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New surgery option eases recovery for hysterectomy patients

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Dr. Pamela Twitty made history on April 30 at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North by becoming the first surgeon in Tampa to perform a single-site robotics-assisted hysterectomy.

Dr. Pamela Twitty made history on April 30 at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North by becoming the first surgeon in Tampa to perform a single-site robotics-assisted hysterectomy. (Courtesy of St. Joseph's Hospital-North)
Dr. Pamela Twitty made history on April 30 at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North by becoming the first surgeon in Tampa to perform a single-site robotics-assisted hysterectomy.
(Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

The type of surgery had been performed previously in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, but not in Tampa, Twitty said.

She used a da Vinci robotic system to perform the surgery, controlling instruments from a console in the operating room.

In traditional hysterectomy surgery, doctors make a five- to seven-inch incision in the woman’s abdomen and remove the uterus through the laceration. That approach leaves noticeable scars and requires a month or two of recovery, Twitty said.

But with robotics-assisted surgery, recovery is quicker with less post-operative pain because it’s less invasive, and it reduces scarring as well.

Twitty performed the surgery on Land O’ Lakes resident Hollie Morris.

“I was pretty excited about it,” the 35-year-old said.

Morris didn’t have any misgivings about being Twitty’s first patient for this procedure because she had an established relationship with the doctor.

“I love Dr. Twitty. I trust her completely,” Morris said.

When Twitty explained the procedure, Morris said she could sense the doctor’s excitement about performing a surgery such as this. At the same time, Twitty wanted to make sure Morris was completely comfortable with the approach.

Morris found the prospect appealing for numerous reasons, she said. For one thing, since she has children, it was important for her to recover quickly and get back to the business of daily life. Secondly, she’d prefer not to have a large scar.

The surgery is done with a small cut in the naval.

“You can’t even see it,” Morris said.

Although she has felt some soreness, Morris said she’s sure she would have felt more pain if she’d had additional cuts.

“The day after surgery, I was up walking around,” Morris said.

In traditional hysterectomies, the size of the scar can vary based upon the surgical procedure that is used, the patient’s anatomy, and what needs to be done, Twitty said. The single-site option may be especially appealing to women in Florida, where swimming and going to the beach are popular pastimes.

“A lot of our patients in this area and in surrounding areas are interested in still being able to wear their swimsuits and their bikinis,” Twitty said. They want to be able to be out in the sun without any sign of their surgery.

The less invasive procedure also typically means less time in the hospital, Twitty said.

With a traditional hysterectomy, the hospital stay is two to four days. With the new surgery, it is often an overnight stay, or in some cases, they can leave the same day.

“And, healing and post-operative pain is typically less,” Twitty said. “You have a much smaller incision. It’s in a location where there’s less tension on the incision. There’s an expedited return to daily life because there’s less recuperation time, less pain.”

Twitty believes this type of surgery will become more commonly used as doctors are trained in using the technology and more patients become aware of it.

“I’ve already started talking to a number of my patients about this technology and being able to offer it,” Twitty said. “They are absolutely excited about it.”

Although robotic surgery itself has been around for about a decade, single-site technology — where one incision is made through the belly button — is a process that’s only been around for the past couple years or so, Twitty said.

“Initially, it was available for general surgeons,” she said. But there has been an expansion of the use by doctors in various specialties and more procedures have been approved.

Published May 14, 2014

New building signals bright future at Saint Leo University

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Imagine, if you will, a place where students learning how to become teachers could work with avatars, to simulate real-life teaching challenges.

Sound far-fetched and futuristic?

Saint Leo University had a ceremony May 2 to mark the beginning of construction of a four-story building that will greatly expand the university’s academic space. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Saint Leo University had a ceremony May 2 to mark the beginning of construction of a four-story building that will greatly expand the university’s academic space.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Well, that’s exactly the scenario that will begin playing out when a new $14 million academic building on the campus of Saint Leo University is completed.

The avatars are actually created by actors in a program developed by the University of Central Florida. The avatars are used to help prepare teachers for situations that may arise in classrooms, said Maribeth Durst, vice president of academic affairs at Saint Leo University.

It’s a great way to practice dealing with situations in an entirely safe environment, Durst noted.

And, that’s just one example of the new ways the university believes its new academic building will broaden opportunities for its students to prepare for their professional lives.

The university had a celebration May 2 to mark the official groundbreaking on the four-story, 48,000-square-foot building. It will have 16 classrooms and 24 faculty offices.

