Local News

Miscarriage: Often a hidden grief for families

December 18, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Reina Flores-Robinson said she and her husband had not been trying to start a family when she learned she was pregnant. But as soon as they found out, they began making future plans for their baby.

The infant’s due date was Dec. 24, but Flores-Robinson had a miscarriage last June.

Reina Flores-Robinson says that despite the support of her husband, family and friends, going through a miscarriage is ‘one of the loneliest feelings.’ She’s holding a candle that she and her husband plan to light on the anniversary of their child’s due date each year, and a sonogram picture of the baby. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There had been complications early in her pregnancy, Flores-Robinson said, but she’d been to the emergency room and had checked out OK.

Because of those previous complications, though, Flores-Robinson was nervous when she and her husband, Tim Robinson, went in for their first scheduled ultrasound in June.

It was a supposed to be a happy occasion. Her mom and her grandmother came along and waited outside, while Flores-Robinson and her husband made sure everything was fine.

Once the technician got started, though, Flores-Robinson knew something was wrong. The technician confirmed there was no heartbeat.

“I just tell people, ‘It’s one of the most painful silences you’ll ever hear,’” Flores-Robinson said.

The couple had pictured this Christmas Eve as a joyous time, celebrating the holiday with their new baby, she said. Instead, they found themselves faced with enormous grief.

“At first, it was just hard to even understand, just the initial shock,” she said. “I have an amazing doctor. He told me, ‘You’re going to recount every step you took because you’re going to try and figure out what you did wrong.’ He said, ‘I’m going to tell you there’s nothing you could have changed and nothing you could have done differently. You’re never going to find an answer to it.’

“That, I have to remind myself time and time again,” Flores-Robinson said.

She has gone through various emotions, including sadness, guilt and anger. While some people never talk about it, Flores-Robinson said she and her husband wanted to share their story. They want to help others who are suffering in silence.

Flores-Robinson said she found help at her church, Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz. She has talked with women there — her age and older — who have experienced miscarriages.

They understand the sense of loss, Flores-Robinson said. As one put it, “Once women find out they are pregnant, they already have that baby in their arms.”

The same is true for men, Flores-Robinson said.

“It’s very easy to forget that men also grieve,” she said. Her husband also had pictured their future life with their child.

And, Robinson has been a source of strength for her.

“My husband is an amazing, Godly man,” she said. “He was that rock for me for several weeks. He stayed strong.”

When he finally broke down, Flores-Robinson was relieved that he could release his feelings. Having experienced a miscarriage has given her new insight about the questions she asks to married couples.

“I know myself, before I miscarried, I may have been one of those women who asked the question. ‘Are you guys going to have kids?’” Flores-Robinson asked.

Now, she realizes that may be a sensitive subject. She recalls her response to a woman who had experienced a miscarriage shortly before she had her own. She told the woman: “I can’t even imagine.”

That turned out to be true, Flores-Robinson couldn’t imagine the pain and grief she would feel.

“Going through a miscarriage, I can say, is one of the loneliest feelings,” Flores-Robinson said.

She said a booklet she received from Peter Castellani, executive director of Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers, was a big source of help. Called “Embracing Hope: Comfort & Encouragement After Miscarriage,” it was produced by Focus on the Family.

The booklet “goes through how to handle the hurtful comments that come up, and the clichés that people say, well-meaning things that people will say,” said Debbie Hamby, client services director at Oasis.

People who have suffered a miscarriage are hurting, Castellani said.

“I’ve had a lot of people confide in me that they’ve had miscarriages, and it’s very difficult to deal with,” Castellani said. “I’ve had at least a half a dozen people or more — through the Christian Business Connections or the (Central Pasco) Chamber, or just when I’m networking.

“We want them to heal,” he said.

Besides the booklet, his office has a DVD that can help people who have experienced a miscarriage to process their grief.

Some people who have received help at the pregnancy care center are reluctant to come back to a place they associate with their baby, Hamby said, to receive help for processing their grief from a miscarriage.

One of the things that the Focus on the Family booklet discusses is the idea of creating a memento box that may include items such as a sonogram picture, the results of their pregnancy test, or other items, Hamby said.

Flores-Robinson and her husband have kept the sonogram picture and a small stuffed bear they bought shortly after learning they were expecting. They plan to light a candle every Dec. 24 to remember the baby they lost.

As difficult as it has been, the loss also has yielded blessings, Flores-Robinson said.

“My husband and I have grown so much in our marriage,” she said. “We literally would hold each other and cry. Both of our walks with God grew tremendously.

“When the miscarriage happened, we stood in that parking lot and said, ‘All glory go to God, in the good times and the bad.’”

