The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Free vaccinations offered for Pasco sixth graders

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Pasco County Schools is teaming up with the Florida Department of Health to provide free Tdap vaccinations to current sixth graders at the county’s middle schools on May 22.

Students entering seventh grade in Florida must provide proof of the Tdap vaccination — which stands for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis — before they will be allowed to start school, according to state health officials.

Parents must sign a permission form before their child can be vaccinated, and must be submitted to the school their child attends by May 1.

The vaccinations are required because tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis can be very serious diseases, according to a fact sheet prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Tdap vaccine can provide protection.

Tetanus also is known as lockjaw. It causes painful muscle tightening and stiffness, typically all over the body. It can lead to tightening of muscles in the head and neck, and make it difficult or impossible for someone to open his or her mouth, to swallow, or even to breathe.

It is fatal for about one in five people who are infected, according to the CDC.

Diphtheria can cause a thick coating to form in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure and death.

Pertussis also is known as whooping cough. It causes severe coughing spells, which can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting and sleep disruptions. It can lead to weight loss, incontinence and rib fractures. As many as two in 100 adolescents and five in 100 adults are hospitalized or have complications, which could include pneumonia or death.

Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing, according to the CDC. Tetanus enters the body through cuts, scratches or wounds.

Before vaccines, there were as many as 200,000 cases of diphtheria and pertussis a year, and hundreds of cases of tetanus. Since vaccination began, tetanus and diphtheria have dropped by about 99 percent, and pertussis by about 80 percent, the CDC said.

The health department has scheduled when the vaccinations will be given at each of the district’s middle schools. The schedule for the May 22 vaccinations locally is:

• Long Middle School: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Rushe Middle School: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Stewart Middle School: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Centennial Middle School: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Weightman Middle School: Noon to 2 p.m.

• Pasco Middle School: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• Pine View Middle School: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For additional information, call the health department at (727) 861-5250, at either ext. 268 or ext. 224, or the school district’s health services office at (727) 774-2360, (813) 794-2360, or (352) 524-2360.

Published April 23, 2014

Saffore set to represent Sunlake at collegiate level

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Sunlake High School has never had a premier volleyball team. Before this season, they had never won more than six games in a single campaign, and compiled a 15-91 record across six seasons.

Senior Malika Saffore wasn’t just a part of Sunlake’s best volleyball season in school history, she’ll be the first Seahawks volleyball player to continue her career in college. (Courtesy of Malika Saffore)
Senior Malika Saffore wasn’t just a part of Sunlake’s best volleyball season in school history, she’ll be the first Seahawks volleyball player to continue her career in college.
(Courtesy of Malika Saffore)

While they played hard, they’ve never seen much success, and have never had a player continue their volleyball career in college.

But a lot can change in a year.

The Seahawks finished the 2013 season with a 16-10 record, tallying more wins in one season than in their entire history combined. They made the playoffs for the first time in school history. And now, also for the first time, a volleyball player will continue their career at the college level.

Senior Malika Saffore will attend school and play volleyball for Florida Southern College, an NCAA Division II school located in Lakeland. She signed a letter of intent last week and said she’s excited about the opportunity to continue her athletic career.

“I’m so excited to play next season,” she said. “I was definitely honored that I was the first person to get a scholarship who was on the volleyball team.”

While most people have seen volleyball in some form, Saffore said her sport isn’t always understood as a complex one. Keeping the team motivated and working well together is just as important as hitting the ball hard.

“Volleyball is such a momentum-built sport. It depends on whether one team has more energy than the other, and I don’t think people realize that,” Saffore said.

A lot of the skill goes beyond physical ability, and includes thinking several moves ahead and utilizing what she calls “volleyball intellect.”

Saffore has no problem using her intellect both on and off the court. She’ll actually attend Florida Southern on scholarships — both athletic and academic. When coupled with a 3.8 GPA, her dedication to volleyball means most of her time is spent working on school or sports.

Saffore spends about 15 hours a week practicing on the court, plus another five hours in the gym staying in shape. After allotting time for studying and homework, free time is scarce, but she’s been able to find balance between the two priorities in her life.

In college, Saffore plans to study nursing, so her time will continue to be limited. But she said that the skills she’s learned on the court often translate to success in the classroom.

