Local News

New Catholic school opens in Lutz

August 19, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on Aug. 17.

The school is operating in a new structure on the campus of St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17524 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.

Most Holy Redeemer, which was founded in 1954, took on its new name last year, but didn’t move to its new campus until this academic year.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on the campus of Saint Timothy Catholic Church on Aug. 17. This photo was taken just days before classes began. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on the campus of Saint Timothy Catholic Church on Aug. 17. This photo was taken just days before classes began.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The school, for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, has an enrollment of 355 students, said Principal Johnnathan Combs.

That’s up from the enrollment at the Most Holy Redeemer campus last year, which finished out last school year with 239 students.

All but two of those students are attending classes on the new campus. The two that aren’t moved away to Orlando, Combs said.

The students are coming to the school from St. Timothy, St. Paul, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Mary and Most Holy Redeemer parishes, he said.

Four classrooms at the school are still under construction, Combs said. But when they are finished, the school will have a capacity for 600 students.

Construction costs for the school are around $8 million, said Dr. Michael Tkacik, secretary for ministries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

The school will be celebrating a mass and a dedication ceremony on Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., he said.

Tkacik said enrollment in the Diocese’s Catholic schools has been holding steady for the past couple of years.

As he looks to the future, Tkacik said he is “guardedly optimistic.”

He points to projects such as Tampa Premium Outlets and other construction activity as a sign that the economy — stalled for several years — is showing new signs of life.

The school on Saint Timothy’s campus is inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and is rooted in the Catholic faith, according to its website. Its mission is “to develop young people who strive for academic excellence, recognize the dignity of each individual and foster service to others,” the website says.

Its fundamental reason for existence is to help children learn about Jesus and to develop their Catholic faith, Combs said. Of course, he added, academics are important.

The Pope John Paul II Youth Center, also on St. Timothy’s campus, has already opened.

The facility will be used by the school during the school day and also will be used for athletics.

Published August 19, 2015

Eatery trio in the serving line at Tampa Premium Outlets’ food court

August 19, 2015 By Kathy Steele

A trio of food court restaurants at the Tampa Premium Outlets is slated for completion by Oct. 5, about three weeks before the mall’s opening day.

Green Leafs, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, and South Philly Steaks & Fries are a package deal for Eclipse Building Corp. The South Florida-based company, with additional locations in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, is a frequent contractor at malls built by Simon Property Group, the developers behind the outlet mall at State Road 56 and the Interstate 75 interchange.

Eclipse Building Corp. is in charge of construction of 40 percent of the food court at Tampa Premium Outlets including Green Leafs and Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt. (Courtesy of Eclipse Corp.) — Eclipse Building Corp. is in charge of construction of 40 percent of the food court at Tampa Premium Outlets including Green Leafs and Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt.
(Courtesy of Eclipse Corp.)

The mall will have 110 outlet stores including Michael Kors, Gymboree, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and PacSun.

Franchisee Raitom LLC hired Eclipse to build the three gourmet eateries in the mall’s food court, which represent about 40 percent of the mall’s food court.

The grouping of these particular eateries is a first for Raitom, which hopes to market them similarly at other malls.

“They all kind of complement each other,” said Todd Whalen, founder and president of Eclipse.

Green Leafs specializes in fast food, healthy dining with fresh made-to-order and signature salads, wraps, grilled paninis and homemade soups. Bananas Smoothies creates fruit smoothies and nonfat yogurt treats. South Philly serves a heartier menu with classic cheese steaks, salads, loaded potatoes and potato skins.

Eclipse is bidding on contracts for retail vendors at the outlet mall as well as an Asian-themed food court eatery, also part of Raitom’s franchises. With that contract, Eclipse would be responsible for 65 percent of the food court.

Other Eclipse clients include For Eyes, J. McLaughlin, Build-A-Bear, Fresh Healthy Café and Perfumania.

Whalen said his company takes a unique approach in its bidding by offering a two-year warranty including maintenance services. The industry standard generally is for one-year warranties, he said.

“We just keep the place looking brand new,” Whalen said.

The Oct. 5 completion date for the eateries allows time to stock the restaurants and train employees, he added.

