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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Business Digest 04-15-15

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Hispanic chamber mixer
Celebrate tax day – April 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. – with the Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and with a mixer at Synovus Bank at 2145 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, on the north side of State Road 56, east of Interstate 75.

For information, call the chamber office at (813) 435-1499.

Business forum
A Lunch N’ Learn Business Forum will take place April 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce boardroom, at 6013 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Suite 105.

The guest speaker will be Ali Walter, chief success driver at Ali Ann & Co. Learn how to target your market and build your business.

Cost is $15 including lunch. RSVP required as maximum of 15 seats are available.

For information, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com, or call (813) 994-8534.

Zephyrhills chamber mixer
Humana will sponsor a chamber mixer for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on April 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy appetizers, drinks and live music at the Humana Guidance Center, 7920 Gall Blvd., next to Staples.

For information, contact Jennifer Fogarty at (813) 780-7300.

Rotary meeting
The Rotary Club of Dade City will meet April 20 at noon at the Dade City Business Center at 15486 U.S. 301 Hwy., in the Hornbuckle Room on the third floor. 

Manufacturers job fair
The Pasco-Hernando State College TRADE Grant Office will host the Florida Manufacturing Career Fair on April 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the college’s Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court. Career Source Pasco Hernando, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Manufacturers Association of Florida and the Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturing Association also are sponsors.

The fair will bring job seekers together with representatives of the manufacturing industry.

Employers and job seekers should contact (727) 816-3345 or email , to register for this free event.

For more information, visit PHSC.edu/mfg.cf.

Incubator program receives award
Pasco Economic Development Council’s Smartstart incubator program received honorable mention at the 23rd annual Future of the Region Awards ceremony in St. Petersburg on March 27. The awards are hosted annually by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to single out achievements in the public and private sectors for resource planning and management in the Tampa Bay region.

The incubator program mentors emerging and startup companies. Pasco County also received first place awards in the categories of development and infrastructure and going green, and second place award in community service.

Economic briefing
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly economic development briefing on April 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Hoosier Grille, located within Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club, 10630 Plantation Bay Drive.

The guest speaker is Chris Alvarez, chief financial officer of the Florida Medical Clinic. He will discuss plans to open an 80,000-square-foot medical facility on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, next to the Florida Hospital.

The cost is $15 including lunch. Register online by 3 p.m., April 22. Please pay online, as no credit cards will be accepted at the door.

For information, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com, or call (813) 994-8534.

Learning center opens
Bricks4Kidz will host a ribbon cutting on April 23 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the office of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, 6013 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

The learning center will operate at the New Tampa YMCA Meadow Pointe clubhouse and Seven Oaks. It will provide a unique hands-on interactive curriculum focused on STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering and math). Technology and engineering-based camps will be available. More locations will be added.

For information, visit Bricks4Kidz.com/florida-wesleychapel/, or email .

New dry cleaners
Pristine Dry Clean & Alterations is open for business, and also hiring. The store is at 23388 State Road 54, just down from Panera Bread. Pristine Dry Clean & Alterations is family-owned.

Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Grants for businesswomen

Are you a businesswoman who could use $1,000?
Women-n-Charge is offering two $1,000 grants this spring. The grants can be used toward business-related equipment or services and continuing education. The nonprofit’s mission, in part, is to support and assist professional women in managing their businesses more effectively.

Learn more about the grants at Women-n-Charge.com. Applications are available online and are due April 15.

For information, contact Judy Nicolosi, treasurer of Women-n-Charge, at (813) 600-9848, or send an email to .

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet April 28 at Rose’s Café at 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Mike Wells Sr., Pasco County’s property appraiser, is the guest speaker.

For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or send him an email at .

Business seminar
The Pasco Hernando State College will host BizGROW2.0 on May 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass. The half-day conference and entrepreneur exchange is for entrepreneurs, start-up business owners and established business owners, and will include panel discussions, advice and inspiration on growing your business and lots of networking.

The cost is $30 per person, or $35 per person after May 12. Registration is required. The deadline to apply for a sponsorship is April 15.

For sponsorship information, contact Suzanne Renczkowski at ; call (813) 926-0827; or visit PascoEdc.com/events.

Business Link available monthly
Business Link, a monthly small business gathering hosted by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting is designed to provide a networking and information-sharing platform for the business community.

For locations, details and to reserve a seat, email , or call (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

 

Citizens Academy connects the dots

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The class kicked off with a “show-and-tell” display of Pasco County’s firefighting and rescue vehicles in the parking lot outside of the county’s Emergency Operations Center. It ended with an up-close look inside the command center of the county’s 911 operations.

“It was fascinating,” said Nancy Menendez. The Land O’ Lakes resident expressed surprise that the 911 center wasn’t larger. Blinking red lights mounted at each cubicle signaled a call in progress.

