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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Local soccer teams earn gold in Special Olympics

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While soccer fans around the world are watching the World Cup, two teams from Land O’ Lakes High School already are basking in victory.

Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Two squads, the Grey Team and the Gold Team, each claimed the gold medal in their respective divisions at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games, May 16-17 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.

The Grey Team is a Division 2 team with seven players per side, while the Gold Team is a Division 3 team with five players per side. Divisions are set up based on team skill levels.

Each team is unified, meaning athletes play alongside partners to help them and provide support. The Gold Team has four players and three partners playing at one time, while the Grey Team has three players and two partners.

While the players are happy to have achieved their goal, their longtime coach, Vicky King, is equally proud.

“It was a great accomplishment. Our teams have trained really hard this year,” she said.

The Gold Team had little knowledge of soccer before they started playing together a few years ago, King explained. For their first two years playing soccer, they didn’t score a single goal. Now they understand the game, talk about it, and claimed the gold medal in their division.

And the Grey Team has a chance to continue playing at an advanced level. They’re eligible to compete at the World Games, and if selected, they’ll go to Los Angeles to take part next July.

The keys to success are the same as they would be for any championship team, King said. Hard work, a balanced squad, and an emphasis on fitness and skills led the teams to victory.

But the Special Olympics is about more than competition. Land O’ Lakes resident Terry Ahearn said his son, Andrew, truly enjoys being a part of the team and competing in the games.

“He loves it. It’s been really good for him, too,” Ahearn said.

Andrew has participated in Special Olympics for years, and plays soccer for the Grey Team. He has autism, and is high-functioning. His father said that playing has given him more confidence, and even though he can be hard on himself, he always has praise and support for his teammates.

While playing on a unified team allows the athletes to get on-field support, it doesn’t affect the team dynamic. Ahearn said once they start playing, everyone is working toward the same goal.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re playing basketball, if they’re bowling or playing soccer, you really can’t tell the difference between any of the kids,” he said. “They’re just like any other team.”

And like any other athlete, Andrew is happy to have claimed the gold for his team.

“It feels good,” he said. “We did our best.”

The midfielder said participating in various sports — Andrew also competes in bowling, basketball and flag football — and having fun are the best things about the games. He was named Athlete of the Year for Pasco County.

For his father, coaches like King are some of the real highlights of participating in the Special Olympics. The teachers and coaches make the experience more valuable for the participants, he said.

“I’m proud of (Andrew) and how he competes and what he’s learned, but I’m also proud of the teachers and the coaches,” Ahearn said. “Because he would not be where he is right now if he didn’t have the teachers and coaches that gave so much of themselves.

“To do what these kids are doing and to reach them takes a special person. I could not say enough good things about them.”

For more information about the Special Olympics, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org.

Published July 9, 2014

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Horse rescue inspires Bavota to write, act in new film

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The fictionalized movie tale of a real dolphin helped make a Clearwater aquarium famous.

Michael Bavota made his career in the seafood business, but has always nurtured a love for writing. The Zephyrhills retiree’s words will finally come to life in a new independent film, ‘The DreamCatcher’s Ranch,’ which he’ll also star in as Grandpa Jim. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Michael Bavota made his career in the seafood business, but has always nurtured a love for writing. The Zephyrhills retiree’s words will finally come to life in a new independent film, ‘The DreamCatcher’s Ranch,’ which he’ll also star in as Grandpa Jim.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But can another animal-based film do the same for an actual horse rescue ranch near Orlando? Michael Bavota says yes, and he’s not only the primary writer for the film “The DreamCatcher’s Ranch,” but he’s one of the stars as well.

“We were completely inspired by the ranch,” Bavota said of DreamCatcher Horse Ranch and Rescue, a large piece of property in Clermont that boards more than 60 rescued horses. “The director and executive producer, Ricky DiMaio, got this idea that he wanted to do a film about what life would be like on the ranch with fictional characters.”

And DiMaio found Bavota, a retired seafood distributor now living in Zephyrhills, to craft that story. Bavota, in turn, drafted actress and writer Kaylea Grace, and the two spent more than 140 hours writing what would become the story of a family struggling to secure the future of their ranch that’s directly in the way of a major highway project.

“We worked seven 20-hour days doing this,” Bavota said. “We would stay at the director’s house in Orlando, starting in the morning, and not finishing until the next morning at 5. We wrote day and night, and it just came out beautiful.”

Bavota and Grace fell in love with two characters they created, Grandpa Jim and Kelly, and decided the film couldn’t go forward unless they could play those roles — something DiMaio had no hesitation agreeing to. Yet, until a few years ago, Bavota never imagined himself ever working in front of a camera lens.

While he was living in Boston, Bavota learned through a member of his church that a local production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” was casting.

“I had no experience, but I was told I should audition anyway,” he said. Bavota’s work impressed the stage director, who cast him not only as Lt. Rooney, but Mr. Gibbs as well.