December has been a tough month, she said. “Once it hit Dec. 1, I was just thinking about Dec. 24.”

“I think about Dec. 24, and I think about how I’m going to be that day,” Flores-Robinson said. “Am I going to be OK? I think about the baby I wanted to have in my arms.”

But then, she also thinks about the true meaning of Christmas.

“It’s so special to think about what that does mean, with a savior being born,” Flores-Robinson said. “That image in my head is what I have been clinging to.”

Published December 17, 2014

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Contract proposal includes pay raises, more planning time

December 18, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Negotiators for Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco have hammered out a deal that includes pay raises and increased instructional planning time. But it also calls for the end of smoking on all district properties and for the end of a district early retirement program.

Teachers and school-related employees, on average, would receive a 3 percent increase under the proposal, union president Kenny Blankenship said.

Kenny Blankenship (File Photo) — Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’ (File photo)

Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’

“That’s one of the best in the state,” he said.

The proposed contract also calls for increasing teachers’ instructional planning time from the current 100 minutes a day, to 150. The increased planning time probably is the most significant item in the agreement, Blankenship said.

“Our teachers really need it with all of the changes that we’ve been going through,” Blankenship said.

The proposed contract also calls for the end of smoking on district properties, effective July 1, 2016. It’s a provision Superintendent Kurt Browning says is important to the school district.

“We want a healthier work force, and we felt very strongly that that was a way to at least move in that direction,” Browning said.

There’s time between now and when the policy takes effect that will give employees a chance to participate in smoking cessation programs, the superintendent added. Beyond employee health, the district thought that allowing smoking at its sites sent a mixed message.

The ban on smoking is in keeping with similar bans in public places across the nation, Blankenship said.

“That’s probably an idea that’s come to its time,” he said.

Another portion of the proposed contract calls for eliminating new entrants to the district’s early retirement program, effective June 30, 2018.

By having that program phased out, Browning said, the district can use the $1.6 million typically spent there for other purposes.

The people currently participating in the program will not be affected,” Blankenship said. Those who qualify and opt to take advantage of the program still have some time to do so.

Both sides have agreed to create a compensation task force that will talk about proposed changes to how teachers are paid. The options being considered are teachers receiving 20 paychecks during the 10-month teacher work year, with five checks paid on the last teacher work day, and a last check two weeks later; or teachers receiving 26 equal paychecks, paid out every two weeks year round.

Another plus of the proposed contract, Blankenship said, is that there’s still a free health care plan option available for employees.

All together the district is providing almost $12 million of new funding toward employee compensation and benefits, according to a district news release.

A general settlement explanation meeting open to all bargaining unit members is scheduled for Jan. 13, where union building representatives will vote whether to recommend the settlement to the full bargaining unit. A ratification vote has been scheduled for Jan. 14.

Provided that the settlement is ratified, the Pasco County School Board is schedule to vote on Jan. 20.

Any applicable retroactive pay should be reflected in paychecks by the end of February.

Published December 17, 2014

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If you’re looking for holiday cheer, check this out

December 18, 2014 By B.C. Manion

There are plenty of local holiday happenings to appeal to young and old, but there’s a wide assortment of regional attractions to help brighten the season as well.

Experience the charm of an old-fashioned Christmas at the 33rd annual Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum. (Courtesy of Henry B. Plant Museum)

If you’re looking for something fun and affordable to do, here’s a list of possibilities.

TAMPA
The 33rd annual Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. — Beneath the towering silver minarets of the former Tampa Bay Hotel, visitors have the chance to peek at 14 rooms decked out in 19th century themes for the holidays.

Carolers sing in the evenings in front of a 15-foot tree, and visitors are invited to sing along. Complimentary spiced cider and cookies are served on the veranda.

The stroll is being offered daily through Dec. 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens, and $9 for kids between 4 and 18.

Wild Wonderland at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave. — Enjoy a holiday stroll around the zoo and see a dazzling display of lights synchronized to holiday music, see lighted animal figures and possible snow flurries, enjoy rides, and see some penguins.

Admission is $15 for adults,  $13 for children between 3 and 11, and free for children younger than 3.

Ice Palace at International Plaza, 2223 N. West Shore Blvd. — The mall transforms into the Ice Palace, a 30-foot dome with snow, a light show, and interactive snow globes depicting scenes from the Disney movie “Frozen.”

Entertainment includes an icy handprint experience, size comparisons with Sven and Olaf — characters from the movie — and photos with Olaf on an ice throne.

The attractions run through Dec. 24 during mall hours.

For information, visit ShopInternationalPlaza.com.

