The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

On the upswing: Saint Leo ranked No. 29 in men’s golf

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The latest polls are out, and for the Saint Leo Lions men’s golf team, there’s good news and bad news.

Freshman Ryan Gendron, thanks to help from coach Chris Greenwood, has helped the Saint Leo Lions reach the No. 29 ranking in the recent coaches’ poll. (Courtesy of Mike Carlson)
Freshman Ryan Gendron, thanks to help from coach Chris Greenwood, has helped the Saint Leo Lions reach the No. 29 ranking in the recent coaches’ poll.
(Courtesy of Mike Carlson)

The good news is that they’re ranked 29th in the nation among Division II schools in the Golf World/Nike Golf Division II College Coaches’ Poll. The ranking, compiled in a collaboration with Golf World magazine, Nike Golf and the Golf Coaches Association of America, means that the Lions are considered a top program and one of the best in the country.

Now the bad news: That 29th-place ranking, while excellent when judging schools around the country, is good for just sixth in their own conference.

The Sunshine State Conference is comprised of nine schools, but seven of them received votes in the poll, and five finished in the top 25. The top-ranked team, Barry University, is a member of the SSC. The second-ranked team, Lynn University, is a member as well.

Nova, Florida Tech and Florida Southern also are conference schools that are ranked in the top 20, ahead of Saint Leo.

So where does that leave the Lions, who are considered a top golf program yet underdogs in their own conference? According to coach Chris Greenwood, it leaves them motivated.

“It’s like the old saying, ‘If you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.’ Competition is a good thing and being in a strong conference is a good thing,” he said.

While the rankings show the continuing strength of the SSC, they aren’t much of a surprise to Saint Leo or anyone else. Last year’s NCAA championship was decided in a close match-up, with Barry edging Lynn.

And Greenwood has a lot of experience with Lynn. While this is his first year coaching Saint Leo, he spent seven successful years at Lynn. He was named conference Coach of the Year twice and led the team to 16 tournament titles and four appearances at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Tournament.

Greenwood said that taking over a struggling Lions program has had some challenges — he can’t use a history of success to recruit like he could with Lynn — but he believes that, with the right personnel, the team can achieve great things.

“As much as I can teach the game, it’s more about what’s inside of them and their desire,” Greenwood said. “It’s not all about what you’re born with (talent-wise). There has to something inside you and there has to be a drive. If you have the right individuals, it can be done.”

Greenwood has found one of those individuals in Ryan Gendron, a golfer who is contributing to the team in just his freshman year. In March, he shot a third-round 69, with a three-round total of 210, and earned medalist honors at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate in Georgia.

Gendron believes the team has the right mentality and work ethic to keep improving.

“We’re all very positive, and we all push each other to do our best,” he said. “We practice every weekend when we don’t have scheduled practices.”

Gendron acknowledges that playing golf in college is different than when he played for Tampa’s Plant High School. Where his team might have faced off against one or two excellent players, teams are filled with talent at the college level.

But he believes that playing against those players, and the well-respected teams in their conference, is part of the fun and provides a good measuring stick for the Lions.

Gendron also believes the ranking shows the progress Saint Leo has made.

“I’m extremely happy from where we were in previous years,” he said. “We’ve made huge improvements, and (No.) 29 is not anything to be ashamed of. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

And while Greenwood isn’t ashamed of the team’s ranking, he’s not satisfied with it, either. His goal is to see the team finish the year in the top 25, and make the Lions’ turnaround even more impressive.

“It’s nice to see us ranked 29, but I think we’re even better than that. We just have to get out there and play and show it,” he said.

Published April 2, 2014

Unfinished mansion finally demolished in Lutz

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In just a one-mile stretch of Crenshaw Lake Road, eight higher-end homes are under construction, a testament to the return of the housing market.