It was working in film, however, that really appealed to Bavota. There was a freedom of not having to be at the theater each day, and only being allowed to focus on one project at a time. So he worked closely with the Orlando film school Full Sail University, and has appeared in a number of other productions as well, such as “The Business Card,” which appeared on the Christian Television Network.

The usually clean-cut Bavota is sporting stubble and long hair as he gets ready to start filming “The DreamCatcher’s Ranch” this week. The entire production is budgeted for $50,000, small even by independent film standards. But that’s because the crew not only has full access to DreamCatcher Ranch, but many of the primary people — especially the actors — have different crew jobs as well.

“What we did is kind of unique,” Bavota said. “Everybody on the film got a job to act, and everybody got an extra job to fill in holes wherever we needed it. This is a way to ensure everyone feels they have ownership of what we’re doing here.”

Although the film is fiction, the stories of some of the various rescued horses on the ranch are real. Bavota has fallen in love with one mare, Blac, that the ranch won in an auction for $10 just minutes before Blac was headed off to a meat-packing plant.

Others have heartbreaking stories of abuse or abandonment, finding a home in Clermont when no others were available.

The ranch itself spends $3,000 a year to care for each horse, Bavota said, with most of those funds recouped by riding lessons and donations. The hope is the film will connect with younger audiences, especially girls, who typically have a fondness for horses, and could help champion the cause of caring for rescued animals.

“We want to help the ranch to attract more volunteers and more funds,” Bavota said. “We want to attract people who can help the owners expand the ranch, so that they can take care of even more rescue animals. And we want to give them a story that will make them stop and think.”

The cast and crew of “The DreamCatcher’s Ranch” are still raising money for the production through the online crowdfunding site Indiegogo. And the hope is to have the film completed by winter so that it can start appearing in film festivals as early as Christmas.

To donate to the project, visit tinyurl.com/DreamCatcherRanch. And to learn more about the actual horse rescue ranch in Clermont, visit DreamCatcherHorses.com.

Published July 9, 2014

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Little Women take home big service awards

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The Little Women aren’t so little anymore when it comes to statewide awards.

The GFWC Little Women of Lutz, a club for girls ages 12 through 18 sponsored by the GWFC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, earned multiple awards at their Juniorette Annual State Meeting in Lakeland.

The Little Women of Lutz came home from their statewide meeting last month with a number of awards, including Club of the Year. (Courtesy of Janet Hardy)
The Little Women of Lutz came home from their statewide meeting last month with a number of awards, including Club of the Year.
(Courtesy of Janet Hardy)

The event, held June 12-14, is an annual gathering of Florida’s General Federation of Women’s Clubs Junior Clubs.

The Lutz group earned four first-place awards and five second-place awards for its work in the community, taking home Club of the Year honors. In addition, the Little Women won for the second consecutive year the Marcia Bright Award, given to the club that interacts most with its GFWC Woman’s Club sponsor.

Club advisor Janet Hardy said her first interactions with the Little Women of Lutz revealed how organized they were.

“I went to one of their board meetings, and was just shocked at how many events they had scheduled,” she said. “It was really amazing. It really impressed me, honestly.”

While the club collected many awards in the span of a couple of days, they represent a year’s worth of work in the community, both with their sponsors and on their own. In addition to helping clean up Lutz Lake Fern Road three times a year, the Little Women collect books to be placed at laundromats, play bingo at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, and host fundraisers for breast cancer awareness.

They also pack boxes to send to overseas troops, collect cans for Metropolitan Ministries, and work with both the Ronald McDonald House and the Special Olympics.

Bethany Hanson is president of the Little Women of Lutz. The 15-year-old believes that the hard work of the members pays off both for the club and the area in which they live.

“I think it’s important to be active in the community because it helps so much,” Hanson said. “Even if you do a little bit of work, it makes a big impact. Whenever we volunteer, we get a sense of accomplishment, like we did something great. I always come back smiling because I know I helped someone, and that’s a feeling you can’t beat.”

The Little Women aren’t the only ones smiling. The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club remains proud of their junior club’s accomplishments, and feels very close to its members.

“It’s almost like they’re family members,” said Pat Serio, a woman’s club member and an early advisor to the Little Women more than a decade ago. “We see them as daughters and granddaughters.”

In addition to helping their mentors on a variety of projects, the Little Women are learning valuable skills they can use later in life, Serio said. They get experience in public speaking and organizational leadership, handle funds through their treasury, and gain confidence from taking a hands-on approach to their work at a young age.

She also credits Hardy with encouraging them to implement new ideas and get the word out regarding their activities, making the group stronger and more effective.

“She’s doing a fabulous job,” Serio said of Hardy.

While the Little Women of Lutz boast just 17 members — with nearly half of them set to leave because of age limits — the group beat larger chapters, including some with multiple sponsoring clubs to support them. Hanson attributes their success to working as a group and finding ways to accomplish their tasks on their own, allowing them to grow and succeed together.

