Local News

East Pasco students to have more educational options

December 4, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Students on the county’s east side will have a broader range of educational options beginning next school year as Pasco County Schools initiates Cambridge education programs at Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools.

An international program that offers students the opportunity to earn college credits is being introduced at Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools next year. A large crowd of parents and students turned out to find out more about the program at a recent information meeting. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The programs, which are known for their academic rigor, will be housed at those two schools, but will also be open through school choice to students from Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel high schools, and also to students from Centennial, Stewart and Weightman middle schools.

Students who successfully pass the examinations attached to the Cambridge program can earn up to 45 college credits at Florida public universities. Those achieving the Cambridge diploma will qualify for the highest award available in the state’s Bright Futures Scholarship program.

Pasco educators believe that students who complete the Cambridge course of study will be better prepared to succeed in college.

The University of Cambridge launched the program more than 150 years ago, beginning with 370 candidates in seven British cities. Now it has more than 8 million diploma candidates in more than 160 countries.

A large crowd of parents and students attended a recent information session at Pasco Middle to find out more about the programs.

“We wanted to bring a rigorous program to these kids in the east side of the county,” Pasco Schools superintendent Kurt Browning said. “This is an established program.”

Students have the opportunity to earn college credits that will result in substantial savings in tuition costs, but they’ll have to apply themselves to make that happen, Browning said.

“They’re going to have to work. They’re going to have to work hard,” he said.

Another information session about the Cambridge option is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., in the media center at Wesley Chapel High, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

The program, known formally as Cambridge International Examinations, offers the opportunity to earn an Advanced International Certificate of Education. It is offered through the University of Cambridge International Examinations, a division of the Cambridge, England, school.

The program seeks to develop learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.

To apply for the Pasco programs, students must:

• Have a score of Level 3 or above on reading and math on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

• Submit two teacher recommendations.

• Have an unweighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

• Complete a 300- to 500-word essay.

The application deadline is Jan. 31.

Pasco Middle will house the Lower Secondary Program, which is designed to prepare students to continue onto Cambridge course work at Pasco High.

“We were very impressed with the Cambridge schools that we went to go see,” Kim Anderson, principal at Pasco Middle, told the audience at the recent information session. “The students that we saw in these programs were outstanding. They were thinking, at times, far above some of the adults in the room.”

The program offers academic rigor, much like the district’s International Baccalaureate program offered at Land O’ Lakes and Gulf high schools, but offers students more flexibility, district officials said. The program requires students to pass six exams to receive a diploma. Three of those exams must be in each of the program’s study areas, but the student gets to choose the other three.

In the IB program, five of the six required exams must be taken in specific study areas.

Because of its flexibility, students should have no problem taking electives and participating in extracurricular activities, such as band, officials said.

Students are also able to get college credits for single courses, if they pass the exams, even if they do not take enough of the courses to get a diploma.

The program will begin next year, with students entering sixth grade through 10th grade eligible to take part. The district will provide transportation to students in participating schools.

District officials said they’re going to wait until the applications are in before determining how large the programs will be.

To learn more about the Cambridge program, contact:
Jenny Borders at Pasco Middle School:

Business Digest 12-04-13

December 4, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Sponsors sought for barbecue event
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce is still seeking sponsors for January’s Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues event, which raises money for local youth leadership and education programs.
The event itself takes place at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, 39450 South Ave., in Zephyrhills, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It includes food, music, a car and motorcycle show, a business expo, and more.
For more information on how to sponsor by Dec. 5, call the chamber at (813) 782-1913.

Ryland Tampa named Builder of the Year
The Tampa Bay Builders Association recently honored the Tampa division of Ryland Homes with its Homebuilder of the Year award.
The award is based on sales and marketing practices, as well as year-round civic, community and charitable work. The winner is selected from the TBBA’s membership.
Ryland Homes in Tampa currently builds new homes in 15 communities around Tampa Bay.