Pasco firefighter Michael Tomlinson, right, explains the uses of fire suppression equipment to Port Richey resident Jeromy Harding and Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves. Harding and Graves are students of the county’s Citizens Academy. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Pasco firefighter Michael Tomlinson, right, explains the uses of fire suppression equipment to Port Richey resident Jeromy Harding and Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves. Harding and Graves are students of the county’s Citizens Academy.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Menendez noticed the even-keeled, calm tones of call operators and dispatchers as they answered nearly nonstop calls in rapid-fire succession.

She is one of about 20 students chosen from about 50 applicants to attend the county’s third Citizens Academy. The first academy was in 2014.

There are two semesters a year, in spring and fall. Anyone who lives or works in Pasco, and is 18 years of age or older, can qualify. Students in each semester come from all five of the county’s election districts.

The goal is to inform residents about local government as well as their roles as participants. The hope also is that students who come to the academy will want to be ambassadors, sign up for advisory boards or find other ways to volunteer.

“Most of the folks learn something,” said Randy TeBeest, assistant county administrator for public safety. “I’m betting they learn a lot. This really gives them an idea of where tax dollars go to and why and how we decide to spend those precious dollars.”

Menendez found herself in the academy after discovering the program on a random search through the government website.

“It really sounded interesting,” said Menendez who at age 59 is beginning to think about retirement.

“I’m not going to sit home and watch TV,” she said. “I’m going to get involved. I want to see what I want to do in my future life. I’ve been enjoying this. It’s an experience I’ve not expected.”

Each class focuses on a specific area of government such as constitutional officers or planning and development. Last week’s class was about public safety and included briefings on the departments of misdemeanor and probation, and emergency management. The Office of Tourism Development was on the agenda, too.

Organizers try to include an interactive element in each class, such as the 911center tour.

In March, the academy convened at the Dade City courthouse for a mock public hearing with students playing the roles of county commissioners and the residents who took sides on a proposed housing project.

New Port Richey resident Marilyn Shaw played a resident who opposed the development. “It’s so fun,” she said.

Though she has done public speaking before, the retired registered nurse said, “You find out what your skills are. I felt very honored (to be selected for the academy). I wanted to be more active in government and understand what department does what.”

Some students want to hone existing skills and knowledge.

Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves is on the board member for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. Her chamber connection was partly her motivation for signing up for the academy.

But she also said, “I think it’s important we all learn to work together. Local government is where it affects you most.”

She has a new awareness of the many levels of government.

“I didn’t know it was that complicated,” Graves said. “Bureaucracy tends to do that. There are so many times you don’t know who it is to call or what they do.”

Trilby resident Richard Riley is a retiree and an activist in the Dade City area.

“I feel it’s necessary to know what’s happening and how it’s happening in the county. This (program) is on-site, hands-on.”

The academy is meeting his expectations. “I’m learning who to contact, and who to thank,” he said. “We pay taxes for these people. It’s necessary to see how well things are running.”

Jeromy Harding, 24, owns an insurance business in Port Richey. He ran in the Republican primary for State House Representative, District 36, the seat vacated by Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano.

“I’d do it again,” Harding said. “I’m very active politically in west Pasco.”

The academy is a chance to learn more about the county commission, voting issues and the budget process, Harding said.

At an upcoming class, students will learn about how budgets are put together and participate in an exercise similar to the mock hearing in Dade City.

Learning the nuts and bolts of county government is the motivation for Julian Ford. The 39-year-old is an entrepreneur, spiritual leader and owner of a business in Dade City. He grew up in Pasco and lives in Lacoochee.

“I want to put myself in a position to make a more valuable contribution not just to me, but to my (community),” said Ford.

When the academy is over, Ford said he wants to be in a position to explain to other people how government works.

“It’s doing exactly what I want it to do. It’s connecting the dots, answering the why,” he said. Later on, he said, “I can be the why.”

Published April 8, 2015

Famous Tate buys land near Walmart on U.S. 41

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Pasco County’s third Famous Tate is planned for an outparcel, in front of Walmart Supercenter, off U.S. 41 in Lutz.

An architect is working on the design of the 14,000-square-foot appliance and mattress store, but a groundbreaking likely is months away, according to John Horst, the company’s president.

Famous Tate plans to open a new store in Pinellas County before it opens its new Pasco County location. The Pinellas store could open within the next four months.

Horst is eager to get started on the Pasco site, but design and permitting could take as long as a year.

The company generally prefers to be conservative and opens a store a year, Horst said.

“It will be an attractive building,” Horst said. “We just want to be a player in Lutz as it grows.”

Plans in Pinellas are to reopen and re-brand former Apsco Appliance Centers, which were acquired in a bankruptcy.