“I think our chapter is different because even though we’re small, we do a lot,” she said. “Unlike many of the large chapters, the members do the work themselves and the advisors don’t. The secret to being successful is jut working together, as a team.”

For more information about the Little Women of Lutz, call Hardy at (813) 758-0979.

Published July 9, 2014

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Enjoy your summer: Avoid a trip to the ER

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If you’ve been outdoors lately, no doubt you’ve observed that Florida’s steamy days of summer have arrived with a vengeance.

You also may have noticed there are a lot more kids riding bicycles in the street, splashing around in pools, and hanging off equipment at the local playground.

Going to the beach is a fun summer pastime, but three local doctors want to make sure that trip doesn’t end up in the emergency room. (File Photo)
Going to the beach is a fun summer pastime, but three local doctors want to make sure that trip doesn’t end up in the emergency room.
(File Photo)

The roads are busier, too. Cars and trucks snake toward the beach, and families have packed up to hit the road for vacation. There are a lot more people firing up their backyard grills and having picnics at parks, too.

Summer and its pastimes can offer a pleasant break, but is also can lead to illnesses or injuries, prompting unwanted trips to the local emergency room. There are ways, though, to lower your risk of getting sick or injured.

Three physicians — from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North — shared their observations about the types of summer injuries that typically arrive at their emergency departments, and they offered suggestions to help people avoid the need for medical care.

On the road
“We see increased motor vehicle accidents,” said Dr. Javier Gonzalez, assistant medical director of the emergency department at the Zephyrhills hospital. Wear a seat belt, he added, because it reduces injuries and save lives.

It’s important to safeguard children, too. Be sure they have the appropriate type of protection, such as car seats or child-restraint chairs, he said. Head injuries tend to increase in the summer, too, because of greater use of bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates, Gonzalez said.

Be sure to wear helmets and make sure they fit properly, he said. Also, be sure the chinstrap is strapped beneath your chin to help protect the side of your head.

Use wrist guards to help prevent injuries, too.

“A lot of these people wear helmets, but when they fall, they put their hands down first, so they get a lot of wrist injuries,” Gonzalez said.

In the water
The importance of water safety cannot be overstated. “In Florida, a lot of people have pools. Make sure they have gates,” Gonzalez said.

Constant vigilance is required when children are in or around water, he added.

“Don’t take a break to get on the phone. I hear that all of the time, ‘I just went out for a second to speak to somebody or to pick up the phone.’ Before they know it, two minutes have passed by and the child is dead at the bottom of the pool.”

At public pools, be sure the child is within view of the lifeguard, Gonzalez said. Drownings at the beach often result from swimmers getting caught in riptides, so be sure to swim across the current, not against it.

“Always wear a life vest, as well, if you are doing activities like jet skiing,” he said. It’s also wise to do so when you’re cruising in a boat.

Besides the potential for drowning accidents, there are other risks associated with the water, Cordero said.

Diving accidents can cause serious neck injuries, she said.

When someone gets hurt diving, it’s important to get them out of the water to make sure they’re breathing, said Dr. Katrina Cordero, associate medical director of the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital–North. Then, make sure they keep their neck still until help arrives.

Enjoying the outdoors
When you’re having a cookout or picnic, pay attention to how long the food has been sitting out, Gonzalez said. Some foods must be refrigerated, and if they are left out too long, it can cause people to become ill.

Store uncooked meats in separate coolers to avoid issues with cross contamination. Also, be sure to thoroughly cook meat and chicken, he said.

All three doctors said drinking water is important to avoid dehydration.

“There’s a misconception that you can actually keep up with your hydration once you’re outside, or once you’re doing the activity,” said Dr. Michael Longley, medical director of the emergency department at the Wesley Chapel hospital. “The reality is you really need to pre-hydrate. Drink a lot either the night before or a couple of hours before you’re going to be outside.

“You’re losing water with every breath you take, you’re losing water with the heat itself. You’re losing water with sweating and you’re losing water with the activity that you’re doing. It’s compounded and there’s just no way to keep up if the tank isn’t full to begin with,” Longley said.

How much you need to drink varies based on your size. An adult should drink a liter or two before they go out. A child should drink about half of that, Longley said.

To help people drink enough water, Longley offers this piece of advice: “I tend to tell kids and adults, alike, to add a little extra salt to their meal. It drives the thirst. It helps the muscle function and it helps you to hold in a little of the water, as well.”

People who suffer from heat cramps, heat stroke and heat exhaustion haven’t hydrated before they go outside, Longley said. Often, people don’t realize how hot they are because they’ve been out in the sun for hours, take a dip and feel a cool breeze.

Sunburn is a problem, too, St. Joe’s Cordero said. People often underestimate the intensity of the sun here.

“They fall asleep on the beach,” she said, and when they wake up, they have painful sunburn.

The same thing can happen when people are out working in the yard and haven’t applied sunscreen, she said. They get busy and forget how much sun exposure they’ve had.