Wesley Chapel chiropractor partners with Gainesville MC
Gainesville Medical Centers is now working with Cypress Creek Chiropractic & Wellness in Wesley Chapel, adding the local venue to other locations around the state.
The medical centers test for Florida’s top 60 environmental allergens, as well as up to 300 items, including food, chemicals, pesticides and medicines. They also offer immunotherapy, which helps desensitize patients from environmental allergens.
For more information, call (386) 283-4991, or (352) 505-9355.

Grand opening for Suncoast Schools
Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union recently hosted its grand opening of what it’s describing as an environmentally friendly branch at 32745 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills.
It is the second branch to focus on being environmentally friendly, including light-emitting diode lighting throughout, high-efficiency windows and insulation, geothermal air-conditioning and heating, and 40-kilowatt solar power panels to offset electricity.
The Zephyrhills branch also is expected to use half the electricity of other branches, and the exterior is outfitted with drought-resistant landscaping with drip irrigation where possible.
This is the credit union’s second branch in East Pasco County, joining the one at 12510 U.S. 301 in Dade City.

Women-n-Charge meets in December
Women-n-Charge will meet Dec. 6 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.
The meeting includes lunch, a feature speaker, and networking.
Cost is $15 for members in advance, and $18 for guests and any member not buying in advance.
Register at www.Women-n-Charge.com.
For more information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

KNOW luncheon in Dade City
The Knowledgeable Network of Women from the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host its next KNOW luncheon Dec. 4 beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Guest speaker is Joy Hampton, district legislative assistant to Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
The luncheon will take place at Scotland Yard Golf & Country Club, 8900 Wire Road, in Dade City. Cost is $15 for members, and $20 for guests.
For more information, call (813) 782-1913, or email .

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.
Here’s the group’s slate of upcoming speakers:
• Dec. 10: Rev. Scott-Eric Lindner, pastor of Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel
• Jan. 14: Christopher Payne, managing partner of Ryder Payne Capital Inc.
• Jan. 28: Carol Johns, president and chief executive of GIM Associates LLC
• Feb. 11: Cheryl Pollock, business development director for Premier Community HealthCare Group Inc.
• Feb. 25: Regina Etheridge, retired IRS revenue officer

Christmas celebration at East-West Animal Hospital
East-West Animal Hospital, 1524 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, will host its Christmas celebration Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The hospital’s mascot, Barley the Opossum, will pose for photos as “Barley Claus.”
A calendar and T-shirts featuring Barley will be sold to help local animal rescue organizations. There also will be food and giveaways.
Barley was the only survivor of a car accident when he was just two weeks old. A former employee of the animal hospital rescued him, and tube-fed him until he could eat on his own.
For more information on the event, visit EastWestAnimalHospital.com, or call (813) 948-6534.

Donations earn spa time
The Planet Beat Contempo Spas in New Tampa, Seven Oaks and Westchase are celebrating the holidays by offering “12 Days of Spa” certificates to anyone who donates a toy valued at more than $10, or canned goods for families in need for Christmas.
Current members will receive a free lotion sample or spa service for their donation.
The “12 Days of Spa” certificate is valued at more than $129, and entitles the bearer to 12 consecutive days of spa services through Jan. 31. The certificates are transferable.
For more information, call (813) 971-9337, or (813) 991-4433.

Dealership helps soldiers for the holidays
Parks Ford, 28739 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, recently wrapped up its Support the Troops drive, which collected items for the military between October and November at the dealership.
Once the drive was over, a Parks Ford team delivered all the items collected, volunteered to help pack boxes, and donated $2,500. The funds help the group with its biggest challenge — paying for shipment of donated items overseas. This particular donation will allow Support the Troops to send up to 70 boxes to military personnel this holiday season.
For more information on how to support the troops during the holiday season, visit OurTroopsOnline.com.

Saint Anthony School builds on optimism

November 27, 2013 By B.C. Manion

There was a time, not many years ago, when the future appeared uncertain for Saint Anthony School in San Antonio.

Attendance had dwindled to 153, and there was talk of shutting down the elementary school.

Sister Alice Ottapurackal is the principal of Saint Anthony School. She is optimistic about its future growth. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

“At that point, when the enrollment was really low, a group of parents rolled up their sleeves and went to work in every way they could (to) get the word out about the school,” said Will Plazewski, whose son represents the fourth generation of his family to attend Saint Anthony. “It was amazing that even though the school has been here for 129 years, how many people in East Pasco County had no idea that it existed.”

