The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Political Agenda 05-14-14

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Burgess qualifies for primary, earns endorsement
Republican state House candidate Danny Burgess has officially qualified for the upcoming House District 38 primary after his campaign collected enough signatures through the petition process.

The qualifying came just days before Burgess received an endorsement from the man he’s trying to replace in Tallahassee, state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.

“From serving as the mayor of Zephyrhills to serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, Danny has a distinguished record of public service,” Weatherford said, in a statement. “Danny possesses the courage of his conservative convictions coupled with a temperament that enables him to work and find common ground.”

Burgess faces Minnie Diaz in the Republican primary in August, with the winner set to face Democrat Beverly Ledbetter in November, assuming no one else files to run.

Congressional candidates qualify
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, is officially defending his Congressional seat against former television reporter Alan Cohn after both wrote checks to qualify for the November election.

Both candidates chose to spend a little more than $10,000 each from their campaign coffers to qualify, instead of collecting signatures like U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor. Bilirakis will return to Congress unopposed after collecting the needed 2,298 signatures to qualify.

Ross has raised $718,000 for his re-election campaign through the end of March, while Cohn has collected $160,000.

Altman seeks third term on school board
The District 1 seat for the Pasco County School Board finally has a candidate … and it’s the incumbent, Allen Altman.

Altman, whose district includes primarily schools in eastern Pasco County — including Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Pasco high schools — made his re-election campaign official Wednesday.

Three school board seats are up for grabs this election cycle, with Cynthia Armstrong the lone candidate for her District 3 seat, and Marc Yacht challenging Steve Luikart for his district on the west side of the county.

Altman ran unopposed four years ago, raising $22,000. He originally won the seat in 2006, beating Cathi Compton and Willie Broner Jr., out-raising both $112,000 to $36,000.

Altman is an agent with Pasco County Farm Bureau Insurance, which maintains a local office at U.S. 301 in Dade City.

Candidates have until June 20 to qualify.

Republican brunch in Trinity
The West Pasco Republican Club will host a candidate brunch May 17 beginning at 10 a.m., at Heritage Springs Country Club, 11345 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity.

The event will include Republican candidates seeking office in the upcoming election cycle.

Cost is $15.

To RSVP, call Anne Corona at (727) 514-1120.

Barnes & Noble offers showcase for local authors

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If you’re looking for a new recipe, want to make a quilt, are in the mood for a little dark humor or want to be inspired, a selection of books by local authors may appeal to you.

Seventeen local authors will gather at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass May 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., to sell their books and chat with patrons. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Seventeen local authors will gather at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass May 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., to sell their books and chat with patrons.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Seventeen local authors will gather at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass May 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., to offer their works for sale, chat with potential patrons, and sign books.

“It’s Barnes & Noble’s way to recognize the community,” said Paul Brouillard, assistant store manager at the bookstore, which is located at 28152 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. “Our customers are readers. A lot of them aspire to be authors and have their books for sale in our store. So this is a great way to get the authors who are local to our store.”

It’s a fun event for the authors, Brouillard added. Besides having a chance to sell their work, they get to talk to customers and to network with each other.

The store will set the writers up in clusters at different locations in the store, with a sprinkling of genres at each table, Brouillard said.

“I’ll have a teen book maybe next to maybe one of the cooking books and the quilting book, something like that,” he said.

Some authors have been there before, such as Leigh Kenyon, a teenager who wrote “The Zebra Riders,” and Madonna Jervis Wise, a retired educator who has written several books, including “Wildcat Creek Kids,” “Sam & Company,” and “Juanita in Blue.” She’s also co-author of “Kachina and the Bully.”

Evelyn Johnson-Taylor, a women’s ministry leader, will be there with her book “A Woman’s Call, Living a Life of Purpose.”

Those interested in learning to quilt can pick up some pointers from Elizabeth Dackson, author of “Becoming a Confident Quilter.”

Guy Cote will offer his book “Long Live the King: Book One of the Charlemagne Saga.” Milt Harris will have three titles available, a book for young readers called “Foxy Roxy,” a self-help guide titled “Ceilings,” and the cookbook “Just Friggin’ Cook.”

Gail Yip-Chuck’s book, “The New Life Diet: A New Way of Eating and Being,” shares her message for diet and health, with the aim of helping readers transform their lives.

Jamie Elizabeth Tingen’s book, “Butterfly Messages,” is a story about second chances. It’s a particularly timely topic in this age of reconnections enabled through social media and of rekindled romance among former sweethearts who have found each other a divorce or the death of a spouse.