Famous Tate of New Tampa Inc., purchased the 1.5-acre vacant lot by Walmart in March from Tarpon Springs-based Hagman Properties for slightly more than $1 million, according to Pasco County records.

The company, which was founded in 1954, has nine current locations including stores in Pasco at 5419 Village Market in Wesley Chapel, and at 8010 Grand Blvd., in Port Richey. There are about 250 employees.

Walmart and the County Line Commons shopping plaza are located in a pie-shaped plat of land between U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway, with entrances off both roadways. Horst said a vacant lot on the North Dale Mabry side was considered, but the entry from U.S. 41 seemed the better option.

“It seemed easier to get in and out,” Horst said. “It’s busier and has more local traffic.”

Published April 8, 2015

Wesley Chapel prepares to ‘March for Babies’

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It’s April, but the march goes on.

“March” as in March of Dimes, the nonprofit organization that provides funds for research and services to prevent premature birth, defects and infant mortality. And also March for Babies, an event on April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. Teams and individuals will walk while raising money for research.

Jen Cofini's son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass. (Courtey of Jen Cofini)
Jen Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass.
(Courtey of Jen Cofini)

This is the first year the event will be at The Shops at Wiregrass after several years in West Pasco.

The shopping center is happy to be a part of it.

“It just was something that we felt passionate about,” said Debbie Detweiler, the regional shopping mall’s marketing director. “With all of the families in the Wesley Chapel area and families that shop at Wiregrass, it was something we could be a part of in creating that awareness for March of Dimes.”

The March of Dimes has set an ambitious goal of $240,000 after having to cancel last year’s event due to weather. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part.

Wesley Chapel resident Jen Cofini and her family have been selected to be the ambassador family for Pasco County March for Babies since they have firsthand experience in dealing with premature births.

Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born eight years ago after a 32-week pregnancy. He weighed just 4 pounds. He spent a month in the hospital, and there were many challenging moments.

“When you have a premature baby, you don’t know what to expect,” Cofini said. “The resources that the March of Dimes provide for the parents of premature babies are incredible.”

Cofini found comfort through the organization’s website, too. It put her in touch with other mothers who were going through the same issues. Families can share stories, ask questions and connect with others going through a similar situation.

Though Cofini had Dylan in New York, premature births are common in Florida. According to the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card for 2014, 13.6 percent of Florida births are premature. That’s good for just a “D” grade from the organization.

And while Dylan was born premature, he’s healthy today.

Many other children aren’t as lucky, and have significant defects and disabilities to deal with for years, or even a lifetime.

Those families especially benefit from the research and support from the March of Dimes, Cofini explained.

On April 25, Cofini will be there with her husband, Jeff, Dylan and his little sister, Madison.

And, as community relations manager of Parks Ford Wesley Chapel, she’s recruited support from work as well. They’re sponsoring the event and have a team raising money to walk.

While Cofini is accustomed to supporting the community at her job, the March for Babies is special to her and her family.

“When something touches you personally, it makes you more aware, and that’s why I’m such a huge supporter of the March of Dimes, because they do such great work,” Cofini said. “They support the parents, they’re doing the research and they’re raising the money to give every baby a fighting chance at being born healthy.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the 3-mile walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. A Kids Zone will have face painting and other activities.

For more information, visit MarchForBabies.org/event/Suncoast, or contact Bethany Carlson at (813) 898-4954 or .

Published April 8, 2015

Javic Homes showcases Southern Living

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The outside wrapping is pure traditional white.

A pair of rocking chairs sits on the front porch. The metal roofing atop a bay window brings a touch of Craftsman bungalow.

Inside, traditional gives way to modern. There’s an open floor plan, colors that pop in purple and copper next to grays and beiges on interior walls, and state-of-the art connectivity and technology.

A paved walkway leads to the front porch with a pair of rocking chairs. The scene evokes the traditions often featured in Southern Living magazine. (Provided by Javic Homes)
A paved walkway leads to the front porch with a pair of rocking chairs. The scene evokes the traditions often featured in Southern Living magazine.
(Provided by Javic Homes)

Out back, two covered patios, a fire pit, a waterfall and a flat-screen television add charm to a spacious, deep lawn.

“We call it the ‘wow’ lawn,” said Jon Solomon, president of Javic Homes. The company built this luxury 2015 Southern Living Custom Builder Showcase Home in the Brookside subdivision in Wesley Chapel.

The tree-lined streets and manicured landscape within this gated community evoke the homey feel of neighborhoods of the past.

“I always think it’s a Norman Rockwell neighborhood,” said Solomon. “You just don’t see this anymore. It’s a really nice family neighborhood.”

During March, the showcase home, at 29318 Chapel Park Drive, drew between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors. Proceeds from ticket sales benefited two local charities, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Operation Finally Home.