An 8,700-square-foot home on Crenshaw Lake Road in Lutz was never meant to be, apparently, as Hillsborough County-contracted work crews bring the structure down. It had been in a half-built state for six years, and had fines of more than $254,000. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
An 8,700-square-foot home on Crenshaw Lake Road in Lutz was never meant to be, apparently, as Hillsborough County-contracted work crews bring the structure down. It had been in a half-built state for six years, and had fines of more than $254,000.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But one fossil from the housing boom-gone-bust had cast a shadow over this growing neighborhood for years. On Monday, the unfinished 8,700-square-foot home on an overgrown lot came crashing down — one of the largest single-family homes to ever be demolished by the Hillsborough County Code Enforcement department.

Construction for the three-story home at 3319 Crenshaw Lake Road began in 2008, but a construction permit for it expired in 2009, according to county officials. Construction itself likely stopped at around the same time, leaving concrete block walls, and wood, insulation and unfinished windows to simply rot under the Florida sun.

Country Squire Estate Custom Homes LLC bought the lakeside lot and two others like it in late 2006 for $756,000, according to county property records. It used a $605,000 mortgage from Capital City Bank to fund it.

Construction began in February 2008, but the first liens against the property started in May when Stock Building Supply said it was owed just under $4,000. Route 41 Manufacturing followed a month later with a $25,500 claim against the home.

Later, three other companies would file liens totaling $50,000 for the property, and construction would completely stop.

Code enforcement stepped to the plate in 2010 and found the home in violation of nuisance ordinances, and maintaining a construction site without permits. It’s been accruing daily fines since July 2010, which now total $254,000.

The land is still owned by Country Squire Estate, which is no longer in business, according to the Better Business Bureau. The company, which listed John Whitehead of Masaryktown and Kenneth Rosenbaum of Odessa as managers, became inactive last September, according to Florida’s Division of Corporations.

Selling the land will be tricky even beyond that, as the liens for construction and demolition would have to be cleared first. But once the county’s work is complete, the million-dollar-home that never was will be no more.

Published March 26, 2014

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Jo Van Bebber’s nurturing ways left an imprint on Lutz

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When people talk about Alice Joan “Jo” Van Bebber, they’re quick to mention her nurturing ways, her zest for life, her culinary skills, and the fact that she was the first person to win the honorary title of Lutz Guv’na.

Jo Van Bebber was a fixture at community events in Lutz, including this holiday event where she joins Marilyn Wannamaker, right. (Courtesy of Cheryl Benton)
Jo Van Bebber was a fixture at community events in Lutz, including this holiday event where she joins Marilyn Wannamaker, right.
(Courtesy of Cheryl Benton)

Van Bebber, who was laid to rest on March 8, spent decades of her life serving her community.

She was a vital member of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, serving the organization as its president and in nearly other capacity, said Cheryl Benton, one of Van Bebber’s dear friends. She always made newcomers feel welcome, quickly taking them under her wing and teaching them the ins and outs of the club, other members said.

“I was a walk-in to the club,” Pat Serio said, noting she was attracted to the organization by its work to help survivors of spouse abuse.

Serio recalled that as soon as she arrived, Van Bebber greeted her and began introducing her around. By the end of the meeting, Van Bebber already had figured out how to put Serio’s talents to work to help the club and the community.

Beyond serving the local club, Van Bebber also was involved at the district, state, national and international levels.

When Van Bebber took ill, it was an “egregious blow” to the community, said Edwina Kraemer, another former woman’s club president and former Guv’na. Kraemer credited Van Bebber as being among a trio of women who recruited her to join the woman’s club.

“Jo was my mentor,” Kraemer said.

Van Bebber was vivacious and enjoyed entertaining, but she could be a stickler for details, club members said.

“She could be a general,” Kraemer said. “She knew parliamentary procedure, our bylaws and standing rules. She could quote the page and paragraph,” Kraemer said.

Besides her dedication to the woman’s club and to Lutz, Van Bebber was a devoted mother and grandmother, said Marilyn Wannamaker, another one of Van Bebber’s close friends. Van Bebber also was involved at the First United Methodist Church of Lutz.

Both women were widows and often dined together on the weekend, Wannamaker said. “To me, we lost a truly great lady.”

