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Three days of fireworks: Local events display patriotic spirit

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Local residents wanting to see fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July can enjoy them before, during and after the actual holiday.

The third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass features a fireworks display on July 3 at 9 p.m. (Courtesy of Tony Masella/OurTownFla.com)
The third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass features a fireworks display on July 3 at 9 p.m.
(Courtesy of Tony Masella/OurTownFla.com)

Multiple venues will host fireworks shows as part of special holiday celebrations July 3-5, along with a number of other activities to help celebrate Independence Day in Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

Those who want to celebrate early can visit The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, on July 3. The shopping complex, home to around 100 different retailers, is the site of the third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival. Last year’s event drew around 30,000 people.

The free event begins at 5 p.m., and includes a watermelon-eating contest and a bicycle-decorating contest. But one of the highlights is a patriotic-themed pageant to crown Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker across several age groups.

The pageant was a favorite in 2013, and should be bigger this year, said Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for The Shops.

“It’s grown so much that we’re having it hosted up on the center court stage this year,” she said. “It was a really popular part of the event last year, and we want to make more room for it.”

Winners will be announced for participants in three separate categories: Ages 3 months to 1, ages 2 to 4, and ages 5 to 8.

The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m., with approximately $9,000 worth of pyrotechnics on display.

On July 4, the annual Sparklebration event will be held at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. It includes a watermelon-eating contest, a hot dog-eating contest and bounce houses.

Gates open at 3 p.m.  The fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, with children younger than 12 admitted free. Parking also is $5.

For anyone who missed the events on July 3 and July 4, or wants to celebrate a little longer, there are a couple of local options the following day. Avalon Park West, 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive in Wesley Chapel, will host its free Independence Day Festival on July 5.

According to Kristin Muslin, marketing and events coordinator for Avalon Park West, it’s more important for the community to schedule an event when people can attend than to make sure it falls on the Fourth of July.

“Having an event during the week is a little bit more difficult for a lot of people to attend,” Muslin said, noting that July 4 falls on a Friday this year. “So it’s kind of important for us to make it a little bit easier for families to be able to spend time together on the weekend.”

Avalon Park West also wants to use the event as an opportunity to showcase its neighborhood, which has around 70 occupied homes. With future planning allowing for 4,800 homes to be built, the Independence Day Festival allows the community to learn a bit more about them, Muslin said.

Avalon Park West’s town center will serve as the focal point of the festival.

The event includes bounce houses, giveaways, community performances and food trucks. More than 50 vendors are expected to be in attendance. A bicycle parade starts at 5:30 p.m., and the fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

That same day, Connerton, a community located on U.S. 41 about seven miles north of State Road 54, will host a free Fifth of July event starting at 5 p.m. Its celebration also is a chance to show off the 8,000-acre community, which includes a 3,000-acre nature preserve.

The celebration includes live music, games, prizes, and bounce houses. Food trucks and refreshments will be available, and guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. The fireworks start at 9 p.m.

For more information about the Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

For more information about Sparklebration at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, call (352) 567-6678, or visit www.pascocountyfair.com.

For more information about Avalon Park West’s Independence Day Festival, call (813) 482-5361.

For more information about Connerton’s Fifth of July event, visit Connerton.com.

Published July 2, 2014

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Business Digest 07-02-14

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Used cars coming to Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel Honda and Wesley Chapel Toyota are going to get quite a bit bigger.

The owner of the dealerships along State Road 54, Williams Automotive Group, announced this week it will add a pre-owned sales center to its existing facility.

It will use a little more than 1 acre of land it purchased last May for $1.35 million, according to county property records. It will be located on the corner of State Road 54 and Old Pasco Road.

The latest expansion is part of an overall effort being made by the company this year, which also purchased the former Tampa Honda Land at 11000 N. Florida Ave., in Tampa, last March, shortening the name to simply Tampa Honda.

Williams Automotive was founded as Southeast Automotive Group in 2000, and once owned several dealerships in Georgia, selling Toyota, Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, according to the company’s website.

Wesley Chapel Toyota is located at 5300 Eagleston Blvd., and Wesley Chapel Honda is at 27750 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

Avex promotes one, hires another
It’s a promotion and a new hire at Avex Homes’ Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel.

Laura Gahan was promoted to senior sales associate, and Yvette Fuertes was hired as a sales coordinator in the community. Gahan has 12 years experience in new home sales, and joined Avalon Park West in 18 months ago as a sales associate.

Fuertes has a degree in commercial arts, and more than 10 years experience in sales and customer service.

Avex Homes is building 342 single-family houses at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West, located on State Road 54, more than three miles east of Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel.

Bank offers student sweepstakes
Fifth Third Bank has launched its annual Student Banking Sweepstakes.

Through Sept. 30, students who open a checking account will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes offering $10,000 toward college tuition.

Last year’s winner was Tre’ Watson, a rising football star at Tampa Catholic High School.

For more information, visit 53.com/students.

Veterans get more licensing fee waivers
Beginning this month, military personnel, veterans and military spouses seeking a professional license in Florida will have several fees eliminated, making it easier for them to do business in the state, according to elected officials.

