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Cycle of Life: Seniors stay fit on two wheels

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If you see Charlie Griffiths riding his bicycle in Zephyrhills, the 70-year-old might be on a little ride just to keep the blood pumping.

Or he just might be training for a 40K race.

Charlie Griffiths has won a number of medals and trophies for his cycling skills. But the awards are piling up even faster now that his wife Mary is competing as well. Both of them won medals at the recent Florida International Senior Games and State Championships. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Charlie Griffiths has won a number of medals and trophies for his cycling skills. But the awards are piling up even faster now that his wife Mary is competing as well. Both of them won medals at the recent Florida International Senior Games and State Championships.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“Charlie’s always been a cyclist,” said his wife, Mary Griffiths. The couple actually met online a few years ago on a special website for fitness-conscious singles. Now Mary, 63, does a bit of riding herself: Both of them won cycling medals at the recent Florida International Senior Games and State Championships in their respective age groups.

But while Mary has been more of a swimmer and even did some scuba diving, Charlie is the one who’s always preferred cycling. He joined a racing club at 16 in his native Liverpool, England, but had to give it up when family demands came first.

Later in life he got back into riding, and when he retired and moved to Florida 10 years ago, he saw an advertisement for local races. Being in good shape, he decided to join the 55-and-over age group and signed up for a race.

He finished last.

“They just killed me. I couldn’t believe what level these people were at in that age group,” Charlie recalled.

Not being one to back down from a challenge, he kept at it and eventually worked his way into the top half of the competitors. He began training regularly and improved his strength and skills. In addition to doing 20K and 40K road races at the Senior Games, Charlie also tackles other races, including 100-mile cycling events.

As a result, their living room is now filled with medals and trophies documenting his successful return to the sport he loved as a boy. But it’s the other rewards that motivate him to keep riding.

“Really, what keeps me going with this, is it’s keeping me from getting old,” Charlie said. Seventy was old 40 years ago, but I don’t feel any different.”

While they’ve both found success cycling, Mary is quick to point out that it’s not any one activity that holds a secret to feeling younger. It’s more about finding something you like to do and sticking with it.

“It’s activity,” she said. “Find something that you’re passionate about and you do it.” Some activities lend themselves to group participation, she said. Runners, for example, often go out together and keep each other motivated.

Even physical disabilities don’t have to keep seniors from staying active. The Senior Games also has competitions for activities like bean bag tossing and table tennis. Mary believes that even participating in non-strenuous games, which still challenge them mentally, can be good for seniors.

“They’ve got 40 different sports,” she said of the Senior Games. “What if you aren’t really physically able? That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be active.”

And Charlie agrees. He’d love to see more people out walking around, even in a casual setting. It’s become too common for seniors, and people in general, to settle into a sedentary lifestyle and miss out on the health, social and mental benefits of being more active.

“You look around these (communities) where we are here and it’s just incredible how people waste away. And some of them are younger than me,” he said. “It’s just a way of extending you’re life. That’s the way I see it. Stay active as long as you can.”

Charlie is encouraged by people who call him an inspiration, and he enjoys riding and keeping up with riders many years his junior. Neither has any plans to slow down or abandon their active lifestyle, and they hope people of all ages will find the motivation to begin improving their own lives with a little bit of activity.

“Find a friend, and set an appointment time and commit to meeting at that time every day and start walking,” Mary advises. “That’s the easiest thing, it doesn’t cost anything and if you did it, you don’t know what the next step will be.”

While the benefits can be realized by anyone, Charlie believes a lack of activity can especially hurt seniors who can’t afford to sit around and watch their golden years go by.

“If you’re used to a lethargic lifestyle, you need to change. When you’re younger, maybe people don’t feel it as badly. But life flashes by, and suddenly you are a potato,” he said. “Just get out and do something, whether it be walking, running; make the attempt. Make the effort and you’ll enjoy it. You’ll meet so many interesting people.”

Published January 21, 2015

Teaching the art of business through small transactions

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The children on the covered play court behind Chester Taylor Elementary School were having a blast.

They were learning the ins and outs of business without even realizing it.

As the kids made their way from station to station, they could earn money by asking questions.

