Local News

Hooters coming to Land O’ Lakes? Not so fast

November 20, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Could it be a little wishful thinking?

Drivers heading north on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard saw a surprise announcement on the sign that once shared dinner specials at the old Mosquito Grill & Bar: the long-rumored Hooters chain was coming to that location next year.

The problem, however, is it’s not true. At least for now.

“I’ve called it one of Land O’ Lakes’ biggest urban legends,” said Meredith Kleker, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “All I’ve ever heard about that is rumors, and we’ve been hearing them for years.”

In fact, Hooters was rumored to be coming to Land O’ Lakes in 2012 when Rapscallions was still open at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The owner of the restaurant, however, told an online publication at the time that it wasn’t true, nor were reports that Rapscallions was closing.

Rapscallions did indeed close a short time later, but Hooters didn’t swoop in to take over the lakeside property. Mosquito Grill & Bar opened there instead.

That restaurant shut down last spring, once again opening the rumor floodgates that included the Clearwater-based chain. And since Centennial Bank claimed ownership of the 2 acres of land that covers the two lakeside lots along U.S. 41, the sign announcing the new Hooters was even more believable.

There are plans for the land, and there is even a potential buyer working to get it under contract, but it’s not for Hooters, said Bill Nye, a commercial real estate broker in Wesley Chapel.

“There is definitely not a Hooters going in there,” Nye said, although he said it was far too early to give details on what might go there instead.

Nye’s name came into the mix after he called Pasco County officials three weeks ago asking about the property, according to Ruthann Dattoli of the county’s planning and development department. His questions centered around county requirements that might come into place if a developer decided to raze the 42-year-old building, or simply remodel it.

Nye also mentioned that the neighboring residential lot to the north could be turned into a parking lot, Dattoli said.

It would be difficult for a restaurant chain to build something new on the land, Nye said, because its lakeside location has far different environmental requirements than what existed in the 1970s.

“It’s going to be almost impossible to tear that building down and put another one there,” said Nye, the owner of Nye Commercial Advisors. “There are some stringent setbacks to adhere to, and the county is not going to bend very much on them.”

Centennial foreclosed on a $900,000 mortgage on the property owed by C of Pasco Inc., last month, which purchased the property in 2010. At the time, it was the home of Rapscallions, which was featured in a 2011 episode of the former Travel Channel program “Man v. Food,” hosted by Adam Richman.

An ownership group associated with Rapscallions purchased the property in 2005 for just under $1 million, and continued to operate the restaurant there even after selling to C of Pasco in 2010.

Mosquito struggled to follow Rapscallions despite plans to completely remodel the location. Yet, no matter who takes over that land, it’s a prime piece of real estate, said the chamber’s Kleker said.

“If you look at that location, it’s a good location,” she said. “And it’s not too close to other stores.”

It’s also not far from Ukulele Brand’s, which has a lakeside restaurant on the other side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. Yet, even if a new restaurant goes into the Mosquito spot, Kleker feels there’s still plenty of business to go around.

“I don’t think it would hurt Uke’s at all,” she said. “It’s good to have a thriving business in our community. And while we love our small businesses, we still love all businesses that can thrive here.”

A spokeswoman for Hooters of America Inc., and the related original company Hooters Inc. — which both own Hooters restaurants throughout the country — told The Laker/Lutz News Monday there were no plans to open a Hooters in Land O’ Lakes.

That would leave the closest Hooters restaurant in Port Richey, which is owned by Hooters Inc., the original Hooters company that owns a handful of locations in the Tampa Bay area, as well as Chicago and New York City.

Correction to print edition story: Hooters of America and Hooters Inc. both continue to operate and open Hooters restaurants throughout the United States. Although Hooters of America, based in Atlanta, is responsible for the national brand, Hooters Inc. in Clearwater — owned by the chain founders — still control the Tampa Bay territory, as well as additional restaurants in Chicago and New York. Hooters Inc. controls all the Hooters restaurants in the Tampa Bay region, including the one at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. A story in the Nov. 19 edition of The Laker/Lutz News stated otherwise.

Published November 19, 2014

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Retired woman writes a new chapter in life

November 20, 2014 By B.C. Manion

After spending a career in the high-pressure arena of hospital risk management, Linda Pollock retired a couple of years ago and promptly immersed herself into a new full-time endeavor.

The Land O’ Lakes woman, who turns 70 this month, often devotes 10 hours or more a day to writing.

Linda Pollock, who writes under the name Linda J. Pifer, holds two of her finished works. ‘Ohio Girl’ is a memoir about growing up in Ohio. The other book, ‘Windows,’ is a novel that the author describes as part romance, part genealogical mystery. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She finished her first book, a memoir called “Ohio Girl,” in 2013. Just a few weeks ago, she published a novel called “Windows,” which is available through print-by-demand on Amazon.

