The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

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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Lutz resident headed to Canada for martial arts games

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Ethan Dillon has a trip to Canada planned for later this year. He’ll probably pack a jacket and some long-sleeve shirts.

He’ll also bring his three black belts.

Ethan Dillon, 14, of Lutz, will represent the United States at the TAFISA World Martial Arts Games in September. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Ethan Dillon, 14, of Lutz, will represent the United States at the TAFISA World Martial Arts Games in September.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Dillon, 14, of Lutz, is one of 60 martial arts athletes selected to represent the United States at The Association For International Sport for All World Martial Arts Games, Sept. 3-7 at The Olympic Oval in Richmond, British Columbia. TAFISA has had World Games every year since 1992, but September will be the organization’s first world games dedicated specifically to martial arts.

Dillon owns a first-degree black belt from Krav Maga Martial Arts, a second-degree black belt from Extreme Martial Arts and a second-degree black belt from Lee Jacobs Christian Karate. His disciplines include karate, mixed martial arts, jiu-jitsu, tae kwan do and Krav Maga, a self-defense program used by the Israeli Defense Forces.

He also has a couple of green belts and a white-yellow belt to round out his collection.

While he earns plenty of accolades, Dillon spends little time dwelling on them.

“I don’t look at it too long because there’s always someone out there trying to get that, and if I want it I’m going to have to fight for it,” he said.

When he travels to Canada, he’ll fight to defend three world titles he won at the organization’s 2012 World Games in Austria. TAFISA, which is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Olympic Committee, operates under a “sports for all” philosophy, and includes adult and child competitors of both genders.

Dillon competes in both matches against opponents and through kata, a display of choreographed patterns of movements by himself. Of the two, it’s the one he does alone that’s hardest for him to master.

“I enjoy the kata. It’s a challenge, just because the way my head is, I don’t remember stuff very easily,” he said.

Dillon has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, making it sometimes harder for him to focus or remain still for long periods of time. But his mother, Melony Dillon, said that a decade of martial arts has given Ethan a great deal of discipline and improved his concentration, allowing him to excel in areas on and off the mat.

Even his behavior and attitude is better than most of his peers.

“I have to say, he’s probably one of the better teenagers around,” she said. “I see a young man growing into being a really great young man. Not just with martial arts, but on the whole, being a nice productive citizen.”

Dillon’s productivity on the mat requires a lot of effort and a busy schedule. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Dillon works on traditional martial arts. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it’s mixed martial arts, a sport that has gained popularity over the years due to high-profile professional leagues such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Fridays are private lessons, and Saturdays are spent with team training.

Most of those days also include weight training, and Dillon has to fit his education in during the school year as well. Dillon is home-schooled, which allows him some flexibility with his schedule. But even his day off, Sunday, is often spent doing some physical activity, like paintball or swimming.

Martial arts also has taken a toll on his body. Dillon has torn ligaments in his right foot and broken his left foot. But he’s always eager to get back from an injury, doing whatever work he can while he heals.

His fighting injuries might take a greater toll on his mother than Dillon himself. While Melony is supportive of her son’s martial arts career, and travels with him to other countries to watch him compete, she hasn’t gotten totally comfortable with watching him get hit.

“It’s really hard sometimes when he’s fighting for me to put my mom hat over here and not go, oh jeez, my son just got hit really bad,” she said.

While it can be tough on his mother, getting hit isn’t usually a problem for Dillon. In fact, he likes to give his opponent the first strike, so he can absorb the first blow and proceed with his own attack unfazed by his opponent.

“It wakes me up, actually,” Dillon said. “I actually laugh sometimes when I get hit.”

Getting hit in Canada is expected, but it also will be expensive. For Ethan and Melony to make the trip, they’ll need around $4,500 to cover basics like equipment and uniforms, flight and lodging.

After fundraising efforts, he still needs to come up with around $1,200 by the end of July.

Dillon’s family goes to a lot of effort to fulfill his busy schedule, with weekly trips to Lakeland, Odessa and Sarasota for training. His 7-year-old sister, Emma Dillon, and his grandmother, Betty Dillon, are also big supporters.

