Local News

Local students vie for $10,000 video prize

January 20, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The fifth-grade media club at Veterans Elementary School is vying for the $10,000 grand prize in the annual Trees Rock video contest sponsored by Scotties Tissues.

The club’s video has been deemed a top 10 finalist in a national competition.

The contest calls for videos that explain the importance of trees. The $10,000 prize is intended for use in a sustainable project, such as tree plantings, outdoor classrooms, greenhouses, gardens and so on.

Gadiel Ramirez records the sportscast featuring Jack Carbone as Jack Woodchuck, and Alyssa Bollent as Alyssa Leaf. (Photos courtesy of Veterans Elementary School) — Gadiel Ramirez records the sportscast featuring Jack Carbone as Jack Woodchuck, and Alyssa Bollent as Alyssa Leaf.
(Photos courtesy of Veterans Elementary School)

Students led by club co-advisers Susan Forgas and Mario Pineo worked on the video for weeks.

The students came up with the ideas for the segments, wrote the scripts, created costumes, filmed the segments and edited the three-minute video.

The video is based on the concept of someone flipping through the channels at night, landing on commercials or previews of shows.

“The kids kind of brought their own ideas,” Pineo said. “They sort of had an audition. Then we brainstormed how we would put those together and which ones we would include, and which ones made sense,” he said.

One segment is a portion of a mock sportscast hosted by Jack Carbone, playing the role of Jack Woodchuck, and Alyssa Bollent, playing the role of Alyssa Leaf.

Carbone also wrote the script for the segment, and Gadiel Ramirez shot the video.

Bollent also wrote the script for “Jennie the Genie,” with assistance from Caitlan Jamison and Julia Rosenberg.

Caitlan Jamison plays the role of Jennie the Genie, and Siena Bracciale plays the role of Sarah, in a segment called “Jennie the Genie.”

Jamison played the role of Jennie, Siena Bracciale played Sarah, and Yasmin Fajardo worked the camera.

Isaac Machado played the role of Slash and also wrote the script for “Slash vs Arbor Girl.” Rosenberg played Arbor Girl, Joie Goletz was Woodchuck, and Ava Shortt shot the segment.

Alyssa Forgas, who is Susan Forgas’ niece, handled the camera for the “All Spice” advertisement, which also featured Ella Jennette and Lauren Rossman as rock stars and Lauren Carulli as a makeup artist. Carulli and Jennette co-wrote the ad.

Griffin Roberts played the role of Daniel Wood in one segment. He also created a Twitter page @VoteVes, to help attract votes for the video.

Isaac Machado plays Slash, a villain in a segment called “Slash vs. Arbor Girl.”

Throughout the process, students handled a variety of chores, shooting video, editing, writing scripts and coming up with costumes.

If the school wins, the students want to spend the money on the butterfly garden, an edible garden and a sensory garden, featuring plants that have scents.

This isn’t the first time Veterans Elementary has had success with the contest.

In 2013, Ryan and Rachel Mish, a brother-and-sister team from the school, placed in the top four.

During the next phase of the contest, which runs through Feb. 7, the public will have a chance to view the videos and vote to determine who wins the grand prize.

To view and vote for Veterans Elementary School’s video, go to ScottiesTreesRock.com.

Published January 20, 2016

Former Lutz Guv’na is now Saucy Queen

January 20, 2016 By B.C. Manion

It all began with a carrot.

Well, a basket of carrots, actually.

Carrots were the vegetable of the week at Learning Gate Community School in Lutz, and everyone was encouraged to come up with an idea to make vegetables more enticing for kids.

Michele Northrup poses near her gourmet hot sauces, now available on the shelves of some Winn-Dixie stores in Florida. (Photos courtesy of Michele Northrup) — Michele Northrup poses near her gourmet hot sauces, now available on the shelves of some Winn-Dixie stores in Florida.
(Photos courtesy of Michele Northrup)

Michele Northrup, who works at the charter school, decided to combine the sweetness of carrots with the heat of peppers to concoct a gourmet hot sauce.

People said the sauce tasted so good, she should bottle it.

So, she did.

Since then, she launched a business named Intensity Academy and has branched out to have a product line including sauces, dry rubs and dips.

Her company’s gourmet sauces also have garnered 57 national awards.

Last year, Northrup and her husband, Tom Was, joined forces with a partner to open their own bottling plant, The Sauceology Group, in Clearwater.

Intensity Academy also was selected by Winn-Dixie to stock its product in about 150 Winn-Dixie stores across Florida.

“In the middle of the summer, Winn-Dixie did a really big, grassroots search for local, quality products,” Northrup said. “They put the word out through all festivals and markets that they were looking for products to showcase their Winn-Local program.

