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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Seed of idea takes root in garden

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Construction trailers once cluttered the vacant lot on a hilly rise across from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

Now, a community garden is taking root there, as hospital employees, one by one, build garden beds that will sprout with vegetables, flowers and herbs.

The landmark Zephyrhills’ water tower looms just behind Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden. Garden beds, aquaponics, butterfly gardens and an educational pavilion will make up the 2-acre garden. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
The landmark Zephyrhills’ water tower looms just behind Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden. Garden beds, aquaponics, butterfly gardens and an educational pavilion will make up the 2-acre garden.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

The Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CREATION Health Community Garden sits behind a white picket fence, on Dairy Road directly behind the hospital.

The garden is a complementary piece to the hospital’s new CREATION Health Wellness Center.

The center offers gym memberships, personal training, a Kid Zone play area, free cooking demonstrations, healthy lifestyle seminars and more.

“This is kind of tying it all together,” said Kelley Sasser, the hospital’s director of process improvement.

Garden beds can be rented by anyone in the community for $75 annually, with no charge for the soil.

Some beds are built tall enough to accommodate gardeners with mobility issues.

Sasser and David Force, who works in the same department as a specialist, are the garden’s promoters.

Force brings gardening expertise to the project; Sasser is a passionate cheerleader.

David Force, a process improvement specialist, brought the idea of a community garden to managers at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. He learned to love gardening from his grandmother.
David Force, a process improvement specialist, brought the idea of a community garden to managers at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. He learned to love gardening from his grandmother.

“We’ve taken the garden under our wings,” Sasser said. “That is what (David) eats and breathes.”

Force credits his grandmother with giving him a love of gardening.

He grew up in Zephyrhills and Dade City, but every summer he visited his grandmother who could coax plants to grow in the worst of conditions.

“She always had a garden,” he said. “This was in north Florida in the middle of sand.”

It was a happy time, he said. “That’s some of my best memories.”

Initially, Force wanted to create a garden for hospital volunteers.

“The hospital thought that was a good idea but wanted to go further,” Force added.

It took nearly three years from merely having an idea to actually digging in the dirt, but on March 16, the first of 70 garden beds were nailed together and filled with fertile soil.

Force has about 500 plants growing in a small greenhouse, from seeds donated by Lowe’s home improvement store in Zephyrhills.

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, lavender and cilantro are among the plants ready to sprout. Ultimately, these fresh veggies and herbs could find their way to the hospital’s cafeteria or into a cooking demo at the wellness center.

Brett Uravich, left, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ liaison for physicians and business development, and Kim Friedmeyer, clinical nurse educator, put together raised garden beds at the hospital’s community garden.
Brett Uravich, left, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ liaison for physicians and business development, and Kim Friedmeyer, clinical nurse educator, put together raised garden beds at the hospital’s community garden.

One long-range goal is to have enough community involvement that a farmer’s market might be held once a month, Force said.

Or, maybe a cooperative, he added, “which would be wonderful.”

At the mid-March kickoff, hospital employees walked over throughout the morning and into the lunch hour, to help with the gardening tasks.

Several volunteers sported T-shirts with the message, “Doing Good in the Neighborhood.”

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is the only hospital in the area with a community garden. As one of 45 hospitals in the Adventist Health System, it is the second hospital in the system to start a community garden. The first started at an Adventist Hospital in Castle Rock, Colorado.

A gazebo, garden shed and a small greenhouse are on-site. Walkways and landscaping give the 2-acre garden a tranquil, inviting ambiance.

Aquaponics, an education pavilion, a butterfly garden and a small orchard will be added during the second phase.

Benches also will be placed throughout the garden, which now is dotted with red and yellow hibiscus in ceramic planters.

The garden also nurtures the spirit.

A tray of seedlings sits in a temporary storage area prior to being planted in Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden.
A tray of seedlings sits in a temporary storage area prior to being planted in Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Community Garden.

It embraces the tenants of the Adventist faith and lifestyle, including trust, outlook and nutrition, said Casio Jones, director of the hospitals’ wellness center.

“You’re building oneness with the Lord,” Jones said.