Cordero also offered this tip to avoid becoming dehydrated: Carry a bottle of water or Gatorade around with you, to remind yourself to drink. Some people like to quench their thirst with a beer or another alcoholic drink.

“Beer is OK,” Cordero said. But “don’t let it be your only means of hydration.”

Rockets’ red glare
The increased amount of recreation during summer months tends to result in more people visiting the ER with injuries, Longley said. “We see a lot more broken bones.”

It’s also a time of year when there’s an uptick in fireworks injuries, which are typically unique injuries that require expert medical attention.

“Explosions can cause all sorts of tissue damage locally,” Longley said. “Particles can be inhaled. They can be embedded in the eye.”

The injuries can get complicated quickly.

“Something that seems simple can be way more complex a few hours later,” Longley said.

Sometimes the steps taken immediately after a fireworks injury can make a big difference, Cordero said. If a fingertip is blown off, for example, it’s important to try to find the fingertip, she said. It should be placed in a cloth that has been dampened with water, placed in a plastic bag, and then all put into a larger bag that has some ice in it.

“You don’t want any direct contact with ice,” Cordero said. “That could cause some tissue damage.”

Tips for a safer summer
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Start drinking water before you head out for the day, and keep drinking it throughout the day to stay hydrated.

• If you’re grilling, be sure to cook your meats thoroughly. Also, do not allow children to be near hot grills.

• If you’re having a gathering, be sure to keep foods that need refrigeration in coolers until shortly before you need them. Keep them away from direct sunlight and don’t leave them out for more than an hour.

• Wear helmets while riding bikes, skateboarding or rollerblading. Wear wrist guards, too.

• Be vigilant when there are children around water. A happy gathering can turn tragic within minutes.

• Wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn. Be sure to reapply it if you decided to take a dip in a pool or at the beach.

• Wear life jackets on boats and seat belts in cars.

Water Safety Tips
Ways to improve safety:

• Never leave a child unattended at a pool or a spa.

• Teach children basic water safety skills.

• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.

• Have a telephone nearby to enable a quick call to emergency agencies.

• If a child is missing, check the pool or spa first.

• Learn CPR.

• Install a 4-foot fence around the perimeter of the pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

• Having life-saving equipment such as life rings or floats available and easily accessible.

For information, visit PoolSafely.gov.

Published July 9, 2014

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Volunteers find that a clean city is a happy city

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M.J. Price has to deal with a lot of garbage.

That’s not a problem for the longtime Zephyrhills resident. In fact, the more garbage she handles, the happier she is.

The I Heart Zephyrhills monthly community cleanup will set its sights on Zephyr Park on July 28. Volunteers always are welcome. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
The I Heart Zephyrhills monthly community cleanup will set its sights on Zephyr Park on July 28. Volunteers always are welcome.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Her monthly I Heart Zephyrhills community cleanups are designed to clear out as much garbage as possible from a designated location on the last Saturday of every month between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. A group of approximately 15 to 25 volunteers joins Price each month to pick up around 15 kitchen-sized garbage bags’ worth of wrappers, cans, fast-food containers and other trash.

In the past year, the group has visited places such as Krusen Field, Tangerine Drive and Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Price decided to launch the monthly cleanup more than a year ago when she volunteered to clean up an area where she didn’t even live.

“We did a community cleanup with some friends from Zephyrhills down in Tampa, and I thought, ‘Well, this is so crazy that all these folks are driving all the way down to Tampa to clean up Tampa, when we live right in Zephyrhills,’” she said.

While the first community cleanup drew more than 200 volunteers more than a year ago, it’s settled into a smaller, core group. But there are some new faces, though Price said she hopes for more involvement from groups and civic organizations. She mentioned Crossroads Pentecostal Church as one congregation that has attended several cleanups.

There are benefits to the monthly events aside from helping to keep Zephyrhills looking nice, Price said. The group tries to keep them fun, promoting a contest for the strangest piece of trash collected. Previous winners include a hairpiece and seats for a boat.

An hour’s worth of exercise also is a positive, she said. And volunteering could have even longer-term benefits for an individual who might be looking for work or trying to make new contacts.

“You never know who is going to be picking up trash next to you,” Price said. “It might be somebody who is looking to employ someone. It might be someone who knows someone else. You never know. There are a lot of good connections that have been made.”

I Heart Zephyrhills also would write letters of recommendation for students looking to boost their college resume to confirm that they’ve done volunteer work for the group, Price said.

The city does a very good job of keeping things orderly, she said, and Price’s group aims to simply help clean up where they can. Unfortunately, people can get accustomed to a certain amount of trash. One or two wrappers might not seem like a big deal, but they impact the community appearance, and can soon grow into a problem.

“It piles up pretty quickly,” she said.

As a permanent resident since 1998, Price has organized more than 300 community events, from the monthly cleanups to an annual flag exchange and replacement program. She said it is part of her nature to get involved in her community.

“It’s just my thing,” Price said. “I was just raised that way — that you’re always trying to better the place where you live. It’s just kind of what I do, and I really love it.”

