The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Seeking seniors: Sports group offers fun times, friendship

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Seniors might live a less-active lifestyle than they did when they were younger, but Walt Bockmiller thinks they still have time for softball, golf, tennis, bowling and maybe volleyball.

If not all of those activities, maybe one or two of them.

Whatever sport a senior might enjoy, Walt Bockmiller probably has something on the schedule for them. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Whatever sport a senior might enjoy, Walt Bockmiller probably has something on the schedule for them.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Bockmiller, a Land O’ Lakes resident, started Senior Sports in 2011, and he organizes regular events for older residents that include a wide variety of activities. Whatever people choose to do, there are plenty of benefits in getting out and being active, he said.

“It’s an opportunity for them to get out and start doing something rather than just being home shopping or watching TV,” Bockmiller said. ”It gives them an opportunity to meet people in a different kind of environment.”

Bockmiller began Senior Sports by setting up softball leagues, since many people have some experience with baseball or softball in their youth. That starting point proved extremely popular, and he now has around 90 participants for those games. Counting tennis, bowling and golf, Senior Sports boasts more than 150 participants, and he said that tennis could prove to be the most popular of them all.

While softball is designed for men and women ages 60 and older, the other sports don’t have an age limit. He said players could be in their 40s through their 80s. The oldest softball player turned 90-years-old last month.

At 71 years old himself, Bockmiller might be expected to ease up on his schedule, but it’s simply not in his nature. He worked in recreation and leisure services management, and over his 47-year career, Bockmiller organized several activities, both with and without sports themes.

While he expected the participants to enjoy Senior Sports, he didn’t expect them to have quite as much fun as they’re having. He said people are “finding their smile,” and area residents who normally didn’t get out much are making friends and planning get-togethers off the field or court. Participants often go out to dinner, plan outings to see the Tampa Bay Rays, and even go on cruises together, Bockmiller said.

Senior Sports is about sports, naturally, but without a focus on the competitive side. Instead, Bockmiller keeps the focus on having fun, giving out awards that are earned by good sportsmanship instead of athletic skill. Softball might appeal to more physically fit participants, while bowling is available for those who might not have that level of ability. Or, people can simply sign up to play whatever appeals to them.

The activities are designed to be inexpensive and occur during various dates and times, allowing more seniors to participate. But whether a person plays every available activity or selects their favorite, or simply wants to meet new people, Bockmiller said they’ll come away with some fun memories and good people to share them.

“There are a lot of friends that come out of this stuff. Some of my friends in tennis and golf, especially tennis, are friends for life,” he said. ”There’s a commonality that you have, and because of that you have a lot of laughs over the years. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Co-ed slow-pitch softball is played from September through December, and again from mid-January through mid-April. Golf is played on a variety of courses year-round on Wednesdays. Bowling is played year-round in Lutz on Thursdays. Tennis and volleyball are new to the schedule.

For more information about Senior Sports, contact Bockmiller at (813) 527-8211.

Published July 16, 2014

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Business Digest 07-16-14

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Kaufman joins father’s practice
Dr. Jon Kaufman has joined the Kaufman Eye Institute, which has offices located in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Sun City Center and Bushnell.

He is the son of Stuart Kaufman, the medical director and founder of the institute, and is a Cornell fellowship-trained surgeon.

The younger Kaufman grew up in Tampa, and is a graduate of Berkeley Preparatory School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Michigan, and his medical training at Rush Medical College in Chicago.

For information, call (855) 733-2378.

Dental office opens in Wesley Chapel
Drs. Johella Liguori and Sarina Bhole have opened a new dental office, Wiregrass Family Dental Care.

It’s a new full-service dental practice at 2066 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

For information, visit WiregrassFamilyDentalCare.com, or call (813) 528-8797.

Williams moving to Carrollwood
Gary Williams has become the market manager for the Carrollwood office of Bay Cities Bank, ending a long tenure in the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes area.

“My years at the Lutz office have been very rewarding, and I will miss seeing my clients on a weekly basis,” Williams said, in a release. “However, I will continue to be involved in helping the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes communities grow.”

