The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Dade City combines city hall and police station

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The historic City Hall building in Dade City began its life in the mid-1920s as a hotel that never was completed.

It found new life in the 1940s as a Depression-era work project and became the hub of city government for decades.

A new building in Dade City will combine the city’s City Hall and its police station. (Courtesy of Wannemacher Jensen Architects)
A new building in Dade City will combine the city’s City Hall and its police station.
(Courtesy of Wannemacher Jensen Architects)

But in 2013, a wrecking ball demolished the aging structure.

“It was old and obsolete,” said Gordon Onderdonk, Dade City’s public works director. “We looked at the cost of renovation. It wasn’t feasible to use the building.”

A groundbreaking is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on March 6 for a modern, 21,000-square-foot building on the same ground where the old City Hall structure stood for so long at Fifth Street and Meridian Avenue.

In its re-invented life, the building will be home to Dade City’s City Hall and its police station.

The idea of locating both government entities at one address isn’t unusual, said architect Lisa Wannemacher, principal at St. Petersburg-based Wannemacher Jensen Architects.

“Multi-use is trending,” she said.

Community centers, for example, often are used for multiple uses and are intergenerational, as well, with space dedicated to seniors and children under one roof, Wannemacher said.

Dade City officials saw benefits of having City Hall and the police department share one building.

“They were able to take advantage of economy of scale…and make the building more efficient, which translates into saving money,” Wannemacher said.

By spring 2016, city employees who were relocated to a City Hall annex and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot on U.S. 98 at U.S. 301 will settle into their new offices. The city’s police department will move from its current location on Pasco Avenue into an upgraded headquarters separated from City Hall by a covered courtyard plaza.

“It’s great for the city, great for the community,” said Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom. “It’s long overdue.”

He said he anticipates the new facility will help the department when applying in the future for accreditation from the national Commission of Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies Inc.

The police station will have interview rooms, holding cells, a booking area, a special area for the K-9 unit and a conference room. The station has those things now, but the building and technology will be newer and upgraded, Velboom said.

“We’ll be making the most of what we have,” he said.

City council has not decided the fate of the existing police station, Onderdonk said.

The $5.9 million construction budget will be paid will be paid from the city’s reserve funds and the countywide Penny for Pasco program.

Residents also will notice a new feature at City Commission meetings.

A projection screen will make it easier for them to follow what is happening, especially during public hearings on zoning matters, Onderdonk.

The new building also will have a power backup system for emergencies.

The main goal of the project was to consolidate city departments under one roof rather than having them scattered at different offices. “It’s not efficient for residents,” Onderdonk said.

Published March 4, 2015

 

Crabby Floyd: A hard worker with a quick wit

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“God needed another crabber, so he called out for Crabby Floyd.”

So reads the first sentence of “Crabby” Floyd DeForest’s obituary, published on the website of Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’ Lakes.

‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics. (Courtesy of Loyless Funeral Home)
‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics.
(Courtesy of Loyless Funeral Home)

DeForest, 63 of Lutz, died Feb. 20, after a battle with cancer.

He was a commercial fisherman, but after the net bans went into effect, he became a crabber, said Richard Ortiz, a long-time friend of DeForest.

“He was such a vibrant man,” Ortiz said.

“He’s the first person I met when I moved up here,” said Ortiz, who has lived in the area for about 20 years.

“As soon as I moved into the house, he came over and introduced himself, and we remained friends from that day on,” Ortiz said.

DeForest used to refer to himself as “a round man,” Ortiz added. “He’d say, ‘This little round man can move.’ ”

That was true, Ortiz continued.

“If I had to sit down and pick the hardest working person I’ve known, it would have to be Floyd,” Ortiz said.

When Ortiz went out in the morning to pick up his newspaper, he’d see DeForest pulling out of the driveway with his truck and his boat.

“I’d see him leaving before sun up, and I’d see him coming (home) after sundown. It’d be cold out. It’d be hot out. It’d be bad weather. If he could go, he’d go.

“For all of the time I ever knew that man, I can say that I never, ever, ever heard him complain about his job,” Ortiz said.

“He enjoyed life,” said Lorraine DeForest, Crabby Floyd’s wife of 42 years. “He always considered himself so fortunate because he worked at a job that he loved.”

DeForest was widely known as a crabber.

“Everybody knew what he did,” Ortiz said. “People would come up and knock on his door and ask for crab.”

Often, DeForest would stop and chat with Ortiz, as he headed out to work or on his way home.