She’s also done the writing for “Daniel Smith,” a second novel that continues the story she began in “Windows.” But she still needs to edit “Daniel Smith” before she can publish it.

Then, she expects to follow that with “Copper Swift,” which will either round out the trilogy, or set the stage for a fourth book in the series. She’s aiming for a 2015 release date for “Daniel Smith,” and a 2016 publication date for “Copper Swift.”

Pollock, who publishes under her maiden name, Linda J. Pifer, always has loved to write.

“I had an English lit teacher when I was in high school that just really encouraged me to use the gift,” Pollock said. “He really was my inspiration, when I was a kid.”

Initially, she studied nursing and planned to pursue that as a career.

“That’s what girls did then,” she said.

It didn’t take her long to discover that nursing wasn’t her true calling, so she enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After her stint there, she went into retail work.

Later, she began working for hospitals — first, as an administrative clerk, and then later in risk management. She finished her career doing just that for the former University Community Hospital, now Florida Hospital Tampa.

Over the years, Pollock wrote articles for hospital newsletters. She penned her first nationally circulated work in 2003, a piece about her uncle called “The Cloverfinder” that was published in Country Magazine.

After she retired, Pollock turned her attention to telling the story of growing up in Ohio, surrounded by her family. She culled through hundreds of photographs to accompany her memoir that details her life and her recollections about her grandparents, great aunts, uncles and other family members on both sides of the Pifer, Wanamaker and Guerin families.

Her first novel “Windows” focuses on a Florida woman whose husband has died from cancer. The main character, Sarah Sandlin, is obsessed with genealogy, and uses it as a way to hide from life.

“She wants to let go of her grief,” but she can’t, the author said.

Eventually, Sarah receives a letter from one of her husband’s friends who wants her to come to the United Kingdom to research his family’s genealogy. She agrees, which leads to a story that Pollock describes as both romance and genealogical mystery.

As Sarah uncovers secrets hidden in the old estate house, a New Zealand connection emerges which leads to the next novel, “Daniel Smith.”

That novel tells the story of Daniel Smith, who travels to New Zealand from Scotland with his wife on a masted ship in 1843.

Pollock’s novels draw heavily from her imagination, but also involve considerable research. She uses the Internet, books, movies and other sources to help create the backdrop for her stories.

She even consulted with a member of Blackheath Dawn Writers, a United Kingdom writers group, to ensure that the descriptions of her settings and the dialect she uses create an authentic look and feel.

The Land O ‘ Lakes author understands there’s no guarantee that her hard work will attract a broad audience or yield a lucrative return. Still, she’s willing to invest the time and creative energy that’s required.

“You’ve got this stuff in you, and you’ve got to put it down on paper, even if it is just for my family or someone that looks at it on some dusty shelf in 20 years,” she said.

Even though she’s content to lose herself in the work, Pollock has one regret.

“It’s a shame I didn’t start sooner,” she said.

She believes it takes authors 15 to 20 years to become established and widely known.

“Now, I’m 70,” Pollock said. “And even if I lived to be 90, I’ve only got 20 more years.”

Published November 19, 2014

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Early interception sets tone for Sunlake playoff win

November 20, 2014 By Michael Hinman

The Vanguard Knights had a long bus trip from Ocala to Pasco County to face the Sunlake Seahawks. And they weren’t going to leave without an upset in the first round of the Class 6A high school playoffs.

Sunlake Seahawks kicker Chris Wilkinson reflects on a missed field goal early in the team’s final regular season game against Zephyrhills, but bounced back with an opening field goal from 18 yards out to help Sunlake beat Vanguard in the first round of the state playoffs. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

Darryn Lake fell on the ball on the Knights’ own 37-yard-line following the kickoff, giving Vanguard great field position to start the game. But just eight seconds later, senior cornerback Mosi Davis would change everything.

In the very first snap of the 2014 playoffs between Sunlake and Vanguard, Knights quarterback N’Kosi Perry immediately tested the Seahawks’ defense with a long pass downfield. Davis, however, read the pass the entire way, and was there on his own 28-yard line to intercept the ball and set the tone for a 24-6 first round Sunlake win on Friday.

Sunlake (9-2) dominated the ground with 280 yards and three touchdowns. The Knights, on the other hand, were powerful in the air. Perry recovered quickly from his first-pass interception to complete 17-of-29 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Perry’s defense, however, limited Sunlake to just a Chris Wilkinson field goal early in the first quarter off two interceptions.

“We’ll enjoy this one, but we better not be satisfied,” Sunlake head coach Bill Browning said after the game. “Everyone in the playoffs is good.”

After Davis’ game-starting interception, the Seahawks took 12 plays to reach Vanguard’s 1-yard line. However, senior running back Nathan Johnson just couldn’t cross the end zone, forcing the Seahawks to settle on an 18-yard field goal from senior Chris Wilkinson to give Sunlake an early 3-0 lead.