There are social bonds that also knit a community together.

“That increases your ability to see things in a positive way,” he said. “You plant and you reap something good. I just know this is going to be an opportunity for us to partner with our community better.”

Natasha Forbes-Thorne looks forward to quiet lunches in the gazebo, and creating salads from the vegetables she’ll grow in the garden.

Her son donated funds to buy the gazebo, and she served on the hospital’s community garden committee.

“My big thing is teaching the next generation to do sustained gardening, and to know where their food comes from,” said Forbes-Thorne, the hospital’s rehabilitation director. “I see how real this is. This is gold right here.”

Published April 6, 2016

Cafeteria lady basks in the limelight

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When Suellen Smith began stocking formal attire in a closet in the Zephyrhills High School cafeteria, she was hoping the effort would help create a little magic for some young men and women.

The cafeteria manager knew that most of the school’s students come from families that struggle financially, and she wanted to do her part to help.

During her visit to Washington D.C., Suellen Smith had a chance to see some popular spots for tourists. (Photos courtesy of Suellen Smith)
During her visit to Washington D.C., Suellen Smith had a chance to see some popular spots for tourists.
(Photos courtesy of Suellen Smith)

So, in addition to the hundreds of meals it serves up each day, the cafeteria is also known as being a place where students needing to dress for a special occasion can do a little ‘shopping’ for free.

What began quietly, around five years ago, has helped hundreds of students make special memories.

And, while it started with the idea of helping give students a time to remember, Smith’s compassion has resulted in the cafeteria manager having a few shining moments of her own.

The honors began flowing in last year when Smith received the Community Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Florida School Nutrition Association and the “Best Behind the Scenes” award from Pasco County Schools.

She was recognized on a bigger stage recently, when she traveled to Washington D.C., where she was honored by the School Nutrition Foundation as one of five School Nutrition Heroes in the country.

A video telling the story of Smith’s fancy clothes closet and the other ways she helps students was played during the Feb. 29 national event.

It was replayed on March 15, when the Pasco County School Board lavished praise on Smith — casting a spotlight on her accomplishments.

Smith never expected the attention or applause, but she is touched by the recognition.

“It was just happenstance that it started,” Smith said.

“I just had gotten involved with the county’s Cinderella Project, and then I realized that we could do it out of here, and I’d have dresses available for the kids’ homecoming and the military ball,” she said. “It has just grown bigger and bigger through the years.”

Suellen Smith gets ready to attend a reception honoring her and four other School Nutrition Heroes from across the country during an event in Washington D.C.
Suellen Smith gets ready to attend a reception honoring her and four other School Nutrition Heroes from across the country during an event in Washington D.C.

Since returning from the nation’s Capitol, she’s received a cash donation to help with expenses, she said. “I also got a box of dresses shipped to me from Maryland,” she added.

While helping kids, Smith said she gets something, too.

“Nobody has more fun with it than I do,” she said. “I gave three away yesterday. That was three times I got to get somebody dolled up, and leaving here like a princess. It was really fun.”

She basked in the glow of recognition at the national event.

“I was a celebrity for an evening — queen for a day — that’s what I say,” Smith said.

At the conclusion of her video, throngs of people approached her at the national awards ceremony.

“So many people came up and just hugged me. And, people cried,” she said.

While Smith doesn’t view herself as a hero, it means a lot to her to be appreciated, and she hopes other cafeteria managers will feel inspired to do what they can for the kids at their schools.

“I was blessed when I started in school food service that I worked with a manager that showed me that we could do more for the children than just lunch, that we could actually touch their whole life,” Smith said, during the video. “So, that’s what I try to do.”

Published March 30, 2016

Pigz in Z’Hills finds new home

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After months of discussions and planning, the popular Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival will have a permanent home.

The Zephyrhills City Council voted on March 14 to contribute $30,000 to build a new 14-acre event venue for use by nonprofit organizations at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, 5040 Airport Road in Zephyrhills.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce helped raise an additional $30,000 to help cover the costs for the nearly $60,000 project.