While he works hard to excel and gain recognition, it’s his family’s support that helps keep him going.

“That helps quite a bit because I know that there are some families that push their kids to do this, and then there are other families that don’t even support their kids doing this at all,” he said. “It means a lot to me.”

For more information about Dillon and his fundraising, visit tinyurl.com/EthanDillon. For information about TAFISA, visit TAFISA.net.

Published July 2, 2014

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Gulfside Hospice celebrates a quarter-century of care

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In the beginning, it was known as Central Gulfside Hospice, serving only patients in New Port Richey.

Now, a quarter-century later, it’s known as Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care, with about 1,500 admissions a year across Pasco County.

Linda Ward, president and chief executive of Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care, will be among those celebrating the care provider’s 25th anniversary at a Founder’s Day Breakfast on July 8. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Linda Ward, president and chief executive of Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care, will be among those celebrating the care provider’s 25th anniversary at a Founder’s Day Breakfast on July 8.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The organization has 14 locations, including a corporate resource office in Land O’ Lakes, clinical branch offices in New Port Richey and Dade City, four inpatient care centers, five thrift shops, a bereavement center, and outreach counseling center.

It has about 265 employees, plus contract employees.

No matter where it delivers services, Gulfside has the same goals in mind, said Linda Ward, its president and chief executive officer.

“A lot of people think that hospice is a place,” Ward said. “Hospice is a concept. The concept is really comfort and quality, peace, dignity.”

Across the country, about 90 percent of hospice patients choose to receive their care at home, Ward said.

Gulfside delivers its hospice care in a wide array of settings including retirement homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, apartments, or other residences, standalone hospice centers — wherever the person lives, Ward said. Gulfside’s team manages the patient’s pain and symptoms, and assists the patient with the emotional and spiritual aspects of end-of-life issues.

It provides necessary medications as well as medical equipment and supplies. Its team coaches families in caring for patients and dealing with a wide array of issues that arise.

When Gulfside was preparing to open a residential care center in Zephyrhills, it took great care in making sure the center was designed with its patients and their loved ones in mind, Ward said. That center opened four years ago, with a goal to create a special environment.

When visitors arrive there, they walk through a space that has the feel of an Italian piazza. Natural light pours through the skylight in the courtyard’s high ceiling. A collection of tables offers visitors a place to sit and relax. A decorative fountain is the focal centerpiece of the room.

Before residential architect Peter Horstman designed the center, Gulfside told him what they were trying to achieve.

“We basically painted a picture of what it was that we wanted patients and families and visitors to experience as soon as they walk through the door,” Ward said.

People are walking into the center with a lot on their minds and the goal is to make the surroundings pleasant and relaxing, Ward said.

Besides spacious patient rooms, the center has a family room that looks out over a pond, a place where visitors and patients can play board games, a children’s play room, and a chapel, complete with stained glass windows.

Providing a quality environment is just one part of the equation, Ward said.

“You can have the most beautiful environment ever, but it’s not everything. It’s really not the most important thing,” Ward said.

Quality of care is vital, and that means having a capable staff that is committed to serving patients, Ward said.

Even though hospice has been around in the United States since the 1970s and has grown substantially since Medicare started covering it in the 1980s, some people still do not understand what it is, Ward said. Some health care professionals remain hesitant to make a hospice referral because they have been trained to try to heal patients, and for them, hospice feels like an admission of failure.

Some patients are even reluctant to accept a hospice referral.

The term “hospice” can provoke fear, Ward explained. “They (patients) think, ‘Oh, my gosh, they’ve called in hospice, that’s it.’”

Some doctors understand the value of referring patients to hospice when there’s still time for the patient to benefit from the available services, Ward said. During those final stages, hospice can help not only the patient, but the patient’s loved ones, too.

Many patients, by they are referred for hospice, may only have a few days to live, Ward said. “That’s when a disservice has been done to the person. The hospice experience is so much more than just the pain and symptom control for the patient. That’s the primary initial first goal — get the person out of pain, immediately. That’s our No. 1 immediate task.