Crystal Enger enjoyed showing off a sports car from Wesley Chapel Nissan to children at Chester Taylor Elementary in Zephyrhills. Enger said the kids seemed to enjoy asking her questions about the car, and she enjoyed seeing them have a chance to think about things they might not have considered before. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Crystal Enger enjoyed showing off a sports car from Wesley Chapel Nissan to children at Chester Taylor Elementary in Zephyrhills. Enger said the kids seemed to enjoy asking her questions about the car, and she enjoyed seeing them have a chance to think about things they might not have considered before.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They could then spend their earnings on games of chance to win prizes.

Of course, the money was paper money, and the prizes were things like candy, tiny balls and pencils — but the experience gave kids a chance to interact with area businesses, learn a bit about their operations and have some fun at the same time.

The event’s main goal was to pave the way for elementary school children to develop a greater interest in business, said Rene Martinez, a teacher at Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel.

Martinez, Gregg Clapp and Ryan Prieto, all serve as advisors to the Future Business Leaders of America chapter, which meets as a club at Weightman Middle.

Chester Taylor Elementary, in Zephyrhills, was just one of the elementary schools included in the American Enterprise Project organized by the Weightman Middle School chapter.

Other schools they included were Wesley Chapel Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary, Double Branch Elementary and New River Elementary.

By the time they’d finished their rounds, thousands of children in nearly 75 classes had the opportunity to learn about local businesses and have some fun.

“Every year, each FBLA chapter has to do something called the American Business Enterprise. And the kids have to come up with a theme and an idea and put it together and organize it,” Martinez said.

“Right now, Weightman Middle School is the only middle school in Pasco County that has an FBLA chapter. It’s our first year. We’re really small,” Martinez said.

Chapter members were wondering how they could expand, and they came up with the idea of reaching out to elementary schools, Martinez said.

Prieto, a student at Pasco-Hernando State College, was involved in FBLA at Wesley Chapel High and he saw the need to get more students involved at the middle school level, Martinez said.

The club came up with the idea of using the game Monopoly as a model, and filling each of the spaces with a local business.

The kids would make their way around the board, spending money at the various stops.

Their aims were a bit ambitious, Martinez said.

“There’s 22 squares on a Monopoly board. Do you what it’s like to get 22 businesses?” Martinez said.

But he admires their optimism.

“That’s the beauty of children. They reach for the moon. They really do.”

They didn’t get 22 business, but they did get Sagat Computer Inc., Parks Fiat of Wesley Chapel, Hyundai of Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel Nissan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Busch Gardens, Pilote Bank and Bright House.

The FBLA members also experienced something that businesses encounter all of the time, Martinez said. If one plan doesn’t work, you come up with another one.

“This is real-world stuff,” said Martinez, who teaches sixth-grade World History.

Crystal Enger was there from Wesley Chapel Nissan, showing off a black 370Z Nissan.

The kids lined up for a turn to sit inside the car.

As they waited for their turn, they asked questions. “Does that have a lot of torque?” one student wanted to know. “How much horsepower does it have?” asked another.

Enger was clearly enjoying herself.

“I think it’s nice,” she said. It gives students a chance “to think about things they’ve never thought about before,” she said.

Seth Raigoza, a member of Weightman’s FBLA chapter, said he was having a good time.

“The kids get to play games and to hear about business.”

Published January 21, 2015

Welcome to Dade City, where kumquat is king

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Every year, as marauders take over Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa’s Gasparilla Parade, there’s another invasion of sorts— as thousands stream into downtown Dade City for the city’s annual Kumquat Festival.

“It’s a wonderful alternative (to Gasparilla),” said John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the 18th annual Kumquat Festival promises to be a fun and affordable event. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the 18th annual Kumquat Festival promises to be a fun and affordable event.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The Dade City event — which draws its name from a diminutive, tangy orange fruit — gives visitors a chance to experience a taste of old Florida in a family friendly atmosphere, Moors said.

With its free parking, free admission, free entertainment and assorted free activities, people can enjoy the day without having to spend a fortune, Moors said.

Of course, Moors said, the chamber would like to see festival-goers do a bit of spending on items sold by vendors, at area restaurants and in merchant’s stores.

The event, now in its 18th year, is expected to attract 30,000 to 40,000.

Event-goers come from as far north as The Villages, as far south as Sarasota, as far west as the beaches, and as far east as Orlando.