The Florida G.I. Bill, which was signed by Gov. Rick Scott in March, expands current military and veteran fee waivers to include spouses of military personnel. At the same time, the deadline to apply for the fee waivers has been extended from within 24 months of honorable discharge, to 60 months.

Also, active Florida National Guard members will now be reimbursed for continuing education and examination fees.

H.B. 7105 extends the current exemption, which was effective starting in 2012, from initial licensing fees for honorably discharged military veterans, and include spouses that were married to the soldiers at the time the soldier was discharged from service.

More information about the fee waives as well as other services offered to active military, military spouses and veterans, can be found at MyFloridaLicense.com/mil.

Construction begins on Claridge Townhomes
Lennar Homes has broken ground on its newest community, Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe. Construction is located off Meadow Point Boulevard, just north of New Tampa in southern Pasco County. The company has planned 88 townhomes ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet, and will begin at $120,000. Meadow Pointe is an 1,800-acre project with a nature preserve, and an assortment of amenities.

Coach set to close 70 stores
Coach Inc., the maker of high-end accessories, handbags, shoes and clothing, says it will close 70 retail stores, possibly by early next year.

Coach didn’t tell investors which locations they plan to close, but the company has a store locally at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Suite 160.

The closure is part of what the New York-based company has called a multi-year transformation plan that will be focused on a new global branding strategy centered on the concept of “defining modern luxury,” according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sales over the last nine months leading into spring were down nearly 5 percent for the company, according to public filings, dropping to $3.7 billion.

Coach operates 351 stores in North America, according to its filings with investors. The closures would account for nearly 20 percent of its total retail outlets.

Another Avon award for Rosie Heim
Rosie Heim, a 17-year veteran selling Avon in the Land O’ Lakes area, has received the company’s Spirit of Avon Award.

This recognition is for those who show incredible spirit and stands out above the rest, according to a release. They also build their own business professionally, and always are courteously serving their customers.

This is the third Spirit of Avon award Heim has won.

 

Political Agenda 07-02-14

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Wilson makes it a race
It’s been said that lightning cannot strike twice, and even if it could in the political arena, it seems Pasco County commissioner Henry Wilson isn’t taking any chances.

The District 4 incumbent, who originally won his seat in 2010 despite being out-raised 19-to-1, has answered the fast fundraising of his opponent, Mike Wells Jr., with some big money of his own.

Wilson raised a little more than $11,000 during the first three weeks in June, more than the $8,700 his entire campaign pulled in four years ago.

That brings Wilson to $35,010, still a little more than half of what Wells has raised so far, $65,345.

Wilson is now looking outside of Pasco to bring in those dollars. More than $5,600 of his revenue came from places like Tampa, Largo and South Pasadena, and included $2,000 from Pat Gassaway and his company, Heidt Design, which contracts with the county. Wilson received an additional $3,000 from Scott Andreasan, Edwin Rogers and Christine Barreiro, who all are associated with Heidt as well.

Wells did a little better on the fundraising side in the first three months of June, however, picking up nearly $19,800. He also received donations from Heidt and some of its employees, and about $8,150 from outside the county.

The two will face off in an open primary Aug. 26, where all voters, no matter what their party affiliation is, will have a chance to choose.

Free rides to the polls
Pasco County Public Transportation will do its part to help get out the vote by offering free rides to the polls on election days for the upcoming cycle.

The deal was worked out between PCPT and county elections supervisor Brian Corley, and was approved by the Pasco County Commission last week.

On both primary day Aug. 26 and the general election day Nov. 4, voters who present their voter information card will ride free to their local polling location. The goal is to encourage and promote participation in the election process, while also introducing public transportation as a viable option for travel throughout the county, said PCPT director Michael Carroll.

In return, Corley’s office will use available media advertising and respective websites to inform potential riders and voters how to access and navigate the transit system.

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

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

Starkey wins award
Pasco County commissioner Kathryn Starkey was the local winner of the 2014 Florida Association of Counties Presidential Advocacy Award.

Starkey received the award for her work with the FAC, especially as it launched its new federal advocacy program, according to a release. Starkey’s interest and knowledge of flood insurance issues helped the association convey to Congress why flood insurance reform was needed.

As a result of this advocacy, Florida’s flood insurance story was told, and Congress ultimately passed legislation they say will help Floridians who were financially impacted by the previous law. President Barack Obama signed the bill on March 21.

The Presidential Advocacy Award is given each year to county commissioners who have shown exceptional leadership in partnering with FAC to advance the legislative agenda of counties. The Florida Association of Counties has represented the diverse interests of the state’s counties for the past 85 years, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule — the concept that government closest to the people governs best.

Bilirakis wants alternative medicine for vets
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, recently introduced what he is describing as bipartisan legislation that will establish a commission to examine the Veterans Affairs’ current therapy model and the potential benefits in incorporating complementary alternative therapies.

The Creating Options for Veterans’ Expedited Recovery Act, will eventually allow veterans have a range of options available to them, Bilirakis said, including outdoor sports, hyperbaric oxygen, accelerated resolution and service dog therapies.