“He was a very outgoing, jovial guy. He always had a joke for you,” Ortiz said. “He was very quick-witted. Very bright, too. He stayed up on politics.”

DeForest had plenty of opinions and was always ready to share them.

“You knew where Floyd stood,” Ortiz said.

He also was involved in the community.

He was on the boards for both Land O’ Lakes Police Athletic League football and the Land O’ Lakes Little League and volunteered for the Land O’ Lakes High School Girls’ Softball team.

“We became friends when we coached football together,” said Cary Williams, noting that was 22 years ago.

The men and their families became close, sharing holidays together.

Williams and DeForest used to fish and hunt together, too.

DeForest was the kind of person who would go out in the middle of the night to help someone who was out on the water having boat problems, Williams said.

“He was the type of guy you could count on,” Williams said.

“He was a very conservative man,” Williams added, and he was politically involved.

“He would take the time to call state, federal and local politicians and them his opinion,” Williams said.

Chris Carollo, who owns Shadow Solutions Firearms in Lutz, said DeForest used to come hang out at his gun shop to shoot the breeze with other patrons.

“He loved to tell old stories,” Carollo said.

He also was very helpful.

In fact, when Carollo was getting ready to open his business, DeForest pitched in to help paint the walls.

Friends honored DeForest in posts in an electronic guestbook created by Loyless Funeral Home. They praised DeForest’s work ethic, his devotion to family and his coaching.

One post also mentions his contribution to providing “tasty memories” for thousands of families.

Besides his wife, Lorraine, DeForest is survived by his son, Floyd R.; his daughter, Candace; his mother, Elba; his brother, Rick and his wife, Loretta; nephews, a great niece and other family members and friends.

Ortiz said DeForest is the kind of man who deserved to be remembered.

“There are people out there that do things every day, and they don’t go out looking for credit, and they don’t go looking for accolades. That’s just them. That’s the kind of guy that Floyd was,” Ortiz said.

“I’m going to miss him terribly. I already miss seeing him,” Ortiz said.

Memorial service for Floyd DeForest
7 p.m., March 5 at Loyless Funeral Home, 5310 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Floyd DeForest’s memory to Gulfside Hospice

Published March 4, 2015

Putting his best foot forward

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Stephen Levin is state podiatry president

When Stephen Levin was younger, he wanted to be an architect. He even studied it in college.

But then, his career path changed.

Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“I didn’t get into the architecture program,” Levin said. “I was studying architecture as an undergraduate, and it didn’t work out.”

Eventually, he found a way to study a different kind of arch. He went into medicine, and became a podiatrist.

The 44-year-old has been a podiatrist for 16 years.

In addition to having a successful practice, New Tampa Foot & Ankle, the Wesley Chapel resident has been elected the 2015 president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.

“It feels good,” Levin said of being named as the organization’s leader.

“It’s definitely something I never thought I’d do, but its definitely nice to be here and to be involved in that part,” Levin said.

As president, Levin said he’d like to focus on increasing membership and adding younger members to the roster.

The FPMA has around 1,000 active podiatrists in its membership, as well as past members and others who have reasons to join.

But to those outside the organization, Levin would like to spread the word that a podiatrist can do more than the general public probably realizes.

“Some people don’t know the full scope of what we do. That’s probably the biggest thing we have to overcome.

“What does a podiatrist do?” he continued. “It’s not just going to get your corns taken care of,” he said.

Podiatrists handle problems and care issues related to the foot, ankle and other areas just below the knee.

They can help treat sports injuries, provide diabetic care, and address other forms of trauma, as well as routine foot care.

Different communities have different medical needs, Levin said.

A community that is overwhelmingly populated by seniors means a podiatrist serving that area will see the same types of patients and problems every day. That might get a bit boring day-in and day-out, but he doesn’t have that problem in Wesley Chapel. His patients run the spectrum from toddlers to seniors, and that means he sees a variety of podiatric problems.

“Wesley Chapel’s a great community because it’s more diverse. It’s not just the elderly. It’s families, it’s everybody, and this practice that I have is great because I see the whole realm of everything,” Levin said. “That’s why I love it. It really makes it very interesting.” Levin has a second office in south Tampa, but he works at his Wesley Chapel location.

While he’s reached a high point in the Florida FPMA, there are other opportunities at the national level. The next step would be to serve on the delegation that represents Florida at the national meeting. From there it’s a matter of following the path at that level. It’s something he would consider in the future, he said.

For now he’s happy keeping busy at his office. The office sees between 35 patients to 40 patients per day and schedules elective surgeries on a few days each month.

