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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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On the Ball: Liberty Middle School Faces Wizards in Fundraiser

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When the Liberty Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association decided to raise money this year, they could have chosen to sell candy, or wrapping paper, or simply ask families for money.

Instead, they’re challenging a professional basketball team on the court.

The Harlem Wizards, a fun-loving exhibition basketball team, will play a game at Liberty Middle School to raise funds for the PTSA. (Courtesy of Harlem Wizards Facebook page)
The Harlem Wizards, a fun-loving exhibition basketball team, will play a game at Liberty Middle School to raise funds for the PTSA.
(Courtesy of Harlem Wizards Facebook page)

“This year we just wanted to try something new,” said PTSA president Melissa Auker. But they’re not suiting up to start new basketball careers. They’re facing the Harlem Wizards, a touring exhibition basketball team, for a game on Feb. 17. Like the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, the Wizards spend as much time joking around as they do jump shots. Their games are designed to entertain the crowd, make the audience laugh and provide a unique fundraising opportunity at the same time.

Auker thought the Wizards game would work well for the school since the children really enjoy an annual contest played by the school’s teachers.

In this match-up, the Wizards will play a collection of Liberty teachers and teachers from other schools, in addition to members of local churches, youth groups and other organizations.

While the game is all in good fun, they could raise some serious money.

The PSTA could see around $5,000 if the event is successful, Auker said.

The PSTA receives a portion of ticket revenue and merchandise sales at the game. They’re hoping for a crowd of about 600, but they can sell up to 1,000 tickets.

That money would go a long way toward providing necessary resources for the school. The PSTA provides technology items for some classrooms, as well as money for food and decorations at school dances. They also help provide clothing for some students as well.

“Our school requires children to wear uniforms, so we buy clothing for some of our underprivileged families,” Auker said. They also provide spirit wear, clothing for physical education classes and school supplies.

If the Wizards’ game is a success, the PSTA would like to try other unusual fundraising ideas, Auker said. The feedback has been good so far, and she’s anticipating a good turnout from families who want to see something different, have a good time and help the school’s cause.

Because attendees don’t have to be affiliated with the school, it’s something anybody can attend and enjoy.

“We thought, why don’t we put on an event, something that fathers can take their sons out to, moms can take the kids out to and just have a nice night of watching basketball,” she said.

Auker probably won’t be on the court that night, but she isn’t too concerned about the final score. The number that really matters is how much money is raised.

To drum up interest the school is having a pep rally at the school Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m., with some Wizards players in attendance.

When it’s time to start shooting hoops, Auker hopes to see bleachers full of children and smiles on their faces.

“It will be a very fun time,” she said. “I’m just hoping the children enjoy it as much as I’m enjoying putting it on for them.”

Tip-off time is 7 p.m., on Feb. 17. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults in advance, or $10 for students and $12 for adults at the door. Reserved seating is available for $15, and courtside seats are $40. For information and to buy tickets, visit HarlemWizards.com or email .

Published February 11, 2015

Lowe’s is hiring workers for new Land O’ Lakes store

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Construction is down to the wire at the new Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse on State Road 54, east of U.S. 41.

Job training for new hires is in full swing and applications are being accepted online for up to 160 job openings anticipated by company officials.

A pedestrian makes her way past the safety fence in front of the new Lowe's store that is aiming to open in April. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
A pedestrian makes her way past the safety fence in front of the new Lowe’s store that is aiming to open in April.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

The store is aiming for an April opening is expected this spring.

“Everybody, everybody is asking ‘when are you going to open the doors?’” said Steve Petrone, Lowe’s pro services specialist.

When the store does open area residents in Land O’ Lakes will have a hometown, one-stop Lowe’s warehouse for their do-it-yourself projects, Petrone said.

The 152,000-square-foot store is across from the Village Lakes Shopping Center. It is Pasco County’s third Lowe’s location.

The other stores are in Zephyrhills and New Port Richey.

Lowe’s began accepting job applications in October.

Some of the employees opening the new store worked at other Lowe’s locations and competed for openings because they wanted to work in Land O’ Lakes, closer to their homes, Petrone said.

Those who are interested in applying should visit Lowe’s website, Careers.lowes.com, to find job postings and submit separate applications for each job the applicant would like to pursue.

The job list changes, so repeat visits to the site are useful, Petrone said.

Recent job listings were for delivery driver and seasonal inside garden customer service associate.

