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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Festival of Flight features a flying pig and a soaring clown

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The second annual Festival of Flight will offer event-goers the chance to see more than two dozen hot air balloons, to explore all types of aircraft, to grab a bite to eat, and to enjoy live music.

Admission is free, and parking is $2.

More than two dozen hot air balloons will take part in the second annual Festival of Flight, with evening balloon glows and sunrise mass ascensions. (Courtesy of American Balloons)
More than two dozen hot air balloons will take part in the second annual Festival of Flight, with evening balloon glows and sunrise mass ascensions.
(Courtesy of American Balloons)

This year, there will even be a flying pig and a giant clown among the hot air balloons, said festival director Jessica Warren of American Balloons. Ham-Let, the flying pig, will be operated by Doug Gantt, who is making a return trip from Taiwan to take part in the festival.

“Those are quite a treat to have,” said Warren, who began planning for the festival more than a year ago.

The idea is to celebrate all things flight, she said, including everything from bubbles and kites, to T-6 warbirds and helicopters.

Last year, more than 3,500 people attended the festival. This year, Warren expects somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 to turn out.

Kenny Shumate, who will be operating the clown balloon, said he’s glad to be able to attend the festival. “I’ve heard so many good things about it,” he said. “Last year, I couldn’t make it.”

The balloon he flies is an unusual shape and can present some challenges when it’s windy – especially because of the protrusions of the nose and ears, he said.

But he’s glad he’ll be able to join the celebration. “I love to fly,” he said. “I absolutely love the sport (of ballooning).”

Those attending can purchase tickets to go for helicopter rides, plane rides and rides on a Revo – a flying contraption that looks like a combination motorcycle-hang glider. Balloon rides can be purchased ahead of the event, Warren said.

“We have tons of food that’s going to be out there this year because that’s what we ran out of last year,” Warren said. Vendors include Sweet Salsa BBQ, Texas Roadhouse, Collins Concessions, Ker’s Winghouse of Wesley Chapel, Black Dog Gourmet, Holy Cow Kettle and Organo Gold Coffee, with items for purchase including slow-smoked barbecue ribs, chicken and pork, deep-fried Oreo cookies, and funnel cakes.

The Happy Hangar Café at the Tampa North Aero Park also will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Gates open on the evening of Sept. 19, and the event concludes at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 21. The opening evening features live music and a hot air balloon glow featuring numerous balloons lighting up the runway at the private airport.

A mass balloon launch is planned around 7 a.m. on Sept. 20, with balloons flying in or out of the airport, depending on the wind, Warren said. They will be either inflated at the private airport or will land there.

“We will have the Re/Max hot air balloon that will be tethering from the ground, for about an hour after sunrise, taking people up for as long as the weather permits,” Warren said. “The runway will be open at 9 o’clock in the morning, for fly-in and fly-out traffic. You can fly your plane in and stay for the day, and you’ll also see planes going in and out all day long.”

A helicopter company will offer rides, with tickets sold on a first-come basis, Warren said.

Live music will play throughout the day, and Kiting Tampa Bay will have a booth where kids can come and make kites and watch demonstrations. A T-6 warbird flyover is slated for around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 and a balloon glow will again light the runway at 7 p.m.

Another sunrise balloon launch is planned for Sept. 21 around 7 a.m.

More airplane fly-ins and takeoffs, helicopter rides, live music and other festivities are slated until shortly after noon on Sept. 21.

Last year’s event was marred by the death of Mark Curto, a performer whose parachute did not deploy, according to local news reports.

Warren, whose Land O’ Lakes company has operated hot air balloon flights since 1998, said the tragic incident did not deter her from planning this year’s event because the area obviously has many aviation enthusiasts, and she wanted to help provide a forum to celebrate joys of flight.

For those who prefer staying closer to the ground, the event also features a Thunderbird car show.

American Balloons and the Tampa North Flight Center are presenting the festival. Key sponsors include The Hampton Inn & Suites in Wesley Chapel, Parks Fiat of Wesley Chapel, Ker’s Winghouse, Ierna’s Heating & Cooling, and Crockett’s Towing and Wraps.

The Wesley Chapel squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will direct traffic and handle parking duties, Warren said.

Those traveling to the area for the event can get special rates at the Hampton Suites in Wesley Chapel or the Residence Inn in Land O’ Lakes by letting the hotel staff know you are in the area for the festival.

To find out more, visit FestivalOfFlightWesleyChapel.com, or look for the Festival of Flight page on Facebook.