“So, we did a pitch, very similar to a ‘Shark Tank’ pitch,” Northrup said, referring to the television program which gives product inventors a chance to win backing from potential investors.

“We did samples of foods with all of our sauces, and we presented it to them, and we had little cheat sheets, so they knew what sauces they were eating with what foods.

“We had to talk about our fan bases and our social media, and how we built our businesses from the ground up.

“From that selection process, they narrowed it down to a few key products for the state of Florida,” Northrup said.

The rollout began around Thanksgiving and is occurring gradually.

The fun part, Northrup said, is finding out from fans where her sauces are showing up in other parts of the state. They’ll pose in front of a shelf and take a “Saucy Selfie” to send to her, Northrup said.

One of the five artisanal hot sauce developed by Intensity Academy for The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

Northrup was also notified last week that she is one of five finalists in the first annual “That Business Show Awards” selected by Jamie Meloni, host of the iheartradio show.

Northrup is thrilled by the achievement of a business she has built from, literally, the ground up.

She launched Intensity Academy in 2007, the same year she was making her run for Lutz Guv’na.

The honorary title is won by raising the most cash, and proceeds from the race go to local organizations and charities.

Northrup raised $16,912, setting a record for the race.

Throughout her bid, she was introducing her sauce and using proceeds from their sales to fill her campaign coffers.

Her Guv’na bid helped groups in Lutz, but also helped Northrup get her fledgling business off the ground.

People who had tasted her sauces during the campaign wanted to buy more, she said.

Now, Northrup’s sauces are sold at specialty markets, and dozens of festivals and fresh markets each year.

She also delivers. She tools around the area, making stops in Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Trinity, Citrus Park, Carrollwood and other spots to drop off orders.

Now, she’s transitioning the business. Her sons Christian, Sebastian and Tommy, and their girlfriends, now handle the events and markets.

She’s focusing on product development and marketing, and her husband is in charge of the Clearwater warehouse.

“I do all of the artwork for the labels. I draw all of the designs.”

She’s still developing new sauce flavors, too.

“Our newest sauce is a mustard. It’s MustThai. MustThai is a must try. It’s a spicy mustard,” she said.

The bottling plant provides services for 11 brands on a regular basis and about 20 others, periodically, she said.

At Sauceology, she helps new companies get their grassroots marketing going.

“Really, for me, the marketing and the branding, and the social media — I love that. I love the connection side of it, too,” she said, noting she has about 10,000 combined followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The common question she gets is: “How did you get started?”

Another popular query is: “How do you take an idea and actually make it into something? That’s why I ended up branching off into Sauceology, because I was giving everybody advice all of the time,” she said.

When she meets someone who has an idea and a passion for it, she tells them: “Take the chance. Take the leap. That’s the difference right there.”

It’s not necessary to know all the answers, or how it will all play out, she said.

Just get started and don’t be intimidated, she advised.

“The first step makes all of the difference,” she said.

“You don’t always have to know how you’re going to finish it, or how you’re going to do the whole thing,” Northrup said.

“I would have never thought that I’d have my own manufacturing plant — from just that little idea from a carrot in a garden,” she said.

To learn more about her business, search Intensity Academy on Facebook or visit www.intensityacademy.com.

Published January 20, 2016

4,000 singers make music together in Rome

January 20, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Singers from a choir from San Antonio were among 4,000 to join voices in Rome in a New Year’s Mass, celebrated by Pope Francis.

“It was beautiful to hear all of the singing together,” said 14-year-old Catherine Beard, who belongs to the Saint Anthony Choristers from Saint Anthony of Padua Church.

“We were in one place. We were all singing for God, together, from everywhere around the world,” she said.

This shot, of the entire choir, was taken near the Coliseum, in Rome.Top, from left: Blaise Carson, Sarah Balling, Valeria Merkt, Clare Hernandez, Claudia Vitale, Catherine Beard, Maria Hernandez, Emily Balling, Tierra Carson and Esteban Merkt. Middle, from left: Michael Beard, Donnie Beard and Sandra Lau. Bottom: Lexi Rosario and Adriana Schiereck. (Courtesy of Jackie Rosario) — This shot, of the entire choir, was taken near the Coliseum, in Rome.Top, from left: Blaise Carson, Sarah Balling, Valeria Merkt, Clare Hernandez, Claudia Vitale, Catherine Beard, Maria Hernandez, Emily Balling, Tierra Carson and Esteban Merkt. Middle, from left: Michael Beard, Donnie Beard and Sandra Lau. Bottom: Lexi Rosario and Adriana Schiereck.
(Courtesy of Jackie Rosario)

The singers came from 18 countries, and they learned songs in several languages, including French, Latin, English and Portuguese, said Kristin Beard, Catherine’s mom.

“When they were in St. Peter’s Basilica on New Year’s Day, they all sang the same music, which was beautiful,” she said.

