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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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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

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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

LOL’s Poore closes out track career with trip to state

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Land O’ Lakes High School senior Jake Poore added several titles to his track and field resume this past season: Conference champion. District champion. Regional champion. State qualifier and sixth-place finisher for Class 3A for the two-mile run.

But a late-season injury almost prevented it from happening.

Jake Poore’s hard work has paid off in his senior season, entering state competition as a conference, district and regional champion. His two-mile time at state was good for sixth place. (Courtesy of Tedd Thomas)
Jake Poore’s hard work has paid off in his senior season, entering state competition as a conference, district and regional champion. His two-mile time at state was good for sixth place.
(Courtesy of Tedd Thomas)

“I hyper-extended my knee, and that was five days before the district meet. I couldn’t even walk after the race,” Poore said. “The doctor was saying that I might not be able to run, and I was telling her, ‘I’m going up to the starting line no matter what because if I don’t, my season is over.’”

His knee improved, and he went on to win district and regional competitions and compete in his individual category as well as the 4-x-800 relay.

That Poore was able to recover so quickly is a testament to his work ethic and rigorous training regimen. This season he broke down his workouts into what he labels “easy,” “medium” and “hard” days.

A day of gym workouts with cross-training and maybe a light run is what Poore considers “easy.” They only get more difficult from there, with a warm-up, off-track runs, interval workouts with short rests, and another run and cool-down making up a “hard” day.

The idea was to make practice so challenging that actual competition seemed easier by comparison, he said. Only once every couple of weeks did he allow himself a day with absolutely nothing on his schedule, and Poore admitted his dedication to track had consequences outside the sport.

“I was working so hard,” he said. “Even on my easy days I was so tired and had to get my sleep in, and made sure I did my schoolwork whenever I had a chance. I lost some friends, I guess, because I couldn’t go hang out.”

But he said the results in competition made the sacrifice worth it.

Those results included a strong showing in state competition. Although he finished sixth, that ranking is deceiving due to the caliber of competition in Class 3A. If Poore had been in one of the other divisions, he would have been state champion.

And while the 4-x-800 team finished 15th, he was thrilled with his time of 1 minute, 57 seconds.

Another motivator for his successful year — and for the entire team, which enjoyed conference and district titles — was the memory of Bill Schmitz, a track coach at Land O’ Lakes High School, who died last year. Poore and his friends wore “We Run For Schmitz” T-shirts during the year, and followed through on team goals the coach set before he died.

As captain, Poore used the coach’s expectations to help motivate his teammates, and he would reference Schmitz during his regular prayers before meets.

He credits the coach with helping him improve his abilities and become a more successful athlete.

He wasn’t the best track runner earlier in his track career, Poore admits. But his hard work and dedication paid off, and he’ll leave Land O’ Lakes a conference, district and regional champion. But that’s not the end of his running career: He’ll attend the University of Tampa in the fall with an athletic scholarship, a new challenge in collegiate-level track, and a desire to reach the Olympic Games in 2016, held in Rio de Janeiro.

Away from meets, he’ll take a pre-med course load with a goal of becoming an anesthesiologist when he graduates. And since college doesn’t start until later this year, he’s looking forward to a long break from his regular regimen before his summer training — long by his standards, anyway.

“I have two weeks off, and then I start working out for college,” he said. “I’m going to get right back in it. It’s just another day at work for me.”

Published May 7, 2014

Business Digest 05-07-14

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BizDigest-Burke

Burke retires from tax collector’s office
Longtime customer service representative Cathy Burke, center, has retired from the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office. Burke has been with the office for 11 years, and ends a career that most recently included running the correspondence desk among other responsibilities. Burke was trained in all aspects of the office’s operation, and has played a key role in training new employees. Tax Collector Mike Fasano, left, and Dade City office manager Michelle VanCuren, honored her.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

 

Martin to lead Saint Leo advisory council
Saint Leo University has launched a new Communication-Marketing-Multimedia Industry Advisory Council, with Summer Martin from the Pasco Economic Development Council, elected as chairwoman.

The council’s mission is to serve as an advisory body, working collaboratively with the instructional faculty and students by providing ideas and opinions on matters concerning the industry, and to help advance the department’s strategic plan.

“Talent is always No. 1 on a company’s wish list when choosing a location for its business,” said Martin, in a release. “This is a great opportunity for industry professionals to weigh in on the skills they would like to see future graduates have as it relates to their business and the field of marketing, communication and multimedia.”