Amy Underwood has been promoted to assistant vice president and market manager. She has been with the bank since 2003.

Nancy Gordon, who has worked both as a manager and a commercial lender, will also turn her focus full-time on commercial lending.

Williams will be based at 14877 N. Dale Mabry Highway, and can be reached at (813) 637-2420.

Dash to speak at Women-n-Charge meeting
Women-n-Charge will meet Aug. 1 at 11:30 a.m. at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive, in Tampa.

The meeting will feature guest speaker Kellye Dash, owner of The Busy Buddy, talking about how to manage email.

Cost is $15 for members who RSVP the Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for all guests and after the deadline for members.

To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com, or call (813) 600-9848.

Grand opening for CareerSource
CareerSource Pasco Hernando will have a grand opening and ribbon cutting July 16 beginning at 10 a.m. at its new location, 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 303, in Dade City.

It is hosted by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

For information, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

New builder at Silverado Ranch
Highland Homes has started to offer homes in the Zephyrhills community of Silverado Ranch off Eiland Boulevard.

The homes, which start at $170,000, range in size from 1,508 to 3,315 square feet, between three to five bedrooms, and two to three bathrooms.

For information, visit HighlandHomes.org.

Ribbon-cutting for Nana Jo’s
Nana Jo’s Café, 14748 U.S. 98 Bypass in Dade City, will have a grand opening and ribbon cutting July 26 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., hosted by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

The event will include live music by DC Country, barbecue chicken and more.

Cost is $8 for adults, $6 for children.

Wesley Chapel chamber heading to Tuscany
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is planning a nine-day trip to Tuscany, Italy.

The trip is planned to begin Oct. 20, and space is limited.

For information, call (813) 994-8534, or email .

Marketing summit in Tampa
The Tampa Bay Marketing Summit will take place Aug. 8 beginning at 8:45 a.m., at Mainsail Conference Center, 5108 Eisenhower Blvd., in Tampa.

The event is hosted by EMSI in Wesley Chapel, which provides news content for print and online news outlets, as well as television and radio talk shows.

For information, visit TampaBayMarketingSummit.com, or call Marsha Friedman at (727) 443-7115, Ext. 201.

Sheriff: This year’s budget hikes are just the beginning

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Sheriff Chris Nocco knows the additional $6 million he’s asking for to fund the Pasco County Sheriff’s office this year isn’t a small amount. But it’s just the beginning as local law enforcement starts to fall behind neighbors like Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and even the much smaller Hernando County.

Cpl. Mary Guyer shares some recent crime statistics with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco. The sheriff has requested an additional $6 million this year, but could be asking for more in coming years, especially as he sets sights on a new district office in the Wesley Chapel/Land O’ Lakes area. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Cpl. Mary Guyer shares some recent crime statistics with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco. The sheriff has requested an additional $6 million this year, but could be asking for more in coming years, especially as he sets sights on a new district office in the Wesley Chapel/Land O’ Lakes area.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Nocco would prefer his additional funds not be part of any property tax increase, but no matter how the money is raised, his department desperately needs it.

“We’re already preparing for next year, like how many more deputies we’re going to need out on the street,” Nocco told The Laker last week. “Our biggest thing right now is that we have to stop losing members. It’s hurting us, and it’s coming at a very high cost.”

In a workshop last month with the Pasco County Commission, which sets his budget, Nocco said many of his veteran deputies and managers are leaving for better salaries and benefits with neighboring counties. Despite the commission’s attempt to raise salaries in recent years, there just hasn’t been enough money to stop the talent bleed.

Even worse, he said, the technology used by the sheriff’s office is quite outdated, and it’s preventing deputies from providing the level of service Nocco says residents in neighboring counties receive. For instance, a homeowner who has a mailbox knocked over could easily make a report using an online form — if that technology was available to Pasco County residents. Instead, a deputy has to physically go out and make a report, costing valuable time that could be saved otherwise.

Even if the salary and technology problems are addressed, the county still has another problem. Many counties average around 1.3 deputies per every 1,000 residents. In Pasco, that number is below one deputy per thousand. Just to catch up with current populations, Nocco needs 150 new deputies.