Tampa’s Downtown on Ice at Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive — Skaters can enjoy an outdoor rink in the park. Each 90-minute session, including skate rental, is $10.

DOVER
Nights of Shimmering Lights at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road — Drive through two miles of dazzling displays, illuminated tunnels, and dancing light-emitting diodes, while listening to holiday tunes on your radio.

The attraction includes more than 2,000 sculpted light displays.

After you drive through the light tunnels, stop at Christmas Village, where you can drink hot chocolate, watch holiday movies, and have a picture taken with Santa.

Admission is $15 per car Monday through Wednesday evenings, and $20 per car Thursday through Sunday evenings.

LARGO
Holiday Lights in the Gardens at the Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road — Every evening through Dec. 31, visitors can stroll through the gardens from 5:30 to 9:30, enjoying laser lights, flora and fauna displays, decorated trees, a 7-foot gingerbread house, and more.

There’s free entertainment, and visits from Santa Claus.

Admission is $4 for those 13 and older

WESLEY CHAPEL
Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive — The shopping center offers nightly synchronized music and light shows on the hour, from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m., through Dec. 31.

The free attraction features a 55-foot tree with more than 250,000 lights and snow flurries.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH
Holiday Lighted Boat Parade at the Holiday Inn Harbourside, 401 Second St. — Come watch a parade of all kinds of boats decked out for the holidays.

The parade is open for all kinds of boats, including canoes and rowboats. It begins at 7 p.m. on Dec. 20, and starts and ends at the Holiday Inn at Harbourside.

SPRING HILL
The Celebration of Lights, at Safety Town 15325 Alric Pottberg Road — Drive along a mile-long route to see a dazzling display of animated lights.

The event was the vision of Dave Parrish, a community leader in West Pasco County, who died before his vision could come to life.

The event is open at dusk through Jan. 4. Entry fees are $20 per car, and $40 for a 14-passenger van.

Published December 17, 2014

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Bull Run: Wiregrass Ranch soccer team still undefeated

December 18, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Sunlake High School is considered a powerhouse boys soccer program in Pasco County.

And for good reason: The Seahawks have a long track record of success, a winning coach, and they’re undefeated so far this season.

But they’re not the only ones.

Brendan Duran and his soccer teammates at Wiregrass Ranch High School are off to a perfect start. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Wiregrass Ranch High School has had five straight winning seasons, and the sixth already is in the bag after just 13 regular season games.

The Bulls are 13-0, including 5-0 in Class 4A-District 8. They’ve scored 62 goals compared to just five against, with nine shutouts. Their closest opponent in the district standings, Mitchell High School, lost 2-0 to Wiregrass Ranch last week.

And according to coach David Wilson, they don’t need to be micromanaged to succeed.

“They’ll run the first 25 minutes of practice without me having to do anything,” he said. “I say one thing to them, and they’ll be gone. They go on their run, they come out and stretch, they do their preliminary practice stuff and their preparation stuff.

“There’s expectations that we’ve set and these kids know what to do when they come in.”

Part of knowing what to do comes from playing at the local club level, Wilson said. Including the junior varsity team — which also undefeated — around 90 percent of their players participate in club soccer.

While the Bulls are dominating offensively and defensively, the coach said their strength lies in their depth. Injuries, sickness and club soccer commitments have required the team to dig deep into the roster frequently, and their bench players are able and ready to perform at a high level when called to the pitch.

“There’s not a drop-off when we have to go to the bench,” Wilson said. “You can wear teams down if you can go to your 20th player and have the kid not drop off too much from your No. 11 player.”

There isn’t any drop-off when they switch goalkeepers, either. While the shutouts and low goals against are impressive, it doesn’t come from one standout player. The Bulls actually rotate dominating goalkeepers, including Wilson’s son, Payton.

They have another goalie getting work at the junior varsity level, so an area that causes some teams to struggle is a very deep position at Wiregrass Ranch.

Wilson hopes that depth helps the team go farther than they did last year, even though it was a successful season. They reached the regional semifinals before falling to district rival Mitchell, 5-1.

That loss — at home, no less — stung some of the players. Providing a little payback with a 2-0 victory on Dec. 9 was an important win for them.

“That felt great. It was sweet revenge,” said Brendan Duran, the team’s assist leader.

After not playing their best in their final game last year, he said it’s important to start out this year strong and keep expectations high so they can advance farther.

But expectations alone won’t get it done, and Duran believes the team has the skill to reach the state finals. But even skill isn’t enough, and he knows what else is required to reach their potential.

“It’s going to have to take dedication,” Duran said. “And definitely hard work.”