The venue is situated north of the Zephyrhills’ City Yard, stretching to Airport Road and backing up the southern boundary of the Lincoln Heights subdivision. It will feature a 20-by-40-foot stage, along with 48 vendor spaces equipped with water and electricity. Additionally, there will be an office, and enough space for freestanding vendors, business expos and children’s activities.

The annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest will have a permanent venue, starting next January. The 14-acre location will have permanent staging, water and electricity, and enough room to accommodate up to 15,000 attendees. (Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)
The annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest will have a permanent venue, starting next January. The 14-acre location will have permanent staging, water and electricity, and enough room to accommodate up to 15,000 attendees.
(Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

The property will be owned by the City of Zephyrhills, which will provide ongoing funds for site maintenance and staffing. To offset those costs, the city will likely create rental agreements for event hosts.

About six months ago, the idea for a permanent venue was proposed by the chamber of commerce after determining a larger site was needed to house ‘Pigz in Z’Hills.’

The tract of land the chamber had been using for the festival was about 2.5 acres.

The new venue will be able to accommodate up to 15,000 guests at a time, and will provide easy access and parking along South Avenue.

Chamber director Melonie Monson said the new venue is “an exciting step for our city.”

Monson noted: “This venue will help to improve our area aesthetically along with benefitting our community economically, and what will showcase the city.”

Zephyrhills City Council members concurred, with the passage of the matching donation.

“I believe it will benefit the city as a whole, financially,” said councilman Charles E. Proctor. “It’s a small price for us to donate…that we will recoup in the long-run.”

Melonie Monson, executive director for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, presented the venue plan in front of the Zephyrhills City Council on March 14. (FIle Photo)
Melonie Monson, executive director for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, presented the venue plan in front of the Zephyrhills City Council on March 14.
(FIle Photo)

“This is what Zephyrhills is all about. This is what we do in the community,” added council president Ken Burgess, regarding the hosting of community-wide events in Zephyrhills.

Monson, who presented the venue plan in front of the council, didn’t expect an approval this quickly.

“I’m so excited,” the chamber director said.

“We were going (to the council meeting) for more information, so we are thrilled that we’re ready to go forward with this, and they’re serious about it,” Monson added.

The new venue should be complete in time for the seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, slated for Jan. 21.

“That’s been the whole thing of why we pushed it so fast. We need it for next January,” Monson said about the construction of a permanent venue. “We start advertising in a couple of months, so we had to know whether this was going to fly or not.”

Monson pointed out that Zephyrhills was “in jeopardy” of losing the festival because of the amount of resources required to build a venue from scratch, which can total up to $10,000 each year.

Also, a significant portion of the old venue would be set up each year by volunteer Darrell Pennington.

“Darrell has done all the legwork, and he can’t go out there for a week, and literally for seven days be awake,” Monson said. “Physically, he can’t do it anymore, and we can’t ask him to keep constantly doing that.”

Pennington is pleased with new 14-acre location, especially because of its capability to better handle a large crowd.

“This past year, the band crowd has really grown. It’s become very popular, and it encroached on the vendors…and, that’s why it’s important that we get this new location with much more room,” he said.

According to Monson, ‘Pigz in Z’Hills’ has created an economic impact of over $1.3 million for Zephyrhills. Out of the 30,000 total attendees the past six years, over half have come from both outside the region and state, she said.

In addition to ‘Pigz in Z’Hills,’ the new venue expects to host other events for the Thomas Promise Foundation, Ride for Hospice and Paulie Palooza.

The permanent location may also open up opportunities to bring back the once-ballyhooed Zephyrhills Celtic Festival, and possibly a hot air balloon festival.

One potential issue raised during the council meeting was the amount of noise that may be created, since the venue will be near a residential area.

To counteract that issue, events will be limited to the daytime. Furthermore, the stage will have a sound barrier, directing the sound of music toward the airport, as opposed to the residential area.

Published March 23, 2016

Easter season filled with spiritual celebrations

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As Easter approaches, churches across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area are preparing for a host of spiritual activities.

Some churches will be hosting Good Thursday, Holy Friday and Easter Vigil services, while others will be focusing primarily on Easter Sunday services.

