Local News

Sister Stroll brings community together to fight cancer

October 2, 2013 By B.C. Manion

They began streaming in at least an hour before the stroll started. Most were wearing pink shirts.

There were men and women, senior citizens and children.

They all came out for a cause.

The eighth annual Sister Stroll at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills on the evening of Sept. 26 was a tribute to those who have lost their lives, or are battling against breast cancer. Many in the crowd had lost a sister or a mother or a friend to cancer. Some had faced the disease and survived.

“This is a very special event,” Don Welch, chief operating officer of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, told the crowd. “It’s a very special event for me because my mom passed away from breast cancer.”

Men, women and children turned out to the eighth annual Sister Stroll at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills to show their support in the battle against breast cancer. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

Mary Walters was in the crowd listening to Welch speak. She came to the stroll with her sister, Kathleen Coelho.

“This is an event I try to support every year for all of the women who have breast cancer, and friends who have had breast cancer,” said Walters, who lives in Dade City.

Coelho, who also lives in Dade City, volunteers at the Simpson Breast Health Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. Her personal experiences at the breast health center persuaded her to get involved.

“I was being treated there and I liked the people,” Coelho said. “They recently opened a gift shop, and I think it’s nice that people don’t have to travel long distances to get what they need.”

A huge contingent of Southport Springs residents turned out for the event.

“We are big fundraisers for the Simpson Breast Health Center,” Carla Evans said.

Southport Springs supports the center because it believes it is a good cause, said Barbara Debus, another resident there.

“We know where the money is going,” she said.

Southport Springs has raised so much money for the center it has a mammogram and a bone density room in the center named in the community’s honor.

This year, Southport Springs donated a quilt one of its residents made that will be hung in one of their rooms at the breast center.

The community also donated $3,070 for the breast center — raised from a dance, a bra parade, a pet parade, chance drawings on baskets and other events.

Those attending Sister Stroll, which was on the hospital grounds, had a chance to sign up to become members of the Pink Army, a statewide initiative developed by Florida Hospital to encourage the early detection and prevention of breast cancer.

The campaign enlists new members as Pink Army soldiers. They can rise through the ranks and earn rewards by recruiting other soldiers, attending educational events, scheduling a mammogram or completing other missions.

Dawn Seqiueira, also of Southport Springs, said she is a major in the Pink Army. She’s recruited 41 soldiers. It’s hard to find new recruits there, she said, because so many people already belong.

“We have a lot of (breast cancer) survivors in our community,” she said.

Sister Stroll began as a grassroots event to give the community a chance to learn more about preventing breast cancer, to show their support for people fighting breast cancer, and to remember those who have been lost, said Michelle Oswald-Bianchet, director of marketing for Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

Carolyn Sentelik, executive director of the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Foundation, said the event gives people a chance to show their support in the battle against breast cancer. It also gives the foundation a chance to thank the community for supporting its efforts.

“This community is overwhelmingly generous when it comes to breast cancer. It’s a chance for us to say thank you,” Sentelik said.

Trees in Lutz get temporary reprieve from chainsaws

October 2, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Trees in medians on U.S. 41 in Lutz are being spared the ax – at least for now.

Walmart has agreed to donate $5,000 to pay for maintaining the trees, which should cover the cost for about two years, said State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz.

The company said it would revisit the matter then, Legg said. Meanwhile, that provides time to seek other potential contributors to help cover the cost.

Trees marked with an orange ‘X’ in medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz would have been chopped down in January if Lutz residents had not kicked up a storm of protests. The trees are now safe, at least for a couple of years. (File photo)

Hillsborough County should be credited for its cooperation, Legg said, which helped to ensure the trees were not cut down.

In January, the county marked 135 trees in the medians, either with a ribbon or an orange ‘X.’ The 44 trees with a ribbon would be saved; the 91 with an orange ‘X’ would be cut down.

Lutz resident Donald Hassinger spotted the markings on the trees and began making inquiries. When he learned the trees with the ‘X’ would be destroyed, he began rallying Lutz residents to mobilize on the issue.

After fielding protests from residents, the county put the brakes on the planned tree removals and called a community meeting.

The county had planned to cut down 64 crape myrtles, 14 wax myrtles, seven live oaks, three Shumard oaks and three red maples.