I Heart Zephyrhills works on the last Saturday of every month except December. Volunteers will head next to Zephyr Park, 38116Fifth Ave., west of U.S. 301 on State Road 54. The July 28 event begins at 9 a.m.

Volunteers should wear a pair of work gloves, closed-toe shoes and long pants. I Heart Zephyrhills will provide water, garbage bags and a method of hauling away the trash.

For more information, contact Price at (813) 782-1500, ext. 104, or email her at .

Published July 9, 2014

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Business Digest 07-09-14

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Dusek new honorary mayor
The votes are in, and so is the money. Pasco County has a new mayor, and it’s Terri Dusek.

Dusek, a local real estate agent, ran a campaign of “Paying it Forward Through Music.” She was one of several people and businesses honored at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce annual dinner last week. Dusek also won Ambassador of the Year.

The dinner included the installation of the new chamber president, Charlene Ierna, of Ierna’s Heating & Cooling. She succeeds Denny Esber, who also is retiring from the board along with director Gary Loman.

Before he left, Esber handed out his President’s Award to Tony Masella of OurTownFla.com for his outstanding service to the chamber and the community.

Hungry Harry’s Bar-B-Que was the Large Business of the Year while All Smiles Tampa Bay won Small Business of the Year. A Focus on Fitness was New Business of the Year, while Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco was Non-Profit Member of the Year.

If honorary mayor and the chamber’s top ambassador wasn’t enough, Dusek topped a successful season as Chamber Member of the Year as well.

The Community Service Award was a tie between April Saland of A.L. Saland Insurance Solutions, and Pam Oakes of Pasco International Tourism.

Finally, the Central Pasco Chamber honored the lifetime service of Larry Delucenay and retiring Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri.

Lake Francisco Plaza sold
A 1980s-era shopping center along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard has a new owner.

Robert and Elizabeth Ferrer purchased Lake Francisco Plaza at 1900 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, early last month for $1.3 million. That was nearly $200,000 less than what Lake Francisco Plaza LLC out of Georgia paid for the same 121,000-square-foot strip mall in 2005.

The center, near where U.S. 41 and Dale Mabry Highway split just north of the Hillsborough County line, has spaces for retail and office, according to Pasco County property records. The largest is 54,000 square feet.

Lake Francisco Plaza has been part of the Yount family since the beginning in 1984, with even the company that purchased it in 2005 listing Thomas C. Yount as one of its managers.

Pasco had a strong quarter in property sales of transactions more than $1 million. The period between March and June, not including any late filers, saw $72.8 million change hands, compared to $37.2 million sold during the same quarter in 2013, according to county property records.

Pinchers Crab Shack opens at The Shops
Pinchers Crab Shack, a seafood restaurant chain based out of Bonita Springs, has opened its 10th location at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.

Dacie Broshears will manage the restaurant, located at 28330 Paseo Drive, Suite 185. Broshears also managed what had been the closest Pinchers location before in Lakewood Ranch near Bradenton.

Pinchers started in 1997 at a six-table restaurant in 1,500 square feet of space in Bonita Springs. It has grown to 10 locations and more than 500 employees, stretching form Wesley Chapel in the north to Key West.

For information, visit PinchersCrabShack.com.

Market struggling to grab first-time homebuyers still
Condominium sales in the Tampa Bay region are down, but prices are on the rise as home sales continue their long recovery in the state.

The median sales price of a condominium in the region, which includes both Pasco and Hillsborough counties, was $110,000 in May, up nearly 13 percent from the year before, according to a new report from Florida Realtors. The number of closed sales dropped nearly 10 percent, however, to 1,256 units.

Single-family home sales climbed a little more than 1 percent last month in the area, while median sale prices slipped about the same percentage, to $156,000.

Statewide, condo sale prices rose nearly 14 percent to $145,000, while home prices ticked up another 4 percent to $180,000.

The market still struggles to attract first-time homebuyers.

“Going forward, we’re concerned about affordability,” said John Tuccillo, chief economist for Florida Realtors, in a release. “In particular, the difficulty of first-time buyers to access mortgage financing, and the lag in providing a much-needed supply of new homes may hold back Florida’s housing market.”

Avalon Park West welcomes D.R. Horton
D.R. Horton has recently completed construction of its first model home at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel.

The model is located in the Cypress Village neighborhood of the community, where the homebuilder is planning 56 new houses.

The company will offer homes ranging from 2,045 to 3,576 square feet, according to a release, with prices starting at $270,000.

Avalon Park West is located just off State Road 54, east of Interstate 75.

New tenants in Trinity
Commoncents Wealth Advisors LLC has signed a five-year lease with Trinity Medical Holdings Inc., for 1,605 square feet of space in the Trinity Medical and Professional Center, 8820 Belagio Drive.

The lease was negotiated through Hold-Thyssen Inc., a Winter Park-based commercial property firm, which also was involved with a lease for 1,100 square feet of space at Hunting Creek Pointe in Trinity for JGI Insurance Group LLC. The landlord there is Sunfield Homes Inc., for the property located at 3610 Galileo Drive.