Martin joined the PEDC in 2012, and has since helped the organization win four awards recognizing its marketing efforts. She also serves on the Tampa Bay Partnership’s Regional Marketing Council, and in 2012, participated as a member of the Communications Action Group for the Tampa Bay Host Committee.

“Saint Leo University is preparing students for future jobs, and we want to stay on the cutting edge,” said Michael Nastanski, dean of Saint Leo’s Donald R. Tapia School of Business, in a release. “We look forward to working with industry professionals to develop the Tampa Bay region’s talent.”

Pancake breakfast fundraiser
North East Tampa Women in Business will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser May 17 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lexington Oaks Golf Club, 26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The cost is $10 per person, and includes raffles. Money raised will help fund two $500 scholarships the organization gives in December.

For information, email , or call (813) 451-8023.

More apartments coming to Zephyrhills
A developer that wanted to add another recreational vehicle park to State Road 54 just west of Zephyrhills, has been convinced to build a new apartment complex instead.

Terrace Investors LLC were scheduled to appear in front of the Pasco County Commission May 6 seeking a rezoning of a 14-acre piece of property on New River Road next to Terrace Park Mobile Home Park, so that it could build a 228-unit project.

Terrace Investors bought the vacant land in 1999 for $240,000, according to the Pasco County Property Appraiser. Steve McConihay owns the company, and in 2012 also proposed to replace a 138-lot RV park with a 230-unit apartment complex in Largo, according to published reports.

His new project there, called Boulevard Apartments, secured $30 million in financing just last month.

The commission’s decision on the rezoning request was not available by the time The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

Levent to speak at Women-n-Charge
Women-n-Charge will have its next meeting June 6 at 11:30 a.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.

Guest speaker is business strategist and author Tammy Levent, who will talk about how to create successful strategic partnerships in this economy.

Cost is $15 for members, and $18 for guests, if purchased by Tuesday before the meeting.

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

Grandson to intern with Cessna
Joshua Cherok, the grandson of Leon and Shirley Cherok of Land O’ Lakes, has accepted a summer internship with Cessna Aircraft Co., in Wichita, Kansas.

He will work as a customer support representative with the engine events management team.

Cherok will graduate in December from Kent State University in Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics.

PEDC needs banquet sponsors
The Pasco Economic Development Council is seeking sponsors for its annual appreciation banquet.

The 28-year-old event allows the organization to recognize those who help keep the Pasco County economy strong and growing, and is typically attended by more than 600 business and community leaders each year, according to a release.

The banquet is set for Sept. 2 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel.

Sponsorships range from $500 to $7,500.

For information, call (813) 926-0827, ext. 226, or email , by July 1.

More jobs coming to region
The Tampa Bay market gained 30,000 new jobs in March, while the unemployment rate locally dropped by 1 percentage point to 7.5 percent.

The numbers were released by Gov. Rick Scott’s office, and included gains in areas like professional and business services with 9,000 new jobs, and trade and transportation with 6,400 new jobs. Manufacturing had 4,100 new jobs.

The region was first among the state metropolitan areas when it came to online job demand with 41,076 openings. That included nearly 10,500 openings in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — STEM jobs that are considered high wage and high skill.

The unemployment rate statewide in March was 6.3 percent.

Political Agenda 05-07-14

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The Grove available for early voting
Pasco County has added a new early voting location for the upcoming Aug. 26 primary and the regular Nov. 4 general election, finding room at The Grove at Wesley Chapel.

The location, on the west side of Interstate 75 and north of State Road 54, will join other locations that include the Land O’ Lakes Library, New River Library and East Pasco Government Center in Dade City.

“The need for an additional location reflects the growth and economic upswing of that area in recent years,” said Pasco elections supervisor Brian Corley, in a release. “We are grateful to Genesis Real Estate for providing this location to serve Wesley Chapel voters at no cost to the taxpayers of Pasco County.”

Expansion of early voting sites was made possible by the passing of H.B. 7013 last year, Corley said.

Raulerson, Cruz have opposite-feeling campaign months
State Rep. Dan Raulerson, R-Plant City, didn’t raise any money for his unopposed re-election campaign in March, but he did spend a lot of it.