Van Bebber died March 5. Her husband Bill preceded her in death, and she is survived by three sons: Bill, Greg and Wynn, and a daughter Pam.

Van Bebber also is survived by nine grandchildren.

Published March 26, 2014

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Giving pets a chance, by buying a chance

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Lisa Bekiaris can’t remember any time where the welfare of animals wasn’t forefront on her mind.

There are a lot of pets in Pasco County with full bellies thanks to Lisa Bekiaris and those who donate to Raffle Rescue, her animal advocacy group that provides food for animals in need. (Courtesy of Lisa Bekiaris)
There are a lot of pets in Pasco County with full bellies thanks to Lisa Bekiaris and those who donate to Raffle Rescue, her animal advocacy group that provides food for animals in need.
(Courtesy of Lisa Bekiaris)

She grew up around animals in Maryland, and was always quite involved with her 4-H program there. When Bekiaris moved to Florida several years ago, she stayed busy with work and other projects. But in 2008, she read a newspaper story that would change her focus.

“It was a story about the tough times people were having, and many of them couldn’t even afford pet food,” she said.

While a lot of needed attention goes to finding pets a home, there are many times when pets might have a home, but because of financial or health issues of their owners, their bellies go empty. Or just as bad, they are full, but their owners are not.

“I have had people tell me, ‘I didn’t eat today because I had to buy dog food,’” Bekiaris said. “We as humans can go out and ask for help, but our animals solely rely on us as a pet parent, and too often we’ll make sacrifices for ourselves to keep them fed.”

Bekiaris decided to take action, and in late 2008, she started Raffle Rescue. The idea was to make sure pets had the food they needed so owners and their animals can stay together, and no one has to make unnecessary sacrifices.

She collects food and money from donors all over the county, many who make the trip to her Hudson farm. In 2013 alone, Raffle Rescue provided 27,500 pounds of food to animals. Most of it is distributed from Bekiaris’ farm, but some of it gets delivered thanks to the Meals on Wheels program.

Some might question why someone who struggles to support themselves would also try to support an animal, but the issue is not as black and white as it may seem, Bekiaris said. Many got pets when they were not struggling, but later fell on hard times. For a lot of shut-ins, for example, their pet is the only company they have.

“Pets aren’t just a piece of property. You can’t just get rid of it when it becomes too expensive,” Bekiaris said. “You took that animal into your life to care for it, and just because things get rough and difficult, you can’t just send them away. It would be just like sending away a family member.”

Bekiaris is not the first organization to raise money to feed pets in need, but she may be the first to take her approach. Instead of simply asking for cash donations, Bekiaris provides incentives to give in the form of raffles.

Various companies donate or provide significant discounts for prizes, and Bekiaris uses that to give away. Money is used to make up shortfalls in food, or sometimes to provide food that may not be as easily dropped off.

Like hay.

“We serve mostly dogs and cats, but we will not turn away any animal that someone can prove is their legal pet,” Bekiaris said. “That could be a pig, a goat. All you need is the documentation, and we will help you.”

One family who receives help has a horse, and Raffle Rescue volunteers drop off hay to help keep her fed. Hay, however is expensive — more than $70 a bale — and horses typically eat two of them a month, Bekiaris said.

Although Raffle Rescue started as a one-woman operation, it has since grown to need a number of volunteers, especially drivers to deliver food, and people to promote the various raffles the organization is conducting. She also is looking for other places around Pasco County that might be interested in becoming pet food pickup sites, especially on the eastern side of the county.

Bekiaris, however, isn’t stopping there. She wants to expand her efforts in the near future to include an animal clinic on her farm, and even more ambitious, mobile units.

Right now, some of the closest spay, neuter and vaccination clinics are in the New Port Richey area, Tampa or Brooksville. What’s holding those plans back, however, is simply staffing.

“I have a building already here. I just need to find veterinarians willing to work with me to make it happen,” Bekiaris said. “We want our services to be low-cost, or even free.”

Bekiaris also is always looking for pets in need. Her requirements are simple: be a resident of Pasco County, get some type of government assistance like welfare or disability, and something that shows you’re the legal pet owner.