 

Political Agenda 07-09-14

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Mulieri endorses Robertson
Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri is retiring from her job, but she already knows who she’s voting for to replace her: Bob Robertson.

Robertson, a Zephyrhills financial analyst, is in a primary battle with former state Rep. Ken Littlefield and Wesley Chapel entrepreneur Mike Moore. Mulieri told The Laker/Lutz News she first met Robertson through his work with the homeless, and later learned his wife was an outreach coordinator at a church in Zephyrhills.

“He believes, like me, in giving a hand up to those in need,” Mulieri said. “Being a commissioner is a steep learning curve. Bob has done his best to prepare himself for the job. I believe he will listen to citizens, study the issues, and work to bring opportunities hope to Pasco.”

Mulieri went public with her support on June 29 when she wished Robertson a happy birthday on Facebook, adding “I support you 100 percent. You will be a great commissioner.”

The winner of the August primary will face Land O’ Lakes Democrat Erika Remsberg in the November election.

Mobile hours for Ross
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, will host mobile office hours Aug. 12 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Lutz Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Other dates in Lutz include Sept. 9, Oct. 14 and Dec. 9.

For more information, call (863) 644-8215, or (813) 752-4790.

Corcoran endorses Moore
Pasco County Commission candidate Mike Moore has received an endorsement from future House Speaker and current Land O’ Lakes state Rep. Richard Corcoran.

“Mike Moore has spent his career building businesses and creating jobs,” Corcoran said, in a release. “It’s vital to have more leaders who can help make government more accountable and more efficient. His commitment to his family and to our community shines through, and is a good example for us all.”

Moore is seeking the Republican nomination to replace retiring commissioner Pat Mulieri. He is locked in primary with former state Rep. Ken Littlefield and Zephyrhills financial analyst Bob Robertson.

The winner of the August primary will face Democrat Erika Remsberg in November.

Realtors help get the vote out
Pasco County elections supervisor Brian Corley is thanking the Pasco County Board of Realtors Associations for the group’s help in registering and updating voters around the county.

“In the exciting but stressful time of purchasing a new home and relocating, things like registering to vote or update your address are often overlooked,” Corley said, in a release.

Corley’s office provides packets containing information like a voter’s guide and a registration form.

“In the upcoming 2014 election cycle, proactive initiatives like Move the Vote are low-cost ways to encourage voters to prepare in advance of election day,” Corley said.

Moore attends fire rescue orientation
Pasco County Commission candidate Mike Moore recently attended the fifth annual Fire Operations 101 Orientation with representatives from Pasco Fire Rescue.

Moore, who is one of four candidates looking to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri in District 2, attended the one-day operations orientation, which was sponsored by the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association among others.

Armstrong appointed to Swiftmud board
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Elijah Armstrong III to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board.

Armstrong is a Dunedin attorney with Hill Ward Henderson. He was previously a member of what was then known as the Pasco-Hernando Community College board of directors.

If confirmed by the state Senate, Armstrong’s term will end March 1, 2018.

Chambers get together to host forums
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host two forums to introduce members to candidates facing off in primary and general elections.

The first forum takes place Aug. 4 beginning at 7 p.m., at East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City. That event will include candidates ranging from the state House to the Mosquito Control Board.

The second event will be Oct. 20 beginning at 7 p.m., in the same location, once again including the same races.

The chambers will provide two moderators to ask questions. Candidates also will have a chance to set up tables and meet voters beginning each night at 6 p.m.

Republican club invites candidates
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will host a Republican candidate meet and greet July 10 at 7 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Hyundai, 27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

Candidates will have a chance to speak for up to three minutes each beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Voters are mad, and it could affect turnout this November

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There’s one question Susan MacManus gets more than any other as we head into a contentious election season. And despite her long and impressive credentials as a political scientist, even she can’t answer it.

Who will occupy the governor’s desk after November? Will Rick Scott stay put? Will Charlie Crist return as a new man? Or is it time for Nan Rich to take over?

University of South Florida political scientist and Land O’ Lakes native Susan MacManus shared some of her observations about the upcoming Florida gubernatorial race with the Republican Club of Central Pasco last month. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
University of South Florida political scientist and Land O’ Lakes native Susan MacManus shared some of her observations about the upcoming Florida gubernatorial race with the Republican Club of Central Pasco last month.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“Who is going to win the governor’s race? I don’t know yet,” MacManus, a Land O’ Lakes native, told the Republican Club of Central Pasco on June 25. “And neither do you.”

Two things for certain are that this could not only be the most expensive governor’s race in history, but also the most negative. Political groups on both sides already have launched mud-slinging ads against each other, Scott taking hits for the Medicare scandal that rocked his former company in the 1990s, and Crist for raising taxes and fees during the economic downturn.

Want a good look at what’s to come? One only has to look back to the recent special Congressional election in Pinellas County between Democrat Alex Sink and Republican David Jolly, MacManus said.