There will be community events, as well, to celebrate the season.

David Huff, pastor at Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, released the doves at the end of last year’s Easter service. A dove release is again planned for Sunday’s service. (Photos courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)
David Huff, pastor at Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, released the doves at the end of last year’s Easter service. A dove release is again planned for Sunday’s service.
(Photos courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)

In Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills-Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association will be leading the annual Good Friday Walk of the Cross.

Adults and families are invited to the walk, which takes participants on a 1 ½-mile pilgrimage with stops outside seven Zephyrhills churches.

Along the way, individuals take turns carrying the cross to different churches, and at each stop, a scriptural verse and reflection is shared.

The first stop on the walk will be on March 25 at 5:30 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, at 5316 11th Street. The walk concludes about 6:45 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 38635 Fifth Ave., where there will be a Good Friday service.

“This is such an amazing event, to have people from all different faiths and all different styles and denominations of Christianity, coming together for something in unity,” said Dennis Harmeson, president of the ministerial association. Until he participated in the walk, he said, “I had never seen anything like it,” regarding people’s willingness to lay aside the things they disagree about, in a show of unity about the things they agree on.

On Easter Sunday, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will partner with the ministerial association to present an annual Easter sunrise service, on March 27, beginning at 7 a.m. It will be on the front lawn of the hospital’s campus at 7050 Gall Blvd.

The service will feature a message from Dennis Harmeson, pastor at Zephyrhills Wesleyan Church, and music by Craig Garrison, a pharmacy regulatory specialist and volunteer spiritual ambassador at Florida Hospital Tampa, who is also a resident of Zephyrhills.

Pastor Nick Deford of First Church of the Nazarene, Zephyrhills, delivered the Easter message in 2015 before a crowd estimated at around 1,500.
Pastor Nick Deford of First Church of the Nazarene, Zephyrhills, delivered the Easter message in 2015 before a crowd estimated at around 1,500.

An offering will be taken for The Good Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills and for the ministerial association, which both are nonprofit organizations, and the hospital will provide complimentary refreshments.

Because of limited seating, the hospital suggests that those attending bring a lawn chair. The event will be held, rain or shine.

The sunrise service at the hospital is a tradition that began around 1985, said Doug Higgins, chaplain at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

“It’s kind of a gift to the community from the hospital, to encourage this important celebration of the year,” he said.

One of the highlights is the release of a dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Higgins said.

“That’s a great symbol of Christ’s resurrection, and new life within us, as well,” he explained.

The service typically draws about 1,500 people, he said.

Harmeson, who will be the main speaker at the sunrise service, said he will be focusing on the resurrection of Christ and “how we react, moving forward with the knowledge Christ died for us.”

Scores of churches of various Christian denominations also are planning special services leading up to Easter and on Easter Sunday, and we have some of those services in our What’s Happening section this week. Many churches also have information about the themes and times for their services posted on their websites.

Published March 23, 2016

Eighth-grader receives presidential honor

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An eighth grade student at Torchbearers’ Christian Academy in Dade City has received a presidential honor for her volunteer work at a local hospital.

Fifteen-year-old Savannah Jones was awarded a President’s Volunteer Service Award for 2015 after she spent the summer doing all sorts of tasks at Bayfront Health Dade City.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes citizens who have achieved the required number of service hours for a particular age group during a year.

Savannah Jones, an eighth-grader at Torchbearers’ Christian Academy in Dade City, received a President’s Volunteer Service Award for her contributions to Bayfront Health Dade City. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Savannah Jones, an eighth-grader at Torchbearers’ Christian Academy in Dade City, received a President’s Volunteer Service Award for her contributions to Bayfront Health Dade City.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

For youths between the ages of 11 and 15, those volunteering for 100 hours or more reach the “Gold Level” status, and receive presidential recognition, a personalized certificate and a congratulatory letter from the president of the United States.

Jones greatly surpassed the 100-hour qualifying figure by putting in nearly 175 volunteer hours between June 2015 and August 2015.

The middle school student typically volunteered eight hours a day, for three or four days a week, during the summer.

Jones said she was “excited” and “shocked” when she found out she was receiving the prestigious honor.