His coach agrees that the team has the ability to compete for a state title, but he won’t be running around on the sidelines and screaming at his team to get there. Wilson isn’t that kind of coach, preferring to keep things in perspective and build strong foundations that aren’t swayed by the emotions of one game.

But he’s proud of the program, noting that alumni frequently come to games or practices to support the current players and reminisce with him about previous seasons.

Wilson, who also coaches tennis and is the school’s athletic director, has been coaching soccer for 26 years. But if other schools are hoping he might hang it up soon and give them a chance to topple Wiregrass Ranch, they’ll probably have a long wait.

“There’s really nothing else I want to do,” Wilson said. “I still really enjoy it.”

Published December 17, 2014

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No-cost Christmas fun for the entire family

December 18, 2014 By Michael Murillo

It’s Christmas season, and families will spend a lot of time doing holiday-themed activities together.

Nutcrackers of all sizes are just part of the Christmas decorations at the Old Lutz School. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

But what does that really mean in 2014? Going to a crowded mall to buy more things? Waiting for an hour to get into a chain restaurant? Stringing up half-broken lights on the house that will stay up until well past the Super Bowl in February?

Sure, you can do all of that. But may I suggest you also spend at least one evening enjoying some of the local holiday fare?

There are activities going on where you live that provide nice entertainment without a naughty hit to your wallet.

If you want to enjoy some family-fun activities without a long drive or big price tag, consider these options:

Christmas at the Old Lutz School
The school is an area treasure, faithfully preserved and looking much like it did over the past eight decades. And naturally, they do an old-style Christmas at 18819 U.S. 41 N.

One room is full of Christmas trees, decorated by area organizations. No crazy-looking, post-modern decorations here. If you have a fond memory of a Christmas tree in your youth, it probably looked a lot like these: Simple, elegant and festive.

Another room is dedicated to a couple of train collections, with intricate details and scenery you could study for quite a while. And really, what’s a better reminder of the Christmas season than model trains? They just kind of go together.

There’s also a room full of nutcrackers. I mean, a lot of them. The hallways are decorated, too. Outside, you’re treated to some hot chocolate and a cookie.

You can visit with your neighbors, visit a historical landmark, and enjoy the kinds of refreshments people have loved since, well, since the school opened in 1927.

Did I mention this is free? You won’t pay a penny for anything. They do have barrels to collect toys and food for the less-fortunate over the holidays. But that’s part of the Christmas spirit, too.

If you miss this, you’re missing out.

Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass
What has a quarter-million lights and 2,000 watts of holiday cheer?

Hopefully it’s not your neighbor’s Christmas decorations. But it is the Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel.

Every night in its center court, the center coordinates its sizeable Christmas display to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you haven’t heard of this orchestra, you’ve probably heard their music. Their bombastic, elaborate sound mixes rock and classical music, and is used at high-energy holiday, fireworks and sporting events, as well as a bunch of holiday commercials.

And it just happens to be perfect for coordinated Christmas light displays.

What’s great about this event is the fact that they do it four times a night, so you can get there when you want. Every hour on the hour, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., they play three holiday-inspired instrumentals to go with their light display.

It’s not too long, but they alternate two different sets of songs. All you have to do is stay for the next one and hear a different trio.

By the way, this also is free. You can do some shopping while you’re there, of course. But they don’t charge a thing to come and enjoy their display. Just fit it into your schedule and enjoy.

If you time it right, you can hit both of these events in the same evening, and still get the kids home by bedtime. With a traditional Christmas at the school, and a fun, modern take at the shops, you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy. If you can’t get into the holiday spirit after these local displays, you just might be a Grinch.

Besides, all it costs is a little time and enough gas to get there. You won’t find a better deal than that in December.

The Old Lutz School is open from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21 and Dec. 26-28. The display at The Shops at Wiregrass runs every night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 31.

For more information, visit OldLutzSchool.com or TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

Published December 17, 2014

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Future is here: Body cameras coming to Pasco

December 18, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Many law enforcement agencies around the country continue to debate whether they should have patrol officers wear body cameras — but the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office isn’t waiting any longer.

More than 400 deputies and investigators will be equipped with body cameras in February, a movie Sheriff Chris Nocco said would make neighborhoods safer for deputies and the people who live in them.

Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy and field training officer Kristina Perez, right, demonstrates the new body camera that other deputies in Sheriff Chris Nocco’ department will be equipped with beginning in February. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“This is not the panacea,” Nocco said during a news conference last week. “This is not going to be the cure-all for all the issues of our world. But it’s a tool, just like any other tool that we use in law enforcement.”

The sheriff’s office is in the process of ordering 415 sets of Taser Axon cameras, which can be mounted on glasses, hats, shirt fronts, collars, lapels and other locations on a deputy. They record up to four hours of video and audio, and have a battery that lasts 12 hours.