His wife, Diane, is a nurse and serves as practice administrator when she’s not teaching. And when Levin’s not on the job, he might be coaching his son, Sam, in soccer, or watching his daughter, Sarah, perform gymnastics. His stepson, David, also plays saxophone for Wharton High School.

While his original career plans shifted, Levin’s certainly not lamenting the switch that has brought him so much success over the years.

“I don’t know what I would do other than this, to be honest,” he said. “I wouldn’t do anything else.”

Good Foot Health
Dr. Stephen Levin, recently named president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association, has a few suggestions for keeping your feet in tip-top shape

  1. Always wear shoes. It might be tempting to go barefoot in Florida, but there are fire ants and snakes outside, and tile or concrete inside. That provides little support and can cause problems.

Also, choose better protection than regular flip flops. They simply don’t provide the kind of support that other types of shoes can. Running shoes and work shoes with thicker, rubber soles are better for your feet.

Be sure to use “more cushion, more shock absorption, more overall support for your foot,” Levin advises.

  1. Be careful with treadmills. They make you run at something other than your normal pace. Instead, consider other ways to walk or run.

“Asphalt’s probably the most forgiving of what we have,” Levin said. “Or a padded track inside, like at a gym.” Elliptical and rowing machines are also good exercise options.

  1. Don’t wait when you have a problem. Waiting to see if it goes away on its own can make healing and recovery a longer process. Deal with foot pain and other issues before they become harder to manage.

“The sooner you can catch it, chances are you can get rid of it faster,” Levin said.

Published march 4, 2015

 

From cow pasture to four-lane road?

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When motorists get to the end of State Road 56 at Meadow Pointe Boulevard, they’ll see cows grazing in an open pasture.

But Zephyrhills leaders are pushing for an entirely new view for that plot of land.

They envision it as the start of the first four-lane road to lead into their community.

A cow pasture sits at the end of State Road 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, but advocates of economic growth in Zephyrhills want to transform that pasture into the beginning of a four-lane road to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A cow pasture sits at the end of State Road 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, but advocates of economic growth in Zephyrhills want to transform that pasture into the beginning of a four-lane road to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

And, they’re turning up the heat on state lawmakers and county officials to try to make that happen.

They presented their case at a town hall meeting on Feb. 23 with State Rep. Danny Burgess and State Sen. John Legg.

The four-lane extension of State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills could serve as a catalyst for new business, and would make it easier for people to come and go from Zephyrhills. It also could serve as another hurricane evacuation route, according to city and business leaders.

The question is how to pay for it.

There are plans to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301, but those plans call only for a two-lane road, and even that road is contingent upon securing land from adjacent landowners to make it happen.

Zephyrhills leaders made it clear that a two-lane road falls short of their expectations.

“This city deserves a four-lane highway coming into our city,” said Charles Proctor, who serves on the Zephyrhills City Council and has had a business in the city for more than two decades.

He said the community has been promised a four-lane road for years, and that residents have been under the impression that they were finally going to get one, in State Road 56.

It’s time for action, city leaders said.

“We need to get serious. We need to find a way. We can find it. It’s time,” said Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

“These folks deserve a little bit of attention,” added Mikkelsen, who also is involved in the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition, made up by Pasco Economic Development Council, the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, the City of Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Main Street and businesses of Zephyrhills.

A four-lane road into the city, providing a connection with Interstate 75, is vital, leaders said.

It’s a wise investment for the region, Mikkelsen said.

It will help Zephyrhills make the most of its target market opportunities in the aviation industry, distribution, manufacturing and small business, she said.

Paying for the project is a major stumbling block.

Debbie Hunt, transportation development director for the Florida Department of Transportation, said there’s no money in the state’s budget to build a four-lane extension of State Road 56.

“DOT never intended or expected to build at any time in the near future. So, the fact that it was able to be advanced and we are doing the two lanes is exceptional. It allows traffic from Zephyrhills to be able to get over to the interstate, when it is completed.

“The additional lanes will be based on development, as it occurs. There is not an intention from the DOT to fund (lanes) three and four,” Hunt said.

If four-laning State Road 56 is funded, the money would need to come from not doing some other project that’s on Pasco County’s list, she said.

“There’s only so much money to go around,” Hunt said.

One option that’s been proposed calls for building all four lanes, with the state paying for all four lanes initially and developers repaying the state for lanes three and four.

That approach might work, Legg said, but he added he’s not aware of a current way, under the state’s statutes, that could be achieved.

“If we could find a statutory way to loan them the money that they would pay back, that may be an opportunity,” Legg said.