Before it has its soft opening, Lowe’s will be making its local presence felt by being the principal sponsor for Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Community Fun Day and Business Expo.

The two-day event is free and open to the public. It will highlight businesses and service providers in the northern area of Hillsborough and the central area of Pasco counties.

Hours for that event are March 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and March 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The expo will be at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Lowe’s associates will be on hand to answer questions about indoor and outdoor repairs or remodeling chores. They can help with items such as paint choices and color schemes, Petrone said.

For gardeners, there will be experts who can give helpful tips on how to grow healthy lawns and get rid of pesky insects.

There will be an activity that gives families a chance to grow, build and bond, too, on March 7.

Lowe’s is enthused about its new Land O’ Lakes location.

“We’re chomping at the bit to get started,” Petrone said.

Published February 11, 2015

Applicants reduce size of proposed Lutz school

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Applicants for a charter school in Lutz have reduced the proposed enrollment for the kindergarten through eighth-grade school, but opponents say it’s still too big.

Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton has amended its request for a private charter school at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard.

The public hearing on a request by Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton to allow a charter elementary and middle school on 7.4 acres at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard has been scheduled for March 16, marking the fourth time a public hearing date has been set on the request. (File Photo)
The public hearing on a request by Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton to allow a charter elementary and middle school on 7.4 acres at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard has been scheduled for March 16, marking the fourth time a public hearing date has been set on the request.
(File Photo)

The proposed charter school, Sunlake Academy, would be developed in two phases.

Initially, the applicant asked for permission for up to 1,020 kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

After significant public opposition, the request has been scaled back to a maximum of 870 students, with 670 students in phase one and 200 in phase two.

The request would be subject to the applicant’s ability to secure the necessary water and sewer permits, and would require an updated traffic analysis before the second phase would be allowed, according to revised conditions of approval provided by Michael Horner, a professional planner representing the applicant.

A public hearing on the application originally was scheduled in December, was scheduled again in January and then again in February.

Now, the hearing date is scheduled for March 16 at 6 p.m., at the Fred B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

In addition to reducing the potential enrollment, the applicant would use staggered start and dismissal times to avoid off-site traffic impacts, would provide substantially greater buffering than required by county regulations, would agree to a number of improvements to facilitate access into and out of the school site, and would meet various other conditions.

The charter school request is facing considerable opposition from area residents.

When a community meeting was held on the issue at a hall across the street from the proposed school site, more than 90 people showed up.

The meeting was primarily an opportunity for those gathered to learn how the hearing process worked and to decide whether they wanted to create a legal fund to fight the project.

After the meeting, the legal fund was created and people took to the streets to circulate petitions in neighborhoods near the proposed school.

Mike White, president and founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who has played a primary role in organizing the opposition, said that the scaled-back plans are still too intense for the location.

Horner said the delay was sought to ensure that the applicant has all of the information needed for the land use hearing master, who decides whether to approve or deny the request.

A number of area residents, community organizations and homeowner associations have gone on record against the request, sending emails to county staff, outlining their objections.

In a Dec. 23 email to the county, Todd Caroline, who lives in Lake Fern Villa, notes that the project would back up to his property line.

“It is already a struggle to get out of our community morning, afternoon and evening due to a poorly built intersection at Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake (Boulevard). Ever since Steinbrenner (High School), Martinez (Middle School) and McKitrick (Elementary School) have opened, it has only gotten worse,” Caroline wrote.

James Lather, another opponent, said the Lutz Citizens Coalition vehemently opposes the application because of the inappropriate size, scope and density of the project for the proposed location.

Area resident Joanne Plazza noted that she’s lived in the area since 1987 and has never objected to any previous project. But, she said, this school would add traffic to an already congested area.

Opponent Sharon Bard, of 22232 Yachtclub Terrace, put it like this: “I am very much against this. I travel Lutz Lake Fern often and the added traffic would be horrific.”

White said opponents don’t object to schools, just schools that are proposed for unsuitable locations.

Published February 11, 2015

 

Save some cash at the county fair

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Ladies and gentlemen, it’s fair season.

That means good rides, good entertainment and good food — or bad food, if you’re a fitness expert. If they can deep-fry it, you can probably buy it at a fair.

There's nothing quite like fair food, and you'll find plenty to enjoy at the Pasco County Fair. (File Photo)
There’s nothing quite like fair food, and you’ll find plenty to enjoy at the Pasco County Fair.
(File Photo)

The Florida State Fair in Tampa is underway and the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City kicks off at the end of the month.