Both teams would trade three-and-outs right after that, with Perry breaking that cycle late in the first by moving to his passing game. He converted a third-and-20 with just 23 seconds left with a 50-yard pass to Lake. And after running 5 more yards himself, Perry found Lake one more time 14 yards away, this time in the end zone, to give Vanguard a 6-3 lead to start the second.

Knowing they may not get too many more chances to score, Vanguard head coach Edwin Farmer opted for a fake point-after kick, but could only watch as Rashard Laiz was stopped just inches from the goal-line, preventing a two-point conversion.

The Knights never really had a chance after that. Sunlake consistently moved the ball and burned clock, staying on the ground as much as possible. They added touchdowns along the way as well, including a 46-yard mad dash by Davis that put the Seahawks up 10-6 less than a minute after Vanguard took the lead.

Naejaun Jackson tacked on two touchdowns of his own, the first on a 7-yard scamper late in the first, and the second a 6-yard end zone run in the third.

Johnson led the rushing attack with 102 yards, while quarterback Dayton Feiden added 64 yards of his own. Feiden spent very little time in the air, finishing 4-of-6 for 63 yards with no touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Lake led all Knights receivers with 108 yards and a touchdown, while Justin Watkins picked up 38 yards on three catches. The Seahawks’ defense, however, sacked Perry five times in the game, costing Vanguard 22 yards.

Sunlake now heads on the road this week to face Gainesville, which outlasted Mitchell 24-17 in the first round. And like Vanguard before it, Sunlake has experience against what is expected to be a tough Hurricanes team that is far better than its 6-5 record might indicate.

“We played Gainesville before, so we know what to expect,” Browning said, citing the 17-14 loss to the Hurricanes last year that knocked Sunlake out of the playoffs in the first round.

And how will the Seahawks prepare?

“We’ll just keep believing in ourselves,” Browning said, “and work hard.”

Sunlake statistics
RUSHING—Nathan Johnson 20-102, Dayton Feiden 8-64, Mosi Davis 1-46, Naejaun Jackson 5-26, Logan Wolfe 4-25, Terrence Jackson 1-7.
PASSING—Dayton Feiden 4-5-0-63.
RECEIVING—Terrence Jackson 1-37, Nick Valdes 2-33, A.J. McClendon 1-4.
QB SACKS—Austin Yeloushan 1.5, Dylan Franklin 1, Spencer Jarvis 1, Will Alvarez 1, Kalon Gipson 0.5.
INTERCEPTIONS—Mosi Davis 1, Dylan Stanton 1

Published November 19, 2014

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Thanksgiving is a time of tradition, fellowship, food

November 20, 2014 By B.C. Manion

If Thanksgiving is all about sharing time together while enjoying a holiday meals with all of the trimmings, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and Saint Anthony of Padua parish want to help make that happen for people unable to prepare their own meal, would otherwise dine alone, or do not have the means to make it happen.

Sister Donna DeWitt shows off some of the pies she baked for a previous Thanksgiving feast provided by the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and Saint Anthony of Padua parish. The two organizations will team up again this year to provide another holiday dinner for those who are unable to prepare their own meal, or are seeking companionship for the holiday. (Courtesy of Benedictine Sisters of Florida)

Putting on the traditional feast and inviting others to share it has been a tradition for 19 years. The “Food, Fun, Faith and Fellowship” dinner is free, and takes place on Thanksgiving afternoon Nov. 27.

The meal includes turkey, stuffing, salad, mashed potatoes and pie.

Making the mashed potatoes is a gargantuan chore. It involves peeling 100 pounds of potatoes and then preparing them with Sister Donna DeWitt’s closely guarded recipe.

Members of the Saint Anthony Women’s Club get into the act, too, baking pies and making other desserts to top off the holiday meal.

Dinner is served from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the parish center behind Saint Anthony Church, 32848 Massachusetts Ave., in San Antonio.

Those who are homebound or who need transportation can call to schedule delivery of a meal, or to get a ride to enjoy the company of others on Thanksgiving. The numbers are (352) 588-8320, or (352) 588-3081.

Sister Jean Abbott, who lives at the Holy Name Monastery that the sisters share, loves the holiday tradition. It is a nice gathering.

“It’s better than a handout because we get to sit and eat with people,” Abbott said.

If people don’t have a way to get there, they don’t need to feel left out. “We can pick people up,” Abbott added.

If they’re simply unable to travel, she said, “we can do home delivery.”