“I think it gives me a sense of self-control,” she said. “If I feel overwhelmed about the amount of homework I have or a test that’s coming up, I collect myself and think, OK, I have to prepare myself in these different aspects and I follow that plan just like I do with volleyball.”

Florida Southern was a good fit with Saffore for several reasons, she said. She said she was immediately impressed with the campus and her new teammates, but she also was attracted to the idea of staying local. She’s very close to her family and enjoys the Florida sunshine, so the opportunity to keep playing volleyball (including beach volleyball, which she enjoys) and stay close to home for a school she liked was too good to pass up.

And while she’s proven her abilities and has earned a scholarship thanks to her volleyball talent, Saffore knows that this is the beginning of competition, not the end. The Moccasins — Mocs for short — are a good volleyball team, posting a 22-14 record last year, including a 10-6 record in the competitive Sunshine State Conference.

She’ll have to continue proving herself to succeed at a school that’s used to playing at a high level against top talent, and she’s ready for that challenge.

“When you get to college, you have to actually compete for the position that you want to play,” Saffore said. “I know I have to work 10 times harder than I do now, and compete not only on the court against the team we’re going to play, but compete for a spot on the team to be on the court.”

Published April 23, 2014

Wiregrass Ranch’s Handman ready for college lacrosse

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If a high school athlete excels at their sport, it’s not unusual for them to continue playing after they graduate.

Jeffrey Handman only started playing lacrosse when Wiregrass Ranch High School started its program a few years ago, but his skills have earned him a scholarship with Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. (Courtesy of Eric Handman)
Jeffrey Handman only started playing lacrosse when Wiregrass Ranch High School started its program a few years ago, but his skills have earned him a scholarship with Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.
(Courtesy of Eric Handman)

Players do their best to find a place in the college ranks, perhaps even with a school affiliated with the National College Athletic Association. At local schools it happens with athletes in many sports, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and others.

Wiregrass Ranch High School can now add lacrosse to that list.

Although the lacrosse program at the school is just four years old, Wiregrass Ranch now has its first player recruited by an NCAA school.

Senior Jeffrey Handman is a goalie for the Bulls’ lacrosse team, and has committed to play for Lincoln Memorial University, a Division II school located in Harrogate, Tenn. He’ll head up there with an athletic scholarship and a desire to be part of the new lacrosse program for the Railsplitters.

But if he had been a little better at a different sport, none of it would have happened.

“I decided that I wasn’t good enough to play high school baseball, so I decided to give lacrosse a try,” Handman said. “If I could hit a baseball I probably never would have played lacrosse.”

Fortunately, he picked up a stick and eventually found himself defending the goal. Now he has a new favorite sport and a desire to make an impact at the next level.

Lacrosse, a sport where teammates use sticks to pass and catch a rubber ball while trying to score on the opponents’ goal, is popular at the collegiate level and up north. It’s also working its way into high schools and local clubs.

Wiregrass Ranch began its own program back in 2011. That’s the same year Handman first entered the school, picked up a lacrosse stick and gave a new sport a try. And at goalie, he found a position that makes the most of his talents and allows him to excel.

Handman isn’t a boastful athlete. He takes honest stock of his abilities, and finds ways to maximize them on the field.

“Being a goalie, you have to be quick,” Handman said. “I’m not fast. I’m not going to dazzle any one with a 40 (yard dash), but I’m quick reaction-wise.”

He might have been late to the game, but once he got involved with lacrosse, Handman enjoyed it so much he found other outlets where he could participate. He’s a member of New Tampa Chill, a club league that participates in the Florida Gulf Coast Lacrosse League as part of New Tampa Lacrosse. He also referees lacrosse games for youth leagues in places like Wesley Chapel, South Tampa and New Tampa.

Handman eventually wants to coach the sport when he’s done playing, but before that happens, he’ll test his skills against Division II competition.

It wasn’t an easy path, however, going from being a first-time player to finding a spot with a college team. Unlike football, Central Florida isn’t known as a magnet for lacrosse scouts.

“Florida’s not a hotbed for the sport. Especially not Tampa,” Handman said.

The sport is growing and the players are enthusiastic and talented, but even a good player can’t afford to just sit back and wait for offers. And according to Wiregrass Ranch lacrosse coach Garrett Linquist, Handman isn’t the type to be passive and hope things go his way.

