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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Meals On Wheels keeps delivering for East Pasco

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East Pasco Meals on Wheels attracts a lot of good people to the cause of preparing and delivering meals to the homes of those who need them.

The group includes hardworking and community-minded volunteers, and is led by a former postmaster.

“I just prayed that God would put me somewhere I could be used. When this (opportunity) opened, it was ideal for me,” said Beth Aker, who left her position as postmaster of the Saint Leo post office a few months ago to take the position of executive director.

These Meals On Wheels ‘doghouses’ are receptacles stationed throughout Zephyrhills where residents can bring recyclables for the organization. The recycling helps fund the organization’s operations, which are approaching $200,000 a year. (Courtesy of East Pasco Meals on Wheels)
These Meals On Wheels ‘doghouses’ are receptacles stationed throughout Zephyrhills where residents can bring recyclables for the organization. The recycling helps fund the organization’s operations, which are approaching $200,000 a year.
(Courtesy of East Pasco Meals on Wheels)

Aker was already familiar with the organization, since she had volunteered for them in the past.

In her new role, she’s tasked with trying to expand the program, reach people who need their services and raise enough money to keep things running smoothly.

Achieving those goals starts with education, Aker said.

Many people think Meals On Wheels is just for the invalid or homebound.

They do serve people in those situations.

But they also serve many people who temporarily prefer to have a meal delivered.

People in that category include individuals recovering from surgery or recovering from the loss of a spouse.

If there’s a need, Meals On Wheels can deliver each weekday for just $4 a meal.

There’s a board-reviewed program that considers financial hardship cases as well.

Another misconception is the type of food they deliver. These aren’t simple, frozen meals cobbled together from donations.

Considerable care goes into making sure customers get a variety of meals, and they’re never frozen.

“Our meals are cooked fresh every single day here,” Aker said. “Every meal comes home-cooked.”

A recent menu offered barbecue pulled pork, potato salad and baked beans one day, and sliced ham with oven-roasted potatoes and applesauce on the next. They also come with other sides and a dessert.

Meals On Wheels also makes accommodations for dietary restrictions for vegetarians and those with diabetes or allergies.

It also provides a varied menu.

Customers might go two months without seeing the same meal repeated, Aker said.

Each day the organization serves between 110 and 120 meals, with that number dropping a bit when the snowbirds leave town. Serving that many meals around lunchtime is a challenging task, and Meals On Wheels relies on a team of volunteers to make sure the meals get to their intended recipients in time.

Two of those volunteers drive their route together.

After 63 years of marriage, Dick and Kate Rudnicki are used to doing things as a team. They’re retired, but still enjoy doing one route a week, and sometimes more when Meals On Wheels is short-staffed.

“We like to volunteer, and we know people need things. It’s something we enjoy doing,” Dick said. On a busy day they’ve delivered as many as 21 meals, starting in the late morning and finishing up around noon.

The Rudnickis are from Michigan, and were snowbirds until recently, when they decided to become full-time residents. They’ve been volunteering for Meals On Wheels for years, and believe it’s an important service for many people in the area.

“I think it’s a great organization,” Dick said. “It really serves a desperate need.”

Serving that need is valuable, and it’s also expensive. Operating costs approach $200,000 per year, and the East Pasco chapter doesn’t get any state or government funds. Their money comes from donations from individuals and businesses, and a recycling program that allows residents to donate what they would leave on the curb anyway.

East Pasco Meals on Wheels has receptacles (they call them “doghouses”) in various locations around the Zephyrhills area, including parks. Residents who are interested in donating to their cause can leave cardboard, aluminum cans and newspapers, which will then be picked up by the organization. Meals On Wheels receives the proceeds from those recyclables.

That money goes to help fund their day-to-day operations, which they hope to expand in the future.

There’s a need for expansion.

Meals On Wheels has had to turn away people in the Wesley Chapel area because they don’t have the volunteers to serve them.

And, if they have to turn away people who need their meals, Aker feels like they’re not doing their job.

“Everything that we do, we hope to grow to be able to help more people,” she said. “Because there is such a need out there for lots of different reasons.”

And when those needs are met, the people who receive meals are very grateful.

The Rudnickis, who are in their 80s, plan to keep continue delivering meals as long as they’re able.

Part of the satisfaction of volunteering, Kate said, is the response they receive from customers.

“You get hugs and you get thanks, and it’s very rewarding,” she said.

East Pasco Meals On Wheels is located at 38145 15th Ave., in Zephyrhills. The organization is always in need of driver and kitchen help. For more information, call (813) 782-2793.

