Local News

Zephyrhills to pay $500k more for library

December 25, 2013 By Michael Hinman

The Zephyrhills City Council got an unwelcome lump of coal in their Christmas stocking after finding out the stately brick and stone library they were expecting was going to cost them a lot more money.

And none of them were very happy about it.

Harvard Jolly and A.D. Morgan had originally presented the idea of building a brick and stone library for $1.7 million, using primarily Penny for Pasco money. However, after discovering the reality of the market, they realized it would cost more than 30 percent more to build, and proposed a cheaper stucco building. The City Council opted for the more expensive option instead. (Image courtesy of Harvard Jolly)

The council hired the architectural firm Harvard Jolly and contractor A.D. Morgan after they presented an 8,500-square-foot facility next to the library’s current location on Eighth Street for $1.7 million. However, after going out into the market to look at materials and supplies, the two companies came back with a new price tag: $2.5 million, a 47 percent jump.

The options? Either go with a cheaper, stucco version of the library, or pay more money.

“One of my reasons for picking your company is your guarantees that we were going to be in budget,” Councilman Charles Proctor said. “I run several companies of my own, and being in budget is very important to me.”

Yet, as Proctor pointed out, there was a larger issue.

“The prior councils made promises to the city to build a beautiful library,” he said. “The brick building is going to be a much more substantial, better built, longer-lasting building. We really needed to come in on budget on this.”

Harvard Jolly and A.D. Morgan were able to reduce the overall cost to $2.26 million, but that remained 33 percent over budget. That can be mostly blamed on the existing volatile market for brick and stone, said George Goodspeed, manager of pre-construction services at A.D. Morgan. When the company sought bids on the masonry and concrete, the largest bid was double the smallest bid, and all of them were much more than they anticipated.

The concrete and masonry work, however, would go to Ervin Bishop Construction of Land O’ Lakes.

Councilman Ken Burgess said he felt the architects were practically baiting and switching the city.

“You have two buildings here,” he said. “It’s like giving a kid a shiny penny, but then here’s a dull one. They both do the same thing, but the shiny penny has already been handed to him. It’s a little bit difficult to kind of go back and use the dull penny. It puts us in a bad spot.”

It would, however, bring the library a little closer to what was first proposed nearly a decade ago, said librarian Vicki Elkins. The original plan was to build a 27,000-square-foot library, but that was quickly pared down to an 18,000-square-foot facility for $3.8 million.

Money for it was to come from the Penny for Pasco tax program, with the city making annual contributions to a construction fund.

In 2009, however, a flood at the fire department halted contributions to the library construction fund, and they never returned.

“Had Penny for Pasco funding been added after 2009, the building reserve would have the funds to cover the brick design,” Elkins said. “There is money that is available in the Penny for Pasco reserve to cover the brick design, and that is what we are asking you to consider tonight.”

Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson said if such an overage had happened in the business world, she would’ve been fired. Yet, the library design was intended to help inspire a brick construction style that peeks into the past of Zephyrhills. And the council could not lose sight of that.

“When you go to a place like Dade City and enjoy the country Christmas stroll, and the county hall is lit up, there is a character to that space … that is unmatched,” she said. “For the most part, some of the most beautiful cities in our country have been built with municipal structures being the most enduring, and the highest quality of design.”

With the council reluctantly leaning toward spending more money on the library to maintain its original vision, council president Lance Smith added a stern warning to Harvard Jolly and A.D. Morgan.

“Please don’t come back” for more money after this increase, Smith said, “because it’s not going to be successful.”

Ground should be broken in March for the new library, with an anticipated opening in spring of 2015.

Revival of Christmas Card Lane draws a big crowd

December 25, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Children played drums, rang hand bells, sang, clapped rhythmically and even did a little dancing to entertain the crowd that gathered for the Christmas Card Lane celebration in downtown Lutz.

If there’s a community event in Lutz, you can bet that the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club will have a hand in it. This group raises money with various events, and uses the funds to support numerous community causes. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

Hundreds gathered for the event, which also featured a visit from Santa, a few remarks by the community’s honorary Lutz Guv’na, and the ceremonial flipping of the switch to illuminate 16 giant holiday cards.

The 8-by-4-foot cards are posted along the edge of Memorial Park, across the street from the Lutz Depot Building, where the crowd watched the children from Lutz Elementary School perform.

The event marked the revival of the old Christmas Card Lane tradition in Lutz. The tradition ceased some years back, but a special edition of the event was done this year to mark the community’s 100th birthday.

