College readiness is big piece of what we do. We have very strong partnerships with Pasco and Hernando public schools, with USF (the University of South Florida) and Saint Leo University,” Beard said.

“We serve a purpose in making sure that students have the right to a public education. So, we want to make sure that education is affordable. We want to make sure it is accessible. And, we want to make sure our students are successful,” he said.

“We take great pride in being the great democratizer of education — meaning we’re willing to give students not just a second and third, but a fourth and fifth chance.”

The college also wants to help close the American skills gap, Beard said.

“Companies want to come here. They want to do business with us. No. 1, they want to make sure we have a skilled workforce,” he said.

“We have companies that are calling us every day to ask us, ‘Do you have students or graduates who can go to work for us?’” Beard added.

So, the college is playing “a very vital role in making sure we can produce students with industry certifications, AS (Associate of Science) degrees, students who can go to work to make a difference in our workforce,” Beard said.

“We want every student in this county that at least by age 20, 21, they have some type of credential – a certification, an AS degree, a BS (Bachelor of Science) degree,” Beard said.

He also asked for continuing support of the college’s efforts.

“We know we can’t do it alone,” Beard said.

Inauguration of PHSC President
Dr. Timothy Beard will be inaugurated as Pasco-Hernando State College’s fourth president on May 6, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the college’s Performing Arts Center on its West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road. The reception will follow, at 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the physical fitness center at the same campus.

Published April 13, 2016

Seventy years of marriage, and going strong

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They were teenagers.

She was visiting her brother and his wife in Tampa, and she took the streetcar over to the Sulphur Springs swimming pool.

He was at the pool to relax.

He spotted her.

Nellie and Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., recently celebrated 70 years of married life, and they relish the love story they share. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Nellie and Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., recently celebrated 70 years of married life, and they relish the love story they share.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“He came over and started talking to me, and he was cute, so I talked back with him,” said Nellie Bailey, of Lutz.

“I was 16,” said Nellie, now 87.

“I was 17,” said Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., now 88.

“That day we went to Whitehead’s Drugstore, got a hamburger and went to a movie,” Hugh said.

They don’t remember what movie they saw.

“I was looking at her, not the movie,” Hugh said.

“We dated every night the whole summer,” Nellie said. “We went to the beaches. We bowled and we ate out, and we went to movies, and we went over to the park and kissed under the trees.”

But, then she had to return to North Carolina to finish high school. He had to finish high school, too.

“We wrote about once every two weeks. We continued on with our normal lives, going to school, and dating other boys and girls. But, we didn’t forget each other. We kept writing,” Nellie said.

Then, she moved to Tampa with her family in January of 1946.

“We renewed our dating, dating every night,” Nellie said.

Then he was drafted.

Nellie Bailey’s beauty attracted the attention of Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., more than 70 years ago, leading to a marriage that’s still cherished by both Nellie and Hugh. (Photos courtesy of Janice Kurtz)
Nellie Bailey’s beauty attracted the attention of Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., more than 70 years ago, leading to a marriage that’s still cherished by both Nellie and Hugh.
(Photos courtesy of Janice Kurtz)

“He asked me to marry him and go with him. I said, ‘OK, let’s go,” Nellie said.

They married on March 31, 1946.

“Our first stop was Amarillo, Texas. The next stop was San Antonio, Texas. The third stop was West Palm Beach. I followed him wherever he was sent.

“He was honorably discharged in February 1947,” Nellie said.

“We had our first anniversary in Tampa, March 31, and our daughter was born then. Right on the day.”

Their second child, a son, also was born on their anniversary in 1951.

The couple went on to have a total of four children: Donna, Gains Jr., James Douglas and Janice Nell. The couple also has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

This past weekend, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at a party with about two dozen family members.

Even after seven decades, the romance is alive.

Nellie said she wrote Hugh a love letter years ago. “He reads it every night,” she said.

And, she still recalls every word of a song called “You Belong to My Heart” — their song when they were dating.

“He tells me every day, ‘I love you more than anything in the world.’ And, I tell him the same thing, every day,” Nellie said.

“We always kiss goodbye when he goes out the door and kiss when he comes in,” she said.