“I want to be a nurse or doctor when I grow up,” Jones said, so she thought volunteering at Bayfront Health would be a good experience.

According to Amy Fort, volunteer coordinator for Bayfront Health, Jones was willing to help in any area needed throughout the hospital and had a “can-do” attitude.

Jones’ duties included filing for the hospital’s accounting department, replenishing emergency supplies and greeting visitors at the facility’s front desk.

“I was like a floater,” Jones said.

“I really liked volunteering in the ER (Emergency Room), and before a patient comes in, I’d have to clean the beds and clean the rooms, and make sure that it was prepped for them,” she said.

Fort said that Jones “took great pride and initiative with her volunteer duties at the hospital. She was great at communicating and a bright spot in many of our patients’ days.”

Fort also noted that volunteers, such as Jones, serve as the “backbone” for the hospital.

“They are the first people to greet visitors, and they are our cheerleaders in the community,” the volunteer coordinator said. “Volunteers have played a critical role in our hospital for years, compassionately supplementing the services that (the) staff provides to patients, families and guests.”

Jones believes that more youth her age should volunteer in their spare time, especially at local hospitals, pointing out that many people need help.

In addition to her volunteer service, Jones is viewed as a model student by staff at Torchbearers’ Christian Academy, a school that has an enrollment of about 70 students, in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Principal Jan Yarbrough said, “everything stands out about her,” and added that the eighth-grader is “agreeable” and “works hard.”

When Yarbrough heard that Jones spent the summer volunteering at Bayfront Hospital, she said she wasn’t surprised.

Jones, according to the principal, ““seeks to please.”

“She has excelled and moved up tremendously, and is very much in charge of her life,” Yarbrough said.

Carolyn Babbitt, who is one of Jones’ teachers, describes the young woman as someone who is honest and wants to do well.

“Children grade their own work and the teachers re-grade it. She’s been very honest with that. If she’s not sure it’s right, she asks for some interpretation,” Babbitt explained.

Jones began attending the Christian school in 2014, after she and her parents realized that Pasco Middle School wasn’t an ideal fit.

“She has come a long way,” Babbitt said. “She’s gained all kinds of confidence,” she added.

She believes that Jones is thriving in the small-school setting, surrounded by people who accept her.

“It’s really helped her,” Babbitt said.

Jones admits she didn’t really start to enjoy school until she transferred to the academy.

“I started liking school, and I just wanted to come all the time,” she said. “I’m having good grades now, and I think it’s helped me more.”

Jones plans to continue volunteering for the hospital over the summer, and also plans to be a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

Published March 23, 2016

Zephyrhills projects on the way

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The Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) has several projects on tap for its 30-year master plan.

Gail Hamilton, in her first year as CRA director for the city of Zephyrhills, gave an overview of what’s expected during the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting on March 3.

The CRA oversees a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.

Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton spoke to the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on March 3. She outlined several projects for the CRA’s 30-year master plan. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton spoke to the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on March 3. She outlined several projects for the CRA’s 30-year master plan.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

Hamilton talked about the agency’s impending priorities—neighborhood cleanup, restoration of dilapidated homes and the development of Zephyr Park.

“The idea behind the CRA is that the city looks at the city limits and they look at…slum and blight conditions. …You look at different aspects of the community and you decide that the private sector, the market, is not going to bring up the conditions within that defined district,” Hamilton explained.

“One of the things the CRA does is look at the conditions, and try to come up with incentives…for people to invest and make the conditions better within the district, and therefore, increase the property values.”

Hamilton cited the Silver Oaks community as an example for the type of area the CRA is working to clean up.

“There’s no sidewalks, there’s no streetlights, there’s no driveways,” she said.

“People are parking on the grass, and the grass has died, and it’s just sand…blowing into the street. They haven’t painted the houses. The roofs are bad. There are appliances in the yards. Trash is blowing.

“Would you invest there? Would you buy a home? The answer is no,” she said.

The first step in improving the appearance of residential areas within the district was taken at the CRA’s last board meeting on Feb. 22, with the passage of a $10,000 Residential Paint Grant Program.