“The mood of the public is a very angry mood,” the University of South Florida professor said. “They are very disappointed in politicians, and don’t like any one of them, and don’t believe any one of them. And this already is the most nasty race known to humankind, and not just to Florida.”

But it doesn’t have to be all negative, MacManus said. Two ads that stood out over the last several months were Sink appearing with her father and Scott with his grandchild. Both resonated well with voters, but barely get a glance in the sea of negativity.

“A couple nice ads are very refreshing, but then the next ones after that are slash and burn again,” MacManus said.

The biggest problem facing politics is money not directly raised by a candidate’s campaign. Both Sink and Jolly had plenty of spending beyond their campaigns, setting a tone that neither of them felt represented them. The same already is happening between Crist and Scott as the voice of outside money gets louder and louder.

With the governor’s race too close to call, those wanting to peer into the future might have to look at other factors on the ballot, especially ones that might draw people from a certain party. MacManus starts and stops with the three proposed state constitutional amendments.

The first one, which MacManus said should appeal to both Democrats and Republicans, would commit 33 percent of net revenues from existing excise taxes to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund conservation program. The second would legalize marijuana in Florida for medicinal purposes.

The third is one that could be a warning bell for Democrats: It would allow a governor to make judicial appointments before a judge’s term is up. That would allow an outgoing governor to decide seats in the judiciary that would affect the next governor.

“Every editorial board in the state is going to be against that,” MacManus said.

One amendment that may not be as big of an advantage for Democrats is medicinal marijuana. The popularity of that amendment has started to wane in recent months, and opposition groups are raising millions of dollars to combat it, MacManus said.

That means the push to get out the vote on that measure will likely split between both parties, although it’s still unclear how many more college students might head to the polls because of it.

“Guess where they got all the signatures to get that on the ballot to begin with?” MacManus said. “It was every college campus in the state. You couldn’t walk across out campus without being interrupted by someone passing a petition.”

Outside of that, however, MacManus still feels turnout will be a big problem in November. A drop in Pasco County voters in the presidential election of 2012 may have cost Mitt Romney the White House, she added.

The Tampa Bay media market remains an important one to all parties, MacManus said. It’s already split evenly between Republicans and Democrats with 37 percent each, with the remaining going to the ever-growing number of independent voters.

Florida will be on the national stage for the mid-term elections, drawing in big names like the Clintons and Obamas to help generate turnout for Democrats. But the GOP has some weapons as well, MacManus said.

“If the Republicans can split the women vote and the independent vote, they can win the statewide races,” she said. “Those are key.”

Published July 2, 2014

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Mosquito-borne chikungunya cases on the rise

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As more cases of people infected by the chikungunya virus are reported in Florida, public health officials are spreading the word about the need to take precautions.

Chikungunya is spread by two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, both of which are found in Florida.

This mosquito, an Aedes aegypti, is one of two species that transmits the chikungunya virus. Health officials are urging the public to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to protect themselves from any of the illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit. (Courtesy of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
This mosquito, an Aedes aegypti, is one of two species that transmits the chikungunya virus. Health officials are urging the public to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to protect themselves from any of the illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit.
(Courtesy of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

“It’s a virus that’s been around in Asia and Africa for many, many years,” said Amanda Pullman, an epidemiologist with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. Only recently, it started spreading throughout Central and South Americas and the Caribbean Islands, “and now very specifically, it’s getting closer in the Americas.”

“Because of the geographic closeness, the proximity to Florida, we’ve become very concerned that this is something we could have here locally,” she said. “So we want to prevent that.”

Cases continue to rise in Florida, but as of last week, the people who have been infected with the virus are those who have traveled to other places, Pullman said.

The virus is not transmitted from person to person directly, but is spread by infected mosquitoes. Some people who contract the virus have no symptoms at all, while others can have debilitating pain that can last for months or even years, Pullman said.

Other symptoms can include a high fever, headaches, visible swelling and joint pain.

Some people are simply tired for a few days, Pullman said. Others have intestinal symptoms.

There’s no vaccine or treatment, but people experiencing symptoms can seek medical care and receive medication for pain and fever, Pullman said. People should go the hospital or see their doctor if they suspect they have chikungunya, to give the health department a better chance of combating its spread.

When a positive test comes back in Hillsborough County, for instance, the mosquito control department heads out to eradicate mosquitoes near the infected person’s residence. By killing mosquitoes in the vicinity, it decreases the possibility of local transmission of the virus, Pullman said.

Preventing local transmission of chikungunya is especially important in Florida, which is a heavy tourism state. “Given our lifestyle here in Florida, lots of us like to be outside,” Pullman said. “There’s all kinds of things at the beach and with the holidays especially coming up, people spend a lot of time outdoors.”

To reduce the risk of contracting chikungunya or other viruses spread by mosquitoes, when people are outdoors, they should be sure to wear mosquito repellent on exposed skin, both day and night, advised Deanna Krautner, public information officer for the Pasco County Health Department. It’s also a good idea to wear lightweight pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce potential exposure for mosquito bites.