If you go …
WHAT: Second annual Festival of Flight 2014

WHEN: Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 20, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 21, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., in Lutz

COST: Admission is free, but parking is $2

Tickets for airplane and helicopter rides are available on the day of the event. Balloon rides must be arranged in advance.

To book a balloon ride, call American Balloons (813) 243-9507. The cost is $189 per person.

Published September 17, 2014

Business Digest 09-17-14

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Multi-chamber mixer
A group of chambers of commerce will host a mixer Sept. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Catches Waterfront Grille, 7811 Bayview St., in Port Richey.

Participating will be the Central Pasco, Greater Hernando, Tarpon Springs, Trinity-Odessa, and West Pasco chambers of commerce.

It will include complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.

For more information, call (813) 909-2722, or email .

‘Dancing With Our Stars’ returns
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will once again host “Dancing With Our Stars,” with a performance scheduled for Oct. 18.

The chamber still has a few dance slots to fill, as well as a need for volunteers to help behind the scenes for the “stars” who will be trained by dance professionals to perform a short routine.

The overall winner will be based on monetary votes, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting arts programs in the community.

To participate, volunteer or even sponsor, visit CentralPascoChamber.com, or call (813) 909-2722.

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:

• George Swatzbaugh of Emerald Home Inspection Service LLC, Sept. 23

• Bob Hatfield from U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ office, Oct. 14

• Jack Mariano, Pasco County commissioner, Oct. 28

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.

Zephyrhills chamber board set
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has named five people to serve a three-year term on its board of directors. They include:

  • Rebecca Gaddis, vice president of business development at San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union
  • Carolyn Hodges, co-owner of Faithful Friends Pet Cremation
  • John Kinsman, owner of Martin Electric
  • Tim Linville, owner of E-Z Clean Car Wash in Zephyrhills and  Dade City
  • Darrell Pennington, retired from CF Industries, and a lifetime honorary member

All five were chosen by majority vote through member elections in August. They join Tom Vanater of Nabers Jewelers and Josh Schneidmiller of Western & Southern Life, who were appointed to serve the remaining terms of two board members who had resigned.

Carolyn Sentelik of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Foundation will continue into a second term as president of the chamber.

Vendors sought for business expo
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for vendors for its upcoming Community Business Expo, which will take place Nov. 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Dan Cannon Auditorium, 36722 State Road 52, in Dade City.

Vendor fees begin at $50 for chamber members, with bundle fees available for $150, which includes space at the expo plus a year membership with the chamber. Sponsorship opportunities are available for $500.

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

CareerSource offering employee training
CareerSource Pasco Hernando is offering assistance through the Employed Worker Training program to help businesses stay on the cutting edge of the current, growing economy.

Trained business service consultants are helping companies increase skilled labor productivity and become more competitive in today’s market, the agency said, in a release. The program also provides financial assistance to employers who wish to invest in their employees.

The program also provides up to 50 percent of the employers’ direct training costs to be reimbursed through the agency. Last year, the local CareerSource office helped provide 150 certifications.

For additional information, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com, or call Sunnye Fredia at (352) 247-0761.

Wesley Chapel networking group
Networking for Your Success meets every Thursday at 8 a.m., at Lexington Oaks Country, 2615 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Cost is $5, and annual membership to the group is $79.

For information, call (813) 073-1657.

Dade City chamber wants award winners
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will host its annual awards banquet Oct. 16. With that, it’s seeking nominations for various awards.

Typically, awards are open to members who have been a part of the chamber in good standing for at least a year. Some of the categories include Business Leader of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Civic Association of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

To learn more about how to nominate, contact Jo Uber at the chamber office at (352) 567-3769, or email her at .

Nominations sought for business awards
Bright House Networks and local chambers of commerce are seeking nominations for its second annual Regional Business Awards.

The awards honor companies, organizations and people who have made an impact with their products, services and thought leadership in the business community.

Nominations are currently being accepted through Sept. 26 in four categories ranging from small business to large business, including a category for start-ups.

Bright House will award prizes including commercial television production, airtime, customer newsletter and cash, with a total value of more than $1 million.

Those interested in applying can visit tinyurl.com/BrightHouseAwards.

The winning businesses will be honored at a dinner Feb. 5 at the Tampa Convention Center.

The $100 application fee is waived for members of local participating chambers of commerce.

Political Agenda 09-17-14

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Remsberg comes out swinging in election fundraising
Erika Remsberg has a tall mountain to climb if she even wants to come close to the amount of money her opponent has raised in the Pasco County Commission District 2 race, but she has started out strong.

The Land O’ Lakes Democrat, who is seeking to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri on the commission, raised $1,075 in the last week of August, the most in a single reporting period for her since the end of June.