“It’s going to be a very, very exciting shopping experience for everyone,” Whalen said.

Published August 19, 2015

Saint Leo welcomes its first Fulbright Scholar in Residence

August 19, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Students at Saint Leo University will be learning about different languages, culture and music this fall.

That type of education isn’t new for the university. But the type of educator delivering it is unprecedented in the university’s history.

Dr. Vasumathi Badrinathan is Saint Leo’s first Fulbright Scholar in Residence to teach at the university. Her curriculum will include language, culture and communication, and her music background also will be highlighted during her stay. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University) — Dr. Vasumathi Badrinathan is Saint Leo’s first Fulbright Scholar in Residence to teach at the university. Her curriculum will include language, culture and communication, and her music background also will be highlighted during her stay.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Dr. Vasumathi Badrinathan will be the university’s first Fulbright Scholar in Residence. She has left her native India, where she’s taught for nearly three decades, to spend a semester educating students in her areas of expertise.

And while she’s only recently made it to Florida, she’s already impressed with what she’s seen.

“I’m delighted to be a part of this really old university with this beautiful, green campus. I’m discovering something new every day,” Badrinathan said. “I’m very, very happy to be here.”

Saint Leo is very happy to have her, too.

The school made the formal request to bring her to campus under the Fulbright program, which offers cultural exchange opportunities for students, educators and institutions. Badrinathan teaches French at Ramnarain Ruia College, University of Mumbai, and is fluent in a half-dozen languages, including several spoken in India. She’s also a vocalist of southern Indian classical music and has performed in international music festivals.

Those qualifications made her an attractive educational and cultural asset for a university looking to enhance its students’ learning experiences. And the Fulbright program offered exactly that kind of opportunity.

The Fulbright program was founded in 1946 by J. William Fulbright, a United States Senator and the longest serving chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with a tenure of nearly 16 years.

The program provides grants to send students and educators from the United States to foreign countries to learn and share cultural ideas, and it brings foreign students and educators to the United States.

The program provides 8,000 grants per year, with more than 160 countries participating. Since its inception, more than 360,000 participants have taken advantage of the opportunity to visit another country and culture.

Those statistics now include Badrinathan, who is looking forward to getting in the classroom and teaching a curriculum that includes language, culture and communication. But she isn’t bringing a rigid teaching method with her. Instead, she wants to learn about her students, and find the best ways to educate them based on how they react and interact with the curriculum.

“Flexibility is one of the cornerstones of an educator. You need to be flexible, you need to be adaptable, and you need to bear in mind that you’re dealing with human beings, after all,” she explained. “Absolutely, flexibility is the name of the game.”

For Badrinathan, that means not only sharing her personal experiences and knowledge with lessons, but also with music. She’s collaborating with the university’s music department to perform a special concert in October that will contain elements of both western and Indian music. Being entrenched in India’s culture and music as a performer enhances her ability to communicate those experiences as an educator, she said.

The teacher isn’t just here to teach. She’s also here to learn.

While Badrinathan has traveled around the world learning, teaching and performing (she earned her doctorate in French while studying in France), this is her first trip to the United States. And she expects to not only share her experiences and knowledge in the cultural exchange, but to also partake in the exchange.

“It’s going to be very enriching, because when you’re in a new scenario, you’re always open to new things,” Badrinathan said. “I think it’s going to be a great learning experience for me as well.”

Published August 19, 2015

Legislative delegation to weigh in on charter

August 19, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Fish or cut bait?

Members of the Municipal Association of Pasco County, which represents the six cities in Pasco, want a final decision on whether the county should alter its form of government.

Calvin Branche, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the charter panel during public comment that a charter government isn’t needed. (Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley) — Calvin Branche, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the charter panel during public comment that a charter government isn’t needed.
(Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

They likely will get their wish on Aug. 24 when the county’s appointed charter review panel has scheduled a vote on the matter. A previously scheduled vote on Aug. 10 was postponed until the charter panel could hear from Pasco’s legislative delegation.

State Representatives Richard Corcoran and Amanda Murphy, and State Senators John Legg and Wilton Simpson have confirmed they will attend the Aug. 24 meeting which will begin at 1 p.m., in the first floor board room, at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey.