Handman approached his coaches and asked what he should be doing to give himself a good chance to play at the next level.

“He’s one of those kids who wanted to go and play in college,” Linquist said. “He went to a lot of good recruiting camps, he played for Team Florida (where Linquist also coached), and that was a great opportunity. He had a little bit more drive to go through the process.”

The process included filming his games, making a highlight video, and sending it to around 100 different coaches, Handman said. But his perseverance paid off, and he’ll be both playing lacrosse and studying business at Lincoln Memorial.

While Handman is proud of his accomplishments, he didn’t get this far by resting on his laurels. When he gets to college, he’ll show up with the same drive he used to stand out when tackling a new sport.

“I actually put more pressure on myself than other people. Personally, I feel the pressure to succeed. That’s my goal,” Handman said. “I’m not going to play college athletics up in Tennessee to sit on the bench for four years or not try my hardest to compete.”

Published April 23, 2014

Business Digest 04-23-14

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Central Pasco Chamber orientation
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will host a new member orientation April 29 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The event is open to all new members, and any others who have not attended such a meeting in the past.

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

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

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

Connerton opens new Homes by WestBay model
Homes by WestBay has unveiled its Terracena II model in Connerton’s Rose Pointe in the Arbors neighborhood.

The nearly 4,900-square-foot home will offer five bedrooms, nearly as many bathrooms, theater, and both a two-car and separate one-car garage.

It’s located at 20431 Lace Cascade Road in Land O’ Lakes.

Homes by WestBay was founded in 2009 by Tampa bay-area homebuilders Roger Gatewood and Willy Nunn. Homes in the company’s portfolio typically run from between $150,000 and more than $1 million.

For information, call (813) 438-3838, or visit HomesByWestBay.com.

PEDC looking for Industry Awards nominees
Pasco Economic Development Council is looking for outstanding companies that have made a contribution to the local economy as part of its Industry Awards.

These companies are recognized for job creation, increased capital investment, and for contributions to the community through civic involvement.

Categories include manufacturing, service and distribution, technology and entrepreneurship.

Nominations can be faxed or mailed to the Pasco EDC, but no later than April 30.

For information, call (813) 926-0827, ext. 227.

New location for All-Tech Air
All-Tech Air & Filtration LLC is relocating to 35946 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills beginning May 1.

The air-conditioning and heating company’s phone number will remain the same at (813) 870-6934, as will its website at AllTechAir.com.

CPA students sought for scholarship
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is looking for minority accounting students across the state to apply for the Clay Ford scholarship.

It is awarded each year to minority students looking to become certified public accountants. The program has awarded more than $1 million since it was first implemented in 1999.

A $10 portion from each individual and firm license fee funds the scholarship. Applicants may be eligible for scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 per semester, and awarded for a maximum of two semesters.

Applications must be postmarked by June 1. For information, visit MyFloridaLicense.com/CPAScholarship.

Lutz company earns USF honor
ClearTrust of Lutz was recently recognized as one of the University of South Florida’s Fast 56 — the fastest growing businesses in the world led or owned by a USF alumni.

Run by Juan Osorio and Kara Kennedy, ClearTrust is a leading stock transfer agent serving public and private companies globally, according to a release. To be considered for the list, an organization must have been in business for at least three years, with revenue of $250,000 or more for the most recent 12-month period.

Connerton launches new website
Connerton has launched a new website designed to make it easier for prospective buyers to find various offerings in the community, and connect with the people they need to reach.

Some of the features include a complete database of all new homes available, information about builders and neighborhoods, an interactive trail map and Google area map, a community calendar, and others.

The site can be found at Connerton.com.

The community is located off U.S. 41 in north Land O’ Lakes, and features two miles of nature trails, a clubhouse, and miles of winding roads and walkways.

Lots of visitors to region last quarter
Visit Tampa Bay ended the second quarter of its fiscal year booking five major meetings and conventions, securing more than 43,700 room nights and an $18 million economic impact, according to a release.

Those bookings included a three-year deal for the Florida State Thespian Society Annual Festival, which continues into 2021 that is expected to bring more than 22,000 room nights and an $8.5 million economic impact.