Raulerson paid out more than $12,500 in March — well above his monthly average of $900 — with more than half of it going to Strategic Image Management in Jensen Beach for what was described as “design, print, mail pre-session survey.”

He spent another $2,300 on a telephone town hall, according to state election records, and $3,125 with Capitol Consulting out of Odessa.

Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, kept pace with her fundraising despite drawing an opponent, raising $6,750 in March. She now has accumulated $76,300, with $43,000 of it in the bank.

Poll workers needed for August, November elections
Energetic? Service-oriented? Then the Pasco County supervisor of elections may be looking for you.

Poll workers are needed for both the primary election Aug. 26 and the general election Nov. 4. Positions are paid, but potential candidates will need to be able to stand, bend, stoop, lift approximately 30 pounds, and have normal vision and manual and physical dexterity.

Applicants also need to write and read English, have an email address, and be able to work the entire day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All positions receive mandatory paid training the month preceding both the primary and general elections.

For information, call (800) 851-8754, or visit PascoVotes.com.

Danish gains fundraising ground on Harrison
Former state Rep. Shawn Harrison is doing what he can to regain a seat in Tallahassee, but it appears the man holding that seat right now — state Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa — is starting to gain some ground.

Harrison raised $5,950 in March, down slightly from his $6,500 average, according to state election records. Danish, however, pulled in $5,750 of his own, topping his $4,700 average.

Yet, Harrison still leads the fundraising battle with just under $78,000 compared to Danish’s $66,750. But when it comes to who has the most money available right now, that would be Danish with $52,000 in the bank, compared to Harrison’s $37,500.

Mobile hours for Ross
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, will host mobile office hours May 13 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 June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14 and Dec. 9.

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

Wilson taking Wells challenge seriously
Pasco County Commissioner Henry Wilson is taking advantage of the fact that he announced his re-election plans early, especially now that his challenger is a candidate with strong name recognition in Mike Wells Jr.

Wilson raised $1,910 in March, bringing his total campaign war chest to a little over $19,000. Wells, who announced his candidate earlier this month, would not have any fundraising to report.

Wilson has spent just $350, leaving him a lot of room to mount a financial defense of his seat. But he will have only until the August primary to do it, since both he and Wells are Republicans.

Wells is the son of former county commissioner and current Pasco County property appraiser Mike Wells Sr.

Burgess dominates House fundraising
Former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess is showing he can raise money for bigger campaigns as he continues to pound his opponents when it comes to fundraising.

Burgess, a Republican who wants to replace House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, in Tallahassee, raised $5,600 in March to bring his total to nearly $40,750. His primary challenger, Minnie Diaz, pulled in $365 in donations during the same time, bringing her campaign a total of $2,860, and only a few hundred dollars in the bank.

Burgess received checks from the likes of Oakley Transport executive vice president Ronald Oakley and Wesley Chapel Dentistry on State Road 54. However, most of the money Burgess raised in March — some $3,000 worth — came from political action committees, supported by companies and organizations like AT&T and United States Sugar Corp.

Beverly Ledbetter, the only Democrat in the race so far, raised $1,850 in March, bringing her total to just under $6,000. Barring anyone else entering the race, she’ll face the winner of the August primary between Burgess and Diaz in November.

Pasco exploring bringing all advertising signs to the ground

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More than a decade after she led a crusade to lower new business advertising signs in Pasco County, Kathryn Starkey is gearing up to bring the “grandfathered” ones up to code.

It’s usually Golden Arches in the sky when there’s a McDonald’s around. But the newest McDonald’s at 1733 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel has a sign at ground level, thanks to a Pasco County ordinance, and the early efforts of Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
It’s usually Golden Arches in the sky when there’s a McDonald’s around. But the newest McDonald’s at 1733 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel has a sign at ground level, thanks to a Pasco County ordinance, and the early efforts of Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The county commissioner says it’s time her colleagues start looking into enforcing the sign laws — which typically limit sign height at 11 feet — uniformly across Pasco, including those signs that pre-date the 2003 changes to the ordinance. Starkey, however, says she won’t push it without trying to find at least some help for business owners, who would have to invest in new signs.

“One of the biggest complaints I get is the old signs that are still up, so we got to figure out a way to help those businesses bring those signs to our new look,” Starkey said. “It’s difficult. It’s a financial investment, but I think we should incentivize them to bring them up to the current code.”

How to incentivize those businesses is still a big question mark, but one possibility could be offering small grants or even low-interest microloans to help defray the costs, Starkey said.