With new deputies, he will need a new district office, too, right where the population is growing the most.

“We are going to need many more deputies, and we’re going to need a fourth district in the (State Road) 54 corridor,” Nocco said. “We need to have a stronger presence in the Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel area. Deputies who serve that area right now are based out of Dade City, and there has to be something much closer to serve those needs.”

Many of these issues aren’t even a part of this year’s proposed budget increase, which would bring the sheriff’s office budget close to $100 million.

And elected officials are listening. During a recent workshop, commissioners admitted taxes in Pasco were far too low, affecting the government’s ability to serve its people. With proposed budget increases from other departments needed as well, it seems impossible to keep taxes at the same level they were last year.

“I am for having a better-funded county government,” Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said recently. “Local government is not the same as our federal government, where I think there is a lot of waste. We have no hidden money, we have no extra money. We are all scraping by barely.”

But how much of those extra funds should go into the sheriff’s office is still a question for the commission, which has been weighing Nocco’s request carefully. Public safety may be a key measure to stimulate growth, but so is having a building department that can maintain a seamless working relationship with developers so that major projects, like a new Amazon.com facility, are not lost to neighboring counties, Commissioner Ted Schrader said.

“We want to continue to support public safety, but a lot of our other departments have suffered because of the financial constraints that we have been under,” Schrader said during a workshop last month.

Nocco is convinced the commission will help him with most, if not all, of his budget requests this year. But if the increase was tough to swallow this year, future requests might be even more difficult.

Yet, the sheriff’s office is willing to help in those areas, too, Nocco said. For instance, the call for more code enforcement can actually be handled by a group of volunteers trained and managed by the sheriff’s office.

“We will train them and provide them the tools they need to start writing code enforcement violations and target high-crime areas,” Nocco said. “This will let us focus on areas where abandoned or neglected structures are used over and over again for drug houses and other crime.”

In all, there is a lot more the sheriff’s office can do to help other departments, Nocco said, and soften the impact of potentially higher taxes to residents.

“We are not wasting taxpayer dollars. Instead, we are very efficient,” he said. “I know our commissioners are being pulled in a thousand different directions, but I also think they realize that public safety is a priority.”

Published July 9, 2014

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Don Porter’s vision for Wiregrass Ranch area lives on

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Don Porter, whose vision helped transform ranch land into an urban center in Wesley Chapel, has died. He was 73.

Porter’s family, which owns the sprawling Wiregrass Ranch, sold the land that is now occupied by The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The family also donated 60 acres of land for Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, which now occupies about 6 acres of that land.

Members of the Porter family joined Pasco-Hernando State College president Katherine Johnson at the open house and dedication of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. From left are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller. (File Photo)
Members of the Porter family joined Pasco-Hernando State College president Katherine Johnson at the open house and dedication of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. From left are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller.
(File Photo)

There’s also a high school in the community named after the Porter’s Wiregrass Ranch.

While Porter had a hand in projects of a regional scale, that is not what meant the most to him, said his son, J.D. Porter.

“Out of all of the accomplishments, I think the thing that he was most proud of was his family,” he said. “He wanted to see everyone do well.”

Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri recalls when her colleagues were considering approval of The Shops at Wiregrass. She and Commissioner Jack Mariano supported the request, but they needed a third vote, which came from Commission Ted Schrader.

“I believe that Don’s generous spirit and clear vision made a difference in the Wesley Chapel area, and set the tone for all future development there,” Mulieri said. “Don will be missed. He was a good steward of the land and a southern gentleman.”

Greg Lenners, general manager of The Shops at Wiregrass, said it was easy to see that Porter was a highly respected man in the community.

“He will truly be missed,” said Lenners, who oversees the main-street style shopping mall at the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The mall is a popular gathering spot and pulls shoppers and visitors from across the region, especially during the holidays and for special events.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel also issued a statement paying tribute to Porter’s contributions.

“Don Porter’s vision was to transform the Porter Ranch into a Wesley Chapel community centered around family … a community with quality health care, education, and recreation services for its residents,” hospital officials said. “It was wonderful to work with Don and his family to bring that vision to life. The entire Porter family has been very supportive of the hospital and our programs to improve the health and wellness of the entire community.”