Legg agreed with Hunt that even the two-lane road from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301 had not been envisioned before former Speaker of the House Will Weatherford became involved in advocating for East Pasco’s transportation needs.

“Some of these things were not even on the map, but we had a Speaker of the House that kind of helped this area, helped carve an opportunity to get two lanes,” Legg said.

Legg and Burgess both pledged to keep pushing for a way to get the four-lane project done.

“We’re trying to use whatever kind of leverage we can to push those projects faster, to accelerate them,” Legg said. “The political process is trying to force opportunities.”

Former Mayor Cliff McDuffie said the most effective way to get action is to speak up.

“We need to be more politically involved to make sure your voice is heard. Don’t sit here in Zephyrhills and cry. Go to (Pasco) County Commission and cry,” McDuffie said.

“You have to show up. If you don’t show up, shut up,” McDuffie said.

Both Legg and Burgess said they understand the important role that transportation plays in economic growth.

“Pasco County is booming and (State Road) 56 is obviously just imperative,” Burgess said. “It’s a big piece of that puzzle in attracting future business owners, corporate opportunities and connecting them to our infrastructure and our resources in Zephyrhills, such as our airport, what an asset.”

Legg agreed: “The transportation, in my mind, is really going to shape the growth, or the lack of growth, or the type of growth that this community would like to have in the next 10 to 20 years.

“If this is the avenue that you want to go down, we will put our backs to the plow and try to make that happen,” Legg said.

Published March 4, 2015

Business Digest 03-04-15

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Women’s networking
WOW, Women of Wesley Chapel, will meet for a networking breakfast March 6 from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the Health & Wellness Center of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The meeting will be in the second floor conference room.

The guest speaker will be Katherine M. Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, who is retiring this summer.

WOW meets on the first Friday of each month. Come experience networking, education, women supporting women, and professional growth.

The 2015 annual dues of $10 (for chamber women only) will be payable at the meeting by cash or check. No credit cards accepted. Guests may attend twice a year without charge.

Rotary Club meets
Steve Morey of the Tampa Hillsborough County Economic Development Corporation will be the keynote speaker at the Rotary Club of Lutz on March 10. He will discuss present and future growth in Hillsborough County.

The club meets at 7 a.m., every Tuesday, at the Heritage Harbor Golf & Country Club at 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway in Lutz.

The meeting and breakfast is $10. Guests and new members are welcome.

For information, call Doug Andrews at (813) 857-7089.

Union Park model home
David Weekley Homes will host a ribbon-cutting for a model home in Union Park March 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 32242 Watoga Loop in Wesley Chapel.

The event is open to the public. Come tour the homes, meet the staff and enjoy hors d’oeuvres.

For information, call (813) 994-8534 or (813) 422-6144.

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 email .

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet 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.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco is the guest speaker on March 10.

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

Career Fairs
Rasmussen College will host its Spring Career Fair March 5 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the college’s Land O’Lakes campus at 18600 Fernview St.

Students, alumni and residents will be able to speak with hiring managers of local companies and learn about resources to aid in job searches.

Rasmussen College also will host a Career Fair March 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at its New Port Richey campus at 8661 Citizens Drive.

For information about the Land O’ Lakes event, call (813) 435-3601.

For information about the New Port Richey event, call (727) 942-0069.

Women-n-Charge Meet
Women-n-Charge, a women’s networking group, will meet March 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.

The meeting includes lunch and time to network. Suzanne Gray, founder of ReNew Life Wellness Center, will be the featured speaker.

Come share talents, build relationships and share resources with other women in business.

The cost is $15 for members who pay by Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for guests and members who pay Wednesday and after.

To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com.

For information, contact Judy at (813) 600-9848, or email .

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. Teams compete in three rounds with words progressing in spelling difficulty from easy to intermediate to difficult.

Spectators cheer on their favorite teams in a fun event that 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 .

NetFest gathering on March 5
The Pasco Economic Development Council is hosting its 13th annual NetFest, which is short for Networking Festival, March 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Starkey Ranch on State Road 54 in Odessa.

The event is a casual night of food, drink and music — and a great chance to network.

For more information, visit PascoEDC.com.

Central Pasco Chamber to host new expo
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is launching a new event this year called the 2015 Community Fun Day and Business Expo.

The event, open to everyone, will spotlight businesses and service providers in the northern area of Hillsborough and the central area of Pasco counties.

There will be fun and games for kids, live entertainment, door prizes and a food truck rally.

The event’s theme is “Keeping It Local — Moving our Businesses Forward.”

