The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Going weekly in East Pasco further proves bright future

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We hear talk all the time that newspapers are failing everywhere, and that no one under age 30 will ever read an old-fashioned print paper like the one in your hands.

Our readers are proof that these doom-and-gloom predictions are wrong, at least when it comes to community papers like The Laker/Lutz News.

There are more than 60,000 people who read our papers every week, and another 13,000 unique visitors to our website and 2,000 Facebook likes. That’s a lot of people in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City — a number that represents 79 percent of the households in the ZIP codes we serve.

We’re so optimistic about the future of newspapers that we’ve made significant investments in recent months to improve the quality of our papers in order to attract even more readers and advertisers.

The biggest and most noticeable change was last August, when we increased our page size by 30 percent to become the same size as most daily papers.

Today we are announcing another major investment — this one for our readers in Zephyrhills and Dade City. Beginning in January, the East Pasco edition of The Laker will once again be a weekly paper — publishing every Wednesday just like our editions in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

We’ve been publishing a Laker for East Pasco residents for 10 years, beginning as a weekly and then changing to an every-other-week format in late 2011 during the height of the economic crisis. Back then, local businesses could only afford to advertise every other week, and we adjusted our business plan accordingly. But now, with our economy getting better every day, we’re ready to return to a weekly format.

Going weekly means we will include our new B Section in our East Pasco edition, a section that adds eight more pages of feature stores, photos, contests and puzzles. It also organizes all of our classified products in one section to make them easier to find.

This addition will give East Pasco readers 22 to 24 pages to read, instead of the 14 to 16 pages they receive now.

Going weekly also means that Publix will begin inserting its grocery circular in our East Pasco edition. This is in addition to circulars from Publix Liquors, SmartSource coupons, Michaels Stores — and beginning in March, Lowe’s.

It’s a big deal for most readers to get their weekly Publix circular inside their Laker so they can plan their shopping a day or two before the store’s weekly sales begin. We are thrilled to be able to provide this circular to our readers in East Pasco, especially since Publix is building its first store in Dade City in 2015.

And it’s a big deal for our company to have Publix choose our papers for its circular program. Publix is a huge testament to the effectiveness of advertising in our papers, and to the loyalty of our readers to support our advertisers and shop local.

As we get ready to go weekly in Zephyrhills, you’ll begin to see new bylines from reporters who are helping us expand our news coverage. While my staff already does a fine job writing about issues that impact readers in East Pasco, publishing weekly will obviously allow us to publish more stories on a more timely basis.

East Pasco readers also will see more stories in their paper from Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes and Lutz. After all, residents of Zephyrhills and Dade City do not live in a bubble and are part of the greater Pasco community.

We know you care about what happens in neighboring towns because you shop, worship, attend school, and have friends and relatives who live there.

And that is what makes us different from other community newspapers, which only report news about happenings in Zephyrhills and Dade City. We believe East Pasco residents have much broader interests and want to read well-written stories about things that affect their lives, and read about the many good things happening in all communities of Central Pasco and East Pasco.

My staff and I are excited to take our East Pasco edition weekly in just a few weeks. We recognize this big step for our business would not be possible without the loyalty of our readers and the support of our advertisers, and we thank you for that.

We truly look forward to becoming an even more vital part of your routine — not just twice a month, but every week.

Published December 10, 2014

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Zephyrhills wants respect on State Road 56 expansion

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Just about every road leading to Zephyrhills is two lanes. And for what is soon to become the largest incorporated city in Pasco County, leaders there says it’s time for that to change.

Yet, whether it’s U.S. 301 from the south, State Road 54 from the west, or now the new extension of State Road 56 into the airport business park area, Zephyrhills just can’t get any respect.

Steve Spina
Steve Spina

“The rest of (State Road) 54 has been widened in the county, but not Zephyrhills,” one resident and local businessman, Nils Lenz, shared in a recent letter. “Why is Zephyrhills being left out? The population within the city limits of Zephyrhills — with all of the recent annexing in the last few years — (is) only about 200 less in population than New Port Richey.”