“But then, it’s a holistic approach,” she said, involving a team that includes a social worker, a chaplain, a certified nurse, a physician and a certified nurse’s aid. They help the patient with everything from pain relief to personal hygiene, as well as such issues as spiritual guidance and family dynamics.

“In the world in which we live, families are really having tough times,” Ward said. “The recession was so hard on people, and they’re still trying to come out of it. And so you’ve got those financial factors and psychosocial issues, and now you add terminal illness on top of it, and that’s such a high-stress situation.

“And so, our social workers and chaplains – they are so highly involved in helping people through these things,” Ward said.

Medicare benefits can be used to reimburse hospice providers for patients who have a prognosis of six months or less, Ward said. Many patients, however, outlive their prognosis and can continue to qualify for the services.

Many hospice providers, including Gulfside, also have a separate palliative care program, which aims to provide pain relief for patients who are not hospice-appropriate yet, but ultimately will be, Ward said.

Those patients do not qualify for hospice benefits, but can qualify under Medicare Part B, which has benefits for people who have chronic illness, Ward said.

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Gulfside is planning for its future.

“Right now, we’re looking at continued partnerships with other health care providers, to diversify us and grow our business,” Ward said.

Gulfside has an active palliative program with Medical Center of Trinity, she said, noting it does about 30 palliative consults a month with the hospital. Gulfside also has a close relationship with Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

Gulfside’s residential center in Zephyrhills has strong ties to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Ward said. “Ninety-nine percent of all of our patients who come to this care center come from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.”

Published July 2, 2014

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Lutz cake and pie contest features new twists

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The annual Fourth of July cake and pie contest in Lutz this year will have a few new ingredients.

One change attempts to level the playing field.

Sarah Robison gave her cake a festive feel, attracting the highest bid from Mark Carnes, who posed with her after the auction. (File Photo)
Sarah Robison gave her cake a festive feel, attracting the highest bid from Mark Carnes, who posed with her after the auction.
(File Photo)

From past experiences, contest coordinator Marilyn Wannamaker said she has observed that it was not fair to have a 4-year-old compete against a 20-year-old. That inspired the addition of a new category.

Now there will be three categories instead of two. It will break up adults 18 and older in their own group, with teens between 12 and 17 competing against each other, and children from 4 through 11 in their own category.

Also new this year, the contest will be move to the Lutz Senior Center. Previously, it was at the Lutz Fire Department building, but the volunteer fire department has since been replaced with a county crew and the building sold.

This year will be Wannamaker’s “last hurrah,” as the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club member plans to turn over the task of organizing the event to someone new next year. At age 83 and after running the contest for 12 years, Wannamaker said it’s time to give someone else a turn.

The Lutz woman said she originally found herself interested in the annual contest because she enjoys the opportunity to meet people in the community. Some competitors are new to the contest every year, while others enter each year.

Wilma Lewis typically enters four or five decorated cakes each year and is expected to do the same this year, Wannamaker said. The Gaschlers like to make it a family affair. Last year, Ron baked a hummingbird cake, Rebecca entered a chocolate chip confection, and Tracy made her famous five-pound apple pie.

The pie fetched $85, the highest price in the cake and pie auction, which follows the parade each year.

Adults and children entered about five-dozen pies and cakes last year. This year, Wannamaker hopes to attract more entries, as the theme of the Independence Day celebration is a salute to the volunteer firefighters who served the community for decades.

Those wishing to enter the contest should remember to think about the type of icing they use because there is no refrigeration in the judging areas, Wannamaker said.

“We had one little boy who baked a large cake that was a house and a village, and he used blueberry Jell-O for the lake,” Wannamaker said. “Well, his lake became an ocean.”

Winners in each category will receive a blue ribbon.

Size matters, too, according to the contest organizer. The entries must be no larger than 9-by-13 inches.

Once the contest is over, all pies and cakes will be carried over to the front of the train station for the auction.  The money raised by the sales go to different charities in the Lutz area.

Besides generating money for good causes, the cake and pie auction can be entertaining. Auctioneer Bob Moore will encourage bidders, while Cheryl Benton carries the sweets around to give the crowd a good look at them.

Sometimes, Wannamaker said, the best bidding wars involve parents and grandparents.