Pasco’s cities have expressed opposition to a charter.

“We are very concerned at the implications a charter would have on our cities,” said Lance Smith, a Zephyrhills’ city councilman. He and St. Leo Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett addressed panel members at their Aug. 10 meeting in Dade City.

Among issues of concern, according to Smith, would be whether cities would retain control over establishing special tax districts, known as community redevelopment areas.

“We need this decision one way or another,” he said. “Fish or cut bait.”

Zephyrhills is one of six cities in the municipal association. Others are Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey, St. Leo and San Antonio.

The municipal association members met recently and approved a resolution opposing charter government.

The resolution urges panel members “to reconsider this…effort, and to provide for a more balanced and transparent review of our county government in the future.”

There also is concern that a charter “would infringe on the rights and duties of municipal elected officials and the citizens they represent,” according to the resolution.

Pasco County currently is governed under home rule with five districts, each with a representative elected by countywide vote.

Twenty of the state’s 67 counties operate with charters, including Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Commissioners appointed the 15-member panel in May after Corcoran lobbied them earlier in the year to establish a charter commission.

Dade City resident Judy Geiger spoke during public comment at the Aug. 10 charter panel meeting. She opposes charter government.

However, the Pasco commissioners’ nonbinding panel has the option of approving or rejecting a charter-style government.

In contrast, state law requires that a charter commission, once formed, must produce a charter that voters would accept or reject.

An activist group, the Pasco County Citizens Charter Coalition, announced in June that it would partner with Corcoran in a petition campaign to secure a required 45,000 signatures needed to establish such a commission.

Corcoran has said in the past that charters give more power to residents.

“That’s sort of the idea,” said panel member, Randy Maggard. “The people have more say.”

Maggard said the panel should explore specific elements of charters, such as single-member districts and term limits, before shutting the door on a charter.

“We’re going to make a decision without discussing these other things?” he said. “Everybody has made their minds up?”

If the panel votes on Aug. 24 not to pursue a charter, then the panel can disband. It would take 10 votes to support a charter, but if that is the decision then, members would have to buckle down for months of additional study and work.

They would have to produce a document detailing the operations of government including possible adoption of single-member districts, term limits, a recall process, an elected county administrator or elected county mayor. Pasco voters would approve or reject the panel’s recommendation in the November 2016 election.

Regardless of the panel’s decision, the grassroots charter coalition can move forward on its own to seek to establish the desired charter commission.

Residents who spoke during public comment at the Aug. 10 meeting were skeptical of a charter.

“Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should,” said Calvin Branche, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Planning Organization. “I think it’s a very wrong way to approach the citizens about this thing.”

Branche told panel members he had attended some meetings of the charter coalition group, and doubted that it would get the required petition signatures.

No one from the charter coalition spoke during public comment.

Dade City resident Judy Geiger worried that a charter with single-member districts would work against east Pasco, which has fewer residents than the more developed west Pasco.

“I believe the current government works very well,” she said “To spend more time on a charter I think would be a waste.”

Published August 19, 2015

Sales tax holiday means savings

August 12, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Families gearing up for a new school year can get a little help from the state of Florida, during the 2015 Back-to-School Tax Holiday.

During the tax holiday, which runs through Aug. 16, shoppers can purchase scores of items without paying state sales tax.

Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said that shop operators were expecting a good back-to-school shopping season. He said the state’s sales tax holiday is a plus. (File Photo) — Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said that shop operators were expecting a good back-to-school shopping season. He said the state’s sales tax holiday is a plus.
(File Photo)

For example, no Florida sales tax will be collected on sales of certain clothing, footwear, and certain accessories with a selling price of $100 or less per item. No sales tax will be charged on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item. And, no taxes will be charged on the first $750 of the sales price for computers and certain computer-related accessories, when they are being purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said he expected an increase in mall traffic as stores and shops offer back-to-school sales, and special promotions to attract customers.

The tax-free holiday is a plus, Lenners said.

While he didn’t have hard statistics, he said shop owners told him that sales were going well.

Craig Shearman, a spokesman for the National Retail Federation, said sales tax holidays, in general, tend to motivate shoppers.

