The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Thanksgiving is a time of tradition, fellowship, food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Thanksgiving events

  • The Northeast Pasco Ministerial Association is having an annual Thanksgiving service Nov. 25 at noon, followed by a meal at Calvary Assembly, 13544 U.S. 98-Bypass, Dade City. A free will offering will be taken.

  • The 35th annual Bluegrass Music Festival will have bands, music, workshops and camping from Nov. 27-29, at the Sertoma Youth Ranch, 85 Meyers Road in Brooksville.

  • Annual Thanksgiving Boogie and Skillz in the Hillz, Nov. 22-31, at 4241 Sky Dive Lane in Zephyrhills. Buffet dinners are served nightly. For information, visit SkydiveCity.com.

Published November 19, 2014

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Business Digest 11-19-14

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

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

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

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

For information, call (813) 995-0937.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming speakers include:

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

Catholic Business Networking seeks members
The Catholic Business Networking group is looking for Catholic business owners, employees and supporters interested in joining it for regular meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.

The group has annual dues of $60, and there is a minimum attendance requirement of two meetings per month.

For information, call (813) 833-4737, or visit CBNTampa.com.

Business Link available monthly
Business Link, a monthly small business gathering hosted by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting is designed to provide a networking and information-sharing platform for the business community.

For locations, details and to reserve a seat, email , or call (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

 

On The Agenda 11-19-14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dunn deal: Home sweet home surprises Dade City resident

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

She got a lot more than she bargained for.

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

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

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

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

Not bad for a Friday morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published November 12, 2014

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Money spoke loudly in this year’s election

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published November 12, 2014

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Auto mechanics class for girls only proves popular

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published November 12, 2014

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Politicians talk local, but don’t spend local

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Ever wonder how much $324,000 can buy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moore did not respond to a request for comment.

Published November 12, 2014

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A time-honored tradition to remember those who served

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The four men came to Lutz Cemetery on a Saturday morning, with a cool breeze stirring the trees, and the sun shining brightly in the clear blue sky.

They got to work quickly, each grabbing a supply of American flags and staking out a segment of the cemetery.

Bill Garrison, commander of American Legion Post 108, marches through Lutz Cemetery, surveying gravestones of military veterans to decorate with an American flag in honor of Veterans Day. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Bill Garrison, commander of American Legion Post 108, marches through Lutz Cemetery, surveying gravestones of military veterans to decorate with an American flag in honor of Veterans Day. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The men — Bill Garrison, Ray Mason, Richard Fernandez and Jim Evans — worked their way through the rows of gravestones, looking for those marking the final resting place of men and women who served to protect American freedom.

While Garrison, Mason and Fernandez surveyed areas closer to U.S. 41, Evans checked out the rear section of the cemetery. Each time they found a veteran’s gravestone, they solemnly planted a flag at the edge of the gravestone.

Marking the grave with a flag is an act of remembrance, and of respect. It’s something members of American Legion Post 108 do at Lutz Cemetery every Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day.

The flags remain until a day after Veterans Day, when the men come back to recover them.

The flags honor veterans from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. There’s even a grave of a Civil War soldier and another of a Spanish-American War soldier a soldier, Mason said.

The ritual of remembering men and women who served has been going on for close to 30 years, said Mason, the post’s adjutant.

Each time, they post about 200 flags. “We used to do more cemeteries, but membership dwindled,” said Garrison, the post commander.

As World War II veterans die, the post’s membership has declined. Now, the post — which draws its members from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes — has 97 members, Garrison said.

There are around 200 veterans buried in Lutz Cemetery, he said.

“There’s a lot of sacrifice here,” said Garrison, who served in the U.S. Air Force as a code breaker.

Fernandez, a past commander and the current financial officer for the post who served in the U.S. Coast Guard, said he takes part in the flag postings to honor those who have courageously served this country.

“Unfortunately they don’t get the honor and respect that they deserve,” Fernandez said.

Respect for veterans has improved, however, said Mason, who served in the U.S. Navy.

“Every once in awhile I wear my hat out, and I can’t believe the number of people who come up and say, ‘Thank you for your service,’” he said.

That’s a far different response than the one he received when he first finished military service.

“When I got out in ’65, everybody was against the war, all of that anti-Vietnam stuff,” said Mason, who did not serve in Vietnam.

He was surprised by the negative reception.

“I was taken back,” Mason said.

Evans, who served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam and during the first Gulf War, said posting the flags at the cemetery provides a sense of satisfaction.

“It gives you a nice feeling to have them remembered,” he said.

The men do the best they can to ensure they honor each veteran buried there. They look at the gravestones for any indication of military service.

“Sometimes it is just a little notation on there,” Evans said.

To make sure he didn’t miss any, Garrison kicks leaves off of graves, and scrapes off dirt. The other men made close inspections, too.