County officials told the crowd packed into the Lutz Community Center in January that it needed to remove the trees because the county didn’t have the money to maintain the medians. They had planned to turn the medians over to the Florida Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over U.S. 41.

The DOT, however, told the county it had to remove the designated trees first. Trees were selected for removal based on the tree’s type and condition.

Legg, who was present at the meeting, told the crowd he was confident a different solution could be found. He connected with Mike White, founder and president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who called around and found out how much the maintenance would cost.

Walmart has stepped forward to cover two years of maintenance costs, Legg said. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful will administer the funds for the work.

This arrangement solves the immediate problem, Legg said.

“I think it’s a very good solution,” White said. “Walmart stepped up to the plate. Now, I think it’s time for the community to show its appreciation, by patronizing their store, by including them in the community.”

Solving the maintenance problem is more difficult than it might seem at first blush, Legg said.

“It appeared that there was a very simplistic solution,” Legg said. However, it’s not possible to merely get volunteers to do the work.

The trees are on islands in the middle of a busy highway. Anyone doing maintenance on the trees must carry a certain level of insurance, Legg said.

Legg said he’s happier with this short-term solution than with what could have happened.

“I thought it was a bone-headed move to cut down the trees,” Legg said.

The county may have been the one with the chainsaws, but it wasn’t the county’s idea to take down the trees, Legg said. That was the DOT’s call.

Walmart presented the $5,000 check during a ceremony on Sept. 30 at its 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. location in Lutz. A release from Legg’s office said the solution came as a result of a partnership between Walmart, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Hillsborough County, multiple Lutz community civic associations, Legg, and Corcoran & Johnston Government Relations.

Recognition motivates and inspires, no matter the age

October 2, 2013 By Diane Kortus

The fall blitz of annual dinners sponsored by local business organizations is just about over. The chambers in Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills recently hosted their membership galas, and Dade City’s takes place in a few weeks.

There was the massive annual banquet in early September for the Pasco Economic Development Council that was attended by more than 600 people to honor Industry of The Year award winners.

Even the Central Pasco Chamber in Land O’ Lakes, which has its annual dinner in July, didn’t escape the fall hoopla. Its Dancing With Our Stars event brought together close to 500 members and friends to cheer on its volunteer dancers and raise money for the chamber.

My staff and I attend these events to support these organizations and to share in the joy of recognizing dedicated business people in our communities. These civic-minded leaders give their time, talent and money to help other members grow their businesses through networking, and by sharing their knowledge and experiences.

The finale of these dinners is always recognition of the hardest working and most successful members. The programs are heavy on awards, with dozens of individuals and business receiving accolades from their peers for their leadership and willingness to serve on the board and numerous committees.

When you’re in the audience waiting for one of these dinners to be over so you can get home, one tends to get a bit impatient, as one award seems to roll into the next.

When that happens, however, it’s a good time to close your eyes and think back to a time when you were personally recognized and remember how good it felt.

A teacher, coach, employer or organization has recognized most of us at least once in our lives. No matter how insignificant that award may seem today, you still remember how proud you felt when your name was called and you walked to the front of the group to get your plaque and perhaps your photo taken.

I find it interesting that no matter our age, we’re never too old to be recognized for a job well done. Hearing your name ring out above the buzz of the crowd is like being a violin virtuoso. You’re suddenly playing the part that everyone is tuned in to.

And so I give accolades to our many chambers, the EDC, the Rotary and Lions’ clubs and all the other organizations that make it a priority to recognize their members.

Recognition is motivational to the recipient and perhaps more importantly, inspirational to those applauding. And some of those clapping will undoubtedly be moved to step it up a notch and work a bit harder so it will be their name that rings out at next year’s banquet.

Pasco Schools’ five-year building plan gets OK

October 2, 2013 By B.C. Manion

When Sanders Memorial Elementary School reopens in 2015-16, the Land O’ Lakes campus will have an entirely new look. It’s undergoing a $16.9 million renovation.

Quail Hollow Elementary School in Wesley Chapel is undergoing a $10.5 million makeover. It, too, is expected to reopen in 2015-16.

Quail Hollow Elementary School was closed at the end of last school year to enable the school district to renovate the school. The school was built at a time when open classrooms were in vogue. Classrooms will have windows, walls and doors when the project is completed. It is expected to reopen for the 2015-16 school year. (File photo)

Work already is underway on a new gymnasium at Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills. That $4.6 million project is slated for completion in time for next school year, said Chris Williams, director of planning services for Pasco County Schools.