Lenz, the owner of B & N Lenz Enterprises, was reacting to news last week that the Florida Department of Transportation was cutting funding of the State Road 56 extension project from $60 million to $35 million. While the 6.7-mile road will connect Wesley Chapel’s Wiregrass Ranch area with U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, it is no longer a four-lane project.

Cone & Graham, the last contractor standing in the bidding process, will still have to convince property owners along the route to donate 250 feet of right of way, room enough to build up to six lanes. However, that won’t be built until traffic studies require it and additional funding becomes available.

Zephyrhills city manager Steve Spina expressed local frustration to state lawmakers, including former mayor and new House District 38 representative Danny Burgess, during a legislative delegation last week in Land O’ Lakes.

“We believe it’s vital to southeast Pasco County and Zephyrhills to the municipal airport to have four lanes of funding as it’s built initially, and not piecemeal as we go forward,” Spina said.

State Sen. John Legg said he and Burgess want to have a town hall meeting to discuss some of the city’s transportation issues in January or February. The east-west corridor of the county, the Lutz Republican said, is becoming more congested because of the residential growth there.

The meeting, Legg said, could help the lawmakers decide how to move forward, and possibly move some projects up on the list, including the possibility of making the State Road 56 extension four lanes.

The Zephyrhills City Council may not wait that long. It was scheduled to vote on a resolution during its regular Monday meeting imploring state lawmakers to back the expansion of State Road 56 to the city now, rather than later. The resolution cited, among other things, the residential growth in the city, as well as $5 million in facility improvements at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, which also serves as an industrial park for the city.

Councilmembers want FDOT to revisit its construction schedules, and based on new budget priorities from state lawmakers, fund the four-lane expansion.

Lenz doesn’t want the transportation discussion to stop at State Road 56, however. He feels it’s time the state look at finally widening State Road 54 — something that has been talked about for more than a half-century — and which has been widened everywhere except one last major stretch between the eastern side of Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills.

FDOT has approved widening that road to where it meets Morris Bridge Road and Eiland Boulevard, but still won’t take that final leap into downtown Zephyrhills.

“In comparison to the other ideas … (State Road) 54 is absolutely the best option,” Lenz said. “It will be less expensive than all the other options suggested” as rights of way have already been acquired, usually a costly and time-consuming process in building a new road.

Published December 10, 2014

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New ordinance could have predators on the run

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Registered sexual predators and offenders already have to stay at least 1,000 feet away from areas where kids might congregate. If Mike Moore gets his way, those convicted of sexual crimes could be pushed back even further.

Moore, who joined the Pasco County Commission last month, is expected to propose a new countywide ordinance in January that would increase the distance registered predators and offenders have to stay away from children areas at 2,500 feet, or nearly a half-mile. That would include everything from schools and day cares, to the thousands of bus stops located around the county.

Mike Moore
Mike Moore

And if that means there’s nowhere left for predators or offenders to live, Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco says he’s OK with that.

“It’s not a bad day if they all leave the county,” he said. “You get a guy who did a sexual battery on an 11-year-old girl, and I propose that anybody who is against this, let that person move into your house. If you feel like we’re beating up on that person, let them move into your house, or let them move next door to you.”

It’s not clear exactly where those who are convicted and registered predators and offenders would be able to live, but Moore said during a news conference Monday there are some pockets in the county that would still be legal if the ordinance were to pass. It might come off as highly restrictive for those who have been convicted of crimes, but the safety of children should come first and foremost, the commissioner added.

“Anything we can do to reduce the opportunity for sexual offenders and sexual predators to come into contact with these children is a positive for us,” Moore said. “Looking from the outside and looking in, they’ll understand that Pasco is a safe place.”

Although Moore has not discussed the proposal with other commissioners, he said he has talked to the county attorney, Jeffrey Steinsnyder. A draft of the ordinance might echo similar ones in other areas, including one in Miami-Dade County. The ordinance there strengthens state law that already restricts those convicted of a sexual battery, lewd and lascivious act on or in the presence of a child under 16, the sexual performance by a child, or selling or buying of minors for portrayal in sexually explicit conduct, to reside within 1,000 feet of any school, day care center or playground.