“After all that, we’ll make one home visit, and determine whether you need to get food delivered, or if you can come and pick it up,” she said.

Raffle Rescue is a 501(c)(3), and donations may be tax-deductible.

To learn more about the organization, visit RaffleRescue.org, or call (727) 697-7034.

Published March 26, 2014

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The power of grandfatherly love

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My father was in Florida last week to attend my daughter’s senior art show at Stetson University in Deland. Rachel graduates in May and she decided her art show was more important to have her grandfather attend than her graduation ceremony.

Donald Kortus and granddaughter, Rachel Mathes, at Stetson University for Rachel’s senior art show.
Donald Kortus and granddaughter, Rachel Mathes, at Stetson University for Rachel’s senior art show.

So dad and my stepmother, Bettye, flew in from this year’s never-ending white wilds of Minnesota to a sunny and green Florida. Along with more than a dozen other family members and close friends, we rejoiced in Rachel’s artistic and academic achievements — all connected to Rachel by a lifetime of love as her mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or friend.

Of all the family in town for my daughter’s show, my father’s attendance was  especially welcomed because he has been at my side for the most important moments in Rachel’s life.

When she was just weeks old, dad came to Florida to help me with Rachel and to keep her big brother, Andy, entertained so I could focus on caring for my new baby.

He was back when Rachel was baptized six months later, and again for her first birthday. When my family moved to Chicago two years later, he flew in to help me pack and then drove the family’s SUV with me in the front and Rachel and Andy in the back, to our new home in Geneva, Ill.

Four years later when my family returned to Florida, dad was there again, this time driving one of two moving vans packed with my family’s possessions, and Rachel, once again, in the back seat.

Rachel was in first grade when we resettled in Tampa, and dad and Bettye began their annual spring pilgrimage to Florida to spend a few weeks with my children and me. When Rachel turned 10, she began a reverse pilgrimage to Minnesota every summer to stay with her grandparents and visit her aunts, uncles and cousins.

As Rachel’s interest in art blossomed, her grandfather proudly displayed her paintings and drawing in his home. He is so proud of her drawing of Pope John Paul II that it has become family lore that Rachel drew the pope just for him. No one visits dad’s home without hearing about his amazingly talented granddaughter.

At every important family occasion, dad and Bettye have been there for Rachel. When she graduated from high school in 2010, they were here to see her receive her IB diploma from Carrollwood Day School.

Dad was back again in the fall to visit Rachel in Deland as she began her college career. As Rachel proudly showed off the Stetson campus, I remember him telling me that in a blink of time he would be back for her graduation. I looked at him like he was crazy  — Rachel had just left home and four years seemed like forever to me.

Of course, dad was right. It does seem like a blink of time since Rachel and I were at Bed Bath & Beyond filling a shopping cart with “must have” items for her dorm room.

My father, who has more than 20 grandchildren, has the gift to make each one believe they are his favorite. I have always marveled at this, especially with my children who live so far away.

But distance does not matter when it comes to love. My kids feel just as close to their grandparents living 1,500 miles away, as do their cousins who live five miles away.

In fact, at the gathering to celebrate Rachel’s art show, my father told her that it is difficult for him to have a favorite grandchild, but for that day, it was easy. It was her special day, and she was his favorite.

Dad’s visit this year to coincide with Rachel’s art show is especially poignant, because at age 85, it is more difficult for him to travel and get around. I can’t help but wonder if this will be one of his last trips to Florida. It is, after all, much easier for my children and me to visit him in Minnesota than for him to travel to Florida.

I am so happy that dad was able to keep the promise he made four years ago to be here when Rachel graduated from college. We are blessed to have a father and grandfather in such good health and so full of life.

My joy at dad’s visit also makes me reflect that he may not be here when Rachel reaches the next milestones of her life — when she marries, has her first child and gets the job of her dreams.

I am extraordinarily grateful that my dad has been such a wonderful grandfather and has shared in so many of my family’s most meaningful moments. The examples he set about the value of family have taught my children about the strength of commitment, the power of love and the joy that comes from sharing important times with people we cherish.