“We love each other very much. If we have a spat or disagreement, we can’t stay mad, or go to bed mad, because we won’t be able to sleep if we do.

“I’m miserable as soon as we have cross words and he is, too, so the sooner we make up, the happier we are,” Nellie said.

Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., when he was young.
Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., when he was young.

“We just can’t stay angry. I’ll try to see his side and he’ll try to see my side, and we kind of communicate on it and settle it – to both of our satisfactions, to where we’re both all right with it,” Nellie said.

“Whatever is important to him, is important to me. And, that’s the same way he feels,” she said.

“If it isn’t, I make it important,” Hugh said.

For instance, he said he learned to fish after she gave him a rod and reel.

“I fished when I was a child and he didn’t, so I bought him a rod and a reel as an anniversary present,” Nellie said.

“Our neighbor was a fisherman, and he started taking me fishing,” Hugh said.

For her part, Nellie expanded her musical tastes.

“He likes country music, and I never did like country music,” she said. “I like country music now.”

Hugh was always a good provider, Nellie said.

“We took vacations every year with the children, to the beaches, and camping and fishing. We enjoyed them so much. We got a boat, and he (Hugh) took them (water) skiing. We’d swim at the beach. We took them fishing,” Nellie said.

“We’ve traveled all over the United States, from Maine to San Francisco. We took the whole family, the children and grandchildren, to Yellowstone,” Hugh added.

Having fun with each other, with their friends and with their family, has always been important to both of them.

“We’ve always had fun. You just can’t have a good marriage without some fun in it,” Nellie said.

They also share many fond memories of times they’ve shared together.

When they lived in San Antonio, they lived near the Alamo.

“Bands would be down there playing every night. Our windows would be open, and we could hear that soft romantic music,” Nellie said. “They had a watermelon hut there. They served nothing but watermelon down by the water, so we’d have watermelon every night.”

Hugh thinks Nellie saved his life.

“I went into Afib and my heart was beating 160 beats a minute, and they took me to Tampa General,” Hugh said.

He spent seven days in intensive care, with Nellie at his side.

“He was heavily sedated,” Nellie said. “They would say: ‘He might can hear you.’

“I’d say, ‘Hugh can you hear me? Squeeze my hand.’ He’d squeeze my hand,” Nellie said.

When they were young, Nellie said, she recalls imagining Hugh the way he looks today.

“That’s what I always wanted, for us to grow old together,” she said. “We’re actually still in love. It’s a much deeper love now.”

Hugh agreed: “She’s still my sweetheart.”

Published April 6, 2016

Efforts begin to reduce flooding hazards

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The Hillsborough County Public Works department will soon begin a project aimed at reducing the potential for flooding near the intersection at West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard.

The department expects to begin construction on the West Bearss Drainage Improvement Project within the next month. The $400,000 project entails replacing the existing drainage structure at the southeast corner of the intersection, upgrading the drainage pipe on West Bearss Avenue and constructing a new linear pond to allow pretreatment of the water before it flows to Lake Magdalene.

Hillsborough County project manager Robbie Wiseman said debris buildup over time has led to flooding at the intersection.

Construction will take place at the intersection of West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard. (Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County)
Construction will take place at the intersection of West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard.
(Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County)

Stormwater flows through a flume to a ditch bottom inlet with a grate positioned on top to prevent debris from entering the storm system and ultimately the lake, Wiseman said.

“This project will provide a large slot into the structure to allow water to flow into the structure, while still preventing the debris from entering the system,” he said.

Wiseman added the drainage project will allow stormwater runoff to flow to the linear pond, located on the south side of Bearss Avenue.

“The current drainage system flows through a series of culverts from the north side of Bearss Avenue, and ends in a small pond at the northwest corner of Bearss and Emerald Lake Boulevard. The last culvert leading into this pond is currently plugged with siltation and causing flooding in the area. This is due to the pond’s outfall elevation (being) set too high for the current treatment of stormwater runoff,” he explained. “This project will lower this elevation in the structure.”

Stormwater issues, including flooding, have affected the intersection of West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard.
Stormwater issues, including flooding, have affected the intersection of West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard.

