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Steinbrenner feeling optimism with new gridiron roster

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When a high school football team has to replace 22 graduating seniors, it can be devastating to their prospects the following year.

But in Steinbrenner High School’s case, it might be just what they needed.

Andres Bautista is serious about providing leadership in his senior season, and working hard to get Steinbrenner High School’s football team into the playoffs. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Andres Bautista is serious about providing leadership in his senior season, and working hard to get Steinbrenner High School’s football team into the playoffs.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“The attitude and mentality of everybody is that they want to come and work hard. They saw what we struggled with last year, players just giving up,” said Andres Bautista, who plays on the defensive line. “Those seniors, they’re gone, so now we feel we have a better chance of achieving goals.”

Bautista, now a senior himself, is just one of two players who are entering their fourth year with the Warriors, and he believes the roster changes will improve their fortunes. Too many seniors didn’t give it their all, didn’t respond to challenging times, or simply didn’t perform up to their ability, he said.

As a result, the team finished a disappointing 3-7 overall, and 2-3 in the district last season.

Head Coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo, now entering his third year at the helm, isn’t too concerned with dwelling on last year’s fortunes. He’d rather take what he can from the past and apply it toward a more successful future.

“Every year is different in its own way,” Perez-Reinaldo said. “We look at last year’s successes and struggles, learn from them, and work on the new team and the new year.”

The Warriors gave up a district-high 303 points, but they had problems on both sides of the ball. The offense also struggled, both failing to score and committing turnovers, which put the defense in bad situations.

And when put in those situations, coverage issues allowed the opposing team’s offense to capitalize, Bautista said.

But that doesn’t mean Steinbrenner didn’t have significant bright spots. The Warriors were ranked second in kickoffs and punt returns. Not second in the district, nor the region. Steinbrenner was ranked second in those categories ahead of nearly every other school in the state.

Perez-Reinaldo believes that gives the team a significant advantage and can help improve their record in 2014.

“We hope to continue that,” Perez-Reinaldo said of the high special teams ranking. “If you can win those two — special teams and defense — everything else will fall into place.”

Perez also believes his receiving corps will be difference-makers this season. He credits Coach Michael Bosco for his work with the unit, and believes the wide receivers complement each other well.

While it’s too early to know how everything will fall into place, Perez-Reinaldo likes what he’s seen so far. A good work ethic and some success on the field have given him some optimism headed into the regular season.

“I think it’s important for kids to learn how to compete and then learn how to win,” he said. “This off-season, our team has really come together through workouts and seven-on-seven tournaments. We won our first seven-on-seven tournament ever at Steinbrenner this summer, and I see that as evidence that our team is learning how to win.

“Now it’s a matter to translating that to Friday nights.”

Bautista is looking forward to getting back to playing on Friday nights as well, because he missed a few of them last season. A torn meniscus in his right knee ended his 2013 campaign after just five games, and he had to watch the team struggle from the sideline. Now, after a successful return in a spring game (Bautista says his knee is 100 percent), he’s looking forward to providing the senior leadership he feels was lacking last season.

And Bautista believes the best way to provide that leadership is to show that he’s dedicated to seeing Steinbrenner reach the postseason for the first time in his high school career.

“That’s one of our biggest goals, is making the playoffs,” Bautista said. “I’m going to play how I’ve been playing since freshman year: Playing hard and going 110 percent.

“I love football.”

STEINBRENNER WARRIORS

Last Year: 3-7 (2-3 in district play
Fourth place in Class 7A-District 7

Key Returning Players
Andres Bautista, defensive line
Zack Deitz, linebacker

Key Addition
Quentin Poteralski, quarterback
(was a backup last season)

Player to Watch
Kezio Snelling, wide receiver
“Had a breakout year, and he is definitely a guy to watch,” said Coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo.

2014 Warriors Schedule
8/22 – Sunlake
8/29 – at Plant City
9/5 – at Alonso
9/12 – Spoto
9/19 – Sickles
10/2 – at Tampa Bay Tech
10/10 – at Wharton
10/17 – Wiregrass Ranch
10/24 – at Freedom
10/31 – Gaither
11/7 – Jefferson

Published July 30, 2014

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From teacher to candidate, Ledbetter just can’t say no

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And when there’s a need, there’s Beverly Ledbetter.

The retired educator has made Dade City her home since the days of Richard Nixon, inspiring thousands of students at Pasco Junior High School and later Pasco High School for more than three decades. Along the way, Ledbetter found herself in the most unexpected jobs, whether it be coaching the school’s soccer team, or helping educators through her work with the teachers’ union.