Visitors still have a chance to see the home during the 2015 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes, from April 11 through April 26.

Nearly 150 model homes from 35 builders in 82 communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Citrus and Marion counties are on this year’s tour. That makes it the largest new-home showcase in the Tampa Bay area, according to the sponsor, the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

The association is based in Tampa and has more than 750 members including local builders, developers, suppliers and architectural firms.

Homes will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 pm., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday, during the parade. A panel of industry professionals will judge the homes based on site plan, curb appeal, design, materials, outdoor living spaces, architectural details and workmanship.

The sales price for the four-bedroom, 4,100 square-foot home in Brookside is $895,000. Planning, design and construction took about a year. About a dozen open lots remain in the subdivision, which is adjacent to Saddlebrook Resort, off State Road 54.

This is the second time Javic Homes has been included in Southern Living’s Custom Builder Program for showcase homes. Last year’s home was in South Tampa.

“I think it’s a great way to highlight our work,” said Solomon. Making it a charitable event is a plus. “We like to give back to our community,” he added.

Southern Living’s custom builder program is by invitation only, and includes about 100 of the nation’s top builders. Magazine representatives review homeowner and business references, and make site visits before adding a homebuilder to the group.

Showcase homebuilders can choose from more than 1,000 design plans in Southern Living’s database, but can modify plans or do their own.

Southern Living representatives have to approve the plan and the interior finishes, Solomon said.

“So we can coordinate everything with Southern Living designers,” he added.

Javic Homes was founded in 2001 and has built about 300 homes in the Tampa Bay area.

For its 2015 showcase home, Solomon said, “We had inspiration from one of (Southern Living’s) plans. It’s a little more open. It’s what people want these days.”

The two-story home opens to a grand foyer, flanked by a den and formal dining room. The master suite is off the great room, which flows into the kitchen and a breakfast nook. There also is a powder room, mudroom, laundry and a two-and-a-half car garage. On the second floor, there are three bedrooms, a bonus room and a balcony.

Local artists such as Sarah Hull, Francine Bauer, Lori Starkey, Debra Radke and Sharon Britton display their artwork throughout the house.

Personal tastes in homes vary, but Solomon said trends generally are for clean lines and interiors that are not ornate, but have simple styles.

Homebuyers also want durability and energy efficiency. Technology is an integral part of new homes with devices that operate televisions, garages, sprinkler systems, alarm systems, lights and sound.

Lifestyles, budgets and personal tastes are part of the decision making when building a custom home. “You always try to balance lifestyle needs with decorating and design details,” Solomon said.

Published April 8, 2015

 

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North turns five

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When St. Joseph’s Hospital-North opened its doors five years ago, it was the first new hospital built in Hillsborough County in 30 years.

“Our goal was to provide a health care alternative in this community because there really weren’t many alternatives,” said Paula McGuiness, president of the hospital, at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz..

“It was an underdeveloped medical infrastructure, if you will. There weren’t many doctors out here. There certainly wasn’t a hospital,” McGuiness said.

A look at the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A look at the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

People needing to go to a hospital had to drive 13 miles or more, she added. “That was why this was built.”

The hospital acquired the land in the 1980s, anticipating a future need, McGuiness said.

Since St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began operations on Feb. 15, 2010, both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Medical Center of Trinity, in neighboring Pasco County, have opened their doors.

“You would think that it would have a big impact on the volume of patients that we see, but, in fact, there has not been much change, overall,” McGuiness said.

More than a half-million people visited a loved one at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North during the hospital’s first five years, and it treated nearly a quarter-million patients.

The hospital’s work force has grown, too.

It began with around 425 employees and now exceeds 575, McGuiness said. Many employees have been there since it opened.

“We have a lot of team members who previously had worked in places like St. Pete and Clearwater, so now, we have provided a close-to-home work environment,” she said.

There’s also a medical office building on the property, housing physicians from a wide array of specialty areas.

The hospital has an ambulance service and a helipad, enabling it to transport patients to other facilities when necessary.

In fact, when St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was planning to move into Lutz, one of the most controversial aspects was its intention to have a helipad.

“People were concerned we were going to be bringing in helicopters to be a port here. We’re not transporting in. What we do is we do transfer out,” McGuiness said.

The hospital was built with comfort in mind, for both patients and their families.

“The aesthetics don’t make the care, but they are a kind of backdrop for the kind of care that we provide,” McGuiness said. “If you can provide an ambience, an environment that is soothing and restful and doesn’t have that sterile, stereotypic hospital feel, then you can support the health and well-being of individuals that come here.”

Along those lines, the hospital’s common areas are spacious and inviting, and all patient rooms are private.

The patient rooms are designed with the notion that family members would be active participants in their loved one’s care, McGuiness said.