Businesses with grandfathered signs have been allowed to keep them as long as they are not changed in a way that would make them become “more non-conforming” to the ordinance. After 11 years, some of those signs are starting to show their age, and are looking more and more out of place in areas where ground-level, or monument, signs have become the norm.

Starkey’s original goal was to prevent the growing Wesley Chapel area from becoming what U.S. 19 is on the western side of the county. Because of Wesley Chapel’s proximity to Interstate 75, early signs would create what Starkey called “circuses in the sky,” to be visible to interstate travelers still a couple miles away.

Instead, Starkey — through her activist group Scenic Pasco — influenced the way the county looked at both business signs and billboards, all before she first sought elected office. That work brought Wesley Chapel more in-line with the standards of neighboring New Tampa, and prevented some roads like State Road 54 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard from being littered with high road advertising signs, each one trying to outdo its neighbors.

Fortunately, a good portion of Wesley Chapel was developed after the ordinance went into effect, so many of the problems involving grandfathered signs are not present in Wesley Chapel. But as Starkey heads west, first through Land O’ Lakes, and then toward U.S. 19 — with the new development of Trinity one of the lone exceptions — she gradually finds signs creeping higher and higher, and it’s something she wants to finally get fixed.

“In September, we’re having our first community meeting about redevelopment, and I think we’ll start exploring the ideas of how we can help people not only deal with their signs, but maybe help them to figure out how to improve their landscaping and even the architecture in their buildings,” Starkey said.

The change in business signs and billboards helped not only Pasco to grow, but property values as well, she said.

“I’m very glad that we had a county commission at the time that was willing to take the political hit from some who didn’t want to change the way they were doing business,” Starkey said. “But it’s made such a difference. We have to have ordinances like this because it really does affect our quality of life, and how other people see us. Otherwise, what it says to me is that we don’t care about how we look.”

Published April 30, 2014

Lutz leader: ‘The system, this time, worked’

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Towering stands of pine trees and open fields characterize the plot of land at the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway, but that property soon could have an entirely new look.

A pair of rezonings affecting 251 acres of property beginning at the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway will give the area a new look. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A pair of rezonings affecting 251 acres of property beginning at the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway will give the area a new look.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The parcel is part of a 251-acre plan that calls for upscale houses, multifamily units, offices, retail and a congregate care facility.

Lutz residents are notorious for battling proposals they believe will disrupt their way of life. But in this case, they turned out en masse to support the proposed project. That’s because of all the work the applicants and community did before the public hearing took place.

“They negotiated with our community members in good faith,” said Mike White, the president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. “The system, this time, worked. And, it worked well.”

Attorney Joel Tew and Richard Davis represent Geraci Land Acquisition LLC and Standard Pacific Homes of Florida, who presented their rezoning applications as companion requests. The companies are seeking to change the land from its current agricultural zoning to planned developments (PDs).

Land Use Hearing Officer Steve Luce had two public hearings on April 21, to listen to the evidence that he will use to recommend whether the Hillsborough County Commission should approve or deny the two requests. Much of the testimony heard during the first hearing was carried over to the second hearing, as well, at the request of those testifying.

One request incorporates the Landings at Lake Pearl, a previously approved rezoning that includes 650 multifamily units and 70,000 square feet of office.

“We agreed, at the county’s request, to essentially roll that old PD into the new PD,” Tew said. “The county preferred to have one consolidated PD that would give easier site plan control, easier enforcement of conditions, easier platting and easier development approval, so we were happy to do that.”

Besides the existing entitlements, the application calls for 240 single-family houses. Standard Pacific is planning a gated, high-end residential community. Another parcel is planned for 177 multifamily units.

The new requests total 417 dwelling units, about 25 percent of what would be allowed under the county’s long-range land-use plan, Tew noted. The retail uses requested in the companion proposal represents about one-third of what would be allowed under the long-range plan designation.

In essence, the requests are substantially less than the major activity center that was designated on the county’s long-range plan, Tew said.

The applicants also worked hard with the community and the county’s staff to work out conditions that addressed concerns and will create a quality project, Tew said.

“We have had a total of eight meetings with the major community associations that are directly affected by this project,” he said. “We’ve had very valuable, constructive input from them. We’ve listened to their concerns and we’ve made significant changes to the plan.”