For some, it’s an annual tradition. For others, a reunion. And for still others, it’s an introduction to the East Pasco city with the historic courthouse and quaint shops.

The annual festival started simply.

It began when Phyllis Smith, Roxanne Barthle and Carlene Ellberg were looking for a way to help inject new life into downtown Dade City.

They decided to have a festival to honor the kumquat, and the first event was held on the lawn of the historic Pasco County Courthouse.

This year there will be 450 vendors, a car show, children’s activities, an enlarged health and wellness section, entertainment and, for the first time, several food trucks.

The food trucks are an additional component to the area’s restaurants and food vendors at the festival, Moors said.

Local restaurants are always swarmed on festival day, the chamber executive said, adding some restaurant owners have told him they do a week’s worth of business on that single day.

Of course, the kumquat is king at this event, and vendors offer it up in myriad forms. There’s kumquat pie, kumquat salsas, kumquat jam, kumquat jelly, kumquat preserves, and even kumquat lotions and soaps.

Over the years, the event has helped put Dade City on the map and has helped raise the community’s profile. It was heralded by the Pasco County Tourism Board as the Pasco County Event of the Year in 2012 and has enjoyed the distinction of being named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society, which selects premier events in 13 Southeastern states.

Offering the event without charging an admission means that organizers rely on the generosity of sponsors, income from vendor fees and support achieved through other fundraising efforts.

This year, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is the event’s headlining sponsor, Moors said.

Besides providing financial support, the hospital is a partner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the team will be sending its bus as well as cheerleaders and a player or two, Moors said.

The importance of the sponsors cannot be overstated, Moors said.

They make it possible for event organizers to stage the festival without admission or parking charges, Moors said.

“There’s a lot of expense in putting something like this on. Somebody has to pay for the buses and the Port-o-lets and the insurance and the volunteer expenses,” the chamber executive said.

To get the full enjoyment out of the event, Moors recommends that people arrive early.

“Get in and get settled and enjoy the day.”

The festival is held, rain or shine.

Moors is optimistic that the weather will cooperate.

“Bring an umbrella,” he said. “You can always leave it in the car.”

18th annual Kumquat Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 31
Where: Downtown Dade City
How much: Admission is free, parking is free, entertainment is free, and many activities are free.
For more information, call (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCityChamber.org or KumquatFestival.org.

Kumquat Festival Entertainment Schedule, Historic Courthouse Square
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Saint Leo University SASS (Women’s a capella)
10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: First Baptist Church of Dade City (Christian blended music)
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Strawberry Express Cloggers
11 a.m. to noon: Cypress Creek Dixieland Band (Seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band)
Noon to 1 p.m.: Noah Gamer (Alabama male vocalist award in traditional country, in 17 to 20 age group)
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Dean Johnson’s Music & Friends (Various styles)
2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Bailey Coats (Rhythm and blues and jazz)
2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Danielle Pacifico (Country)
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: This Train (’50s and ’60s pop and gospel)

O’Reilly Auto Parts Annual Kumquat Festival Car Show
Registration, 8 a.m.
Car show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dash plaque and specialty trophies will be awarded.
For more information contact Ronnie Setser, (813) 879-1616 or RonnieSetsers.com.

Would you like a slice of kumquat pie?
Ingredients:
1 9-inch baked pie crust
1 can condensed milk
1 8-ounce container of whipped topping
2/3 cup of Kumquat puree
1/2 cup of lemon juice

Directions:
Beat condensed milk with whipped topping. Add lemon juice and beat until thickened. Add Kumquat puree. Pour in pie crust and chill for several hours. Garnish with Kumquats and mint leaves.

What is a kumquat?
Kumquats have been called the little gold gems of the citrus family. They are believed to be native to China and have a very distinctive taste. Kumquats are the only citrus fruit that can be eaten whole. The peel is the sweetest part and can be eaten separately. The pulp contains seeds and juice, which is sour. Together, the taste is sweet and sour. The seeds contain pectin, which can be removed by boiling for use in jams and jellies.
— Kumquat Growers Inc.

How do you eat a kumquat?
—Kumquats taste best when they are gently rolled between the fingers before being eaten. The gentle rolling action releases the essential oils in the rind. Eat kumquats the same way you eat a grape — peel on.