The Christmas Card Lane celebration was the fourth and final event to mark the community’s centennial.

Ligia Grams was there to watch her son Dakota, 8, perform.

She gave the event high marks.

“It’s a good community outing for everyone,” Grams said. “It just brings everyone together. The kids will have a blast.”

Diane DeMarco and her husband, Dan, also came out to watch the Lutz Elementary children perform, which included their son, Joseph, 8. DeMarco also thought the event would be a good way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Her family moved to Lutz three years ago because of the community’s reputation for having a small-town feel.

Indeed, as chronicled in local history books written by Eliabeth Riegler MacManus and her daughter, Susan A. MacManus, community gatherings have long been the social glue for Lutz.

So, when the Lutz Centennial Committee was planning how to celebrate the community’s 100th birthday, they reasoned that community gatherings would be the way to go.

The first centennial event was a food truck rally in March. Next came the community’s massive Fourth of July Celebration, with its many traditions. Like always, it drew thousands of spectators.

After that, the committee had a chili cook-off and classic car show.

Suzin Carr, honorary Lutz Guv’na, was delighted by the turnout at the Christmas Card Lane event. Indeed, all of the celebrations have been well received by community residents and businesses, she said.

“We had fun during all of them,” said Bob Moore, chairman of the Lutz Centennial Committee.

The chili cook-off and classic car show had to contend with morning downpours, causing Moore to nickname it “Rain Fest.” But even that turned out to be a good event, he said.

“We’re from Lutz, we can party in the rain,” he quipped. “We can party under any conditions.”

The collection of giant cards on Christmas Card Lane reflects the community’s stalwart organizations and some local businesses. The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club’s card, for example, depicts Santa riding in a train — a tribute to the community’s deep history involving the movement of goods through it by rail cars.

Troop 12 of the Boy Scouts, and Pack 12 of the Cub Scouts also created cards. There’s also a card from the Civil Air Patrol – North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron.

The Citizens for the Old Lutz School also posted a card, as did Lutz Elementary, Maniscalco Elementary and Learning Gate Community schools.

The cards show varied artistic styles and holiday themes.

One sign that seems perfect for a Florida Christmas depicts a pink flamingo wearing a Santa’s hat, while hanging out under a palm tree at the beach.

There’s a bucket on the sand nearby, chock full of paintbrushes. That card, fittingly enough, was sponsored by The Florida Suncoast Decorative Artists.

Some angels, like this volunteer, don’t have wings

December 25, 2013 By B.C. Manion

When 77-year-old Jeanette Tatro heard her name being called as the Volunteer of the Year for Gulfside Regional Hospice, the Zephyrhills woman couldn’t believe her ears.

Jeanette Tatro, Gulfside Regional Hospice’s Volunteer of the Year, has a long record of serving others through the organization. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

After all, she had received the award two other times in the past, and she also is the sole winner of the organization’s Spirit of Hospice Award.

It didn’t surprise her when her name was announced as one of the organization’s volunteers who had clocked more than 500 hours of service that year. But when the presenter began describing the winner of the volunteer of the year, the petite, silver-haired woman, Tatro thought the speaker was talking about someone else.

“When I heard my name announced, I was actually dumbfounded,” Tatro said. “It was unbelievable. I couldn’t move. I was shocked.”

In just a year, Tatro racked up 541 volunteer hours. She cashiered at the organization’s Zephyrhills Thrift Shoppe. She visited hospice patients. She called families through Gulfside’s bereavement program.

She helped promote the organization by working at information booths at fairs and festivals throughout Pasco County.

Kelly Milner, director of volunteer services, characterized the volunteer as “a very loving and compassionate person” who is always willing to pitch in, wherever needed.

Tatro said she became a hospice volunteer 11 years ago, a year after her husband, Edmund, died from lung cancer.

“He was actually under hospice care for one week,” Tatro said.

Her husband wanted to die at home, but he was a large man and Tatro lacked the strength to manage his care on her own. Tatro also was caring for her ill sister at the same time.

So, her husband went to Hospice House for his final days. After he died and Tatro’s sister died, the Zephyrhills woman stepped up to volunteer.

“I felt that no one should die alone,” she said. “I felt that I could help the family out in that transition, due to the fact that I had gone through it.”

Tatro said another personal loss she experienced also prepared her to help others work through their grief.

“I lost a child, and I think that’s another reason that I can relate,” Tatro said. “It was a miscarriage at five-and-a-half months,” she said. “That’s been over 55 years” ago, she said. To this day, she feels sad on the anniversary of that baby’s death.