Other Thanksgiving events

The Northeast Pasco Ministerial Association is having an annual Thanksgiving service Nov. 25 at noon, followed by a meal at Calvary Assembly, 13544 U.S. 98-Bypass, Dade City. A free will offering will be taken.
The 35th annual Bluegrass Music Festival will have bands, music, workshops and camping from Nov. 27-29, at the Sertoma Youth Ranch, 85 Meyers Road in Brooksville.
Annual Thanksgiving Boogie and Skillz in the Hillz, Nov. 22-31, at 4241 Sky Dive Lane in Zephyrhills. Buffet dinners are served nightly. For information, visit SkydiveCity.com.

Published November 19, 2014

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Business Digest 11-19-14

November 20, 2014 By Michael Hinman

New CruiseOne franchise in Lutz
Edward Scott of Lutz is opening a CruiseOne franchise locally.

The home-based company offers cruise and land vacation packages.

Scott is now part of the World Travel Holdings family of brands, one of the leading travel retail networks in the world.

Scott is available Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or online at CruiseOne.com/Escott.

For information, call (813) 995-0937.

Former chamber director emeritus dies
Friends and family gathered last week to remember Rebecca “Nanna” Harper, a former director emeritus for the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, who died Nov. 10. She was 79.

Harper spent 20 years with Teco, and served as the cooperative business education program contact for the utility at Pasco High School. She also was the former president of the National Management Association.

She is survived by three children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Builders struggling to find workers
Construction employers added 12,000 jobs in October, and unemployment in that sector fell to its lowest levels since 2006, according to a new report from Associated General Contractors of America.

The construction employment gains, along with rising wages and weekly hours, are consistent with survey results from the group that more firms are having a tough time finding enough qualified workers to fill available positions.

Construction employment totaled just under 6.1 million in October, the highest since May 2009, with a 12-month gain of 231,000 jobs, or 3.9 percent. Residential building and specialty trade contractors added a combined 8,000 employees since September, and 130,600 over 12 months — a jump of 6 percent.

Non-residential contractors — building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering — experienced an overall gain of 2,600 employees for the month, and just under 100,000 over the past year.

“The construction industry has made an impressive contribution to the nation’s unemployment gains this year,” said Stephen Sandherr, the association’s chief executive, in a release. “But those gains are in jeopardy unless schools, colleges and training programs can refill a pool of talent that is rapidly drying up.”

Airports offer new flight destinations
Beginning next September, Tampa International Airport will begin five-day-a-week nonstop air service to Frankfurt, Germany, through Lufthansa.

It’s the first airport on Florida’s west coast to offer the service.

Frankfurt is the largest of Lufthansa’s five hubs, offering connections to more than 145 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The 11-hour flight will leave daily from Tampa at 5:20 p.m., arriving in Germany at 8:45 a.m. the following day.

The plane will offer a little less than 300 seats, including some in the business class that can transform into beds.

A little closer to home, Allegiant announced it would offer five new nonstop domestic flights to five cities out of St. Pete/Clearwater Airport. They include new routes to Pittsburgh; Indianapolis; Richmond, Virginia; Hagerstown, Maryland; and Omaha, Nebraska.

Most of those flights will begin the weekend of Feb. 11, with Hagerstown and Omaha following in late February and early March next year.

Upcoming SCORE seminars
The Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE, which historically stands for Service Corps of Retired Executives, will host the following upcoming free seminar. For information, visit SCORE439.org.

Building a Plan for a Successful Business — Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m., at Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road in Hudson. The business plan guides a company’s daily operation and activity toward the goals and objectives that have been established. Participants can learn what data is required to write their plan, review the techniques used to acquire it, and how to use this data to establish realistic goals and objectives.

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 .

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several speakers for the coming months. The group meets every other week at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Upcoming speakers include:

Vicki Jones, manager of Palm Tree Acres, and author Madonna Wise, Nov. 25
Scott Lindner, pastor of Atonement Lutheran Church, Dec. 9
Michael Smith, pastor of Fair Haven Baptist Church and principal of Zephyrhills Christian Academy

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.

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.

On The Agenda 11-19-14

November 20, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Pasco Legislative Delegation to meet
The Pasco County Legislative Delegation will meet Dec. 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

This will give the local delegation a chance to show support for various measures proposed for the upcoming legislative session early next year. All local bill proposals need to be accompanied by a resolution from the local government supporting it, according to a release.

Public testimony is welcome. Those wishing to address the delegation need to complete a speaker request form, available online at tinyurl.com/PascoLD.

All speakers should bring six copies of all handout materials for distribution to the delegation members, or deliver them to the office of state Sen. John Legg before 5 p.m., on Dec. 1.

For information, email Jim Browne at , or call (813) 909-9919.

Recycling event set in Pasco
Pasco County residents can take part in recycling household waste and electronics at the next collection event set for Nov. 22 at the West Pasco Government Center on Little Road in New Port Richey.

“This is a great opportunity to clean out your garage, and clear out your excess paints, gasoline, or any hazardous waste,” said Charley Ryburn of Pasco County Utilities, in a release. “Many people don’t realize that there are hazardous materials in television sets, and must be disposed of properly. This is a convenient, inexpensive way of properly disposing of these items.”