The Miami-Dade ordinance, however, only restricts residency within 2,500 feet of a school. The Pasco ordinance, Moore and Nocco said, also would include bus stops, day care centers, libraries, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

“Anywhere that our most vulnerable citizens congregate,” Moore said.

The Miami-Dade restrictions were enough to prompt the American Civil Liberties Union to file a lawsuit in federal court, claiming the ordinance is too onerous, and does not give registered predators or offenders any place to live.

Moore won’t let this hamper his efforts to move the proposal forward, however.

“We can’t be scared of lawsuits when we propose an ordinance,” he said.

Such an ordinance would have to be approved by the full county commission, which will not even officially get an introduction to Moore’s plan until its next regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 13.

Nocco was a vocal supporter of Moore during his political campaign to replace longtime commissioner Pat Mulieri. Nocco appeared in a television advertisement as well as mailers supporting the commission campaign.

Published December 10, 2014

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Holiday happenings abound: Prepare to have fun

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Whether it’s a stroll along Christmas Card Lane in Lutz, tree lighting festivities in Zephyrhills, synchronized tree lights and music at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, or a magical Christmas parade in Dade City — there are plenty of holiday events in coming weeks to put on your calendars.

Several events are planned in anticipation of the holidays in Lutz.

Here’s just one of the displays that visitors are likely to encounter if they visit the Old Lutz School during the holiday season. (File photo)
Here’s just one of the displays that visitors are likely to encounter if they visit the Old Lutz School during the holiday season. (File photo)

Shoppers looking for a unique gift may want to check out the 2014 Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival at Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, on the weekend of Dec. 6-7.

The annual event attracts more than 250 vendors, offering a wide array of items including paintings, photography, jewelry, woodcarvings, ceramics and pottery, and stained glass.

The juried art show awards cash prizes as the year’s biggest fundraiser for the GFWC Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, and supports a multitude of community organizations and activities. The event also features various food selections, including the woman’s club’s famous peach cobbler.

The event’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7. There is no admission charge, but parking costs $2.

The Lutz community also is planning a couple other events likely to appeal to those who enjoy old-fashioned holiday festivities. At the 18th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N., visitors can walk through rooms to enjoy holiday displays, listen to musical presentations, sip a cup of hot chocolate, and nibble on a cookie.

There is no admission charge, but donations are accepted. Proceeds are used for the Old Lutz School. Canned foods and new toys also are accepted to provide for those less fortunate.

It’s open this year from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 16, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. For a nominal fee, children can enjoy breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13.

For those who like entertainment, the heartwarming Christmas musical, “3 Wise Men and a Baby” may be just the ticket. Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz, is presenting free performances of the play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14.

Lutz also is planning another community event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, when it will showcase its Christmas Card Lane.

The event features the displays of four-by-eight-foot illuminated holiday cards, along with performances by children from local schools, a visit by Santa, hot chocolate and cookies.

The event takes place at the corner of U.S. 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road in the vicinity of the Lutz Train Depot near the library.

Those who enjoy holiday concerts may want to plan on attending one of two presentations of “A Saint Leo Christmas,” at Saint Leo University in the town of St. Leo. The free presentations are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms of the Student Community Center, 33701 State Road 52.

Although admission is free, those attending the 7 p.m. show must call to reserve tickets to be assured seating. To reserve a seat, call Tamra Hunt at (352) 588-8294.

The Founders Garden Club of San Antonio also is gearing up for its annual “Christmas in the Park,” held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the city park.

The event includes lighted Christmas cards placed around the park by area businesses and families. After the lighting, the Rev. Santiago Huron and his musical family from Heritage Bible Church of San Antonio will present a Christmas concert.

The event also includes refreshments, carol singing, and a Nativity blessing by the Rev. Edwin Palka.

Those who enjoy watching parades may want to mark their calendars for the 2014 Magical Night of Christmas Parade in Dade City at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5, and the parade planned for 6 p.m. on Dec. 6 during the Festival of Lights in Zephyrhills.

The Dade City parade, organized by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, will feature bands, floats and walking units.