Besides having the desire to support others through their grief and loss, Tatro has another motivation for volunteering: “It’s a give back,” she said. “I think I’ve been very blessed by the Lord and I feel I should give back. I can reach out in so many different ways. Not everybody can.”

Beyond helping others, volunteering brings her great joy.

“It’s very rewarding,” Tatro said. “You meet so many different people. There are so many stories that they have.”

Besides suffering through personal losses, Tatro has spent time with many others who have experienced a death in the family. She has been with patients as they took their final breath, and has been with families as they experienced the loss.

“Grief is different for each person,” Tatro said. Hospice is there to help — not only during the time of a loved one’s death, but also through ongoing bereavement support.

She encourages anyone who wants to be of service to consider becoming a hospice volunteer.

“We can do so much for the families,” Tatro said. “We can give them time, either to go to the store or, they might want to go out on an outing for a couple of hours. We can give them a break. They need a break.”

Not everyone is able to sit with someone who is facing the final stage of life, Tatro said. But there are plenty of other ways to help. They can volunteer at the thrift store, or help in the kitchen, or deliver meals, or work at information booths at festival and fairs.

Donating items to the thrift shop is another way to help, Tatro said. If someone has an interest in volunteering, she encourages them to give it a try.

“It is a great experience and the only way they’re going to find out is to experience it for themselves,” Tatro said.

Sanders Memorial Elementary to reopen as magnet school

December 25, 2013 By B.C. Manion

It may be a while, but when Sanders Memorial Elementary School reopens in Land O’ Lakes, it will become Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school.

Sanders will emphasize science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, said Dave Scanga, executive director of the Central Region of Pasco County Schools.

This is a preliminary rendering for what Sanders Memorial Elementary School will look like when it is redeveloped. The appearance could change slightly because the final plans are not yet done. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school district funded the redesign of Sanders in 2008, but the project was put on hold because the housing market crashed. Now the district is looking to open Sanders in the 2015-16 school year. But first construction plans for the school must be updated to comply with changes in the Florida building code as well as educational needs of the magnet program.

The enrollment would be drawn largely from the Land O’ Lakes area to relieve overcrowding at Connerton Elementary School, Scanga said. Remaining seats would be open for students living outside the school’s normal boundaries.

When completed, Sanders — located at 5126 School Road — will be almost entirely new. Just three of the former school’s buildings remain on site. The rest were demolished.

Besides being the district’s first magnet, Sanders also will benefit from an agreement between the school board and Pasco County. The arrangement aims at providing more recreational opportunities for school children and the community at large, while also broadening learning opportunities and providing a venue to accommodate community gatherings.

The county expects to make about $1.5 million in improvements in 2014 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park, located at 5401 U.S. 41.

The school board set the redesign of Sanders into motion on Dec. 3 by approving the expenditure of $684,350 for architectural services from Williamson Dacar Architects for the design, permitting and contract administration services. The district also has put out a request for qualifications for the Sanders project.

In keeping with the school’s educational mission, the updated plans will include some special design features.

For instance, the classrooms will have wireless technology, and space will be planned to give students room to collaborate. There also will be storage space for student projects and sinks in classrooms, to accommodate experiments.

Plans also will include several site design elements, which may not be built right away, but added later. Those include:
• An environmental center and boardwalk through the wetlands. Designs for the environmental center will include a covered work area with power, water and wireless connections.
• Photovoltaic demonstration panels to be used as a teaching tool for students.
• A solar hot water heater system to be used as a teaching tool for students.
• Provisions for a wind turbine.
• Areas for student gardens around the classroom buildings.

Alison Crumbley, chairwoman for the Pasco County School Board, said she supports giving parents another school choice. At the same time, she wants to see more educational opportunities in these academic areas for children in schools throughout the district.

There are hundreds of thousands of jobs that are not being filled in the country because of a shortage of skilled workers, Crumbley said. She wants district schools to do more to help its students acquire skills they will need to pursue those kinds of careers.

Old Lutz School turns into Christmas House for holidays

December 25, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Jason and Jessica Smith have a holiday tradition with their three young children.

The Land O’ Lakes couple brings the youngsters to the Christmas House at Old Lutz School where the kids get a giant serving of holiday cheer. As they make their way through the historic building, Maddy, 6; Amelia, 5; and Elliot, 2, have plenty to see.