Beverly Ledbetter says she’s always been motivated to find a voice for those who get pushed aside, and learned as a teacher the importance of understanding all sides of an issue. It’s her drive, she says, to get her to Tallahassee. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Beverly Ledbetter says she’s always been motivated to find a voice for those who get pushed aside, and learned as a teacher the importance of understanding all sides of an issue. It’s her drive, she says, to get her to Tallahassee.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

It was always impossible for Ledbetter to turn down a calling when she was needed, and that’s what attracted her to Will Weatherford’s state House seat — one that has her heading into a November contest against former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess.

“There are a lot of things I see with our lawmakers that are very frustrating,” she said. “I’m particularly concerned with the lack of respect in Tallahassee.”

The polarizing political atmosphere that has practically crippled Washington has crept to the state level, making it impossible for someone to work with anyone they disagree with. That means Democrats — and a good chunk of the state’s population they represent — are being marginalized, with no one willing to break through and find ways to come together.

“One of the things that you learn as a teacher is to look at both sides of the issue,” Ledbetter said. “There are Republicans who have good ideas, just as there are Democrats who have good ideas, and they should be acknowledged.”

Ledbetter has always considered herself politically minded, and has made a number of trips to Tallahassee over the years lobbying for education. Her husband, Michael Ledbetter, was a Pasco County commissioner in the late 1970s, and the two actually met during a Young Democrats meeting at the University of South Florida several years before that.

Ledbetter actually considered running for school board, but realized quickly that she can make a greater impact overall by helping to set policy at the state level.

Many observers believe the advantage in the House race belongs to Burgess, a Dade City lawyer who was Zephyrhills’ youngest mayor. It’s a heavily Republican district already, and Burgess has strong name recognition — especially in eastern Pasco County.

Ledbetter, however, is hardly a stranger to voters. As a teacher and a coach, she has directly touched the lives of many in the area, which could help her draw votes from beyond Democrats. In fact, many of the people who signed her petitions to get on the ballot were Republicans, she said.

Raising money is going to be tough, however.

“My friends are teachers, many of them who haven’t had raises in a long time,” Ledbetter said. “When I get that check from a fellow teacher, and it’s usually around $25, it gives me a warm feeling. But I also know it’s an investment that makes me feel determined to go out and work my butt off, and prove that their trust in me is well-placed.”

Education is one of Ledbetter’s top priorities, but it’s not the only one she wants to tackle in Tallahassee. She also is pushing to expand Medicare coverage in the state to help get more residents health care through the federal Affordable Care Act. Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who opposes the federal health care program unofficially known as Obamacare, has refused to expand Medicare, citing a concern that the cost to do that will fall back on Florida taxpayers.

“How can you look a parent in the eye and tell them their family can’t have medical attention?” Ledbetter said. “I taught kids who had teeth rotting out, and kids who needed glasses. Luckily, in Dade City, we have some very generous doctors and dentists who were willing to step up and help, but not everywhere is like Dade City.”

Ledbetter also wants to spur economic growth not by giving companies large amounts of money and tax breaks to locate here, but to help train the workforce so they can attract higher-wage jobs to the state.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” she said. “When you can give them a leg up, and give them the support they need, they will create the jobs.”

Ledbetter is a lifelong Democrat, but says she would prefer to label herself a “practical realist.” That means acknowledging her November election is a tough one to win, but also knows that when it comes to voters, they can sometimes do the unexpected.

“It’s going to be difficult, I know that,” she said. “But I believe in standing up for people who can’t necessarily do it for themselves, whether it’s the elderly, children, or simply people who need health insurance. That’s why I’m a Democrat.”

BEVERLY LEDBETTER
Democrat for House District 38

Occupation
Lead faculty, Saint Leo University
Retired teacher, Pasco County Schools

Family
Michael Ledbetter, husband
Nathan Ledbetter, son
Courtney Williams, daughter

Residence
Dade City, since 1973

Fundraising, through July 4
$15,162

Published July 30, 2014

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Remsberg ready to give commission a much-needed intervention

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The first step in finding out who will replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission begins at the Aug. 26 primary. There voters will choose between three politically focused men — Ken Littlefield, Mike Moore and Bob Robertson — to represent Republicans in the November election.

Erika Remsberg is not afraid to speak her mind, but says she also knows when compromise is needed to achieve countywide goals. She hopes that belief will help earn her a seat on the Pasco County Commission in November. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Erika Remsberg is not afraid to speak her mind, but says she also knows when compromise is needed to achieve countywide goals. She hopes that belief will help earn her a seat on the Pasco County Commission in November.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But a primary win for any one of them is just the beginning. The eventual GOP nominee will have to win over voters one more time after August, and prove he’s the better candidate than the lone Democrat in the race, a Land O’ Lakes social worker who says she wants to return the county government’s focus back to helping people.