As has been her style all along, those dollars were from smaller donations, averaging less than $70 each, according to campaign finance records. That brings Remsberg to just under $6,000 in cash donations compared to the more than $103,400 raised by her Republican challenger, Mike Moore.

Fresh off a primary win against former state lawmaker Ken Littlefield and Zephyrhills financial analyst Bob Robertson, Moore didn’t focus too much on fundraising at the end of August, picking up just $25 — an individual contribution from a Land O’ Lakes resident.

Remsberg immediately put her new money to use, spending more than $1,100 — with more than 81 percent of it spent inside Pasco County. She currently has less than $300 in cash available in her campaign, while Moore has more than $3,600.

Lexington Oaks town hall meeting
A town hall meeting featuring some of November’s political candidates, will take place Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., at the Lexington Oaks Community Center, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The event will include Danny Burgess and Beverly Ledbetter, who are running for state House District 38, as well as Mike Moore and Erika Remsberg, who are running for Pasco County Commission District 2.

Also participating is Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, to talk about his new facility off Wesley Chapel Boulevard in Lutz.

Burgess buries Ledbetter in House fundraising
Former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess chalked up his single-best fundraising week yet in his bid to replace Will Weatherford in the state House District 38 seat, after raising $23,275 in the final week of August.

Burgess had originally faced a primary against Minnie Diaz, but after a paperwork issue, Diaz failed to qualify and Burgess became the lone Republican candidate. That allowed him to focus his attention on the November election against former schoolteacher Beverly Ledbetter, who raised just $450 during the same period.

Burgess is finding a lot of support from political action committees and other groups. In fact, $5,000 alone came from PACs like the Committee for a Stronger Florida, the Florida Hospital Association and the Florida Medical Association.

Of the rest of his money, more than $13,000 was from donors outside of his district.

Money inside his district accounted for $5,525 of his donations, or 24 percent for the reporting period, according to state campaign records.

Ledbetter picked up $250 from the Pasco County Democratic Executive Committee, and $200 from a retired Wesley Chapel resident.

Burgess has now raised $110,040 in his bid for Tallahassee, and still has more than $62,700 in the bank. Ledbetter has raised just shy of $19,000, and has more than $14,800 in cash available.

Starkey to host town hall
Pasco County commissioner Kathryn Starkey will host a town hall meeting Sept. 24 beginning at 7 p.m., at Seven Oaks Elementary School, 27633 Mystic Oak Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Starkey will be joined by members of the Pasco County staff, and possibly state Sen. John Legg and state Rep. Will Weatherford, as well.

Among the topics to be discussed include budget issues like the gas tax, an update on new development in the area, a new baseball sports facility, transportation issues — including Overpass Road — and new area schools.

Starkey has hosted several town hall meetings since being elected to the commission in 2012 after spending eight years on the Pasco County School Board.

For information about the town hall, call (727) 847-8100.

Free rides to the polls
Pasco County Public Transportation will do its part to help get out the vote by offering free rides to the polls on election days for the upcoming cycle.

The deal was worked out between PCPT and county elections supervisor Brian Corley, and was approved by the Pasco County Commission last week.

On election day Nov. 4, voters who present their voter information card will ride free to their local polling location. The goal is to encourage and promote participation in the election process, while also introducing public transportation as a viable option for travel throughout the county, said PCPT director Michael Carroll.

In return, Corley’s office will use available media advertising and respective websites to inform potential riders and voters how to access and navigate the transit system.

Outlet mall not ready to spring up quite yet

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Site work has begun on the Cypress Creek Town Center site near the intersection of State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. It’s just not for the proposed outlet mall in that area.

Instead, dirt has begun to move across the street from the planned 482,000-square-foot mall, where some outparcel retail stores will eventually be built, said Dawn Sutton with Pasco County’s Planning and Development department.

Some activity on a site where some individual retail stores may be located in the future had some residents thinking the proposed outlet mall work was finally beginning. However, that project — across State Road 56 near Wesley Chapel Boulevard — is wrapping up site plan approvals now. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Some activity on a site where some individual retail stores may be located in the future had some residents thinking the proposed outlet mall work was finally beginning. However, that project — across State Road 56 near Wesley Chapel Boulevard — is wrapping up site plan approvals now.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“There are no site plans for that part of the property just yet,” Sutton said. “Right now, it looks like they are just trying to make it site-ready. It’s not a pad, but more of a central system to get ready for some eventual work there.”