“There were several mini-concerts around Rome, where maybe four or five choirs would sing. They’d perform for their families, friends and people,” she said.

Before the choirs joined at St. Peter’s Basilica, they had a rehearsal at an auditorium behind the basilica, she said.

That’s when they had a private audience with Pope Francis, she added.

“He came to greet the children. There was a main aisle, and he went down the aisle. He was shaking children’s hands, as he walking down. He sat down and talked to the kids. And then, he walked back up the aisle, and that’s when he was shaking hands.”

“We knew that he was going to be there. We knew he’d be going up and down the aisle, however we didn’t know where we’d be seated. Our choir was fortunate enough to be seated right on the aisle,” she said.

Her sons, Michael and Donald, Jr., both shook hands with Pope Francis.

Michael shook both of his hands with Pope Francis and Donald shook one.

Both boys were delighted.

“They were pretty excited. They said they were never going to wash hands again,” Kristin Beard said, laughing at the thought.

Michael Beard, left, shook both of his hands with Pope Francis. Donald Beard Jr., shook one hand with Pope Francis. It was an experience their mom, Kristin Beard, said the boys will never forget. (Courtesy of Kristin Beard) — Michael Beard, left, shook both of his hands with Pope Francis. Donald Beard Jr., shook one hand with Pope Francis. It was an experience their mom, Kristin Beard, said the boys will never forget.
(Courtesy of Kristin Beard)

“It’s something they’re going to remember forever,” she added.

Besides enjoying the music, Catherine Beard, was impressed by the historic landmarks, including the Coliseum and the catacombs.

“I’m a big fan of Roman architecture,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old Lexi Rosario was also duly impressed.

“Going to Rome was such an amazing experience in so many ways,” she said, via email.

“Making a trip like this is on so many people’s bucket lists, and being able to go at such a young age was such a blessing, not to mention meeting and singing for the Pope himself. “I am truly blessed and grateful for all who helped make this happen for us,” she said.

Choir Director Sandra Lau echoed those sentiments.

“I would just like to say ‘Thank you’ to the many generous people who contributed financially to make this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible for our youth choir,” she said, via email.

Published January 20, 2016

Rebecca’s at City Market offers new fare

January 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The phone call came unexpectedly in October.

In passing, Curtis Beebe had told the owners of City Market Bistro that if they ever wanted to sell, he and his wife Rebecca might be interested.

Within days of the call, Rebecca’s at City Market was signed, sealed and delivered.

Rebecca and Curtis Beebe recently opened their third restaurant, and their first in downtown Dade City – Rebecca’s at City Market. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Rebecca and Curtis Beebe recently opened their third restaurant, and their first in downtown Dade City – Rebecca’s at City Market.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

By November, the Beebe’s were off and running with their third restaurant in four years. And, they were betting on a bright future for downtown Dade City, which is experiencing a renaissance of restaurants and shops.

“It’s exciting, and I’m investing in it, obviously,” Curtis Beebe said.

Taking chances is nothing new for this couple.

They opened their first restaurant – The Pearl in the Grove – on rural St. Joe Road in Saint Joseph, amid kumquats, horses, cows and hayfields.

The restaurant recently earned a Golden Spoon from Florida Trend magazine, which praised the originality of its farm-to-table cuisine.

LOCAL Public House and Provisions is a gastro-pub in San Antonio with New Orleans flavored comfort food and craft beers.

Rebecca’s at City Market, at 14148 Eighth St., in Dade City, is starting with the former City Market Bistro’s menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and pizzas, and slowly introducing new dishes.

Each of the couple’s ventures shares the same philosophy. And, as Curtis Beebe put it: “Local is better.”

What goes on the plate comes as much a possible from freshly grown and produced locally, including pasture-fed beef.

Fish is from a local vendor, bread from an Ybor City bakery, and vegetables from local growers.

“It is all custom made,” he said.

If Curtis Beebe stands out as the prime chef in the family-owned restaurants, Rebecca Beebe is just as hands-on behind the scenes.

“Rebecca has the ability to taste food and know exactly what it needs,” her husband said. And, she’s been known to toss out recipes that don’t meet her standards.

The restaurant that bears her name is no different.

She spends her days teaching at Pasco Middle School and her nights overseeing the details of running three restaurants.

That includes menu selections, the menu design, and pitching in to help with food preparations.

In the next semester, she plans to take a sabbatical from teaching to focus more on the newest restaurant acquisition.

Downtown Dade City is an opportunity to broaden the customer base.

Pearl in the Grove is an off-the-beaten path kind of restaurant.

In downtown Dade City, though, “We get way more walk-in traffic. We have the ability to serve a broader range of food. There is something for everyone,” Curtis Beebe said.

The restaurant attracts a family crowd.