Other bookings include the American Phytopathological Society, as well as Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both combined for more than 20,000 room nights, and nearly $10 million in economic impact.

Political Agenda 04-23-14

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Corcoran campaign spending drops
Since January 2013, state Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, was spending more than $9,000 a month on a campaign without an opponent — a statistic shared in the March 20 edition of The Laker/Lutz News. But now that spending has slowed significantly.

In March, Corcoran spent just $1,550 — a fraction of the nearly $16,500 expended the month before, and an 83 percent drop from his average, according to state election records.

Corcoran’s biggest bill in March was to his accounting firm, which he paid $1,050. He also attended and bought advertising at an event hosted by LifeChoices Women’s Care in Lutz.

Corcoran defended the fact that he’s spent more money than any other candidate in House races — including those with opponents — because it gives him a chance to connect with constituents.

“If there’s any chance you get where you can communicate with the voters and get their input, we do it,” Corcoran said in March. “Anytime you get input from the voters, that just makes you much more effective.”

Corcoran’s fundraising has not slowed down, however. He raised $21,000 in March, well ahead of his $14,500 monthly average. Some $7,500 of it came from out-of-state, including $1,000 from Pepsico, and $1,000 each from DirecTV LLC and Dish.

Through March, Corcoran has raised just under $207,500, with $87,000 in the bank.

Clay shoot for Mike Moore
Mike Moore is looking to raise more money for his Pasco County Commission campaign with a clay shoot June 21.

It will take place at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. The cost would be $125 per person, or $500 per team of four. All payments would be considered political donations.

For more information, email .

MacManus to speak at PFRWC luncheon
University of South Florida professor Susan MacManus is the guest speaker at the Pasco Federated Republican Women’s Club monthly luncheon, May 2 at 11:30 a.m., at the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity.

MacManus, a distinguished professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at USF, will speak on government and international affairs.

Cost is $15.

For reservations, call Fran Scerbo at (727) 597-3727, or email her at .

Aging group gives Bilirakis award
The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc. has given its Distinguished Leadership Award to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor.

The nonprofit group coordinates services and care for senior citizens, the disabled and caregivers throughout the two-county area.

“I am humbled and inspired by this honor, and remain committed to ensuring older Americans are treated with the dignity they deserve,” Bilirakis said in a release.

Bilirakis, who represents District 12 in Washington, D.C., faces James Denton Jr. in the August primary, and recently pulled another challenger in the form of Lois Duncan, who has no party affiliation.

Coffee with Burgess fundraiser
Danny Burgess, who is seeking to succeed Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, in state House District 38, is hosting a coffee fundraiser April 29 at 9 a.m., at Rose’s Café, 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Suggested political donation is $20.

For information, visit VoteDannyBurgess.com.

 

Future of Pasco lives and dies with municipal airports

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The expansion of State Road 56 into Zephyrhills could be key to a major economic boom for Pasco County, and two candidates seeking to replace state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, in Tallahassee agree state-level leadership must be in place to make sure it happens.

Former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess, left, joins Republican challenger Minnie Diaz in a political forum at the Wesley Chapel Republican Club hosted by county commission candidate Mike Moore. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess, left, joins Republican challenger Minnie Diaz in a political forum at the Wesley Chapel Republican Club hosted by county commission candidate Mike Moore.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Danny Burgess and Minnie Diaz both shared their visions for House District 38 during a meeting last week of the Wesley Chapel Republican Club. The two are seeking the Republican nomination to face Democrat Beverly Ledbetter in the November election, and both flexed their conservative values in front of the small crowd in the training room at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel.

“To have State Road 56 coming all the way to Zephyrhills with our municipal airport sitting right here, we are going to benefit so much as a community, as a district and as an area,” said Burgess, who up until last Monday was mayor of Zephyrhills. “That is such an asset for this area.”

Yet, proposed projects like the private elevated toll road could disrupt plans to start that expansion in the next two to three years, with the Florida Department of Transportation likely going to “hold back” until a final decision can be made on the controversial 33-mile project.

“All they are looking for is a green light or red light by the county to see whether or not they are going to approve it,” Burgess said. But for the elevated road itself? “It is not what we want.”

Diaz said the developers behind the elevated road project, International Infrastructure Partners, have far too many unanswered questions surrounding them for her to support the project.