“From what we’ve heard from our member companies, sales tax holidays have been tremendously successful at getting customers into the store and putting them in the frame of mind to shop,” Shearman said.

“Consumers are smart. Consumers know a sale is 25 percent off, or 50 percent off,” he said.

If retailers told consumers that they’d be offering a sale with everything being 7 percent off — the sales tax rate in Pasco and Hillsborough counties — shoppers would laugh at them, Shearman said.

Not so, when it comes to a tax holiday, Shearman said.

“There’s a psychological appeal that goes far beyond the amount of money involved,” the retail expert explained.

“Americans have hated taxes back to the Boston Tea Party, so a sales tax holiday feeds into that very same sort of thinking,” he said.

Sales tax holidays began in the mid-1990s, Shearman said.

There are now 18 states with sales tax holidays, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.

Retailers will have back-to-school sales with or without a sales tax holiday, Shearman said.

So, he said: “The sales tax holiday, from a retailer point-of-view, is sort of icing on the cake.”

For consumers, though, the tax savings can make a real difference, Shearman added.

The tax holiday helps families, he noted.

“There are still a lot of families who are struggling to make ends meet and trying to stretch the dollar.

“There are families out there this time of year who are worried about where are they going to come up with the money that it takes to equip their children to go back to school in the fall and get their education.

“School clothing, backpacks, all of that — can be a stretch for some families.

“The savings from this (tax holiday) can be significant,” he said.

His organization’s Back-to-School Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, found that the average family — with children in kindergarten through grade 12 — plans to spend $630.36 on electronics, apparel and other school needs. That’s down from $669.28 last year.

With that in mind, savings from a tax holiday can be significant.

“For a lot of families, this is more than just psychological appeal or more retail sales, this can make the difference in giving their children what they need,” Shearman said.

In adopting the sale tax holiday, the Florida Legislature provided specific details about what is tax-free and what isn’t, during the tax-free period.

The Florida Department of Revenue provides detailed information on its website about what’s exempt and what isn’t. For more information on the sales tax holiday, visit DOR.MyFlorida.com.

Published August 12, 2015

Residential recycling tosses blue bags

August 12, 2015 By Kathy Steele

That blue bag stuffed with household recyclables and plopped at the curbside is on its way out.

Beginning Oct. 1, residents must set sturdy containers at the curb if they expect haulers to pick up the cans, plastic bottles, yogurt cups, glass bottles and jars that qualify for recycling.

And more change could be coming down the road.

Pasco County plans to stop allowing blue bags to be used to contain recyclables for residential pickups, effective Oct. 1. (File Photo) — Pasco County plans to stop allowing blue bags to be used to contain recyclables for residential pickups, effective Oct. 1.
(File Photo)

The Pasco County Commission is expected to consider eliminating glass from the list of accepted recyclables.

Commissioners voted Aug. 4 to shift away from using blue bags to instead use plastic or aluminum containers. They put off a decision on glass while a solid waste master plan is pending. But, county officials say they are facing a new reality in the marketplace.

With the current contract set to expire Sept. 30, the county found no takers among recycling processors when it comes to the blue bags. Plastic bags can grind machinery to a halt.

There were three no-bids, and one bid that was deemed “non-responsive,” according to Jennifer Seney, Pasco’s recycling coordinator.

The county is looking at “piggy-backing” on a contract with another jurisdiction, which has not yet been identified.

“Nobody wants the bags,” Seney told commissioners. “That would be anybody processing the bags.”

And the news on glass is just as bad.

The cost of hauling away glass is a negative $17.50 a ton, Seney said.

“Glass has no value and might actually add a cost to recyclables,” she added. “Glass is going to have to come up in future discussions.”

Seney said she knows that will be a touchy subject with residents who want to recycle their glass.

“It’s a very popular item to recycle,” she said. “It’s not always dollars and cents that speak to the public.”

Recycling glass dates back decades. For some, returning empty soda bottles to a grocery store for nickels and dimes was a rite of childhood passage. Currently, 10 states have bottle laws that add refundable deposit fees to beverage containers. Florida lawmakers, on several occasions, have rejected bottle bills, which have not been popular with retailers.