The two-day event, free to the public, will be March 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and March 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Sponsorships and booth spaces are available.

Visit CentralPascoChamber.com for an application.

For more information, call (813) 909-2722, or email .

Preventing broken hearts through better heart health

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As the director of marketing for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Kurt Conover is constantly spreading the word about ways to prevent heart disease and keeping people informed about the medical center’s health care services.

Members of the staff and volunteers at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point gathered for a group photo on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Even “Lucky,” the hospital’s therapy dog, got into the act. (Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)
Members of the staff and volunteers at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point gathered for a group photo on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Even “Lucky,” the hospital’s therapy dog, got into the act.
(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

But the Land O’ Lakes man knows that despite his efforts, not everyone gets the message — or, even if they do, they don’t always listen.

That’s even true for family members, said Conover, who lost his brother, Gerrit Conover, to a heart attack on Aug. 25, 2011.

Conover said he became aware that his brother — who was being seen by a cardiologist — wasn’t keeping his appointments or filling his prescriptions on a regular basis.

Conover decided to use a gentle approach to get his 59-year-old brother to get back on track. Instead of confronting him, he encouraged Gerrit to swing by to see him, next time he went in to see the doctor.

But that never happened.

Instead, Gerrit, a retired military officer, collapsed and died of a heart attack shortly after returning home from a motorcycle ride with a friend.

In retrospect, Conover said he thinks he should have been more insistent with his brother — should have demanded that he go to see his doctor.

While they were growing up, he and Gerrit always had each other’s back, Conover said.

“We were real tight. My sisters used to always tease because whenever there was a fight taking place, it would always be us two against whoever it was. We’d be like a tag team.”

But when it came to life’s biggest battle, Gerrit didn’t tell his brother about the symptoms he was experiencing.

As it turns out, Gerrit was logging his symptoms, but no one saw the log until after he had died.

Gerrit was a Vietnam veteran and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. His survivors include daughters, Michelle and Kristen; brothers Wolf, Donald and Kurt; sisters, Mary Anne and Peggy; and other relatives.

He’s one of an estimated 460,000 who suffer a fatal heart attack each year, according to statistics reported by MedicineNet.com.

Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room, the website adds.

The American Heart Association reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, one in every four deaths is caused by heart disease, according to the association’s statistics.

The numbers portray an even grimmer situation for women.

Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. And, fewer women than men survive their first heart attack, the association reports.

Part of the reason for the higher rate of fatalities among women is that the symptoms of heart attack can be different in women than men, and are often misunderstood even by physicians, the association adds.

That’s why it’s so important to become educated, Conover said.

Even though his brother died more than three years ago, the pain of his loss remains fresh, said Conover, who hopes he can transform his loss into something good.

Those who think either they or a loved one are experiencing a heart attack need to call 9-1-1, Conover said.

Time is of the essence, he said. When emergency personnel arrive they can begin communicating a patient’s vital signs to the hospital, and the hospital can begin to assemble its cardiac team, Conover said.

The faster the treatment, the better the chance for saving heart muscle and having better medical outcomes, he explained.

The American Heart Association helps to raise awareness about these important issues by declaring February as American Heart Month.

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has arranged a series of Tuesday Tutorials over the course of several Tuesdays, covering various heart health issues.

One recent tutorial, “Intimacy and the Heart,” attracted 115 people, Conover said.

The hospital also celebrated National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7, with scores of employees and volunteers observing the day.

Symptoms of heart attack in men
Chest feel pain feels like “an elephant is sitting on your chest; the squeezing sensation may come and go, or may be constant and intense

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath, you feel like you can’t get enough air, even when you’re resting
  • Dizziness, or feeling like you’re going to pass out
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat
  • Stomach discomfort, like indigestion

Remember, each heart attack is different, so your symptoms may not fit the cookie-cutter description.

Source: American Heart Association

Symptoms of heart attack in women
In a multicenter study of 515 women who had a heart attack, published in the journal Circulation, the most frequently reported symptoms did not include chest pain. Instead, women reported unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances and anxiety, with nearly 80 percent reporting at least one symptom for more than a month before the heart attack. Other symptoms more common in women include:

  • Unusual fatigue for several days; or a sudden, severe fatigue
  • Anxiety and sleep disturbances
  • Lightheadedness and/or shortness of breath
  • Indigestion or gas-like pain
  • Upper back or shoulder pain; possibly throat pain
  • Jaw pain or pain that spreads up to the jaw
  • Pressure or pain in the center of the chest that may spread to the arm

Stroke Warning Signs
Spot a stroke F.A.S.T, by looking for these signs:

  • Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
  • Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
  • Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Source: The American Heart Association

Published February 25, 2015

 

Pace picks up for construction in southern Pasco

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Commercial and residential developments are popping up at the Suncoast Parkway interchange and along State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor at an ever-quickening pace.