“We need to look, as a county, at other alternatives,” she said. “Sure, we want to go all the way into Zephyrhills so that the east and west can become more easily accessible. But the original plans are just too big. I think we can probably break it up into smaller pieces and make that work for Pasco County.”

Diaz is a native of California, but has lived in Pasco County for more than a decade after making her career in the U.S. Air Force. She has always been excited about the economic possibilities when it comes to aeronautics, she said, and Pasco County has two airports — Zephyrhills and Tampa North Executive Airport in Lutz — just miles apart that could bookend a major industrial corridor.

“It would be attractive to those in the manufacturing of aerospace and aviation technologies,” Diaz said. “My vision for Pasco is to make Pasco so attractive, it would be a secondary hub for these industries, yet not impact the quality of water and agriculture that is part of our East Pasco makeup.”

While the state should lead the charge, Diaz says she still supports local governments having a final say.

“My role (in the House) should be in advocating economic growth,” she said. “You tell me what you want, and I’ll see that it’s done on the state level.”

One of the key components of listening closely to local city and county governments is that leaders at the state and federal level have a tendency to paint with a broad brush, Burgess said.

“What is best for Broward County is not always best for Pasco County,” he said. “We need to absolutely protect our home rule. That is the doctrine that our state has adopted many years ago, and it allows our local governments to make their own decisions, to adopt their own charters and adopt their own ordinances.”

During the forum, Burgess highlighted his time as both the youngest city councilman in the state (he was first elected in Zephyrhills when he was 18), and later the youngest mayor in the city’s history, fresh out of law school.

Diaz acknowledges she has not held elective office before, but that hasn’t stopped her from trying to make a difference when it comes to making laws. A bill she helped craft was in committee late last week, she said, and is designed to provide funding to jails to help train officials on how to provide services to the mentally ill.

“It will not have cost us any money as taxpayers,” Diaz said. “The initiative was written in such a way that it requires funding from other sources like gambling and lottery. It would not create an increase on our community burden.”

The primary election for House District 38 is Aug. 26, with the winner heading to the general election Nov. 4.

And your most-admired judge is …
House District 38 candidates Danny Burgess and Minnie Diaz were asked during a recent Wesley Chapel Republican Club forum to identify their favorite U.S. Supreme Court justice.

It’s definitely not Elena Kagan or Sonia Sotomayor, two justices appointed by President Obama, Diaz said. Instead, she likes Clarence Thomas.

“He had to go through those (sexual harassment) hearings unfortunately, and I think his time is coming up now,” Diaz said. “He needs to step up and confront the current judges and be more vocal and create more advocacy for conservatism.”

Burgess, himself a lawyer, says he prefers Antonin Scalia.

“You become fascinated by this man’s legal opinions, the way he words his opinions,” Burgess said. “He is really an asset to the Supreme Court, and I just hope that he can stick around for as long as he can muster.”

Published April 16, 2014

Pasco agribusiness teacher wants her knowledge to grow in Korea

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Kelli Hamilton has a condition and she isn’t a bit ashamed to admit it.

“I’m an ‘ag’ nerd,” said the Pasco High School agribusiness and natural resources teacher.

Kelli Hamilton enjoys sharing her knowledge of agriculture in different parts of the world with her students at Pasco High School. She plans to get an up-close look at agriculture in South Korea this summer through an overseas study program. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Kelli Hamilton enjoys sharing her knowledge of agriculture in different parts of the world with her students at Pasco High School. She plans to get an up-close look at agriculture in South Korea this summer through an overseas study program.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She’s so interested in agriculture that she’s planning to spend a month in South Korea this summer learning about that country’s agricultural education programs. Hamilton already has been to Ireland and to Iowa to get acquainted with agriculture in those parts of the world.

She’s making the trip to South Korea through a University of Florida/Penn State Program for undergraduate, graduate and kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers. Hamilton is among a group of teachers from Florida, Pennsylvania and Connecticut who are making the trip, traveling with eight students from Pennsylvania State University, and four faculty members from the two universities.

While in South Korea, they will see the country’s Future Farmers of Korea program, which is based on FFA. They also will observe various levels of education programs and various agricultural techniques.

The trip begins June 14 and concludes July 13.