Published April 29, 2015

Zephyrhills puts in strong bid to buy Hercules Park

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The Zephyrhills City Council voted to put in a bid with the Pasco school board to buy Hercules Park and develop a master plan to restore the historical park and former aquatic center.

Council members had a special public meeting April 20 to discuss options including purchase of approximately 2.5 acres of the park that has long been rumored as a site for a Race Trac gas station.

The decision was to offer $1.7 million for the entire 15.5-acre park, said Mayor Gene Whitfield.

The deadline for submitting the bid was April 24.

“There was a little bit of a time crunch,” Whitfield said.

Buying the entire park from the school board leaves less chance for a gas station or other commercial development at that corner of the park, the mayor said.

“We have nothing against private enterprise,” he added, “but this is a choice piece of property with a deep history in our community.”

The school board in early April announced plans to put a small parcel at the corner of U.S. 301 and County Road 54 up for commercial sale. The city council previously had been asked to rezone the site. In return, city officials had expected to reach agreement with the school board on a long-term, $1 a year lease for the remaining acreage.

The fate of Hercules Park has been under discussion for nearly two years, with some residents lobbying the city to negotiate for ownership.

The funds for the city’s bid, if accepted, would come from park impact fees, the Penny for Pasco program and about $700,000 from about $3.3 million in the city’s reserve fund, said City Manager Steve Spina.

The city could have an advantage over commercial bidders who would likely have to complete time-consuming environment impact studies, Spina said.

“We could settle right away,” he said. “I think it’s a viable option.”

The park got its name from the Hercules Powder Co., once the largest employer in Zephyrhills. The company processed pine stumps into rosin, turpentine and pine oil. Its property sprawled across 80 acres that became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

More than two decades ago the school district gave the site to Pasco County with the stipulation that it be operated as a park or be returned to the school district. The county closed the facility nearly four years ago because it was too costly to operate.

Whitfield said it’s important to preserve green space as a balance to renewed commercial growth in the area. The north side of Zephyrhills needs more park amenities, he added.

“We want to make sure it (Hercules Park) goes back to being a park,” he said.

If the city wins the bid, a master plan will be crafted to restore the park, including the aquatic center. No hard figures on restoration costs will be available until such a plan is completed.

“We have some grant opportunities we can pursue,” Spina said. “A large part of the park would remain wooded and passive.”

Published April 29, 2015

Club offers venue for artistic growth

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Artists always need venues to display their art and kindle their passion for creativity.

The Zephyrhills Art Club has been a friend to the local art scene for nearly 40 years, encouraging both budding and professional artists.

“It’s hard to find a place to show your work,” said Gainor Roberts, art instructor and retired art curator for the Carrollwood Cultural Center. “(The club) is great for networking.”

Artist Gainor Roberts, left, offers a critique of a painting by Zephyrhills Art Club president Joyce Owens. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Artist Gainor Roberts, left, offers a critique of a painting by Zephyrhills Art Club president Joyce Owens.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Roberts was a recent guest artist at the club’s monthly meeting and offered critiques of paintings by its members. Much of the art was on display in a “member mini-show” that featured garden scenes. Members later voted on their favorites.

Nelida DiLorenzo got some advice from Roberts on her garden scene that highlighted a pair of ethereal sprites. The painting had earned her a second place ribbon.

Roberts — who continues to teach and paint — is known for her still life and landscapes, and works in egg tempera, oil, pastel, watercolor and monotype.

DiLorenzo appreciated the critique.

“This gets you excited,” she said. “You have the interactions. You have to have the input from people.”

The club was founded in the mid-1960s by a group of local artists, including Ruth Coe who died in 2004.

Currently, the art club has more than 90 members. Its youngest member is 10; its oldest members are in their 80s.

In addition to its monthly meetings, the club has workshops, field trips and special events to encourage networking and artistic growth. The club also sponsors an annual juried art show.

Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., at the First Christian Church at 6040 Eighth St., behind the post office in Zephyrhills.

“It’s open to anyone,” said Joyce Owens, the club’s president.

In March, the club hosted a workshop in watercolor techniques led by Chinese artist Lian Quan Zhen. Other workshops have featured artist Betty Fairbanks on acrylic painting techniques and DiLorenzo on techniques in portrait painting.

Owens took one drawing class in college but always wanted to paint.

For decades her pursuit of art took a backseat to her service in the U.S. Army. “It was only the weekend thing,” she said.

Now retired, she works part-time but paints as much as she can, and has sold some works.