According to Jason Boulnois, the county’s construction services manager, the linear pond will provide additional treatment of the stormwater runoff by “allowing time for water from the roadway to slowly move from the entry point in the pond to the outfall” in Lake Magdalene. He noted it will “naturally treat and remove particles collected from the roadway.”

The entire system should have a 50-year life span, with proper periodic maintenance, Wiseman said.

Construction will take place on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access to homes will be maintained through construction.

Officials say most of the construction will be in the right of way. However, it may be necessary to work on private property with prior approval, and all areas affected by the construction will be restored, they said.

Boulnois said one lane of traffic might need to close during construction when workers or equipment are present. Closures will be between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Weather permitting, construction should be complete within 90 days, he added.

The project is being funded through the Stormwater Fee Capital Improvement Program. Additionally, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is cooperatively funding the project at 50 percent.

West Bearss Drainage Improvement Project
What: The Hillsborough County Public Works Department plans to construct and replace the existing drainage structure at the southeast corner of the intersection at West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard. The county also will upgrade the drainage pipe on West Bearss Avenue and build a new linear pond for water quality pre-treatment discharge to Lake Magdalene.
Why: To address stormwater issues and flooding on and around the intersection.
When: Spring 2016
Where: Areas around the intersection at West Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard
Project Cost: $400,000

Published April 6, 2016

Façade grants available in Zephyrhills

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Some commercial buildings in Zephyrhills are about to become more attractive.

The Zephyrhills City Council, on March 28, approved the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency’s Matching Façade Rehabilitation Grant Program.

The $10,000 grant aims to encourage the restoration and preservation of commercial buildings within the CRA district — a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.

Commercial businesses located within the CRA district are eligible for the Matching Façade Grant Program. The CRA district is a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street. (Courtesy of Gail Hamilton)
Commercial businesses located within the CRA district are eligible for the Matching Façade Grant Program. The CRA district is a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.
(Courtesy of Gail Hamilton)

The program offers up to a maximum of $2,500 in grant money, but the applicant must spend at least twice the amount of the grant.

The program’s goal is to encourage complete rehabilitation of the structures.

The funds can be used for specific improvements, including a new coat of paint, awnings, doors, windows, exterior lighting and approved siding.

The one-time grant is “first come, first served.”

The grant is part of an effort to eliminate “blighting influences and further deterioration of commercial properties within the CRA district,” according to program documents.

“The CRA’s job is to increase the value of the properties, and therefore, the taxable value,” said Gail Hamilton, CRA director for the city of Zephyrhills.

“In looking at the buildings…it’s going to be city staff that’s going to be doing this, not just CRA staff, but also the building department, as well as the planning department,” she added.

To be eligible for the grant, all property taxes have to be current. Funds will not be provided to a property that has outstanding tax liens, Hamilton said. The CRA director also noted that nonprofits are not eligible to receive funding.

“This is tax dollars, so the CRA has to know you’ve done the work, and once the work has been done, and you prove to the city that you’ve paid the bill in full, then we will reimburse you,” she said.

Hamilton said the grant is not to be used for building maintenance, such as interior improvements, electrical work (unless related to signage or exterior lighting), roof and chimney repairs, or the installation of aluminum or vinyl siding.

“The building must be structurally sound,” Hamilton said, adding the properties must meet the minimum building and life safety codes. “We’re looking at the façade of the building — not if its roof is good. If your roof isn’t structurally sound, then you have a whole lot more problems than just the façade.

“If next year, you decide you don’t like the awning that you put up this year, you can’t come back to the CRA and ask for another grant,” she added.

The façade rehabilitation grant is a follow-up of the CRA’s $10,000 Residential Paint Grant Program, which was approved at last month’s council meeting.

To create an incentive for residents and businesses to participate in both programs, the CRA recently partnered with the Sherwin-Williams paint store in Zephyrhills to provide a 50 percent discount in paint purchases for grant qualifiers.

City Council president Ken Burgess pointed out the program is beneficial for aiding commercial businesses in keeping up with stronger code enforcements within the CRA district.

“I think this (will) be a good (way) to show that we’re not just trying to make things tougher; we’re also willing to help along the way, too,” he said.

Hamilton said she’s focused on “selling” the program to the community, and making sure people in the district understand the overall purpose of the CRA.