Erika Remsberg works long hours for Pasco County Schools, helping some of the more than 1,800 students stay focused on their studies, despite the fact they don’t have a place they can call home.

“You lost your home, you lost your friends, you lost your teachers and classmates, and you probably lost all your stuff if you were evicted from somewhere,” Remsberg said. “Your family is focused on survival, not necessarily reading and math, and all of that can have a tremendous negative impact on their education.”

Remsberg and her husband, Philip, moved to Pasco County 13 years ago to be closer to her parents. She was born in the Bronx, but raised in Long Island, graduating from New York University and marrying soon after.

Remsberg never imagined herself running for any type of elected office, but when she learned Mulieri was retiring, she feared one of the lone voices for the issues closest to her heart was going to be silenced.

“I have been very vocal that the county has not done enough to coordinate social service, and they haven’t done enough to deal with the critical needs in the county,” Remsberg said. “I think Pat Mulieri has done the best job in trying to advocate and listen, but now the best advocate that we have is now retiring.”

The commission has been plagued with bitter disputes over recent months, ranging from a park one commissioner wants to turn into a tourist attraction, to how the county is going to pay for much-needed road improvements and new construction projects, she said. In the process, money has been wasted on large corporations —including some that never made it here, like T. Rowe Price — but smaller businesses have been ignored.

“We need to start from the base up, not from the top down,” Remsberg said. “You don’t give a corporation millions of dollars while failing to help people get the transportation they need, the jobs and career centers they need, or the income they need to survive. You want to give tax breaks to companies that are going to pay at or above the median income, and not companies that are just going to pay minimum wage.”

The key to growing jobs and salaries is through workforce development, Remsberg said. County officials are missing a number of grant opportunities available to them, some which could help smaller businesses grow and enhance the work force at the same time through projects like apprenticeship programs.

“There are always ways to reach more than one goal,” Remsberg said. “These small businesses might need some help, and many of these people need job experience. It’s a way to give something back to everyone.”
County officials also have to spend more time learning how to spend money smartly, and less time getting worked up about small increases in taxes to help pay for it, Remsberg said.

“I hear a lot about the millage rate, and everyone gets very excited when taxes get raised,” she said. “But many times, we’re only talking about increases of like $20 a year. That’s a small amount of money that can dramatically impact programs that are being strained or completely ignored otherwise.”

Remsberg also believes there are not enough sheriff’s deputies on the streets, and more money is needed to help both law enforcement and fire-rescue. Public safety must become a higher priority, because a county cannot grow properly unless its residents feel safe.

So far, Remsberg has raised a little more than $3,000 for her campaign, a fraction of the more than $111,600 combined for the three Republicans in the race. But winners aren’t always determined by how much money a candidate has in the bank, and Remsberg won’t be discouraged.

“I am a social worker, so I love going for the underdog,” she said. “It’s just that this time it’s me, which is a new experience for me. But I’m good with grassroots efforts and community organization, and I’m getting out wherever I can to share a message of how we all need to work together.

“We can’t put a roof on a home with no foundation, and no walls,” she said. “We need to take care of our responsibilities when it comes to helping everyone, and only then can we truly start growing.”

ERIKA REMSBERG
Democrat for Pasco County Commission, District 2

Occupation
Homeless liaison social worker, Pasco County Schools

Family
Philip Remsberg, husband
Jordan Remsberg, son
Alex Remsberg, daughter

Residence
Land O’ Lakes, since 2001

Fundraising, through July 18
$3,324

Published July 30, 2014

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Special needs recreational classes struggling to stay afloat

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Megan Burgess loves to paint and sing.

She looks forward to her weekly art and music class, designed for people with special needs, which are Thursday evenings at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway. But if it doesn’t get more support, she might lose that opportunity.

Megan Burgess paints at her weekly art class at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex with art teacher Angela Dickerson looking on. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Megan Burgess paints at her weekly art class at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex with art teacher Angela Dickerson looking on.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

And that loss would be felt by both Megan and her mother.

“It would be horrible. You want the kids to be socializing,” Violetta Burgess said.

Her daughter Megan, 21, has low-functioning autism. She has trouble communicating verbally, but her enthusiasm for the class is clear: When Violetta tells her it’s time for art or music, Megan goes to find her shoes. She knows where she’s going that night, and has a fun time singing, using percussion instruments, painting and participating with everyone else in the class.

The problem is that “everyone” was just five students this past session. And for VSA Florida, the state branch of Very Special Arts — an international nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding art opportunities for people with disabilities — five is simply not enough.

“It does put the program in jeopardy, because if we don’t keep our numbers up, we’re not able to keep it going,” said Wendy Finklea, VSA Florida’s director of programs. “We aren’t at the point where the class is sustaining itself.”