The club’s youngest member is 10-year-old Lilly Hernandez whose butterfly painting earned an honorable mention.

She began painting animals and flowers in acrylic and watercolor about two years ago. She joined the art club a few months ago. “It’s hard, but I enjoy painting them,” she said.

“All the members are so friendly.”

The young artist has “painting days” with her grandmother, Kathleen Munn.

“I kind of got her started,” said Munn. “We have a great time painting together. Her great-grandmother also inspires her to paint.”

Munn said her sister is a portrait artist. “I never thought I could do it,” she said. “I just started and taught myself, and I really love it.”

A visit to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., several years ago, proved inspiring to Tom Myers. “I’ve always liked art but never really thought I could get into it,” he said.

The Michigan native brought a landscape to the mini-show depicting a roadway and a field of mustard grass.

He, too, appreciates critiques.

“We’re looking for a little constructive criticism,” Myers said.

Longtime member Olga Burghdorf walked through the mini-show with Hernandez. They stopped in front of each painting to point out what they liked about each one.

Burghdorf, 86, joined nearly 20 years ago. She learned to watercolor first and then added other skills, including painting on glass. “I’m not a master of anything,” she said. “I just enjoy doing it all.”

She looks forward to the club’s meetings and extra activities.

“It’s just a chance to meet people and see other artists. It opens up a lot of doors.”

For information on the art club, call (813) 780-8562.

Published April 22, 2015

Rubbing shoulders with scientific researchers

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Joseph Militello, a junior at Pasco High School, is one of 90 students from throughout the world selected to attend a summer scientific research program at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Militello will spend seven weeks immersed in the 57th annual University of Florida Student Science Training Program.

Joseph Militello plans to spend seven weeks this summer participating in a scientific research program at the University of Florida. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Joseph Militello plans to spend seven weeks this summer participating in a scientific research program at the University of Florida.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

He was chosen for the residential study program through a highly selective application program, according to background materials from the University of Florida.

The curriculum includes 28 hours a week in a science or engineering research lab, where participants are involved in ongoing research as part of a mentor’s lab team.

Militello also will write a research paper, give two research talks, attend faculty lectures, go on field trips and take part in activities aimed at helping him to build leadership skills.

The program was established in 1959, and since then has involved more than 4,300 academically talented students from 20 states in the United States and from countries around the world.

Militello is excited about the possibilities.

“I’m nervous, but confident at the same time,” the 17-year-old said.

“I’m nervous because it will be one of the first times I’ve been thrown into a situation that I have absolutely no idea who I’m going to be with, what I’m going to be studying,” he said.

“I know I’m going to struggle, because it’s going to be very rigorous,” he added, noting that he has been fairly laid back with his high school courses.

He’s looking forward to meeting other students involved in the residential research program.

He thinks there’s a chance he could develop some lifelong friends, because others taking part in the program have interests that are similar to his. Militello also thinks the experience of working with researchers will have a lasting impact.

At this point, he’s keeping his career option open.

He’s drawn to dentistry, but is also intrigued by genetics.

The residency program also will help him have a better idea regarding whether he would want to consider a career in scientific research, he said.

He hopes that he’ll be doing research in dentistry during the UF program, because he’s already developed a bit of foundation in that arena.

He’s shadowed some Tampa Bay area dentists.

He’s spent time with Dr. Mark Farina, who is an orthodontist; Dr. Patrick Abbey, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon; and Dr. Louis Cerillo, who practices general dentistry and does implants.

As part of his application, Militello had to submit letters of recommendation from two teachers.

Jacqueline Watson, a mathematics teacher at Pasco High, was one of the teachers that recommended him for the program.

“I have known Joseph for three years, and he is not only a great student but very mature for his age,” Watson wrote.

“Besides being gifted academically, Joseph also works well with others.

“He realizes that, while some things come easy to him, that is not always the same for other students.

“Joseph offers to tutor students that are struggling and is patient when doing this.

“Joseph is one of those students that comes along and, as a teacher, you feel fortunate to say you had him in your class. He challenges you to step up your game, because he wants and needs that challenge. I am amazed at all he has and is still accomplishing, and he would be a genuine asset to your program,” Watson wrote.

Militello said he enjoy tutoring others, because he has personally gained from being tutored.

Watson tutored him to help him build his skills. Then she became his mentor, and now she is a friend, Militello said.

In another part of the application, Militello was asked to write about someone who has been influential in his life. He chose to write about his stepdad, Paul Finora.

“I admire his thoughtful discussions and the way he weaves a life lesson into every conversation,” he wrote in part.