Parents spread the word, and a 15-second commercial at the Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel also helped attract students, he said.

Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal, attributes the turnaround to a higher power.

“The enrollment went up — God’s special blessing,” she said. “Truly, I believe, it’s the power of prayer.”

Now, enrollment stands at 213, and prospects for future growth are so bright that ground was broken on Nov. 17 for a new building. The new structure will accommodate 270 students.

Instead of lamenting the closure of a school that enjoys a rich heritage, Saint Anthony School is now celebrating a new chapter in its history. About 200 people turned out for the groundbreaking festivities, Plazewski said.

Construction on the new 17,905-square-foot building is expected to begin Dec. 1, and be ready for use by next fall. The new three-story brick structure will be situated on a space now occupied by five portable classrooms.

Even with the new building, the school will continue to emphasize academic excellence while teaching the Catholic faith, the principal said.

“All day long, we are teaching them about Jesus,” Ottapurackal said. “It is so important, especially nowadays, when you don’t see a lot of support in society about faith.”

Helping children form their faith is fundamental, the principal said.

“Once you have God in you, the other things will come,” Ottapurackal said. “Our focus is on whole child education, not only intellectual, but spiritual, moral, social, (and) emotional aspects of the children.”

Teachers know their students well, the principal added.

“Our teachers are well-connected with them because of the family atmosphere we have here,” she said.

Saint Anthony School serves kindergarten through eighth grade. Tuition is $4,375 for practicing Catholics and $5,075 for others. Since 2000, the school has produced 14 valedictorians and salutatorians at area high schools, Plazewski said.

Parents who are interested in pursuing a Catholic education for their children should not be discouraged by the tuition, Ottapurackal said. Assistance is available in various forms.

“Catholic education should be for any group of people, whether they are rich or poor, regardless of race,” the principal added.

Unlike previous buildings that were constructed on the school campus, this one will be an additional building, not a replacement. The existing brick structure, built in 1922, will remain and will be used for some school functions.

The new building will be the fourth in the school’s history. The current building replaced a two-story structure built in 1899. The original building was a 12-by-24-foot structure constructed in November 1884.

Not only is Saint Anthony School the oldest parochial school in the diocese, it’s also one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida, Plazewski said.

“It is by far the oldest school in Pasco County of any kind,” he said. “The only thing that’s close to it is Saint Leo University.”

San Antonio was founded in 1882 as a Catholic colony. The following year, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children.

When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers, Plazewski said. Morse reportedly responded that the “minds of the children now here, can’t wait.”

With that, the widow began teaching 14 children, including six of her own, in her kitchen.

Today, Saint Anthony School draws students from San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and other communities.

And, its new building sends a clear signal that the school intends to be there for many years to come.

Local synagogue merges Thanksgiving with Hanukkah

November 27, 2013 By Michael Hinman

The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah predates Christmas by at least a couple centuries. But for the first time since 2002, the “festival of lights” is being mentioned in the same breath as a different holiday, Thanksgiving. And that likely won’t happen again until people travel in flying cars and live on Mars.

The first night of Hanukkah begins at sunset Nov. 27. And because November started on a Friday, Thanksgiving doesn’t take place until Nov. 28. And that’s not very common.

Crowds gather, ready to light the menorah for a recent Hanukkah celebration at The Shops at Wiregrass. Chabad at Wiregrass will do it all again Dec. 1 in front of Dillard’s, which will include food, face painting, and games. (Photo courtesy of Rabbi Mendy Yarmush)

“It’s quite rare for Hanukkah and Thanksgiving to overlap, but it’s not really rare for it to start in November,” said Rabbi Mendy Yarmush, who leads Chabad at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Hanukkah “started on Nov. 28 in 1994, and it will again in 2032. The only thing different is that Thanksgiving is a lot later than it usually is.”

The last time Hanukkah started on the Thanksgiving eve was in 1899, according to ReformJudaism.org. And it will only happen once more — in 2089.