In addition to the parade, the Festival of Lights, presented by Main Street Zephyrhills, has a theme this year of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Another event likely to draw a big crowd is the 30th annual Lighting of the Trees, hosted by Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, on the front lawn of the hospital, 7050 Gall Blvd.

The event includes decorating trees, entertainment, a live Nativity, Santa’s arrival, skydivers, and of course the tree lighting and some fireworks.

Forest Lake Estates, 6429 Forest Lake Drive in Zephyrhills, has its annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 6. It will feature handcrafted items including jewelry, jams, decorations and other goods.

Those who enjoy a lively Christmas lights show can swing by The Shops at Wiregrass to take in its seventh annual Symphony of Lights. The holiday light show features a 55-foot tall tree and more than 250,000 lights, synchronized to music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Shows run nightly, on the hour, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., through Dec. 31 at 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel.

Wesley Chapel also has a new performing arts company presenting O. Henry’s heartwarming story “The Gift of the Magi.” Dreamhouse Theatre will present the play at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Bridgeway Church, 30660 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

Tickets at the door are $22 for adults, and $17 for students and kids 12 and younger. Tickets also are available at a discounted rate online at DreamhouseTheatre.com.

For those who don’t mind venturing out of the area to take in some holiday sights and sounds, there are a host of offerings that they may find enticing.

The Celebration of Lights is a new attraction in Tampa Bay, which features a mile-long route that motorists can drive along to see a dazzling display of animated lights.

The event was the vision of Dave Parrish, a community leader in West Pasco who died before his vision could come to life.

The event is open at dusk on Nov. 27-30, and Dec. 5-Jan. 4 at 15325 Alric Pottberg Road in Spring Hill. Entry fees are $20 per car and $40 for a 14-passenger van.

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First Class: Support the Troops remembers those serving overseas

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Mark Van Trees received the Champion of Service Award presented by Gov. Rick Scott on Nov. 12 for his work with Support the Troops. And it would be a good story — except Van Trees doesn’t like talking about it.

“It’s certainly not deserved,” the Wesley Chapel organization’s director said.

Mark Van Trees, left, Steve Dieulio and teacher Colleen McCormick load up more than 320 pounds of candy donated by Academy at the Lakes. The school donates leftover sweets to Support the Troops each year. (Michael Murillo/Staff photo)
Mark Van Trees, left, Steve Dieulio and teacher Colleen McCormick load up more than 320 pounds of candy donated by Academy at the Lakes. The school donates leftover sweets to Support the Troops each year. (Michael Murillo/Staff photo)

Instead, Van Trees prefers to talk about the dozens of volunteers who stock, store and pack the steady stream of care packages that get shipped to military personnel overseas. He believes they’re the ones who deserve to be honored.

He also likes talking about Bob Williams, the founder of Support the Troops, who worked tirelessly growing the organization until an accident in 2012 left him unable to continue the project.

Williams deserves the credit, Van Trees insists, as indicated by the hundreds of certificates of appreciation addressed to him that decorate Van Trees’ office and the walls of the facility, located at 29807 State Road 54, that ships the packages. Williams now resides at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, and Van Trees is now the person who works six days a week, raising money for the seemingly endless postage expenses associated with shipping thousands of care packages overseas every year.

The recipients live on military bases that don’t have the facilities for personnel to get the basic comfort items we take for granted in the United States, he said.

And while receiving the award was a proud moment, Van Trees keeps a more personal kind of recognition in a box by his desk.

“Thank you so much for the gifts. They are greatly appreciated,” reads one card from a member of the military.

“Thank you very much for your recent donation,” starts another from a group hosting a charity golf event.

“We would like to offer our sincerest gratitude and appreciation,” continues another card.

They arrive daily from different groups and individuals from the Tampa Bay area and throughout the world. The thank you cards are small but meaningful tokens of gratitude from those who have been touched by Support the Troops and its mission, and each one means a lot to its director.

“We read every one and then we post them out there (in the work areas) and we let all the volunteers know,” Van Trees said. “They’re not for me. They’re for the volunteers.”

