Local News

Jeffries House undergoing major restoration

April 13, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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.

“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.

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

April 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

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

April 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

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.

“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

April 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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.

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

April 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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

April 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

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

April 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

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

April 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

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.

“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.

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.

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

New River kids tackle cooking challenge

April 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Four New River Elementary students are getting set to take off their “thinking caps” and put on their “chef’s caps.”

Fourth-graders Payton Furman, Cameron Keehn, Payton Leidy and Charyn Maldonado will compete as a team in the third annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge at One Buc Place, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility, on May 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. Other regional competitions are being held at the Miami Dolphins’ and Jacksonville Jaguars’ facilities on separate dates.

From left, program advisor Kathy Gillooly and fourth-graders Cameron Keehn, Payton Furman, Payton Leidy and Charyn Maldonado. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) — From left, program advisor Kathy Gillooly and fourth-graders Cameron Keehn, Payton Furman, Payton Leidy and Charyn Maldonado.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

The challenge was created by the Florida Dairy Farmers and is part of Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and the NFL to help encourage youth to lead healthier lives.

The team from New River Elementary, located in Wesley Chapel, was named as one of four central Florida finalists in March after the students’ recipe — “Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla with Yogurt Veggie Dip” — was judged and chosen by members of the Dairy Council of Florida.

The four students decided to create a quesadilla recipe, since they all enjoy the entrée, and knew the contest required entrants to make an original recipe that included dairy products.

To make the Mexican classic healthier, they opted to add a few veggies — peppers and chopped spinach— to the recipe.

“I wasn’t sure about the peppers or the chopped spinach, but then I did end up liking it, because all of it was good together,” said Leidy, 10. “I don’t like them separate, but I do like them together.”

The New River students are one of four regional finalists chosen for the third annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge for their recipe, ‘Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla with Yogurt Veggie Dip.’ They will prepare the recipe at One Buc Place on May 14. (Courtesy of Kathy Gillooly) — The New River students are one of four regional finalists chosen for the third annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge for their recipe, ‘Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla with Yogurt Veggie Dip.’ They will prepare the recipe at One Buc Place on May 14.
(Courtesy of Kathy Gillooly)

The team will have 60 minutes to prepare and present the quesadilla and veggie dip in front of the judges at One Buc Place. After making the meal once before, they are confident they can get the finished product complete in 45 minutes or less.

To do so, group member has been assigned a job, whether it’s making the veggie dip, flipping the quesadilla or cutting it into football shapes.

“It’s fun cooking, but the best part is eating it,” Maldonado said with excitement.

“I like how we get to cook at One Buc Place. That’s my favorite part, and cooking in front of other people and the judges,” said Keehn, a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If the New River students win first place, they’ll each receive a tablet, and the school will receive a $2,500 prize pack.

The team’s program advisor and school’s P.E. teacher, Kathy Gillooly, said the entire initiative is beneficial, because it helps students learn about healthy habits and helps the school obtain additional funding.

“Since we brought this aspect into the school, I think it really helps them because they know “fuel up” means eating well, and “play 60” means they’re supposed to exercise for 60 minutes,” said Gillooly, who’s been an advisor for the cooking challenge all three years.

“I really think it’s an advantage that they’re doing this for kids. It’s also an advantage for schools getting that grant money,” she said.

Third annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge
What: Young chefs compete in a cooking challenge, which is part of Fuel Up to Play 60.
When: May 14, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Facility, One Buc Place

Published April 6, 2016

All-girl band gaining popularity

April 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

A group of 13- to 15-year-old Tampa girls are turning heads in the local music scene.

Extra Celestial, an all-girl band made up of vocalist Casey Banales, 14; guitarist Devyn Dacus, 15; bassist Caitlin McHale, 15; and drummer Anabella Vivero, 13, will be performing several live shows in the next two months.

They’ll be at Skipper’s Smokehouse on April 8, the Hard Rock Café on April 30 and The Orpheum on May 14.

Extra Celestial was formed in August. From left, Annabella Vivero, Caitlin McHale, Casey Banales and Devyn Dacus. (Courtesy of Marlene Fox Photograph) — Extra Celestial was formed in August. From left, Annabella Vivero, Caitlin McHale, Casey Banales and Devyn Dacus.
(Courtesy of Marlene Fox Photograph)

The band, formed in August by Jim Chambers of Jim Chambers Music Box, is also working on recording its first single, “Restart.”