Those are just three of the scores of projects contained in the $192 million five-year work plan approved by the Pasco County School Board on Sept. 17.

One big-ticket item on the list is an $18.8 million elementary school planned in Wiregrass, which is earmarked for the 2014-15 school year.

The district also expects to spend $10.7 million to acquire school sites and $10 million on school buses within the next five years.

One of those sites is on the south side of State Road 54, across from the Ballantrae subdivision, in Land O’ Lakes.

Another elementary and high school are also expected to be needed to serve the Land O’ Lakes and Trinity areas in the future, Williams said.

It typically takes about 12 to 15 months to build an elementary school, about 18 months to build a middle school and about 18 to 24 months to build a high school, Williams said. That’s not counting all of the other work that must be done to get a school ready for construction, including design, site work and so on.

The district’s five-year work plan includes money to build or renovate schools, add classrooms, acquire new sites and complete sizable maintenance projects.

Some other notable projects on the district’s five-year plan include:

• West Zephyrhills Elementary School, a major renovation between 2014 and 2016, at an estimated cost of $8.2 million.

• Cox Elementary School, a $6.8 million makeover including a new cafeteria, removal of concrete portables, replacement of its old windows, parking and traffic improvements, and a new security system, slated for 2016-17.

• Pasco Elementary School, a major makeover in 2017-18, for an estimated $5.9 million.

• Woodland Elementary School, a $4.8 million upgrade to the school’s air-conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, anticipated in 2016-17.

• John Long Middle School, eight additional classrooms at an estimated cost of $4.4 million, expected to begin in 2017-18.

• Pasco High School, new bleachers, a concession stand, public restrooms and lockers, for an estimated $2.6 million in 2015-16.

• San Antonio Elementary School, upgrades in the heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems estimated at $1.25 million, expected in 2014-15.

Dozens of schools in east and central Pasco will also get facility improvement under the district’s five-year plan.

More than $11.2 million in roofing work is scheduled over the next five years, including projects at Land O’ Lakes High School, Moore-Mickens Education Center, Pine View Middle School and West Zephyrhills.

The district has also allocated more than $9 million for technology infrastructure upgrades, including projects at Centennial Elementary and Centennial Middle schools.

District plans also include nearly $7.4 million on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work, including projects at Pine View, Stewart and Weightman middle schools, and Sunlake, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills high schools.

More than $4.5 million in athletic improvements are also planned across the district, including projects at Centennial, Rushe, John Long, Pasco and Weightman middle schools, and Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel High, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills high schools.

Cafeteria renovations totaling more than $6.4 million are planned, including work at Chester Taylor, Fox Hollow, Lake Myrtle, Cox, West Zephyrhills and Woodland elementary schools; Pasco, Pine View and Weightman middle schools; and, at Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills high schools.

Dozens of schools in east and central Pasco will be getting safety improvements, parking improvements, electrical upgrades, alarms, telephone and intercom repairs and closed-circuit television projects. A slew of painting projects are planned, too.

The district also plans to do playground renovation projects at about two-dozen schools in east and central Pasco, out of the $1.1 million the district has earmarked for projects in that category.

The district has also allocated $527,080 for energy retrofits, which will include two-dozen schools in east and central Pasco for those projects.

Some projects made it onto the district’s list, but have not yet received funding.

• $4.4 million to add a classroom addition at Wiregrass Ranch High

• $20.6 million to renovate Land O’ Lakes High

• $22.4 million to renovate Zephyrhills High

• $4.1 million to renovate San Antonio Elementary

Some projects on the district’s list are not funded, but sales tax proceeds from Penny for Pasco are expected to cover it, Williams said.

Joseph Grimaudo leads Dancing with our Stars winners

October 2, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

All Smiles Tampa Bay were all smiles when it came to awards at this year’s Dancing with our Stars competition.

The company won overall star at the competition, hosted by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 21, as well as best costume, most original and most entertaining honors. Taking part in that winning effort for All Smiles were Dr. Joseph Grimaudo, Nicole Eppers and Sonia Salazer.

Robert and Edda Gilbert from Mind Your Business Now won most-committed dancers, while Tiffany Yip from Get a Group Total Fitness sold the most tickets for the fundraising event.