The packages themselves mean a lot to the recipients and the entire unit that shares in the bounty. Coffee, toothpaste, razors and socks are minor comforts, but coveted items for military members stationed far from home.

Once Support the Troops gets requests from the soldiers or their families, volunteers assemble a 50-pound care package and dispatch it to bases in Africa, Afghanistan and other locales.

They also take donations, whether it’s pallets of surplus Girl Scout Cookies or a single five-pack of razors. They accept private donations and whatever few dollars local residents can spare. The donations go to military-related causes, whether the items get shipped in care packages, or provide comfort to local homeless veterans, or are donated to other organizations with similar goals.

They also ship a lot of candy, and those supplies are often replenished by donations as well. Last week, more than 320 pounds of Halloween leftovers made their way to Support the Troops courtesy of Academy at the Lakes, a private preparatory school in Land O’ Lakes.

The school’s National Junior Honor Society collects candy for Support the Troops every year, and the amount they donate grows annually as well. Colleen McCormick, a teacher at the school who delivered the candy, said the school was enthusiastic about seeing it all go to a worthy cause.

“Our families are so great and so involved,” McCormick said. “It’s rewarding for (students) to see it all come together and then being given away.”

Even though donations keep the shelves stocked and the boxes full — and the volunteer staff keeps things moving — postage costs can be daunting. At nearly $50 per package, it adds up quickly. Support the Troops spent more than $160,000 last year, Van Trees said, just to ship the packages.

But if that’s the cost to fulfill every request and keep the post office busy (each recipient receives packages every couple of weeks while stationed overseas), Van Trees will keep finding a way to pay the tab. The important thing, he said, is that the ones sacrificing overseas, and missing holidays, birthdays and other life events with their family, never feel forgotten.

Even if the media moves on to other topics, or spends more time on celebrities than soldiers, Van Trees wants people to remember there are still thousands serving in remote locations whose days are brightened by receiving a box shipped from Wesley Chapel.

“It’s like Christmas,” he said of their reaction when receiving a package. “The thing we battle every day is to let people (here) know they’re still over there.”

To make donations to Support the Troops, or request care packages for a member of the military, call (813) 991-4256, visit OurTroopsOnline.com, or e-mail Van Trees at .

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Military museum remembers Pearl Harbor Dec. 7

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History is filled with dates schoolteachers want their students to remember. But there is one that no one can forget — Dec. 7, 1941.

That’s when Japanese forces conducted a surprise air raid on American military installations at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor. At the time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the date would live in infamy, and 73 years later, it’s still being remembered, including Dec. 7 at the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History.

Part of an annual event at the museum, 39444 South Ave., a few of the remaining Pearl Harbor survivors make the trek to share their stories, and give visitors a chance to directly touch history.

“It gets harder and harder for them to get going in the morning, so we keep pushing back the time,” said Ted Johnson, a volunteer and vice president of the board that runs the military museum. “But that doesn’t stop them. They look forward to this every year, and are right here, even though they are pushing their 90s.”

This year’s event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is free to the public, although donations also will be accepted. It will make it a full weekend for the museum, which normally is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Age is now taking a lot of the veterans from that great war, yet interest remains strong in the world’s battle against Nazism and fascism. A good portion of the military museum — itself in barracks that were used by U.S. Army pilots during World War II — is dedicated to that.

Yet, it’s tough to beat talking to actual eyewitnesses of a major historical event like Pearl Harbor.

“These guys love to tell their stories about what happened that day,” Johnson said. “It never gets old to them, and it never gets old to me to see it.”

This is one of a series of events the military museum has throughout the year, including special observances of D-Day and other historical milestones. It not only brings people together with history, but also introduces others to the museum that has been at the barracks for more than a decade.

“People still come up to us and tell us they didn’t even know the museum was here,” Johnson said. “That surprises me, but I’m glad that we’re finding ways to let everyone know what we stand for.”

The museum is free to the public on Saturdays, and will open for special visits from schools and other groups during the week, and keep expanded hours during Lakeland’s Sun n’ Fun weekends in April.