“It is vital that veterans receive the care they need, but it is important to recognize that one size does not fit all when discussing treatments for veterans the invisible wounds endured from their service to our great nation,” Bilirakis said, in a release. “While many veterans may thrive under evidence-based treatment plans, some may not be as responsive to this traditional medical care.”

Trip to Thailand yields insights for Lutz college student

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When Hunter Rasmussen was a 10th grader at Berean Academy in Lutz, he began learning biblical Greek — and that changed his life.

“I just loved it. I thought it was the most incredible thing,” said Rasmussen, now a 20-year-old student at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. “That made me excited not just about biblical languages, but language in general. I just felt so convinced that this is what I am supposed to do.

Hunter Rasmussen’s village ‘sister’ Khwan presents him with some traditional fabric that was woven by hand. (Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)
Hunter Rasmussen’s village ‘sister’ Khwan presents him with some traditional fabric that was woven by hand.
(Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)

Rasmussen now takes linguistics classes at Covenant, where he majors in biblical studies with minors in missions and linguistics.

He began looking around last year for an opportunity to do a mission trip, an internship or to take linguistics classes during the summer. When representatives from Wycliffe Bible Translators USA came to Covenant to talk to students about an opportunity to work in Thailand, Rasmussen felt called to pursue it.

Wycliffe is an international organization that has worked for more than 70 years to translate the Bible into every language in the world. This Orlando-based nonprofit organization is named after John Wycliffe, who first translated the Bible into English in the late 1300s.

After hearing about Wycliffe’s Get Global program for college students, Rasmussen began seeking contributions to help him come up with the $4,000 he needed for the trip.

“I just shared with people in different communities that I’m associated with and in my churches, both home and here, and with people at school,” said Rasmussen, who is a member of First United Methodist Church of Lutz. “Lots of family and lots of church members and even some of my peers provided for me.”

Rasmussen spent three weeks in May in Thailand. He seized the opportunity to go to the Asian country, and said the trip yielded valuable insights.

“I think I got the affirmation out of it that God can use me in cross-cultural ministry,” he said. “It’s something I’m able to do.”

Rasmussen spent much of his time immersing himself in the culture of a Thailand village that’s so small, the people there go only by their first names.

When he and his team arrived to the rural village in a pickup truck, Rasmussen noticed many traditional wood homes built on stilts. There were more modern ones, too, with concrete foundations, such as the one where he stayed.

The food was spicy.

“The people group that we stayed with is known for having food that’s even spicier than Thai food (is generally). It was pretty hot, but it was also delicious,” he said. “I loved the food. God really blessed us because nobody on the team got sick at all, or were unable to handle it.”

The villagers there abide by the concept of eating locally produced foods.

“When it’s dinnertime, they’ll go and pick some mangoes from a tree, or grab some leaves from a bush, or pick off some roots, and you have dinner right there,” Rasmussen said. “There was a lot of fish and a lot of chicken.”

They also often gave people nicknames that were associated with food, added Rasmussen, who was given the nickname “Sticky Rice.”

“They named somebody else in our group, ‘Watermelon,’” Rasmussen added.

He noticed a big difference between the American way of life and the village culture when it came to how work is completed.

“They would definitely do work, and we helped them plow fields and catch fish and do things,” Rasmussen said. “But they do them as they need to be done. They don’t follow a strict work schedule.”

In general, he found the people of the village to be laid back and to esteem the values of comfort, convenience and fun.

As a student of linguistics, Rasmussen was fascinated by the fact that the villagers spoke a different language than mainland Thailand.

“Part of the trip is learning and realizing that language-learning and cultural-learning is not only foundational for Bible translations and foundational of ministry, but that language learning is itself a ministry,” he said.

Minority languages often are considered inferior by the nation at large, he explained. “So, by learning their language we show that their language is valuable and created by God,” Rasmussen said. “To be able to do Bible translation, you have to know a tongue.”

The college student said his trip to Thailand didn’t shatter any previously held misconceptions. He had been prepped well by the team leading the trip, he said, where they were told, “When you’re doing cross-cultural living and ministry, don’t expect anything.”

He followed their advice.

“I really tried not to expect anything and just to learn,” he said.

Rasmussen is interested in pursuing a future involved in Bible translation.

“Bible translation is what enables any other ministry,” he said. “That involves not only church planting, but literacy work. Then that opens the way for people to be able to improve their situation, like know more about health care and know more how to nourish themselves correctly and how to do agriculture better.

“Bible translation is also again affirming that God knows even these little languages that are only spoken by a few thousand people, and he values them as much as English, spoken by millions upon millions, or Thai, that’s spoken by the nation at large.”

Rasmussen intends to complete his degree at Covenant and pursue a master’s in linguistics, although he’s not sure where.

“I thought that I would be going to the Graduate Institute for Applied Linguistics, which is in Dallas, part of the International Linguistics Center,” he said.

That path is less certain now.

“Through this trip, I’ve learned there are other ways you can do linguistics schooling and also transition onto the field,” Rasmussen said.