Fourth of July cake and pie contest
There are now three age groups for the Lutz Fourth of July cake and pie contest. They are adults, ages 18 and older; teens, between 12 and 17; and children, from 4 through 11.

The contest categories are the same for each group, with the exception of an additional category for men in the adult age group, and for boys in the other two age groups. The idea is to get the boys and men into the kitchen, said Marilyn Wannamaker, contest coordinator.

Categories include best-decorated, most patriotic, best cake tasting, best pie tasting, judge’s favorite, and Guv’na’s favorite.

Those wishing to enter the contest must deliver their entries to the Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave. N.W., between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., on July 3, or between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., on July 4.

– Ashley Schrader

Published July 2, 2014

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The Laker/Lutz News becomes a bigger paper on Aug. 6

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This month marks the fifth year since I’ve become publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, having assumed this role in 2009 when the recession was at its peak.

The Laker/Lutz News publisher Diane Kortus shows off the new size of your local newspaper beginning next month, adding six inches of length and bringing it in-line with the size of daily newspapers locally. (Suzanne Beauchaine/Staff Photo)
The Laker/Lutz News publisher Diane Kortus shows off the new size of your local newspaper beginning next month, adding six inches of length and bringing it in-line with the size of daily newspapers locally.
(Suzanne Beauchaine/Staff Photo)

Like most small business owners back then, I was faced with cutting staff and expenses as we adjusted to the dramatic downturn in the economy. Business analysts called this “right sizing,” but I mostly remember it as a very difficult, even painful, time to be managing a business.

Over the past five years my employees and I worked hard to rebuild our business, steadily making improvements to our content and distribution. Our perseverance has paid off, and today The Laker/Lutz News has more readers than anytime in our history.

Our papers are read by more than 64,000 residents in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City. This readership represents an incredible 79 percent household penetration — three times more than any other newspaper or magazine in our community.

We could not have rebounded from the economic collapse of the recession to the promising outlook of today without the support and commitment of our readers and advertisers. There was never a doubt that you wanted a strong community newspaper, and for that we will be forever thankful.

And it’s because of your continued belief and support that we’re able to announce today a milestone that is one of the most significant improvements ever to our papers.

Beginning Aug. 6, we are increasing our size to that of a daily newspaper. We will be six inches longer, or 25 percent bigger, than the paper you are holding in your hands today. Here’s why this change should matter to you.

1. Credible newspaper; serious local news
In the past few years, we’ve begun writing more stories about growth and development, new and expanding businesses, public and private education, and city and county government. This complements what we’ve always done, writing stories about our communities and the great people who live and work here.

Changing our format to the same size as daily newspapers communicates even more that The Laker/Lutz News are credible newspapers committed to reporting serious local news. 

2. More and bigger photos
A larger size allows for more and bigger photos. And photos help us tell you stories about special events and things to do, people and organizations that do good and interesting things. It also enables expanded coverage for youth sports and adult recreation.

3. Two sections
Changing size allows us to print two separate sections. The new B Section becomes a second front page to give more prominence to feature stories. The back page of the A Section becomes a high-profile sports page.

With two sections, it is easy to share the paper. You can read the A Section, while someone else in your family reads the B section.

4. Easy-to-find classifieds
Our new B Section will house all classified pages, as well as our Best In Small Business Directory.

5. More advertising circulars
The larger format means we can accept more advertising circulars from major accounts like Publix, Michaels, JCPenney and Ulta. Beginning in August, inserts from Beall’s Outlet will be in the paper, and we expect other national retailers to follow.

6. Bigger ads
Ad sizes in the larger format are 25 percent bigger than current sizes. A bigger ad allows advertisers to include more offers and create more effective ads. This summer we are resizing ads of all current customers to their equivalent larger size in the new format.

My staff and I are proud to have accomplished so much in the past five years.  We greatly look forward to the new opportunities we’ll have with a larger format newspaper.

As always, I welcome your ideas and comments. If you want to talk, please call me at a time best for you — after hours is perfectly fine — at (813) 909-2800 in the office, (813) 503-5213 on my cell, or send me an email at .