If you enjoy dark humor, “The Funeral Portrait” by Vincent Vinas, may be right up your alley.

Those who are drawn to history and photography may want to check out the work of R. Wayne Ayres, author of “Florida’s Grand Hotels from the Gilded Age” and “St. Petersburg: The Sunshine City.”

Other authors expected to be there are Jenice Armstead, Sarina Babb, Shelby Bender, Susan Noe Harmon, Paul Sunshine Murphy, Alison Oburia and  Ria Prestia.

Readers drawn to poetry may want to pick up a copy of “Eyes Open, Listening,” by Janet Watson, at the Barnes & Noble author gathering May 17 at The Shops at Wiregrass.

Here’s a selection from her book:

The Artist
His studio was under the basement stairs,
next to shelves of canned tomatoes,
beneath the foundation window through
which he could watch leaves scuttling by.

His day-job at the factory shared space
with thoughts of going home,
of what he’d sketch or paint—
a remembered face, the valley in spring.

His assembly line labor supported us,
and although I understood that need,
when people asked me what he did,
I always said my father was an artist.
-Janet Watson

Published May 7, 2014

Pasco lacks incentive to create filmmaking destination

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Years of filming low-budget shorts in and around Pasco County finally paid off for Christopher Leto when investors offered $250,000 to fund his biggest movie yet, a horror thriller called “The Ritual.”

Land O’ Lakes filmmaker Christopher Leto shot his independent film ‘Die Die Delta Phi’ in Pasco County, but his first larger-budget film, ‘The Ritual,’ moved to Sarasota County because of the financial incentives in place there. (Courtesy of Chris Leto)
Land O’ Lakes filmmaker Christopher Leto shot his independent film ‘Die Die Delta Phi’ in Pasco County, but his first larger-budget film, ‘The Ritual,’ moved to Sarasota County because of the financial incentives in place there.
(Courtesy of Chris Leto)

Yet when filming starts later this month, it won’t happen anywhere near his Land O’ Lakes home. Instead, Leto and his crew are heading south to Sarasota County where he can take advantage of film incentives like a 20 percent rebate on certain purchases, and waived costs for government services.

“I met with the film commission there, and they were amazing,” Leto said. “Everything I asked them to do, they would bend over backward to help me get what I needed.”

But if he had a choice, Leto would’ve much preferred to stay right in Pasco County.

“I didn’t want to go to Sarasota to shoot my movie,” he said. “But they have incentives that are really nice.”

Pasco has what officials here call a simple permitting process with no fees, and a requirement to carry an insurance rider that costs around $85. But don’t expect too much help beyond that, because Pasco County not only lacks incentives for filmmakers, it lacks an actual film commission.

The work instead is handled through Pasco’s Office of Tourism Development, a department led by Ed Caum, who admits he is forced to wear so many hats, the film industry is almost an afterthought. Which is probably why the county’s website still links production companies to the closed mailbox of Eric Keaton, who hasn’t been with the county since last year.

“I’m not making any excuses, but I’m probably one of the only people on my staff trained to” update the website, Caum said. “And I’m always sitting in on meetings and doing other work, that I can’t seem to get to it.”

Pasco has never been ignored by filmmakers, which can offer a little bit of everything when it comes to locales. It has beaches on the west side of the county. It has historic structures throughout Dade City. It has virtually untouched forests.

However, it’s been a long time since a major production dug in roots in Pasco County … almost 25 years, when a rather unknown director named Tim Burton brought Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder here to film “Edward Scissorhands.” And it could be even longer before something else follows, especially after the Florida Legislature last week decided not to renew statewide incentives to attract major productions.

That leaves smaller, independent productions. But even they may be endangered, as the infrastructure for busy filmmaking markets will likely migrate to states that offer financial incentives to lure major films.

That could be troublesome for Kelly Mikes, an independent film producer who lives in Lutz. She worked with writer R. Presley Stephens to film “You Will Love Me,” which included some exterior shots in Pasco. Without the skilled crews available to work on set or location, filming here could become difficult, if not impossible.

“There aren’t a lot of outside resources in this area, because there just isn’t any competition,” Mikes said. “Those who are here are charging exorbitant amounts, and not everyone can afford to pay that.”

Keeping film production locally cannot only keep jobs in the area, but can also provide a much-needed boost to the economy. The Motion Picture Association of America claims that for every dollar in incentives offered by government officials to attract film, the return on investment is, at the very minimum, $5.60.

Sometimes, that return could be as high as $20.