Collection will take place Nov. 22 form 8 a.m. to noon. It’s free to Pasco County residents, however, there is a $5 charge for each television, computer monitor, computer tower and laptop computer.

There is a $10 charge for televisions that exceed 36 inches.

For information, visit PascoCountyUtilities.com, or call (727) 847-8041.

PCPT starts replacing bus benches
Pasco County Public Transportation has started the process of notifying bus riders that bus benches at stops throughout unincorporated Pasco County are being removed and replaced.

Metropolitan Systems Inc. will do the work, removing all the old benches by Nov. 30, according to a release. In their place, new benches will be installed that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. They also are expected to improve safety, security and accessibility for PCPT riders, officials said.

Bus shelters will not be impacted during this transition, and riders can call PCPT to determined where the closest shelter is to them.

“There may be some inconvenience from some of our riders,” said PCPT director Mike Carroll, in a release. “The new benches will be more accessible and convenient for those with disabilities. Unfortunately, in some cases, benches will have to be removed where the benches cannot comply with federal regulations.”

Once the benches are removed, it will take up to 90 days for the company to get necessary permits, and to start work. However, new benches should be in place by the end of spring.

For information, visit RidePCPT.com, or call (813) 235-6073.

Sheriff’s office to help schools
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is offering a four-hour training program to administrators and staff members at area schools in December, with the hopes of curbing some of the violence and safety issues at other schools around the nation.

The Dec. 15 event will begin at 8:30 a.m., at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill. It will include discussion of topics like the emergency management cycle, multi-hazard planning for schools, threat and vulnerability assessments, crime prevention through environmental design, mass notification concepts, grant resources, and facilitating drills and exercises.

The cost of the training is free, and is open to “anyone involved in the safety and care of our students,” according to a sheriff’s office flier.

Those interested in taking part can register by contacting Cpl. Donald Fly at .

Bilirakis includes Pasco in drug trafficking program
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis has successfully petitioned Pasco County’s entry into the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program.

HIDTA, as it’s more commonly called, is a federal grant program that provides resources and funds to local law enforcement entities and other authorities in specially designated areas of the United States to address drug trafficking.

“In my congressional district, Pasco County had dozens of oxycodone-caused deaths — some of the highest rates in Florida,” Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, said in a release. “Although serious strides have been made over the past few years, we still have a lot of work to do.”

Being a part of the program, Bilirakis said, means law enforcement officials in the county will have access to funds and resources that will allow them to combat prescription drug abuse and drug trafficking.

Upcoming public hearings in Pasco
For details on Pasco County’s public hearings, visit PascoCountyFl.net. Unless otherwise noted, Dade City meetings are at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. New Port Richey meetings are at 8731 Citizens Drive.

Tourist Development Council on Nov. 19 at 10 a.m., in New Port Richey
Environmental Lands Acquisition Selection Committee on Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m., at Central Pasco Professional Center, 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Development Review Committee on Nov. 20 at 1:30 p.m., in New Port Richey
Restore Act Advisory Committee on Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m., in New Port Richey
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee on Nov. 24 at 9 a.m., at 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes

Dunn deal: Home sweet home surprises Dade City resident

November 13, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Mary Maldonado stepped into a driveway in Dade City on Nov. 7 expecting to take a few photos in front of a home she was preparing to buy.

She got a lot more than she bargained for.

Warrick Dunn greeted Mary Maldonado and her son, Leonni, at the driveway of the house she was preparing to buy. He surprised her with a fully furnished home, a fully stocked kitchen, and $5,000 of mortgage assistance. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Maldonado arrived with her infant son, Leonni, and was greeted by Warrick Dunn, former NFL player and philanthropist. His charity, Homes for the Holidays, helps single parents realize their dreams of owning a home.

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County, who helped Maldonado through the home-buying process and set her up with an advantageous loan, Dunn welcomed her into a fully furnished home with a well-stocked kitchen. From living room furniture to a bedroom set for Leonni, the home was move-in ready.

She signed the ownership paperwork, received her keys, and accepted a ceremonial check for $5,000, which went toward her mortgage, courtesy of Homes for the Holidays.

Not bad for a Friday morning.

“Seeing the house and everything, it definitely paid off,” Maldonado said. “It’s very exciting.”

It also was Maldonado’s hard work that paid off to get to this point. As part of Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyer program, she had to put in 400 hours of volunteer work, which she scheduled around her full-time job. She also attended special classes on home maintenance and safety to prepare for ownership and help her navigate through unfamiliar challenges.

The volunteer hours and classes are worth it when their customers finally see themselves as homeowners, according to Gloria Sadler, director of family services for Habitat for Humanity.

“They’re humble. They can’t believe it,” she said. “They can’t believe that I got them to this point.”