He plans to find out more about those possibilities.

Published June 25, 2014

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Pay college athletes? Saint Leo poll says no

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The topic of paying college athletes is a controversial one.

Yet a new poll by the Saint Leo Polling Institute suggests most people have already picked a side, and the answer is no.

Jerrel Harris, a guard with the Saint Leo University basketball team, attempts a free throw during a game last season. Like typical college athletes, Harris is not paid for his work, and a new survey says most people believe it should stay that way. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Jerrel Harris, a guard with the Saint Leo University basketball team, attempts a free throw during a game last season. Like typical college athletes, Harris is not paid for his work, and a new survey says most people believe it should stay that way.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

The national poll, conducted between May 28 and June 4, asked 1,016 people —including 802 likely voters — about the subject of paying athletes, specifically football and basketball players at high-profile schools, an undetermined amount of money above and beyond traditional athletic scholarships. A strong majority, 66 percent, agreed with the statement “Giving athletic scholarships and the chance to earn a college degree for free is fair compensation for college athletes, and they should not be paid.”

Just 21 percent of respondents agreed with the statement “College athletes deserve to be paid for the time they spend practicing, traveling, and playing, above and beyond the value of any scholarships they might receive.” The remaining respondents, representing 13 percent, said they didn’t know or weren’t sure.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent along with a 95 percent confidence level, which represents the degree of likelihood that the results truly fall within the stated margin of error.

While the pollsters at Saint Leo are mainly concerned with creating a scientific poll, collecting the data and reporting their findings, even they weren’t expecting such a lopsided result.

“It was definitely surprising,” said Drew Gold, executive director of the Saint Leo Polling Institute. “I don’t think anybody expected it to be that overwhelmingly against paying the athletes.”

With the Olympics now utilizing professional athletes, college sports is one of the last true high-profile amateur competitions, and people seem to want to keep it that way, he said.

While it was a local school, Saint Leo, that created the poll, the results have had global appeal. In addition to being discussed in the United States, the findings have been reported in countries such as France, Germany and India.

And even as the findings might surprise some people, Gold said the methodology is sound, and the institute stands behind the results.

Pasco-Hernando State College athletic director Steve Winterling wasn’t one of the people surveyed for the poll. But if he had been, he’d be part of the 66 percent against paying athletes.

“I’m definitely with the majority there. I just think you’re opening up a can of worms,” said Winterling, who also serves as the school’s baseball coach. “I’m in favor of them not getting paid.”

Getting a free education in exchange for athletic play is a good deal for students, he said.

And his philosophy doesn’t change when taking into account that some athletes generate a lot of revenue for their schools by playing popular sports in a big spotlight. In fact, he believes athletes seek out those opportunities knowing that an education and a big stage is their compensation.

“They know what they’re getting into with that,” Winterling said. “Athletes know going in they’re just getting the scholarship.”

Students often choose those schools so they can showcase skills at a program that gets wide media exposure and the possibility of playing for a championship, he said.

While PHSC is primarily a two-year college whose athletes play at the Division II level for the National Junior College Athletic Association, Winterling spent several years as an assistant baseball coach for Florida State University, and is familiar with its successful baseball and football programs.

Florida State’s athletes train in world class facilities, have access to top-rate medical staff, and travel in above-average accommodations, he said. In fact, baseball players from the school who went on to play professionally for Class A or Class AA Minor League Baseball teams told him how much better the school’s conditions were compared to their professional teams, from uniforms to locker rooms to equipment.

“One thing they always said when they came back was they didn’t realize they had it so good at Florida State,” Winterling said.

He believes paying players would create more disparity between bigger schools with popular programs and wealthy boosters. At the same time, however, Winterling said he understands smaller schools don’t generate as much revenue and that some athletes have trouble making ends meet while in college. He supports loosening college rules to allow students more freedom to hold jobs while they go to school and play sports.

The poll might not be used to actually affect policy, the National Collegiate Athletic Association could consider it strong evidence that most people don’t support paying players, Gold said.

In any case, the results show that while the topic generates interest and discussion, it’s not an evenly divided issue at this time.

“The public feels overwhelmingly that they should not be paid. That’s what the numbers tell you,” Gold said.

Published June 25, 2014

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Zephyrhills hospital delivers big changes, more babies

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There is a baby boom hitting Florida Hospital Zephyrhills so large, even administrators are struggling to understand it.

Jennifer Wesolowski and Freddy Santiago welcomed their new son, Joseph Santiago, into the world at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills last weekend. Joseph, who was born in the late-night hours of June 18, is part of a boom of babies being born at the hospital. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Jennifer Wesolowski and Freddy Santiago welcomed their new son, Joseph Santiago, into the world at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills last weekend. Joseph, who was born in the late-night hours of June 18, is part of a boom of babies being born at the hospital.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Over the past six months, the hospital on U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills welcomed 258 babies into the world, well above projections of just 100 for this point. And they’re not expecting it to let up anytime soon.