The outlet mall itself, tentatively called Cypress Creek Town Center Premium Outlets Mall, is still going through site plan review, Sutton said. One of the developers involved with Simon Property Group submitted paperwork to the county Sept. 4, all part of the standard back-and-forth between a developer and the county.

If both sides can square away any lingering issues, Simon could start moving its own dirt on the site in 30 days. That means actual construction, once building permits are issued, could get underway before the end of the year.

The mall will almost certainly not hit its originally announced completion date of the end of 2014. In fact, whether the outlet mall will hit the Summer 2015 timeframe county administrator Michele Baker suggested earlier this year is still yet to be seen. Simon did not return an email last week seeking comment.

The entire process for Simon is a little déjà vu, Sutton said.

“The 50 acres that is being planned for the mall sits differently than it did before,” she said. “They have a different layout, and the location is adjusted.”

Simon had originally planned a 1.2 million-square-foot project with 600,000 square feet of retail, and 120,000 square feet of office by 2011. Expanded plans included 350 hotel rooms, 230 apartments, and a 2,582-seat movie theater.

Yet, the east indigo snake and the economy got in the way. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delayed final environmental approval for years, with one herpetologist telling officials that the land is necessary to help the snake avoid major roadways.

The Army Corps cleared the way for the mall last November.

“We are very excited to be moving forward on this project, and are commencing meetings with the county to determine approvals and a schedule,” Danielle DeVita, senior vice president for development and acquisition at Simon, said in a statement last year.

Simon still needs to finalize its site layout, which would require approval by Pasco County commissioners. However, Sutton doesn’t anticipate their being any additional controversy with the site.

Some of the land work on the mall site had already been done back in 2007, said Carol Clarke, assistant planning and development administrator for the county.

“There was earth working done there, which was part of what they were initially going to do,” Clarke said. “They have this new plan, but it looks like they are endeavoring to use as much of the existing infrastructure there as they can.”

Simon is joined on the project by JG Cypress Creek LLC and Tampa Premium Outlets LLC, and is expected to be built in seven phases, according to plans submitted last April. The overall project will consist of nine buildings, and nearly 2,400 parking spaces. The complete project is expected to offer 1.1 million square feet of commercial space.

Published September 10, 2014

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Blowing up: Jonathan Fudge’s business vision takes shape

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As a balloon artist, Jonathan Fudge has to be able to field all kinds of requests like dogs, swords and hearts. And recently, a fire alarm.

“I said, ‘Tell me what’s important about a fire alarm to you,’” recalled Fudge. And after hearing what elements clients wanted to see — a round shape, place for batteries, test button — he got to work immediately.

With around 20 years experience, Jonathan Fudge isn’t afraid to tackle any balloon project.
With around 20 years experience, Jonathan Fudge isn’t afraid to tackle any balloon project.

“I made it happen for him,” he said. “That’s my job.”

Fudge, who attended Land O’ Lakes High School and lives in Lutz, has been creating balloon art for most of his life.

“I used to be the best, youngest balloon artist in the world. But then I got older,” he said with a laugh.

Now 28, Fudge started making shapes 20 years ago, and has been working events since he was 16. It’s taken him to places like Belgium, China and Japan. He’s also turned his love of entertaining into a larger, thriving business.

His company, YTE Events, boasts a stable of more than 130 performers who entertain at parties, celebrations, school programs, and corporate and charity events.

One upcoming charity on YTE’s schedule is the Cheval Cares 5k & Family Fun Day, Sept. 20. Now in its third year, the event — at the Cheval Athletic Club in Lutz — benefits the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

YTE — which stands for Your Total Entertainment — participates in a number of charitable events that benefit groups like Metropolitan Ministries and Suncoast Hospice. For Fudge, it’s just part of helping others in the community, his entertainers, and the people who enjoy them.

“I got my start through charity,” he said. “Someone taught me for free. But I’m not the only one who’s been touched by that.

“When I can give my entertainers an outlet to do something they love, and to share what they love with other people, that skips over all kinds of boundaries.”

Even non-charitable events allow his performers to get the satisfaction that comes with entertaining others with their special skills and abilities.

Fudge’s stable of performers includes superheroes and princesses (some might bear a resemblance to famous names, but aren’t specifically representing characters who would cost a lot of money to license) as well as mermaids, magicians, ninjas, jugglers and face-painters. He works out of his home, matching the right entertainment to specific events, as well as performing balloon art himself.

The company handles around 50 different events each month, he said.

Fudge himself heads out to his own gigs making balloon shapes. The art form has changed a lot over the past few years, he said. In the past, one could get away with making basic shapes using just one balloon. But people expect more definition and complexity today, and that means staying on top of trends, learning new styles and being creative on the fly.