“It’s classic and comfortable,” said Rebecca Beebe.

The Beebes both grew up in foodie families.

“My mother cooked everything from scratch,” said Rebecca Beebe. “We both cooked with our mothers.”

And, wherever they lived, the Beebes picked up new flavors and recipes from Tex-Mex to Native American.

Curtis Beebe had a long-time career in the corporate world of information technology, but the economy’s downturn in 2007 left him jobless. And then, set him on a different path.

He began catering dinners, parties and special events, and getting positive feedback on his menus.

Members of the Dade City Woman’s Club were among his first taste testers.

“That’s how we validated all this and thought we could make a living,” he said.

He doesn’t miss his past working life.

“This is much more fulfilling,” he said.

It has been a right-time, right-place experience in eastern Pasco County. New families, including millennials, are moving to the area, he said.

“They are all looking for authentic experiences,” Curtis Beebe said. “You can get it in towns like San Antonio, St. Joe and Dade City. There is a lot of cool stuff happening, which makes more opportunities,” he said.

Could there be a fourth restaurant in their future?

“We’re not looking, but we weren’t looking when we found this (Rebecca’s),” he said.

If there is another restaurant, Rebecca Beebe said, “We’ll have to call it Serendipity.”

Published January 20, 2016

Porter campus provost is promoted

January 20, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Dr. Stan Giannet, the founding provost at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, has been promoted to a vice president’s post at the college.

Giannet wrapped up his last day at the Porter Campus on Jan. 15. He assumed his new role, based at the college’s West Campus in New Port Richey, on Jan. 19.

Stan Giannet, the founding provost of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch has been promoted to a vice president for Pasco-Hernando State College. His last day at the campus was Jan. 15. His new role began Jan. 19. (File Photo) — Stan Giannet, the founding provost of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch has been promoted to a vice president for Pasco-Hernando State College. His last day at the campus was Jan. 15. His new role began Jan. 19.
(File Photo)

The new vice president is eager to embrace the challenges of his new role, but said he will miss the staff, students and community at the campus he has led since its beginning.

Previously the provost at the college’s North Campus in Brooksville, he took over the leadership role at the Porter Campus in July of 2013.

Giannet selected the campus’ inaugural staff, and directed the school’s opening and subsequent growth.

“For this term, our full-time enrollment, we are up 4.5 percent,” he said.

“We continue to have strong programs. We continue to have classes from 8 o’clock in the morning until 9:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and a vigorous selection of classes on Fridays, from 8 (a.m.) to 4:30 (p.m.),” he said. “Almost all of those classes are full.”

Giannet has been named the college’s new vice president of academic affairs and faculty development/college provost.

“This will give me an opportunity to work closely with the president and the faculty to strengthen our existing programs and academic activities,” he said.

The role involves strengthening communication and collaboration among the departments, and developing the faculty, he said.

Previously, the provosts reported to the president, but now they will report to Giannet. Academic deans also will report to Giannet.

The new structure will foster opportunities for closer collaboration, Giannet said.

He said he will be striving for consistency across the college’s campuses.

He also wants to be sure the college is listening to students, supporting the faculty and serving the community.

“There’s going to be a heavy focus on community initiatives,” said Giannet, who was deeply involved in that type of work at the Porter Campus.

“What makes this a truly extraordinary place of learning and work is the family, the people we have here,” Giannet said.

He said he knows the campus is positioned well to continue to thrive.

“I’m leaving behind a solid foundation of people, who do outstanding work,” Giannet said.

He also expects continued partnerships, as the community grows.

The campus gave Giannet a send-off, which he characterized as “deeply touching, deeply moving.”

Dr. Bonnie Clark, who has been named vice president of distance learning and provost of Porter Campus, is Giannet’s successor.

Published January 20, 2016

New 4-lane to connect communities

January 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County is set to receive a nearly $23 million state loan after state and local officials stitched together a deal for a four-lane extension of State Road 56 from Wiregrass Ranch to Zephyrhills.

The project previously had been intended to build two lanes from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Converting it to a four-lane project will boost the estimated $35 million price tag to about $65 million, including the loan plus interest.

‘We will facilitate a lot of regional benefits. This will definitely benefit all of our (traffic) circulations.’ — Richard Gehring, Pasco strategic policy administrator.

Loan proceeds from the State Infrastructure Bank could be available as soon as April. Construction is expected to start by fall of this year. Completion is expected in 2019, and repayments of the loan would start shortly thereafter.

The project is expected to improve access to Interstate 75 and southeast Pasco, and spur new development in and around Zephyrhills, and its airport. Residents and officials in Zephyrhills have long lobbied for four lanes, arguing that a two-lane road was a major roadblock to redevelopment.