“Even with the ICU (intensive care unit), we allow the family to stay in the room with the patient during their stay, if that’s what they desire,” McGuiness said. “It’s not just the patient, it is the family that needs that type of support.”

In terms of construction, the hospital was built to accommodate future expansion.

It also was designed with the environment and energy conservation in mind.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first acute hospital in Florida to be LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)-registered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The hospital has technology that is designed to support quality patient care, in a secure environment.

It was the first hospital in Baycare Health System to be almost entirely paperless.

The electronic medical records represent a significant technological move forward in the arena of patient care, McGuiness said. The records give doctors access to a patient’s medical history.

“No matter the event — whether you’re able to say what your history has been or not — we’re going to be able to access that (information) for you and take care of you,” McGuiness said.

The hospital surgical services include ear, nose and throat; gastrointestinal, gynecological, orthopedic, podiatry, urology and plastics, in case of reconstructions necessary from trauma.

Early on, it added a labor and delivery unit.

“When we first opened, we didn’t have a mom-baby and labor and delivery unit set up. We were still working with our physicians to bring them onboard.

“So, it was about nine months before we delivered the program,” McGuiness said. So far, more than 1,700 babies have been born there.

On another front, “we’ve added oncology infusion services, which is a big deal for us,” McGuiness said.

“Obviously, we have the cancer institute at the (St. Joseph’s Hospital) main campus (in Tampa), but this is a feeder.

“It’s not a great time when someone is going through chemo, and to be able to have the service so close to home, I think, makes a difference. At least, that’s what our patients say,” McGuiness said.

Besides providing medical care, the hospital also has become part of the community’s fabric in other ways, too, McGuiness said.

She’s especially pleased by that community partnership.

One way it connects is through its educational programs, she said.

“In the five years, we’ve provided over 500 educational classes,” she said. They can be as simple as CPR, childbirth classes or safe-sitter program.

But there’s also a whole lecture series, provided by physicians, to help people with medical issues.

“At different points of your life, you’re interested in different things: Your hip replacements, your knee replacements,” McGuiness said. “We have those kinds of sessions. Our doctors do that as a voluntary service for the community.”

The quality of food in the hospital’s café also made it an attractive place for people to meet and eat, she said.

It’s not unusual for people from nearby Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church to have meetings at the hospital, or to come by after Sunday services for brunch.

McGuiness welcomes those visitors.

“That just reinforces how much of a part of that fabric of the community that you are,” she said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North 5th anniversary
When: April 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz
Who: All are welcome
What: Children’s activities; health and wellness demonstrations and speakers; baby play area; a reunion of babies born at the hospital with the doctors and nurses who cared for them; food trucks; wellness screenings; live entertainment; a teddy bear clinic (bring your own teddy bear patient); and, judging of a baby photo contest the hospital conducted on its Facebook page throughout March.
Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated. Please call (813) 644-6772.

By the numbers
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began treating patients on Feb. 15, 2010. Since then, more than a half-million people have visited the facility.

The hospital has:

  • Delivered more than 1,700 babies
  • Treated nearly 220,000 patients
  • Logged 15,284 volunteer service hours
  • Performed 13,783 surgeries
  • Completed 9,010 endoscopies

Published April 8, 2015

Beer crawl will provide scholarship funds

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Families dealing with autism have a host of special challenges and expenses.

When one child has the condition, it affects the entire family — including brothers and sisters.

Those siblings often make sacrifices such as giving up free time to help with their brother or sister’s therapy, missing events with friends, and being understanding when their sibling requires more care and attention than they do.

Usually the focus isn’t on them.

Regan Black, left, and her sister, Sydney Black, have always had a close relationship. They're the inspiration behind Sydney Has A Sister, which provides scholarship money to students who have a sibling with autism. (Courtesy of Becky Black)
Regan Black, left, and her sister, Sydney Black, have always had a close relationship. They’re the inspiration behind Sydney Has A Sister, which provides scholarship money to students who have a sibling with autism.
(Courtesy of Becky Black)

But Sydney Has A Sister, a local nonprofit organization, puts its energies and efforts toward doing something for the other children in those families.

The organization, now in its second year, provides college money for high school students who have a sibling with autism.

The organization’s latest fundraiser will be a beer crawl on April 11.

The nonprofit began when Becky Black, a career specialist at Sunlake High School, was looking for scholarships for students with an autistic brother or sister. She didn’t find any, and began to daydream about starting one herself.

“I said ‘You know what I would do if I won the lottery? I would start a foundation, and I would give scholarships to students who have a sibling with autism,'” she recalled.

Her husband, Ernie, didn’t wait for a winning ticket. He did the heavy lifting to get Sydney Has A Sister off the ground, and now it’s a family project.

The name comes from the Black’s own family situation.