So much has happened since that day where the United States was drawn into a world war — the assassination of John F. Kennedy and 9/11 just to name a couple — yet, Johnson said the Pearl Harbor attack is something that must be remembered.

“History does have a way of repeating itself, and it happens regardless of whether we learn the lessons before or not,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of scary to say that, but unfortunately, it’s going to happen again. But if you don’t remember the story, you’re most certainly doomed to repeat it again.”

If you go
WHAT: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
WHEN: Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Zephyrhills Museum of Military History, 39444 South Ave., Zephyrhills
COST: Free
INFO: Call Cliff Moffett, (352) 206-1819

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It’s crunch time for annual holiday toy drive

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Bob Loring isn’t Santa Claus. Yet he has some 250 elves at his disposal, and he seems pretty jolly about his job.

“I’m the head elf,” Loring said. “It’s a thrill. Personally it’s so rewarding. I get to work with and be around the neatest people in Pasco County.”

Bob Loring will do whatever it takes to get the word out for his annual local Toys For Tots campaign. (Michael Murillo/Staff photo)
Bob Loring will do whatever it takes to get the word out for his annual local Toys For Tots campaign. (Michael Murillo/Staff photo)

The retired Marine doesn’t look like Kris Kringle, either, but he does share a common goal with the Christmas character. With the help of elves (volunteers), he distributes toys to boys and girls during the holiday season.

The difference is that Loring does it in real life.

Loring heads up the local Toys For Tots chapter, part of a national program that distributes toys to needy children run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for more than 65 years. He took the helm back in 1999, and in his first year, the group distributed toys for nearly 400 children in the Dade City area.

But he knew it wasn’t enough.

To expand, Toys For Tots would have to increase the number of communities it serves. Most people who donate want the recipients to live in their area, Loring said. As a result, they’ve broadened their efforts to provide a happy holiday to children in Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel, as well.

The donations have gone up, too. Loring expects to distribute toys to around 4,000 children this year. And the method of distributing them is almost as important as the donations themselves.

Toys For Tots relies on school counselors to identify needy children and families. Then, instead of simply distributing bags of gifts based on age and gender, a parent or guardian will go to a local center where one of the elves helps them choose from the available toys for each child in the family.

Every recipient receives a couple of bigger gifts as well as some stocking stuffers to make sure they have a few things to open. Someone who knows them handpicks them all.

This method ensures the right gift goes to the right recipient, Loring said, because the parent or guardian has a good idea what each child would like. Some children might be more or less advanced for their age, and finding suitable gifts requires more than guesswork based on how old they are.

Letting a parent or guardian choose the gifts themselves provides another benefit: dignity.

“I want the parent, first of all, to be treated with kindness, to be brought into the Christmas spirit,” Loring said. “We’re not here to make people feel uncomfortable that they’re asking us to help them.”

By playing a role in deciding what their children receive, the experience is more in line with traditional gift giving.

While the organization has provided toys for decades, Toys For Tots had to adjust with the times. They still have collection boxes at various locations and businesses where people can donate new, unwrapped toys. And they still have their annual toy drive with the National Association of Letter Carriers, where residents leave toys by their mailboxes and the letter carriers pick them up on their postal routes.

The problem is that fewer people know about it.

The U.S. Postal Service previously allowed Toys For Tots distribute free mailers to each resident, letting them know when the drive would take place. But a few years ago they stopped providing that benefit due to costs, Loring said, so his organization has had to get more creative in getting the word out on when to leave toys for their letter carriers.

He admits that current donations would be even higher if not for the mailer setback, because many residents don’t know exactly when it occurs.

Still, with some assistance from the national Toys For Tots organization and mostly local donations, the chapter provides presents for thousands of local children each year. And with some help from other groups, Loring has built a network of add-ons to accompany the holiday presents.

For example, faith-based organizations and Rotary Club sponsor Food For Tots and Skivvies For Tots, offering food and clothing for those in need. And down the road, Loring would like to add Shoes For Tots as well.

But for now, Loring will settle for another successful toy drive for needy area families. And in doing so, it also will translate into a happier holiday for those volunteers who find it can be better to give than to receive.