Deputies will turn it on whenever they get out of their patrol car to interact with the public or investigate a crime, Nocco said. At the end of each shift, deputies connect their camera to a docking station to upload each video. Once it’s in the system, they cannot be manipulated, and deputies will not be able to edit them.

It’s the kind of system that will not only provide transparency in how deputies interact with people inside Pasco County, but it also could streamline the court system significantly.

“The criminal justice system’s job is to get to the truth,” said Craig Laporte, an attorney with Proly Laporte & Mulligan in Port Richey, who represents one of the deputy unions. “If an individual has, in fact, committed a crime, this provides evidence of that. This could reduce the number of jury trials … because the state attorney will immediately have information they can use.”

Cameras also could significantly reduce the complaints filed against deputies, each one of which must be investigated. By having an unedited video and audio record of the encounter, internal investigations would not have to rely on witness accounts alone, discouraging people from making false claims against the officer.

It also could stop a deputy from crossing any lines, making some of the problems police are experiencing in New York City and Ferguson, Missouri, a lot less likely to happen.

While the use of body cameras is something some observers have suggested after the officer-involved deaths in those cities, Nocco said Pasco’s plan has been in motion for quite some time, with field testing beginning last October.

“This started months ago because citizens are constantly pulling their phones out and taping deputies,” Nocco said. Those deputies were “looking on their own to get body cameras, and they were talking about buying them on their own. But I said to wait, because we have to come up with a policy.”

That policy includes when deputies are expected to have the cameras on, and how long videos will be stored before they’re deleted. The policy also makes it clear that the cameras can’t be used as “Big Brother,” Nocco said, referring to the novel “1984,” where supervisors can’t pull up random video just for the sake of disciplining a deputy.

The entire program will cost $400,000 a year — far less than what other neighboring agencies like the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is considering, Nocco said. Initial funds will come from federal forfeiture dollars, but future years will require funding through tax dollars controlled by the Pasco County Commission.

The cameras bring their own controversies to the table, primarily when it comes to privacy rights, Fourth Amendment protections of search and seizure through the U.S. Constitution, and how footage is used, and what is made available to the public. Nocco says he hopes lawmakers in Tallahassee will address body cameras this coming year, but in the meantime, he’s moving forward.

So far for the upcoming legislative session, only one bill has been filed in Tallahassee regarding body cameras. State Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, filed H.B. 57 on Dec. 4 that, if passed, would require every uniformed law enforcement officer primarily assigned to patrol duties to be equipped with a body camera by Jan. 1, 2016.

“We’re not fearful of being a leader out there,” Nocco said. “There’s always going to be bumps in the road, and there is always going to be tweaks.”

Cameras like this already are in use in different parts of the United Kingdom, and those police departments provided a significant amount of data on how the cameras were used. For example, one town in Scotland found that 70 percent of cases that involved body cameras were less likely to go to trial. Closer to home in Rialto, California, complaints against law enforcement officers dropped from 24 to just three.

Published December 17, 2014

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Bringing history to life: Dade’s Battle

December 18, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Those who enjoy history and the spectacle of re-enactments may want to make their way to Bushnell in early January to watch the dramatization of a battle that sparked the beginning of the Second Seminole War.

Re-enactors will take to the Historic Dade Battlefield to assume the roles of Seminole warriors and American soldiers during the 32nd annual commemoration of Dade’s Battle.

U.S. troops charge during Dade’s Battle, an annual re-enactment that occurs at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell. (Courtesy of Dade Battlefield Historic State Park)

The actual battle took place on Dec. 28, 1835 — 10 years before Florida even became a state, said Bill Gruber, park manager at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park.

While the re-enactment is a condensed version of the actual battle, it is authentic in many respects, Gruber said. The re-enactors wear uniforms and clothing that resemble those used during that period, and many fire blank cartridges from weapons that are reproductions of the kind that were used in the battle.

Re-enactors from throughout Florida and beyond gather in Bushnell to dramatize the conflict, Gruber said, and a couple of thousand people typically watch.

About 100 re-enactors take part in the dramatization, said Paul Remis, president of the Dade Battlefield Society Inc. Re-enactors come from all over the country, as well as from Canada and overseas.

The event is the largest Seminole re-enactment and has been taking place longer than any other Seminole re-enactment, Remis said.

The annual event began as a small memorial service at the site, which includes a portion of the historic battlefield, Gruber said, and has evolved over time into a major re-enactment.

The event marks an important historic battle that many people know little or nothing about, the park manager said. The Dade Battle sparked the longest, costliest and deadliest war between the United States and Native Americans.