That means Jews will celebrate Hanukkah the same time they’re sitting down to watch football. And it opens the door to merge some of the traditions of both holidays.

The rabbi’s wife, Chanie Yarmush, recently shared some recipes with her women’s group that provide the best of both worlds. For example, instead of the traditional potato latkes, Chanie Yarmush suggests sweet potato latkes. Instead of applesauce, families could try cranberry-applesauce.

“That’s what Chabad is, a place to be traditional and still be contemporary with what’s going on throughout the world,” Mendy Yarmush said.

Chabad at Wiregrass, which started in 2008 and is part of the international Chabad movement, is staying out of the way of traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, but has still scheduled a pair of events to help celebrate the holiday.

The first is a Hanukkah party on Nov. 27 where teens will load a stretch limousine to first attend the grand menorah lighting in Tampa, and then continue their celebration at the Tampa Bay Lightning game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Then, on Dec. 1, Chabad at Wiregrass will host its sixth annual Hanukkah celebration at The Shops at Wiregrass. That will include a menorah lighting in front of the Dillard’s store, and a number of other activities including music, food, face painting, and even a giant Jenga game.

Both events start at 5:30 p.m.

“I didn’t want to challenge people to choose between Thanksgiving and Hanukkah,” Yarmush said. “This way, they have the first night to light their menorah, to heat their turkey, and maybe even play a little with the dreidel.”

Chabad at Wiregrass is not affiliated with any particular Jewish movement, although the international group has roots in the Hasidic community. Its congregation, which pulls from North Tampa and central Pasco County, meets at 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel.

For more information, visit them online at ChabadAtWiregrass.com.

Ancient miracle at root of Hanukkah
Probably best known for the menorah, a candelabrum with eight candles used to observe each night, Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration dating back to the final centuries before what has become known as the “common era.”

The Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes invaded Judea, where Jerusalem and the Second Temple were located. The king looted the city, and banned many Jewish practices.

This created a revolt that would eventually be led by Judah Maccabee. Once the Greeks were run out of the city, Maccabee took possession of the temple, and worked to purify it from the invasion. A menorah was required to burn throughout the night every night, but there was only a day’s supply of olive oil available — and it would take a week to produce more.

Yet, the oil somehow lasted eight days, creating a miracle that has been celebrated ever since.

Hanukkah is celebrated toward the end of the Jewish month Kislev, which usually falls in November or December of the common calendar. It typically features fried foods like pontshkes and latkes (jam-filled doughnuts and potato pancakes), to recognize the importance of oil, and includes small gift exchanges.

Hanukkah observances also are a time for kids to play games with a dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side.

— Michael Hinman

In Thanksgiving, for brothers and sisters

November 27, 2013 By Diane Kortus

I spent last weekend with my two brothers in Vilano Beach, an island just north of St. Augustine, in a house that fronts the Atlantic Ocean.

The house is battered grey by years of sun and wind; its décor a step back to the 1970s with foil wallpaper, macramé wall hangings and avocado-colored pots and pans.

Tom, left, and Jimmy Kortus — brothers of publisher Diane Kortus — at Vilano Beach.

In many ways this weathered house with its ’70s feeling was a perfect setting for a weekend away with my brothers. The three of us last lived together in the 1970s, when I was in college and the boys in high school.

We were middle children in a large Minnesota family. We grew up close in age (my parents had 10 children in 14 years), and most of us never moved farther than a few hours from our father’s home in St. Paul.

Jimmy and I were the only ones to leave the area, moving to Florida in our 20s. But the 1,500 miles separating us from our brothers and sisters never changed how we felt about them. That was especially true for Jimmy and Tom, who have always remained close.

Over the years, Jimmy and I have looked forward to visits from our brothers and sisters. In the beginning, when we were all young and Florida still a novelty, three or four siblings would visit each year.

That pace slowed as we married, had children, and our work commitments grew. Time off became precious, and visits from brothers and sisters slowed to just once or twice a year.