That means even $5,000 in incentives could generate an economic boost of between $28,000 and $100,000. Incentive packages generate revenue for businesses like retail outlets and hotels. They provide paychecks for workers who make their home here.

But that can’t help Pasco quite yet, Caum said. Implementing such a program, maintaining it, and getting the word out to filmmakers it exists, requires a full-time commissioner. And there’s no money for one of those.

“That is a sophistication level we need to get to,” Caum said.

He hopes he can start sharing some ideas with Pasco County commissioners about promoting film production around September. However, the tourism department will still have to find revenue sources to pay for it.

Still, even without statewide incentives, there’s no reason why Pasco couldn’t eventually find its legs in the film industry to keep up with Hillsborough County for now, and maybe even someday reach the levels of Pinellas County, which has churned out films like “Dolphin Tale” and “Magic Mike,” Caum said.

It couldn’t come soon enough for Leto, who would like to keep productions from his Reaper Films company right at home.

“It’s a beautiful place to film,” Leto said. “But more importantly, it’s close to home, and I want to stay here.”

Published  May 7, 2014

Plantation Palms Golf Club closes down once again

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Unless you’re a resident, a guest or a vendor, anyone thinking about trying to get into the Plantation Palms community off Collier Parkway should think again.

The community is on lockdown, even during the day. And it’s all because the golf course has shut down … again.

It’s closed again. Plantation Palms Golf Club has shut down the course, and once again it’s not clear when it will reopen. (File Photo)
It’s closed again. Plantation Palms Golf Club has shut down the course, and once again it’s not clear when it will reopen.
(File Photo)

Nine months after closing for a week, Plantation Palms Golf Club has shuttered its links once again, and this time there’s no telling when it might reopen.

That’s forced the homeowners association at Plantation Palms to act swiftly to protect not only its residents, but the private golf course as well.

“While not our property and not our legal responsibility, (the golf course) is a critical component of our neighborhood,” the board, led by president David Gunsteens, said in a written statement to The Laker/Lutz News. “Many of our residents purchased their homes here because of the excellent golf course. Not only that, but one of the benefits all of us enjoy in living in a golf course community, whether golf enthusiasts or not, is the strength in property value.

“So when the golf course is impacted negatively, it has a detrimental effect on all of us.”

The golf course is not maintained by the HOA, but instead by a private group, MJS Golf Club LLC, which has struggled to keep the 156-acre course open. Golf swings stopped for a week last August in what one of the owners, Jason Ray, described at the time as a perfect storm of bad luck.

“It was just a culmination of a lot of things that led up to the closing, but mostly the economy,” Ray said at the time. “It’s been too hot, and it’s been raining, and the culmination of all that just resulted in not a lot of people playing golf. Summertime is always tough for all the golf courses.”

But it’s not summertime now, and what happened this time, no one is sharing. Ray, who is part of MJS Golf Club with Mitch Osceola and Steve McDonald, did not return calls on Monday before The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

One thing is for certain: Bills were racking up for the golf course. Several liens against Plantation Palms have been filed in recent months, according to county records, including a $2,915 claim from Omega Field Enterprises for trimming 83 palm trees.

Pasco County filed two liens of its own last month totaling $5,300 for solid waste disposal, and Lake Masters Aquatic Weed Control won a judgment against the golf course last January for more than $9,000.

MJS Golf did have some good news last week, however. A proposed $13,000 penalty issued against it by the Southwest Florida Water Management District last September was reduced to $2,000. The agency, more commonly known as Swiftmud, had originally claimed the company overpumped water in 2012. However, officials later determined that there was a leak in the reclaimed water system, and MJS simply failed to notify Swiftmud it had to switch to the potable water system.

Ray, Osceola and McDonald purchased the golf course at 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in May 2011 through a $2.18 million mortgage from Native American Bank of Denver. The three have Native American roots, according to a 2012 story published in Indian Country Today. The trio was one of the first non-tribal groups to get a guaranteed loan from a company who specifically serves Native Americans.

The 875-home community’s HOA is not only keeping outsiders away, but also is working to make sure its residents know they can’t use the golf course.

“It is important that we continue to respect the golf course as a private property,” the board said in a statement. “None of us have the right to free golf or to use the course as an additional to our backyards. We encourage all homeowners to pull together during this time, and do whatever we can to promote and protect the integrity of the golf course property.”

Published May 7, 2014

Public weighs in on Pasco’s future parks and rec plan

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When residents consider the future of Pasco County’s parks and recreation’s programs and facilities, they have plenty of suggestions for the county to consider.