“He is my dad, and I cherish that. Any man can create a child, but it takes a father to raise one,” he added.

Militello said his interest in science began when he was in elementary and intensified during middle school.

He credits Michael Demaree, a science teacher at Centennial Middle School, for making the topic more attractive to him.

“He (Demaree) was always very interested in what he was teaching. He was always very human with his students,” Militello said.

“He was a very understanding teacher. He encouraged his students to explore different aspects of their life — other than just show up to school, do your work, go home and sleep.”

“He wanted everyone to be a very well-rounded person. He would talk to people about football. He would talk to people about band.

“You weren’t a number,” Militello said.

Besides enjoying mathematics and science, Militello’s other interests include music and boxing.

He boxes every Saturday. He plays the trumpet, French horn and guitar.

His mom Brenda Finora and his stepdad, Paul Finora, are ecstatic about his selection for the program.

It’s a big deal, his mom said.

But it’s also expensive, she added. It costs $5,000 to attend.

Militello is covering part of those costs by working part-time as a bus boy at Texas Roadhouse.

The family had been hoping that a portion of the costs could be covered by scholarship funds from local organizations, but those are already earmarked for other students, his she said.

So, a scholarship fund has been set up at San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union. Donations can be made by writing a check out to Joseph Militello and noting in the memo portion of the check that the check is intended for the Joseph Militello Scholarship Fund.

Donations also can be dropped off at any branch of the credit union or mailed to the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 1057, San Antonio, Florida 33576.

If they would like to donate directly to the UF-SSTP Program to help cover his expenses, send a check payable to the University of Florida – SSTP, writing Joseph Militello in the memo section of the check.

The address is University of Florida- SSTP, 334 Yon Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Published April 22, 2015

State loan could pave way for four-lane State Road 56

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The money isn’t in anyone’s bank account yet, but a state loan program might be the solution to fund the widening of State Road 56 to four lanes from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills, according to a press release from State Rep. Danny Burgess and State Sen. John Legg.

The lawmakers, in consultation with the Florida Department of Transportation staffers, including Secretary Jim Boxold, are looking to the State Infrastructure Bank as a potential source for a low-interest loan.

A low-interest loan from the state may be a way to create a four-lane extension of State Road 56, which now ends in Wesley Chapel over to Zephyrhills. (File Photo)
A low-interest loan from the state may be a way to create a four-lane extension of State Road 56, which now ends in Wesley Chapel over to Zephyrhills.
(File Photo)

The loan could be made to Pasco County for the cost of building additional traffic lanes.

The infrastructure bank provides loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects that qualify for aid under federal and state law.

To start the process moving, a letter of interest must be submitted by May 29 for the loan to be included in the bank’s 2016 cycle.

“This is a much needed project,” said Burgess. “It’s important for economic growth to our area, a benefit that affects all of Pasco and all of the region.”

County officials plan to meet with state officials on April 16 to get details on how the loan would work.

“We’re still in early stages of exploring this,” said David Goldstein, Pasco’s assistant county attorney.

To many, the four-lane extension is a decade-long unfulfilled promise.

“I’m afraid if we let this go by now, it will be another decade,” said Charles Proctor, president of the Zephyrhills City Council and a long-time Zephyrhills’ business owner.

Current plans are to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, as a two-lane road. Even for this two-lane project, money is an issue because land from adjacent landowners must be purchased for right-of-way.

If the state paid for four lanes, state highway officials said some other project on Pasco’s list likely would not get done.

The low-interest loan could be a way to avoid that scenario, but the effort to secure a loan faces hurdles including buy-in from the county and state, as well as from property owners and developers along the planned extension.

“This cannot get done unless the state, the county and the private sector come together for the benefit of our East Pasco county residents,” stated Legg in the press release.

The city of Zephyrhills is pressing its case.

As recently as mid-March, all five Zephyrhills’ council members, Mayor Gene Whitfield and City Manager Steve Spina headed to Tallahassee to lobby for four lanes as a priority for State Road 56.

This followed a February town hall meeting where area residents, elected officials and business owners met with Burgess, Legg and Goldstein to plead for construction of four lanes, not the current two lanes being planned. Legg raised the possibility of state funds being repaid with a loan but didn’t think the state had a mechanism for such a transaction.

Goldstein said he had some familiarity with the state bank, having explored its use for other county projects. He broached the subject at the meeting’s conclusion to Debbie Hunt, transportation development director for the Florida Department of Transportation. “She ran with it,” he said.