There’s so much happening that it’s difficult to keep up with what’s under construction, what’s on the drawing board and what’s moving toward final sale.

To help sort things out, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., brought developers and brokers together for a meet-and-greet session on Feb. 19 at the Residence Inn at NorthPointe.

“We see the dirt flying,” said John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC. “It struck us there’s really a lot of people who don’t know what’s going on here.”

So, in 10-minute bursts of information, representatives for the various developments presented highlights of a half-dozen mixed-use, master-planned and commercial communities.

Wiregrass Ranch, on the eastern end of the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor is the most advanced of the developments.

But there’s still much more to come, said J.D. Porter, whose family owns Wiregrass Ranch.

The long-delayed Raymond James Financial Campus, off State Road 56, is approaching the permitting stage, Porter said.

About 600,000 square feet of office space is planned with opportunities to expand to 1 million square feet, he said.

“There’s no exact start date, but we feel very comfortable,” Porter said. “It’s a no-brainer. It’s going to get done.”

The first phase probably is about $18 million in roads and utilities, he added.

Future projects include a new park, a charter school, and a convention and performing arts center.

“We’re starting to take our business to the next level,” Porter said.

Meanwhile, close to the Suncoast Parkway, construction has begun on Bexley Boulevard, the entrance to Bexley Ranch, a 5,000-acre master-planned community. That development will be at the northeast quadrant of State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

About 1,700 acres will be developed in the development’s first phase, including about 93,000 square feet of retail and 563,00 square feet of offices, said Tom Panaseny, vice president of California-based Newland Communities.

Newland Communities is the same company that developed Fishhawk Ranch and Westchase in Hillsborough County.

The future Tower Road, which will link to Ballantrae subdivision, will be a four-lane divided roadway with a flyover across Suncoast, Panaseny said.

Thousands of homes, a town center, specialty shops, hotel, medical uses and office space are part of the mix, he said. More than 12 miles of internal trails will link with existing trails in the community.

“Everything we do, we try to connect to trail systems,” Panaseny said.

Another development — NorthPointe at Suncoast Crossings at the southeast quadrant of State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway — is planned to have a mixture of uses, with up to 1 million square feet of offices, research and development, and hospitality.

Two parcels are potential locations for hotel, office or retail, said Steve Oakes, vice president of development for The Hogan Group, based in Lutz.

Developers are keeping options open for how NorthPointe moves forward, said Paul Michael, vice president of Atlanta-based TPA Group. “We’re all in this together…to create a sustainable live, work, play environment which we hope to be a success in Pasco County.”

Asturia, another master-planned community, is off State Road 54, west of the Suncoast Parkway. The 500-acre development has approval for up to 300,000 square feet of commercial, 530,000 square feet of office or light industrial, 550 single-family homes, 200 town homes and 440 apartments.

“You can see piles of dirt and a lot of construction,” said Lane Gardner, managing director for Houston-based-Hines. A groundbreaking was held in December with completion of the first construction phase scheduled for May 2015.

Starkey Ranch is a 2,400-acre master-planned community off State Road 54 with approval for 206,500 square feet of Class A offices, 43,500 medical offices, 300,000 square feet of light industrial, 100,000 square feet of support retail, 220 hotel rooms and small commercial infill parcels.

More than 2,000 residential units are planned including homes in an “adult lifestyle” subdivision near Huckleberry Pond. It will, however, not be age-restricted.

“We are focusing on creating community,” said Matt Call, project director for Wheelock Communities. “We don’t want to be another subdivision. We want a true community.”

A town center with a grocery store as the anchor is planned at Gunn Highway and State Road 54. Other amenities include a business center, light industrial, a hotel, medical office, shops, day care center, coffee shop, church and more than 20 miles of trails.

A welcome center and model homes from Ryland and M/I are nearing completion. A groundbreaking is expected later this year for the Starkey Ranch District Park.

The park is not a tourism destination, Call said. “It’s really for local residents.”

Mitchell West 54, at Little Road and State Road 54, will feature a neighborhood shopping center with a movie theater amid its proposed 800 residential units.

“We think this is an infill location,” said Gary Nelson, senior vice president of Kitson & Partners based in Palm Beach Gardens.