The class requires at least seven students to break even, but really needs a steady roster of 10 or more students to be financially viable long-term. The $40 per month that participants pay not only compensates the teachers who direct the classes, but also covers a nominal fee the organization pays the recreation complex.

Since classes moved from the University of South Florida to Land O’ Lakes in January, attendance has ranged from four to eight students. Those figures have required VSA Florida to keep it going with other funds, Finklea said. They also provide scholarships based on need for families who cannot afford the monthly cost.

While the class is caught in a numbers game, Finklea said the benefits go way beyond the balance sheet.

“They learn self confidence, they learn teamwork, collaboration, tolerance, understanding,” she said.

And since the students are often asked to describe or explain their art, they learn to express themselves in a variety of ways.

While the Land O’ Lakes class attendance is troubling, that location isn’t alone. Many of their locations struggle with attendance, Finklea said. She believes there are several reasons why the programs don’t always gain traction, from a lack of societal emphasis on the arts, to scheduling conflicts, to parents not even knowing the classes exist.

But the ones who attend appreciate the program, and Finklea said the training the teachers receive to work with special needs students contributes to the positive feedback.

While Finklea and VSA Florida are disappointed with the turnout so far, they aren’t giving up. VSA Florida will continue advertising and promoting the classes, and is working with a consultant to find other opportunities to get the word out to the community.

After a scheduled summer break in August, the classes will begin again in September, and Finklea said they’ll have roughly six months to get the program running at a higher capacity before some tough decisions have to be made.

Right now she believes many people with special needs are missing out on the benefits of the class, and if it has to be cancelled or relocated, the existing students will join them.

“They’re probably missing out on a huge chance for creative expression and probably a chance to enhance their cognitive and social outcomes, which ultimately develops a stronger quality of life,” Finklea said.

That outcome would disappoint Megan, and her mother would have a tough time replacing the activity and the enjoyment she gets out of it.

“My daughter would lose out because I don’t know what I would do,” Violetta said. “She’s older, and it’s hard to find something for her that’s close.”

Siblings of special needs students also are encouraged to join and participate with them in the classes. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about VSA Florida, call (813) 974-0715, or visit VSAFl.org.

Published July 30, 2014

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Forget Comic-Con, Pasco welcomes LAMECon this weekend

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Just last weekend, tens of thousands of fans converged on San Diego for its annual Comic-Con event, paying obscene amounts of money for travel, hotel and tickets just to get inside.

But this weekend, local residents can get their geek on. And they don’t even have to spend a dime.

Stephanie Stonebridge and Jessica Samuelson show off their costumes during last year’s LAMECon in Land O’ Lakes. The event returns this weekend at both the Land O’ Lakes library and the recreation center on Collier Parkway. (Courtesy of Paul Stonebridge)
Stephanie Stonebridge and Jessica Samuelson show off their costumes during last year’s LAMECon in Land O’ Lakes. The event returns this weekend at both the Land O’ Lakes library and the recreation center on Collier Parkway.
(Courtesy of Paul Stonebridge)

The Library Anime and Manga Enthusiast Convention, more affectionately known as LAMECon, kicks off Aug. 2 at the Land O’ Lakes Library and at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center on Collier Parkway. The free event attracted more than 700 people last year, and organizer Paul Stonebridge says his goal is to top 1,000 this year.

“Our central audience is teens and 20-somethings, so it’s like the 14 to 30 crowd,” Stonebridge said. “But it’s really open for everybody. We have stuff for kids, and even a ‘Game of Thrones’ panel for adults. We’ve really doubled our convention size this year.”

LAMECon got its start six years ago in Hudson before moving to Land O’ Lakes in later years. It provides a way for young people to celebrate their love of anime and manga — more or less Japanese comics and animation — without spending the kind of money expected at larger conventions like Metrocon, held earlier this month in downtown Tampa.

“We’re pretty far from the conventions in South Tampa and Orlando, and there are a lot of people in Pasco who simply can’t afford it,” Stonebridge said. “These are mainly high schoolers and college kids, and they desperately wanted to go. And now they have something they can go to.”

Although food and games are one way to attract people to conventions, Stonebridge says it’s the panels hitting popular topics among fans that draw the most attention. This year, LAMECon will have two tracts that will include discussions like the aforementioned Emmy-nominated HBO series “Game of Thrones,” as well as trivia, Asian horror and Japanese culture.

There will even be a panel featuring readings from bad fan-fiction — stories set in the universe of popular television shows, movies and even anime and games, written exclusively by fans.

One feature this year is an achievement system designed to encourage attendees to participate as much as possible. More than 50 achievement badges are available, which can be earned from attending panels, asking questions, visiting vendors, and simply just showing up.