But if you don’t catch the one in the middle, you’re really missing out.

The Pasco County Fair begins Feb. 16 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, naturally, and there’s a lot to see and do. You can certainly purchase wristbands to ride the rides, and play carnival games until your wallet runs dry.

But this is “On the Cheap.” We’re looking to save you money.

And the truth is, there are so many fun things to experience at the fair that are already included in the admission price, you could go for the whole day and not spend a penny once you get inside. No matter what you like to do, there’s something that will catch your eye.

Let’s start with the show animals: Local fairs have always been places to see the very best in livestock, and this is no exception. Bulls, steers, heifers and other animals will be on display, shown and judged.

But there are also other animals, like alligators and seals — not together, of course.

They’re not looking for ribbons. They’re there to entertain. Kachunga & the Alligator Show and the Sea Lion Splash are two regular shows that perform daily at the fair. And if you like your entertainment on two legs, Ron Diamond’s magic and illusion show will offer sleight of hand, comedy and even some hypnosis.

Oh, did I mention the pigs yet?

Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Paddling Porkers have been a fair staple for years, and for good reason. It might be your only chance all year to see racing pigs: Little pigs, mid-size pigs and giant pigs racing around a track to the delight of sizeable crowds. It’s as weird as it sounds, and it’s a lot of fun, too.

On special nights, the Pasco County Fair also has boxing matches and rodeos. Throw in plant sales and a baby pageant, and you have enough to keep you busy for a couple of visits.

Again, none of that costs extra. It’s all included in your fair admission.

So while you’re free to spend some money and have a good time, it’s not required. Just pay at the gate and enjoy all the different events.

Regular admission, by the way, is $8 for adults and $5 for children, ages 6 to 12. If they’re younger than that, it’s free. Parking is free, too. That’s a good deal, but it’s not the best deal. If you really want to go on the cheap — and why wouldn’t you — I suggest you go on Tuesday, Feb. 18. On that day, admission is just $3 per person.

That’s a great deal for all the things you can see and do.

You’ll save so much money, you might want to treat yourself to some deep-fried candy. Just don’t tell your dentist.

Pasco County Fair
Feb. 16 through Feb. 22. It begins at 3 p.m., and usually runs until 11 p.m., or midnight.

The fairgrounds are at 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

For more information, visit PascoCountyFair.org.

Published February 11, 2015

Tampa Premium Outlets beginning to take shape

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Tampa Premium Outlets is no longer just wishes and speculation.

There are still lots of questions, however, about what tenants will fill the 441,000 square feet of shopping space.

This is a sign letting people know that Tampa Premium Outlets will be opening this fall. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
This is a sign letting people know that Tampa Premium Outlets will be opening this fall.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Bulldozers are moving earth, and walls are going vertical on what has been a shopping destination in the making going back more than decade.

Plans have changed through the years, but now an outlet center is on the horizon: Opening day is scheduled for late October, well in advance of the 2015 holiday season.

Shopaholics, of course, are eager to see the center’s anticipated 100-plus retailers open their doors.

Like other large enterprises, the outlet center also is expected to have some ripple effects on the local economy.

Businesses that can provide accessory goods or services are likely to benefit.

And, students at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch also could reap internships to help them in their studies or jobs to help cover their expenses.

Simon Property Group, the mall’s developer, has estimated that the project will yield 300 to 500 construction jobs and as many as 800 retail jobs, once the outlet center opens.

Hope Allen, executive director for the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, is looking forward to the center’s arrival.

“We are very excited about it,” Allen said.

While the mall may create some new opportunities for local businesses, Allen doesn’t foresee a huge jump in chamber membership.

“Typically big corporations don’t join as individuals of chambers,” Allen said.

“We want the benefits to be for our members, and it means they have opportunities to do ancillary products,” she said.

One company, Signarama of New Tampa-Wesley Chapel, already has experienced a benefit.

It produced display boards that were used during the mall’s groundbreaking ceremony, Allen said.

The chamber executive anticipates similar opportunities will materialize for local businesses as the project moves forward.

While no information is available yet about the tenant mix that the outlet center will offer, Simon Property Group announced more than two years ago that Saks Off Fifth Fashion Outlet would anchor the center. And, Danielle DeVita, senior vice president of the company’s Premium Outlet Group, confirmed that during the December groundbreaking.