So when brother Tom announced a few weeks back that he and his wife Sue were coming for a visit, it was a wonderful surprise, and we planned the weekend together in Vilano Beach. It was not long after the dinner plates were pushed aside and the carrot cake served that we began to reminisce about our childhood in the 1970s. The house by the sea, with its furnishing so much like our family home, was a perfect setting. The conversation was fast-paced and reflective. We shared wonderful memories from our childhood, as well as painful times. But no matter what was said, there was never a doubt about the love and commitment we felt for each other.

Like most families, it does not matter how long it has been since we were last together. We can go weeks, even months, without seeing or talking to each other. Yet when we next connect, it’s as if we had been together the day before.

I suppose it’s the bond we have as siblings that makes this so. The love we have for our brothers and sisters is ingrained in our souls. It allows us to accept each other for all that is good, to believe in each other despite challenges, and to forgive the things that are best forgotten.

And, as I pause to reflect on my blessings this Thanksgiving, my heart is filled with gratitude to have shared my life with brothers and sisters whose love remains constant, despite the time between our visits, and the miles that keep us apart.

Wiregrass Wobble is drawing young and old

November 27, 2013 By B.C. Manion

It’s an inaugural race, but already the Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel is expected to draw as many as 1,300 runners.

The race already had registered 991 runners by Nov. 21, said race director Brian Brink. He expects as many as 20 percent of the race’s participants to register on race day, which is on Thanksgiving.

The 5-kilometer event, which is a walk or run event, begins at 7:30 a.m., and the one-mile fun run and walk begins at 8:15 a.m.

So far, runners from 30 states have signed up, said Brink, who is general manager for Fitniche at The Shops at Wiregrass. The oldest runner registered so far is 83. He thinks the youngest in the one-mile fun run and walk will be about 3.

Fitniche is putting on the race, in conjunction with the New Tampa Rotary and the New Tampa YMCA. Besides giving runners a new race, the event is raising money for Feeding America Tampa Bay and the New Tampa YMCA.

The inspiration for the Wiregrass Wobble came from a running group established by Brink that regularly runs on Thursday nights at The Shops, located at 28211 Paseo Drive.

Last year, members from the group decided to run on Thanksgiving morning and Brink put out the word about a week before the holiday. Much to his surprise, about 150 people showed up.

Brink figured if that many people turned out with just a week’s notice, the event could draw substantially more runners with more lead time. When planning began, Brink predicted there would be at least 1,000 runners. Now, he’s upped that projection to 1,300.

The route of the Wiregrass Wobble’s 5k will go around the mall and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, ending at the top of the mall’s parking garage.

Runners can register on race day. It costs $25 for the 5k and $20 for the one-miler.

Parking will be available in mall parking lots near State Road 56 and lots off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The parking garage and areas nearby, however, will be closed off for the race, Brink said.

Residents around the region offer thoughts on Thanksgiving

November 27, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Thanksgiving is typically a time when loved ones get together to share a feast and count their blessings.

Residents across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area shared their thoughts about their holiday traditions, favorite Thanksgiving foods, and what the day means to them.

Reginald Hills, 50, who works in nursing administration, said his favorite Thanksgiving memory was having all four generations of the family together at Thanksgiving 2000.
His extended family typically gathers in Dallas for Thanksgiving, but Hills and his wife, Traina, along with daughters, Toniah, 8, and Keriana, 3, recently moved to Wesley Chapel, so they won’t be able to join them in Texas.
He thinks Thanksgiving is meant to be a time for philanthropy.
“You give to those less fortunate,” Hills said. “There are homeless individuals out here or families who are homeless that need help.”
His favorite Thanksgiving foods include Cajun turkey and brisket, and of course, the fixings, including baked macaroni and cheese, green beans and sweet potatoes.
Thanksgiving also is a day for desserts.
“You’ve got to have sweet potato pie and apple pie, pecan pie, and one of my favorites, peach cobbler,” he said. “I usually gain about 5 pounds for Thanksgiving.”