“There’s a sense that we’re doing a lot here at the hospital, and it’s creating some excitement in the community,” said Dr. Annette Williams, medical director for The Baby Place, the obstetrics unit at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. “We’re making a lot of positive changes, and that means people are staying right here in town, and are not going somewhere else instead.”

Just a few weeks ago, The Baby Place moved out of its old unit home at the hospital and into temporary quarters on the second floor. That’s because the maternity unit is getting a complete overhaul that includes significant equipment upgrades, new beds, and even an aesthetic refresh.

The finished product, expected to open in August, will increase the number of labor rooms from five to eight, and postpartum rooms from seven to nine. And even that might not be enough to handle the uptick in babies.

The Zephyrhills hospital did anticipate at least a small rise in births at the hospital after Bayfront Health Dade City announced last year it was closing its maternity unit. One of the contributing factors was a 33 percent decline in births at the hospital between 2008 and 2012, according to published reports.

The Baby Place got ready, however, by calling various doctor offices in the area, and trying to get a count of the number of expecting mothers who were likely to choose Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. The results convinced the hospital to increase its maternity staff, but the baby census was actually on the low end.

“Even with all the calling we did, we had even more people come in than we thought we would,” said Catalina Sierra, who manages The Baby Place with Williams. “We had a lot of people just walking in, saying they were supposed to go to Tampa, or they were supposed to go to Brooksville, but instead, ‘Here I am.’”

The upgrades to The Baby Place also gave the hospital a chance to centralize many of its women’s health services, including mother/baby, gynecology, breast care, heart care, and health and wellness. At the same time, the hospital also changed how the department was managed, going to one led by a physician instead of the more traditional nurse-led department.

The biggest advantage to that is much stronger communication between the nursing staff, who work the front lines, and the physicians.

“There’s always that gap between the physicians and the nurses, and it’s difficult sometimes,” Williams said. “By having a physician in charge, it’s a lot easier to talk to the physician and make your case for the nurse. Communication is such an integral part of health care, and we’re trying to make it easier for that communication to happen, and not put the stress on the nurses.”

The difference in the new system has already been felt, Sierra said, and it’s a positive one where she enjoys working with Williams.

“She’s such a great doctor. She knows the physician’s mind, and she knows the nurse’s mind. That way, she can relate to the doctors and relate to the nurses, and that’s just what we need.”

The maternity market is highly competitive, especially as more and more hospitals open within driving distance of East Pasco County, creating plenty of choice for mothers. While proximity might play a strong role in the selection of a hospital, other issues such as quality of care, level of equipment sophistication, and even how comfortable and calming the rooms are, are important considerations.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills says it is experiencing an influx of moms, even before renovations are complete.

Serving women who are having babies is an excellent way to introduce the hospital to younger people, especially for many mothers who are spending their first night in one delivering a child.

“For a lot of women, this is their very first encounter with a hospital,” said Cheryl Kennison, the marketing director at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. “When people are choosing to stay here when they could’ve easily gone somewhere else, it says a lot about the team, and what everyone is doing here.”

Published June 25, 2014

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Lutz to sparkle for this year’s July 4 celebration

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Nobody can say Lutz ignores the Fourth of July.

A cake decorating contest, 5-kilometer run and a new Guv’na inauguration are just some of the events scheduled for July 4.

Jake Gemmill, 8, of Lutz, enjoys an imaginary ride on a tractor during last year’s Lutz Fourth of July celebration. (File Photo)
Jake Gemmill, 8, of Lutz, enjoys an imaginary ride on a tractor during last year’s Lutz Fourth of July celebration.
(File Photo)

The Independence Day celebration also includes the annual parade, and this year’s theme is a tribute to the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association, which ceased operations last year and officially went out of business in January. Hillsborough County now handles fire rescue services.

It was important to honor the fire association, said Phyllis Hoedt, who chairs the Fourth of July events. The group served the community for more than six decades.

“They’re no longer in existence, and we wanted to honor them,” Hoedt said. “They were very good to our community.”

The Fourth of July work actually begins on July 3, when volunteers set up for the parade from 10 a.m. until noon by the train depot, located at U.S. 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road. While some people already are scheduled to be on-hand, more volunteers are needed to set up chairs, trashcans and other items for the expected crowd. Volunteers also will be needed for breakdown after the parade.

Participants in the cake and pie contest can drop off their entries on Thursday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave. N.W. The final cake registration opportunity is July 4 between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

On Friday, the 5K and one-mile runs kick off the festivities at the Lutz Community Center, 101 First Ave. N. The 5K begins at 8 a.m., with the fun run and family walk starting at 8:45 a.m.

Male and female awards will be given out for the 5K run in overall categories as well as age groups. The one-mile event will recognize overall male and female winners, and all finishers will receive a ribbon.

Following the races, a flag-raising ceremony with the Boy Scouts and the Civil Air Patrol will commence at the front of the Lutz Branch Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

After the flag raising is completed, the various 5K and fun run race winners across age and gender categories will receive trophies. Then the parade starts, with around 100 floats, cars and pedestrians taking part in the route, which begins near Lutz Lake Fern Road and ends on First Avenue S.W.