Sixteen-year-old Sydney Black has made a lot of sacrifices for her 15-year-old sister, Regan Black.

Regan’s autism makes communication a challenge, and that often leaves Sydney to help guide her sister when she doesn’t feel like cooperating with daily tasks like putting on clothes to leave the house.

“For her to get out of her pajamas, Sydney would be that voice of reason for Regan,” Black said.

Sydney also will take her sister to the movies and to eat at restaurants, keeping a close eye on her and looking out for those who might not understand her disability.

When they were younger, Sydney accepted that her sister might break a favorite toy or require more family attention.

Now, she’s very protective of Regan in public, and gives up her time and effort without complaint.

While there are sacrifices, Black has come to realize that the challenges have also forged close bonds between the sisters that surpassed what she thought was possible when her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

“For many years I thought that my kids will never have a typical sibling relationship that I had with my sisters,” Black said. “I realize now that my daughters are probably closer in that way than my sisters and I actually were.”

The entire family has gotten closer by putting in a lot of effort to make Sydney Has A Sister a productive organization.

Last year, they set a goal of providing three $1,000 scholarships to students, and ended up doubling that number. Including smaller donations to schools that have special education programs, Sydney Has A Sister gave out $7,000 last year, and they want to double it in 2015.

They keep a busy fundraising schedule, with a golf scramble, silent auction and wine tasting bringing in money last year. Now they’re adding the beer crawl during Autism Awareness Month, and hope to see 250 participants to raise $4,000 or more from the event.

While a $1,000 scholarship isn’t life-changing for a student, families with an autistic child bear a great deal of out-of-pocket expenses, so extra college money helps. And more than just the dollar amount, Black said the scholarship is about acknowledging the special efforts they make for their family that most people don’t see.

“If it’s just something to recognize their love and compassion and the sacrifices for their sibling, to me, that’s very rewarding,” Black said.

Beer crawl for autism
Sydney Has a Sister, a nonprofit foundation that provides scholarships to college-bound students with an autistic sibling, will host a Beer Crawl April 11 at World of Beer, 402 S. Howard Ave., in Tampa. Check-in is 3 p.m., followed by the crawl at 4 p.m.

The event is for ages 21 and older. The cost is $25 per person and includes a T-shirt, one free beer at each stop, and drink specials and entrance to the after-party at MacDinton’s Irish Pub at 7 p.m.

To register online, visit SydneyHasASister.com, and click on ‘Events.’

Published April 8, 2015

Dade City and Zephyrhills pool their water

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Zephyrhills and Dade City will connect their water systems as a hedge against emergencies and future development along U.S. 301, the highway that runs between them.

City commissioners in both cities recently approved a 25-year interlocal agreement to turn their spigots on if either city is in need. Each city would pay whatever the going rate is at the time.

The first step is installing about 3 miles of 12-inch water pipes and fire hydrants along the east side of U.S. 301 from Phelps Road to somewhere near the highway’s intersection with U.S. 98 Bypass in Dade City.

“The water will be used on an as-needed basis, mainly for emergencies,” said John Bostic, Zephyrhills’s utilities director.

But city officials want to prepare for more rooftops and shops that could one day populate the highways and byways of Zephyrhills and Dade City.

A $2 million grant awarded to the City of Zephyrhills by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will pay for construction. The project’s design, by Jones Edmunds & Associates, is nearly completed. The construction contract will be bid this summer, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2016.

Bostic said the initial plan to route the water pipes along the west side of the highway changed when the Florida Department of Transportation decided to install 10-foot wide multi-use trails on the west side of the road as part of a repaving project.

Construction on that project is under way.

The dividing line for maintaining the new water lines and serving customers will be Centennial Road.

Both cities rely on multiple public wells to supply residents and businesses with drinking water drawn from the Floridan aquifer system. Zephyrhills draws most of its water supply from wells permitted within the Hillsborough River Groundwater Basin, with some water also from a small portion within the Withlacoochee River Basin.

The Southwest Florida Management District is the state agency that issues water use permits. Currently the Hillsborough River basin is on the agency’s list of “areas of water resource concern.”

Dade City’s permitted wells are within the Withlacoochee basin.

“Hillsborough is definitely more restricted,” said Gordon Onderdonk, Dade City’s utilities director.

The long-range strategy of a unified water system traces back to the East Pasco Water Coalition, which was founded in 2009 through an interlocal agreement with Zephyrhills, Dade City, St. Leo and San Antonio. Onderdonk said the group meets about twice a year.

Predictions then were for demand to exceed water supply within 20 years. Swiftmud records show demand is high, but municipalities have reduced overall water usage in the last five to 10 years. Water restrictions, including limited lawn watering, and reclaimed water programs are among reasons for the decrease.

But as the economy recovers, developers are eyeing new projects that could add to water demand.