“It’s a major, major public/private partnership,” said Steve Spina, Zephyrhills’ city manager. “It will be an economic boost for the area.”

Pasco County commissioners, on Jan. 12, approved a series of agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation, four developer/landowners, the Cone & Graham construction company and the city of Zephyrhills.

The agreements detail a repayment schedule that allows the county to collect funds from developers and landowners along the corridor through mobility surcharge fees, or special assessments if needed.

“We will facilitate a lot of regional benefits,” said Richard Gehring, the county’s strategic policy administrator. “This will definitely benefit all of our (traffic) circulations.”

Prior to the commissioners’ meeting in Dade City, negotiations had hit a few snags, largely around how to structure the loan’s repayment and who would be liable for cost overruns.

State transportation officials agreed to extend the department’s contract with Cone & Graham, the contractor hired for the initial two lanes. The contractor would cover cost overruns but, in the event of a default, the county and developers would be liable.

Most of the road construction runs through Two Rivers Ranch, and its developers will pay almost $15 million in mobility surcharge fees. River Landing and Wyndfields will yield fees of about $6.8 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

Developers of a fourth community – Wesley Chapel Lakes – had an existing agreement in place, not taking into account additional construction, and will contribute about $2.7 million.

The county would pay most of a potential shortfall of about $1.5 million, with Zephyrhills contributing about $150,000 of that total.

In addition, plans to build a district park in Wesley Chapel Lakes will be abandoned. Because of wetlands, the site was too small, said David Goldstein, Pasco County’s chief assistant county attorney.

Instead, the developer of River Landing will provide parkland co-located with River Landing High School.

“This is going to be a win-win for the school district and the road project,” Goldstein said.

Published January 20, 2016

O’Brien’s a destination for Steelers fans

January 20, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

As it turns out, you don’t have to live in Pittsburgh to be surrounded by hundreds of Steelers fans for a National Football League game.

You just have to be inside the confines of O’Brien’s Irish Pub, 15435 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

Before Steelers games, tables at O’Brien’s are reserved for members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club. Seated counterclockwise at the table: Melinda James, Sarah Scarborough, Jeremy Frazier, Bre Urrel, Ray James and Shawn Honner. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) — Before Steelers games, tables at O’Brien’s are reserved for members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club. Seated counterclockwise at the table: Melinda James, Sarah Scarborough, Jeremy Frazier, Bre Urrel, Ray James and Shawn Honner.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

For the past 21 years, O’Brien’s has been the official destination for Steelers fans to watch NFL games, since partnering up with the Bay Area Black and Gold Club, an organization for Steelers fans living in the area.

Founded by the late Walt Pelc in 1992, members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club used to watch NFL games at Briedy’s Pub in Northdale up until 1994. However, the club’s membership grew so large they had to find a new location large enough to accommodate everyone.

“O’ Brien’s was a big bar right down the road, so they picked that because that had been there for years,” said Marco Fusaro, vice president of the fan club. “It’s been a Steelers bar ever since.”

Being a member of the club, which costs $10 per season, guarantees a reserved seat at O’Brien’s for Steelers games each week during the NFL season.

Having a reserved seat comes in handy, especially for playoff games, when the bar is overflowing with patrons donning black and gold gear. There are often instances where non-members are forced to vacate assigned seats if there aren’t enough tables to go before game time. In that case, non-members usually move to the bar area or the patio to watch the games.

“We have to change our seating format around quite a bit to fit as many people inside as possible,” said Joe Carey, general manager of O’Brien’s. “The seats inside are reserved for club members up until a half-hour before the game. Last Saturday night (Jan. 16), we had about 300 people here.

“We’re a pretty busy venue as it is, and I just factor that in when I do my (food) ordering. We definitely have to step up our wings for football in general, but definitely for the Steelers.”

O’Brien’s, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Jan. 22, is widely viewed as “the home away from home,” for Steelers fans that move to the area from Pennsylvania.

Members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club pose for a group picture outside O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Tampa (Courtesy of Doug DeFelice) — Members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club pose for a group picture outside O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Tampa
(Courtesy of Doug DeFelice)

“Anyone that passes through town knows that we’re the Steelers bar of central Florida,” the general manager remarked. “It’s like you’re in Pittsburgh.”

During a game, the atmosphere at O’Brien’s is often described as “insane,” with patrons donning their Steelers’ jerseys and waving their Terrible Towels as every television inside the pub is tuned in to the Steelers game.

“There’s always wall-to-wall people inside and outside,” said Fusaro, who noted the Bay Area Black and Gold Club has more than 170 members this season. “Everybody cheering and screaming…we have different signs we hold up for players and everybody has all kinds of stuff.”

Pittsburgh native Tom Cupler, who’s been a member of the fan club since 2004, says he’s been at O’Brien’s for every Steelers game since finding the pub.