The applicant also met repeatedly with members of the county staff to work out the conditions for approval, Tew said.

Both requests received favorable recommendations from the Planning Commission and the county’s land development staff.

Ethel Hammer, a professional planning expert working for the applicants, noted that the proposed developments include conditions that exceed the county’s land development code.

“There are project enhancements, such as increased setbacks from surrounding properties,” Hammer said. “There are conditions that deal with building orientation, which is somewhat unusual. There’s enhanced landscaping and there are requirements for signage that are above and beyond the normal requirements in the code.”

This application takes the land development code and applies it in a way “that is new and creative,” Davis said.

Conditions also call for a number of transportation improvements that residents want. That includes a signalized intersection at Exciting Idlewild Boulevard and North Dale Mabry Highway.

The applicants agreed to a new alignment leading into the Veterans Expressway that essentially will square up that intersection. They also agreed to a single access point off of Van Dyke Road, instead of the three they initially requested.

The limited access on Van Dyke Road was essential to gain the support of area residents and the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who were concerned about traffic impacts both on Van Dyke and nearby neighborhoods.

Pamela Jo Hatley, an attorney representing the coalition as well as some individual Lutz residents, said “the broader community has expressed its support.”

“The applicants and their representatives met with my clients and with me, and they listened to my clients’ concerns and they were very responsive,” she said. “We appreciate that.”

About 40 people turned out and waited patiently nearly three hours before the rezoning requests were heard so they could show their support.

No one spoke in opposition.

The final decision rests with the Hillsborough County Commission, which is expected to consider the rezoning requests in June.

Published April 30, 2014

Skydiving’s newest sport returns to Zephyrhills with nationals

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It’s quite easily one of the newest sports out there, and something many people have never heard of.

Canopy piloting, more commonly known as ‘swooping,’ forces skydivers to pick up speed as they approach the ground, rather than slow down. Then they have to navigate obstacles, typically over lakes and ponds since water is more forgiving in high-speed impacts than the hard ground. (Courtesy of Joe Abeln)
Canopy piloting, more commonly known as ‘swooping,’ forces skydivers to pick up speed as they approach the ground, rather than slow down. Then they have to navigate obstacles, typically over lakes and ponds since water is more forgiving in high-speed impacts than the hard ground.
(Courtesy of Joe Abeln)

For the second straight year, Skydive City in Zephyrhills will host the U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships of Canopy Piloting May 22-24. And whenever drop zone owner T.K. Hayes shares that with someone outside of skydiving, he can almost anticipate that first question: What is canopy piloting?

“It’s a fairly new sport that has come around in the last 10 to 12 years, and it’s grown into its own discipline of skydiving,” he said.

Simply, skydivers jump from a plane that’s just 5,000 feet in the air (compared to the normal 12,000 feet for typical skydiving), and instead of slowing down before hitting the ground, these jumpers actually speed up — some as fast as 90 mph — swooping through a ground-level course that’s exciting for spectators, and dangerous for the jumpers.

And Hayes knows all about that danger. He has a spinal fusion to prove it.

“When we built the first swoop pond out here in 2000 or 2001, it wasn’t even a sport then,” Hayes said. “It was a windy day, and I got down too low and caught me knees in the water at 50 to 60 mph. I bounced out of the pond and landed on my head, breaking my neck.”

Luckily Hayes wasn’t paralyzed, but his swooping days are over. Since then, canopy piloting has grown from a hobby to a high-skilled sport where only divers with hundreds if not thousands of jumps to their name can even think about competing in. It’s basically the NASCAR of skydiving.

“There is definitely a lot less margin for error, so people who are competing in this event are extremely experienced and have trained specifically for this,” said Nancy Koreen, director of sport promotion for the U.S. Parachute Association, based in Fredericksburg, Va.

Last year’s national champion, Curt Bartholomew, has been in town already getting set for the national meet. And even someone at his skill level has to work through bumps and bruises.

“He was wearing a knee brace and an ankle brace, and was using ice packs between jumps,” Hayes said. “They are true athletes, and they go through a regimen of training and physical fitness, because you really have to be at the top of your game to compete.”

Zephyrhills has successfully bid for the event the last two years, and the warm reception of the near 70 jumpers last year, along with a solid drop zone complete with a pond, has made Skydive City a premier place for the event. But getting spectators to come out, however, has not been so easy, and Hayes has made some changes for this year’s championship he hopes will be much friendlier for those who want to see the swoopers compete.