“I want to try to use as many carrots as I possibly can to get people to understand the vision of what the city and the CRA is trying to do, and that we’re not just saying, ‘You have to do this,’ but we’re also giving you a hand up in getting it done,” Hamilton said.

“We’re all in this together. Code enforcement and the city and the CRA are all working together, and this grant is there to help them.”

Other initiatives the CRA has focused on include a neighborhood cleanup program, restoration of the historic Jeffries Home and a master plan for the development of Zephyr Park.

Matching Façade Rehabilitation Grant Program
What: A grant program earmarking $10,000 to be used to stimulate façade rehabilitation and preservation of commercial buildings. Grants of up to $2,500 are permitted, but applicants must spend at least twice the amount of the grant they receive. For instance, someone spending $1,000 could receive a grant of $500.

Eligible improvements: New paint job, addition or replacement of awnings, traditional windows, door replacements and exterior lighting.

Ineligible improvements: Interior improvements, electrical work (except as related to signage or exterior lighting), roof and chimney repairs, and installation of aluminum or vinyl siding.

Published April 6, 2016 

Finding music within life’s difficulties

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Playing classical music is not the easiest feat — even when you’ve had formal training and are adept at reading sheet music.

For James Williams, it is even more challenging.

Not only does he lack formal training, but he also has had to overcome obstacles caused by his autism, a condition he was diagnosed with at age 3.

The now 18-year-old, who originally hails from London, said he began teaching himself to play piano when he was attending Weightman Middle School, in Wesley Chapel.

He had a simple motive: He wanted to win the school’s talent show.

And, he did.

Eighteen-year-old James Williams is a Florida finalist in the 2016 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition. He now will compete for international honors. Shown here, he is playing on the grand piano in the lobby at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Eighteen-year-old James Williams is a Florida finalist in the 2016 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition. He now will compete for international honors. Shown here, he is playing on the grand piano in the lobby at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Since then, he has continued teaching himself and recently he was named one of the state’s three top soloists in the ninth annual 2016 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition.

Winning that contest means that he’s representing Florida in the VSA International Competition in Washington D.C., later this year.

The other two Florida finalists in the competition are Lyudmilla Fuentes, from Polk County, and Jacqueline Blanche, from Charlotte County.

The state finalists were selected through a strict adjudication process facilitated by Tampa Bay professors of music at the University of South Florida and at the Ybor City campus of Hillsborough Community College.

The Florida and International Young Soloist Program seeks to identify talented musicians, ages 14 through 26, who have a disability. The intention is to increase the musician’s likelihood of having a successful career in the arts, according to a news release from the VSA Florida, at the University of South Florida.

The program delivers opportunities for serious music students to showcase their abilities at venues throughout Florida.

In a partnership with the Florida Orchestra and Ashley Furniture, each winner will perform at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg in October at the orchestra’s annual Concert in the Park.

The international award is presented to four outstanding musicians, two from the United States and the other two from the international arena.

Winners of the international competition each receive a $2,500 award, professional development and the opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Williams has learned to play by listening to music and observing other pianists, on YouTube and in other venues.

He has performed at various events and in competitions.

One highlight so far was an appearance at a conference in Orlando for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, where he performed before Temple Grandin.

Grandin is perhaps the most prominent author and speaker, who has autism. She didn’t speak until she was 3, and her parents, at one point, were told she should be institutionalized.

Williams’ mother — Stephanie Stevens — understands the frustrations that parents face when they have a child with autism.

Williams, like Grandin, was diagnosed at age 3.

“He wasn’t talking. He wasn’t progressing as quickly as he should,” Stevens said.

The doctors were not much help.

“People were very much in the dark about autism” she said.

She was raising her son as a single mother, doing shiftwork in London.

She decided to move to the United States in 2007 to join most of her family members, who were already living here.

Since then, she has married her husband, Ralph, who has been a tremendous source of support for her and her son.

She credits faith for helping her son succeed in music, despite his difficulties.

“People prayed over him, constantly. And, my belief is that it was that power of prayer that has helped him overcome these things,” she said, referring to challenges posed by autism.

Williams, who graduated from Wesley Chapel High School, said he plays piano daily, usually twice a day.