The program is open to residents of owner-occupied homes on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant provides up to $500 in matching funds. For example, if an owner spends $1,000 on paint, the CRA will provide $500. If an owner spends $400 on paint, the CRA will reimburse $200.

The Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) oversees a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.
The Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) oversees a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.

“We want to encourage people to paint their homes,” Hamilton said. “Nothing makes a house look better than a good coat of paint.”

In addition to residential properties, the CRA is looking to spruce up commercial property, and make the city more attractive for future business.

At the CRA’s next board meeting on March 28, the CRA is expected to pass a Commercial Sign Grant Program.

“Looking at the businesses around town, the signs really do need help,” the CRA director said. “The CRA is working to come up with designs for the different commercial districts, because if you’re on Fifth Avenue, the sign you put up is a whole lot different than the sign you would put up if you were on Gall Boulevard.

“We want to make sure you have an opportunity to put a sign up that is interesting, reflects your business, and really matches the district and the area that your business is in,” she said.

The CRA is making it a priority to incorporate better branding for “The City of Pure Water.”

“You go anywhere in the world and you say, ‘Zephyrhills,’ the first thing people say is, ‘water.’ Why is it that we have no water anywhere in downtown? There’s not a water fountain or even a picture of water,” Hamilton explained.

“When we finish this (30-year master) plan, at no time will you be in Zephyrhills that you don’t see, touch or hear water.”

Additionally, the CRA is embarking on a yearlong design plan for upgrading Zephyr Park.

Hamilton pointed out that a “great park” should make the city more attractive for visitors.

“It’s a great asset. It’s going to be a great investment for the city of Zephyrhills,” she said. “We will increase the redevelopment value of all the surrounding properties in that area.”

The agency is also in the midst of restoring the historic Jeffries House — leveling, replacing window frames and rehabbing the entire building.

“When you look at Zephyrhills, there’s not a tremendous amount of economic resources, so the historic resources we have, we want to honor them,” Hamilton said.

Published March 9, 2016

 

New Dade City Hall ready for debut

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Dade City residents will get their first official peek inside their new City Hall at a ribbon cutting on March 11 at 10:30 a.m.

City employees and law enforcement officers, however, are already getting accustomed to the new, 22,000-square-foot building. They moved in about three weeks ago.

“We’ve gotten settled in,” said Gordon Onderdonk, the city’s public works director.

(Courtesy of Wannemacher Jensen Architects)
(Courtesy of Wannemacher Jensen Architects)

Now, it’s the public’s turn to explore the new seat of city government, and the headquarters for the Dade City police department.

Ribbon-cutting festivities will include a performance by the Pasco High School Band, as well as speeches by guest speakers, a flag raising and a rendition of the national anthem. Those attending will be able to go on guided tours of the complex, and refreshments will be served.

Wannemacher Jensen Architects created a design for two separate buildings that are joined by an entryway canopy and a courtyard. One side of the complex houses city offices; the other is headquarters for the Dade City police force.

In preparation of the celebration, the Dade City Commission approved the temporary closure of Meridian Avenue from Fifth Street to the U.S. 98 Bypass from 8 a.m. to noon on March 11.

Construction on the new City Hall began in March 2015 on the site of the old building.

In the 1920s, developers planned a hotel at the location, but that was never completed.

During the Depression, the building found new life as a federal work project and served as the hub of city government for decades.

Through the years, city agencies outgrew the space and moved into other buildings.

During construction, some City Hall employees were relocated to an annex building and to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot on U.S. 98 at U.S. 301.

Consolidating offices in one building will make it easier for people to do business with the city, Onderdonk said.

“This is one-stop shopping for them to take care of everything. It’s all in the same building and will be convenient,” he said.

The city’s police department vacated its previous location on Pasco Avenue.

The new facility has typical features of a police department, including interview rooms, holding cells, a booking area, a special area for the K-9 unit and a conference room. But, there also is new and upgraded technology.

The city commission chamber also will benefit from technology upgrades, including a projector screen that will make it easier to observe meetings.

The approximately $5.9 million budget for the building’s construction came from the countywide Penny for Pasco program and the city’s reserve fund.