“I hate to miss one,” Evans said. “It really hurts me if I miss a veteran. We always make an extra sweep, and we always find some that we missed.”

Evans estimates he’s posted flags at the cemetery about 20 times. Sometimes, the work is easier than others. During the recent posting, conditions were pleasant.

But the heat can be brutal during the Memorial Day and Fourth of July postings, or sometimes it’s pouring rain.

“There have been times after a heavy rain where you almost sink,” Garrison said. “We slop through the mess.”

On the upside, though, “there’s no problem with putting them (the flags) in,” he added.

After they post the flags and complete their sweep, the men conclude by playing “Taps,” — a final tribute for those who served.

Published November 12, 2014

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Playoff foe awaits district champ Sunlake

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Each year, high school football teams enter the season with specific goals. Some achieve them, and others fall short.

For Sunlake High School, the goal since the school’s inception has been to claim a district title. And every year they’ve fallen short of that goal.

Until this year.

Sunlake High School junior Nick Valdes, left, and the rest of the Seahawks hope to make the most of their first playoff berth as district champions. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Sunlake High School junior Nick Valdes, left, and the rest of the Seahawks hope to make the most of their first playoff berth as district champions. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

The Seahawks survived a three-way tiebreaker on Nov. 3 that had teams playing one quarter of football against each other to determine a winner. As a result, they’ll enter the playoffs with the title of district champion of Class 6A-District 6, an accomplishment that’s not lost on head coach Bill Browning.

“It’s very gratifying. The kids worked very hard for it,” said Browning, who has been with the school since it opened in 2007.

Back then, the team was essentially a junior varsity squad, he said, and were out-matched at every turn. But over the years, Browning and his staff have built a successful program, finally claiming that elusive district title this season.

As a result, Browning let himself enjoy the moment. For a few hours, anyway.

By the next morning, it was on to game preparations, and getting his team prepared for the games in front of them.

“You meet one challenge and then you go on to the next challenge,” he said. “That’s the competitive nature.”

The challenge in the playoffs will be a home tilt against Vanguard High School on Nov. 14. Located in Ocala, the Knights don’t seem too formidable on paper. They’re just 4-5 on the season, and claimed a playoff spot as runner-up in District 5 with a 2-2 record. They were 1-4 on the road, and gave up an average of nearly 47 points in their five losses.

But Browning and the Seahawks won’t make any assumptions with regard to Vanguard. They’ve faced them in the playoffs before, winning a close contest, and know that any team that makes the postseason has talent.

To be successful, Sunlake will rely on the players like Naejaun Jackson, a running back and receiver who has given the offense a spark in the second half of the season. Browning described Jackson as the “lightning” to running back Nathan Johnson’s “thunder.”

While the experience of entering the playoffs as a district champion is a new experience for Sunlake, it’s nothing new for Browning. A high school coach for 25 years, he also earned district titles for Springstead High School and Hernando High School before taking the job to start the Seahawks’ program from scratch.

But this one is special, in part because his biggest fan isn’t here to watch the games anymore. His father, Maurice, passed away this past summer at age 95.

During his son’s tenure the older Browning attended every Sunlake football game. In the last contest he saw, the spring classic game, Browning’s father saw the team that would eventually earn the school its first district title.

And his assessment of his son’s team at the time?

“After the classic, his words to me were, ‘You’ve got your work cut out for you,’” Browning recalled.

After a lot of hard work, Sunlake is not only a district champion for the first time, but a playoff host as well. Browning hopes those advantages will help the team go farther this year than during previous campaigns.

“The farthest we’ve gotten is the second round in the playoffs,” Browning said. ‘That’s our goal now, to go farther than any Sunlake team has.”

While Sunlake has been able to console themselves with playoff runs while they sought a district title, it was a different story for Zephyrhills High School. But they snapped an eight-year playoff drought with their own tie-breaker game, and will head to the playoffs as the Class 5A-District 7 runner-up.

While the Bulldogs can be proud of accomplishing a major goal for 2014, there’s just one problem: The actual playoffs haven’t even started yet.

So now what?

“You feel really good for a short time, but you know you’ve got to get back to work and start over,” Zephyrhills coach Reggie Roberts said. “Our objective is not just to get there. It’s to perform once we get to the playoffs.”

Soon after he was drenched in a celebratory bath from the water cooler, Roberts already was thinking of the Bulldogs’ playoff strategy.

And Zephyrhills isn’t expecting a warm welcome in their return to the postseason. Their first match-up will be Nov. 14 at Live Oak to face Suwannee High School, a team that didn’t need any tiebreakers to qualify for the playoffs. With a perfect 9-0 overall record headed into their final regular season game, Suwannee dominated District 5 with a 6-0 mark. The Bulldogs finished at 9-1 after a 42-14 loss to Columbia High School from Lake City.