Do you love nutcrackers? Then you’ll enjoy the giant collection on display at the Christmas House at Old Lutz School. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

One room in the school at 18819 N. U.S. 41 is filled with Christmas trees, decked out in all sorts of themes. One of those trees is decked out with paper ornaments colored by kindergarten children at Lutz Elementary School.

In another room, visitors can check out a huge assortment of nutcrackers. There are also rooms with miniature trains that make their way through towns and villages.

Outside there are other decorations.

Lights spell out “Season’s Greetings” in front of the historic building, and windows are illuminated by lighted decorations. There’s an old-fashioned Nativity scene on the south side of the school, and lighted sculptural figures include deer and an angel.

After enjoying the decorations, visitors are invited to have a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie or two

“For kids their age, this is great,” said Jessica Smith, noting her kids just love it. “We usually come on multiple nights.”

Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help pay for the upkeep of the building, which opened in the 1926-27 school year. The building, which has a Georgian architectural style, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The schoolhouse is an icon in this community, which has a long history of protecting its quality of life. At one point, there were plans to knock down the building as part of a plan to widen U.S. 41.

Those plans were tossed out, however, after the community galvanized to save the old school, which has a special place in the collective memories of generations to Lutz residents.

The Citizens for the Old Lutz School puts on the annual Christmas display as a way to share the building with the community and raise funds to support its upkeep. Group member Marilyn Wannamaker has volunteered at the Christmas House for years. She was there last week, serving up hot chocolate and cookies.

People of all ages enjoy the annual tradition, Wannamaker said.

“There’s mothers, dads, grandparents and children — most of them come back year after year,” she said.

“You see families return every year,” said Helen Cantrell, another volunteer.

For many, it’s a chance to run into old friends — something quite easy to do in Lutz — where many residents have lived for generations.

Maxine Conway, of Land O’ Lakes, came out to Christmas House to help Wannamaker pass out goodies.

“I appreciate the work that goes into it,” Conway said.

Christmas House organizers realize that people are often frazzled before Christmas, so they keep the house open for a couple of days after Dec. 25. Besides accommodating busy parents, it also gives out-of-town visitors a chance to savor the season.

Annie Fernandez, whose family has deep roots in Lutz, enjoys volunteering at Christmas House. She gets a kick out of watching the children’s reactions as they go through the decorated rooms. The youngsters tend to gravitate to a collection of elves, Fernandez said.

At first, Fernandez didn’t understand the children’s fascination. But now, she knows.

It turns out that they know all about the “Elf on A Shelf” — a special scout sent from the North Pole to help Santa manage his nice and naughty lists, said Fernandez, who reminds the children that these elves also are Santa’s Helpers.

WHAT: Christmas House at the Old Lutz School, featuring decorated trees, miniature trains, angels, Santas, nutcrackers and other holiday décor
WHERE: Old Lutz School, 18819 N. U.S. 41.
WHEN: Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
COST: Admission is free. Donations are accepted to support the upkeep of the Old Lutz School, a building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Starkey Ranch park moves forward while others still struggle

December 25, 2013 By Michael Hinman

With 18 sports fields, eight total courts for basketball and tennis, more than a mile of trails, and a library, Starkey Ranch District Park is aiming to become a centralized recreational location for the entire county.

Developers of the Starkey Ranch District Park showed the proposed layout of its massive recreational offerings within the community just off State Road 54 past Trinity. The first phase of the district park is expected to open in 2015, with the county expected to take over the full estimated $285,000 in maintenance and operations costs a decade from now. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Commission)

And while Pasco County’s financial commitment is minimal compared to that of the school board and the private developer of the project just off State Road 54 past Trinity, commission chairman Jack Mariano wanted to make it clear that his approval comes with conditions: start fully funding the rest of the county parks.

“We cut libraries back tremendously, and cut parks back tremendously,” he said, adding that by the time Starkey Ranch District Park moves forward, “if we haven’t addressed getting rid of the park fees and putting more money back into the parks, I am not going to be comfortable moving forward.”

The problem, Mariano said, is that the county already is struggling to maintain the recreation areas it already has. Adding the Starkey Ranch project could make it even more difficult for the county, which is already charging $2 parking fees for those who visit various parks in the county. Those fees were designed to stave off further funding cuts from parks following a fall in overall tax revenue after the housing market collapse.

If the fees were still in place by the time parts of Starkey Ranch opened up, visitors also would pay the parking fee there, county administrator Michele Baker said.

“We cut back parks over 30 percent, and we’re going to add another liability for more parks and libraries,” Mariano said.