Katherine Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, recalled the first time she met Porter. It was her first day as the college’s president, and she was being introduced around the community. Those introductions included a lunch with Porter at Saddlebrook Resort.

Porter was approachable and she immediately felt at ease, Johnson recalled.

“We clicked. We just clicked,” she said.

At that very first lunch, Porter told Johnson about his vision for higher educational opportunities for students living in the community. The family’s later contribution of 60 acres for the campus played an instrumental role in making that vision come true, Johnson said.

“Clearly, we would not have been able to have a campus in Wesley Chapel without that family,” she said. Beyond helping to bring that vision to life, Porter became a friend and mentor.

When Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch opened in January, it signaled the first time in Wesley Chapel history that a student could attend preschool through college without leaving the Wesley Chapel community.

When the Porters moved to Wesley Chapel during the 1940s, there wasn’t much development in the area. Over the years, the community has evolved, and Porter had a clear vision for the future, Johnson said.

When plans were being discussed for the Porter Campus, he envisioned a campus with multi-story buildings.

“He wanted an urban, corporate look,” Johnson said.

Porter is survived by son, J.D., daughter, Quinn Miller and her husband, Matthew, as well as three grandchildren, Johannah, Cooper, and Lillian Jane, of Odessa; and his brother, William H. and his wife, Debby, of Dade City.

Don Porter memorial service
A memorial service for Don Porter has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 12 at the conference center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Published July 9, 2014

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County approves middle school site for Learning Gate

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Learning Gate Community School has received Hillsborough County’s blessing to locate its classes for seventh- and eighth-graders in the former Hand-in-Hand Academy building near downtown Lutz.

Learning Gate Community School has gained approval for using buildings located at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road to house its seventh- and eighth-graders. Even though that hurdle has been cleared, no details are available yet on when or whether the school will make the move to the site. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Learning Gate Community School has gained approval for using buildings located at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road to house its seventh- and eighth-graders. Even though that hurdle has been cleared, no details are available yet on when or whether the school will make the move to the site.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Land use hearing officer James Scarola approved Learning Gate’s request to use the location at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road for its middle school-level students. The approval, issued June 29, limits the enrollment, however, at the Lutz Lake Fern Road location to 205 students.

That’s 45 fewer students than the school initially requested. The school agreed to reduce its request after Mike White, president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, objected to the higher number.

At a June 2 public hearing, White told Scarola the site was not conducive for that many students. White also said the community has no problems with the school, simply with the proposed enrollment, according to the hearing officer’s June 29 ruling.

During a recent interview, White said the school also agreed to sign a private agreement with the Lutz Citizens Coalition pledging that it would never ask for a variance to allow more students at the site.

The 4-acre site previously had been approved for 175 kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Of those, up to 85 were allowed to be in child care.

The property, which is included in Hillsborough County’s Landmark and Historic Archeological Resources Inventory, contains a church that was built in the 1940s and two educational buildings that were constructed during the 1960s.

No additions or expansions are requested in Learning Gate’s application.

The county’s transportation department reviewed the request and concluded the school will not impact traffic on nearby roads. The school is expected to generate 225 trips during the peak morning hours, and 151 during the afternoon peak hours.

However, the transportation department has determined that a detailed traffic study will be needed and it may show the need for such improvements as paving, widening and construction of a turn lane.

Learning Gate is a nationally recognized charter school that operates at two locations in Tampa. Its campus for kindergarten through sixth grade is at 16215 Hanna Road, and its campus for seventh and eighth grade is at 15316 N. Florida Avenue.

Even though Learning Gate applied for permission to operate a school at the Lutz Lake Fern location, no additional information is available about Learning Gate’s plans.

Brian Erickson, president of Learning Gate’s board, said in an email that “at this time, it would be inappropriate for anyone to comment.

“There are many unanswered questions. We are having ongoing communications with the bank who holds the note, but we are still doing our due diligence on the property,” Erickson wrote.

Published July 9, 2014

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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

By

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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