Sadler teaches the homeowner classes and walks the homebuyer through each step in the process, explaining forms and helping them get their paperwork together.

While Habitat for Humanity provides a no-down payment, interest-free loan, applicants need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. They must have a need for affordable housing and have been at their current employer for at least one year.

And while they don’t need perfect credit or a specific credit score, applicants must demonstrate that they have a history of taking responsibility for their debts.

“Not everyone qualifies,” explained Stephanie Black, director of development and public relations at Habitat for Humanity. “We’re not doing them any favors by putting them into a home that they can’t afford.”

As a result of the screening process, volunteer work and classes, default rates are very low.

This was the 140th event for Homes for the Holidays, and Dunn — a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer — has been to almost all of them in the charity’s 17 years. For Maldonado’s celebration, he had to drive in from Atlanta. But he believes it’s important to attend each one while he can.

“For me, it’s the experience,” Dunn said. “Getting those expressions and how they react.”

Sometimes the reactions come later, after the presentation and when the new homeowner can sit in their house and realize it really belongs to them.

While he often has to travel to attend the events — Homes for the Holidays has helped families in a dozen cities and plans to keep growing — Dunn pays for all his travel expenses out of his own pocket.

Dunn’s charity honors his mother, Betty Smothers, who died before realizing her own dream of home ownership. Now his charity helps single families realize that dream, and Dunn said he witnessed the true importance of charity’s work after he saw the first event covered on television.

“When I went home and I watched the news, then it really hit me, the impact that I had that day,” he said. “Now I really understand the impact on the community.”

Habitat for Humanity’s impact is seen in new homeowners like Maldonado and those who are going through the process of buying a home. And completing that process results in a great deal of satisfaction for both the homeowner, and Habitat for Humanity’s employees as well.

“I love it,” Sadler said. “To see the smile on the family’s faces, to get to know the kids and the family, it’s an honor and a privilege to work for Habitat for Humanity.”

Published November 12, 2014

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Money spoke loudly in this year’s election

November 13, 2014 By B.C. Manion

He showed up around 6:30 a.m., just as the sun was starting to rise above the horizon.

His place was in a side parking lot at Bridgeway Church, located on Wells Road in Wesley Chapel, and he came ready for the day.

Nick Burgess promoted his older brother Danny to voters all day Election Day from the bed of his pickup truck at Bridgeway Church in Wesley Chapel. Danny Burgess won his first state House election with 60 percent of the vote. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Nick Burgess put signs up around his pickup truck, touting his older brother Danny Burgess, who was running for Florida House District 38. Nick was staying until polls closed at 7 p.m., and he had brought enough food to tide him over until then, and a restroom just inside the church to help get him through the long day.

Burgess was happy to be there, however. He wanted to show support for his brother, who was facing Beverly Ledbetter in the race to replace Will Weatherford in Tallahassee. And he has supported him from the beginning, especially when Danny told his family for the first time that he was going to run.

“I’m behind you 100 percent,” Nick told Danny. “The whole family is. That’s what it takes.”

The community was behind Danny Burgess as well, giving him 60 percent of the vote and a rather seamless journey from when he was an 18-year-old Zephyrhills City Council member, to the 28-year-old man he is now representing eastern Pasco County in the state House. To do that, however, he had to get past retired educator Beverly Ledbetter, who felt there was a lot she could do in the Legislature.

But if nothing else, she wanted to make sure voters had a choice.

“I was excited by the fact that many people, for the first time, were getting involved in the political process,” Ledbetter said. “They were walking neighborhoods, putting up signs, and making phone calls. That is an accomplishment.”

While Ledbetter felt she had local support from a dedicated group of people, one place she didn’t get much help from was the Democratic Party — at either the state or local level. Burgess picked up more than $23,000 in support from the Republican machine, while the other major party chipped in just a little more than $2,000 to Ledbetter’s campaign.

“You have to have money to actually get your message out,” Ledbetter said. “Besides your newspaper, none of the other major newspapers covered any of the local races, so people didn’t really get a great deal of information.”

She is still trying to figure out why the party virtually ignored this race, which she feels could’ve made a huge statement if Democrats claimed a seat currently held by the Republican House Speaker, Will Weatherford.

“That is part of the problem with people wanting to run, is that the state party gives you absolutely no support,” Ledbetter added.

Burgess took 60 percent of the vote, and another Republican — Mike Moore — had about the same success in his race to replace Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri. Despite not picking up endorsements from regional news outlets, or Mulieri herself, Moore spent a lot of money to beat Erika Remsberg in the District 2 race.

Moore finished with more than 91,000 votes in the race, and paid about $1.82 per vote received. Remsberg had a little more than 63,500 votes, paying out just 17 cents per vote, which shows the rather large gap between fundraising.