The team — also nicknamed the Bulldogs — has held opponents to seven points or less four separate times, while being held under 30 themselves just once.

The key to the Zephyrhills’ success, according to Roberts, will be not changing things just because it’s the playoffs. From coaching to practice to execution, he wants his team to utilize the same strengths that helped them reach the postseason.

“We have to go with what got us there, and we have to do what we’ve done all year long,” he said. “We have to play consistent football on both sides of the ball.”

Roberts knows first-hand the importance of ending the season strong. As an all-state linebacker for Zephyrhills, he made the playoffs in his senior season back in 1989. His defensive coordinator, Booker Pickett, also was on that team. But they lost their playoff game, a match-up Roberts still remembers well and thinks they could have won.

He doesn’t want his team ending their year with a feeling that they could have done more in the postseason, and his focus is on getting them as prepared as possible to be successful.

But Roberts also wants them to enjoy the moment the way he did when he played in the postseason, and appreciate the special atmosphere.

“The crowd, it was so packed there was no room to sit,” Roberts recalled. “It was tremendous. It was like a college atmosphere. It was great small-town football.

“That’s why you want to get there. To create those memories.”

Nov. 14
Vanguard at Sunlake, 7:30 p.m.
Zephyrhills at Suwanee, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $8
If Sunlake (8-2) wins, Seahawks take on winner of Mitchell (6-4) at Gainesville (5-5).
If Zephyrhills (8-2) wins, Bulldogs take on winner of North Marion (8-2) at South Sumter (10-0).

Published November 12, 2014

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Business Digest 11-12-14

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Pasco home sales drop in October
Home sales in Pasco County were down quite a bit in October, but median sales are on the rise.

An unofficial analysis of home sales by The Laker/Lutz News through the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s office showed 771 residential properties changing hands through the traditional warranty deed method last month, totaling $100.1 million. That was down from 1,016 properties sold the year before for $121.1 million.

Yet, both the medial price and the average square foot price were on the rise for homes in Pasco. The median grew from $90,000 last year to $105,000 this year, while home prices themselves rose from $71 per square foot, to $81.

Distressed sales, typically created by foreclosures, also rose from the previous year by 43 percent, with $16.7 million changing hands through the certificate of title process, compared to $8.9 million in 2013. However, the median price of those sales also rose from $32,100 to $43,050. Square foot prices expanded from $35 to $44.

Pasco sold 79 mobile homes in October at a median price of $36,500, or $39 per square foot. At the same time, 28 condominiums were sold at a median price of $44,000, or $52 per square foot. Both are down from October 2013 numbers where 101 mobile homes and 64 condos sold.

The mobile homes had a median price then of $44,750, or $39 per square foot, while the median price for the condos were $45,000, or $54 per square foot.

The most expensive single-family home sold in October was for $710,000 at 5952 Thomas Circle in Land O’ Lakes.

Wesley Chapel chamber hosting job fairThe Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will host a job fair with Spherion Staffing Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the chamber office, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Admission is free.

For information, visit Spherion.com/naturecoast-fl.

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

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

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

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

CareerSource job fair attracts 315 people
More than 300 people decided to “race to work,” taking part in a job fair through CareerSource Pasco Hernando.

RACE to Work — the Reemployment Assistance Community Event — attracted 315 job-seekers and 50 employers according to a release. It took place at three sites in Dade City, New Port Richey and Spring Hill, and was designed to help pair people who have received or exhausted unemployment benefits, with employers with job openings.

Employers taking part included Target, Alumni Guard, Toys R Us, Communication Concepts and Sparton Electronics, as well as the county’s largest employer, Pasco County Schools.

Each industry was looking to hire up to 70 new employees for both seasonal and permanent positions.

For more information on the organization, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com, or call Sunnye Fredia at (352) 247-0761.

Dade City business expo
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will host its 2014 Community & Business Expo Nov. 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Pasco County Fairground’s Dan Cannon Auditorium, on State Road 52, in Dade City.

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

Open house for Restored Hope
Restored Hope will host a community open house Nov. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 13703 17th St., in Dade City.

Restored Hope is a Christian organization that helps people in need or at risk in the community by providing food, and the means to become self-sufficient.

To RSVP, call (325) 437-4815.

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

Upcoming speakers include:

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

Catholic Business Networking seeks members
The Catholic Business Networking group is looking for Catholic business owners, employees and supporters interested in joining it for regular meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.

The group has annual dues of $60, and there is a minimum attendance requirement of two meetings per month.

For information, call (813) 833-4737, or visit CBNTampa.com.

Business Link available monthly
Business Link, a monthly small business gathering hosted by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting is designed to provide a networking and information-sharing platform for the business community.

For locations, details and to reserve a seat, email , or call (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

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 .

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

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