Published March 26, 2014

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Opening wallet to help teen earns hotel worker national award

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If you ask Todd Patrick, he did nothing more than anyone else would do if put in the same position.

Word got to him that a teenager was living outside behind a supermarket, not far from a school he was attending. The temperatures were dropping to some of the coldest that Florida had seen in years, and the young man had nowhere to go.

Todd Patrick, director of sales at Hampton Inn & Suites in Wesley Chapel, listens to a conference call where he is named one of just six Hampton Spirit Award winners, the highest form of team recognition award the hotel chain offers. Patrick helped get a homeless high school student get off the street and into a warm hotel room during freezing cold weather over the holidays using his own credit card. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Todd Patrick, director of sales at Hampton Inn & Suites in Wesley Chapel, listens to a conference call where he is named one of just six Hampton Spirit Award winners, the highest form of team recognition award the hotel chain offers. Patrick helped get a homeless high school student get off the street and into a warm hotel room during freezing cold weather over the holidays using his own credit card.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Patrick, the director of sales at Hampton Inn & Suites in Wesley Chapel, couldn’t stand the thought of him suffering or maybe even dying in the cold. He pulled out his credit card, went to the front desk of his hotel, and booked a room for the teen.

Three months later, Patrick found himself in front of a conference phone with one of the chain’s vice presidents, Scott Schrank, on the other line. And Schrank had a surprise of his own for Patrick: a coveted Spirit of Hampton Award, a national honor only a handful of Hampton employees receive each year out of hundreds of applicants.

“I love the fact that to you, people just don’t go unnoticed,” Schrank told Patrick. “This had nothing to do with hospitality, and that’s what I love about examples like this. You believe you were born to care, and you look for opportunities to give, and that’s what you did.”

Patrick learned about the boy’s plight from Terri Williamson, a sales representative with The Laker/Lutz News. Williamson has had a strong working relationship with Hampton Inn general manager Janet Arnold for several years, and hoped Arnold could do something to help.

Patrick overheard the need, and sprung into action without hesitation.

“It’s the highest personal achievement award in the Hampton brand,” Arnold said. “You are nominated by your peers, and it’s just because we noticed you doing something that was extraordinary. We are really proud of this achievement.”

After the cold weather subsided, Arnold and Williamson reached out to Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and then honorary Wesley Chapel mayor Troy Stevenson. They put together a plan they hoped would help the young man finish school, without the distraction of not having a place to call home.

Patrick wasn’t told he won the award until revealed by Schrank. Even then, he seemed uncomfortable with the attention, managing a little more than “Thank you very much” to the hotel employees that had gathered to honor him, including David Larson, managing partner of New Tampa Hospitality Group, which owns the hotel.

“I wish you could see Todd’s face,” Larson told Schrank. “He is one of the most humble people I know, and he just goes out and does what he does every day. We are very proud of him.”

The Wesley Chapel Hampton, located at 2740 Cypress Ridge Blvd., also had another honor to celebrate last week as well. The location won its fourth Lighthouse Award, a national honor that designates the hotel as one of the best in overall accommodations, service and quality, among the chain’s 1,900 locations.

The Lighthouse is based on customer feedback measured through guest satisfaction surveys on the hotel, as well as product quality and service scores measured every three months.

Arnold, however, is now looking straight to the top for the 94-room hotel next year. She wants a Connie, the highest award the Hilton Worldwide gives, named after its founder, Conrad Hilton.

“We were so close the last time, and I know we can do it,” Arnold told her employees. “We just have to keep working hard.”

Published March 26, 2014

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Family feed business finds new home in Lutz

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When the Feed Depot was forced to leave its longtime home on Nebraska Avenue, the Keith family began the search for a new location.