David Gainer of DigitalBrainz and Ann Poonkasem of AnnPonline.com were tied for most congenial, while Dr. John and Melissa Mertz of Mertz Orthodontics were selected as the people’s choice.

The best dance award went to Elisabeth Shaner-Flach with Scott Parlett from BallywhoSocial, while Kelly Mothershead of A Focus on Fitness was named a shining star.

The event was put together with a team of volunteers as well as stage manager Shelly Acevedo of Broadway Dancesations, and Meredyth Censullo, who served as the mistress of ceremonies.

The dance professionals who helped choreograph and teach the dancers included Wendy LaRosa, Terri Dusek, Gina Marchica, Grace Badillo, Roberto Lira, Tamesis Cruz, Leo Florin, Stacey Enyart, Nicole John, Acevedo, Hector Quiles, Frank Sliwa, and Richard and Laurie Collett.

Backstage artists were Jane Case, Ellen Castellani, Lisa Rogers, HairStyle Salon and Star’s Organic Spa.

For more information on how to become a dancer in next year’s event, call Carla Collier at (813) 345-8580, or email .

Eat, shop, show cars, cook chili – all in Lutz

October 2, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Lutz First Friday – a food truck rally sponsored by the Lutz Citizens Coalition — was supposed to make its debut on Oct. 4 at Lutz Preparatory School. However, it’s been indefinitely postponed.

In an email sent out to Lutz Citizens Coalition members, group president Mike White said the group thought they had reached an agreement with the school and began putting the word out about the rally. Those plans were dropped, however, after the coalition had a second meeting at the school and officials there appeared to be backing out, White said.

Classic cars will be on display at the Lutz Centennial Cars and Chili event on Nov. 2. (File photo)

Yet Diane Farmer, principal at Lutz Preparatory, said the school still wants to work with the coalition on hosting food truck rallies there.

“We’re still in negotiations,” Farmer said. “We’re still trying to work out the details for it. We want to do it.”

She said there was a problem with logistics, and the school could not meet the coalition’s desired schedule.

While the monthly truck rally has been put on hold, people who enjoy a flea market, or who want to do their part to help maintain a historic building, will have their chance to do both on Oct. 5 at the Old Lutz School Building Flea Market. It runs from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event raises money for the upkeep of the Old Lutz School, a historic building that local residents fought to preserve when the state was widening U.S. 41. The school itself is at 18819 N. U.S. 41, which is at the corner of Fourth Avenue SE and U.S. 41.

Less than a month later, on Nov. 2, the community is having another in a series of events scheduled this year to celebrate the Lutz Centennial.

At the Lutz Centennial Cars & Chili event, chili aficionados and classic car buffs will be able to compete for bragging rights. Car buffs and motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to take part in the show, which will feature classic cars, exotic cars and motorcycles.

The chili cook-off will have two categories: Families and individuals will compete in one, and clubs and organizations will square off in the other.

The deadline for registration to compete in the cook-off is 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, and there is a $25 team entry fee.

Chili cook-off teams can consist of one chef and two assistants. The chili must be cooked on-site. Since there’s no electricity, teams must provide their own LP-gas cooking appliance. They must also supply their own ingredients and cooking utensils.

Patrons will be able to purchase official centennial chili cups for $5 each, which they can carry around from team to team to sample different kinds of chili. The tastings will begin at noon and will end when the chili runs out, or at 2 p.m.

The celebration will be on the grounds between the old train depot and the Lutz Community Center, between U.S. 41 and the Lutz Branch Library.

To find out more about the chili cook-off, email . To learn more about the car show, email .

On your marks, get set, wobble

October 2, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Runners who enjoy starting their Thanksgiving Day with a Turkey Trot will have a new option this holiday season.

Instead of driving to the Turkey Trot in Clearwater or the FishHawk Turkey Trot, area runners will be able to do a 5-kilometer or a one-miler at the first Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. The race will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 28.

A look at some of the participants of a weekly Thursday night run at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. The Thursday night runners inspired the idea for the Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot, scheduled for the first time this coming Thanksgiving. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

Brian Brink, the race director, came up with the idea for the Wiregrass Wobble. However, he credits his wife Erica with coming up with the name and dreaming up the prize that winners will receive — an engraved carving board for use at their holiday gatherings later in the day.