The larger quarters will house liberal arts, education, criminal justice and social work classes, as well as graduate-level classes for continuing professional education. It was designed to foster greater opportunities for students to work together and mingle, Durst said. For instance, instead of long, narrow corridors that tend to separate people, there are gathering spaces to bring them together.

Some highlights include an area to allow simulations of classroom situations and a 21st century classroom for kindergarten through 12th grade education students and others to use.

The fourth floor of the building will be a shell, initially, until there’s a need to build it out.

Creative Contractors Inc., is constructing the structure, with an expected completion date of July 2015. Gould Evans of Tampa is the building’s architect.

Beverly Frank, the project architect, said the design seeks to embody Saint Leo’s core values of excellence, community, respect, personal development, responsible stewardship and integrity.

“The culture at Saint Leo is very inspirational,” Frank said.

The entire design, from how the building was sited to its color palette, drew on the university’s desire to create a welcoming environment, and to create a sense of connection. That connection applies both to people within the building and to the building’s relationship with other places on campus.

The building uses energy-efficient systems and follows the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, Frank said.

Saint Leo University is a regionally accredited, liberal arts institution at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Published May 14, 2014

Through painful pages, a message of faith from author

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Writing a book is often a difficult process. Finishing one can be an exhausting, emotional ordeal for the author that becomes a real challenge to complete.

Nancy Carroll McEndree writes her books sitting in a recliner in her Zephyrhills home. She writes longhand and husband Duane transcribes that work into their computer. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Nancy Carroll McEndree writes her books sitting in a recliner in her Zephyrhills home. She writes longhand and husband Duane transcribes that work into their computer.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

But it wasn’t like that for Zephyrhills resident Nancy Carroll McEndree. It was much, much worse.

“I went into (post-traumatic stress disorder) every chapter I wrote,” McEndree said. “I sat in my chair or in my office and I wept uncontrollably. I ended up in the hospital.”

To write “Remembering Jim: From Violence, Abuse and Terror to Joy Everlasting” — a book chronicling her late brother’s difficult upbringing, bottoming out as an absent husband and father, and eventual transformation to an active person of faith — McEndree had to go back to the beginning of their lives.

And that meant dealing with her own childhood, which was filled with memories of her mother and brothers dealing with constant physical abuse. McEndree also suffered severe mental abuse and neglect, and said she even had to spurn her father’s sexual advances.

She would have been happy to leave those memories in the past, except they were necessary to tell her brother’s story of redemption. The only thing worse than revisiting her childhood would be to leave his story untold, McEndree said.

Jim started the book himself, but was unable to continue, so McEndree promised him that she would finish it.

Last October, seven years after his death, “Remembering Jim” was released on WestBow Press.

McEndree recalls the close bond she shared with Jim, while they were growing up in New Hampshire, in frightening and degrading circumstances.

“We were buddies all through our lives, because we lived in a very dysfunctional and violent environment,” she said.

As his life deteriorated, however, they grew apart.

After a football injury derailed a potential athletic future, he had trouble holding jobs and couldn’t stay faithful in his marriages. He abandoned his wife and children and ended up on the street, surviving on food from soup kitchens, and bathing in restaurant bathrooms, McEndree said.

When McEndree reached out to him, Jim was living in a halfway house. The brother she loved rebuffed her.

“What he said to me was, ‘Nancy, you’ve got your life and I’ve got mine. Don’t ever call me again. I’ll never see you,’“ she recalled.

Over time, he eventually found God and was able to reverse his life’s fortunes, becoming a Pentecostal preacher.

McEndree had already survived her abusive past and became a devout Seventh-day Adventist. She did medical missionary work, wrote several books, and had a radio show with her longtime husband, Duane.

But she still missed her brother.

Then one day he reached out, with a desire to reconnect. But he also had some tragic news: He was dying from leukemia and he needed her help.

“I just found him and I’m going to lose him again,” she thought when they spoke.

Jim moved in with McEndree and her husband, and the final years of his life were spent in a healthy family environment, prayer, and an ability to touch the lives of those he met in a positive way.

Jim also was able to reconnect with some of his children, and expressed a desire to put his story to paper.

While she was relieved to finish the book and is pleased with the result, her husband of 23 years was worried it was too taxing on her.

McEndree, 71, has her own health issues, and her husband didn’t want her to jeopardize her health for the project.

“I know it was very traumatic for her,” Duane McEndree said. “Nancy has heart problems, and several times during the writing process, she went into arrhythmia because of the trauma that she was going through. I was very concerned.”