“It’s just incredible,” Cupler said about the pub’s game day experience. “Everybody moves up and down with the way the game’s going; you know, you’re upset with a bad play, then you’re excited with a good play, and you’re high-fiving and jumping.

“They do such a good job with the club. It’s just amazing the job they do,” he said.

In 2009, Cupler could’ve gotten tickets to Superbowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium, where the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. Instead, he opted to forgo the stadium experience, so he could watch the game with fellow Bay Area Black and Gold Club members at O’Brien’s.

Lori Duke, a friend of Cupler, watched the Super Bowl XLIII victory at O’Brien’s, noting it was one of the best nights of her life.

“At the end of the game…we literally hugged people and screamed for 35 minutes,” Duke reminisced. “All they had to do was have a Steelers jersey on.”

Melinda James and her son, Ray, prefer watching Steelers games at O’Brien’s compared to other area sports bars, where seemingly everyone else is rooting for different NFL teams.

“It’s like a bond, and then we feel like we belong here,” Melinda James said, who joined the Bay Area Black and Gold Club this season. “Here, everyone is wearing the same colors and everyone is cheering at the same time. We’ve met a lot of nice people here.”

Besides the intense atmosphere during games, being a part of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club at O’Brien’s makes the pub have a family-like environment.

Ryan Roberts, an O’Brien’s employee and Steelers fan, said he gets “dual-enjoyment” from working at the pub and from watching Steelers games with fellow fans.

“I enjoy working here,” said Roberts, who works as a bar-back. “It’s one of the most family oriented places where everybody knows each other,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun and we have a lot of fun.”

It’s where Jeremy Frazier, an Ohio native who previously followed the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, officially became a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

“It’s really like family oriented, but you can still come here and have a good time, and crack up with the guys, and at the same time we’ve all got respect for each other,” said Frazier, who actually signed a makeshift certificate transferring his fandom. “Everybody comes and has a good time. It makes you want to be a Steelers fan.”

While O’Brien’s patrons and members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club were noticeably dejected after the Steelers 23-16 loss to the Denver Broncos, many were glad the Steelers were able to reach the playoffs, despite the wrath of injuries the team faced this season.

“I think everybody was just really hopeful,” Roberts said about the team chances in the playoffs. “They just kept overcoming.”

Published January 20, 2016

Woman’s Club scrambles for donations

January 20, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The sinkhole that developed at Lake Park in October hasn’t done anyone any favors, especially the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

The nearly 6-foot-wide, 100-foot-deep sinkhole forced the closure of the park in early December, forcing the cancellation of what would have been the 36th Annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival.

The event, which has attracted nearly 30,000 people in recent years, typically provides the club with several thousand dollars to give back to the community in the form of donations to nonprofits and college scholarships for local students.

“We’re really hard-pressed for funds as a result of the event being cancelled,” said Pat Serio, head of public relations for the woman’s club. “It is our largest fundraiser of the year and, as a result, our budget and our treasury is going to seriously suffer.

“Our scholarships in particular (will be affected) because we usually give upwards of $20,000 a year in scholarships, as well as the rest of the money we donate to the library, the Old Lutz School, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, veterans’ charities and all that across the board,” Serio said.

The club is currently scrambling to put together some smaller fundraisers while seeking help from local community members to raise funds.

Upcoming events include a Valentine’s Day celebration on Feb. 12 and the club’s annual Flea Market at Old Lutz School on March 7 and March 8. In June, they will partner with Burger 21 for a one-day project, in which a percentage of the restaurant’s sales for that day will go to the club.

“We’re just working on lots of different little things, because it’s really hard to do a huge thing like the (arts & crafts festival) as a startup, so we’re going to be doing a lot of little things for this year,” said Cathy Mathes, president of the woman’s club.

Mathes, who took over as president in December from Kay Taylor, said it was frustrating to have the festival cancelled on such short notice, preventing the organization from having enough time to find a temporary location.

“At some point, we thought they could maybe just put some dirt in it,” Mathes said about the sinkhole. “But, they didn’t know the extent of it, until they did more investigating.”

Mathes added the club plans to find a new permanent location for the arts & crafts festival this December, saying they’ve encountered “other issues at Lake Park,” such as flooding on park roads that vendors and attendees would have to constantly maneuver around.

“It’s time to just find a new location,” Mathes stated. I think we can still have a really good show.”

While nothing has been finalized, the plan is to host the festival at one of the “big schools” in the area.

“I heard someone recently say how they looked forward to going to the festival, and they were disappointed. We’ve had lots of that,” the club president explained. “And, lots of people have asked me, ‘Are you going to do it again?’ and I say, ‘Yes. Yes we are.’”