Besides giving runners a new race, the event is raising money for Feeding America Tampa Bay and the New Tampa YMCA.

Brink, who is general manager of Fitniche at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the idea for the event came out of the weekly run he organizes at the mall every Thursday night.

There are two groups of runners who run at the mall with one heading out at 6 p.m., and the second at 6:30 p.m., Brink said.

Since they always meet on Thursdays, they decided to do a morning run last Thanksgiving.

They announced that plan about a week before Thanksgiving, Brink said. Much to his surprise, roughly 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. Thus began the planning for this year’s event, which Brink believes will attract at least 1,000 runners.

“We have Seven Oaks and Meadow Pointe and all of these giant neighborhoods within a few miles of here that are (homes to) young families,” Brink said.

He expects runners to come from such communities as Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Zephyrhills, Dade City, Land O’ Lakes and Lutz.

Lutz resident Jonathan Bosque, 18, said he plans to be there. The Freedom High student has run at the Turkey Trot in Clearwater for the past three years.

“I just love running,” Bosque said. “This is a great community place for running.”

Brink said he expects the Wiregrass Wobble to become a premier event for the area because the other Turkey Trots are so far away.

“The Clearwater one is the biggest one. They have about 15,000 people doing four different races,” Brink said. “To get down there, to get parking, to get registered, everything like that, it’s going to take over an hour to do all that.

“There’s so many people in the North Tampa area that have no desire to wake up that early on Thanksgiving morning. So, really the area needed something like this. I think we’re going to have a huge turnout,” Brink said.

He also noted that once the county gets a planned park built on adjacent land in Wiregrass Ranch, organizers can add a 10k run.

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

“Doing 3.1 miles takes some maneuvering,” Brink said, noting the idea is to keep the race off busy roads. “Luckily we have a really big parking garage over there — that will give us some distance.”

The race director thinks the event will be a popular choice for families who want to take a walk or run before settling down later to their Thanksgiving meals. He also thinks it will be a nice option for people who are having family in for the holiday.

“People are traveling on Thanksgiving to be with family. They’re looking for something to do together,” Brink said.

Runners who register early enough will receive a T-shirt that’s designed to keep them dry and cool while they race. The 5k will also be a chip-timed event, Brink said. The chip ensures that racers are timed from the start line to the finish.

Registration is $25 for the 5k and $20 for the one-miler.

Runners who sign up in person at any Fitniche location or the New Tampa YMCA can get a $5 discount if they donate five nonperishable goods for the food bank, Brink said.

Registrations are also being accepted online at signmeup.com.

Runners will also be able to register on race day.

City to decide future of Main Street parking in October

October 2, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Parking may soon be at a premium for visitors of Zephyrhills’ downtown businesses. That is unless city officials decide to pay up to keep some private parking lots open to the public.

Leases signed in 2003 have expired on three lots in and around the city’s Fifth Avenue business district. Whether they will be renewed or not could depend on if those lot owners will go from free leases to paid leases.

This parking lot near Village Inn is a popular place for cars to park during special events in the downtown area of Zephyrhills. This particular parking lot used to be shuffleboard courts just 20 years ago. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“We’ve talked to some of the property owners (of the parking lots), and I think they would like to see the city purchase them,” said Todd Vande Berg, director of development services for Zephyrhills. “They had been free before, but now I think the owners would like to get some money.”

The three lots are scattered in key spots around the downtown district. They include:

• The southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street not far from the First Baptist Church.

• A larger parcel owned by the neighboring Village Inn restaurant on the west side of Seventh Street south of Fifth Avenue where the Tourist Club used to operate shuffleboard courts.

• A third lot just south of City Hall between Fifth and Sixth avenues, on the west side of Eighth Street, controlled by the owners of the former Wachovia Bank location on Fifth Avenue.

No matter what the city decides to do with those leases, downtown can’t afford to lose valuable parking, especially when special events take place on Fifth Avenue, said Marvin Matteson, an owner of K&M Travel.

“I would hate to see the city give them up, but I would also hate to see the city get ripped off in a lease,” said Matteson, who has operated his business on Fifth Avenue for more than 15 years.

Some residents already complain that parking is difficult in the downtown section, even though parking a block or two away is still closer than most people can park in front of Walmart on the north side of town, Matteson said. Still, his employees and others use the leased lots to free up on-street parking in front of the businesses.