—Kumquats can be candied or on a kabob with fruits, vegetables and meat, such as poultry, duck, pork or lamb.

—Kumquats are also a favorite for jelly, jam, marmalade, salsa or chutney.

Published January 21, 2015

Expert expects housing market to continue its recovery

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Most of the time when you hear what Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors has to say — it’s during a congressional hearing or on the national news.

But last week, Yun made an appearance before real estate professionals gathered for a meeting of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun is the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. He’s predicting a continued recovery for two to three years, and then possibly an expansion. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Lawrence Yun is the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. He’s predicting a continued recovery for two to three years, and then possibly an expansion.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

He offered plenty of food for thought about the housing market’s condition.

“The bottom line is that we have encountered some degree of recovery. I think we will continue the recovery over the next two to three years, and then subsequently, the recovery may well change into expansion,” said Yun, who frequently speaks at conferences for real estate professionals around the country.

“Now, you are just trying to get back to the prior principal in terms of prices. It may take an additional two to three years to get to where it had been in 2005-2006,” Yun said.

When it comes to home prices, he said, Florida has a key advantage: Its warm winter weather.

Through the years, people have moved to Florida from colder climates in northern states.

“It sort of came to a halt during the housing market crash. People up North just could not sell their home, or they were somewhat underwater,” Yun said.

The market recovery has put them in a better position to move, which is good news for Florida, he said.

“So, you will regain that flow of new residents coming into Florida. Florida has been No 1, consistently, during normal years in attracting new residents,” Yun said.

The housing market had generally experienced a two-year recovery in 2012 and 2013, but then stalled in 2014, Yun said. So people are wondering what will happen next.

“A two-year-and-out situation would be highly unusual, if one looks at the past,” Yun said. He considers it an anomaly and predicts that there will be a continued recovery that may well lead to growth and higher prices in the market.

“One of the key reasons is pent-up demand, Yun said.

“We have 37 million additional people living in the country and yet we are essentially getting the same home sales,” he said.

“We have lower mortgage rates today,” Yun said, adding that he expects those to increase. But they’ll be at historically low levels.

He also expects the pool of buyers to increase because the tight credit market is easing.

There are also more buyers coming into the market, he noted.

“Many people who went through short sales, many people who went through foreclosures — they went into the penalty box. Now, they’re beginning to come out of the penalty box,” Yun said.

An improved job market is another part of the equation.

“There’s more people working in the Tampa region, so there’s more potential homebuyers,” Yun said.

But housing inventory is tight, which restricts the market, he explained.

The builders report that they don’t have trouble selling the houses they build, but not as many homes are being built, Yun said.

“When the housing market bust came, many went to Texas and North Dakota — oil drilling,” he said.

Another problem is the tight credit market for mom-and-pop builders, Yun said.

“New financial regulations have really made it difficult for the local community banks to make those construction loans,” he said.

“It was mom and pop who actually built more homes than the national builders, in total,” Yun said.

“Homebuilders who used to get loans to build 20 homes are now able to get loans to build one home. They build it, they sell it, and then they repay the bank the money and they can get a loan for one more. So, it’s one at a time, rather than getting 20 all at once.”

The lack of new housing has an impact on home sales, he said.

“We asked consumers, how many homes do you want to see before signing the contract? They will say they want to see 10 to 15 homes,” Yun said.

Besides creating forecasts for the National Association of Realtors, he also participates in many economic forecast panels, including The Blue Chip Council and the Harvard University Industrial Economists Council. In 2008, USA Today listed Yun as among the top 10 economic forecasters in the country.

Published January 21, 2015

Bishop to dedicate Saint Anthony’s new building

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Students, parents and staff from Saint Anthony Catholic School are looking forward to a Feb. 9 celebration, where the Rev. Robert N. Lynch, bishop of the St. Petersburg Diocese will bless the school’s new building.

A celebration of the Mass is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and it will be followed by the blessing and dedication of the new building.

This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students. (Courtesy of Saint Anthony School)
This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students.
(Courtesy of Saint Anthony School)

Festivities also will include an open house and light refreshments.

The event marks the latest milestone in a history that dates back to 1883.

San Antonio was founded in 1882 as a Catholic colony. The following year, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children.

When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. She reportedly responded that the “minds of the children now here, can’t wait.”