Groundbreaking on the 330-acre site is planned for early 2016 with an opening day expected in 2017. There will be about 980,000 square feet of retail, medical and offices. A hotel and senior living component are possible.

The first development in the project will be the neighborhood center with grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants and some high-end retail, said Matt Buehler, retail specialist director for Kitson & Partners.

Published February 25, 2015

Eagle Scout’s gazebo project benefits church

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Eighteen-year-old Robert Sturm has been a scout most of his life.

He became a Tiger Scout when he was 5 and has been involved in scouting ever since.

He’s also attended First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes since he was quite young, too.

Building a gazebo isn't a one-man project. Eagle Scout Robert Sturm recruited help to get it built for the church. (Courtesy of the Sturm family)
Building a gazebo isn’t a one-man project. Eagle Scout Robert Sturm recruited help to get it built for the church.
(Courtesy of the Sturm family)

In fact, the church formed his first scout packs and troops.

So, when it came time to choose an Eagle Scout project, an important part of qualifying for the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, it was pretty easy to decide to combine the two together.

“I’ve been going there my whole life,” Sturm said about the church. “And they support our troop, too, so it’s nice to be able to give back to them.”

With help from around a dozen people, Sturm managed a project to create a gazebo for the church, located at 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The idea was to create a place where church members and their families can enjoy the comforts of a covered outdoor area.

After a few months of work, the gazebo was finished last summer, and Sturm became an Eagle Scout later that year. His Eagle Court of Honor was held at the church.

Taking the lead on that kind of project takes more than just pointing fingers and sketching out plans.

First, Sturm contacted the church trustees and worked with them on what they’d like to have.

Once they decided on a gazebo structure, there was the issue of money: Building a quality, outside structure that can survive the elements isn’t cheap. Sturm had to raise around $1,300 to make it happen, and traditional fundraising methods weren’t going to raise a lot of money quickly.

So instead, he started buying and selling used items to make a quick profit.

So, he and his friends began hitting up garage sales, looking for good deals.

“After we bought stuff at garage sales pretty cheap, we could turn it around and make money off that.”

A good day of searching could result in some pretty good bargains: A two-dollar investment in a tent turned into $60.

At the end of one garage sale, someone gave him and a friend a T-shirt press for free. His cut of the resulting sale netted $200 toward his project.

After few months of getting up at 7 a.m., to go bargain hunting for tools, video games and whatever else he could find, he had the money necessary to build the gazebo.

Now that the project is finished, when he comes home for a visit from his classes at the University of Central Florida, Sturm can see his and his helpers’ handiwork.

As he looks at the completed gazebo, he’s reminded of the hard work and challenges he faced along the way.

The paving was especially difficult, he recalled, because the gazebo had to have a level and strong foundation.

With its paver-stone floor, tin roof and wooden construction, the gazebo was built to last well into the future.

So, in addition to recalling the challenges, Sturm feels the sense of pride that comes from knowing that he’s created something for his church that enhances the property and helps people enjoy their time there.

The church is happy, too, not only to have something new and useful, but to know it came courtesy of a longtime member.

“I’ve been at the church for 22 years, but on staff for 10. I remember Robbie before he was born,” joked Bob Swan, facilities manager at First UMC of Land O’ Lakes.

The church gets occasional Eagle Scout project requests, and wasn’t surprised that Sturm wanted to give back.

The gazebo is getting good use, Swan added. It serves as a meeting place on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. And, the church is still finding more uses for it as time goes on.

Now that the work is completed, Swan is impressed by the quality of the work.

“I think it went real well. He had a good plan,” Swan said, adding that Sturm had some capable advisors and helpers along the way.

“It came out as it was planned,” Swan said.

Sturm might not have planned to gain experience for college out of the project, but he’s finding the lessons he learned building the gazebo are serving him in higher education, too.

The fundraising experience has proved valuable, as he learns about marketing, the college freshman said. Organizing a group project and getting everyone focused on the same goal also has everyday applications in the world of business, he said.

Beyond those practical benefits of the experience, Sturm said there’s a feeling of satisfaction that comes from creating something worthwhile.

“It feels really good to actually have a finished project and have people be able to go sit in it and use it,” he said.

February 25, 2015

Yes, that really is Hambone Way

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Motorists driving past Hambone Way in Wesley Chapel may do a double take.

Is that road really named Hambone Way?

Indeed, it is.

William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The road was christened during a ceremony on Feb. 20 with a moniker that pays tribute to William “Hambone” Hammond, a firefighter who has worked for 15 years at Station 13, in the heart of an area known as Angus Valley.