But, the value of glass to processors is in decline. Industry experts place the blame on declining oil prices that can make it more expensive to recycle items, such as plastic, than to produce new product.

Glass presents its own unique problems.

Seney said the accepted practice is for single-stream collection of recyclables, rather than the old way of separating out glass from other items.

That method is considered more efficient and safer, she said.

Pasco County accepts clear, brown and green glass.

But, as part of a stream of waste, broken and crushed glass becomes a contaminant, embedding itself into everything it touches. It becomes what Seney describes as “broken three-mix glass” that is difficult and expensive to extract.

Glass also is much heavier to ship, increasing the costs of recycling.

Strategic Materials Inc., based in Texas, is the country’s largest glass recycling company.

Seney said the company only recycles about 50 percent of the glass it receives because of contamination. Some of what they recycle is used to produce Fiberglas, she said.

The blue bag program is more than two decades old. But, two years ago, the county began reducing use of the bags through its “choose and use” program.

Residents still could use blue or clear bags. But they were encouraged to buy a container or use an existing one, and identify it to haulers with a sticker.

That program began with an educational awareness campaign. And county officials plan to do the same for the blue bag’s demise.

County officials anticipate rolling out a social media blitz on Facebook and Twitter. Advertisements, media press releases, cable television and Pasco TV also will get the word out, Seney said.

“I think we’ll be able to transition to no bags pretty quickly,” Seney said.

Also, area grocers that are selling the blue bags have been notified so they can consider whether to keep selling them or not. “We have no control over them,” Seney said. “But, I think we’ll get their cooperation.”

Published August 12, 2015

Wesley Chapel teenager paddles dragon boat for USA

August 12, 2015 By Kathy Steele

A field trip with her Girl Scout troop brought an unexpected opportunity for 13-year-old Kaitlyn Robinson.

Kaitlyn Robinson, 13, kneels as she prepares to board the dragon boat for an hour-long practice on the Hillsborough River. Her coach, David Nelson, watches. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Kaitlyn Robinson, 13, kneels as she prepares to board the dragon boat for an hour-long practice on the Hillsborough River. Her coach, David Nelson, watches.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

The John Long Middle School eighth grader also found a passion – a love for dragon boat racing.

On Aug. 15, she and her mother, Dawn Robinson, will fly to Welland Ontario Canada where Kaitlyn will compete in the World National Dragon Boat Championships from Aug. 19 to Aug. 23.

She is a member of the youth dragon boat team.

Her coach, David Nelson, plans to use her, at least for some races, as a drummer. She will sit in the front of the boat, beating a drum in rhythm with the paddle strokes of her teammates and cheering them on to victory.

At a feather-light 72 pounds, Kaitlyn is a natural choice for chief cheerleader in a boat that must skim over the water swiftly.

But she’ll have to do something that doesn’t come easily to this shy — at least with first-time strangers — and soft-spoken teenager.

“You’ll have to get loud,” Nelson told her at an afternoon practice at Rick’s on the River in Tampa.

The trade-off is a promise that she also will get the chance to paddle in other races. Paddling is what she likes most.

“I kind of like the water,” Kaitlyn said. “I’m looking forward to doing my best and helping my team finish well.”

Kaitlyn had never been in a dragon boat when her Girl Scout troop set out on a field trip two years ago, from Wesley Chapel to Rick’s on the River. She took to the water sport with a purpose.

She paddled in her first race in 2014, and is an active member of the Blade Runners Youth Dragon Boat Team of Tampa.

Kaitlyn Robinson, 13, partially hidden, paddle in unison with the dragon boat crew as they get ready for a power stroke. She is near the rear of the boat.

The Girl Scouts who went to Rick’s on the River were all children adopted from Asian countries. Kaitlyn was adopted from China when she was eight months old.

Her mother said troop activities sometimes highlighted cultural connections, such as dragon boat racing or Chinese cooking.

“It was something we wanted to do, and we thought it would be fun,” Kaitlyn said.

Dragon boat racing dates back 2000 years, to southern China and folk rituals, as well as to religious ceremonies. Dragon boats had ornate dragon heads painted on the front of the boats with the tails in the stern. Paddles represented the dragon’s claws.