“My elves get more out of this than the families we help. That is true,” Loring said. “They come away with the Christmas spirit and they take it home. It’s magnificent.”

The Letter Carriers’ toy drive is set for Dec. 6.

For more information about local Toys For Tots efforts, contact Loring at (352) 588-4230, or at .

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Dunn deal: Home sweet home surprises Dade City resident

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Mary Maldonado stepped into a driveway in Dade City on Nov. 7 expecting to take a few photos in front of a home she was preparing to buy.

She got a lot more than she bargained for.

Warrick Dunn greeted Mary Maldonado and her son, Leonni, at the driveway of the house she was preparing to buy. He surprised her with a fully furnished home, a fully stocked kitchen, and $5,000 of mortgage assistance. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Warrick Dunn greeted Mary Maldonado and her son, Leonni, at the driveway of the house she was preparing to buy. He surprised her with a fully furnished home, a fully stocked kitchen, and $5,000 of mortgage assistance. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Maldonado arrived with her infant son, Leonni, and was greeted by Warrick Dunn, former NFL player and philanthropist. His charity, Homes for the Holidays, helps single parents realize their dreams of owning a home.

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County, who helped Maldonado through the home-buying process and set her up with an advantageous loan, Dunn welcomed her into a fully furnished home with a well-stocked kitchen. From living room furniture to a bedroom set for Leonni, the home was move-in ready.

She signed the ownership paperwork, received her keys, and accepted a ceremonial check for $5,000, which went toward her mortgage, courtesy of Homes for the Holidays.

Not bad for a Friday morning.

“Seeing the house and everything, it definitely paid off,” Maldonado said. “It’s very exciting.”

It also was Maldonado’s hard work that paid off to get to this point. As part of Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyer program, she had to put in 400 hours of volunteer work, which she scheduled around her full-time job. She also attended special classes on home maintenance and safety to prepare for ownership and help her navigate through unfamiliar challenges.

The volunteer hours and classes are worth it when their customers finally see themselves as homeowners, according to Gloria Sadler, director of family services for Habitat for Humanity.

“They’re humble. They can’t believe it,” she said. “They can’t believe that I got them to this point.”

Sadler teaches the homeowner classes and walks the homebuyer through each step in the process, explaining forms and helping them get their paperwork together.

While Habitat for Humanity provides a no-down payment, interest-free loan, applicants need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. They must have a need for affordable housing and have been at their current employer for at least one year.

And while they don’t need perfect credit or a specific credit score, applicants must demonstrate that they have a history of taking responsibility for their debts.

“Not everyone qualifies,” explained Stephanie Black, director of development and public relations at Habitat for Humanity. “We’re not doing them any favors by putting them into a home that they can’t afford.”

As a result of the screening process, volunteer work and classes, default rates are very low.

This was the 140th event for Homes for the Holidays, and Dunn — a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer — has been to almost all of them in the charity’s 17 years. For Maldonado’s celebration, he had to drive in from Atlanta. But he believes it’s important to attend each one while he can.

“For me, it’s the experience,” Dunn said. “Getting those expressions and how they react.”

Sometimes the reactions come later, after the presentation and when the new homeowner can sit in their house and realize it really belongs to them.

While he often has to travel to attend the events — Homes for the Holidays has helped families in a dozen cities and plans to keep growing — Dunn pays for all his travel expenses out of his own pocket.

Dunn’s charity honors his mother, Betty Smothers, who died before realizing her own dream of home ownership. Now his charity helps single families realize that dream, and Dunn said he witnessed the true importance of charity’s work after he saw the first event covered on television.

“When I went home and I watched the news, then it really hit me, the impact that I had that day,” he said. “Now I really understand the impact on the community.”

Habitat for Humanity’s impact is seen in new homeowners like Maldonado and those who are going through the process of buying a home. And completing that process results in a great deal of satisfaction for both the homeowner, and Habitat for Humanity’s employees as well.

“I love it,” Sadler said. “To see the smile on the family’s faces, to get to know the kids and the family, it’s an honor and a privilege to work for Habitat for Humanity.”