“There’s a lot of talk about (development) along U.S. 301,” Bostic said.

If it materializes, Zephyrhills and Dade City officials say linking their water systems will be a good backup.

Published April 8, 2015

A one-stop shop for Tampa Bay’s history

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Spend a little time at the Tampa Bay History Center, and you’ll likely walk away knowing more about the region than people who have lived here their entire lives.

At the center, located at 801 Old Water St., in Tampa, you can get a look at such things as hanging chads from the United States 2000 presidential election, a record book from the city’s Negro hospital and a 42-star American flag flown at the 1892 dedication of Hillsborough County.

Tampa Bay History Center has many authentic-looking displays, such as this 1920s-era cigar store. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Tampa Bay History Center has many authentic-looking displays, such as this 1920s-era cigar store.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

It’s a place where you can learn about the region’s citrus, cattle and cigar industries, its political and cultural history, and its penchant for sports and outdoor festivals.

“We’re telling the story of historic Hillsborough County, which includes, of course, Lutz and South County and East County — Hillsborough County present day, but also historic Hillsborough County, which was much bigger, which encompasses all or part of about 23 present-day counties,” said Manny Leto, who handles marketing for the history center.

Museum exhibits trace back to Florida’s first people, natives who were hunting and fishing on the shores of Tampa Bay, thousands of years ago.

The history center explores 500 years of recorded history and 12,000 years of habitation in the Tampa Bay region.

It keeps its exhibits fresh and continues to tell the region’s evolving story, Leto said.

“That’s one thing that I really love about the history center,” he said. “(We) continue that conversation.”

While visitors have different preferences, one popular exhibit is “Coacoochee’s Story,” Leto said.

“That is a real wow factor here. People are really impressed. It’s what we call an immersive theater experience. You walk in, and you feel like you’re transported back into Florida wilderness,” he said.

The history center staff understands the need to present its exhibits in an interesting way.

“There’s so much competition for people’s attention. So, you have to present the information in an engaging way, and you have to keep up with changes in technology,” Leto said.

The 60,000-square-foot history center offers two floors of permanent exhibits and a third floor of temporary exhibits.

“We’ve brought in exhibits from The Smithsonian. We’ve brought in exhibits from the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. We’ve brought in exhibits from all over the United States, museums and libraries all over the country, including things we’ve produced here.

The current exhibit, which runs through April 26, is called “The Art of Piracy: Pirates in Modern Culture.”

One highlight at the center is The J. Thomas and Lavinia W. Touchton Collection of Florida Cartography. Tom Touchton, a native of Dade City, played an instrumental role in championing the development of the history center.

The cartography collection features 3,000 Florida maps, charts, prints and views that span a period of 500 years.

Throughout the museum, there are opportunities to learn about the region’s colorful past.

Visitors can check out a cigar store — built to resemble a 1920s-era Ybor City storefront, complete with a wooden Indian advertising its wares.

As they gaze about the shop, they’ll see an authentic cash register, genuine cigar cases and signs touting a product of one of Tampa’s chief industries.

“The first of Tampa’s cigar factories opened in 1886. By 1920, there were as many as 300, working at full capacity,” a sign at the history center says.

Visitors also can watch a film about cattle ranchers and learn that the term, Florida cracker, comes from the crack of the whip that cowboys use to communicate with each other and to keep cattle moving along.

Over time, the term took on a broader meaning.

Author Patrick, in his brief history of the Florida cracker, put it like this: “What really makes a person a true Florida cracker (besides being born in the state)?

“Several things: A love of the land and nature, growing things in soil, close family ties, and a deep sense of religion.

“It also means cracklin’ bread and grits and periwinkle soup and swamp cabbage and okra gumbo and ham hocks with collard greens and chicken fried in a cast iron skillet and guava jelly and homemade blackberry cobbler.”

About 80,000 people visit the history center each year, with about half of those coming from outside of Hillsborough County, Leto said.

If you’re planning a visit, allow yourself about two hours to tour the history center. If you’d like a memento of your visit, there’s a gift shop, and if you’re hungry, you can grab a bite to eat at the Columbia Café.

What: Tampa Bay History Center, three stories of exhibits telling the story of the region’s history
Where: 801 Old Water St., Tampa
How much: $12.95 for adults; $10.95 for seniors, college students, youths; $7.95 for children, ages 4 through 12. Parking is free with museum admission (Park in the blue lot next door)
When: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas
Public tours are available at set times, Tuesdays through Saturdays.
For more information: Visit TampaBayHistoryCenter.org or call (813) 228-0097.

Published April 8, 2015

Business Digest 04-08-15

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Mercedes Benz opens
Mercedes Benz of Wesley Chapel is open for business, though an official grand opening will come later. The 47,000 square-foot show room was built by AutoNation at 2383 Willow Oak Drive, off State Road 56 near the Interstate 75 interchange. Operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 pm. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For information call the dealership at (813) 200-7788.