Simon Property Group has more than 80 Premium Outlets worldwide with a mix of upscale retailers such as Banana Republic, Diane Von Furstenberg, DKNY, Dior, Burberry and J. Crew.

The outlet mall is a major feature within the proposed Cypress Creek Town Center, a master-planned community with three developers working on different residential and commercial phases of the project.

This project isn’t the only thing kicking up dirt along the State Road 56 corridor, near Interstate 75.

Mercedes Benz is building a dealership on the east side of the interchange, Richard E. Jacobs Group and Sierra Properties are working on plans for more retail, and an ice hockey and skating complex is on the drawing board.

Stanley Giannet, provost at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, sees new opportunities arising for students at the PHSC campus.

Besides internships and jobs, there may be scholarships, too, Giannet said.

The college offers associate degrees in areas such as business administration, business operations and marketing. All are relevant to Pasco County’s retail growth, including the outlet mall, Giannet said.

“It’s going to have a positive effect for students on campus and the community at large,” Giannet said.

Besides leading the college, Giannet was named Business Leader of the Year and Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel in 2014 by the Wesley Chapel chamber. He also serves on the chamber’s board of directors.

He envisions future partnerships between college faculty, chamber members, store representatives and the developer that will benefit everyone and contribute to the outlet center’s success.

“I’m looking forward to doing outreach to them,” Giannet said.

Published February 11, 2015

Sanders Memorial Elementary: Past and Future

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Notifications went out last week to parents of students who have been accepted for the inaugural year of Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School.

Sanders’ roots in Land O’ Lakes date back to 1948.

Gertrude Godwin was known for being a strict disciplinarian, who was devoted to teaching. She’s shown here with her second-grade class at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Andrea Frank)
Gertrude Godwin was known for being a strict disciplinarian, who was devoted to teaching. She’s shown here with her second-grade class at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes.
(Courtesy of Andrea Frank)

The school was closed for a few years, pending reconstruction, but the crash of the housing market stalled that redevelopment.

In August, the school now made up of a combination of new structures and redeveloped buildings will open as Pasco County’s first magnet program.

It will focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Sanders received 1,690 applications from across Pasco County. The school will serve kindergarten through fifth grade and can accommodate 762 students.

While students streaming into the school this fall will be greeted by the latest in technology and new approaches to learning, the school’s history also will be honored through a special display.

Some people don’t need a special display to remind them how the school used to be.

Andrea Macomber Frank is one of five grandchildren of Gertrude Godwin, who taught at Sanders for about five decades.

“Of course, her children, our mother, aunt and uncle went there also,” said Frank, who now lives in Daytona Beach.

Long-time residents of Land O’ Lakes likely recall her grandmother, who was known as a strict disciplinarian, said Frank, who was in the area during the holidays with her brothers, Bruce and Mike Macomber.

“She used to thump people,” Bruce Macomber said.

“She could pinch you,” Mike Macomber added.

Her approach to discipline wouldn’t fit in today, they said, but her devotion to teaching would.

Because she was their grandmother, they had the benefit of learning from her at home and at school.

“She taught me to read when I was 3 years old,” Bruce Macomber said.

Their grandmother had high expectations, especially of them, they said.

“You were always expected to be a little better than everybody else because if you weren’t, the principal didn’t come to you, they went to your grandmother.

“In the ninth-grade, we all went on strike one day because we wanted to have a school dance and they wouldn’t let us have a school dance. So we all sat out by this huge pine tree. There were only about 20-some kids in our class.

“And, all of a sudden I hear yelling out the window: ‘Bruce Macomber, you and those kids get up right now and get back in your class,’ ” he said.

She commanded respect.

“The kids would listen to her,” he said.

She taught generations of families, and when she died, the church was packed with people who came to pay their respects, they said.

They don’t know what she would make of the new approaches that will be used at Sanders when it opens, but they know she would support efforts to provide a quality education for children.

During a news conference, announcing that applications were being accepted for Sanders, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said that the district’s first magnet school makes it clear that the district recognizes the need to offer more educational choices.

“As a district, we know we need to compete for the students we serve,” Browning said, at the time.

Published February 11, 2015

He’s seen his share of love stories through the years

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As Valentine’s Day approaches, jewelry stores and florists are ramping up to handle the heavy demand that this day — set aside for love and romance — creates.

Through the years, Tom Vanater, owner of Nabers Jewelry at 6951 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, has seen his share of love stories.