Pasco County has a broad array of parks and recreational facilities, including nature trails. The county is in the midst of creating a new master plan. (Courtesy of Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department)
Pasco County has a broad array of parks and recreational facilities, including nature trails. The county is in the midst of creating a new master plan.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department)

Some want to see more opportunities — such as pathways — to enjoy the beauty of natural areas owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Others want to create a “blue way,” providing water access to coastal areas.

Some think more should be done to encourage gatherings on large green spaces, to foster a greater sense of community. And, some want to do a better job of marketing the county’s gems, such as the rolling hills of Dade City.

These were just a few thoughts that popped up during a discussion last week at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, where David Barth, of AECOM Technology Corp., asked those gathered to help define what steps could be taken to help Pasco County become a premier county where people want to live, work and locate their business.

The county hired AECOM, a professional consulting firm, for $125,000 to develop a 10-year comprehensive parks and recreation system master plan. The plan must be considered in a broad sense, Barth told the crowd of about two dozen.

“It’s important to understand lifestyle and demographics,” Barth said. For instance, park planning in urban areas is different than it is in suburban or rural places. Since Pasco is a mix, different considerations must be made for different areas.

The planning also must consider existing facilities and programs — not only those which belong to the county, but also those which are part of the public realm, including schools, museums and libraries, Barth said.

“We need to understand what’s happening today,” he said. “What are the priorities in 2014?”

But it’s also important to consider whether plans made before are still relevant, and whether there are emerging forms of recreation that the county may want to consider.

The May 1 workshop was one of three public sessions, but is just a small part of the planning effort. A steering committee made up of various stakeholders also weighed in and there will be a random survey conducted to collect more information.

Gathering input from people is just one part of the process. The work also involves evaluating current conditions, using demographic information, considering trends, and looking at current and desired levels of service. The work also will include a random survey to solicit public sentiment.

One issue that didn’t even come up at the public session is the shortage of athletic fields for youth sports, a complaint that has been raised repeatedly in recent years. As the county puts together a plan, it must consider the costs of implementation and various funding options for carrying out the plan, county parks and recreation director Rick Buckman said.

Essentially, there are two payment plans. One involves using existing revenues to “pay as you go.” The other involves coming up with additional revenues, which could include additional taxes, Barth said.

Planning efforts are expected to continue for several months. As the work goes on and the vision for the plan solidifies, debates are likely to intensify over program and facility priorities and how to pay for the plan.

The Pasco County Commission will have final say over the long-range plan and decisions regarding how to pay for it, including using existing revenues or seeking additional support through new taxes, more public-private partnerships or other means.

Published May 7, 2014

Mourners brave rain to remember fallen officers

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It’s said that J. Edgar Hoover himself traveled from Washington, D.C., to Dade City, to remember prohibition agent John Van Waters.

Pasco County sheriff’s deputies salute during ceremonies remembering law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during the last century or so. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Pasco County sheriff’s deputies salute during ceremonies remembering law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during the last century or so.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The 46-year-old U.S. Department of Justice officer was killed alongside Pasco County constable Arthur Crenshaw on Oct. 4, 1922, in an ambush soon after investigating an illegal distillery near Dade City.

They were just the second and third law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty at the time, but would eventually become a part of a list that now totals eight who paid the ultimate price in protecting the people of Pasco County.

And those same people who benefit from that protection refuse to let them be forgotten as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies celebrated their lives during a memorial service May 2 in front of the Historic Dade City Courthouse.

“It is truly a special day for us,” Sheriff Chris Nocco told the crowd of spectators who stood in a steady downpour to honor the officers. “In a world where so many times we get wrapped up in the petty little things of life, this is a moment that we can reflect upon what is most important.”

Last year, the death toll for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty dropped to its lowest numbers in more than 50 years. And while those are statistics that should be celebrated, Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom warned that work to protect officers is still needed.

“While this number is gratifying somewhat, one life is still too many,” he said. “We as leaders continue to work hard to provide our officers with the awareness and training they need to confront the many dangers they are facing. We must strive to create a new culture of safety in law enforcement that addresses the elements of our job that we can control, such as driving habits.”

Two of Pasco’s deaths were from automobile accidents, including the most recent, Hernando County Sheriff’s deputy John Mecklenburg, who was killed during a high-speed chase on U.S. 41 in 2011 that crossed into Pasco County.

Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy John McCabe also died on U.S. 41, but in 1948, while responding to a call about stolen grove heaters.

“On this day, let us remember these men not by how they died, but how they walked among us, and whose lives they enriched in a thousand ways by their very existence,” said U.S. Circuit Court judge William Burgess III, after reading the roll call of the fallen officers.