Fudge has fielded unusual requests like lawnmowers and vacuum cleaners, and participated in creating a dress made out of balloons.

Running his business isn’t easy, either. In addition to the 20 to 25 hours he spends doing balloon art, he can invest as much as 80 hours a week keeping things running smoothly, and making sure the right entertainment is placed with the right event.

Finding high-caliber talent is a challenge as well. It’s one thing to run across someone with a nice costume and the right look, but entertaining at an event takes more than that. And Fudge doesn’t let just anybody join the team. He’s very picky, and is looking for performers who have a natural ability to interact with people in an entertaining and positive way.

“What’s really more important, and what I can’t teach, is personality,” he said. “They have to be good with kids, they have to be charismatic, they have to be fun, they have to be high energy.

“And someone who really loves what they do. If they’re in love with the character they’re trying to portray, then they’re going to portray them in a much more realistic and believable way.”

Fudge’s team is filled with performers quick on their feet, and who are willing to do a bit of acting to really adopt the image they’re displaying at the event.

The end result is a strong group of handpicked performers who share passion for their craft and appreciate the opportunity to share it with the public. And beyond the costumes, balloons and other props, Fudge considers that passion to be his company’s biggest asset.

“There are other agencies in the area and elsewhere,” he said. “But I think what sets our agency apart is the fact that everyone in my company loves what they do.”

For more information about YTE Events, visit YTEEvents.com.

Published September 10, 2014

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Club Mom offers women and kids a chance to relax, socialize

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When Megan Hendricks moved to Land O’ Lakes from Tampa, she was looking for a place to meet new friends and mingle with other mothers.

She decided to check out a meeting of Club Mom of Lutz/Land O’ Lakes. And now, just a few years later, she’s president of the group.

Grace Hendricks, 5, and Eden Hendricks, 3, enjoy a Halloween gathering put on by Club Mom of Lutz/Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Megan Hendricks)
Grace Hendricks, 5, and Eden Hendricks, 3, enjoy a Halloween gathering put on by Club Mom of Lutz/Land O’ Lakes.
(Courtesy of Megan Hendricks)

“I didn’t know anybody,” Hendricks said. So, she went to a Club Mom meeting and immediately felt at home.

“Everybody was super nice and friendly. It’s casual. It’s laid back,” said Hendricks, 39, who has two daughters, Grace, 5, and Eden, 3.

There are lots of things to do, in lots of places, giving members plenty of options, she said.

Heather Hemberger, who moved to Land O’ Lakes from South Tampa, also was looking for a way to plug in with other new moms. She heard about the club and decided to check it out.

“I joined a year ago, when my son was five weeks old,” Hemberger said, noting she was attracted to the group’s laid-back nature. “I was looking for some friends for my little guy and it seemed like a really neat group of moms.”

Hemberger was a youth director and preschool teacher before she became a stay-at-home mom. And she’s glad she joined Club Mom.

“What’s different about our group is that we’re really flexible,” Hemberger said. “A lot of groups have lots of rules. We allow members to say, ‘Hey, I have an idea. Let’s do this.’”

There’s no pressure to be at gatherings, either.

“If you can come, come,” Hemberger said.

The group has 31 members, ranging in age from the 20s to 40s. Some are stay-at-home moms, some work part-time, and some are working moms, Hemberger said. Some moms have one child, and others have more.

The club meets frequently at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, but also meets at other locations, such as Wiregrass Wednesdays and club members’ homes.

“A typical group is someone will bring snacks and we’ll meet at the playground,” Hemberger said. “Very low-key.”

The club gives members a chance to socialize and gives their kids a chance to have fun. It also provides a forum for moms to share information about doctors, low-cost entertainment, day care options, and parenting advice.

“I wouldn’t say we all have one parenting philosophy, which is also refreshing because everyone has a different approach to parenting,” Hemberger said.

Hemberger has made some good friends through the group.

“It’s definitely fun,” she said. “For me and for a lot of the women in leadership, it’s a way to still have an outlet.”

The club specifically targets members in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, but does have some members from New Tampa and Carrollwood.

Most of its get-togethers are in the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes communities for the convenience of club members, Hemberger said. Most of the events are in the day, for moms and their children. But there are occasional family events, in the evening or on the weekend.

The group also likes to celebrate holidays with special events, and also likes to help out various charities.

The club will host an open house Sept. 19, so potential members can find out more. It will be at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, and will feature crafts for the kids and some giveaways.

Hemberger encourages any mom who thinks she might want to join, to check it out.