When Florida became a U.S. territory and settlers began moving here, the Native Americans were forced to move south, according to the DadeBattlefield.com website.

By the 1830s, there was significant conflict between Seminoles and white settlers. The conflict intensified because of the Seminole practice of giving refuge to fugitive slaves, the website says.

When the Treaty of Payne’s Landing was signed in 1832, some chiefs agreed to move to territory west of the Mississippi River. But there was widespread opposition to this treaty, led by a Seminole chief named Osceola, and that resulted in the outbreak of the Second Seminole War.

In December 1835, more than 100 U.S. troops and officers were marching from Fort Brooke in what is now Tampa to reinforce Fort King, Gruber said, which is in present-day Ocala.

At the site where the park now stands, 180 Seminole warriors ambushed the U.S. troops, killing all but three, Gruber said. One died a short time later, leaving only two survivors.

The soldiers had expected to be attacked during their march, but had believed it would come earlier, Gruber said, so they had let down their guard.

Remis agreed that the soldiers thought the danger was behind them.

“They figured if they’re going to get us, they’re going to burn a bridge and we’re going to be trapped, we’re not going to have anywhere to go,” Remis said.

Visitors to the 80-acre state can stop by the visitor center to see displays about the historic battle, Gruber said, and watch an informative 12-minute video about it, called “This Land, These Men.”

They also can walk a short battlefield trail, which actually follows a stretch of the historic Fort King Military Road. It displays interpretive labels, along with monuments to Dade and his command.

Besides its historic significance, the park also offers visitors a chance to see a variety of wildlife such as white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, gopher tortoises, eastern cottontails, red-shouldered hawks and pileated woodpeckers.

In addition to the annual re-enactment of Dade’s Battle, there are other special events during the year, Gruber said. The park also features picnic areas, a playground and other amenities.

If you go
WHAT: Dade’s Battle
WHY: A re-enactment of the battle that sparked the Second Seminole War, as well as period soldier, Seminole and civilian camps, historic arts and crafts demonstrations, full-scale firing, tree cutting, barricade building, 19th century games and activities for children and vendors.
WHEN: Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Re-enactment of Dade’s Battle each day at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 County Road 603, Bushnell
COST: $5 per person, with children younger than 6 free. Parking is $3.
INFO: (352) 793-4781, or FloridaStateParks.org

Published December 17, 2014

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Business Digest 12-17-14

December 18, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Jobs on the go
CareerSource Pasco Hernando has reintroduced its Mobile One Stop, a 38-foot bus retrofitted with 13 computer stations. It’s complete with satellite Internet, telecommunications, printing, copying and scanning — everything anyone would need to find a job. It provides service to more than 100 people every month with stops that include the New River Branch Library in Zephyrhills among others. For details on where Mobile One Stop will be, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

Brandon investor buys Lutz 7-Eleven
Drivers on State Road 54 going by 7-Eleven on Livingston Road may have noticed the 7-Eleven signs are gone.

The corporate parent of the convenience store chain, 7-Eleven Inc. — through its Southland Corp. affiliate — sold the 27-year-old store late last month to Sailfish Real Estate LLC of Brandon. The owner of that company, William McKnight, owns several convenience stores around the region, primarily using Circle K branding.

McKnight owns the much larger Automated Petroleum and Energy Co., which purchases and leases convenience store locations all over the state.

It’s not clear how McKnight will handle the new location, except that it will no longer be a 7-Eleven. McKnight did not return a request for comment last week.

The sale by 7-Eleven was part of a national effort to cut ties with 75 of the stores.

“There are many nice sites in this package that simply do not fit 7-Eleven’s current business model,” company vice president Robbie Radant said in a release last May. “All of those stores have solid merchandise sales, and should provide good opportunities for the right buyers.”

The store and land sold for $750,000, compared to the $225,000 Southland paid for the vacant land back in 1986. Back then, State Road 54 was just two lanes, and far less competition was nearby. Now, however, a RaceTrac is located on just the other side of Livingston.

Famous Tate plans Lutz location
The Tampa-based appliance and mattress store Famous Tate is looking to build its 10th location in central Pasco County, within arm’s reach of Walmart along U.S. 41.

Executives of the small retail chain were scheduled to meet with county officials behind closed doors earlier this month to discuss opening a 14,000-square-foot store on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, in an outparcel just south of Walmart, not far from where Dale Mabry Highway begins.

Hagman Properties Inc., of Tarpon Springs owns the 1.6-acre parcel, and was the land’s only deed-holder, according to county property records.

This would be Pasco’s third Famous Tate store. The closest current one is at 5419 Village Market in Wesley Chapel, with a second one in Port Richey.