While participants don’t need to do anything fancy for the parade — which is free to enter — there always are a number of them who turn heads with their eye-catching floats, said Shirley Simmons, one of the parade organizers.

“I think that, for the most part, they’re very original. They spend lots of time thinking about it and putting it together,” Simmons said. “It’s just amazing to me how original some of them are.”

When the parade concludes around 11 a.m., float winners will receive their awards and the cake auction will begin. The money raised, which is usually several hundred dollars, will help fund next year’s event. The cake and pie competition is sponsored by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Finally, the new Lutz Guv’na will be inaugurated, concluding several weeks of “campaigning,” where each candidate raises money for local organizations. The candidate who raises the most money earns the ceremonial title.

Five candidates are vying to replace current Guv’na Suzin Carr: Jerome Smalls, Cindy Perkins, Susan Gulash, “Papa” Jay Muffly and Liane Caruso.

Throughout the morning, the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, the Boy Scouts and a variety of other vendors will sell food, arts and crafts and other items. Around 45 vendor booths are expected for the event, and will be accessible near the train depot and the dog park.

Booths will cost $20, or $25 with access to electricity.

To participate in the 5K or one-mile events, preregistration forms are available by e-mailing and placing “Lutz I-Day Run Reg Form” in the subject line. Participants also can pick up registration forms in person by visiting Big Fred’s Auto Repair, 19301 U.S. 41 in Lutz Monday through Friday during the day.

Until June 30, the cost for the 5K race is $20, the one-mile event is $10, and registration for both is $22. After June 30, the cost increases to $25, $15 and $27, respectively.

Same-day registration is available at the Lutz Community Center beginning at 6:30 a.m. All preregistered runners will receive a T-shirt, and later registrants will receive any remaining shirts on a first-come basis.

Attendees are encouraged not to park near the Lutz Community Center, as cars might not be able to leave before the end of the parade. Recommended parking areas include south of Lutz Lake Fern Road or east of U.S. 41. Those parking west of U.S. 41 are encouraged to park near the dog park instead of the community center.

For volunteer information, call Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256. For general parade information, call Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937. For float information, call Shirley Simmons at (813) 949-7060.

For sponsorship and entry information for the 5K race, call Terry Donovan at (813) 949-6659.

For cake decorating contest information, call Terri Burgess at (813) 690-5790 or Marilyn Wannamaker at (813) 949-1482. For booth rental information, call Annie Fernandez at (813) 784-4471.

Published June 25, 2014

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Already a local inspiration, Keppel now takes national coaching stage

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Brooks Sports Inc., is known for its running shoes and apparel. But once a year, the Seattle-based company gives people a chance to choose among 25 high school coaches across the nation they feel is the most inspiring.

One of the coaches making the cut is none other than Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel. And now his team — and the school — is depending on everyone to get to Facebook and vote for him in the 2014 Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award before the end of July.

Coach Kris Keppel, right, warms up with his Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country team during summer training at Pine View Middle School last week. Keppel is up for a national coaching award based on how he inspires his runners. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Coach Kris Keppel, right, warms up with his Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country team during summer training at Pine View Middle School last week. Keppel is up for a national coaching award based on how he inspires his runners.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“I opened up my email on the first day of my treatment this cycle, and I was just kind of blown away,” Keppel said. “I didn’t think this was real.”

The treatment Keppel is talking about is chemotherapy, which he’s undergoing to battle pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed late last year, but still made it out to as many practices and meets as he could muster.

Enduring a new round of chemo hasn’t stopped Keppel from moving forward with summer practices, waking up as the sun rises to get that little bit of cool air typically found only in the mornings during Florida summers.

That’s the kind of effort that really motivates his runners, like incoming senior Noah Thomas.

“He’s just one of the strongest men I’ve ever met,” the 17-year-old said. “All throughout this, he’s still been there for us, and he’s still pushing us hard, and we push back for him.”

It’s the runners, his fellow coaches like Karen DeHaas, and the parents that motivate him to get up and tackle each day with fresh energy, Keppel’s wife Dar said.

“I think cross-country has been a godsend,” she said. “It has monopolized our life, and I was jealous of it at times. But I think if he didn’t have cross-country, he wouldn’t be in the mindset that he’s in. And that is something that is a great outlet.”

For just being named a finalist, the Land O’ Lakes team has won $5,000 in running shoes, apparel and accessories from Brooks, as well as $500 in cash for team expenses.

The coach chosen as the most inspiring on Facebook will win an additional $5,000 in Brooks apparel, plus $2,000 more in cash to the school’s athletic department.

DeHaas, who Keppel recruited some years back to coach the girls cross-country team, did the initial work to get her colleague nominated. But it was a nomination that almost didn’t happen.

“I spent a couple hours writing up everything online, and then when I went to go get a picture, I came back, and what I wrote wasn’t there anymore,” said DeHaas, who runners affectionately refer to as “Mima.”

“I had some good ideas there, too, and so I had to think of it all again so that I could write it a second time,” she said.