Starkey Ranch, however, is planned to become much less of a liability. The county would not be responsible for taking over part of the maintenance fees until 2017 when it would take on 15 percent of the costs — estimated at $42,700. The county wouldn’t fully take over maintenance of the park until 2023, where it’s estimated to cost just under $285,000.

By then, the existence of the park should spark more residential growth in and around Starkey Ranch, and those additional taxpaying rooftops should more than offset the costs incurred by the county, Baker said.

“The developer has stepped forward and he is taking the risk, eating that operation cost, but bringing that quality,” Baker said. “They are stimulating growth in the area, and stimulating property value.”

Pasco County Schools will work directly with the developer on most of the district park project, funding its share, and even providing a small loan to the county to help it fund its contribution.

The first phase of the project would include five baseball and softball fields, six multi-purpose fields, two concession stands, a pavilion with picnic tables, a playground, a maintenance building and just a little less than a mile of trails. The price tag to build that portion is $9 million.

The second phase would be built when the $1.9 million in funds become available, and will include three more large multi-purpose fields, an additional playground and concession stand, and nearly 2,000 feet more of trails.

The first phase is expected to open in 2015, carrying an annual operating and maintenance cost of $285,000, which will be fully paid for by the developer over the first two years, before the county responsibility is phased in.

The overall project will include a lot more, as well. With the plans to build a three-story elementary and middle school near the project, the developer and the school district also are planning a 20,000-square-foot library, a 6,000-square-foot “black box” theater, a gymnasium, four tennis and four basketball courts, and a track among other amenities.

The county and school district also have the chance to generate revenue from the park from things like ticket surcharges, rent from private users, facility fees, advertising, and even naming rights.

Paying to name something in the park is an experimental concept the county and school board are trying, although no one can buy the rights to name the entire district park or the school. Under the program, the school district would bid out such an offering, and it would need the county’s approval.

Any name that is chosen would have to contain the phrase “at Starkey Ranch” at the end. Among the examples the county provided were “Raymond James Theatre at Starkey Ranch” or “Coastal Caisson Field at Starkey Ranch.”

Naming rights for major facilities, like Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg generate millions of dollars in revenue. However, naming shared-use facilities at Starkey Park is expected to go for much less.

The commission green-lit the project unanimously. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey abstained, citing a conflict of interest.

Lawmakers promise to fix broken flood insurance program

December 25, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Groans, interruptions, occasional applause. That was the scene in the New Port Richey city council chambers last week when federal, state and local officials — led by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis — pulled homeowners together to talk about what’s been a painful subject in recent months: flood insurance.

The city council chambers at New Port Richey’s city hall were overflowing last week for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, addressing skyrocketing flood insurance rates. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program, a federal insurance plan administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have skyrocketed since October when a federal law went into effect designed to help the program make up for losses from major disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.

Implementation was designed to slowly ramp up increases for affected policyholders, but what has actually happened has been much different.

One homeowner on the west side of Pasco County got a rude awakening soon after purchasing his waterfront property in April.

“I have a $2,500 monthly mortgage, and now we’re talking about $2,000 a month more to pay for our insurance, and that’s not going to happen,” the resident said. “If we don’t get a fix, they are going to foreclose on my property. I cannot physically make my payment.”

For some NFIP policyholders, what were once annual premium amounts became their monthly payments, in many cases, creating situations where some homeowners would pay the entire value of their property in a little more than a decade, before turning around to start the process all over again.

Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, says he’s demanding immediate relief for those affected, especially in Florida which has traditionally paid out three times more than they’ve ever received in the program.

“We’re not going to rest until we get results,” said Bilirakis, who introduced what he calls the Homeowners Flood Insurance Relief Act last October. It’s expected to cap premiums at the value of a home at the time it was purchased, divided by 30 — the typical timeframe of a mortgage — and would cap annual premium increases the first 10 years at 10 percent.

“I think we have a real good chance of passing a version of the bill,” Bilirakis said. “I don’t care if it passes with my name on it or not, you guys need relief.”

Bilirakis, who sternly questioned a FEMA representative flown in from Atlanta to talk about the rates, had to answer some questions of his own, however. For one, why he voted for a 2012 bill widely blamed for current increases in flood insurance.

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 passed Congress and was signed by President Obama last year. The bill phases out government subsidies for premiums in long-standing policies, but caps the annual increases at 25 percent.

It was part of an overall transportation bill that overwhelmingly passed both the House and the Senate.