In the past 10 years, modern dragon boat racing has zoomed in popularity.

“Anyone can paddle. I don’t care how old you are,” said Nelson, Kaitlyn’s coach.

The races often are linked to fundraising for good causes, he said.

Last year St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation was beneficiary of the Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Classic. This year’s races, on Oct. 10, will benefit the Lowry Park Zoo.

In Ontario, about 4,000 competitors from around the world will battle for top speeds in the World Championships. Race divisions include youth, senior, coed, men and women.

Kaitlyn will be in the division for ages 12 through 17. Nelson will be the youth team coach and also will compete in the senior U50 division, from ages 40 to 49.

There will be three heats in the 200- and 500-meter races, and “one-and-done” races in the 1000- and 2000-meter races.

Kaitlyn briefly took up golf, but the camaraderie of team sports, and water, is more to her liking.

“It’s a great experience for her especially being in a dragon boat because it’s a true team effort,” her mother said.

Published August 12, 2015

Spare your wallet and bowl for free

August 12, 2015 By Michael Murillo

The great thing about On The Cheap is I get to tell you about a variety of fun things you can do without spending a lot of money. Maybe it’s catching a movie. Maybe it’s a trip to a zoo or aquarium. Maybe it’s watching a professional sports team.

Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills has nightly specials and is hosting ‘Bowl Fest’ later this month. That means plenty of cheap (and free) opportunities to bowl. (Photos courtesy of Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills) — Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills has nightly specials and is hosting ‘Bowl Fest’ later this month. That means plenty of cheap (and free) opportunities to bowl.
(Photos courtesy of Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills)

Or, maybe it’s bowling.

Wait.

Bowling?

Like “putting on different shoes and throwing a ball down a lane” bowling?

Yes, bowling.

Everyone’s gone bowling before, but maybe it’s been a while since you gave it a try.

So, whether you’re in a league or haven’t played it in years, you have a few chances to play some games at a big discount. And on some days, it’s absolutely free.

The venue is Pin Chasers, 6816 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

I don’t have to spend a lot of time describing a bowling alley, do I? It’s really big (32 lanes), it’s clean, and it has automated scoring. But I’d like to point out that it’s also indoors, which means you won’t be subjected to blazing hot temperatures or a sudden downpour while you play. There’s no chance of bowling getting rained out or ruining your clothes, and I consider that a pretty big advantage these days.

A typical game of bowling costs around $6 to $7 (shoe rental is free), and that’s not a bad deal.

You can bowl with friends, family or anyone who likes to throw a heavy ball and knock things down. And, on certain days, you can do it for free.

But this is On The Cheap, so we’re looking for bigger bargains. And we’ve found them this month during what they call “Bowl Fest.”

On Aug. 22, students in kindergarten through 12th grade can bowl absolutely free from 10 a.m. until noon. That’s two hours of games at no cost whatsoever. If a child hasn’t played before, the staff can help teach them. And they’ll even have face painting for the youngest players.

You don’t have to paint your face to bowl, of course. But it probably doesn’t hurt, either. Maybe the pins will get intimidated and fall down on their own.

Free bowling is a great way to have a fun morning with a child or grandchild, or for friends to get together over the summer.

But what about older players?

Well, on Aug. 19, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., women can bowl for free. And it’s the guys’ turn on Aug. 27 during those same hours.

So if you want a night out with friends, while remaining friendly with your budget, keep those dates in mind. No face painting, but they’ll have snacks and beverages, too.

Those are great deals, and if you want to bowl at other times (or just want to play more), Pin Chasers has specials just about every night as well.

On Mondays, you can buy a $5 wristband and play for just $1 per game, with $1 drafts, soda and hot dogs. On Thursdays, they have unlimited bowling from 9 p.m. until closing for just $10, with drink specials as well. On Sunday nights, it’s the same deal, but it’s $9.33. On Tuesdays, unlimited bowling starts at 9:30 p.m., for $9.99 and includes free pizza. Then they have cyber bowling on the weekends and buy-one-get-one-free games starting Aug. 22 and running through Sept. 6. That’s a lot of bowling.