Keppel spent years as a media specialist at Land O’ Lakes High, but moved into the American history department after those positions were cut last year. Yet, he still finds a way to connect with students, even off the track.

“He’s a model for so many kids,” DeHaas said. “He has helped so many kids get into colleges, and wrote letters — you wouldn’t believe how many. Anyone who came to him for help, he would help them, whether it was something to do with sports, or something to do with academics. He is just a wealth of information.”

Keppel and his wife are heading to Seattle to learn who will win among the 25 coaches in August. For someone as well-traveled as Keppel is, this is the first time he’s ever been to Washington, and he’s looking forward to it.

However, he’s also looking to not have too many distractions as he prepares his runners for what Keppel hopes will be another successful season, both as a team, and as individual athletes.

“The true gratification of a coach is to see the transformation of a kid who just ran a couple miles to a kid who can run a half-marathon by the end of summer,” Keppel said.

To vote, visit tinyurl.com/KeppelInspire.

Published June 25, 2014

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A glimpse of paradise awaits at Honeymoon and Caladesi islands

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Located at the extreme west end of State Road 586 in Dunedin, there’s a state park called Honeymoon Island, which draws more than 1.1 million visitors a year.

This idyllic scene provides a glimpse of the tranquility and beauty awaiting visitors at Caladesi Island. You can get there on a 20-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park, or walk about four miles north from Clearwater Beach. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
This idyllic scene provides a glimpse of the tranquility and beauty awaiting visitors at Caladesi Island. You can get there on a 20-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park, or walk about four miles north from Clearwater Beach.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Beyond that, just a 20-minute ferryboat ride away, there’s another place called Caladesi Island — rated as America’s No. 1 Beach in 2008 by Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach.

Both islands offer visitors plenty of opportunities to splash in the surf, search for shells and savor nature’s splendor. There are boating, fishing and kayaking options too for those who enjoy being out on the water. There also are places to buy refreshments and shady picnic areas to gather with family and friends.

Though quite different, both islands offer their own glimpse of paradise.

Caladesi Island, for instance, is secluded.

“You’re away from it all when you’re out there,” said Pete Krulder, park manager for Honeymoon Island State Park. “It is a very special place for a lot of people.”

Lots of tourists visit Caladesi because they’ve heard about its beach rating, Krulder said.

Honeymoon Island, on the other hand, draws substantial numbers of people from Florida, and from Tampa Bay in particular.

“We’re the most-visited state park in the state of Florida,” Krulder said. “We have folks who are in here twice a day. Caladesi is more of the occasional visitor. Honeymoon, you see the same visitor every day.”

The busiest times at Honeymoon Island State Park are from March until right after Labor Day, Krulder said. There also is an annual uptick when winter residents arrive.

Caladesi’s busy times mirror Honeymoon Island’s, though it tends to draw more snowbirds when the weather is nice, Krulder said. Caladesi gets a fair amount of boat traffic on a regular basis, too.

On a recent day at Honeymoon Island, the parking lot was filled with cars, mostly from Florida. But there also were cars from Ohio, Illinois, Vermont, New Jersey, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Connecticut, North Carolina and Arkansas.

The top draw on both islands is the beach. Both islands also boast excellent shelling and beautiful nature trails, Krulder said. And at Caladesi, there’s a marina.

There’s also a kayak trail that traverses through the mangroves.

“There are spots where you can barely paddle, it’s that narrow,” Krulder said.

“Both Honeymoon and Caladesi have some of the few remaining virgin slash pine forests in the state of Florida,” Krulder added, noting those forests have never been logged.

One tree, on the north end of Honeymoon Island’s nature trail was core dated in 2007, and discovered to be at least 185 years old, he said. That means the tree would have sprouted during the second term of President James Monroe, the nation’s fifth president.

Other interesting features along the Honeymoon Island nature trail include osprey, bald eagle and great-horned owl nests.

Wildlife on the islands includes raccoons, snakes and gopher tortoises. While the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake has been known to slither there, snake sightings are uncommon, Krulder said.

Island visitors who enjoy local history may find it interesting to learn that Honeymoon and Caladesi islands were both once part of a larger land mass called Hog Island, named after the hogs that roamed freely there. A hurricane struck that island in 1921, splitting it in two. The resulting water passage between the two islands is called Hurricane Pass.

Hog Island took on a new persona through a promotional campaign by its owner at the time, Clinton Washburn. Washburn and Life magazine in 1939 had a contest for newlyweds, with winners receiving a two-week stay on what became known as Honeymoon Isle.

Little cottages were constructed to house the honeymooners, who were flown on and off of the island. The palm-frond honeymoon huts had appropriate names, such as “Lover’s Nook.”

Pictures from 1940 at the Rotary Centennial Nature Center on Honeymoon Island depict some of those couples, hamming it up for cameras.

Krulder recently received a scrapbook and other memorabilia from the daughter of a couple who honeymooned at the island. He plans to have a special case built to display it.

Caladesi Island, which became a state park in 1967, also has a colorful history.

Ancient ceremonial and burial mounds show Native Americans occupied the island long before Europeans arrived, according to a historic sign there.