With that, the widow began teaching 14 children, including six of her own, in her kitchen.

Saint Anthony School officially was established in 1884.

It is the oldest parochial school in the diocese, as well as one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida.

Generations of families have been educated in a three-story brick structure that was built in 1922.

That building will continue to be used for some functions.

The new 17,905-square-foot building is the fourth in the school’s history. The 1922 current building replaced a two-story structure built in 1899. The original building was a 12-by-24-foot structure constructed in November 1884.

Students and teachers are now situated in their new classrooms in the new school building.

There was a time, not so many years ago when the future was anything but certain for the school.

Attendance had dwindled to 153, and there was talk of closing Saint Anthony School.

But parents and other supporters rallied.

They used their ingenuity, coming up with various ways to spread the news about their school, including a 15-second spot shown at the Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel.

The school’s enrollment improved. It now has more than 200 kindergarten through eighth-graders coming from San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and other communities.

In a previous interview, School Principal Sister Alice Ottapurackal attributed the school’s increased enrollment to “God’s special blessing.”

“Truly, I believe, it’s the power of prayer,” she said at the time.

Much has changed on the campus, but the school’s core mission remains the same.

It continues to emphasize academic excellence while teaching the Catholic faith.

Published January 21, 2015

Wiregrass Ranch is ready to defend state tennis title

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The Wiregrass Ranch boys’ tennis team earned a share of the Class 3A state championship last season. As a result, they knew expectations would be high headed into 2015. For his part, coach David Wilson has already admitted he doesn’t think the team will be as good as last year.

He thinks it will be better.

Alejandro Feliciano is a nationally ranked player by the United States Tennis Association, and he’s just one of many threats that opponents will face when they challenge Wiregrass Ranch on the court. (Courtesy of Alejandro Feliciano)
Alejandro Feliciano is a nationally ranked player by the United States Tennis Association, and he’s just one of many threats that opponents will face when they challenge Wiregrass Ranch on the court.
(Courtesy of Alejandro Feliciano)

“This will be the deepest team we’ve had,” Wilson said of the current lineup. “We actually added depth and strength to our team.”

Part of that depth and strength will come from a familiar last name.

Augie Moreno, defending state champion and a top player on the team, will welcome his little brother, Daniel, to the squad as a freshman. And with the championship team mostly intact from last year, the Bulls look to be stronger than ever.

That’s a significant statement, since Wiregrass Ranch has had successful tennis teams almost from its inception. Wilson has built a strong program since he took the job for the school’s opening athletic season in 2006-07. While the tennis title was the first state championship in school history, it was their third trip to the state tournament. And the district title was nothing new, either. Wilson said it was the team’s fifth-straight district championship.

Part of the team’s success stems from the excellent competition they face in practice. Wilson said the top players are all very competitive, and are capable of beating each other on any given day. So, honing their skills against each other makes the team stronger.

“If you’re always playing against competitive players within your own team, then you’re just going to keep getting better,” Wilson said.

Senior Alejandro Feliciano, who was ranked fourth on the team last season, agrees that the team has taken steps forward as it tries to defend its title.

“We actually have better players this year,” he said.

Feliciano is one of those great players, with a United States Tennis Association ranking inside the top 100 and a national ranking around 306 for players 18 and under.

While sheer talent gives Wiregrass Ranch a clear advantage over most schools, Feliciano said that their coach plays a big role as well. Instead of trying to force them to adapt to his strategies, he gives them the leeway to simply put their talent on display while he provides support however he can.

“I think it’s the fact that he bonds with us as if he were somebody our own age,” he said. “It’s like he’s one of us.”

Wilson is part of the tennis program because he had a characteristic nobody else had when the school began athletic play: He was willing to do it.

“When I took the job, nobody else wanted it,” he said. A recreational player, he knows that many of his players can beat him on the court. But his job is to provide support, let them have fun and create a positive experience that keeps them wanting to participate in high school sports.

Creating that desire is no easy accomplishment, since many players have their own personal coaches, a bright future in tennis and don’t really need the high school team to further their careers.

“I think that’s the one thing that makes me the proudest, is that kids want to play in my program,” Wilson said. “My saying for all my sports (Wilson is also the school’s boys’ soccer coach and athletic director) is the experience outweighs the outcome. If it’s not a great experience for them, what’s the sense of doing it?”