Still, the stress she endured writing “Remembering Jim” hasn’t soured her on writing.

McEndree also has written a series of children’s books, and she’s currently working on another book dealing with the world’s problems and offering solutions to them.

Her work is done lounging in a recliner located in a room with plenty of sunlight, and their house is on property that also includes the home of some of her children and grandchildren.

McEndree’s writing sessions can last several hours, and usually produce several handwritten pages that Duane puts into their computer.

Now that the book has been released, McEndree is excited about the opportunity to help others with a positive message. Regardless of someone’s upbringing or how far they’ve fallen, she believes her brother’s story proves it’s never too late to put their life on a better path.

“This is a ‘victory in Jesus’ book,” she said. “I believe this book is going to touch the hearts of many people that need to hear that there’s hope and that God loves them.”

“Remembering Jim” is available at tinyurl.com/RememberingJim.

Published May 14, 2014

Back to back: Nikki Carroll repeats as state pole vaulting champ

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When you’re an athlete in your junior year of high school, there are few titles better than “state champion.”

But “two-time state champion” is one of them.

Land O’ Lakes resident Nikki Carroll won her second state pole vault title as a junior by clearing 12 feet — her personal best. She’s already eyeing a shot at a third title next year. (Courtesy of Carol Carroll)
Land O’ Lakes resident Nikki Carroll won her second state pole vault title as a junior by clearing 12 feet — her personal best. She’s already eyeing a shot at a third title next year.
(Courtesy of Carol Carroll)

Land O’ Lakes resident Nikki Carroll earned that designation by claiming her second straight Class 2A pole vaulting title earlier this month at the state meet, on the University of North Florida campus in Jacksonville. She cleared an even 12 feet to best her closest competition by six inches.

“It feels amazing doing it twice,” Carroll said. “I really wanted to win it again and I knew that a lot of people were expecting me to win. It was definitely my goal to win again and to jump 12 feet.”

That mark — a full foot better than last year’s winning height — not only gave the Tampa Catholic High School junior a second state title, but a new personal best as well.

While it was the perfect ending to another year of track and field for Carroll, it didn’t happen under perfect circumstances. Pole vaulting, is the kind of competition where the weather can make or break an athlete’s day. Since participants are using a long pole to propel themselves above and beyond a set bar, anything that makes it harder to run, set and grip can mean the end of the competition.

So when it was raining on the day of the meet, and didn’t stop when she had to perform, Carroll had every right to be concerned. But her coach told her that holding the pole lower makes it less likely that an athlete will slip, and Carroll naturally has a lower grip than many pole vaulters.

While it wouldn’t help in good weather, she said the lower grip might have helped succeed in the rain.

But Carroll had to overcome her own miscues as well, and the pressure that came with them. A pole vaulter has three chances to clear each height. After the third miss, they’re out of the competition — and, in this case, the running for the state title.

Twice in Jacksonville, Carroll found herself down to her last try.

“I was on my third attempt at 10 feet, 6 inches and at 11 feet, so that definitely freaked me out a little bit because I was almost out,” she said.

But Carroll was able to stay focused, keep her grip and clear the hurdle both times to stay alive in the competition and eventually claim the title.

Successfully clearing a certain height and being successful at pole vaulting in general is harder than it looks, Carroll said. On television, such as during the Olympic Games, the athletes make it look easy. But it takes a lot of training and practice to get it right.

As a state champion, Carroll definitely puts in the time to be the best. She does gymnastics every day (a sport she’s been doing for several years) except Sundays, and said the skills she hones at those practices are a natural fit with pole vaulting.

But Sundays aren’t a day of rest. She travels across the state to Melbourne, where she practices at Pole Vault City to stay prepared for the actual competitions.

Bobby Haeck, co-owner and head instructor of Pole Vault City, said Carroll’s skills give her an immediate advantage over the competition.

“It’s speed and tremendous gymnastics,” he said. “If you put those two things together, you get a really good pole vaulter.”

Height also can be important for an athlete, he said. While Carroll isn’t tall, her quickness and ability to clear the bar more than compensates for a lack of height.

Haeck, who has trained pole vaulters for nearly 15 years, was there to see Carroll defend her title, and he was impressed with her ability to succeed in the rain and convert her third attempts. He believes she has a bright future continuing the sport in college.

Carroll said she’d like to continue pole vaulting after she graduates high school, and will pursue a pre-med course load in college in order to become a doctor. But before any of that happens, she still has her senior year ahead of her. And that means another chance to defend her title.