He handles all kinds of musical gigs — helping to raise funds for charities and to earn money.

He hopes to pursue a career that involves music, too.

One of his goals is to use his music to help raise awareness about autism, he said.

He’s also delighted to be named one of the top three soloists in Florida in the VSA competition.

“I felt quite special,” he said. “I was a bit surprised, actually.”

His mom is thrilled, too.

“For him to be where he is now, to me, is a blessing.

“It just shows what you can do, no matter what your difficulties or disabilities, or background – with the right kind of determination and encouragement, there is help, and there is hope,” she said.

She also wants to pass along a message of hope, to other parents who have seen their children struggle with autism.

“I’d say to any parent, any guardian: ‘Don’t be discouraged. There’s always hope,’” Stevens said.

Published April 6, 2016

The Shops at Wiregrass is adding stores

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The Shops at Wiregrass is adding fresh faces to its retail lineup.

By the end of fall, the outdoor mall will host the grand openings of seven new stores.

The first three shops, Lola Perfume, Soleciety Sneaker Boutique, and 3D Musketeers Printing, already are open.

The Shops at Wiregrass is adding to its retail lineup, in an effort to keep up-to-date with customer desires. The regional shopping mall is adding stores including Irish 31, Lola Perfume and Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop. (File Photo)
The Shops at Wiregrass is adding to its retail lineup, in an effort to keep up-to-date with customer desires. The regional shopping mall is adding stores including Irish 31, Lola Perfume and Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop.
(File Photo)

VisionWorks, VomFASS Oils, Vinegars, Spirits & Wines, Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop, and Irish 31 will arrive in the next months.

“We’re continually working with our leasing department. We listen continually to our customers who tell us what they want,” said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass. “We try to have a little bit of everything.”

The new shops are part of the routine of keeping a mall fresh and were planned ahead of the opening of Tampa Premium Outlets, Lenners said.

“We have to be very strategic with what we put in,” Lenners said. That’s true for every mall, including Tampa Premium Outlets, he noted.

Four outparcels at Wiregrass are still up for grabs, so additional announcements could happen this year, Lenners said.

Lola Perfume features brand-name fragrances for men and women, at a shop near Hollister’s.

Soleciety Sneaker Boutique, next to Zales, sells hard-to-find, limited edition sneakers.

VisionWorks is a national eye care chain that will open in fall 2016 on an outparcel in front of Moe’s Southwest Grill, near Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The shop sells exclusive brand-name frames, lenses, sunglasses and accessories, and provides eye health care, including examinations for corrective lenses or contacts.

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop will appeal to sweet tooths, at its spot near JC Penney. The shop, which is opening in spring, is a nostalgic trip back to the 1940s and ’50s, with a soda fountain flair. “It’s got a cool, hip flavor to it,” Lenners said.

Customers can browse the shelves for retro and gag gifts, concert and movie posters, and tin signs.

VomFASS Oils, Vinegars, Spirits & Wines will open in late spring near Center Court. The shop sells premium cooking oils, balsamics, vinegar specialties and an exclusive choice of fruit balsamic vinegars. Spirits, liqueurs and wines also will be available.

3D Musketeers Printing sells custom, color printed three-dimensional figurines.

Irish 31 is known to its customers at “The People’s Pub.” The ale house, near Panera Bread, will serve up traditional Irish food, vegetarian dishes, Southern favorites and comfort foods, along with a large selection of beers, wine and specialty cocktails.

The eatery’s name in part is from founder Jay Mize, who wore jersey number 31 as a member of the University of South Florida’s football squad. A fall opening is planned.

“It’s going to be a nice restaurant with Irish appeal to it,” said Lenners. “It will add extra flavor (to the mall).”

Published April 6, 2016

Seed of idea takes root in garden

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Construction trailers once cluttered the vacant lot on a hilly rise across from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

Now, a community garden is taking root there, as hospital employees, one by one, build garden beds that will sprout with vegetables, flowers and herbs.

The landmark Zephyrhills’ water tower looms just behind Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden. Garden beds, aquaponics, butterfly gardens and an educational pavilion will make up the 2-acre garden. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
The landmark Zephyrhills’ water tower looms just behind Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden. Garden beds, aquaponics, butterfly gardens and an educational pavilion will make up the 2-acre garden.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

The Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CREATION Health Community Garden sits behind a white picket fence, on Dairy Road directly behind the hospital.