“We voted for the bill to save the program, but it has not been properly implemented,” Bilirakis said. “We need an NFIP until we get a viable private flood insurance.”

The bill instructed FEMA to, in part, conduct an affordability study for its proposed premiums before implementing the bill, Bilirakis said. Susan Wilson, chief of the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch of FEMA, admitted the study had not been done, but only because there was no money to fund it.

Although the insurance program has been self-sustaining for decades, storms like Hurricane Katrina and later Hurricane Sandy threw the program into debt of more than $24 billion.

“Hurricane Katrina was anything but an average loss year, and everyone can agree with that,” Wilson said. “I spent many months in Mississippi, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and there were a lot of losses paid out for claims.”

Before Biggert-Waters, the NFIP was different from private insurance companies as it was not allowed to maintain a reserve fund. With a reserve fund, the organization would have extra cash on hand in case more claims were paid than premiums received — like when Katrina or Sandy hit. Otherwise, the program has to borrow to pay claims, and premiums would have to rise to pay not only the additional money, but the interest for the loans, as well.

State Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said Florida is looking to help policyholders, as well. The bill he is co-sponsoring would allow private insurers to help with flood insurance in the state.

“This is the backstop to give homeowners options,” Simpson said. “Since this has become such a big issue for the state of Florida, we have started working on legislative solutions in Tallahassee.”

That bill is set to go in front of the state senate’s banking and insurance committee on Jan. 8.

Nothing is more precious than the gift of time

December 25, 2013 By Diane Kortus

I don’t think I’ve ever been more relaxed than I am this holiday season.

I finished my shopping early at the big Lutz/Land O’ Lakes Arts & Craft show in Lake Park. Swapped out my table’s placemats from autumn leaves to snowflakes the day after Thanksgiving. And have two batches of Christmas cookies waiting in my freezer for my family’s holiday party.

This Frosty the Snowman has greeted visitors to Publisher Diane Kortus’ front door for more than 20 years

As I write this column a week before Christmas, I still haven’t put up my tree nor pulled down the boxes of ornaments I accumulated during 25 years of raising children. And it’s likely that I won’t.

As far as outdoor decorations, I plugged in our iconic 4-foot Frosty the Snowman on my front porch, which gives off just enough light to illuminate the wreath on my door. Instead of spending hours hanging lights from the roof and wrapping them around trees, I’m enjoying the beautiful lighted scenes in my neighbors’ yards.

After decades of being caught up in the holiday hoopla that we mistakenly think is essential for our children’s happiness, this year I’ve said no to those holiday indulgences that make me feel overstimulated, unsatisfied and guilty for not doing more.

Instead, I have slowed the season’s pace to give myself the most precious gift of all — time.

Time to enjoy the spiritual significance of the season. Time to reflect on the joys of past holidays. Time to do things with people I care about with no expectations of exchanging gifts.

I never imagined that the holidays could be so enjoyable. I am basking in the pleasures of what I love most — whether it’s reading a book, listening to medieval Christmas music or calling friends whom I have not talked to since last Christmas.

Time is a gift I am also sharing with my staff. We’ve been off since last Friday when we finished putting together this Christmas edition of the paper.

Producing our holiday edition early gave us five glorious days off. We’re back to work tomorrow and Friday to get out our Jan. 1 edition, and then we’re off again for another five days.

These beautifully long, back-to-back weekends are possible because Christmas and New Year’s fall on Wednesday, the same day The Laker/Lutz News is delivered to your home. This doesn’t happen often (the last time was in 2002), and we’re delighted to be taking advantage of the calendar.

My daughter, Rachel, is home from college on her winter break, and we’re using this bonus time to visit family in Minnesota. We’re hoping that being with parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins will ease the sorrow of spending Christmas apart from my son and Rachel’s brother, Andy.

Andy is a Marine who deployed to Afghanistan in November, just a week after he was married. But thankfully, while in Minnesota, we’ll be seeing Andy’s new wife, Erin, because she too will be in the Midwest visiting her parents and siblings.

As happy as I am to be at my childhood home for Christmas, I am sad to leave behind many people whom I care deeply about.

Of course, it is impossible to spend Christmas with everyone we love. There are too many people, too many miles, too many constraints. But when we get back from our travels, we can give those who remained here our time, attention and presence — the most precious gifts of all.