“I’m pumped,” Hamilton said. “I definitely want to learn more about how they do their education system.”

She hopes to pick up different teaching techniques and to have a better understanding of the differences between agriculture in South Korea and agriculture here.

“I’m intrigued about the Korean agriculture just because it’s a developing country,” Hamilton said. “They’ve had a lot of strife in the past 50, 60, 70 years, so I want to see how they’re changing and adapting to that.”

The study abroad course and experience is a joint venture between the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida, and the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State.

In an essay explaining why she wanted to study abroad in Korea, Hamilton wrote, “When traveling overseas, we are able to see the same thing through a different set of lenses.

“Agriculture is in every corner of this planet,” she added. “It is different in some ways, but ultimately the same.”

She also expressed confidence that she could transfer the knowledge she gains into lessons in her Pasco High classroom.

Hamilton already knows how to give students real-world lessons, said Amber Hill, 17, a senior.

“She’s an amazing teacher. She doesn’t just give us facts. She gives us hands-on opportunities. She cares about what you learn,” Hills said.

Besides investing her time in the trip, Hamilton also is investing her money. She’s eager to make the trip.

“I’m pumped,” Hamilton said. “I’m going there to see how they do agriculture education, at all different levels from elementary to high school to college.”

Recently, Hamilton was talking to her students about differences that farmers encounter in different parts of the world. She talked to them about how terrain, equipment, weather, water and soil fertility can influence what crops are produced and where they are marketed.

She talked about some of the strengths and pitfalls of modern machinery and technology that today’s farmers can use.

“I actually went to visit a farm in Iowa. They have this huge sprayer, and it was on a pilot,” Hamilton said. “Basically, they use GPS.”

By using modern technology, farmers can fully utilize the space they have, can reduce manual labor, and can use less fuel, she said.

But there can be a downside.

“There was a lot of rain this past year, so part of the field had fallen down into the river, Hamilton said. “The tractor was on autopilot and it didn’t account for that terrain washing into the river, so he (the farmer) ended up flipping his brand-new sprayer.”

The farmer went into the river with it, and it turns out that it’s not so simple to shut down the computer system, she said. There’s a lot of debate in the United States and internationally about the benefits and risks of new technology, she said.

Hamilton also talked with the students about the economics of agriculture and the rules of supply and demand. If there’s a high supply and a low demand, prices drop, she told them.

Courtney Nathe, 17, said she hopes Hamilton will create a presentation that the teacher can share with students when she returns.

“I definitely think it’s a good opportunity for her, just to see what it’s like in an international market,” Nathe said.

She also thinks Hamilton is a worthy candidate for the program and will be able to convey what she learns to her students.

“She makes class interesting. She communicates well with teenagers,” Nathe. “She’s young enough that she does understand (teenagers), so it makes the class a little bit more interesting and we learn.”

Published April 16, 2014

Outlet mall moves forward, but can Wesley Chapel claim it?

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Now that developers of a proposed outlet mall just off Interstate 75 took a big step forward last week with revised site plans for their 57-acre project, one question remains on the minds of local businesses: Will the new mall include “Wesley Chapel” in its name?

Plans for Tampa Premium Outlets Mall call for nine buildings with 482,000 square feet of retail. It would be the first of seven phases on 57 acres of land off Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56. (File Photo)
Plans for Tampa Premium Outlets Mall call for nine buildings with 482,000 square feet of retail. It would be the first of seven phases on 57 acres of land off Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56.
(File Photo)

“I think on one hand, we would love to have our local identity,” said John Hagen, president and chief executive of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. “We would love to see that be more prominent, but we also benefit from our association with Tampa and Tampa Bay. It’s a mixed bag, but I see both things.”

Simon Property Group, part of the development team that’s officially JG Cypress Creek LLC and Tampa Premium Outlets LLC, have named the project on Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56 “Cypress Creek Town Center Premium Outlets Mall.” However, it’s unclear whether that name is just a working title, or if that is a final decision.

A request for comment from Simon about the name was still pending when The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

Wesley Chapel might be part of the greater Tampa Bay area, but the community has long sought its own identity, and has pushed hard for businesses — especially high-profile ones — to include “Wesley Chapel” in names, and not “Tampa.”

Because this mall will be so prominent for the thousands of travelers that take to I-75 each day, this could very well become a place maker for Pasco.