Hosting a convention is not cheap, and LAMECon doesn’t earn any money from the typical ways conventions generate revenue like ticket sales or vendor rental fees. In fact, local businesses can set up and offer wares for free.

LAMECon is funded through grants and donations, as well as sponsors like Publix Super Markets and the DeBartolo Family Foundation, Stonebridge said. The convention also offers premium memberships for a small donation, which can include food, T-shirts and other offers.

Conventions like this have earned a lot of new respect over the years, growing from the early days of Star Trek conventions that were typically ridiculed in the mainstream. The success of shows like “Game of Thrones” and the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy has helped that, Stonebridge said.

But it’s the comics entertainment company Marvel that deserves a lot of the credit, he said.

“Marvel has had a huge hand in all of this, more than anyone else,” Stonebridge said. “All the comic boom movies, those have been in the mainstream. And so it’s OK to like comics and video games now.”

WHAT: LAMECon 2014, Library Anime and Manga Enthusiast Convention
WHEN: Aug. 2 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway on Saturday; Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway on Sunday
COST: Free
INFO: LAMECon.com

Published July 30, 2014

 See this story in print: Click Here

Business Digest 07-30-14

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Local businesses boast successful events
The Connerton community on U.S. 41 recently treated 700 guests to an extended holiday celebration with its July Fifth Big Event — an old-fashioned neighborhood party in its new town community.

The event included local bands, food trucks, games, and 30 minutes of holiday fireworks.

Also having a successful recent event was Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care for its first Founder’s Day celebration in New Port Richey. More than 150 people attended.

The program celebrated 25 years of the company, which was originally founded as Central Gulfside Hospice in 1988.

Watch N’ Play comes to Radiant
David and Aggie Gainer of Land O’ Lakes will compete with Redbox with a new Watch N’ Play kiosk at Radiant stores in the area.

The first has opened at the Radiant on the corner of Collier Parkway and State Road 54, with a second location in the next couple months at a new store under construction near State Road 54 and Interstate 75 near the entrance to The Grove shopping center in Wesley Chapel.

The kiosk offers new DVD movies and video games 28 days ahead of Redbox, David Gainer said, as well as the ability of customers to purchase movies and games directly from the kiosk.

The franchise, also owned by Selma Jones and Keisha Jones, plans to open seven locations in Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties over the next year, joining more than 190 Watch N’ Play locations at Radiant nationally.

The Pasco locations are the first in Florida for the service.

Marketing summit in Tampa
The Tampa Bay Marketing Summit will take place Aug. 8 beginning at 8:45 a.m., at Mainsail Conference Center, 5108 Eisenhower Blvd., in Tampa.

The event is hosted by EMSI in Wesley Chapel, which provides news content for print and online news outlets, as well as television and radio talk shows.

For information, visit TampaBayMarketingSummit.com, or call Marsha Friedman at (727) 443-7115, Ext. 201.

Florida Traditions acquisition finalized
Home BancShares Inc., the parent company of Centennial Bank, has finalized its acquisition of Florida Traditions Bank, and its branches located in eastern Pasco and Hillsborough counties, among other places.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but previous published reports put the sale at $43 million in stock. The combined Centennial Bank will now boast $7 billion in total assets, and $5.5 billion in total deposits in nearly 150 branches in Florida, Arkansas and Alabama.

Bud Stalnaker, the chief executive of Florida Traditions, will stay on with the new Centennial as division president for Central Florida.

Florida Traditions was founded in 2007 by a group of East Pasco County business owners who saw a need for a locally owned and locally managed bank, according to the company’s website. It had eight branches in Zephyrhills, Dade City, Spring Hill, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Plant City, Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

Pasco EDC annual banquet
The 2014 Pasco Economic Development Council annual banquet will be Sept. 2 beginning at 5 p.m., at Saddlebrook Resort Grand Pavilion, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

Cost is $75 per person.

For more information, or to make a reservation, call (813) 926-0827, or email .

EDI2 needs applicants
Hillsborough County’s Economic Development Innovation Initiative will stop taking applications for its fourth funding cycle Aug. 1.

The program is developed to drive the growth of technology and innovation at start-up companies and small businesses. It encompasses the need for financial, technical and infrastructure support, and addresses the Hillsborough County Commission’s support of the business community.

Since its launch last year, 55 applicants have received just under $600,000 in funds to support the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem through support of events, industry promotions and service providers.

For information, visit HillsboroughCounty.org/EDI2, or call Jennifer Whelihan at (813) 272-6217.

‘Dancing With Our Stars’ returns
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will once again host “Dancing With Our Stars,” with a performance scheduled for Oct. 18.

The chamber still has a few dance slots to fill, as well as a need for volunteers to help behind the scenes for the “stars” who will be trained by dance professionals to perform a short routine.