Part of that experience includes hitting the road to face elevated competition. Wiregrass Ranch will travel to Florida State University in Tallahassee next month to face Pensacola Catholic High School, one of the state’s top tennis teams. In March, they’ll travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the national high school tournament.

Wilson isn’t concerned about a letdown after achieving a state title. The team is full of skilled players with plenty of experience and a good working relationship together. But they also know that they had to share their state title with Barron Collier High School in Naples, since they finished with the same amount of points in the competition.

Being “co-champion” helps to motivate them to claim the title for themselves in 2015, Wilson said.

“The fact that we weren’t outright champions by ourselves, we still have something to prove,” he said.

Published January 21, 2015

Business Digest 01-21-15

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East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group now meets 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.

Bob Hatfield from U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ office is scheduled to speak on Jan. 27.

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

Business development week luncheon
If you’re interested in finding out more about the economy’s outlook and how the markets are likely to perform in 2015, you may want to attend the Business Development Week Luncheon Jan. 30 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, 11500 Old Tampa Bay Drive in San Antonio.

Kumquat Festival selling sponsorship packages
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is now accepting reservation packages for the 2015 Kumquat Festival, set to take place Jan. 31.

Packages start at $500, and include logos and links on the KumquatFestival.org website, as well as booth space at the festival. Premier packages, which run from $1,000 to $5,000, include additional features.

The event is expected to draw 45,000 people from Florida, who live here seasonally, and who are visiting.

For information, call John Moors at (352) 567-3769, or email .

Women-N-Charge to meet
A business women’s group called Women-n-Charge will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., on Feb. 6 at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in New Tampa.

The meeting includes lunch, a feature speaker and time to network. The cost is $15 for members, paid by the Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for members paying later, and for guests, too.

February’s speaker will be Shanita D. Jones, who will be speaking on “Business and Personal Tax Tips for Filing your Taxes.”

Register at Women-n-Charge.com.

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

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 introduces 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 shine a 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 at the event, which has the theme of “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 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 .

State program could generate 25,000 new jobs
An independent analysis by Florida TaxWatch has determined that expanding GrowFl could result in 25,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.

GrowFl is a state program designed to grow and develop the biggest job-creating companies in Florida.

Florida TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute.

In addition to boosting job growth, investing in GrowFl would help diversify the state economy and provide positive return on Florida’s investments, Florida TaxWatch said, in a news release.

PEDC board names new chairman
The Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc. has named Lex Smith as the new chairman of its board.

Smith is city president-Nature Coast of SunTrust Bank.

Smith has been involved with the Pasco EDC board since 2010 and has served in various roles.

Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida, where he played both quarterback and linebacker for the UF Gators football team from 1989 to 1992.

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.

Volunteer tax preparers needed
United Way of Pasco County is looking for help this coming tax season with volunteer tax preparers.

Last year, more than 8,000 county residents used United Way’s tax preparation service, and received more than $8 million in total refunds.

Interest in being a tax preparer does not require experience, and comes with comprehensive training.

For more information, visit UnitedWayPasco.org.

 

Opponents to charter school gearing up to do battle

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About 90 concerned residents turned out to a strategy meeting on Jan. 8, as opponents gear up to battle a proposed charter school for up to 1,050 kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Lutz.

Charter Schools Inc., of Boca Raton is seeking permission from Hillsborough County to allow a school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard.

Sam Calco, a member of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said the rules for public hearings on zoning and land-use issues can be confusing. He said it’s important to know the rules, so residents can protect their interests. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Sam Calco, a member of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said the rules for public hearings on zoning and land-use issues can be confusing. He said it’s important to know the rules, so residents can protect their interests.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The operator of the school would be Charter Schools Association of Coral Gables, according to the application filed with Hillsborough County.

The proposed Sunlake Academy would operate on 7.46 acres. A 1-acre outparcel at the site represents a potential child care center in the future that is already permitted by existing zoning.

A public hearing on the request is set for Feb. 16. The meeting begins at 6 p.m., but the precise time this request will be heard won’t be known until that evening because there generally are a number of items on the agenda.

The hearing has already been delayed twice and there’s a chance it could be delayed again, Mike White, president and founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition told area residents and interested parties who gathered at J.F. Swartsel Masonic Lodge, 3109 Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The application for the project shows two phases.