The company was founded in 1954, and employs more than 200 people in six counties, according to the company’s website. Aspire Engineering Inc., of Tampa will take the lead on the project.

Gulfside Hospice has new CFO
Tony Trovato is the new chief financial officer for Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care.

In his new position, Trovato will be in charge of directing the financial and business functions of the organization, as well as provide oversight of departments like finance, business technology, physical plant, and the organization’s thrift stores.

Trovato has more than 25 years experience in the health care and hospice industry, previously spending 24 years with Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he would eventually become its president and chief executive.

Originally from Chicago, Trovato graduated from Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, Illinois.

Gulfside Hospice was originally licensed in 1989, and serves more than 350 patients daily, employing more than 250 people, with assistance from 550 volunteers.

Townhomes planned for Lake Patience
Ariel Homes has waited long enough to start development a small stitch of land off Lake Patience Road, where the developer hopes to build 51 townhomes.

The Odessa-based builder was scheduled to meet with Pasco County officials Dec. 15 to build the units on nearly 7 acres of land not far from where Lake Patience and Drexel roads intersect, north of Glendale Villas, not far from Vienna Lake.

Ariel Homes, as A-Investments Development Corp., bought the land in 2004 for $250,000. It already is zoned for multifamily.

Ariel only owns a handful of property in Pasco through A-Investments, primarily single lots in Wilderness Lake Preserve. The townhomes planned for this larger piece of land would be single-story, created by Tampa Civil Design, according to documents filed with the county.

Ariel Homes is primarily a smaller-scale developer, founded by Ariel Quintela in 1990, according to the company’s website. Quintela has lived in Tampa since 1972, and concentrates most of his work in Hillsborough County. However, the lots his company owns in Wilderness Lake Preserve are listed as high as $500,000.

Kumquat tours
Pasco-Hernando State College’s Encore Academy will offer tours of a kumquat grove and processing plant ahead of Dade City’s annual Kumquat Festival Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at Kumquat Growers of Saint Joseph, 31647 Gude Road, in St. Joseph.

The Encore Academy is a service of the school that provides lifelong learning opportunities to adults of all ages, with membership benefits and discounts available to those 50 and older.

The two-hour workshop is $12, and is open to the public.

For information, visit PHSC.edu/encore.

New Mercedes dealership wants more space
It’s not even finished yet, but a new Mercedes-Benz dealership in Wesley Chapel is looking to add a little more space.

Thomas Engineering Group had scheduled a meeting with Pasco County officials Dec. 15 to increase the already 45,000-square-foot facility by another 2,000 square feet. That would bring the total space to above 47,000 square feet.

AutoNation is building the dealership on State Road 56 near Interstate 75 for $17 million. It was originally expected to open in December, but likely will not start selling its first cars until spring at the earliest.

On The Agenda 12-17-14

December 18, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A tall order
Amy Moore, left, joins her supervisor Christine Kearney and barista Kelsey Mattox in welcoming Gov. Rick Scott to their Starbucks on State Road 54 near Suncoast Parkway during a recent visit to the area.

Pasco DEC elects officers … mostly
A new chair won’t be elected until Jan. 12, but in the meantime, the Pasco Democratic Executive Committee elected a new slate of officers unanimously Dec. 9 that included Karen Ford as vice chair, Nola Branche as secretary and Calvin Branche as treasurer.

Ford was a neighborhood team leader for Barack Obama in 2010, and is a founding member of the Trinity Democratic Club. She also worked on the two successful campaigns of Democratic state representative Amanda Murphy.

Nola Branche has been a teacher for 23 years, and served as a Democratic town committee chair. She has been the DEC’s secretary since 2006.

Cal Branche taught school for 28 years, and has spent the past 15 years as a licensed community association manager. He has served as vice chair of the DEC for nine years, and has been treasurer the past four years.

Pasco holiday closings
Pasco County government offices, including the constitutional offices and the courts, will be closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday season.

All government offices and courts will reopen Dec. 29.

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s office also will be closed Dec. 27, reopening Dec. 29.

Libraries run by the county will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, but will reopen Dec. 27 at their regularly scheduled times. County parks and recreation centers will be closed Dec. 27 as well.

Pasco County Animal Services will have an animal control officer available for emergencies only during the holiday, with the adoption center reopening Dec. 27 from noon to 6:30 p.m. The administration office there will reopen Dec. 29 at 8 a.m.

Pasco County Public Transportation will not provide transportation services over the holiday, resuming service on Dec. 27.

The Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility and the East Pasco Transfer Station will be closed to the general public on Dec. 26, but remain open to licensed commercial haulers. All those stations will reopen to the public on Dec. 27.