Remsberg won just 11 percent of the precincts voting by an average of 46 votes, according to unofficial results from the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office. Her biggest margin was the precinct at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Port Richey, one of the few precincts in the county that has more Democrats than Republicans.

Early in her race, Remsberg knew her chances against a well-financed candidate in a Republican-leaning county were not the greatest, but the Land O’ Lakes social worker looked forward to the opportunity to run.

“I love going for the underdog,” Remsberg told The Laker/Lutz News back in July. “It’s just that this time it’s me, which is a new experience for me. But I’m good with grassroots efforts and community organization, and I’m getting out wherever I can to share a message of how we all need to work together.”

Published November 12, 2014

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Auto mechanics class for girls only proves popular

November 13, 2014 By B.C. Manion

When Wesley Chapel High School decided to launch an auto mechanics class just for girls, instructor Jeff Corliss thought that maybe 10 to 20 girls would sign up.

Instead, so many females expressed an interest that the school set up two sections of the class.

Students in the auto I at Wesley Chapel High School say that enjoy learning about the basic maintenance of cars because they want to be better equipped when they shop for cars or have one repaired. Some taking part in the class are, from left, Bridget Robinson, Rayah Reitnauer, Caitlyn Gaffney, Brittany Buchanan, Savannah Sweet and Clarissa Hagen. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“It kind of spread like wildfire through word of mouth,” said Corliss, who leads the school’s Academy of Automotive Technology. He and Brad Odell, the school’s other automotive instructor, teach the two all-female auto mechanics classes.

“I’m teaching the same things as I would teach the boys in auto I, but I put a different spin on it,” Corliss said.

The emphasis of the class, also known as the Lady Wildcat Pit Crew, is on how to handle roadside emergencies, how to maintain a car at home, and how to choose a new or used car, he said.

The girls recently learned how to do an oil change. On Nov. 5, they practiced what they had learned by doing an oil change on a car that belongs to Corliss’ wife.

As the students prepared to do the oil change, the girls did the routine checks that are done at a garage when a car comes in for an oil change. They checked the fluid levels, the belts, the tire pressure and tread.

As they went along, Corliss stopped them occasionally to share some tips. When filling a coolant reservoir, for instance, Corliss recommends turning the coolant bottle sideways, instead of tilting it forward, to prevent unwanted spills.

He also offered reminders about signs of wear on belts and tire tread.

The girls appeared to be taking everything in. They weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, either.

Corliss hopes the class will give the girls information they can use for life. He wants them to know what to do if they wind up stranded by the side of the road.

He also wants to equip them with knowledge to help them when they’re having their car repaired, or they’re purchasing a new or used car.

“I was young the first time I went to a car dealership, and I probably got taken advantage of just as much as anybody else,” Corliss said.

To help counter that, he plans to invite a used car manager and a new car manager to come to the school to present lessons on the ins and outs of buying a car.

“What should you be looking at? What kind of repairs will this car need? Is it worth the asking price?” Corliss said. “When I go looking at a used car, I already know what it’s going to cost to fix it. I’ve got that as a bargaining chip. I want to give that to the kids, too.”

At a repair shop, he said, it’s easy to be intimidated by a lack of knowledge. He offers this advice: “I would ask to see the part and have them explain to you why you need to spend that money. Don’t just take their word for it.”

“Have them explain in detail,” Corliss added. Be wary of people who use vague terms and who can’t explain why a part no longer works.

In some cases, it’s worth getting a second opinion, even if that requires paying for another diagnostic test. “Have them explain in detail, what does that actually mean?” he said.

The girls usually are in class three days a week, and are in the shop two days a week. If something especially interesting is going on in the shop, Corliss said he has the flexibility to rearrange his class schedule so the girls can take a look.

For many of the girls, the class may be their only exposure to the world of auto mechanics. But for others, it could be the start of a new career path.

“If they want to use this as jumping-off point they can,” Corliss said. “They can move on through the rest of the academy.”

Rebecca Jarke, the assistant principal who oversees the academy, said she’s happy that the school has launched this class.

“On so many levels, it’s just empowering for girls,” Jarke said.

After taking the class, the girls will be better equipped to go to a repair garage or a car dealership and “talk the talk,” Jarke said, because they’ve had a chance to develop knowledge.

“It’s a safe learning environment,” she said. “It levels the playing field for them to be able to ask questions, and learn the skills necessary to be able to talk about cars and have those conversations without feeling intimidated.”

The class also may enable some students to discover a career path they may not have otherwise considered, Jarke said.

Students give the class good marks. Caitlyn Gaffney, 16, said she wanted to take the class to learn basic car knowledge skills.

“I figured I could come here and learn the skills I needed, in case I were to break down on the side of the road,” she said.

She feels confident she’ll learn that in her class.

“Mr. Corliss, he’s a pretty good teacher,” Gaffney said.