The first phase includes a two-story building with 33 classrooms, and the second phase calls for a two-story building with 20 classrooms.

The plans also show a storm water pond, a playground, and areas for parking for both vehicles and bicycles. Plans also call for basketball courts.

Since submitting the original plans, the applicant has revised the plans to include a number of changes, including a larger buffer area and setback from residential lots to the west of the proposed school, double tree plantings and fencing.

The plans also include revised plans regarding how vehicles will be able to get in and out of the proposed school.

Area residents and organizations have submitted letters objecting to the proposed school — citing concerns about traffic congestion, potential flooding and negative impacts on their quality of life and property values.

Todd Caroline, who lives in Lake Fern Villa, notes that the project would back up to his property line, according to a letter objection he submitted to Hillsborough County.

“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 in a Dec. 23 email to Hillsborough County staff.

Other residents are on record objecting to the size, scope and density of the project.

They note that Sunlake and Lutz Lake Fern are two-lane roads and are not equipped to handle the additional traffic this project would generate.

The hearing officer must consider “substantially competent evidence” in determining whether to grant the special use permit, White said.

So, while it may feel good to complain about the potential negative impacts, it is crucial to provide the hearing officer factual data, White said.

“You don’t have to be a traffic engineer. You don’t have to be an attorney,” White said, but residents must meet certain benchmarks for their testimony to be considered by the hearing officer.

He recommended “fighting fire with fighting” and “fighting data with data” by hiring an attorney and a traffic engineer to protect opponents’ interests.

A legal defense fund has been set up to collect contributions to cover costs for an attorney and traffic engineer.

Residents also plan to fan out in their neighborhoods to collect signatures opposing the proposed charter school.

Story time: Grandmother’s comforting book gets published

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The first story Aleda Reilly wrote wasn’t designed to launch a writing career, sell a lot of copies or even get published.

All she wanted to do was comfort her grandchildren.
“(It was) just to help them through a really emotional, tough time,” said Reilly, who lives in Land O’ Lakes.

Aleda Reilly combs through copies of of her children's story, ‘Angel Balloons,’ which has been published in a variety of formats. She wrote it to help her grandchildren cope with the loss of their great-grandmother. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Aleda Reilly combs through copies of of her children’s story, ‘Angel Balloons,’ which has been published in a variety of formats. She wrote it to help her grandchildren cope with the loss of their great-grandmother.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Following the death of her mother, Gladys Soldato, Reilly’s grandchildren were confused and upset at the loss of their beloved Bama. They were close to their great-grandmother, and adult explanations weren’t doing the job for Isabella and Katie, ages 4 and 2. As their grandmother, Reilly wanted to console them and describe complicated feelings in a way they’d understand.
So she sat down and wrote them a story.

“Angel Balloons” describes the two girls spending time with Bama until she passes away right after Christmas. They’re told she didn’t get to say goodbye because she was tired, and now lives with the angels in Heaven. The girls send Bama drawings and stickers tied to balloons so she can receive them and share them with the angels.

When Reilly showed the story to the girls, it wasn’t illustrated or published. It was just a story written by their Avia, a term for grandmother. But they got the message.

“I read it to (Olivia) and in an exasperated attitude she said, ‘Well you know, Avia, if anyone had told me this, I wouldn’t have been so upset at the time,'” Reilly recalled.

She decided that other children might benefit from “Angel Balloons,” and she self-published it. Tate Publishing, a family-owned Christian-based publisher later picked it up, turning it into a fully illustrated publication, a 3-D book with glasses, coloring book and audio download.

Reilly appreciates any format that conveys the story to more children.

Parents can be reserved when it comes to serious subjects with children, she said, and aren’t always sure how to address new feelings. She wrote this story to tackle a serious topic in a positive way that young readers can understand. She’s pleased it can now reach more children than her initial audience of her two grandchildren.

Although this is the first story she’s written, Reilly’s background gives her a good foundation for penning children’s stories.

Reilly spent time as a psychiatric social worker. She approached the work with the belief that children are resilient and smart, and can grasp serious topics if presented properly.

“We don’t give children enough credit for how much they really do retain, even at a young age,” Reilly said. “I don’t ever talk down to children.”