“Outlet malls draw regionally and nationally with snowbirds and all that sort of thing, and we see it in some respect as a tourism play,” Hagen said. “Once you get things going there, we can leverage some hotel development, and you’ll probably see some office buildings as well as an area like that can really come alive. It should be exciting.”

Hagen points to The Shops at Wiregrass as a prime example of what a major shopping center can do, especially as other businesses come to fill in around it.

The revised plans call for the entire mall property to be constructed in seven phases, beginning with outlet mall itself. The mall calls for nine buildings with 482,000 square feet of retail. Overall, the project is calling for 1.1 million square feet of retail space.

The mall got back on track last November after developers finalized an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about how the project would impact surrounding wetlands and waterways.

Back then, Simon officials said the mall could open as early as the end of this year. However, County Administrator Michele Baker later put that timeframe somewhere around summer 2015.

There are still other questions to answer beyond the mall itself, including what plans are to expand and extend Wesley Chapel Boulevard, and other infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate the mall.

“That particular piece of road, down to State Road 54, is already designed,” Baker told members of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce back in January. “When we balance our capital improvement budget, we look at the needs for the what and where, and we balance that. The road got pushed out because we didn’t have a mall there that needed it.”

Published April 16, 2014

Seminar helps business owners understand Obamacare

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There are supporters and detractors of the Affordable Care Act — better known as Obamacare — but no matter where you stand on the issue, unless you qualify for a subsidy, you’ll pay higher insurance rates.

Insurance agent Jason Greif helps explain some of the ins and outs of health care reform, also known as Obamacare. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Insurance agent Jason Greif helps explain some of the ins and outs of health care reform, also known as Obamacare.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

That’s what Jason Greif, an insurance agent with U.S. Health Group, told members of a health insurance reform class at the SmartStart Dade City incubator April 8.

The insurance agent, who has been in the industry for eight years, explained changes in health care law, talking about the pros and cons of the new requirements, and the different kinds of insurance coverage that are available in the health care marketplace. Greif also explained the penalty for not purchasing health insurance, which is now mandatory, and he talked about the risks that people face when they don’t have insurance.

“A lot of people are misinformed,” Greif said.

Part of Obamacare took effect on March 23, 2010, he said, noting that’s when insurance companies had to begin covering what has been defined as essential health benefits.

“There are 10 of them,” Greif said. They include services ranging from child immunizations to maternity care, mammograms to colonoscopies.

“What do you guys think is going to happen to the rates if the insurance companies have to cover everybody’s colonoscopy? They go up,” he said. “I actually am for Obamacare for a lot of different reasons. But it has increased the rates.”

Another big change happened on Jan. 1. That’s when insurance companies could no longer deny coverage.

“No matter what, anybody can get health insurance,” Greif said.

That’s good news for people who were denied coverage before, but it drives up insurance rates as a result. In the past, people with certain conditions could only get coverage as part of a group.

“It’d really be disheartening for me to say, ‘There’s nothing I can do. You have diabetes, I can’t get you insurance,’” Greif said. “Nobody could do anything for them,” unless they were able to get covered through a group.

“It’s almost more of a socialistic approach to healthcare. But for people that are sick, for people that get a subsidy, it’s actually an amazing program because those people were not able to get insurance,” Greif said.

This year’s open enrollment is over. The only way to enroll through the marketplace outside of the enrollment period is to have a life-changing event such as moving, losing group insurance or having a child, Greif said.

The next enrollment period begins Nov. 15.

Those who want to get an idea of what their rates would be can go to a website, HealthSherpa.com, to get a fairly close estimate of what to expect, Greif said.

“This is a great website. The quotes are usually $5 higher or lower. It’s a way you can get an accurate quote and you don’t have to go on Healthcare.gov and create a profile and give all of your personal information out,” he said.

Now, health insurance rates are based on age, tobacco use and ZIP code, Greif said. Eligibility for subsidies is based on income.

Still, there are choices in the types of coverage and the rates that are attached to those, he said. Some coverage types allow people to choose doctors who are inside or outside of their network, while others allow people to use only doctors within their networks.

Some of the networks have more doctors than others, Greif said. It’s important to find out exactly what the plan includes.