The overall winner will be based on monetary votes, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting arts programs in the community.

To participate, volunteer or even sponsor, visit CentralPascoChamber.com, or call (813) 909-2722.

Wesley Chapel networking group
Networking for Your Success meets every Thursday at 8 a.m., at Lexington Oaks Country, 2615 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Cost is $5, and annual membership to the group is $79.

For information, call (813) 073-1657.

Political Agenda 07-30-14

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Brand USA bill moves forward
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, says his bill in Congress — the Travel Promotion, Enhancement and Modernization Act — passed the House recently by a vote of 347-57.

“Tourism is an integral part of our economy, especially in Florida,” Bilirakis said, in a release. “Increased tourism means more American and Floridian jobs.”

Bilirakis says his bill will create job growth without utilizing any taxpayer dollars.

The U.S. Senate is taking up a companion bill that Bilirakis has asked them to pass “without delay.”

The bill strengthens American competitiveness in the global travel and tourism markets by reauthorizing Brand USA — a public-private partnership designed to encourage tourism in the country, according to Bilirakis. The Congressional Budget Office says Brand USA would reduce the nation’s deficit by $231 million.

The travel and tourism sector is the top industry in Florida, employing more than 1 million Floridians and generating nearly $71.5 billion in spending.

Goulbourne gets state appointment
Christine Goulbourne of Trinity has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Rehabilitation Council.

Goulbourne, director of programs at the Family Network on Disabilities, fills a vacant seat for a term that ends June 30, 2016.

Also appointed are John Pribanic of Bushnell, Shawn Peters of Royal Palm Beach, Janet Servet of Edgewater, Kara Tucker of Neptune Beach, and Rebecca Witonsky of Boca Raton.

Interest sparks in electric car conversions

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When Steve Azzoli pulls his bright blue car into an auto parts store and pops open his hood, he invariably draws a crowd.

That’s because the retired Land O’ Lakes man is tooling around in an all-electric car, and people want to take a look.

Steve Azzoli said his electric car creates a buzz when people take a look under its hood. He invested about $23,000 on the car, but gets 110 miles to 120 miles per battery charge, and doesn’t have to spend a dime on gasoline. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Steve Azzoli said his electric car creates a buzz when people take a look under its hood. He invested about $23,000 on the car, but gets 110 miles to 120 miles per battery charge, and doesn’t have to spend a dime on gasoline.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Azzoli got the car for his project in 2011, and didn’t get the parts to convert it into an electric vehicle until the middle of 2012.

It took six months to restore the car and another 18 months to convert it.

Rebirth Auto of St. Petersburg helped Azzoli get the right battery system and motor controller, while Diamond Auto Works Inc., in Lutz did the bodywork, welding and fabrication work, and car painting.

Diamond Auto’s Bobby Boles said when Azzoli first told him what he was planning to do, he thought he was crazy. But Boles figured if Azzoli was willing to invest so much in the electric car project, Azzoli must know what he was talking about.

The bodywork made the car more aerodynamic, Azzoli said.

Since completing the project, Azzoli has driven 5,700 miles without using a drop of gas. He estimates he saves about $300 a month with his electric car.

Beyond saving money on fuel, he’s also spending less on maintenance.

The project cost about $23,000, but Azzoli said that is less than what it would cost for a Chevrolet Volt, a popular gas and electric hybrid car. He also notes his car gets more mileage per charge than a Nissan Leaf, another popular electric car.

Before a recent upgrade that reduced the weight of his car, Azzoli said he was getting about 110 miles to 120 miles a charge. Azzoli recently removed about 150 pounds of steel, and changed his battery boxes from steel to aluminum. Once he does some more testing, he’ll know how much the mileage between charges has improved.

Azzoli’s next project will be to change the 14-inch tires to 16-inch tires, improving  highway mileage, he said.

The Land O’ Lakes man isn’t the only one drawn to electric vehicles. Jose Barriga of New Tampa said he became fascinated with the notion of converting a gasoline-powered car into an electric vehicle once he found out it was possible.

He has converted a 2004 Nissan Sentra into an electric car. At first, he was able to get 50 miles per charge.

However, he’s in the midst of upgrading the batteries and expects to be able to get 80 miles per charge once that project is done.

Barriga is sold on the concept of electric cars. He likes the idea of using a car that doesn’t use gasoline or oil, and which doesn’t directly cause pollution.

His second car is a hybrid, which requires him to fill his gas tank about twice a month.

Barriga said he’d like to do another car conversion project, but simply doesn’t have the time.

Steve Messerschmidt, who’s associated with two vehicle companies in St. Petersburg — Rebirth Auto and Evnetics — sells electric vehicle conversion kits to customers around the globe.