From behind the counter at Nabers Jewelers, owner Tom Vanater inspects a piece of jewelry. Vanater, who has been in business in Zephyrhills for more than 30 years, is retiring this spring. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
From behind the counter at Nabers Jewelers, owner Tom Vanater inspects a piece of jewelry. Vanater, who has been in business in Zephyrhills for more than 30 years, is retiring this spring.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

He recalls one couple, in particular, that came into his shop to purchase an anniversary ring.

They were celebrating their 50th anniversary.

The man told the jeweler how he met his wife.

“He was at a dance and he looked across the room and said, ‘I’m going to marry that girl.’

“He was about 6-foot-4. She was about 5-foot-3.

“He was in uniform. He asked her to dance. He told her he wanted to marry her.

“He left (for World War II) like three days later.

“She waited for him to come back.”

“Some of the hardships that they’ve gone through. And some of the things they’ve endured — to stay together through all that,” Vanater said, marveling at the couple’s enduring love.

As a jeweler, he’s had the chance to be part of many happy occasions — as patrons selected jewelry for engagements, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, retirements and other special occasions.

Jewelry helps convey a feeling of connection, Vanater said.

In many families, it is passed on from one generation to the next, and people often become quite attached to it because of the emotional bond it represents, he said.

Nabers Jewelers was established by Myron Nabers in 1933, offering jewelry services to residents in East Pasco.

Vanater bought the business more than three decades ago.

Now, he’s retiring from the business and liquidating the store’s contents so he can focus his energies on his real estate interests.

Vanater, originally from Charleston, West Virginia, didn’t set out to become the owner of a jewelry store.

After graduating from college, he went to work as a salesman for a company in New York that imported costume jewelry.

He decided to move to Florida, after being snowed in at a hotel while on a business trip near Eerie, Pennsylvania.

That snowstorm motivated him to move to Florida, where his parents had already moved, he said.

He needed a job, so he found one working at a jewelry store at Eastlake Mall.

An opportunity arose for him to move into management, so he took it.

Next, he went to work for a distributor representing Citizen Watch Co.

“They were a wholesale jewelry distributor, from Tampa to New Orleans. I covered the territory selling to jewelry stores,” he said.

But then, he said, “my daughter was born, and I wanted to get off the road.”

That’s when he found out that Nabers Jewelers was up for sale, and he bought it.

“The store wasn’t open if I wasn’t there, the first few years. I started the store with myself and two part-time people,” he said.

At one point, he had a store in Dade City and one in Zephyrhills, but he later decided to combine them.

“When you’re doing two stores, you’re trying to run them both yourself,” he said. “So it really is very difficult.”

Within a year of combining the stores, he found he was doing more sales in that store than he had in both of his stores, combined.

Over the years, the store has changed locations. The current location is in a shopping center he built.

“It’s worked out beautifully. It’s been a great location for us,” he said.

Working in the jewelry business has its share of challenges because it requires a great deal of knowledge about gems, settings and other technical aspects of the business, as well as the ability to stay tuned into trends and deliver reliable and trustworthy service, Vanater said.

But it has many rewards, as well.

“It’s a fun business. You’re experiencing a happy time in someone’s life, almost always. They’re either buying something for someone as a gift, that gets them excited, or they’re buying something for themselves that is very exciting for them,” he said.

He hopes that the new owner will find as much success in the business as he has.

“I hope it makes it to 100 years – Nabers Jewelers. It’s a good service to the community, and it’s a good living for whoever owns it,” Vanater said.

Published February 11, 2015

Business Digest 02-11-15

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North Tampa Chamber meeting
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have a general meeting Feb. 12 at Brunchies Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Catering at 14366 N. Dale Mabry Highway.

Guest speaker will be Mary McDonald, director of development with The Spring of Tampa Bay.

Doors open at 11 a.m., for informal networking. Serving begins at 11:30 a.m., and the program starts at 11:45 a.m.

For early bird registration, people should RSVP to the chamber office by 5 p.m., on Feb. 10 to get the discounted rate of $16 (The charge applies, whether or not you eat). Reservations will be accepted after that date on the attendee check-in list for $21 payable online or at the door.

For directions or information, call (813) 908-7023.

Dade Chamber business breakfast
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will have its business breakfast Feb. 17 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at The Creation Café at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills at 7050 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is the sponsor. The guest speaker will be orthopedic surgeon Gerald “Trey” Alexander III who will discuss the hospital’s Bone & Joint Center.  Alexander’s expertise is in hip and knee replacement and in revision of painful and failed hip and knee replacement.