Published July 2, 2014

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Liane Caruso working to brand herself Lutz Guv’na

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Liane Caruso runs Limelight Marketing Consultants, a full-service marketing firm she started in 2009.

When she’s working, Caruso always is thinking about how to make something better known, bigger and more successful.

Lutz Guv’na candidate Liane Caruso has plenty of support for her campaign, including her sister-in-law, Dr. Dae Sheridan, right, and her daughter, Lila. (Courtesy of Liane Caruso)
Lutz Guv’na candidate Liane Caruso has plenty of support for her campaign, including her sister-in-law, Dr. Dae Sheridan, right, and her daughter, Lila.
(Courtesy of Liane Caruso)

Even as a candidate for Lutz Guv’na, she can’t take off her marketing hat.

“I would hope that one day this Guv’na thing could be a really big deal,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of people who know about it, but I’m finding that there a lot of people who don’t know about it, and I think what a great way to bring attention to Lutz and the businesses of Lutz.

“It’s a great concept, and I hope that it only continues to grow.”

Caruso decided to help it grow by signing up as a candidate for the ceremonial title, given to the person who raises the most money during the campaign. The winner will be announced during Lutz’ annual Fourth of July celebration, and all monies raised go to local organizations.

To help add a little marketing savvy to the race, Caruso launched ILoveLutz.com, which provides fundraising opportunities for her campaign. But once the race ends, she wants to see it grow into a site for local businesses to make their presence known to visitors and increase visibility for the community in general with news releases, business reviews, and a calendar of upcoming events.

Caruso is from Jacksonville, but spent time in Key West, where she met her husband Larry. They decided that it wasn’t the ideal place to raise children, so they moved to the area to be closer to family and enjoy the strong community presence. They have two children, Kyle, 5, and Lila, 2.

Caruso lives in Land O’ Lakes and moved her business to Lutz last year, and is happy to have the important things in her life close to each other.

“I’ve built my entire life within a 5-mile radius, which I absolutely love,” Caruso said. “I love the community and how supportive they are of each other.”

Philanthropy was another aspect about the race that drew her in, and with some experience in community races — she helped others campaign for king and queen of Fantasy Fest, a 10-day celebration in Key West — she felt it was a good time to take a shot at being Guv’na.

In addition to helping local organizations with much-needed funds, Caruso wants her campaign to also focus on helping local businesses expand their opportunities on the Internet. In conjunction with her ILoveLutz website, Caruso believes companies can utilize a strong Internet presence in conjunction with the face-to-face, personal relationships they’ve built over the years in Lutz.

“Our entire world has shifted to technology and online awareness. It’s great those people that have built their business off word of mouth and the good old-fashioned way,” she said. “So many other businesses don’t have that luxury, and their website and how they’re found online is a first impression, or their first chance. If they’re not found online they’re essentially missing opportunity.”

Local businesses that don’t have a brick-and-mortar location, but are still owned and run by people in the community, need a strong online presence to gain exposure they might not get otherwise, she said.

Caruso’s campaign has gone well, she said, with plenty of fundraising efforts such as raffles, themed parties and workshops, as well as combined events with multiple Guv’na candidates.

One of the fun things about the race is how supportive and friendly the candidates are with each other, she said.

With her constant focus on branding, marketing and social media for clients — and a Guv’na campaign to run — Caruso doesn’t make much room for idle time. But the Carusos enjoy local and state attractions (she admits to being “theme park junkies”) and spending time with local family.

While she sometimes travels out of the state for business and has lived throughout Florida, it’s Land O’ Lakes and Lutz, where Caruso lives and works, that feels like home.

“I wouldn’t move back to Jacksonville, I probably wouldn’t really live in Tallahassee although I loved it while I was there,” Caruso said. “Orlando and Tampa, to me, are pretty comparable, but Key West is very different. This is exactly the right place.”

For more information about Caruso’s Lutz Guv’na campaign, visit ILoveLutz.com or search “Liane for Guv’na” on Facebook.

For more information about Limelight Marketing Consultants, call (813) 419-3777 or visit LimelightConsultants.com.

Published July 2, 2014

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