“That would be upsetting to our people, and I know it would really tick some of them off,” he said.

Most of the leased parking is used for special events downtown, like the homecoming parade put on last week by Zephyrhills High School, said Main Street Zephyrhills executive director Gina King Granger.

“On a day-to-day basis, the parking that we have downtown, I think, is fine,” she said. “But these additional parking lots, they are critical when it comes to having all the events we put on downtown. And we do put on a lot.”

Granger said city officials have to be sure to think long-range about parking, and not just the needs of today. There are two large buildings in the heart of downtown that remain vacant right now, but if they were to become occupied, it could create a shortage of parking spaces depending on what kind of businesses can be attracted there.

“Sometimes, the lack of parking down here can be a deterrent,” Granger said. “Even if there is parking available off the street, if people don’t see it, they may not want to stop and shop at the businesses that we already have here.”

Vande Berg is completing his report in the next week, and expects to bring the results to city council at some point in October. Either way, it will be hard to ignore the bigger picture in all of this — especially as the city plans to expand its downtown offerings to include Gall Boulevard once it reverts from the Florida Department of Transportation to the city.

“That has really been the spine through the city for all these years, but because it was under the control of DOT, there wasn’t much we could do with it,” Vande Berg said. “But now we are looking at all kinds of options along Gall Boulevard, maybe even on-street parking, so we might have some options when it comes to parking.”

City council meetings this month are scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 28, beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Jeffries leaves Zephyrhills as lost, returns a hero

October 2, 2013 By Michael Hinman

The seconds leading up to the explosion are moments U.S. Army Spec. Tyler “T.J.” Jeffries will never forget. The 50 minutes after, from the time he was pulled from the Afghanistan ground and loaded into a helicopter, are ones he likely wishes he could erase from his memory.

Tyler ‘T.J.’ Jeffries makes his first trip home to Zephyrhills since before his tour in Afghanistan where an improvised explosive device cost him part of both legs. He currently resides at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., while he undergoes rehabilitation. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Since that day in October last year, Jeffries — a 2007 graduate of Zephyrhills High School — has pushed himself through physical rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He now uses prosthetics where he lost parts of both legs in the attack. And Jeffries showed the progress he’s made on them in his first trip back to Zephyrhills since before his deployment to Afghanistan.

“The first step is getting over the pain of walking,” Jeffries said. “It hurts when (the prosthetic) hits the end of your legs. You have to learn to deal with that and keep your balance.”

For Jeffries and other soldiers with similar injuries from IEDs — improvised explosive devices — it’s about learning how to walk all over again.

Jeffries was one of 1,744 soldiers injured by IEDs in 2012, according to the Pentagon. And that was just in Afghanistan alone. While that is an improvement over the 3,542 injured in 2011, it’s still one of the top dangers soldiers face in the war zone.

Right after the explosion, Jeffries thought he was going to end up as part of a different statistic — 300 soldiers were killed by IEDs in the last two years.

“At first, I didn’t really feel much of anything,” Jeffries said. “Your body has so much adrenaline pumping through it. But 15 to 20 minutes later, you start to feel everything. My armor had caught on fire, my legs were gone, it was a terrible sight to see yourself in. I thought I was going to die.”

Luckily, no one else was injured in the explosion, and Jeffries’ platoon members were talking to him about his favorite beer, and what they wanted to do that evening. It was all to help keep his mind off of what was happening while they awaited help.

“Your life doesn’t really flash before your eyes, but I did think of all the stuff I didn’t do, and all the things I wanted to do,” Jeffries said. “I started to think about the regrets in my life, and that I was going to die on this ground in Afghanistan.”

One thing he absolutely did not regret was joining the Army in the first place. Jeffries made the decision to enlist when he was 19 and not quite sure what he wanted to do with his life.

“I was one of those teenagers who made the wrong decisions and did stupid things,” Jeffries said. “I wasn’t going anywhere in my life, I wasn’t going to school, and I knew that the military would make my life better.”

Jeffries never feared going to Afghanistan or Iraq, and in fact, joined the infantry so he could end up on the front lines.

He arrived in Afghanistan in early 2012, and was shot at within hours of touching boots to the ground.