After the Spanish conquest of La Florida in the 1500s, the island was used for seasonal encampments and fish ranches. Tall ships moored offshore, and soldiers and sailors came ashore to hunt, fish and camp, the sign says.

No one seems to know the origin for Caladesi Island’s name, Krulder said, but an entire book has been written about a homesteader who settled there in 1892.

In her book, “Yesteryear, I Lived in Paradise,” Myrtle Scharrer Betz describes the idyllic life of growing up on Caladesi Island, a place where her father, Henry Scharrer, built a house.

When Betz was growing up, Krulder said, “She rowed a boat from the south end of Caladesi Island to Main Street in Dunedin. They say she very rarely missed a day of school.”

The future of Honeymoon Island was threatened during the 1960s.

“There was an attempt to develop the island. What they wanted to do was make the island 10 times its natural size,” Krulder said.

A developer envisioned thousands of residents moving onto the island. That effort, however, was thwarted and officials from both Dunedin and the state began acquiring the land for Honeymoon Island State Park, which opened in 1981.

If you go …
WHAT: Honeymoon Island State Park

WHERE: 1 Causeway Blvd., at the extreme west end of State Road 586 in Dunedin

WHEN: 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.

COST: Ranges from $2 to $8 for vehicles up to 8 people, pedestrians and bicyclists; Sunset fee is $4 per vehicle, one hour before

INFO: Call (727) 469-5942

If you go …
The ferry for Caladesi Island departs from Honeymoon Island beginning at 10 a.m., with half-hour departures from mid-February through mid-September. Departures are hourly in other months.

The ferry cost, roundtrip, is $14 for adults, $7 for children up to 12, and free for kids 5 and younger.

Visitors are allowed up to a four-hour stay on Caladesi Island.

Published June 25, 2014

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Creativity wins local kids trip to Washington, D.C.

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The trio jetted to Washington, D.C., to meet with a member of Congress, to hear remarks from the chief executive of an international company, and to take part in television interviews. And they are all still in elementary school.

Sophia Nobles, left, Catie Tomasello and Joey Santana have their picture taken with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson while visiting the nation’s capital. The kids won the trip by placing second nationally in the 22nd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision STEM competition. (Courtesy of Heather Tomasello)
Sophia Nobles, left, Catie Tomasello and Joey Santana have their picture taken with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson while visiting the nation’s capital. The kids won the trip by placing second nationally in the 22nd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision STEM competition.
(Courtesy of Heather Tomasello)

Joey Santana, Sophia Nobles and Catie Tomasello recently returned from a trip to the nation’s capital, and a whirlwind of appearances there. The Countryside Montessori Charter School students took the trip to receive their second-place honors in their age division in the 22nd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision STEM competition, provided by the electronics company and the National Science Teachers Association. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The team, coached by Lorna Cohen, finished among the top eight in the country. The contest itself drew more than 4,900 entries, representing nearly 15,300 students and 550 schools across the United States and Canada, according to the contest website.

It is the world’s largest science and technology competition for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It encourages them to develop problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Contestants are asked to imagine what technology might be like in 20 years. They work in teams to propose ideas for innovative future technology based on what already exists. They simulate scientific research to outline how they plan to test their idea, and they build websites to further illustrate and communicate their concepts.

For their entry, the Countryside Montessori students envisioned WateRenew, a concept that uses the technology of Wave Wings  — which are wings that sway back and forth in the ocean, creating mechanical energy that can be converted to electricity. That electricity would then be used to power a leading edge desalination plant, which in turn creates clean drinking water for homes and businesses.

Florida’s water shortages inspired the team to search for a solution, Nobles and Tomasello said. The team began meeting in September, and team members spent at least a couple of hours each week working on the project.

The team worked well together because they are friends and they respect each other, the girls said. The team divided the project into pieces, and each team member became an “expert” on one part of the project.

Nobles also noted that the team benefited from the help of Lee Marcum, of Clean and Green Enterprises, who took the time to talk to the team about his invention, the Wave Wing.

While in Washington D.C., team members met with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, and went a tour of the Capitol Building led by staff members of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Santana’s family also dropped by the office of U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, where they posed for photos.

The kids also took part in two television interviews with Bill Nye the Science Guy, and they participated in a science showcase. Other highlights included hearing remarks from Atsutoshi Nishida, chairman of Toshiba Corp., and doing some sightseeing.

Other winners in the competition also proposed creative solutions to challenging issues, according to the competition website. Third-grade students from Merion Station, Pennsylvania, developed a system designed to save people who are stuck in rip currents.

An entry from second-graders from Edmond, Oklahoma, aimed to save lives of babies, toddlers and animals left accidentally in a car. A team of fifth-graders from Locust Valley, New York, created an innovative plant power de-icing system for planes, while 10th graders from Toronto created a new technology that uses light signals to boost optical computing.

Besides the expenses-paid trip, the young students also each received a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond.

Since its inception in 1992, more than 330,000 students have participated in the ExploraVision program.

Published June 25, 2014

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