Chambers, a former 15-year record executive who won three Grammys with Maroon 5, the Dave Matthews Band and Flyleaf, had been trying to put an all-female band together for some time.

“I had worked with them in the past,” said Chambers, who works closely with three other bands. “I finally was able to assemble them.

“I think they’re the only all-female band in Tampa. Each of them do have (good) qualities; they all play very well.”

The band, described as “alternative rock with pop leanings,” mainly plays cover songs from the 1980s to contemporary.

Some of their favorite tracks to perform include “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles, “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar and “Exes and Ohs” by Elle King.

“We don’t really stick to one specific area of music. We kind of just do everything,” said McHale, a sophomore at Steinbrenner High School who’s played bass for two years.

From left, Casey Banales, Caitlin McHale, Annabella Vivero and Devyn Dacus. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) — From left, Casey Banales, Caitlin McHale, Annabella Vivero and Devyn Dacus.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

While it’s “much easier” for the band to learn cover songs, the group also has its eyes set on creating a few more singles, and possibly creating an EP, extended play.

Their single, which they’ll record in a studio on April 17, was written by Banales and riffed by Dacus. The process of crafting the single to make it “sound good” took about a month, band members said.

“I think it will be easier now to put out more (songs) since we understand the process of songwriting more,” McHale said.

The band, which typically rehearses twice a week, has developed a close camaraderie since forming several months ago.

“I think it’s because we’re all from different cliques at school,” explained Banales, a freshman at Cambridge Christian High School. “Like, we’re all so different that we get along so well; none of us are alike each other.”

Despite being the lead vocalist, Banales was initially hesitant about joining a band.

“One of the reasons I didn’t want to be in a band was because I don’t like having to get to know new people,” she said. But, she said her mom encouraged her, saying: “‘Do it. You’ll like it.”

So, Banales decided to give it a try and discovered she liked it.

“They’re all actually really cool,” she said, referring to her band mates.

Over time, the group has become closer through learning to communicate and express opinions with one another.

Also helping the band’s development is Chambers’ vast experience throughout the music industry, which included stints at Sony/BMG and VH1.

“I just show them how to navigate that process…and manage them, like, ‘How do you make a flyer, how do you use social media,’” Chambers said. … “It’s really ‘Record Label 101’ and ‘Band Management 101,’ too.”

“It’s good to have someone tell you what you’re doing wrong just because sometimes we don’t notice…when it sounds bad or off,” McHale said.

According to Chambers, pitching a young band to certain venues can be a tough sell — until management witnesses their talent and the ensuing crowds the group draws to their shows.

“It’s a big deal Skipper’s is allowing them to perform on a Friday night,” Chambers said, emphatically. “Often…you see a young band and you’re like, ‘Okay, we’ve seen this show before.’ But, our bands kick (butt); it’s like, ‘Whoa, they’re quite good.’

“It’s a really tough pitch, but when you bring 300 people, they’re like, ‘Oh, he wasn’t kidding.’ I did that on a Sunday with them,” he said.

While the band was initially nervous when they first had to perform in front of a live audience, the group now has no problem headlining on a big stage.

“When there’s a lot of people, I don’t get as nervous,” Banales said.

Dacus agreed, saying, “When you’re around people you don’t know, it’s kind of easier.”

With youth and potential on their side, Extra Celestial has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

“I would love to do it professionally,” McHale said. “I don’t know if that’s where it’s going to go, but I think that would be pretty cool. I’d love to do that.”

Extra Celestial
Band Bios
Casey Banales, vocalist: Banales is a freshman at Cambridge Christian School. She began singing at age 6, and also played violin when she was younger. Banales is a member of her school’s basketball, volleyball, track and cheer teams.

Devyn Dacus, guitarist: Dacus is a sophomore at Steinbrenner High School. She first started playing music, on the piano, as a 4-year-old. When she was 10, she started playing the guitar.

Caitlin McHale, bassist: McHale is a sophomore at Steinbrenner High. She has been playing bass for two years after first learning how to play the guitar. She also plays soccer at Steinbrenner.

Annabella Vivero, drummer: Vivero is an eighth-grader at Cambridge Christian. She’s been playing drums since age 5, when she took classes at the American Rock School in Tampa. She is a member of her school’s basketball and track teams.

Published April 6, 2016