Those officers honored also included Lt. Charles “Bo” Harrison, who was killed June 1, 2003, while doing surveillance near a Dade City nightclub. A sniper, whose only goal reportedly was to shoot a police officer, hid in the nearby woods, and shot Harrison in the back. Harrison, who was 56, was just 15 days away from retirement after 31 years of service.

Also remembered was a member of the Florida Highway Patrol, Trooper James Bradford-Jean Crooks, who was just 23 in May 1998 when he was slain by a man who had earlier killed two Tampa Police Department officers and a young boy. Brad Crooks, as he was known by, never had a chance to get out of his car, was shot and killed on the off-ramp of Interstate 75 into Wesley Chapel.

And then there was the first officer ever killed in Pasco in the line of duty. Sheldon Nicks was working with his father, Fivay town marshal H. Robert Nicks, to serve a warrant. When the man they were serving realized he was being arrested, he pulled a gun. The younger Nicks jumped in front of the bullet, saving his father, but died on May 8, 1909.

“None of whom we honor today can be defined by their deaths,” Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Kristina Quenneville said. “But by what is forever imprinted on the lives and hearts of those they have touched.”

Published May 7, 2014

Two games, two wins, no hits for Saint Leo junior

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Saint Leo University softball coach John Conway was so focused on the score of a recent contest, he wasn’t paying full attention to the game’s stats.

Saint Leo University junior Ashley Ehlers threw a no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader against Florida Southern College last month. In the second game, she came on in relief to record another victory. (Courtesy of Mike Carlson)
Saint Leo University junior Ashley Ehlers threw a no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader against Florida Southern College last month. In the second game, she came on in relief to record another victory.
(Courtesy of Mike Carlson)

It was only after the Lions had secured a tight 1-0 victory over Florida Southern College that he found out something interesting: His pitcher, Ashley Ehlers, hadn’t given up many hits.

In fact, she didn’t give up any.

“I didn’t know it was a no-hitter until the game was over,” Conway said. “My pitching coach had to tell me it was a no-hitter.”

Ehlers struck out two and walked three to give Saint Leo the first game of a double-header against the Moccasins on April 19. It also boosted her record to 11-5 on the year.

Conway may not have realized what was happening at the time, but he’s not surprised Ehlers, a junior, came through for the Lions when the team needed strong pitching.

“She’s one of these pitchers who works very hard,” he said. “She has gotten better every year that she’s been here.”

The game’s score probably added some pressure for Ehlers because it was a close contest with little room for error, Conway said. One mistake might not only have cost her the no-hitter, but cost Saint Leo the game as well. That she preserved the no-hitter and the win makes the accomplishment even more impressive.

But there were more impressive accomplishments for the Lions and Ehlers that day. In the second game, pitcher Alana Tabel went above and beyond a game’s worth of no-hit ball, pitching 8-1/3 innings before the Moccasins finally registered a couple of hits.

With the game still a scoreless tie in the 10th inning, Saint Leo went back to Ehlers for some extra work and she responded with another inning without giving up any hits. That proved to be enough, as the Lions broke through in the bottom of the 10th inning to claim a second 1-0 victory, and make Ehlers the winning pitcher of record in both games.

Ehlers had pitched no-hitters in high school, but recording one at the college level was special for her.

“I feel like this one means a lot more,” she said. “In high school there are only a couple of girls on every high school team who are going to college (and play softball), and in college it’s all the dominant players.”

As a competitor, Ehlers said earning the victory was more important than preserving the no-hitter. Competing in the tough Sunshine State Conference means every game matters, and conference games are even more important. So taking two from fellow SSC member Florida Southern was particularly satisfying.

Her strong junior year campaign is also a source of pride for Ehlers because she comes from a family of softball players. Her younger sister, Aubrey, is a pitcher for Dunedin High School, and was excited to hear about the no-hitter.

“She thought it was so awesome,” Ehlers said. “My little sister looks up to me so much. Everything that I do in my success, I want her to see that and know that she can do that as well.”

Her older sister, Amber, was also a pitcher when she attended Hillsborough Community College, and was proud to hear about her little sister’s accomplishment.

Ehlers said the confidence she gained from the no-hitter would likely carry over into future games, and it did: She earned another victory against Barry University the following weekend.

Her own no-hitter aside, Ehlers also was impressed with Tabel’s pitching in the second game, which would have marked another no-hitter if the Lions had scored in regulation.

“She threw an awesome game,” Ehlers said.

And Conway agrees.

“I just think both my pitchers were throwing a good game that day,” he said. “They both were on.”