“For me, I feel like it makes me a better mom to him, when I’m able to get out of the house, get a cup of coffee, meet up with friends,” she said.

If you go …
WHAT: Club Mom of Lutz/Land O’ Lakes is hosting an open house to introduce local moms to their group. The open house will feature crafts and giveaways.
WHERE: Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway
WHEN: Sept. 19 at 10 a.m.
COST: Event is free, but annual dues to join the group are $20
INFO: Meetup.com/momsclub or find ‘Club Mom of Lutz/Land O’ Lakes’ on Facebook

Published September 10, 2014

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Cyclists gear up to Spin the Suncoast in inaugural ride

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Cyclists looking for a new challenge may enjoy an event that’s debuting on Sept. 21 on the Suncoast Trail.

Spin the Suncoast is presented by DRC Sports and sponsored by Suncoast Trailside Bicycles, Pasco County Parks and Recreation and Southwest Florida Watershed Management District. It aims to appeal to all sorts of cyclists, said Chris Moling, the ride director.

A look at some cyclists involved in another ride organized by DRC Sports, the organizers of the inaugural Spin the Suncoast Ride, set for Sept. 21.
A look at some cyclists involved in another ride organized by DRC Sports, the organizers of the inaugural Spin the Suncoast Ride, set for Sept. 21.

Riders will be able to choose four distance options: nine miles, 28 miles, 50 miles and a Century Challenge of 100 miles.

The start, finish and registration take place at Suncoast Trailside Bicycles at 16216 State Road 54, in the Target Shopping Center, Moling said. The ride begins at the State Road 54 trailhead, with cyclists starting between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies will be on hand to make sure riders make it safely across State Road 54 to get to the Suncoast Trail trailhead on State Road 54, Moling said.

Emergency crews will be on standby, in case any medical emergencies arise during the event, and there will be support and gear stops for riders along the route.

The event will take place rain or shine.

The paved state trail winds through Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. The nine-mile ride will head north from the trailhead, take the shortest loop and enjoy a scenic ride to the trail entrance to the Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

The 28-mile ride includes a fully supported stop at Crews Lake Park, with food and beverages, as well as music and restrooms.

The 50-mile ride includes a support stop at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex with snacks and beverages.

The 100-mile ride, which attracts more serious riders, involves riding the trail to its north end, plus a ride toward the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, and then back. There are limited road crossings, giving riders plenty of space to spin their wheels.

Cyclists from as far away as Miami and Tallahassee already have signed up to join the ride, Moling said. More than 100 have registered as of last week, and organizers believe the number could climb to around 600.

The race was organized at the request of cycling enthusiasts, Moling said. They said, “Hey, there’s nothing really happening on the Suncoast, so to speak,” he added.

If there’s enough interest, the ride could become an annual event, Moling said.

Besides the support provided by ride organizers, cyclists also will get a T-shirt, a continental breakfast, and barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs after their ride, Moling said.

Trail support for riders will end at 3 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds will be used to help fund some cross-country scholarships in Hernando County.

If you go …
WHAT: Spin the Suncoast Century Challenge Bike Ride, an event aimed to attract all types of cyclists.
WHERE: Registration and check-in at Suncoast Trailside Bicycles at 16216 State Road 54, near the Suncoast Trail on State Road 54
WHEN: Cyclists can start their ride any time between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
COST: Early registration through Sept. 17 is $40. Registration on race day is $45.
INFO: Call (352) 637-2475, or email

Published September 10, 2014

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Local student finds trip to China enlightening

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When Darin Kilfoyl found out about the possibility of traveling to China to learn more about its language and culture, he seized the chance.

The 15-year-old, who attends Academy at the Lakes, is deeply interested in expanding his knowledge about the country and its language.

Darin Kilfoyl poses with a young boy from China during Kilfoyl’s two-week trip to learn more about the country’s language, culture and history. It turns out that much of the clothing worn by the people he encountered is similar to the clothing that Americans wear, he says. (Courtesy of Darin Kilfoyl)
Darin Kilfoyl poses with a young boy from China during Kilfoyl’s two-week trip to learn more about the country’s language, culture and history. It turns out that much of the clothing worn by the people he encountered is similar to the clothing that Americans wear, he says.
(Courtesy of Darin Kilfoyl)

His teacher, Wei Wang, told him about the two-week program sponsored by the University of South Florida and the Confucius Institute. Wang said she knew Kilfoyl’s desire to learn more about China and believed he would benefit from the experience.

Kilfoyl said the two weeks he spent in China gave him new insights about the country, and made him want to make a return trip when he has a better command of the language.