Shayne Keith and the Feed Depot’s official bird, Jo Jo, are on hand to welcome customers to the business’s new location at 19002 First St. S.W., just off of North U.S. 41 in Lutz. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Shayne Keith and the Feed Depot’s official bird, Jo Jo, are on hand to welcome customers to the business’s new location at 19002 First St. S.W., just off of North U.S. 41 in Lutz.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

And when they settled on 19002 First St. S.W., near Lutz Lake Fern Road and North U.S. 41, it was the location, size and affordability that made it a good fit.

But it was really a color that first attracted their eye.

“We started looking, but didn’t get anything solid,” said Shayne Keith, whose mother Deborah owns the business. “Mom hopped in her Jeep, headed down this way and this was the first building she saw because it was painted barn red.”

The Feed Depot officially opened the doors of its new location March 1, but had its official grand opening last weekend.

The business, Keith said, has been in the family since the 1970s and was started by his paternal grandfather. About 12 years ago, his mother took over as owner.

The Feed Depot remained on Nebraska, but its landlord had been looking to sell its property for several years. And when a Walmart opened in the area, the land became attractive enough to finally sell.

Moving after such a long tenure in one location has required some important adjustments, Keith said. The business is acclimating to one-third less space — from approximately 6,000 square feet to around 4,000 — and is trying to get a feel for what Lutz customers want. Keith wants to make sure the business is able to meet their specific needs.

“We’re trying to shift our inventory to the likes of the area,” he said. Plus, just getting used to new working space after so much time at their previous address is a challenge in and of itself.

But the transition has been a smooth one in part thanks to the warm reception Keith and his store received and the friendly attitude of the locals they’ve encountered.

“The community around here is amazing. They’ve been so welcoming,” he said.

In addition to selling feed for agricultural animals, the business also sells traditional pet food, and even some animals, such as guinea pigs, rabbits and reptiles. They also plan to reinstate their bird business, for which they were widely known when they operated at the previous location.

And while the area is a perfect fit for the business with a strong community and low crime rate, Keith said the decision to move to Lutz was more of a gut feeling than the result of intense research. From the initial drive that spotted the red building to the final decision to move, there was a sense among the family that they had found the right place to continue their business.

“We had a good feeling about it. We looked other places and we didn’t really get a good feeling about anything,” he said. “But coming down (here), it just snapped on like a light bulb. We had to get this place, we talked to the landlord and it ended up being perfect. And the next thing you know we’re in here.”

Published March 26, 2014

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This tour the closest most of us might get to this house

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It’s sometimes too easy to equate luxury with lots and lots of space. Just look at New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter’s nearly 31,000-square-foot home in Tampa.

But the newest home model offered by Arthur Rutenberg demands elegance, but in just 10 percent of the space.

Looking for a home like this? Just be ready to pay out $4,000 a month … just for your mortgage. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photos)
Looking for a home like this? Just be ready to pay out $4,000 a month … just for your mortgage.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“We are finally getting back into the upper echelon of the housing market again,” said Lew Friedland, president of Trinity developer Adam Smith Enterprises Inc. “We have really received a lot of interest in people that haven’t been shopping in our market for the last four or five years. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this much activity.”

Friedland unveiled his latest model earlier this year in Trinity’s Champions Club, a 3,200-square foot model large enough to comfortably welcome a family, but not so spacious that it requires a large maintenance team to keep it clean.

But this latest home isn’t exactly open to the average local resident. Getting a house just like this would set you back at the very least $550,000. Houses in Champions Club could top $3 million.

“If you would’ve asked me in 1989 if I would be selling million-dollar homes in Pasco County, I would’ve looked at you kind of funny,” Friedland said. “We have multi-million dollar homes there now, and we feel like they have a good price for a good quality home.”

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Published March 26, 2014

Looking for something to do? Check your local library

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Bands from Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are tuning up to test their musical chops at the Rockus Maximus XVII Battle of the Bands.

Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System. (Photo Courtesy of Pasco County Library System)
Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System.
(Photo Courtesy of Pasco County Library System)

The free music festival on March 28 showcases bands vying for cash and other prizes. Besides promoting local music, the family-friendly event offers sideshow acts, including a juggler, martial artists, a dance troupe and other performers.