Published May 7, 2014

AARP launches initiative to help defeat scammers

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When it comes to being scammed, virtually everyone is at risk, said Claudette Henry, the featured speaker at a recent Land O’ Lakes AARP chapter meeting.

Claudette Henry
Claudette Henry

Because identity theft and fraud are so pervasive, the AARP has launched the Fraud Watch Network to combat the problem. Last year, an estimated 12.6 million Americans were the victims of identity theft, Henry said, citing AARP materials.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network aims to help people of all ages, not only members of the AARP, Henry said.

“We’re trying to protect you against phone, email and mail scams,” Henry said. “If you receive a phone call or email from anyone saying that your checking account or bank account or credit card or PayPal, or anything that you do has been compromised, and you need to respond, do not.”

Instead, contact the company that sent the communication to make sure it is legitimate, she said.

“If it is from the bank, they’ll address you by name, not just your email account, or say, ‘Dear Member,’ or anything like that,” Henry said. “If you receive a phone call and it says, ‘To verify your account, press 1.’ Do not do it.”

Another common scam involves messages that say someone won a lottery.

“Anytime you receive information that you’ve won a lottery, you’ve won a prize — if you have to pay taxes up front, or a qualification fee, or a document fee — it’s a scam. Don’t fall for it,” Henry said.

Con artists attempt to get people emotionally involved because that makes them more vulnerable, Henry said. One common ploy involves an email or a call that claims to be from a relative needing help. It’s best to hang up the phone and verify that information from another source.

There are other scams that claim to offer investment opportunities, such as oil and gas stock options, she said. One victim lost $40,000.

“It can happen to anyone,” Henry said.

Some criminals use threats and intimidation to try to get what they want. “The latest scam involves calls or emails that claim they’re from the IRS,” she said. “They’re not going to call or email. They’re going to send you a letter. Don’t be fooled.”

A caller attempted the IRS scam on Steve Dierking of Lutz, who was at the AARP meeting.

“I had the IRS call me a month ago and they said they had audited me over the last seven years. I owed $3,400,” Dierking said. “I had one hour to give it to them. And, if I didn’t, they were sending the sheriff out to pick me up.

“So, I said, ‘I have to get back to you, because I don’t have that cash.’ I called the sheriff,” Dierking told the crowd.

There are persistent scammers, who use harassment to try to get their way.

“The best thing you can do is get on the phone with the authorities,” Henry said. “Put an answering machine on your phone or block your phone calls. If all else fails, change your phone number. Don’t let this happen to you.”

Keep your credit cards and Social Security number in a place where others can’t get to them, she added. Check your credit reports to be sure they are accurate.

“Be real careful about your mail and how you handle your mail. You don’t want to throw stuff out in the trash with information from credit card companies, offers or even your name and address,” Henry said. “Shred the information. Don’t put it out there. People go through your trash trying to get information.”

Also, be careful in returning calls when you don’t recognize the numbers, she said.

“If you don’t know who’s calling you, don’t call them,” Henry advised.

Ginny Sibley, a bank officer for American Momentum Bank, offered this advice: “When you’re traveling, please use a credit card, not your debit card.”

Scammers can do serious damage once they get someone’s checking account number, Sibley said.

“What they do, is they set up an exact time throughout the whole United States and they compromise your number,” she said. “At that moment, they use the cards, the plastic into the machine. You could have five, six transactions at the same time.”

When buying gas, be sure to click the clear button after your transaction, Sibley added.

Robert Brown took that advice a step farther.

“Any time I use my debit or credit card when I get gas, I go inside and swipe it,” said Brown, a independent associate of LegalShield. “I always go inside.”

Protect yourself with these tips from AARP
• Don’t carry your Social Security card
• Shred sensitive information
• Limit the number of credit cards you carry
• Keep copies of your credit cards, front and back, in case they are stolen
• Watch for missing bills
• Monitor your accounts carefully
• Do your homework before making investments
• Review your free credit report once a year
• Do not carry your check card codes or passwords
• Do not choose obvious passwords, such as a birthdate, phone number, consecutive numbers or the like
• If you receive a suspicious email, do not respond to it
• Avoid conducting personal or financial business on shared or public computers or over wireless hotspots
• Protect your mail
• Do not give out personal information to telemarketers
• Check out a charity before donating by going to CharityWatch.org or CharityNavigator.org

Published May 7, 2014

Forget finance, B.A. Arnot finds his sweet spot managing restaurant

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There may be about a dozen different cuts of steak, but the ways to prepare it are almost endless. Think about Bubba Blue’s long list of shrimp recipes in the film “Forrest Gump,” and replace all of it with all the types of steak that exist.