“Angel Balloons” was written five years ago when Reilly was 60.

That first story was not her last. It has turned into a continuing series featuring Sunshine and Ladybug, Reilly’s nicknames for her grandchildren. She has new stories written and waiting for publication. “Sunshine and Ladybug Share Christmas” is a holiday-themed story about helping those who are less fortunate, while “We Don’t Eat Grass” addresses healthy eating. She’s working on a fourth book about blended and extended families, and as the girls have gotten older she’s introducing a new grandchild, Nola, into the stories.

Reilly’s stories contain a mixture of actual events and fiction to get her message across to children. But she admits that while “Angel Balloons” was written to help the young girls process a death, it also had benefits for the author.

“The genesis of this was all just to try to get them through it, but then I realized it was very cathartic for me as well,” she said.

Reilly also admits she is surprised by the attention and interest she has received from her publisher.

It may have started as a hobby, but Reilly takes the writing process seriously. When it’s time to write, she heads upstairs to the computer. When she’s finished or hits a snag, she simply puts it away and does something else.

She wrote “Angel Balloons” in about a week and is now preparing some promotional activities for her books.

Despite those activities, Reilly has never lost sight in what started her down their new career path or what drives her to continue writing.

“It was for the girls,” she said. “My family is absolutely the most important thing in the world to me.”

For more information about “Angel Balloons” and Reilly’s other books, visit TatePublishing.com.

Published January 14, 2015

Sharing Florida’s wonders through photography

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Images captured by landscape photographer Clyde Butcher reveal a side of Florida that many people never see.

For decades, Butcher has waded into Florida’s wild side — and until recently, he’s used a large format camera to produce captivating black-and-white images of the state’s natural splendors.

After hearing about the beauty of the sand dunes in the state’s Panhandle, Clyde Butcher decided to photograph them. The weather, unfortunately, was not cooperating. He set up his camera every day for a week, waiting for the right light. Finally, on the last day, the sun broke through the clouds just long enough for him to shoot one piece of film. (Courtesy of Clyde Butcher)
After hearing about the beauty of the sand dunes in the state’s Panhandle, Clyde Butcher decided to photograph them. The weather, unfortunately, was not cooperating. He set up his camera every day for a week, waiting for the right light. Finally, on the last day, the sun broke through the clouds just long enough for him to shoot one piece of film.
(Courtesy of Clyde Butcher)

Now that he’s 72, he can no longer lug the 65 pounds of equipment he used to carry into Florida’s swamps, and he has switched over to lighter digital cameras.

Regardless of the equipment he’s using, though, Butcher employs the same approach.

“Everything I do is point and shoot. I don’t use the camera to compose. I just use my eyes,” he said. “If I see something, I set the tripod down, I set the camera down, focus it and shoot.”

Some of the photographer’s work, showcased in a traveling exhibit called “Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher” is currently on display through Jan. 29 at the West Campus of Pasco-Hernando State College in New Port Richey.

“I’m basically trying to communicate how great Florida is,” Butcher said.

People are often unaware of Florida’s unique and special nature, he said.

“We have a cypress tree the same circumference as the largest redwood tree. We have the oldest tree in America — 8,000 years old.

“We have great skies.

“We have the largest spring in the world.

“It’s the only place in the world that has a place like the Everglades,” Butcher said.

Pasco-Hernando State College began planning to bring the exhibit to its West Campus more than a year ago, said Ray Culvert, director of libraries. The exhibit is among the traveling exhibits offered through the Florida Museum of History in Tallahassee.

Culvert — whose family roots in Florida date back to the 1800s — has been fascinated by Butcher’s work for years.

“His photography just kind of reaches out to me, you could say, on a very emotional level,” Culvert said. “If all you see is Orlando and the beaches, you completely miss it (Florida). You really have to go back where he’s going to really appreciate it.”

Clyde Butcher will speak on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m., at the Pasco-Hernando State College in the West Campus Performing Arts Center. A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the presentation. The performing arts center is at 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey.

Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher
Landscape photographer Clyde Butcher captures the essence of Florida’s nature through black-and-white images.

When: Through Jan. 29. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: the Rao Musunuru M.D. Art Gallery located within the Alric C.T. Pottberg Library on Pasco-Hernando State College’s West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey.

How much: Free

Published January 14, 2015