Business Digest 12-25-13

December 25, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Quail Forever chapter opens locally
West Central Florida Quail Forever, a new Hillsborough County chapter of the quail conservation group that caters to hunters, recently elected Josh Kuder as president, Brent Bassler treasurer and Randy Byrd as banquet chair.
That’s after the National Quail Forever organization named Talbott Parten of Atlanta as the new regional representative for Georgia and Florida. Parten will work raising funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education, and also with local, state and federal natural resources agencies on behalf of the group.
Parten says he looks to grow Quail Forever’s presence in Georgia and Florida, two states which represent critical habitat restoration opportunities for bobwhite quail.
Quail Forever empowers local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. This allows members to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities while belonging to a national organization with a voice on federal conservation policy in Washington, D.C.

WestBay opens Estate series
Tampa builder Homes by Westbay has unveiled a new selection of single-family house floor plans in its Estate series at Rose Pointe in The Arbors, a gated community located inside Connerton.
The seven plans currently offer ranges from 3,300 to 6,000 square feet, and are priced at more than $400,000.
The houses are 90 feet wide, many of which are situated on waterfront or conservation areas.
Plans include gourmet kitchens with islands, workspaces and walk-in pantries. The houses highlight an open concept design with the living, dining and grand rooms providing extensive gathering spaces while incorporating the views and light of the natural surroundings.
For more information on Homes by Westbay, residential designs and the communities where the builder is located, call (813) 285-1444, or visit HomesByWestBay.com.

GTAR elects new officers
The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors had its 102nd annual installation and awards banquet Dec. 6, which included the installation of its 2014 leadership team.
Tina Harris of Future Home Realty becomes the group’s new president, joining Barbara Jordan of Coldwell Banker Residential as president-elect, Susanna Madden of Re/Max ACR Elite Group as vice president, Michele Herndon of Keller Williams Realty South Shore as secretary, and Andy Joe Scaglione of Empire Commercial Realty as treasurer.
Jack Rodriguez of Minaret Realty won 2013 Realtor of the year, while Anand Patel of Pangea Realty Group won the Edward T Starr Award, given to the GTAR committee chair who exhibits outstanding leadership and service.

Lennar ready to build 170 houses
Construction company Lennar says it’s ready to start building 170 new houses in 20 communities around the region within the next 60 days.
The construction plans include townhomes, single-family homes, and houses under its NextGen brand that is designed for families with multiple generations living under the same roof. They range in size from 1,353 square feet to just under 4,400 square feet, with prices starting at around $140,000.
The houses are being built on spec, but Lennar says it could have many of the homes sold by the time construction is finished in March.

SmartStart looking for businesses to help
The SmartStart business incubator from the Pasco Economic Development Council is putting a call out to companies from a variety of industries that might be looking for startup assistance in the Tampa Bay area.
SmartStart works with new entrepreneurs and scalable startup companies in the incubator to help them build their businesses from the ground up. SmartStart is located in the Dade City Business Center, and has professional office, light manufacturing, and warehouse space available, in addition to mentoring, consulting and educational opportunities.
For more information, contact Krista Covey at (352) 437-4861, or by email at .
SmartStart is located at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103, in Dade City. Details on the incubator can be found at www.SmartStartPasco.com.

Women-n-Charge to meet in January
Women-n-Charge will meet Jan. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.
The meeting includes lunch and networking.
Cost is $15 for members by the Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for all guests and members paying after the early deadline.
For more information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Ker’s donates to children in need
Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill, which operates a location in Wesley Chapel, has been purchasing toys for underprivileged children and families in need throughout the year, thanks to owner Crawford Ker, funding it out of his own pocket.
Ker has done this since 1998 through his Ker’s Christmas program, which includes a Christmas meal for children and families of BabyCycle, Homeless Emergency Project, City of Praise Church of Clearwater and the Florida Sheriff Youth Ranch.
“Christmas should be cherished by all children, and it is our mission to reach as many children as possible by exceeding the number of children and families we touch each year,” Ker said in a release. “This year is our largest yet, and we are extremely grateful for the community’s support of this endeavor. We are excited to spread some holiday cheer.”
Ker’s operates a location at 5510 Post Oak Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Sponsors sought for chamber business breakfasts
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for sponsors for upcoming business breakfasts, which provide news regarding member businesses and happenings in the area.
Sponsorships allow the business to “have the floor” in front of 70 to 90 business and community leaders.
Upcoming breakfasts still looking for sponsors include Jan. 21 and May 20.
For more information, email Jo Uber at .