The event will be at the Rotary Park Pavilion at the Concourse, near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52.

It’s an event that drew national recognition for the Pasco County Library System, resulting in the prestigious John Cotton Dana Award for excellence in public relations in 2010.

But the Battle of the Bands is just one of many ways the library system seeks to engage the community.

“The idea here is that we are trying to provide experiences and opportunities for everyone, at every stage and need in their life,” said Paul Stonebridge, teen services manager of the Pasco County Library System. “We’re trying to get people as early as we can get them and keep them forever.”

Do you like to play chess? There’s a club for that. Perhaps you’re an avid reader — there’s a book club for that, too.

There are story times geared to different age groups, and activities such as crafts and family nights. There are free movies, too, geared toward different audiences. Free popcorn and drinks accompany all the events.

Periodically, there are special events, such as an American Heritage Tea Party or a Curious George Reading Day.

Often, the library will offer a class or presentation or activity that’s designed to combine fun and learning, Stonebridge said. For instance, kids recently were invited to learn how to take photographs of themselves, known as “selfies.” While they were at it, they also got some advice on staying safe in cyberspace.

The library recognizes that people of different ages have varying needs and desires. So, it customizes its programming.

The pre-teen crowd has a hard time getting to the library because they lack mobility, Stonebridge said. One way to get them there is to encourage parents to bring them. To help make that happen, the library allows parents to drop pre-teens off for a couple of hours.

While they’re having fun at the library, the parents can run errands, shop for grocery, meet a friend for coffee, or have a bit of time to themselves, Stonebridge said. The library does request, however, that the parent remain in the vicinity, in case something comes up and they need to return to the library before the activity is over.

The library works hard to provide interesting programs for teenagers. One way they accomplish that is by involving teens in the planning.

In exchange for serving on the teen advisory board, teens earn community service hours, have first dibs at other library volunteer opportunities, and get to have a say in the activities the library offers.

“Here’s a chance for people to be listened to, to actually have someone want to hear what they have to say,” Stonebridge said. “We’re trying to hit them with the things they need and want at this point in their lives.”

For instance, the library has an Anime Club, gaming nights, a Robotics Club and other activities.

The library also has an on-demand service that provides help with homework and often can arrange for tutoring for students who need more assistance. Sometimes, free tutoring can be provided. At other times, they’ll offer referrals.

The library is geared for people of all ages. For example, it has a teen gaming night and an adult gaming night. Teen gaming nights draw about 200 kids, while adult gaming nights draw about 50 people, Stonebridge said.

The library also hosts senior citizen socials for people 55 and older.

“We’re trying to give people a place they can socialize, make friends, reconnect,” Stonebridge said.

It also offers help for people who are looking for a job, want to start their own business, or need help figuring out forms for government assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits.

People who have trouble reading or lack computer experience should not feel intimidated, Stonebridge said.

“Don’t be hindered by your limitations of education or background or experience,” he said. “If you’re scared of computers, you just haven’t used them or you don’t read well, we’re here to help you with that. We don’t penalize people for that. We want to help you.”

These services are free to anyone who has a library card, Stonebridge said. Library cards are issued for free and are available even to people who live in another county, as long as they have a library card where they live and have identification with their picture on it.

And, on top of all of the activities and services, the library also offers books and DVDs for patrons to borrow.

Anyone who wants to learn more is invited to drop by a library, or visit PascoLibraries.org.

Rockus Maximus XVII
WHAT: Battle of the Bands — Bands from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties compete for prizes. The family-friendly event also features entertainers and sideshow acts
WHEN: March 28 from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Rotary Pavilion at the Concourse, 15325 Alric Pottberg Road, Shady Hills (Near State Road 52 and the Suncoast Expressway)
COST: Parking and admission is free.
Concessions for purchase will be available, but those attending are welcome to bring a picnic.

Published March 26, 2014

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County official says cancer gave her a new perspective

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The women sat in a circle, quietly sharing the ways their lives have been affected by three devastating words: “You have cancer.”