“Anybody who says they are not a little scared once they arrive (is) probably lying,” Jeffries said. “But after your first firefight, where you really have to defend yourself, all that fear and stuff goes away. It’s almost like you’ve practiced all this for so long, all this training is embedded in your mind, and all the fear goes away.”

Jeffries has been at Walter Reed since soon after the attack, and while many family members and friends visited him in Washington, he didn’t want to return to Zephyrhills until he could manage for himself.

“I didn’t want everyone to see me in such a horrible state,” Jeffries said. “I didn’t want to be reminded of all the stuff I couldn’t do.”

But with rehabilitation and his new prosthetics, Jeffries is finding life is going back to normal. Once his stay at Walter Reed is done early next year, Jeffries will leave the Army and embark on a future he almost didn’t have.

He plans to attend a gunsmith trade school and open his own gun range either here in Florida, or possibly in North Carolina. Jeffries grew up around guns, has always been fascinated by guns, and feels it’s a great way to combine his personal passions and a career.

However, if he could have it his way, Jeffries would do something much different.

“I would be back in Afghanistan right now,” Jeffries said. “I have some unfinished business.”

Activities picking up at Grand Horizons

October 2, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

I understand that many people are starting to come back from their adventures up north and settle in at Grand Horizons, and therefore, enjoying the different activities.

From speaking to some of my friends, I recognize the fact that traffic is starting to be a little heavier and, therefore, more time is needed to get to different places.

One of the activities was the connoisseur lunch. True, they try to hold it once a month, but September found 32 people enjoying the lunch buffet at Ling’s Buffet hosted by Judy Ellsworth. From what Judy mentioned, they not only had a very enjoyable time with good food to eat, but once the lunch was ended, the women went shopping at Hobby Lobby.

If you know the women from Grand Horizons, they love to shop and any excuse for this, well, they pounce on it. The idea that Hobby Lobby was not far from the restaurant, and the fact that there are many items of interest, is enough for the women to decide to go shopping.

Also, I spoke with Marie Paolantonio and she mentioned that the Ladies Lunch Bunch took advantage of a new restaurant that recently opened. I do not know the exact date of the opening, but on Sept. 10 they went to Panera Bread. I realize that I had mentioned that they were going here in my last article, but at the time I sent in the news, I never realized what a good time everyone had.

I read in our newsletter that it was hosted by Joyce Bell, who said 13 people attended. Joyce also mentioned that they put the tables close together so everyone could enjoy the rest of the company. From what I heard, the sandwiches and the soups are simply terrific.

If it is anything like the Panera Bread that we have in Connecticut, then I know the food is delicious, and Marty and I will be going there quite often.

Marie went on to mention that from Panera Bread, they went to Bob and Luella Wheeling’s home to help celebrate Bob’s 90th birthday. This is also something that I read was going to take place, but I didn’t know what a lovely time many people had when they celebrated Bob’s birthday until I spoke to Marie. So, Marie, thanks for the update.

Also, thanks goes to Joyce Bell who did attend the celebration and informed me that Bob received at least 45 cards. She said all who attended really enjoyed themselves, and the day was perfect.

Also, at Grand Horizons, there is a new and exciting activity. Rich Wagner, who is relatively new to the development, opened up his home for any of the residents that care to come to see films. Some of the movies shown are old-type picture shows, but there are also new ones, plus musicals and foreign films.

I had the opportunity to speak to Rich and he mentioned that after the movie, they sit around and discuss it. Rich went on to say that he loves to do this, and sometimes he enjoys a movie so much that he goes out to find the book.

It definitely sounds like a winner to me, and I hope to participate several times when I get to Florida. It sounds ideal to me.

Thanks to Rich for taking the time out to tell me all about it.

A fashion show is coming up on Nov. 2 and will be presented by Bon Worth. Kathy Cribbs is in charge of getting the models and seeing that all runs smoothly. Good luck Kathy!

I realize that in the past few years we had a fashion show and it always fell on a day that I couldn’t be present as we had previous plans. I am so glad that enough notice has been given so I can hold this date open.

Grand Horizon residents are also getting ready for Nov. 16 when they will have a yard sale. It will be at individual homes, plus there will be a book sale, bake sale and lunch will be served in the community center.

Who knows what you will find at this yard sale, maybe something that you have been looking for and almost gave up trying to locate. So, keep this date in mind and circle it on your calendar.

By Helene Rubenstein, Grand Horizons