The garden is a complementary piece to the hospital’s new CREATION Health Wellness Center.

The center offers gym memberships, personal training, a Kid Zone play area, free cooking demonstrations, healthy lifestyle seminars and more.

“This is kind of tying it all together,” said Kelley Sasser, the hospital’s director of process improvement.

Garden beds can be rented by anyone in the community for $75 annually, with no charge for the soil.

Some beds are built tall enough to accommodate gardeners with mobility issues.

Sasser and David Force, who works in the same department as a specialist, are the garden’s promoters.

Force brings gardening expertise to the project; Sasser is a passionate cheerleader.

David Force, a process improvement specialist, brought the idea of a community garden to managers at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. He learned to love gardening from his grandmother.
David Force, a process improvement specialist, brought the idea of a community garden to managers at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. He learned to love gardening from his grandmother.

“We’ve taken the garden under our wings,” Sasser said. “That is what (David) eats and breathes.”

Force credits his grandmother with giving him a love of gardening.

He grew up in Zephyrhills and Dade City, but every summer he visited his grandmother who could coax plants to grow in the worst of conditions.

“She always had a garden,” he said. “This was in north Florida in the middle of sand.”

It was a happy time, he said. “That’s some of my best memories.”

Initially, Force wanted to create a garden for hospital volunteers.

“The hospital thought that was a good idea but wanted to go further,” Force added.

It took nearly three years from merely having an idea to actually digging in the dirt, but on March 16, the first of 70 garden beds were nailed together and filled with fertile soil.

Force has about 500 plants growing in a small greenhouse, from seeds donated by Lowe’s home improvement store in Zephyrhills.

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, lavender and cilantro are among the plants ready to sprout. Ultimately, these fresh veggies and herbs could find their way to the hospital’s cafeteria or into a cooking demo at the wellness center.

Brett Uravich, left, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ liaison for physicians and business development, and Kim Friedmeyer, clinical nurse educator, put together raised garden beds at the hospital’s community garden.
Brett Uravich, left, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ liaison for physicians and business development, and Kim Friedmeyer, clinical nurse educator, put together raised garden beds at the hospital’s community garden.

One long-range goal is to have enough community involvement that a farmer’s market might be held once a month, Force said.

Or, maybe a cooperative, he added, “which would be wonderful.”

At the mid-March kickoff, hospital employees walked over throughout the morning and into the lunch hour, to help with the gardening tasks.

Several volunteers sported T-shirts with the message, “Doing Good in the Neighborhood.”

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is the only hospital in the area with a community garden. As one of 45 hospitals in the Adventist Health System, it is the second hospital in the system to start a community garden. The first started at an Adventist Hospital in Castle Rock, Colorado.

A gazebo, garden shed and a small greenhouse are on-site. Walkways and landscaping give the 2-acre garden a tranquil, inviting ambiance.

Aquaponics, an education pavilion, a butterfly garden and a small orchard will be added during the second phase.

Benches also will be placed throughout the garden, which now is dotted with red and yellow hibiscus in ceramic planters.

The garden also nurtures the spirit.

A tray of seedlings sits in a temporary storage area prior to being planted in Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden.
A tray of seedlings sits in a temporary storage area prior to being planted in Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden.

It embraces the tenants of the Adventist faith and lifestyle, including trust, outlook and nutrition, said Casio Jones, director of the hospitals’ wellness center.

“You’re building oneness with the Lord,” Jones said.

There are social bonds that also knit a community together.

“That increases your ability to see things in a positive way,” he said. “You plant and you reap something good. I just know this is going to be an opportunity for us to partner with our community better.”

Natasha Forbes-Thorne looks forward to quiet lunches in the gazebo, and creating salads from the vegetables she’ll grow in the garden.

Her son donated funds to buy the gazebo, and she served on the hospital’s community garden committee.

“My big thing is teaching the next generation to do sustained gardening, and to know where their food comes from,” said Forbes-Thorne, the hospital’s rehabilitation director. “I see how real this is. This is gold right here.”

Published April 6, 2016