B.A. Arnot doesn’t mind the long commute from his home in Zephyrhills to LongHorn Steakhouse in Tampa’s Westshore district. He’s worked with the restaurant since the days when guests still threw discarded peanut shells on the floor. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
B.A. Arnot doesn’t mind the long commute from his home in Zephyrhills to LongHorn Steakhouse in Tampa’s Westshore district. He’s worked with the restaurant since the days when guests still threw discarded peanut shells on the floor.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

B.A. Arnot has watched thousands of steaks carried from his kitchen to customers at his LongHorn Steakhouse location on Tampa’s Westshore Boulevard. Rancher’s Sirloin. Outlaw Ribeye. Flo’s Filet. There’s never a shortage of meat.

And for the last 20 years, Arnot has dedicated his professional career to making sure hungry customers walk away satisfied from the restaurant chain. But his job as managing partner is not exactly the career Arnot expected to find himself in back in his college days at the University of South Florida.

“My degree is in finance,” Arnot said one recent afternoon before the Saturday dinner rush. “I was on the USF golf team, too, and I was even thinking about maybe turning pro.”

In fact, if the Super Bowl and a major golfing event ever ended up on the same night, Arnot might have to read about football’s biggest game in the newspaper the next morning. The only reason why he isn’t pursuing that dream is an injury that prevents him from playing as much as he likes.

Of course, that does not mean Arnot never plays. Silverado Golf & Country Club in Zephyrhills is just a short jaunt from his Lake Bernadette home. From time to time, people will find Arnot carrying his clubs, looking to master each hole.

Injury explains the change in his golf plans, but what happened to a career in finance?

“I don’t think I would’ve ever been good behind a desk,” Arnot said. “I’m used to being on my feet and walking around, because at the end of the day, it all comes down to customer service for me.”

But Arnot doesn’t like the word “customer,” however.

“’Guest’ is a better word,” he said. “It’s all about the guest, and taking care of the guest.”

In 1994, LongHorn was a young restaurant chain that was more “roadhouse” style. The complete menu was found on a chalkboard when customers arrived, and each table offered complimentary peanuts — the shells of which were welcomed on top of the wooden floors, crunching under the servers’ feet.

Arnot had worked at a Burger King when he was a teenager, and Bennigan’s in college. But at LongHorn, he was still starting at entry level, first as a host, and then as a server.

Yet, the manager at his LongHorn saw something in Arnot. He saw a leader.

“After a year-and-a-half here, I got offered a chance to go into management, so I did,” he said.

Arnot would continue to work at the LongHorn location on North Dale Mabry Highway, until he became a kitchen manager at a new location in Citrus Park in 1999. Just two years later, he was back at the Dale Mabry location, now as its managing partner.

Arnot gives back the same way he received nearly two decades ago. He looks for manager material from the staff he hires, and promotes them whenever the opportunity arises. He’s a big believer in hiring from within.

During almost all of that time, Arnot has commuted the nearly 40 miles from his home to the restaurant. Even when the Dale Mabry location closed down and moved to nearby Westshore Boulevard, it was still a haul.

But he doesn’t let all that travel time and long hours at the restaurant interfere with making time for his wife — a manager at a Fifth Third Bank — and three daughters, ages 16, 14, and 8. He takes turns getting his kids around to their various activities, and making sure he’s home for dinner the nights he’s not working.

Arnot also carves out a little time for himself in the middle of the week, where he can enjoy a round of golf, or simply work on projects at home.

And as the LongHorn chain expands, Arnot hopes to expand with it. His ultimate goal is to become a regional director of operations, although such a job might mean moving. Moving up is a long-term plan, like waiting until his youngest daughter is on her way to college.

“Yeah, 10 years would be my goal to move ahead,” Arnot said. “But who knows. It’s hard to predict.”

And Arnot should know. Just 20 years ago, LongHorn was supposed to be a quick stop on the road toward a banking job. Instead, he’s focused his career on the industry, and still has a lot more he wants to accomplish.

Getting to know B.A. Arnot
What are you watching on TV?
There have been tons of shows on that everyone likes, but I tend to only watch TV on Wednesday nights when I’m off. So the shows I’m watching are “Burn Notice” and “Suits.”

What music group makes you turn up the radio?
Nirvana. Or really anything on 102.5 The Bone.

If you could spend a week anywhere?
I would go to St. Andrews Links, the golf course in Scotland. It’s the most famous course in the world.