Since then the county has had ongoing discussions with developers and property owners whose land could bring thousands more homes as well as retail and industrial development to the area. Among the largest land tracts is the Two Rivers Ranch with about 3,500 acres. About half of the 6.7-mile extension would cut through the ranch.

“The county is not interested in putting a lot of money into this. It’s a state road,” Goldstein said. “There are a lot of other priorities. If there is a loan, we expect developers to pay it back. We might be a conduit.”

Before the Pasco commission can sign off on anything, Goldstein said there are a lot of details that must be worked out including how much money would be needed, terms of the loan and, most importantly, who would be responsible for the payback.

Spina applauded the new effort to find a solution.

“I think it’s pretty inventive of them to come up with an idea like this to find the money,” he said.

It makes more sense, Spina said, to do four lanes now and not wait five or more years when the project likely would be more costly.

Proctor envisions a major economic boost to the area’s commercial development if the four-lane road is built. He has heard from business owners who would like to locate in Zephyrhills and surrounding areas and from owners who would consider expanding operations, if there was an improved road for getting in and out of the city.

“I see nothing but positive,” Proctor said.

Published April 15, 2015

Compromise settles dispute over racetracks

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Dirt bike champion Chad Reed agreed to give up two hours of practice time on Saturdays, and the Pasco County Commission agreed to let him have a new permit for his dirt bike training compound on Duck Lake Canal Road.

The Saturday restrictions are part of a negotiated agreement that also requires Reed to maintain recording equipment for time-stamped videos of racetrack activities. He must keep the videos for 30 days for potential county review. Other rules spell out additional riding hours during the week, the number of riders at any given time, and a ban on any public uses for the tracks.

Reed and neighbors on the rural road in east Pasco have been battling for several years over the use of motorcycle racing tracks that Reed says are essential to his professional career as a racer in Motocross and Supercross competitions. The Australian native is a multiple American Motorcyclist Association Supercross champion.

Some of his neighbors say Reed’s dirt bikes roaring around and around the tracks create excessive noise at all hours.

“We’d prefer to have crickets and cows …. but we understand property rights,” said Dade City attorney Len Johnson. He represents the Larkin family — neighbors to the Reeds — and supported the compromise. “We’ve been working diligently to come up with something that works on all sides.”

The county sued Reed in 2013 and won an injunction to block use of most of the racetracks. One track approved in 2004 was excluded from the ban. The lawsuit alleged that Reed built additional tracks that didn’t have county approval.

The commission voted on April 8 to approve a new permit as well as a settlement agreement to end the litigation. A special magistrate will have authority to mediate future disputes between Reed and his neighbors.

“We think this is a great solution, so we won’t keep having these problems,” said attorney Barbara Wilhite, who represents Reed and his wife Ellie Jo Reed. The Reeds are trustees for the Reed Children Trust, the property’s owner of record.

The total property is about 63 acres, with about 24 acres developed as a racing compound. All tracks are outdoors but include two replicas of indoor tracks as well as two buildings and a go-kart track.

Not every neighbor is happy with the outcome.

Karol Klein brought a petition with 150 signatures of people asking commissioners to deny the permit. He said about 40 of those people lived in proximity to the Reed’s property.

Daniel Cox, the attorney for Klein and his wife, told commissioners the tracks are not compatible with the “little gentleman farms” within the rural setting.

Duck Lake Canal resident Ken Keith is among those who opposed the permit. “He (Reed) just comes there to cause a loud disturbance with his motorcycles,” he said.

But Darwin Croft said he lives within 800 feet of the Reeds and has no problem with the couple. A property owner should be able to do most anything he wants on his property, Croft said.

“If I stop and think about motorcycles…I can hear them,” he said. “It’s not an obnoxious sound. It’s motorcycles.”

Published April 15, 2015

 

Zephyrhills author is a natural at telling stories

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Some readers like religious stories.

Others enjoy a good mystery.

Still others might be drawn to a tale of light romance.

All of them would find something in Dede Hammond’s newest book.

Dede Hammond has filing cabinets full of stories, but many of them can now be found in her books, including ‘Open the Door to One Short Story After Another,’ which came out last December. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Dede Hammond has filing cabinets full of stories, but many of them can now be found in her books, including ‘Open the Door to One Short Story After Another,’ which came out last December.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The Zephyrhills’ resident published “Open the Door to One Short Story After Another” late last year.

The book is a collection of diverse stories. Instead of picking one genre and filling the pages with a collection of similar stories, she has allowed different types of tales to be part of her latest work.

For Hammond, 76, writing has been a way to be creative since she was 10 years old.

“My dad said I had a vast imagination, so I figured I’d better use it,” she said.