Tonji Johnson, 47, of New Tampa, and her grandson Leo, 2, recently were at The Shops at Wiregrass to do a bit of shopping.
Her family has a Thanksgiving tradition: “We take a moment to say what we’ve been thankful for.”
Johnson’s favorite Thanksgiving memories involve getting together with family members in Arkansas, her home state. Typically, the feast she prepares includes chicken, dressing, ham, collard greens and sweet potatoes.
Verna Johnson, a retired first-grade teacher from Lutz offered this definition of Thanksgiving: “It’s just family and thanking God. It’s a family gathering.”
She said she is grateful for the many blessings in her life.
Her favorite Thanksgiving food is cranberry salad, which she makes with apples, celery, cranberries, nuts and raspberry Jell-O.
“That was my mom’s favorite recipe,” she said.
Johnson, who is 81, makes it every year.
“In fact, my daughter said to me yesterday, ‘Mom, you’re going to make that cranberry salad, aren’t you?” she said. “That was my mom’s favorite Thanksgiving recipe.”
Some of Verna Johnson’s favorite Thanksgiving memories come from the days when her husband was in the military and they celebrated with military friends.
“It was family away from family,” she said.

Lou Giardina, an electrician from Land O’ Lakes, said his family has a tradition.
“Typically we just all get together and tell everybody what we’re thankful for,” he said.
His favorite Thanksgiving food is stuffing.
“It’s my mother’s stuffing, but my wife just happened to make the same kind,” said Giardina, 44. “Her mother made the same kind as my mother.
“That’s why I married her. The stuffing,” he said, laughing.
Giardina has a vivid memory of one Thanksgiving.
“I got to basic training and the next day was Thanksgiving,” he said.
The officers may have given them a little bit of a break.
“I think they didn’t yell at us that much that day,” he said.

Tara Palumbo, 25, a stay-at-home mom in Zephyrhills, recently was at Zephyr Park with her son, Corbyn Adams, 2.
“We always go to my aunt’s house, every year. My aunt does all of the cooking,” Palumbo said.
Well, there is one thing that her aunt doesn’t make, and it happens to be the dish that Palumbo likes best.
“My favorite is green bean casserole,” she said. “I make it and bring it. I just love it.”

Natalie Allison, 23, of Zephyrhills, thinks she has an unusual tradition.
“Usually you eat turkey on Thanksgiving,” Allison said. “I don’t eat turkey. So, my grandma cooks me ham every year.”
Allison added that she likes Thanksgiving better than Christmas. And that’s because it focuses on two things: Family and food.

Megan Fromm-Sada, 37, a barber who lives in Zephyrhills, has a traditional view of Thanksgiving.
“It’s a time to be thankful and a time for family,” she said.
Her idea of a good Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, ham and mashed potatoes. She could care less if there is pumpkin or pecan pie, however.
“I’m not a big dessert eater,” said Fromm-Sada, who generally prepares the holiday meal. She was at the park with her niece, Kiara Graham.
The 4-year-old said if she were baking a turkey, she’d take it out of the oven and make it into a pie.
Good thing that Fromm-Sada is in charge of the kitchen on Thanksgiving.

David Denny, 85, a winter resident in Zephyrhills, said getting his family together wasn’t a simple thing when he was young, so it was always special.
He still enjoys Thanksgiving gatherings — including turkey, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes and gravy — but now those feasts are with friends he knows in Zephyrhills.
For the retired electronic engineer, Thanksgiving “means giving thanks for just being here on the planet, and being healthy and being able to have a good mind, being able to understand and converse with others.
“I’m 85 now. I’m very thankful for my health, mental and physical,” he said. “To me, that’s worth more than all of the money they have in the banks.”

Gall Boulevard reimagining is going to take community effort

November 27, 2013 By Michael Hinman

What makes a community a good community?

For decades, it’s been the downtown that has served as a primary draw for Zephyrhills. And now, in just a few short years, that downtown will expand to include a large chunk of Gall Boulevard between North and South avenues.

Tom Montgomery, center, a consultant with the Florida Department of Transportation handling the revamp of the one-way pair in Zephyrhills, shares some thoughts with Zephyrhills city planner Todd Vande Berg, right, during a recent meeting on Gall Boulevard. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But what will it take to transform Gall Boulevard from highway meant to take you to a destination, to actually become a destination itself.

“We are looking to you to help us identify what a great street is,” said Tammy Vrana, a Safety Harbor consultant working with city officials on Gall Boulevard. “We have some plans and things to look at. Whatever you say won’t hurt our feelings. We just want to make sure we get it right.”