“Not a lot of people can win it back-to-back, and then even less can win it three times,” she said. “I’m definitely going to go for three.”

Published May 14, 2014

Business Digest 05-14-14

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Marshalls grand opening set for May 15
Marshalls is set to open its newest store in Land O’ Lakes May 15 at the Village Lakes Shopping Center.

The 24,000-square-foot store will be one of more than 900 in 43 states and Puerto Rico. The first day, which runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., will include giveaways and gift card prizes, according to a release.

The regular hours for the store will run Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will bring approximately 60 full- and part-time jobs to the area, as well as more than 10,000 new items added to the inventory weekly.

Marshalls also is planning to donate $5,000 to Feeding America Tampa Bay as part of its opening festivities during a ribbon cutting May 15 at 7:30 a.m.

RPE wins software award
Retail Process Engineering, a Land O’ Lakes-based retail consulting firm, has received the Global Alliance Leadership Award from JDA Software for the fourth year in a row.

Companies like RPE who use JDA services are eligible for the award. The company received the award at the annual JDA Focus global conference recently in Las Vegas.

RPE moved to Pasco County last year, bringing 16 jobs with an average annual salary of $105,000 with it. The company is located in the Offices of Devonwood, located just off State Road 54 west of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

Saint Leo finds VP of business affairs
Eric Weekes has been appointed vice president of business affairs at Saint Leo University.

Weekes comes from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer. At Saint Leo, Weekes will be responsible for all financial and operational areas of the university, human resources, leadership development, construction and auxiliary services, management, legal services, and information technology.

Weekes hold an MBA in finance from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in business management from New York Institute of Technology.

Hillsborough hires new communications chief
Liana Lopez has been hired as the new chief communications administrator for Hillsborough County.

In her new job, Lopez will integrate communications, community affairs and customer service areas. The hiring requires approval by the Hillsborough County Commission, but once it happens, her salary will be $165,000, according to a release.

Lopez most recently serves as director of communications for Visit Tampa Bay. Before that, she spent eight years as director of public affairs for Tampa mayor Pam Iorio.

Little Greek Restaurant gets microloan
Ervin Dhima became the 12th recipient of Pasco Economic Development Council’s microloan program for his franchise of the Little Greek Restaurant.

Located in Mitchell Ranch Plaza in Trinity, Dhima says his restaurant has been “very busy since we opened.”

The microloan fund was established to help local entrepreneurs who cannot obtain traditional financing to grow their business and create jobs. Borrowers have to show they have the experience and resources to be successful business operators. Proceeds can be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, and machinery and equipment. However, it cannot be used to purchase real estate or pay down existing debt.

Dhima joined Little Greek Restaurant in 2008, and helped the company open franchises in Texas and Florida. His new franchise employs nine people.

For information on the microloan program, visit PascoEDC.com, or call (813) 926-0827.

Families fed, thanks to Fifth Third
Fifth Third Bank recently wrapped up its month-long Feeding Families campaign, collecting more than 242 barrels of food.

A little less than half of them were donated to Metropolitan Ministries, which helps hungry children and families in the four-county Tampa Bay region, and another 125 barrels were donated to the Agape Food Bank in Lakeland.

The items were collected throughout April at all 48 Fifth Third locations in Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties.

More than 50 Fifth Third employees and their families volunteered, sorting food items, preparing meals, serving residents, and cleaning rooms at the new Emergency Care Center at Metropolitan Ministries in downtown Tampa.

Catholic Business Networking seeks members
The Catholic Business Networking group is looking for Catholic business owners, employees and supporters interested in joining it for regular meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.

The group has annual dues of $50, and there is a minimum attendance requirement of two meetings per month.

For information, call (813) 842-7064, or visit CBNTampa.com.

Business Link available monthly
Business Link, a monthly small business gathering hosted by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting is designed to provide a networking and information-sharing platform for the business community.

For locations, details and to reserve a seat, email , or call (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several speakers for the coming months. The group meets every other week at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Upcoming speakers include:

• Mike Moore, Pasco County Commission candidate, May 27.

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.

Political Agenda 05-14-14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Candidates have until June 20 to qualify.

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

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

Cost is $15.

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

Barnes & Noble offers showcase for local authors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s a selection from her book:

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

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

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

Published May 7, 2014

Pasco lacks incentive to create filmmaking destination

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published  May 7, 2014

Plantation Palms Golf Club closes down once again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published May 7, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published May 7, 2014