That imagination led to her short story collection, as well as her first book, 2013’s “With the Best of Intentions.”

Neither book was done to fill a need to be a published author. Hammond was a feature writer for a newspaper in New York, before she retired to Florida.

She wrote the book because she wanted to put her stories in one place for her children, rather than them having to dig through her filing cabinets to read them.

“Julie (her daughter) always wanted to have the stories, and she thought I’d just put it on a disk,” Hammond explained. “I thought, she doesn’t want that file in there full of stories when I pass on. And so I thought I’d just put them in a book.”

As a result, she self-published “With the Best of Intentions” on Amazon, where it’s available as a physical book and in their Kindle e-book format. “Open the Door” is also available on Amazon in physical book format. And, there’s enough unpublished material for at least one more book.

And that’s even if she didn’t write anything else.

But she’s still writing.

In fact, Hammond runs a regular writing group that includes people who are working on biographies and other types of stories.

One of the regulars is her husband of 28 years, Gordon. He’s published his own collection of essays that blend humor and political views. He’s a fan of his wife’s stories, and prefers one genre in particular.

“I like the mystery stories that she writes. They have an ‘O. Henry’ ending,” he said, referring to the turn-of-the-century author known for his surprise endings.

Although “Open the Door” contains different types of stories, they do have some things in common: None of them have cursing or explicit adult content. Hammond likes to create what she calls “safe” stories that keep the reader engaged with interesting plots and perhaps an unexpected twist at the end, but are safe for just about anyone to read.

Many of the stories were originally printed in magazines, and many are a testament to the author’s persistence.

“I sent 23 to Woman’s World before the 24th one was accepted,” she recalls.

Now there are plenty of “safe” stories for the Hammonds and their four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to enjoy. And with a growing collection of stories and several still unpublished, there should be more to come.

“I like to share the stories with people, to tell you the truth,” Hammond said. “I never thought about making money. That wasn’t the point.”

For more information about “Open the Door to One Short Story After Another” and “With the Best of Intentions,” visit Amazon.com and search “Dede Hammond.”

Published April 15, 2015

Dade City and Zephyrhills pool their water

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Zephyrhills and Dade City will connect their water systems as a hedge against emergencies and future development along U.S. 301, the highway that runs between them.

City commissioners in both cities recently approved a 25-year interlocal agreement to turn their spigots on if either city is in need. Each city would pay whatever the going rate is at the time.

The first step is installing about 3 miles of 12-inch water pipes and fire hydrants along the east side of U.S. 301 from Phelps Road to somewhere near the highway’s intersection with U.S. 98 Bypass in Dade City.

“The water will be used on an as-needed basis, mainly for emergencies,” said John Bostic, Zephyrhills’s utilities director.

But city officials want to prepare for more rooftops and shops that could one day populate the highways and byways of Zephyrhills and Dade City.

A $2 million grant awarded to the City of Zephyrhills by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will pay for construction. The project’s design, by Jones Edmunds & Associates, is nearly completed. The construction contract will be bid this summer, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2016.

Bostic said the initial plan to route the water pipes along the west side of the highway changed when the Florida Department of Transportation decided to install 10-foot wide multi-use trails on the west side of the road as part of a repaving project.

Construction on that project is under way.

The dividing line for maintaining the new water lines and serving customers will be Centennial Road.

Both cities rely on multiple public wells to supply residents and businesses with drinking water drawn from the Floridan aquifer system. Zephyrhills draws most of its water supply from wells permitted within the Hillsborough River Groundwater Basin, with some water also from a small portion within the Withlacoochee River Basin.

The Southwest Florida Management District is the state agency that issues water use permits. Currently the Hillsborough River basin is on the agency’s list of “areas of water resource concern.”

Dade City’s permitted wells are within the Withlacoochee basin.

“Hillsborough is definitely more restricted,” said Gordon Onderdonk, Dade City’s utilities director.

The long-range strategy of a unified water system traces back to the East Pasco Water Coalition, which was founded in 2009 through an interlocal agreement with Zephyrhills, Dade City, St. Leo and San Antonio. Onderdonk said the group meets about twice a year.

Predictions then were for demand to exceed water supply within 20 years. Swiftmud records show demand is high, but municipalities have reduced overall water usage in the last five to 10 years. Water restrictions, including limited lawn watering, and reclaimed water programs are among reasons for the decrease.

But as the economy recovers, developers are eyeing new projects that could add to water demand.

“There’s a lot of talk about (development) along U.S. 301,” Bostic said.