Residents also can help reduce breeding sites for mosquitoes.

“If you see standing water of any sort, try to dump and cover,” Pullman said. Even the smallest amount of standing water can be a problem. “A bottle cap in someone’s backyard can breed a hundred larvae.”

“Residents can go around their house and inspect where water is pooling. Try to empty those or cap those or flip them over, so the water doesn’t pool,” Krautner said.

If mosquitoes are biting, Krautner said, it’s a good idea to go indoors. Those leaving windows open to enjoy an evening breeze need to be sure their screens are in good repair.

The bottom line, Krautner said, is to be aware that mosquitoes can carry viruses that make people ill, and people should do what they can to avoid being bit.

Published July 2, 2014

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Pasco’s free lunches take to the road

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It’s hard to imagine getting through most days without that noontime break for lunch. That packed sandwich, frozen entrée, or maybe even a quick trip to a local eatery, is something many people take for granted each day.

But for 36,000 students in the Pasco County school district, that trip to the cafeteria may be the only nutritious meal they have all day, paid for through federal tax dollars.

Kids gather to greet one of the mobile food units used by Pasco County Schools to bring free lunches to children from disadvantaged homes through the Summer BreakSpot program. Five buses like this make daily stops in various communities, including this one on Acorn Loop in Dade City. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Kids gather to greet one of the mobile food units used by Pasco County Schools to bring free lunches to children from disadvantaged homes through the Summer BreakSpot program. Five buses like this make daily stops in various communities, including this one on Acorn Loop in Dade City.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

What happens, however, when school lets out? These students, who account for nearly 53 percent of the entire school population in the county, still need to eat. And they’re not being left behind.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services manages a federal program known as Summer BreakSpot. Last year alone, it provided more than 12 million meals to nearly 300,000 children statewide, setting up hundreds of locations where kids in need can be sure to have something good and nutritious to eat.

“We want kids across Florida to eat healthy, wholesome food throughout the school year, and all summer long,” said agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam in a release. “This program helps ensure children have access to healthy meals during the summer, along with enrichment activities and time with their friends, so they are ready to learn in the fall when school is back in session.”

Locally, Summer BreakSpot is run by Pasco County Schools, operating more than 60 sites where kids can travel a short distance — typically to local schools — to get a bite to eat. But not everyone can make that trip on a daily basis, or at all. And the school district has done something about it.

“There are kids who can’t get to those sites,” said Cindy Norvell, a food and nutrition specialist for Pasco County Schools. “Many of them don’t have transportation. So instead of expecting them to come to us, we took meals to them out into the communities that needed them most.”

Three years ago, the school district began retrofitting retired school buses, turning them into traveling food stations. Most of the seats have been replaced with makeshift food counters, where kids can sit and eat, and have a bright view out the window.

There are five buses that travel around to various communities each day, loaded with a variety of foods depending on the day. It could range from a turkey sandwich, to a beef stick with cheese, to even build-your-own pizza kits.

“All of it comes with fruit, and everyone always gets their milk,” Norvell said. “Our mobile units also carry applesauce and extra peach cubes for some of our children who are below a certain age.”

The buses will typically stop in a common park area of a community, many times with picnic tables nearby so that kids can choose to eat on the bus, or maybe out in the shade. But to ensure that only they eat the food they get, kids can’t take any food with them.

No one under 18 is turned away at the mobile units either, Norvell said. If they are there, they will get something to eat. If a bus runs out of food, they can quickly call out to a nearby BreakSpot location to get more.

Amy Sue Hammond leads a two-person team that drives the mobile unit through stops around Dade City. She spent 15 years as a bus driver for East Pasco County schools, and now transports autism students to schools that are sometimes 90 minutes away.

In the summer, she’s working with BreakSpot, continuing her own personal commitment to make sure every child has a chance.

“You have to have a lot of patience, but seeing these kids excited to see us pull up is its own reward,” Hammond said. “All of this we’re doing is very important, because without these buses, many of these kids would go hungry.”

Hammond’s bus is one of two buses that serves East Pasco. Her bus begins each day at Pasco Elementary School, while a second bus departs every morning from Lacoochee Elementary School. Both make a total of three stops, with Hammond’s route typically seeing nearly 100 kids a day.

“Despite all we do to get the word out about this program, I am sure there are people who still don’t know about it,” Norvell said. “Some people are just surprised when you start to talk about it. But it’s something we have available, and something we hope families who need it will take advantage of.”

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has modernized access to the 2014 Summer BreakSpot food program for kids needing meals while school is out.

Access to more than 3,400 locations statewide — including more than 60 in Pasco County and nearly 125 in Hillsborough County — is available one of the following four ways:
• Dial 211
• Text “FoodFL” to 877-877
• Download the Nutrislice smartphone app
• Visit SummerFoodFlorida.org.

Published July 2, 2014

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