The closure of Lake Park also has affected Hillsborough County as well. According to Forest Turbiville, the county’s director of conservation and land management, the park generated $119,000 in 2015 through a combination of entry fees, canoe rentals, shelter rentals and other special events.

“Keeping the park closed is going to have an impact,” Turbiville said. “What that impact is right now I’m not sure, but we can probably extrapolate those numbers based on previous years and business that we’ve done from November to December to January.”

Turbiville said the county is still looking into solutions for the sinkhole, with the assistance of Ardaman & Associates, an environmental consulting firm.

“We’ve discussed different ideas as far as filling it, keeping it fenced off,” Turbiville said about the lone sinkhole amidst the park’s nearly 600 acres of land. “I’ve asked our consultant to give me a proposal to take a look at the entire park and give out some kind of assessment…as far as any sinkhole activities, risks and things like that, because we need to make sure the public is safe before we start putting people back in there.

“This whole area has had a history of being quite abundant with sinkholes,” he said.

Being that the park’s land is actually owned by the city of St. Petersburg, Turbiville said he would need to get its approval as well before there’s a remedy for the sinkhole. But, he added: “If we were to do anything out there, I’m sure they would approve it.

“We just need to come to some consensus as far as what the plan is moving forward,” he said. “We’ll lay out a plan looking at the entire park and sinkhole risks, and we’ll have a better timeline on the park reopening, whether that’s going to be a month from now or two months from now.

“My guess is it’s going to be awhile before the park reopens,” Turbiville said.

Published January 20, 2016

What’s Cookin’

January 20, 2016 By Betsy Crisp

The beginning of a new year is a popular time to make resolutions, and if you’re like most people, chances are your resolution has something to do with your health.

Consumers surveyed said that their top priorities for the New Year had to do with wellness and weight, according to a 2015 Nielson report. Thirty-seven percent want to stay fit and healthy, and 32 percent want to lose weight, according to survey results.

The third most popular survey choice was to enjoy life to the fullest, coming in at 28 percent.

So, it stands to reason that if you stay fit and healthy, or if you lose weight, you have a better chance of accomplishing the goal of living life to the fullest.

Diet plays a significant role in having a healthy life.

The World Health Organization has estimated that if the major risk factors for chronic disease were eliminated, at least 80 percent of all heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes would be prevented, as well as more than 40 percent of cancer cases.

Unfortunately, resolutions, like diets, are often temporary and tend to fail.

So, instead of making a resolution at the New Year, consider changing your lifestyle to make healthier food choices, and to be more physically active every day of your life.

That offers a better chance of success. As the old saying goes, “slow and steady wins the race!”

To help get you started, here’s a healthy recipe featuring kumquats — perfect timing for the Jan. 30 Kumquat Festival in Dade City, where the diminutive orange-colored fruit is king.

Kumquat Bulgur Salad* by Barbara Beavers

Ingredients
2 ½ c. 100 percent apple juice, unsweetened (or substitute water)

1 c. raisins

2 c. Bulgur wheat (will yield 6 c. cooked)

½ c. maple syrup (or less, to taste)

½ c. fresh lemon juice

½ c. kumquat puree (See recipe below)

½ teaspoon orange extract

½ c. 100 percent apple juice, unsweetened

1 c. pecans, toasted and chopped coarsely

1 apple, peeled, cored, chopped or cubed

Directions for salad:
In a large sauce pan, bring 2 ½ c. of apple juice (or water) and raisins to a boil. Turn off heat, stir in Bulgur. Cover and set aside until cooled.

Combine maple syrup, lemon juice, kumquat puree, orange extract and ½ c. apple juice. Add the nuts and apples. Blend with the Bulgur mixture.

Refrigerate. Lettuce garnish, optional.

Makes approximately 16 (1/2 c. servings).

To make kumquat puree:
Wash the fruit, cut it in half, remove the seeds. Place the fruit in a blend or food chopper. For a finer puree, use a blender. Use puree in recipes as called for or freeze in zip-top bags or other freezer containers. Frozen kumquat puree can be stored for six months or longer. When you use frozen puree, defrost and drain the excess liquid before using.

*Best of Show in the 10th annual Kumquat Festival Recipe Contest, adult division

By Betsy Crisp

Betsy Crisp is an extension Family & Consumer Sciences agent and a licensed dietitian for the University of Florida/IFAS. She is based in Pasco County and can be reached at (813) 929-2725.

Published January 20, 2016

Credit union is 60, and going strong

January 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Anyone who has spent much time in the community of San Antonio has undoubtedly seen the tangible results of the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union’s handiwork.

The credit union, which serves the eastern half of Pasco County, and the tip of Hernando County, has been handling the financial transactions of its members for 60 years.