If it materializes, Zephyrhills and Dade City officials say linking their water systems will be a good backup.

Published April 8, 2015

Local computer whiz spins success

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Friends and family knew about his geeky side long before he took the leap into computers and web design as a full-time job.

As a teenager, Thomas Giella Jr., built his own computer.

“I always helped out people on the side with their computer issues,” he said.

Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

He launched his web design and marketing business, Gear Spinners, more than a year ago. Now he has two offshoot companies, Techsoft Academy and i-gent, and a $1,000 check pinned to a calendar in his office with a paper clip.

“I plan to get a frame for it,” Giella said.

The check is his prize for winning third place in the inaugural SMARTstart Business Challenge on Jan. 29. The Pasco Economic Development Council, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the New Port Richey Economic Development Department and SCORE sponsored the contest to celebrate Business Development Week.

The SMARTstart incubator program is an initiative of the Pasco EDC, with locations in Dade City and New Port Richey.

About 20 businesses, both on and off site, are members of SMARTstart. They include technology companies, sales and marketing, and new attorneys. One company completes personal assessments to reduce company turnover.

“We have a pretty diverse membership,” said Krista Covey, the managing program director at Pasco EDC and director of SMARTstart.

Giella competed against about 20 companies to earn one of five spots in the finals that were held at the SMARTstart incubator site in New Port Richey. Judges included representatives from Pasco’s business and academic community.

First place winners were Brian Anderson and Janel Norton of Veterans Alternative Therapy Center in Holiday. Second place went to Greg Smith of Savealator in New Port Richey.

The competition was modeled after Shark Tank, the television show where contestants make a pitch to a panel of investors.

The pitch can be a nerve jangling trial, but Giella kept it simple.

He had 10 minutes to “sell” Techsoft Academy to a panel of judges including representatives from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative and Pasco-Hernando State College. Judges then had 10 minutes to quiz Giella.

“I tried to think like a customer,” he said. “I thought about all the stories I’ve heard from my clients. It was an awesome learning experience.”

Giella earned office space at SMARTstart’s incubator site in Dade City about five months ago. He works out of a small office at the Dade City Business Center, at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103.

His services with Gear Spinners include web design, development and web hosting. Techsoft Academy can help bloggers and businesses go a step further by offering classes that teach more advanced skills. And i-gent caters to Realtors who need website management.

“Some people are go, go, go,” said Giella, and they likely don’t have time to spend on a website. But others, he said, want to do more of the work themselves.

Giella also helps organize Tampa Bay Word Camp, a group that offers conferences to teach skills in Word Press for blogging, business and social media.

Recent clients include the owners of the Yeoman’s Cask & Lion, a British-style pub that will open soon on Morgan Street in downtown Tampa. The pub is a new location and a rebranding for the former Yeoman’s Road Pub on Davis Islands, south of downtown Tampa.

His contest prize money will help buy new equipment to enhance his business, including a DSLR camera and microphone.

Giella started working on a business plan in 2013 to turn his hobby into a brick-and-mortar reality. A few months ago SMARTstart approved his application, and he moved into the business center.

Membership fees for on-site businesses start at $100 a month with tiered increases based on profitability. In return, fledgling entrepreneurs get office space, mentors, seminars and classes.

“They want to see what you’re up to, how much you’re making, is it going to create jobs,” Giella said. “It’s great the amount of stuff we talk about. It’s not common that you can talk about business in front of others and actually get good advice back.”

Giella graduated from Saint Leo University with a degree in business management. He launched a profitable business selling LED lighting for motorcycles, but sold the company two years ago.

“Everyone kept wanting me to build websites,” he said.

Gear Spinners and Techsoft Academy are gaining traction. Giella has a handful of proposals that could increase his client portfolio. If business picks up, he could be hiring his first employees in the next months.

“I can’t wait until I can hire people,” he said. “But I’m taking it one step at a time.”

He credits SMARTstart with giving him a chance to prove his new business has potential.

“My confidence level is boosted,” Giella said. “That’s key. People can see that.”

For information on Gear Spinners, contact Giella at (813) 235-0554, or visit GearSpinners.com. For information on SMARTstart, contact Covey at (727) 478-0670, (352) 437-4861, or visit SmartStartPasco.com.

Published April 1, 2015

Farmers market offers fruits, vegetables — and a dance

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June Wentworth went looking for a pleasant walk around the lake on a sunny morning at Zephyr Park and before she knew it, the 83-year-old found herself in the arms of a dance partner who glided her through the bittersweet memories of Garth Brooks’ “The Dance.”