There’s a big demand to convert gasoline-powered cars into electric cars, Messerschmidt said.

Some people want to save money on gas. Others enjoy do-it-yourself projects.

Some people want to reduce the carbon footprint. Some people like to show off their cars and they want to have a unique vehicle.

Others want electric cars, but don’t want to be limited to what’s available commercially. They want to choose the make and model of their electric car.

And there are those who want to make a business out of it, Messerschmidt said. “They want to do conversions for other people,” he added.

Edward R. Monfort, chief executive and president of electric driveshaft manufacturer Adomani Inc., is one of those people. He’s looking to convert school buses and trucks into electric vehicles to make money for his company and to save money for school districts and private businesses.

The Tampa man said he’s also exploring the possibility of working with the U.S. Postal Service to provide a fleet of vehicles for its use.

Monfort drives around a Ford F-150 truck that’s been converted to an electric vehicle. His interest in electric vehicles began in 2008 when he was getting into the car business and built an all-electric Mustang.

The car was popular at car shows, but never developed a strong market, Monfort said.

Now, he’s focusing his efforts on finding customers in the fleet market for trucks and buses.

Electric vehicles offer a wise economic choice, Monfort said, noting they can cost less than half as much as a gasoline-powered vehicle over 10 years, considering the purchasing and operating costs.

“There’s a demand for the product,” Messerschmidt said. “Municipalities, as time goes on, they’re going to demand that the carbon footprint go down. This business, in general, is really in its infancy.”

Published July 23, 2014

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Express route to downtown Tampa in jeopardy, HART says

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The number of people who depend on HART’s Route 51X connecting Pasco County to downtown Tampa is dwindling. And so is the organization’s money.

So it’s probably no surprise to some of the remaining riders that officials with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit want to make some significant changes to the route, possibly removing the express route altogether. But at the very least, adding some local stops to finally bring such mass transit service to the New Tampa area.

Park-and-rides like this one at CrossRoads Community United Methodist Church on County Line Road attract maybe six cars a day, HART officials say, while costing riders $24,000 a year. That could change soon for Route 51X. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Park-and-rides like this one at CrossRoads Community United Methodist Church on County Line Road attract maybe six cars a day, HART officials say, while costing riders $24,000 a year. That could change soon for Route 51X.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“It is important as an agency that we consider the needs of the current riders,” HART interim chief operating officer Ruthie Reyes Burckard told concerned riders during a recent meeting at the New Tampa Library. “There is no transportation along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. We have been looking at this area, and are trying to get some service into this area, whether it’s local or some kind of hybrid option” of both express and local service.

Right now, the express bus takes workers from Pasco County and New Tampa into downtown Tampa early workday mornings, and returns them late in the afternoon. HART is looking at three options to change its service, all of them at least coming with a name change for the route: 51LX.

All the new options include local stops along Bruce B. Downs in places like County Line Road, Tampa Palms Boulevard, and even one route that would make its way to the University of South Florida. However, to add the university to the stops, HART would have to give up on its express service.

But that’s not the only change HART is considering. The transit company says it plans to close two park-and-ride lots in Pasco County that it’s paying nearly $24,000 a year to maintain at Victorious Life Church on Old Pasco Road, and CrossRoads Community United Methodist Church on County Line Road.

“Yes, we are considering closing both, but not until a suitable replacement is found,” HART spokeswoman Sandra Morrison told The Laker/Lutz News. “We are trying to find sites closer to Bruce B. Downs.”

But it’s not just 51X that will have park-and-rides replaced, HART wants to make adjustments to parking situations on other routes like 25LX in the Brandon area, and 47LX in SouthShore.

“We are always looking at more cost-effective locations for park-and-rides on all express routes,” Morrison said. “As a rule, private business and organizations provide parking as a public service at no cost.”

Paying for the Pasco lots eats up nearly half the $3 cash fare, Morrison said. The route carries about 17,000 passengers a year, but the lots average only about six cars per day.

One rider who attended a recent public hearing said HART should focus more on the quality of service it’s providing customers of the 51X to help stem declining ridership, not spend time changing the routes.

“The buses are just in horrible shape,” said Beth Derby from Heather Sound Drive. “We get rained on inside the bus. There is no air-conditioning, and we are lucky that we get downtown in time to get to work.”
Buses, she said, are typically running behind schedule, and riders miss connections at the Marion Transit Center in downtown Tampa.

“If this is your only mode of transportation into town, then you don’t have a choice,” Derby said. “But you know a lot of us do, and if it comes between taking a bus that risks my job because I can’t make it on time to work, then I’ll drive. I’m not going to lose my job because HART can’t get its act together.”