Made-to-order omelets, a waffle station, yogurt parfaits and fresh fruit will be available. Breakfast is $5 per person. There will be door prizes and giveaways.

Please RSVP, if attending, to , or call (352) 567-3769.

Attorney addresses forum
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will host a Lunch N’ Learn Business Forum Feb. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the chamber’s boardroom at 6013 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Suite 105.

The guest speaker will be attorney Dineen Wasylik, of DPW Legal, who will discuss the Top Five Intellectual Property Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them. Wasylik is a certified intellectual property expert.

Registration is limited to 15 people. The cost is $15, including lunch.

For information, contact the chamber office at (813) 994-8534 or email .

Burgess Opens District Office
State Rep. Danny Burgess will celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of his new district office on Feb. 24 at Creekside Center, 35358 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills.

The open house will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are co-hosting the event.

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

The council is seeking sponsorships ranging from $500 to $2,000.

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 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., on March 6 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on March 7. 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 .

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.

Dade City chamber needs volunteers
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for some volunteers to help with the chamber event season.

With winter residents returning to the area, there are a number of activities the chamber needs help to staff. The chamber is looking for people who are friendly and outgoing, who have knowledge of the local area and activities, and are team-oriented.

For information, email .

Catholic Business Networking seeks members
The Catholic Business Networking group is looking for Catholic business owners, employees and supporters interested in joining it for regular meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.

The group has annual dues of $60, and there is a minimum attendance requirement of two meetings per month.

For information, call (813) 833-4737, or visit CBNTampa.com.

 

Sign Here: Local athletes commit to colleges

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High school seniors are used to writing.

On Feb. 4, though, a number of student-athletes did some writing that will change their lives.

Family members surround Mark Hutchinson, left, and Jaye Miner of Wiregrass Ranch High School as they sign their letters of intent to play college football. They're the first players in the school’s history to sign with NCAA Division I schools. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo
Family members surround Mark Hutchinson, left, and Jaye Miner of Wiregrass Ranch High School as they sign their letters of intent to play college football. They’re the first players in the school’s history to sign with NCAA Division I schools.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo

“It feels good,” said Austin Yeloushan, a senior at Sunlake High School. “Finally, I’m committed and ready to go play somewhere.” Yeloushan was one of thousands of athletes around the country who participated in National Signing Day, the first day that a high school football player can sign a binding letter of intent with a member school of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Yeloushan accepted an offer to attend Jacksonville University, where he’ll also play on defense for the Dolphins. In addition to the football opportunity, he was impressed with the school’s academic offerings and its location. He plans to study business.

He’s also working out several times a day and adding in a lot of running in order to get ready to play football at the collegiate level. Although he had a stellar high school career, Yeloushan knows that the level of competition is tougher in college, and he wants to be prepared.

“I feel like everyone that’s really good from their high school goes to college. So it’s just going to be like a big all-star game,” he said.

Jaye Miner, a linebacker from Wiregrass Ranch High School, feels the same way.

“In college it’s like an all-star team every game,” he said. “I know I can’t take anything easy. Everyone’s going to be bigger, stronger, faster.” Miner received 14 offers to play football at the next level, and chose Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on National Signing Day. He plans to study photography, sports medicine or marine biology in the classroom, and learn from his more experienced teammates on the football field.

He might be getting some early experience himself when the Owls’ season starts. Due to a lack of linebacker depth at FAU, Miner said he has a good chance of starting games early in his career.

If he’s in the starting lineup when the Owls play Florida International University on Oct. 31, he’ll face off against a former teammate’s new school. Mark Hutchinson, a Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver, sat next to Miner on Feb. 4 and signed his own papers to play at the next level. He chose FIU and will attend on a full scholarship.

Not bad for a kid who was cut from his seventh-grade football team.

“It was my first year. I was scrawny. I was a skinny little boy,” Hutchinson recalled. “So I had to put in a lot of work, a lot of effort and focus. Because I knew this was something I wanted. I wanted to be an athlete in high school.”

Now that he’s completed a standout athletic career in high school, Hutchinson knows he’ll have something to prove when he enters college as a freshman. But working his way up is nothing new for Hutchinson. He started his freshman year on the junior varsity team before earning a promotion to varsity. He’s focusing on adding strength in the off-season to be prepared when they call his number.