Hillsborough selects CIO
The Hillsborough County Commission is expected to confirm Ramin Kouzehkanani as the county’s new chief information and innovation officer during a meeting Dec. 17.

Kouzehkanani has more than 20 years experience in organizational management and leadership of large-scale information technology programs. He is currently the chief deputy clerk for strategic planning and technology for Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom, and a Master of Business Administration from Western New England University.

If confirmed, Kouzehkanani would begin Jan. 5 with a salary of $175,000.

Massive Quail Hollow land grab raises eyebrows

December 11, 2014 By Michael Hinman

A developer who had originally planned to build a 260-acre corporate park near the Suncoast Parkway before selling the land last year hasn’t quite given up on Pasco County.

Charles Bruck, the owner of Tampa’s SoHo Capital, is among the buyers of more than 1,000 acres of land just west of Quail Hollow in Wesley Chapel. Bruck’s SoHo Dayflower LLC company and some other partners completed the purchase just before Thanksgiving for $4.2 million.

Armenian Acres, a small rural gated community off Mangrove Drive, could be the most affected by any planned development of more than 1,000 acres that surround the community on the western side. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But what does Bruck have in store for the land? He’s not talking quite yet. However, it’s not necessarily far-fetched to believe he’s planning to turn hundreds of acres of agricultural land into a brand new development.

Except that’s not what he’s doing, at least according to one prominent land broker. Bill Eshenbaugh, known in the industry as “The Dirt Dog” and owner of Eshenbaugh Land Co., wasn’t involved in this particular land sale, but has worked in the past for Bruck, as well as his partners in this particular purchase — J. Aprile Properties LLC, D. Aprile Properties LLC and R. Aprile Properties LLC.

The plan? Leave the land just the way it is. At least for now.

“The Apriles are good dairymen, and they can work that land just the way it’s been for the past few decades,” Eshenbaugh said. “They really have nothing to lose on this. It’s one of the lowest prices I’ve seen.”

The purchase was most likely part of what is known in the land industry as a 1031 exchange, Eshenbaugh said. That refers to a portion of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code where a property owner can sell land, and then reinvest those proceeds in a similar property purchase elsewhere to defer the capital gains taxes he would have to pay otherwise.

The Apriles, for example, recently sold one of Hillsborough County’s last dairy farms off Cowley Road in the Riverview area, Eshenbaugh said. The family could reinvest that money in the Pasco land to avoid paying federal taxes on the profit.

Two foreign companies have owned the land Bruck’s group purchased since the 1980s. The largest parcel of more than 600 acres, located west of Mangrove Drive, surrounds a small block of homes on Armenian Lane behind a rural gate known as Armenian Acres.

Gazas N.V. Inc., a company located in the former Netherlands Antilles, bought that land in 1981 for $1.1 million, according to county property records, or what would be $2.9 million today.

The second parcel is located north of it, along Quail Hollow Boulevard, just below Apple Blossom Lane. Lexel Establishment Ltd. of Israel purchased that land in 1980 for $520,000, or $1.5 million when adjusted for inflation.

Just two years ago, the property owners approached Pasco County officials about potentially developing the land to build up to 1,000 homes. However, building officials resisted the idea, according to notes from that meeting, citing the need to vastly improve what are primarily rural roads connecting that land to the major throughways.

Bruck could come back and work with the county on possibly developing that land again in the future, Eshenbaugh said, and would have the necessary experience to get it done. Or, Bruck and the Apriles could flip the land in a few years, and likely make a hefty profit since they likely could make far more than they paid.

Bruck wanted to build what he was calling the Suncoast Employment Village, some 260 acres of land he bought in 2011 for nearly $1.8 million along State Road 54 just east of the Suncoast Parkway. However, Bruck flipped that land just two years later to Newland Communities LLC for $6 million, which would then become a part of that developer’s much larger Bexley Ranch project.

When the land was sold, it was entitled to build 780 townhomes, 1.8 million square feet of office space, and 440,000 square feet of retail, according to published reports.

The Suncoast Employment Village was another example of Bruck buying land cheap — at less than $7,000 an acre. But in this particular case, instead of developing it as he had planned, Bruck instead was able to sell for $23,000 an acre, more than triple what he originally paid.

So far, no one has approached the county again about developing the land into a residential or commercial site, said Michele Crary of the county’s planning and development department. If Bruck and the Apriles do set up a meeting, however, they would still be hampered by the need to vastly upgrade roads like Quail Hollow Boulevard to make such a project feasible.

Bruck did not return requests for comment made through his primary company, SoHo Capital.

Published December 10, 2014

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