HART is struggling with funding, hampering its efforts to replace aging buses, said the organization’s senior manager of service planning Steven Feigenbaum. And some of the problems keeping the buses on schedule are actually outside of HART’s control.

“The synchronization of the (traffic) lights, and the engineering of the lights, are the responsibility with the city of Tampa,” Feigenbaum said. “I’ve been in contact with them time and time again to be more liberal on their timing, but we have not had a lot of luck.”

Without the lights being in sync to help move traffic, buses are getting stopped at multiple lights in a short road span, he said.

What changes, if any, will be made to Route 51X now depends on HART’s board of directors, a group of 13 people representing local and state governments. They are scheduled to hear the presentations on the various options in a September meeting, as well as input from riders of the service. While the board could implement changes as early as November, Feigenbaum said it’s more likely riders won’t see any changes to 51X until March at the earliest because of manpower shortages.

State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, attended HART’s public hearing on Route 51X earlier this month, and said he favored keeping the express route with local options.

“In this state, we are trying to increase mass transit, and (options) two and three (removing the express route) are going in the opposite direction,” Danish said. “A lot of people here already have been using it to go downtown, and it seems kind of strange to basically kill that bus route now.”

Published July 23, 2014

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Land O’ Lakes resident wants return of Flapjack Festival

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For nearly 30 years, Mark Ballard had a routine when it came to the Land O’ Lakes Flapjack Festival.

“The kids would go to eat the pancakes in the morning, then we would go and spend pretty much all day on the rides,” he said. “Then we could go home and come back again at night.”

The Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest doesn’t have a parade, but it does have rides, games and entertainment for area residents, as well as providing fundraising opportunities for local organizations. (File Photo)
The Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest doesn’t have a parade, but it does have rides, games and entertainment for area residents, as well as providing fundraising opportunities for local organizations.
(File Photo)

Ballard lives on what was once the festival’s parade route, and he would take his children — and later his grandchildren — outside with chairs to see it every year.

For more than three decades, even before Ballard moved to Land O’ Lakes, the Flapjack Festival was a community event that included a parade, pageant and rides. Businesses had booths, food trucks served customers, and children played games.

And everyone ate flapjacks.

Over the years it became an annual staple in the community and was a popular destination for area residents. In a way, it was too popular: The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce decided to move the festival from the Land O’ Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41 instead to a place that could accommodate its growth and parking needs. In 2008, the Flapjack Festival flipped over to the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City.

But the public didn’t support the festival at the new location. A year later, it shut down for good. And Ballard still isn’t happy about the move that ended an annual tradition.

“If somebody came down there and took the Gasparilla parade away from Tampa and said they were going to move it to New Orleans, people would say ‘what’s going on there?’“ he said.

The Flapjack Festival was more than a community event. It was a community fundraiser, with local schools and churches benefiting financially.

The year after the festival left Land O’ Lakes, one of the recipients of those funds decided to fill that gap in the schedule. The Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club began an event that’s now known as the Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest, held at the same location and also with rides, games and an opportunity for local organizations to make some money.

But there’s no parade and no flapjack theme. It’s a smaller event as well. But according to coordinator Doug Hutchinson, that’s the way they want it.

“Swamp Fest is more like a community fair, more so than the Flapjack Festival,” he said.

Hutchinson believes that a smaller event can still be a fun destination for residents, but not get so big that it might grow out of its current location. Hutchinson, a member of the booster club for decades, was also a coordinator with the Flapjack Festival during its heyday. And like Ballard and others, he didn’t want to see it moved to Dade City back in 2008.

“In my opinion, you can’t have a community event and not have it in the community,” he said.

But now that it’s gone, Hutchinson feels Swamp Fest maintains a strong area presence like its predecessor.

Ballard believes that others share his desire to see the Flapjack Festival return, even if it means just seeing the name and theme make a comeback. But Hutchinson said they’ve worked to create something the community could embrace, the event is growing, and they never considered adopting the Flapjack Festival name.

“Flapjack was Flapjack. We wanted our own identity and our own little event,” he said.

Ironically, Swamp Fest itself is in jeopardy this year, and the venue is again the issue. Scheduled to begin Oct. 31, that timeframe could coincide with much-needed improvements to the Land O’ Lakes Community Center the county has budgeted and planned.

While the upgrade should be good for Swamp Fest and other area events in the future, Hutchinson isn’t sure if it will go on as planned this year, possibly facing cancellation until the work is completed. His organization should have a clearer picture of the county’s plans next month, he said.

Ballard has attended Swamp Fest, and said many elements of the Flapjack Festival are still there. But it’s not the same to him, and even though it’s been several years and a replacement is in place, the loss of the Flapjack Festival has left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“It just seems like the identity was stolen from the community,” he said.

Published July 23, 2014

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