Best golfing movie?
“The Legend of Bagger Vance.”

Published May 7, 2014

‘Oklahoma!’ at Straz features Lutz actor, dancer

By

The play may be called “Oklahoma!” but some of its cast members call Lutz home.

The Patel Conservatory is presenting the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical from May 1 through May 10 at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Art’s Teco Theater, 1010 N. MacInnes Place in Tampa. The production features students in grades five through 12, as well as some professional actors.

Lutz resident Ryan Santello takes on the lead role of Curly in ‘Oklahoma!,’ which wraps up its run this week at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. His sister, Victoria, is a featured dancer in the play. (Courtesy of Patel Conservatory)
Lutz resident Ryan Santello takes on the lead role of Curly in ‘Oklahoma!,’ which wraps up its run this week at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. His sister, Victoria, is a featured dancer in the play.
(Courtesy of Patel Conservatory)

“Oklahoma!” is the story of Curly McLain, his love interest Laurey Williams, and his rival, Jud Fry. Set in the territory of Oklahoma in 1906 as the area approaches statehood, those characters and others resolve their romantic relationships with a social dance as a backdrop.

It has enjoyed several runs on Broadway and London’s West End, as well as national tours, film and audio recordings since its first run in 1943.

Among the 60 performers in the play are siblings Ryan and Victoria Santello of Lutz. Ryan plays Curly McLain, the show’s leading man. Victoria is a featured dancer.

They’re both excited to be part of the production.

“I love doing it because it’s a rush of energy. So many people are watching you, and they’re all enjoying it,” 15-year-old Victoria said.

After opening night, she offered this assessment: “It went well.”

Her performance requires a considerable amount of enthusiastic dancing, so it’s important that she has the right mindset going on stage each night. Since she doesn’t play a specific character, Victoria created one in her mind so she would have a role to play while dancing. The character has a flirty, bubbly personality, and she uses that identity to get the most out of her dancing and help convey the story.

For his part, 17-year-old Ryan had to challenge himself to take on the lead role. He watched Hugh Jackman’s take on Curly from the 1999 film around 30 times, revisiting certain scenes over and over. That was in addition to the hours of rehearsals each week in the months leading up to opening night.

Both Santellos attend Steinbrenner High.

Victoria said she appreciates being able to perform with her brother and watch him grow as an actor. She admits she was unsure how Ryan would fare in his first leading role, but was happy to see him grow into the part successfully.

“When we were in rehearsal, I would always be nervous for him,” Victoria said. “He’s doing really well. He’s come a long way from the first rehearsal.”

Ryan also is impressed with his sister’s performance. Since dancing takes so much work and energy, he didn’t want her getting hurt or struggling with the dances. But those concerns were put to rest once he saw her on stage.

“She’s doing awesome. Before the show, I didn’t know she could dance like that,” he said.

For Ryan, the hardest part wasn’t the singing or learning all the necessary lines. It was the way he had to say them.

“It’s the accent. It’s easy to get, but it’s hard to keep for a two-and-a-half hour show,” he said.

As a Florida native, a country accent isn’t his natural speaking style, but he focused on maintaining his pronunciation and is now able to keep it consistently. In fact, Ryan said it takes time to lose it when each performance is finished, so he’ll still be talking like his character is the car or at home that night.

Kara Goldberg, the play’s stage manager, said the Santellos’ hard work is paying off. While Victoria might not have a lead acting role, Goldberg said that a featured dancer requires at least as much rehearsal time and effort as any other part. The way the play is set up, dancing is integral to the play’s progress.

“She and all the other lead dancers, they help to tell story,” Goldberg said. “They do a great job of that. I’m up in the lighting booth, and I see her always ‘on’ when she’s on stage. She’s always in character, and that’s really something that we need in this show in particular.”

And while this was the first play where she’s worked with Ryan, Goldberg has taken note of his ability and work ethic.

“I can tell that he’s doing his homework,” she said. “When you’re an actor you have to do your homework, you have to look up words you don’t know in the script and you have to study your lines really well.”

With just a little encouragement, he was soon rehearsing off-book, meaning he didn’t have to refer to a script to practice.

Goldberg, who has been involved in theater for about 15 years, said at first she wasn’t sure how the play would turn out since it had so many young performers. But once she saw the dress rehearsal, she knew everyone was ready, and has been impressed as both a stage manager and a fan of the theater.

And the Santellos have been a big part of that. They’re doing great,” she said. I just think that they really enjoy performing.”

For information, call (813) 229-7827 or visit StrazCenter.org.

Published May 7, 2014