Miner and Hutchinson are good friends and have been playing together for years. And even before they were seriously thinking about Division I college football and making big life decisions, this is a moment they considered.

“In Mark’s room right now, he has a chalkboard wall. It says ‘D-1 bound.’ We wrote that when we were in seventh grade,” Miner said.

Friends and family were in attendance at National Signing Day to congratulate the athletes, coaches praised their abilities, and the schools served cake to help celebrate the event. And while they’re proud of their athletes and have confidence in them at the next level, those athletes are leaving big shoes to fill on their football teams. When the new season comes around, the coaches will have to replace their talented athletes who have moved on from Friday night games to playing on Saturdays.

“You miss all your seniors. You really do,” said Sunlake coach Bill Browning at Yeloushan’s signing event. “And he’s been really successful here, so we’ll miss him.”

Published February 11, 2015

Library dazzles patrons

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It offers new technology and an airy look

Some boxes are still unpacked.

A few books are being catalogued before getting stacked on shelves.

An item or two, such as window blinds, are on order.

An arched window and high ceiling allows for natural lighting to give the new library in Zephyrhills something of a Barnes & Noble feel. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
An arched window and high ceiling allows for natural lighting to give the new library in Zephyrhills something of a Barnes & Noble feel.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Outside, workmen are getting ready to pave a parking lot.

Not everything is completely done yet, but the new Zephyrhills Public Library is open for business and humming with activity – in hushed tones, of course.

One recent morning a steady stream of people walked through the front door. One inquired about a book request. Others logged onto computers. Some just wanted a quiet reading nook.

So far, the library has proved quite popular.

“We are getting very heavy traffic,” said Vicki Elkins, director of library and museum services. “We have people coming in that we’ve never seen at the old library.”

The new structure replaces a building that was partially constructed in 1964 and partly built in 1981.

That building was torn down to make way for this new one.

The paved parking lot, when completed, will have a drive-through book drop-off.

Although the library opened on Dec. 30, a grand opening has not yet been scheduled.

“I refer to it as a great Christmas gift,” Elkins said. “We can offer so much more now than we could in the old library.”

At nearly 8,500 square feet, the new library, at 5347 Eighth St., is more than double the size of its predecessor.

Its amenities include a meeting room with a galley, separate teen and children’s rooms, and two study rooms.

The library also will soon have Wi-Fi.

Patrons also will find 16 computers there — twice as many as there were in the old library.

And, they can use their library cards to book computer time. This is especially helpful when the computers are all in use, Elkins said.

When patrons want to print materials, they can preview their order and its cost.

The library’s youngest patrons will find three computers set aside for them in the children’s room.

New books targeted at young readers will be added to the teen room.

Another plus: A local resident donated about 300 books, mostly classics.

In the past, the library had its summer reading program at Alice Hall Community Center. Now it can be in the new children’s room and in the adjoining meeting room.

There also is potential for additional programs, Elkins said.

Nonprofit and community groups have already found out about the meeting room and have begun signing up for it, Elkins said.

The vision for the new library emerged nearly 10 years ago, and the city began setting aside countywide tax revenues from the Penny for Pasco program.

In 2008, the country’s economic downturn prompted a rearrangement of priorities.

“It was put on the back burner,” Elkins said.

As the economy brightened in recent years, some thought was given to renovating the existing library but Elkins said, “It was not in good shape for a remodeling.”

A combination of Penny for Pasco revenues and private donations paid for the $2.2 million construction costs.

The plain façade of the old library seemed out of tune with the historic look of downtown Zephyrhills, so Elkins said architects at Harvard Jolly were asked to review photos of the old City Hall, high school and train station.

The result was a red brick building with a classic look.

Kathleen Munn recently brought her daughter Charlie Hernandez for a first tour of Zephyrhills’ new library. Mother and daughter were going to report back to 10-year-old Lilly Hernandez, Munn’s granddaughter and Hernandez’ daughter.

As a youngster, Charlie Hernandez would check out more than a dozen books a week to take home.

No one loves books more, Munn said.

But she said that old library, even for a book lover, was “old, dark and dank.”

Now Munn can’t wait to return with her granddaughter to the new library.

“This is big and fresh and adds a bit of class to Zephyrhills,” Munn said. “It feels like a Barnes & Noble to me. It’s light and bright and airy.”

Published February 4, 2015