The program provided an expenses-paid experience, aside from airfare, which was slightly more than $1,000, said Kilfoyl, who lives in Lake Padgett. The daily routine included morning language, culture and history classes, and day trips to learn more about the Chinese way of life.

The group spent the first couple of days in Beijing, then went to Hangzhou, which is a little bit west of Shanghai.

“If you want to see the true identity of China, don’t stay in Beijing, but go to a province where there’s a lake similar to Hangzhou,” Kilfoyl said. “Or go to the mountain regions where it’s all nature.”

Beijing is very polluted, he added.

“It’s very modernized, but there are so many people that it’s polluted,” Kilfoyl said. “It’s a little hard to breathe, and it’s really difficult to see.”

The traffic is insane.

“People there are masters of driving. They come within an inch of another car. It was surprising how fast and how close they drove,” Kilfoyl said, but added, “I didn’t see a single accident.”

Because it has such a large population, Beijing prohibits 20 percent of the people who own cars to drive them within the city limits on workdays, Kilfoyl said. The government controls that by monitoring a numbering system on license plates.

The students studied at the Hangzhou Foreign Language School.

“It was a private school, where kids in China or from out of the country would study different languages from around the world,” Kilfoyl said.

The students in his group stayed in a guesthouse, which he said was similar to a dorm, with upgrades.

“In the morning, we’d eat breakfast at the cafeteria, then we’d normally have a class, where we’d practice learning Chinese or about the culture or something about China’s history,” Kilfoyl said. “Then we would go on a trip, somewhere within the province. Normally, we went to two places during the day.”

They visited the Xi Xi Wetlands, a museum that described the role water has played in the development of Chinese life. They also visited pagodas around the lake and heard Chinese folk tales.

As they made their way about the country, Kilfoyl noticed that most of the people he encountered were wearing modern clothing, which was similar to American styles of dress. When he arrived in China, he wasn’t sure what the food was going to be like and he also wasn’t sure about proper etiquette, he said.

The Chinese food he ate was substantially different than the fare served at Chinese restaurants in America. For one thing, he said, “not much of it is fried.”

“They eat a lot of white rice and vegetables,” Kilfoyl said. “If they had meat, it was just a little bit, just for taste.”

There were far fewer choices on television, he said. There was the government television channel, a channel that showed a Chinese version of “The Voice” reality competition show, and a channel that aired dramatic programming.

Before making the trip, Kilfoyl wasn’t sure whether the people would be cordial.

It turns out he had nothing to worry about.

“When we were there, everybody was very friendly,” Kilfoyl said.

Published September 10, 2014

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Twins set to become second-generation Eagle Scouts

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Last year, only 7 percent of all Boy Scouts achieved the organization’s highest honor — the Eagle Scout rank. Yet, fraternal twin brothers Joseph Nystrom II and Jonathan Nystrom will officially earn that final badge — even though they’ll only be able to wear it for six days.

“The ceremony is on Sept. 20, but our birthday is on Sept. 26,” said Joseph, who is two minutes older than his brother. “Once we turn 18, we won’t be able to wear it.”

Twin brothers Jonathan Nystrom, left, and Joseph Nystrom II, will be awarded Boy Scout of America’s highest honor Sept. 20, when each receives the Eagle Scout rank. Jonathan created a portable storage container for a fishing camp in Lakeland, while Joseph did landscaping work, including shrubbery like they’re posing with at St. Rita Catholic Church. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Twin brothers Jonathan Nystrom, left, and Joseph Nystrom II, will be awarded Boy Scout of America’s highest honor Sept. 20, when each receives the Eagle Scout rank. Jonathan created a portable storage container for a fishing camp in Lakeland, while Joseph did landscaping work, including shrubbery like they’re posing with at St. Rita Catholic Church.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The Nystrom brothers will actually become second-generation Eagle Scouts, following in the footsteps of their father, Dr. Joseph Nystrom, a family practice doctor in Zephyrhills. They each earned at least 21 merit badges, served six months in a troop leadership position, and planned a project that will leave a lasting legacy in the community.

Joseph wrapped up his project a few weeks ago, constructing a landscaping project, volleyball court and a bench at his family’s church, St. Rita Catholic Church in Dade City. Jonathan got his project going much earlier, building a portable fishing storage unit for the Teneroc Youth Conservation Center in Lakeland late last year.

“This summer camp program had 260 fishing rods in a shed that just wasn’t organized at all,” Jonathan said. “They wanted me to build some way to hold all of them, and store them, and be transportable. It took me three months, but it’s made out of steel, and that thing is going to last 20 years.”