Todd Vande Berg, Zephyrhills’ planning director, is spearheading the project for the city. The initiative began soon after the Florida Department of Transportation agreed to hand over control of the thoroughfare, and instead take on the one-way pair of Sixth and Seventh streets instead.

The switch has given the city a chance to turn Gall into a main street, and the city wants direct input from residents and business owners. Vande Berg has planned a series of meetings to help make that possible. The first session, at Alice Hall on Nov. 14, attracted more than 30 people. They came to find out what could come to Gall and suggest what they would like to see.

“We’re starting off with the creation of a great street, and that is the goal,” Vande Berg said. “Considering our design options, we are going to be looking at different ways that we can transform Gall Boulevard. And we’re not just stopping with the street and the infrastructure related to the street, but future development as well.”

One aspect of this first community workshop was the use of real-time audience polling to gauge opinions on what should be placed on the streets, what kind of sidewalks, what kind of businesses should be encouraged, and the like. People were guided through a series of questions by Shilpa Mehta, a consultant with Renaissance Planning that included what kind of businesses should front the street, what parking should be like, and types of pedestrian and transit options.

However, consideration has to be made for users of all ages, especially teenagers —a group often overlooked by a community dominated by retirees. That’s where a new youth council led by Mayor Danny Burgess is going to become very helpful, Vande Berg said.

Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson said the existing Main Street Zephyrhills organization could be a big help as well.

“We have all these events downtown, and what came to mind for me is the Main Street director, Gina Granger,” Wilkeson said. “She recruits and attracts hordes of young people to come downtown. The more activities here in our downtown the better within walking or bike-riding distance of these young people’s homes.”

These changes won’t happen overnight, consultant Vrana said. But the project’s success hinges on the participation of as many people as possible.

“We need to plan, and stick with all of it along the way,” Vrana said. “It will be a long process. It will be a long journey. But where it ends up will make this a happy community.”

CES goes public, putting Pasco on the map

November 27, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Will take over former bank branch on Fifth Avenue

It’s not very often Pasco County can brag about being the home of a public company. But in less than a week, Zephyrhills will get that honor when CES Synergies begins trading over-the-counter under the symbol “CESX.”

It’s an effort that is expected to raise millions of dollars for the full-service environmental, demolition and mold remediation company, creating potentially thousands of jobs across the country. And even better for Zephyrhills, CES also plans to move the core of its operations from nearby Crystal Springs right into the city’s growing downtown district. The company plans to open offices in the upper floors of the former Wachovia Bank building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street, right in the heart of proposed road upgrades by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Jeff Chartier, president of Strategic Capital Markets, and a member of the CES Synergies board of directors, shares why he feels people should invest in the Crystal Springs company on the public market. A small group of people gathered at Manolo’s Ristorante Italiano on Fifth Avenue in Zephyrhills to hear the presentation. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“This gives the chance for local people who know the company to actually enjoy the fruits of it going public,” said Jeff Chartier, president of Strategic Capital Markets of North Miami Beach, who is now a member of the CES board of directors. “They have a chance to own part of the company, and join us as we’re poised to go on the bigger market,” like the Nasdaq exchange.

Chartier presented the new public company to an audience of potential investors last week at Manolo’s Ristorante Italiano in Zephyrhills. There, Chartier offered shares at $1 each — as long as buyers were ready to gobble them up in blocks of 15,000.

Traditionally, companies would hit the stock market through an initial public offering, similar to what Twitter did earlier this month when it closed on its first day at $44.90 a share, and raising $31 billion.

Taking that approach is very expensive and time-consuming, and could take longer than the year CES needed to go public. Instead, CES took a different approach, called a reverse merger. It found a public shell company — basically a company with no remaining assets — and purchased it.

It’s similar to buying a house. The infrastructure is already there for electricity, water and cable, just as the shell company had everything in place to operate as a public company.

Chartier discovered CES nearly by accident. While he’s always looking for businesses that could potentially be good public company candidates, Chartier said he didn’t even have CES on his radar until he met owner Al Biston. When he finally did, Chartier liked what he saw.