Son’s death becomes catalyst for couple’s life work

December 18, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Deb Gilbert never pictured herself as a missionary in Africa, but she also never imagined the immense pain she would experience when her son Sean died at 18.

“Your perspective on life changes a whole lot when something like that happens,” she said.

The young man’s death was the catalyst for Deb Gilbert and her husband, Mike, to close the family business, sell their Lutz home, liquidate their belongings and move to Africa to establish One City Ministries.

Before her son died, he was entrenched in a cycle of addiction, Deb Gilbert said. He would attempt to step away from his self-destructive lifestyle, but would be easily drawn back into it by his friends. Once the Gilberts knew their son had a serious problem, they tried to get him help. But Sean wasn’t ready to make a change.

He finally had some close calls that even scared him and had reached a point when he realized he had to change, Deb Gilbert said. Sean talked to his parents about it on a Friday evening.

“He knew he had to stop seeing certain people. Everything seemed to be going in the right direction,” she said. “On that Sunday evening, he was with some friends. And he said, ‘This is the last time I’m going to party with you like this.’ And, in fact, it was.”

The Gilberts’ son’s partying that night led to his death, and about six months after her son died, Deb Gilbert said she was in his room and having a conversation with God.

She said she was looking at Sean’s ashes and telling God: “This is all I have left of my son.”

In response, she said she heard God say: “Everything here is ashes, that’s not the important thing.”

Next, God told her to go to Africa, she said.

“I walked out of Sean’s room and said to Mike, ‘We’re moving to Africa.’”

At the time, Deb Gilbert said she knew almost nothing about the continent.

The death of their son was a pivotal moment, causing the couple to reevaluate their lives, Mike Gilbert said. They felt compelled to answer God’s call: “God gave us distinctive marching orders.”

Before moving to Uganda, however, they did some research on Africa and they visited another ministry that had operations there. Although that ministry didn’t feel like the right fit for them, Uganda did, Mike Gilbert said.

So, they started One City Ministries, and moved to Africa.

That was six years ago.

The ministry they’ve established uses a holistic approach.

“We deal with the economic issues, we deal with the health issues, we deal with the spiritual issues,” Mike Gilbert said. “You can’t go in and pick one weed and feel like you’ve weeded the garden. I liken it to building a house. You have to first build the foundation. The foundation to me is opportunity, which brings empowerment, which will help whittle away at injustices.”

When they arrived at the village, they did not give any handouts, Deb Gilbert said.

“We didn’t have enough to hand out,” she said.

A woman came to them with baskets she had made, and Deb Gilbert bought them.

“Her reaction, I think just stuck with us forever,” Deb Gilbert said. “She went to her knees and thanked us. She was able to buy for her family to eat that night.”

The word started to get out that Mike and Deb were buying, and people would bring them things they were making. Some were beautiful, others not so much.

The idea, initially, was to bring the artworks to America to sell them and to help raise awareness of the little opportunity these villagers had.

“Our first year, we wanted to bring the stories back. We ended up having 16 giant boxes of things people had made. And, all had a story,” Deb Gilbert said.

They brought those items to Grace Family Church in Lutz, where she previously worked, and set up an African marketplace in the sanctuary.

Over time, the program has evolved. Artists produce crafts, which the ministry buys and then ships to America to sell. The money raised from the program covers the ministry’s administrative costs, and is reinvested to provide new services. It’s also reinvested back into the village’s economy, which is how economy gets created, Mike Gilbert said.

This year, the program shipped two tons of goods to be sold, he added.

The Africa TrAID Marketplace last November at the Museum of Science & Industry featured thousands of unique items made by more than 200 artists. They included woodcarvings, recycled metal sculptures, hand-painted cards and colorful textiles.

Besides helping the artisans, the ministry is also teaching farmers more effective methods for growing coffee. The ministry wants to create a co-op to help farmers get a better return on their crops by streamlining the processing, shipping and selling of the coffee.

Besides helping people become economically self-sufficient, the ministry aims to set a good example by refusing to pay bribes to local officials — a very common practice in Africa, Mike Gilbert said.

It also is working to create Light Village, an economically self-sustaining community that can serve as a model for others.

Although they live in Uganda, the couple comes back for about a month each year, staying with local families to defray their expenses. When they come back, they sell goods and share stories about the work of One City Ministries, which help generate support to expand its programs.

“What drives me there is just the injustices they have to endure,” Deb Gilbert said. She and her husband want to help the villagers have greater opportunities, so they can build better lives for themselves.

For more information about One City Ministries, visit OneCityMinistries.org.