Joseph’s project kept him a little closer to home, paying close attention to a neighboring religious school building that needed some attention.

“Surrounding the CCD building is a whole bunch of shrubbery, and it didn’t look very good,” Joseph said. “I decided I wanted to redo it. But then the church’s Life Teen group wanted something for kids to do while they waited for their families at church, and asked for volleyball posts and stuff, so I built that, too.”

Both decided to wait for the official Eagle ceremony so that they could do it together. The brothers are part of Boy Scout Troop 311, which meets in San Antonio. They both started as Cub Scouts, working their way up.

“We made really good friends in the troop, and there are a lot of good people there,” Joseph said.

“You are responsible for helping the troop grow, and you want to help out and make it a better troop,” Jonathan said. “You really appreciate the skills you learn in Scouts.”

Since joining the Boy Scouts in 2008, Jonathan has earned 29 merit badges, and was admitted to the Order of the Arrow — the national honor society of Boy Scouts — in March 2013. Joseph also has a place in Order of the Arrow, and earned 21 merit badges.

They both have stories for each one of their badges — but not all of them are good.

“My personal management badge was the worst,” Joseph said with a laugh. “That was three months of keeping track of receipts and money. I am just horrible at paperwork, so it was the last thing I wanted to do.”

But there are some fun badges as well, including ones that allowed the two to go whitewater rafting in North Carolina.

“We went down all these different rivers, and some were super dangerous, which made it 10 times more fun,” Joseph said. “A couple of times, they had to shut down parts of the Chattooga River because it was that bad.”

Another trip took the two to Minnesota where they rowed 132 miles in a canoe.

Joseph and Jonathan are seniors at Pasco High School, where Joseph is on the swim team, and Jonathan a right fielder with the baseball team. Both are in dual enrollment, taking classes with Pasco-Hernando State College, and neither has really started to look at colleges yet.

“We’re thinking about the University of South Florida,” Jonathan said. “We’re still trying to plan things out.”

“Yeah,” Joseph said. “We need to start applying fast.”

The Eagle Scout ceremony will take place in the St. Anthony of Padua parish hall in San Antonio Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.

Published September 10, 2014

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Bikers honor first responders with annual Gratitude Ride

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Wayne Mancarella knew it would be a long day on his motorcycle, beginning with a trip from his home in Largo to the Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club in Wesley Chapel.

Local roads between Wesley Chapel and Dade City welcomed hundreds of motorcycles on Sept. 6 as the 9/11 Gratitude Ride commenced, honoring the local heroes of Pasco County Fire Rescue. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Local roads between Wesley Chapel and Dade City welcomed hundreds of motorcycles on Sept. 6 as the 9/11 Gratitude Ride commenced, honoring the local heroes of Pasco County Fire Rescue.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But there was nowhere else Mancarella wanted to be. He joined hundreds of other bikers for the 9/11 Gratitude Ride, raising money for the Pasco County Fire Rescue Benevolent Fund to make sure families of fallen first responders were well taken care of.

“Sometimes we take both the cops and our firefighters for granted,” Mancarella said. “I’m glad there are people out there like them willing to do all the things we need them to do. There’s no one else like them.”

The 9/11 Gratitude Ride is now in its fifth year, settling in at its home at Quail Hollow through the work of Land O’ Lakes Realtor Dan Turner. The Sept. 6 event not only pooled together money to help who Turner called local heroes, but to honor the men and women who died trying to rescue people during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“Make no mistake about it, this is a 9/11 event,” Turner told the crowd on Saturday. “We call it the Gratitude Ride because we can’t go to New York, we can’t go to Pennsylvania, we can’t go to Washington, to express our gratitude to the emergency workers there. So what better way to express our gratitude to the local men and women who protect us every single day.”

The parade of motorcycles traveled more than 50 miles from Quail Hollow that morning to visit Pasco County Fire Rescue stations in Dade City and Zephyrhills. There, bikers met with firefighters and paramedics, learning more about what they do, and the dangers they face every day.

“As the events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded, these men and women ran into those two buildings, they ran into the Pentagon, they ran out to the grass site in Pennsylvania,” Turner said. “It was all to do one thing — to save people like you and me. That is what they do. As we are running from danger, what are they doing? They are running into it.”

After the visit to the fire stations, crowds returned to Quail Hollow for an afternoon event that included food, vendors, and live music from The Greg Billings Band.

Final numbers from the recent event were not available, but past Gratitude Rides have raised more than $6,000 for the benevolent fund.

Published September 10, 2014

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