Gospel singer Kris Pierce had just sold a copy of his CD to Wentworth who was impressed enough to say yes to her surprise of the day – the singer’s invitation to dance.

Amanda Jones (in ball cap) talks with a shopper who is checking out Jones’ array of homemade clutch bags, potholders and accessories. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Amanda Jones (in ball cap) talks with a shopper who is checking out Jones’ array of homemade clutch bags, potholders and accessories.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

“He’s got a great voice,” said Wentworth, a Maine native visiting Zephyrhills for a couple of weeks.

She had stopped at Zephyr Park for that quiet walk and discovered the Zephyrhills Artsy Farmers’ Market, off State Road 54 at 38116 Fifth Ave.

Pierce and his wife, Melissa, were at the market for their second time.

The singer is a frequent entertainer at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and Ralph’s Travel Park, both in Zephyrhills.

During the farmers’ market, Pierce sang covers and original tunes under the gazebo at water’s edge. His wife, Melisssa, sat at a display table covered with her husband’s CDs, collections that range from gospel songs to covers of Elvis Presley.

“I do a little bit of everything,” Pierce said. “Pretty much everything but heavy metal and rap.”

He was among about 15 vendors who set up tents and displays under the cathedral canopy of oak trees near the park’s entrance.

The market got its start downtown in Times Square Park on Fifth Avenue with just a few vendors about a year ago.

In October, the market moved to the larger and more tranquil setting of Zephyr Park.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the second Wednesday and fourth Saturday of each month. Beginning April 25, the market will become a fourth-Saturday-only event.

The market, staged by Largo-based Simply Events, needs more vendors.

Owner Sonya Bradley hopes to eventually have about 30 businesses selling everything from cheese to breads to specialty foods. “We’re going to keep adding to it,” she said.

Ashley Samnani, who sells Rainbow vacuums and cleaning supplies, was among the original group of vendors who launched the market at the downtown location.

Samnani likes the park setting much better.

“Now (the market) is growing expansively,” she said.

On a recent Wednesday, the Brandon resident had a drawing at the park to give away three air purifiers.

“It’s nice that it’s in this location,” Samnani said. “People in the park visit (the market). It’s like a family the way we all interact.”

Keeping it local is Simply Events’ goal, said Andrew Cecere, the company’s vendor consultant.

Owners of Zephyrhills-based Peaceful Pastures Farm were on hand selling free-range eggs. The farm also produces free-range Cornish Cross broilers and turkeys.

Amanda Jones, 30, and her mother-in-law, Phyllis Stonebarger, were selling handmade items including clutches, drawstring bags, coaster sets and potholders. They spread their wares across a folding table. It was their first time at the Zephyrhills’ market.

“I’ve always wanted a sewing machine,” said Jones who lives in Wesley Chapel. “One day I bought one. I’m self-taught, a lot of YouTubes (YouTube videos).”

Natalie Avila, 21, Kornilous Donnell Sr., 25, and their 1-year-old toddler, Kornilous Donnell Jr., all of Zephyrhills, enjoyed a stroll through the park, cool drinks and fruit from Come Under the Yum Yum Tree, a produce company from Brandon.

“It adds to the community,” said Donnell Sr., “I like that they are getting vendors that are able to sell produce. Zephyrhills needs more businesses anyway. This is great.”

Pam Nethers of American Pride sold jewelry and accessories from her home-based business in Fort Myers. Lida Livingston, owner of Livs Coffee Place, sold organic coffee.

Her mobile business is based in Lakeland, but she travels for weddings, corporate events and house parties.

Maryann Hendricks, 67, brought her Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, children’s dresses and accessories from Clearwater. Her grandmother taught her to sew.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “I’m teaching my granddaughter to sew.”

For one family from Zephyrhills, jams and pickles, and baby quilts are a growing business. ITTs Homemade is an intergenerational venture that began as a fun project in the kitchen. They were among the original vendors at the downtown location.

Grandmother Irene Secrest, 80, does some of the preparations, such as peeling the apples. But she said, “I let them do the cooking.”

While her daughter, Teisha Disbrow, and granddaughters, Teresa Hicks and Tabytha Silverman, are busy canning strawberry jams, pumpkin butter, banana peppers and sweet pickles, Secrest settles down to her specialty – making baby quilts.

Their home-based business also was among the original vendors at the downtown location.

“There’s a lot more people coming here,” Hicks said. “It’s just a prettier setting.”

The next farmers’ market at Zephyr Park will be March 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For information, contact Simply Events at (727) 674-1464.

Published March 25, 2015