Published March 2, 2016

Parent input sought for grant application

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Pasco County Schools is seeking federal grant money for a before- and after-school program for some students at Cox and Quail Hollow elementary schools, and wants to hear from parents during the process.

The application requires community input, said Tony Harroun, a senior grant writer for Pasco County Schools.

So, a community night is planned for March 3 at 6 p.m., at R.B. Cox Elementary School, at 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City.

Quail Hollow’s community night was set for earlier in the week, on March 1.

The idea is to give parents a chance to weigh in on what they would like to see offered as part of the program, Harroun said.

The emphasis of the before- and after-school program will be on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, he said.

But, children may be interested in specific topics in science or other subjects, and the district would like to hear parents’ suggestions, Harroun said.

If the district receives the grant, he estimates that the program at Cox and at Quail Hollow possibly could accommodate about 50 children each.

The district hopes to receive funding for both schools, so it can provide additional ways to engage children in learning and make it more interesting and fun for them, Harroun said.

The district already has this program at one elementary school and at an afternoon program at three middle schools, including Stewart Middle School, Harroun said.

The application will be submitted for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.

The program it would fund is called STAR, which stands for Success Through Academic Readiness.

Children from private schools also are eligible for the before- and after-school program, but the school district would not be able to transport them, Harroun said.

Parents of private school children who are interested in learning more about the program and who would like to offer suggestions about the programming are invited to the community meeting, he said.

What: Community meeting
Why: To solicit parent input on a potential before- and after-school program.
Where: Cox Elementary School, 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
When: March 3 at 6 p.m.

Published March 2, 2016

Zephyrhills man turns trash into art

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From crafting hand drawings to designing T-shirts, Steven Spittka loves art.

The 51-year-old Zephyrhills resident and Navy veteran still recalls getting “straight A’s” in his high school art classes in Michigan.

Inside his workshop, Steven Spittka trims the edges of a soda can to make his art sculptures. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
Inside his workshop, Steven Spittka trims the edges of a soda can to make his art sculptures.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

Having that creative mindset sparked the idea that he could make art sculptures “out of trash” — about five years ago, when he saw empty cans littering the yard near the now-defunct Crosslight Baptist Church in Zephyrhills.

“I was cutting grass one day, and I saw trash all over the church’s yard and ditches. …I picked up an empty soda can, I looked at it, and I said, ‘You know what? You can make something out of this trash and give it away to other people,’ and that’s’ where I got started,” Spittka said.

“I can make somebody else happy out of trash and cans, basically.”

For Spittka, the projects are a fun hobby, and a way to give back to the local community.

He’s made soda can replicas for Woodland Elementary, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, and the Zephyrhills police and fire departments, without any charge.

Spittka even met with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, and presented him with a soda can sculpture that included two guns and a pair of handcuffs.

“He loved it,” Spittka said.

Steven Spittka creates everything from classic cars to musical instruments out of empty soda cans, hot glue and paint.
Steven Spittka creates everything from classic cars to musical instruments out of empty soda cans, hot glue and paint.

Most of Spittka’s artwork is given away for free, though some recipients insist on giving him “a few dollars.”

“Everybody says, ‘You are so kind-hearted that you give all your things away,’ and I say, ‘Well, that’s my nature,’ he said.

“I just enjoy doing things for other people,” he said.

With a combination of soda cans, hot glue, and paint, Spittka can design anything from classic cars and motorcycles to animals and musical instruments.

He noted he’s gotten “better and better” at creating figures from soda cans over the past few years.

Depending on the scope of the project, Spittka may use anywhere from a few soda cans to more than 50.

Some pieces may take less than an hour to several hours over multiple days.

His ideas for the art pieces come at a whim inside his personal workshop.

Spittka used recycled cans to create the patriotic image of a flag.
Spittka used recycled cans to create the patriotic image of a flag.

“I’ll go out there and think, ‘What can I make?’ So, I’ll start twiddling and cutting and molding the cans,” said Spittka, who also works at a local clothing store. “It’s all out of my head. I don’t look at anything.”