Achieva open house
Stop by Achieva Credit Union for food, drink and merriment on April 8 at 5 p.m., at 2115 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes. Membership in Achieva is not required. The event is open to the public.

For information call (813) 448-2786 or email .

Business appreciation
Business Appreciation Night will be held April 8 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kafe Kokopelli at 37940 Live Oak Avenue in Dade City. Appetizers will cost $4 and the first domestic beer or house wine will be free.

For information call the restaurant at (352) 523-0055.

Two-day career fair
Pasco Hernando State College will host Opportunity 2015 Hernando County Career Fair from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on April 9 and from 9 a.m. to noon on April 10 at the North Campus, Building B Conference Center, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Brooksville. On April 9, there will be free seminars on resume writing, interview skills and proper attire and etiquette for interviews. On April 10, local employers will be present to accept resumes and do on-the-spot interviews. Dress professionally and bring lots of resumes. The event is free but pre-registration is required at www.hernancocountycareerfair2015.eventbrite.com.

For information contact Nicole Miller at (352) 7907-5174 or Steve Wilson at (352) 293-1123.

Rotary Club needs bee sponsors
The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon needs sponsors for the third annual “BEE Part of the Buzz” adult spelling bee.

The spelling bee will be April 10 at 6:30 p.m., at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, 10641 Old Tampa Bay Drive in San Antonio. The event helps raise funds for the Pasco Education Foundation. Donations range from $1,500 for a Queen Bee sponsorship to $150 for a four-person team.

For information, email Erin Meyer at .

Chamber meeting
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will hold its general membership meeting on April 14, with networking at 11:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. The meeting will be at Harbor Terrace Restaurant at Heritage Harbor at 195012 Heritage Harbor Pkwy., in Lutz. Guest speaker will be Gordie Zimmerman of Z-Mitch, which is building the ice and sports complex near the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 interchange.

The cost including lunch is $20 with an RSVP the Friday before the meeting. The cost after and at the door is $25. Pre-register online. For information call the chamber at (813) 909-2722.

Women networking
Women of Wesley Chapel, or WOW, will hold a breakfast meeting April 10 from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Health & Wellness Center of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, in the second floor conference room. Guest speaker will be Allison Alvarez Hendrick, vice president of communications at radio station WEDU. The sponsor is Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa.

WOW offers networking, education, women supporting women and professional growth. The 2015 annual WOW membership fee of $10 will be due at the meeting, and will cover the entire 2015 calendar year (for WOW members only). The fee doesn’t include chamber membership. Cash or check only at the door.

For information call Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at (813) 994-8534.

Dade City open house
Wilson’s Tractor & Supply will hold a special open house on April 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 12410 U.S. 301 in Dade City. Special prices and discounts will be available along with drawings and goodies all day – and sweet tea.

For information call the company at (352) 567-5002.

Rotary meeting
The Rotary Club of Dade City will meet on April 13 at noon at the Dade City Business Center at 15486 U.S. 301, in the Hornbuckle Room on the third floor.

Optimist meeting
The Optimist Club of Dade City will meet April 14 at 6 p.m. at the First National Bank of Pasco at 13315 U.S. 301. The event email is .

For information call (352) 206-9370.

Manufacturer’s Cafe
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host an employers’ café at Zephyrhills Water Factory on April 15, with networking and a light lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. The “Manufacturer’s Cafe” will be from noon to 1 p.m.

A VIP tour of the plant will be from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The company is located at 4330 20th St., Zephyrhills.

Come learn about the Pasco-Hernando State College TRADE grant; a state-wide Florida Manufacturing Career Fair that is scheduled for April 22; Career Source training grants for your company and AMSkills, the American Manufacturing Skills Initiative.

The April 15 event is free to chamber members, but there is limited seating so RSVP by April 10 to .

For information call the chamber at (813) 782-1913.

Grants for businesswomen
Are you a businesswoman who could use $1,000?

Women-n-Charge is offering two $1,000 grants this spring. The grants can be used towards business-related equipment or services and continuing education. The nonprofit’s mission, in part, is to support and assist professional women in managing their businesses more effectively.

Learn more about the grants at Women-n-Charge.com. Applications are available online and are due April 15.

For information, contact Judy Nicolosi, treasurer of Women-n-Charge, at (813) 600-9848, or email .

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet April 14 at Rose’s Café at 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Jeanette Hall, Pasco Shopper advertising representative, is the guest speaker.

For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at .

Business Link available monthly
Business Link, a monthly small business gathering hosted by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting is designed to provide a networking and information-sharing platform for the business community.

For locations, details and to reserve a seat, email , or call (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

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

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