Paula O’Neil attends a breast cancer support group at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel to share her personal experiences with breast cancer. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Paula O’Neil attends a breast cancer support group at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel to share her personal experiences with breast cancer.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

For one, the words were so fresh that she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around her situation. For another, those words have been uttered repeatedly and have caused multiple surgeries.

One member of the group, Paula O’Neil — Pasco County’s clerk of the circuit court and county comptroller — had joined the women to share her story. For O’Neil, like for the others, finding out she had breast cancer was a jolt.

“I was totally shocked. I really felt that I led a healthy life,” O’Neil said.

In the area where the cancer was found, O’Neil had been previously screened with a mammogram and a sonogram and had been fine, she said.

Statistics from the American Cancer Society, estimate that about 1.7 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2014, and nearly 1,600 Americans per day are expected to die from the disease.

When O’Neil heard she had breast cancer, she didn’t believe she would die. She said she’d met so many survivors through her association with the American Cancer Society that she didn’t expect that her disease would be fatal.

“I figured I would make it through,” O’Neil said.

But that didn’t mean the experience was easy.

“I think the hardest time is between the time when you find out and you find out what they’re going to do,” she said. “You don’t how far it spread. You don’t know what’s going to happen to you.”

It’s not easy for the family, either.

“When you first find out you have cancer, you and your family, it’s like, ‘Holy cow, are you kidding me?’ And then, you start accepting it,” she said.

Making O’Neil’s case more complicated is the public nature of her work. As clerk of the circuit court, she has a large staff of 150 people and many responsibilities. Before she informed her staff, O’Neil gathered her executive team around her to share her news. She wanted them to help reassure the staff that she was looking good and expected to be OK.

She said she wanted to be sure she controlled the story, so she notified the press.

“When you’re in an elective position, you have to be careful. You don’t want people to think you’re going to die,” O’Neil said. “I wanted the story from myself. I didn’t want rumors.”

She said her initial concerns were about losing a breast and losing her hair. When she found out she needed a mastectomy, she said she pushed for a double mastectomy to avoid having to go through a similar ordeal later.

She was advised, instead, to have genetic testing done to see if she had a genetically inherited trait that made her at high risk for breast cancer. The result was negative, so she was denied the double mastectomy.

Like most cancer patients, O’Neil did not want to lose her hair. Part of the reason was a concern for her appearance because she’s on television every other week, during Pasco County Commission meetings.

“I don’t know if I would have done that with a wig. I didn’t want to look sick. It was real important to me not to look sick,” O’Neil said.

She underwent chemotherapy, but she kept most of her hair.

“I did the chemo cold caps to save my hair. I was able to freeze my scalp to save my hair,” she said. “It thinned. It thinned a lot.”

Patients wear a specially designed cap that is cooled to a very low temperature to constrict the blood vessels to prevent them from carrying the harmful drug agents to the scalp, thus preventing the drugs from damaging the hair follicles.

The chemo cold caps are not covered by every insurance plan, but were covered by hers, O’Neil said.

In addition to the chemotherapy treatments, O’Neil also underwent breast reconstruction, which resulted in an infection in her stomach for six months, she said.

As she shared her story, other women in the group opened up. Some talked about how hard it is to tell others they have cancer. Other women talked about how grateful they are being able to share their experiences at the support group, which meets at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The women shared their pain, but also offered each other practical advice.

For those who have trouble sharing their story, there’s a website called CaringBridge.com that allows communications to be shared with whomever they want to keep in the loop, one woman said.

Another said there’s a website geared to helping organize the contribution of meals by others who care. That’s called, TakeThemAMeal.com.

O’Neil told the women she was honored to meet with them.

“We’ve all been through the same things,” she said. “I can tell you this: It’s not a path I would have chosen, but I’m very grateful, grateful for the experience. It gives you a different perspective on life and on how precious it is.”

O’Neil said she’s always believed she would one day work at a cancer camp for kids. Now, when she does, she’ll be able to relate to them on a deeper level.

“I’ll be able to say, ‘I’ve been through chemo, too,’” O’Neil said.

Published March 26, 2014

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