Greif recommends a plan that allows individuals the most latitude when it comes to selecting which doctors and hospitals will treat them.

For those who disregard the law and do not get health insurance, the penalty is either $95 or 1 percent of the individual’s modified gross adjusted income, whichever is higher, Greif said.

Regardless of where people stand on Obamacare, Greif said having coverage is essential. Without it, he said, people who have serious medical emergencies or conditions can go bankrupt in a matter of days.

Published April 16, 2014

Finally! PHSC gets first no-hitter after 23 years

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Steve Winterling has been coaching at Pasco-Hernando State College since the school began its baseball program back in 1992.

Freshman Danny Rodriguez, a Steinbrenner High School graduate, threw Pasco-Hernando State College’s first no-hitter in the 23-year history of the baseball program. (Courtesy of Steve Winterling)
Freshman Danny Rodriguez, a Steinbrenner High School graduate, threw Pasco-Hernando State College’s first no-hitter in the 23-year history of the baseball program.
(Courtesy of Steve Winterling)

He’s seen a lot of things on the field during that time, but on March 26 he saw something he had never seen before: One of his pitchers throw a no-hitter.

Freshman Danny Rodriguez struck out nine batters in seven innings of work in the Conquistadors’ 13-0 victory against Morton College. The game was seven innings long because it was part of a double-header, which is common at the collegiate level.

His efforts however earned Rodriguez National Junior College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week for Division II baseball.

“It’s always exciting when you get those,” Winterling said. “We’ve had several one-hitters over the years. They (no-hitters) just don’t happen a whole lot.”

While he was excited for his player and team, Winterling isn’t obsessed with game statistics. He had to go back to his office and confirm that it was indeed the first no-hitter in school history.

The no-hitter itself also was special because it was executed so well, Winterling said. Morton College only had two men reach base all game, and both of those were due to PHSC errors. Rodriguez didn’t walk a single batter in the contest.

It also was an impressive accomplishment because the Conquistadors had a large lead, Winterling said, which sometimes allows pitchers to relax and lose focus since the game is likely in hand.

Because the school only gets its athletes for a couple of years, Winterling said he’s used to relying on freshmen for success on the field, and Rodriguez has the characteristics he likes in young players. Specifically, he prefers athletes who are able to keep cool under pressure and not let emotions dominate their play.

“He has a very good baseball mind. He’s got a good temperament,” Winterling said of Rodriguez. “He’s not an emotional kid, really. He’s in control of himself.”

Rodriguez hasn’t let his no-hitter affect that control or his focus on continuing his strong freshman campaign. He said it was a great moment, but he was just doing what he’s supposed to do.

“I wasn’t trying to (throw a no-hitter) at all. I was just trying to do my job and keep the ball down,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez showed prowess as a pitcher, but one interesting fact about his past on the baseball diamond is that he was a starter at Steinbrenner High School — at shortstop.

He didn’t see much time on the mound during his high school campaign. But with a 6-2 record in his freshman year for PHSC, and a no-hitter already under his belt, Rodriguez is feeling comfortable in that role.

However, he hasn’t abandoned his old position entirely.

“Now I think of myself more as a pitcher, but I still think of myself as a middle infielder, too,” he said. “I still practice with them.”

As rewarding as it was to record a no-hitter for the individual, the team and the school, both player and coach are on the same page regarding how long they allowed themselves to bask in the moment: Not long.

“I didn’t forget about it, but I know I have to work on my next start and keep focused on that, Rodriguez said. The no-hitter “was nice, but I have to stay focused.”

That focus paid off in his next start, a win April 4 against Clearwater Christian College.

After the no-hitter, Winterling didn’t spend much time celebrating, either, opting instead to focus on the team’s next game and their effort to reach the postseason. As the only NJCAA Division II school in the state, PHSC has to qualify for a regional tournament in North Carolina by playing at least .500 baseball during the season.

After starting the year 1-6, the Conquistadors found their footing and won 17 of their next 22 games. As a result, the team is on the cusp of the tournament despite a recent cold streak.

So while the accomplishment is one for the record books, both coach and player have moved on to the team’s goals.

“I let the kids enjoy it. That’s something for the kids to enjoy,” Winterling said. “I go back and do my work and get ready for the next game.”

Published April 16, 2014