Tim Baldwin and Terri Gude, left, flank the portrait of Joe Herrmann, one of founders of the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union. Carolina Rodriguez and Andy Kinross, are on the other side of the portrait. Baldwin, president, and Gude, vice president, have worked at the credit union the longest. Kinross and Rodriguez are the two newest members on the credit union’s 40-member staff. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Tim Baldwin and Terri Gude, left, flank the portrait of Joe Herrmann, one of founders of the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union. Carolina Rodriguez and Andy Kinross, are on the other side of the portrait. Baldwin, president, and Gude, vice president, have worked at the credit union the longest. Kinross and Rodriguez are the two newest members on the credit union’s 40-member staff.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

In a world of bank mergers and takeovers, this credit union is the oldest chartered financial institution in Pasco County, said Tim Baldwin, the credit union’s current president.

“I think the credit union has made a big difference in the lives of a lot of people in this area, and we feel that’s what we’re here to do — help people make their lives better,” Baldwin said.

“We make home loans, car loans, personal loans. We have credit card accounts. We even do member business lending,” he said.

The credit union has offices in San Antonio, Dade City and Zephyrhills, and expects to have a soft opening on its fourth location — in Wesley Chapel — this week.

It all began with two men.

Joe Herrmann and some of his friends wanted to bring a financial institution to San Antonio, a small community between Dade City and the town of St. Leo.

“They applied for a state bank charter and were denied. And, they applied for a federal

bank charter and were denied,” Baldwin said.

During his research, Herrmann found out about credit unions and decided to find out more.

So, Herrmann and his friend, Joe Collura, did some field research.

“They got together, and they drove around Florida and Georgia visiting credit unions.

“They decided that would fit what they wanted to do here,” Baldwin said.

The San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union was chartered on Dec. 12, 1955.

The charter was dated Dec. 12, 1955, and the credit union opened for business on Jan. 3, 1956.

The desire for a financial institution likely stemmed from the community’s civic pride, Baldwin said.

“It’s a little town, and it’s always been a little town; but, it was always a vital little town,” Baldwin said.

While some credit unions are established to serve a certain group of employees, or a particular business, the San Antonio credit union has always been a community charter.

Under its original charter, anyone who lived within a 5-mile radius could join. Now, the credit union is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school within its field area.

In those days, the credit union was located in a storefront of a building owned by Joe Herrmann.

As it grew, it moved to a new location in San Antonio and then built its current location.

It also has offices in Zephyrhills and Dade City, and will have a soft opening this week for a new location in Wesley Chapel.

This is the current location for the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union in San Antonio.

Its membership and assets grew, too. During its first year, it had 358 members and $67,000 in assets.

It finished last year with more than 13,000 members and slightly more than $175 million in assets, Baldwin said.

“I can remember, it has probably been 25 years ago or so, I remember at one of our annual meetings we were reporting that we had crossed $22 million in assets.

“I remember Mr. Herrmann got up and spoke to us. He almost cried. He said, ‘We never dreamed that there would be $22 million in assets in this credit union,’ ” Baldwin said.

“To me, it’s just a remarkable story about how this got started,” Baldwin said.

“In the early days, everybody that worked at the credit union was a volunteer. They couldn’t afford to pay anybody,” he said. “I don’t know if you could start a credit union from scratch again today, I would hate to try. It would be a daunting task.”

Now, the credit union has 40 employees.

Baldwin, who has been with the credit union for 27 years, loves his job.

“We still make small personal loans to people. Usually at a commercial bank, unless a loan is a certain size, they won’t do it.

“You just feel like you can actually make a difference for people,” Baldwin said.

Terri Gude, vice president of branch operations and compliance, has been around the credit union most of her life.

Her mother, Veda Gude, was the former credit union president.

“I really grew up in the credit union. I used to come in on the weekends and in the evenings, and things like that, with my mother,” she said.

She enjoys the personal nature of the credit union.

“We’re not as big as some of the banks, so you get that true hometown feeling when you come in,” she said.

“If you need a $500 loan, we’re willing to do it. We have the opportunity to change lives. We do that everyday,” Gude said.

Stockholders own banks, but members own credit unions.

It makes a difference in pricing and policy decisions, Baldwin said.

It also affects the environment, said Andy Kinross, who is one of the credit union’s two newest employees.

“You’re literally a member. You aren’t just one of the masses,” said Kinross, who worked at a credit union in Ohio before moving to Florida.

She’ll be working at the new Wesley Chapel, at 28909 State Road 54, just east of Interstate 75.

The new office will serve a rapidly growing area, Baldwin said.

He also expects the credit union’s territory to continue to grow.

“I don’t think we’d ever want to go too far west in the county, but I think a next natural progression would be to try to incorporate some of the Land O’ Lakes area,” Baldwin said. “Land O’ Lakes would be a nice westerly boundary for us, eventually.”

Published January 13, 2016