“There’s 140 years of experience with management alone,” Chartier said. “We feel that a lot of institutional funds will be very attracted to this company,” thus potentially boosting the stock price in the near future.

Becoming a public company is a completely new world for CES, which has operated 35 years doing business in private, starting originally as Cross Environmental Services. Now everything from its financial records to major personnel changes are part of the public record through the SEC, necessary so investors have a complete picture before buying in.

According to its initial filings, CES has a little more than 140 employees, had revenue of $6.8 million over the last six months — generating a loss of a little more than $363,000 — but the company also has a backlog of projects worth more than $9 million. Its clients include federal agencies like NASA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Air Force, as well as industrial and commercial companies like Publix, Cemex, and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Local governments that work with CES include the University of South Florida and the Florida Department of Transportation.

This same time last year, CES turned a profit of $1.3 million on revenue of $9.7 million.

Money raised through this stock offering will fuel expansion for CES, primarily in the acquisition of other smaller companies like it around the country, to help broaden its client base. Although the jobs created through that growth will be outside Pasco and Hillsborough counties, the success will filter its way back into the area —especially for local investors if the stock value rises, as Chartier expects.

Biston and two other business partners purchased the former Wachovia Bank building on Fifth Avenue in 2009 for $550,000. They later offered the building to the city for $855,000 as a possible new library before council members decided to expand the library at its current site.

Biston told The Laker/Lutz News that he had bought out his other partners on the building recently, and is now the sole owner. He plans to use the upper floors, and lease out the bottom floor for a storefront business, possibly an eatery.

“He’s a one-man show. He is economic development, and obviously a very successful man,” City Councilman Kenneth Compton said of Biston. Compton was at the presentation Thursday night with fellow councilman Charlie Proctor.

“I think we all have a mutually beneficial relationship,” he said. “Zephyrhills has benefitted from a competitive businessman. It’s a very big day for Zephyrhills, and it’s a big day for Pasco County.”

Mayoral candidates take bribes, give back to charity

November 27, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Sherri Lonon

It’s not every day that politicians give kickbacks from their campaign coffers rather than get them from shady types hoping to get a favor or two during a victor’s time in office.

That was exactly the case, however, Nov. 20 when the two candidates in the Wesley Chapel Honorary Mayor’s Race doled out donations to three local charities. While the candidates did, in fact, buy their way into the positions they’ll assume on Jan. 1, there wasn’t anything “shady” going on.

The honorary mayor’s race is staged annually by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce as a way to raise awareness about the organization and its members while garnering money for its efforts and charities in the community. Candidates in the highly unofficial event buy their way into office by earning “votes,” which are actually cash donations, similar to the annual Lutz Guv’na race. A portion of the money they raise in the mayoral race goes back to charities of their choosing.

“It gives us an opportunity to provide a figurehead to Wesley Chapel” for ribbon cuttings and other events, explained chamber president Jeff Novotny. It also delivers “benefits on many levels” for the community and chamber.

This year’s race had two candidates and two winners — Cathy Bickham bought her way to the “mayor’s office” and Mary Ann Yaney gets the honor of serving as Wesley Chapel’s deputy mayor in 2014. Bickham and Yaney collected $637 for their charities of choice while running for office.

Bickham, who is a market strategist for Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, donated proceeds from her campaign to Support the Troops, a Wesley Chapel-based nonprofit that sends care packages to soldiers serving overseas. Yaney, the assistant vice president of Central Bank in Wesley Chapel, donated her share to Tampa Leads & Philanthropy and the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club.

Both women say they got involved in the race to have fun, give back to the community and raise awareness for their businesses and the chamber.

While running takes a lot of work, Yaney recommends the challenge to other area businesspeople.

“If you want to work for your community and you want a way to get more” public relations, it’s a great opportunity, she said.

Bickham is no stranger to the mayor’s race. She’s worked on the campaigns of others in the past, so she knew what she was getting into, she said.

“I truly love Wesley Chapel,” she said. “I really care about the people and the prosperity of the town.”

For more information about the chamber, visit it online at WesleyChapelChamber.com.