Oh, there’s one more: On Labor Day (Sept. 7), you can bowl from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., for $10. That’s 12 hours of unlimited bowling. I admit that staying there the whole time might be a little much. Maybe you’d like to see your family and eat lunch that day. But it’s nice to know that you can play as many games as you want for one low price.

Whether you play every few weeks or haven’t been inside a bowling alley in years, the next few weeks are perfect for grabbing a ball (don’t worry, they have plenty) and having some fun.

They’re open every day, rain or shine. And in Florida, it’s probably rain and shine. So maybe it’s best to stay inside, and work on your strikes and spares instead.

For more information, call (813) 782-5511 or visit PinChasers.net.

Published August 12, 2015

Following the yellow brick road to Oz

August 12, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Three Dorothys, a pair of witches, a pink munchkin and an acrobatic flying monkey adds up to a trip to the Land of Oz.

That is, if the trip is imagined by instructors from Nicole’s Dance Center and 15 young performers, ages 6 to 14, at summer camp. The Tin Man, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion and the “great and powerful” Wizard of Oz also traveled down the yellow brick road.

Glinda, the Good Witch, far right, tells her fellow performers to ‘break a leg.’ It is a superstitious way of wishing ‘good luck’ right before actors take the stage. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Glinda, the Good Witch, far right, tells her fellow performers to ‘break a leg.’ It is a superstitious way of wishing ‘good luck’ right before actors take the stage.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

And they were having fun — precisely what Nicole Bouchard wants her students to have.

“It’s not only learning about dance but also about family,” said Bouchard, who opened her dance studio, at 3934 Lake Padgett Drive in Land O’ Lakes, nearly two years ago. “It’s not all about pointing your toe or how high your leg goes. You learn something in the process about yourself.”

On July 31, Bouchard’s troupe of summer camp dancers performed for a standing room only crowd of proud parents, siblings and friends. They had worked for a week to learn their parts and build the scenery to create the imaginary world of Oz. Only three of the students had experience as stage performers.

But Bouchard said, “They took ownership. They were all part of it.”

In auditions, 14-year-old Tiffany Bassett tried out for the role of the Wizard.

“He’s green,” said Bassett, costumed in a sparkly green dress and green streaked hair tresses. “I like green.”

Alice Stryker, seated left, gets a makeup touch-up from Brandy Gold as Dorothy and The Scarecrow watch.

Behind the scenes, volunteers and moms, Leesa Fryer and Brandy Gold, applied finishing touches to makeup for Glinda, the Good Witch; The Scarecrow; a “flying monkey”; and a crew of pink, green, yellow and orange Munchkins. The women also were co-directors for the production.

Gold and Fryer each have dance and musical theater chops. Fryer has taught dance; Gold was a musical theater major in college, and was the arts and cultural director for the Tampa Jewish Community Center in Tampa.

“I have a blast as a mom,” said Fryer. “It’s a joy to be able to do this with my daughter.”

But she added, “They are all like my babies.”

Fryer’s daughter, DeLaney Fryer, was one of the three Dorothys. Gold’s daughter, Brilee Gold, was the loose-limbed Scarecrow.

Other performers were Ashley Vandiver, Noelle O’Parka, Erin Vandiver, Tabitha Vinson, Elise Labutis, Emma Sarhaddi, Kalyn Day, Alice Stryker, Isabella Robbins, Margo Armstrong, Mia Campione and Neena Setia.

Bouchard choreographed the 30-minute production.

The studio is her dream-come-true.

Dorothy’s dog, Toto, guards the diploma that proves The Scarecrow has a brain.

She went solo after more than 30 years of dance experience, and about two decades of teaching with other dance troupes including Florida Dance Masters, Dance Masters of America and New York Dance Alliance.

Enrollment at her studio has about doubled within two years. Bouchard currently is expanding a second room to accommodate about 100 students.

“I’ve been really blessed,” Bouchard said. “I’m supported by imaginative people.”

Published August 12, 2015

Volunteers help Sanders gear up for first day

August 12, 2015 By B.C. Manion

A group of volunteers showed up at Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School last week, eager to help the school gear up for its first day of classes as Pasco County’s first magnet school.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce sent out a call for volunteers, and people responded.