“We didn’t get the word out much last year, and it’s happening during the week, so I know that might affect those numbers even more,” Hayes said. “We didn’t have a budget last year, but we were able to get a small one this year. So we’ll have new features, like a color commentator on a sound system, to let people know what’s happening. This should make it a little more exciting, because last year I think too many people were in the dark on what’s happening.”

The event is free for spectators, who will get to see bursts of action as multiple swoopers jump from a plane at once. Canopy piloting, Hayes said, is probably the closest skydiving will ever get to a spectator sport.

And it’s helped Zephyrhills not only reach the national stage, but the global one. Skydive City will be the site of the world championships of canopy piloting in November — the first time the United States has ever hosted it — and that could draw more than 120 jumpers and their entourages from all over the planet.

“We’re becoming experts in hosting these things, and I hope we can build a market for canopy piloting right here,” Hayes said. “It’s just a cool thing, which you don’t even realize until you come out and see it for yourself.”

WHAT: U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships of Canopy Piloting
WHEN: May 22-24
WHERE: Skydive City, 4241 Sky Dive Lane, Zephyrhills
COST: Free for spectators
INFO: SkydiveCity.com

Published April 30, 3014

Eat, drink and help charity with wine walk

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Next Wednesday, patrons at The Shops at Wiregrass will drink wine, sample food, listen to live music, and do a little shopping.

And they’ll help a charity at the same time.

Hundreds of people helped The Shops at Wiregrass raise more than $8,000 at last month’s Wine Walk Wednesday. Next week’s event will be the last one until September. (Courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass)
Hundreds of people helped The Shops at Wiregrass raise more than $8,000 at last month’s Wine Walk Wednesday. Next week’s event will be the last one until September.
(Courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass)

Wine Walk Wednesdays, a series of four events scheduled for this year, continues on May 7 at the shopping center, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. The annual charity series benefits the Jason Ackerman Foundation, an organization that provides educational opportunities and entertainment experiences for young people who have endured various types of tragic circumstances.

They provide scholarship funds directly to four-year universities, community colleges and vocational training schools to benefit recipients based on financial need and their desire to make a positive impact on the community.

Wine Walk Wednesdays is fun for anyone looking for a fun destination, said Shops marketing director Debbie Detweiler.

“It’s a great thing not only for ‘girls night out,’ but also for couples as well,” she said. “And there are families who come out and they’re enjoying the entertainment and activities. It’s really casual and just a fun night, and it’s all for a great cause.”

Those who want to eat and drink will receive “passports” and a map, showing them the location of each tasting station. In addition to sampling wine and food, visitors can enjoy live music on two stages, mini-massages and models showing off the latest fashions.

There also will be caricature artists and free painting classes available.

While Wine Walk Wednesdays has been happening for a few years, the format changed for 2014. Instead of having it on four consecutive Wednesdays in one month each year, The Shops decided to host it on the first Wednesday in four different months: April, May, September and October.

Detweiler admitted that she wasn’t sure how the new format would be received, and was a little nervous before last month’s event. But when she saw people lining up for their passports, she knew it was going to be a success.

Judging by the final numbers, the change was a good one: April’s Wine Walk Wednesday attracted 560 participants and raised about $8,400 for the charity, making it the biggest opening of any year so far. While the first event is normally a bit slower, the strong start in 2014 allowed them to pace well ahead of their annual goal of $20,000.

The event is a true collaborative effort, Detweiler said, with several sponsors donating wine, food and many activities so the community can come together and support a good cause.

“It’s all of us working together, we’re going to be able to put a lot of scholarship dollars in the hands of these students,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of good for the community.”

The Jason Ackerman Foundation also takes an active role in the event, providing volunteers and helping put it together.

“They’re just a great organization and have a strong source of volunteers who are committed to the cause,” Detweiler said. “They’ve been a great partner for us the last three years and we’re really excited too work with them again this year.”

Wine Walk Wednesday runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free, but participating in the wine and food tasting has a donation request of $15, of which 100 percent goes to the charity.

And in thanks for their donation, each participant also receives a wine tumbler to keep.

For information on Wine Walk Wednesdays, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com, or call (813) 994-2242.

For information about the Jason Ackerman Foundation, visit JasonAckermanFoundation.org, or call (813) 915-2766.

Published April 30, 2014