Brianna Proctor, 16, said she’s learned quite a bit in the class, and is gaining confidence in her knowledge.

“I didn’t know about cars before,” she said.

People always think boys know more about cars than girls, Proctor said. With what she is learning, however, she thinks she may be able to work on her own car one day.

Freshman Abigail Monticco said her grandfather used to work for Ford, so she had a natural interest in the class. The class was appealing, she said, because she wants to know the basics. She also likes the idea of being able to know whether someone is trying to rip her off.

Beyond all that, the 14-year-old said she enjoys the other students in the class and the feeling of family they share.

“It’s fun,” Monticco said. “We all love Corliss.”

Published November 12, 2014

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Politicians talk local, but don’t spend local

November 13, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Ever wonder how much $324,000 can buy?

It could supply ribs and sides for 25 families at Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que for an entire year.

It could feed a complete Thanksgiving dinner from Publix to nearly every person living in Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

Denny Esber got some local political work for Pasco County Commission candidates like Henry Wilson Jr., and Mike Moore, but said he could feel the pinch of hundreds of thousands of dollars leaving the county. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

It could hire 15 people for an entire year at $10 an hour, with enough money left over to add a part-timer at the same rate.

In three local political races that ended Nov. 4, six candidates spent $324,000 — to people and businesses outside of Pasco County. In fact, of the more than $455,000 these Pasco County Commission and state House candidates spent since Nov. 1, 2013, only 29 percent of it stayed local.

Beverly Ledbetter, who ran as a Democrat for Florida House District 38, had the worst local campaign spending, with less than 10 percent remaining in Pasco County. However, when it came to total dollars, new Pasco County commissioner Mike Moore sent the most money outside the county — nearly $109,000, or 66 percent of his expenditures.

“Our campaign bought local services when available, such as some printing supplies and materials,” Ledbetter told The Laker/Lutz News in an email. “I used a local Dade City printer for some work, and a local company for the T-shirts. Unfortunately, East Pasco — including Wesley Chapel — does not have any commercial mailing operation that I was aware of, and that comprises the bulk of my out-of-district purchases.”

Since the end of the primary, Ledbetter spent just $1,800 of the more than $28,000 she received locally, according to an analysis of campaign finance records by The Laker/Lutz News. She paid nearly $15,600 to Sonic Print in Tampa in the last reporting period alone, for what were described as mailers. Another $440 went to a company called Parkway Strategies in Tallahassee for what the campaign said was “strategic communications.”

Although his local spending was much better than Ledbetter’s, Danny Burgess — who eventually would win the House seat — was still behind all four county commission candidates tracked. He spent more than $35,000 locally, but sent $96,000 away.

Not having services available locally shows the need for such services to be developed, Ledbetter said. But there are still many services available locally which candidates looked outside of Pasco for, especially printing. And companies like Point to Point Printing in Land O’ Lakes feel it when money isn’t spent here.

“There are plenty of people here,” said Point to Point’s owner Denny Esber. He saw about $10,000 worth of work this election cycle from candidates like Moore and former county commissioner Henry Wilson Jr. But there was still more he and other business owners missed out on.

“With jobs like this, the money comes back and then I can re-spend that money in this community,” Esber said. “It just keeps going and going and going and going.”

A lot of money leaves the county for advertising and consulting. In the last two weeks of his campaign, Burgess spent $61,500. However, just $4,000 of that — less than 7 percent — stayed local. Instead, nearly $57,000 was paid to a pair of Jensen Beach companies for advertising.

In all, Burgess spent $81,500 with that company, or 63 percent of his total expenditures. That’s enough alone to create four full-time jobs at $10 an hour.

Ledbetter on the other hand spent $22,209 with Sonic Print, or 69 percent of her total expenditures, sending all that money to Tampa’s Carrollwood area.

But the commission races weren’t much different. Moore only kept 34 percent of his spending local, but his opponent — Erika Remsberg — didn’t do much better at 39 percent. Since the end of February, both candidates sent $115,000 out of the county, some $30,000 more than what they wanted taxpayers to pay them each year in salary as a commissioner.

“First, I was disappointed my local spending amount was so low,” Remsberg said in an email. “Must be because the Tarpon union printer I used was just over the border. Secondly, I think reporting the amounts donated is more important than the percentages. Given the vast difference in amounts donated to our contributions, I think percentages do not paint the picture as well as the dollar amount does.”

Twice in October, Moore spent more than $20,000, but less than 6 percent remained local. Instead, he spent $37,323 with Majority Strategies in Ponte Vedra for advertising, and nearly $3,000 with Allegra Marketing in Tampa for printing.

Even food preparation was not something Moore could find locally, spending $2,224 for food at a fundraiser supplied by Catering by the Family in Tampa.

Moore did not respond to a request for comment.

Published November 12, 2014

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