Lots of volunteers turned out to pitch in at a volunteer day organized by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. The crew included neighbors, parents, chamber members and a school board member, too. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Lots of volunteers turned out to pitch in at a volunteer day organized by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. The crew included neighbors, parents, chamber members and a school board member, too.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

There were chamber members, parents of children who will be attending the school, community residents and other community volunteers.

Pasco County School Board member Cynthia Armstrong was among those ready to get to work.

“We’re so excited about this school opening. It’s a long time coming, to have a magnet school in Pasco County,” Armstrong said.

“Seeing the outpouring of support for it — the number of students that applied to go to this school — just really lets us know that’s what the parents want, and we’re here to make sure that we offer the educational opportunities that they want for their students,” Armstrong added.

Sandy Graves, a member of the Central Pasco Chamber and a Land O’ Lakes resident, has a special place in her heart for Sanders.

That’s where she went to school for all but one year of elementary school, Graves said.

She said she’s excited about the opportunities awaiting children who will be attending the school, which will focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Some parent volunteers were at the workday, too.

Nicole Bradshaw said her 5-year-old daughter, Emily, is just starting kindergarten.

She said her daughter has attended a voluntary kindergarten program that had a STEAM approach to education, and she’s thrilled that she’ll able to continue that approach to education.

Krystin Leonard was helping to sort and pack student planners. She said her daughter, Brielle, is in voluntary prekindergarten, and she hopes she’ll be able to attend Sanders next year.

“I like the immersive learning,” she said, noting that children are learning about the same themes, through different subject areas.

“When I saw they (Pasco County Schools) were opening a STEAM school, I jumped on it,” said Bradshaw, who lives near State Road 52 and the Suncoast Parkway.

She also likes the hands-on approach to learning.

“They need to get their hands dirty. They need to touch stuff and not just be learning from a book, or being recited to. They need to be in there and doing it,” she said.

Debra Wheeler and her 10-year-old daughter, Madison, were also there to volunteer.

Madison will be a fifth-grader and is excited about going to a new school.

It was a difficult choice, Debra Wheeler said, noting her daughter has attended Connerton Elementary until now.

“It was a big decision for us, because so many years we’ve been going to the same elementary school,” she said. “So, that was the debate: Do you stay with something consistent, or do you try something new?

“When we saw what Sanders was offering — you can’t pass that up,” she said, noting all three of her children will be attending new schools this year. One will be Sanders, another at Pine View Middle School and another at Land O’ Lakes High School.

During the work session, volunteers were scattered about the school, helping to sort and deliver student planners; stapling maps of the school together to help parents find their way around; putting on laptop covers, to protect the laptops; and helping to assemble shelves and sort books.

There was a sense of camaraderie, as the volunteers pitched in.

Sanders Principal Jason Petry welcomed the help.

“When Sandy (Graves) called me, she was very adamant about getting out here,” Petry said. “I love it.

“We came up with a list of things that could be done that could take a lot of stress off of us,” he said.

“It’s good for the community to be involved in the school,” he added, noting that Sanders has been in Land O’ Lakes since 1948.

Dan Paasch, a district aide for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, was pitching in during a volunteer work session at Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary School. He was helping to sort and deliver student planners.

The school has been closed for five years. The school district had planned to renovate and reopen it sooner, but the economy tanked and those plans were put on hold.

As the school reopens this year, it looks like a brand new school and is equipped with the latest in technology, has bright furniture, and is designed with teachers and students in mind.

Assistant Principal Kelly Edwards is excited about being at Sanders.

The school has many special features, including collaboration areas which are designed to foster collaboration in learning.

“It looks like you stepped into MOSI (the Museum of Science and Industry),” Edwards said. “It looks like you stepped into 2030,” she said.

School board member Armstrong is delighted by the community’s enthusiasm for Sanders.

“STEAM, all the way!” Armstrong said.

Sanders Open House
What: Open House
Where: Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet, 5126 School Road, Land O’ Lakes
When: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Aug. 20
Why: To give people a chance to tour Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school, and to see the school’s new buildings and renovated existing buildings.

Published August 12, 2015