The road bears Hammond’s nickname — the only name that many firefighters and paramedics know him by.

During the formal naming ceremony, Hammond was clearly touched by the gesture.

As he looked out into the crowd, he saw his mother, Betty Hammond, his brother, Mark, and other friends and relatives.

Members of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce were there, too, to do a ribbon cutting.

And, Hammond saw scores of his other ‘family,’ too, the men and women who work for Pasco County Fire Rescue.

As he accepted the honor, he kept calling out names of people in the crowd — and even some that weren’t there — to thank them for the lessons they’ve taught him and the loyalty they’ve shown.

“I don’t feel worthy. You all are more worthy than me,” said Hammond, who is still an active firefighter.

“I do love that my name is up there — my nickname — and it does belong here in the valley,” he said. “I had plenty of opportunities to go to other stations. I’m part of Wesley Chapel, part of Angus Valley. It’s where my heart is.”

Firefighter/paramedic J.J. Martinez, who helped organize the event, said Hammond deserves recognition for his dedicated service.

“When one hears this nickname, you would think of a guy on Harley, riding down the road with a long beard,” Martinez said, during the naming ceremony.

But when employees at Station 13 hear Hambone’s name, “we see a dedicated, hardworking firefighter that will do anything for his fellow firefighters,” Martinez added.

For some people, “Hambone was a firefighter who was there, in their time of need,” Martinez said.

“I came to serve this area six years ago, at Station 13, and I’m reminded every day what being a true firefighter is all about, because of my partner, Hambone,” Martinez added.

“Many times in this job, we lose sight of what is most important and that is the people we help every day,” he said.

Another speaker, Captain David Garofalo, said “when I think of Hambone, one word immediately comes to mind, and that is ‘genuine.’ That man never ceases to amaze me. He takes friendships to a whole new level.”

“This street has been the no-name street for many years, and Hambone has been a part of this community for almost 15 years,” Garofalo said, so it seems fitting to name the street in Hambone’s honor.

“So many times, buildings, statues and streets are named posthumously after someone in their memory. I am glad, that as we name this today, that Hambone will be able to know how much he is appreciated and be a part of this community for many more years to come,” Garofalo said.

Pasco Rescue Fire Chief Scott Cassin congratulated Hammond.

“There couldn’t be a better person to have their name on that sign,” Cassin said.

On the drive over to the ceremony, Cassin said he talking about how streets get their names.

“It’s usually the developer that will put names up, and they name them after their kids. They’ll name them after presidents, or they’ll have some sort of naming convention.

“This is one sign that I know every time we drive by it, we’ll know how that street was named.”

Published February 25, 2015

Browning expects technology problems during state testing

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Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has notified the state education commissioner that most district schools are not ready to administer the state’s online tests.

Browning isn’t talking about the district’s students. He’s concerned about the readiness of the district’s technology to deliver the online test.

He voiced those concerns in a Feb. 18 letter to Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart.

“After performing a load test last week and assessing our overall readiness, the district is not comfortable in certifying that we can administer FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) without significant technological and logistical problems,” Browning wrote.

The district conducted a test on Feb. 2, between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., of 8,622 student machines at the same time.

During the load test, only eight of the schools tested — representing 11 percent of those tested — reported no problems. Fifty-three schools, representing 73 percent of those tested, reported some issues and 12 schools, 16 percent, could not test because of significant issues. Ten schools that were tested did not report their findings.

Browning informed Stewart, “…if we were required to test today, a majority of our schools would experience a variety of delays and issues.”

Along with the letter, Browning attached a spreadsheet indicating a variety of technological issues encountered during the load test. Such problems included slow question load time, load timeout errors, launch failures, premature boots, error messages and a host of other technical problems.

Browning’s letter also notes that Pasco is the largest Apple device user in the state and because of that, technical difficulties become even more complicated because there are no other comparable districts to help the district with its setup, design and troubleshooting.

“I believe there are too many obstacles hindering our readiness to effectively administer the FSA, but I can assure you that our district will participate,” Browning wrote. “My signature does not certify that we are ready, but instead certifies that we will be participating in the examination.”

While Browning voices concerns about Pasco’s readiness to administer the state’s online test, all sorts of questions are being raised over Florida’s testing requirements and the amount of time teachers and students devote to them.

Gov. Rick Scott has already issued an executive order to eliminate the 11th grade standardized test in English.

Other proposals for change are expected during this year’s legislative session, scheduled to begin on March 3.

Published February 25, 2015