To find enough supplies to make all of his art, Spittka rides his bicycle around Zephyrhills searching out all sorts of empty soda cans. He also recycles the cans that his family has emptied to make sculptures.

“People just give me ideas. They’ll slip and give me a hint, like, ‘Oh, I like butterflies, and it triggers,’” Spittka said.

While Spittka could likely turn his skill into a side business, he prefers to just keep it as a hobby, and give away his works for free.

“I just enjoy doing things for other people,” he said. “It’s something different.”

Published March 2, 2016

Zephyrhills chamber names new director

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Zephyrhills native Melonie Monson has been named as the new executive director for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

She was appointed to the post on Feb. 16 and will begin work on Feb. 29.

She replaces Rod Mayhew, who held the job about three months before stepping down in January.

Monson, 54, spent the past year working as assistant city clerk for the city of Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills High graduate previously was the chamber’s member services coordinator for about a year, where she worked alongside former chamber director Vonnie Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen left the position in July 2015 to take on a similar role in Springfield, Oregon.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce hired Melonie Monson to serve the role as executive director, effective Feb. 29. She will be the chamber’s third executive director in nine months, following Rod Mayhew and Vonnie Mikkelsen. (Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce hired Melonie Monson to serve the role as executive director, effective Feb. 29. She will be the chamber’s third executive director in nine months, following Rod Mayhew and Vonnie Mikkelsen.
(Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Monson stood out during the hiring process because she’s a local resident, is familiar with the inner workings of the city and is a former chamber employee, said Tim Linville, chamber president and search committee chairman.

Another bonus for the selection committee was Monson’s business experience, Linville said. She owned and operated a hair salon business in Utah for more than 30 years.

Her background gives her perspective that will help in her new role, the chamber president said, noting, “our chamber is made up of mostly small business owners, so that makes it easier to understand their concerns.”

Linville said Monson’s familiarity with the city’s business and political leaders makes her an ideal fit for the position.

“Her starting point is so much quicker as compared to if we hired someone from the outside, where it would take six months to a year to get somewhat familiar with who the different players are and understand the (city’s) makeup,” he explained.

“We really haven’t had an official leader for about nine months. It’s about…making sure things are running correctly and then…make sure we’re on our strategic plan which we have set up for March.”

Monson, who’s been living in Zephyrhills for the past five years, said she’s “excited to get back in the community and make a difference.”

One of Monson’s main objectives is to facilitate the development of downtown Zephyrhills.

“The nice thing about me being over here at the city for the last several months is I now see the vision the city has, and the direction they’re trying to go with form-based code and “reimagine” Gall Boulevard. I also understand the direction the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is going in our downtown corridor… so I really think we can work together and find some businesses that will do great here,” Monson explained.

“The Zephyrhills Brewing Co., is going to be coming downtown. I’d love to be in on that, and help find a couple other businesses to come in and bring more people downtown,” she said.

Monson acknowledged that it will be a “bit of an adjustment” to go from being a member on the chamber’s staff, to assuming the leadership role.

“There’s always a challenge when you were working with people side-by-side and then you go back in, and now you’re over them,” Monson said. “But the (staff) is amazing, and we work well together, so I don’t anticipate too much of a challenge.

“I’m not sure if any confidence has been lost with things being changed so quickly, so I’ll watch for that and see if that needs to be addressed when I get in there,” she said.

In addition to her own ideas, Monson wants to garner feedback from fellow chamber employees on additional programming.

“It’s a team effort. It’s not a one-person job,” she said. “We all have to work together with the same type of goals.”

When she worked as the chamber’s membership services coordinator, Monson said she “learned a lot” from Mikkelsen about the duties of the executive director position.

“I learned how she interacted with people…and understood that relationships are far more important than anything monetary. …Most of the executive director position is being out there in the community and seeing what’s needed,” Monson explained.

“I learned a lot about understanding the role of a nonprofit, which was new to me and a little bit different,” she said.

Monson will make her own daily agenda.

Her first plans in office include completing the new chamber directory and locking in a permanent venue for the chamber’s annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ and Blues Festival.

Published February 24, 2016