Published November 12, 2014

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It’s Bug season in Pasco County this weekend

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When you think of words that go great together, “bug” and “jam” aren’t at the top of the list.

What is Bug Jam, anyway? Something you eat on a dare? A crazy collection of insects?

Fortunately, it’s neither of those. But it is one of the more popular annual events in Pasco County.

At Bug Jam you’ll see plenty of VW Bugs, of course. But there are plenty of other Volkswagen vehicles on display, too. (File Photo)
At Bug Jam you’ll see plenty of VW Bugs, of course. But there are plenty of other Volkswagen vehicles on display, too. (File Photo)

Now in its 26th year, the Pasco Bug Jam is a tribute/competition/celebration of all things related to the Volkswagen Beetle, affectionately known as the Bug. It also includes entries for the VW Thing and the VW Type 2, also known as a VW camper or bus.

But really, the star of this show is the Bug. And there are a lot of them. The Bug Jam has 66 separate vehicle classes for judging, and around 18 — more than any other — are devoted to the Bug.

Proud owners will show off their cars, convertibles and campers in a family-friendly setting on Nov. 9 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

But wait a minute: You’re not a VW Bug fanatic, you say? Why should you care about Bug Jam? Well, you don’t have to be obsessed with Bugs or cars of any kind to enjoy this event.

If you were obsessed, you’d probably be competing in one of the categories yourself. But thousands come every year to see the beautiful antique cars, lovingly restored and maintained by their owners. Some of these vehicles are more than 50 years old, and get more attention and care than we do.

Just checking out all the entries is a fun trip down memory lane.

But there’s a lot more to do than look at cars. There will be games, activities for children, and contests for visitors of all ages. A disc jockey will play music all day long. And you’ll also see a performance by a Blues Brothers tribute band.

By the way, they aren’t just guys who throw on suits and ties and pretend to be the Blues Brothers, the iconic characters made famous by “Saturday Night Live” stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The Jake and Elwood Blues Revue has opened up for many mainstream music acts, played with the original Blues Brothers band, and were even part of the “Blues Brothers” 25th anniversary DVD.

They know all the songs, all the moves, and throw in a lot of audience participation. If you like the Blues Brothers, it’s worth going for this show alone.

And if you do like the VW Bug, you should have had this circled on your calendar for the past year. Besides all the different makes and models, there will be more than 100 vendor booths, where you can get new and used parts, collectibles, toys and who-knows-what other Volkswagen-inspired merchandise. Add in giveaways, trivia and other car-themed events, and you have a full day of fun.

And if all that’s not enough, they also do something called Stuff the Bug, where they try to squeeze as many people as they can into a Beetle. Would you believe they once got 21 people into one? They’re trying to break that record this year, too. Do you really want to miss that?

So it sounds like a really good time. But how much does it cost? Well, since you’re reading it in our On the Cheap column, you know it isn’t much.

Admission is just $5 per person, and it’s $5 to park. So stuff some friends and family into your car (don’t try to break their record, OK?) and spend the day listening to music, playing games, and enjoying the cars on display. And keep most of your money in your pocket while you’re doing it.

Gates open at 9 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. It runs until 5 p.m.

For more information about Pasco Bug Jam, visit FloridaBugJam.com.

Published November 5, 2014

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Bamboo canes soar above 70 feet at Dade City sanctuary

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“I’m not so much a nurseryman. I’m more of a collector of bamboo,” said Leonard Daszkiewicz, who has a bamboo farm and garden off U.S. 98 in Dade City.

“When the latest ones come out of quarantine in China, I usually add one or two to my collection,” he said, leading a tour group from the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club around his property.

These towering canes of Bambusa chungii, also known as tropical blue bamboo, shoot skyward at Greenbelt Nursery & Bamboo Gardens on U.S. 98 east of Dade City. Members of the Land O' Lakes Garden Club recently toured the farm to check out Leonard Daszkiewicz’s 10-acre garden sanctuary that includes his impressive collection of bamboo plants. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
These towering canes of Bambusa chungii, also known as tropical blue bamboo, shoot skyward at Greenbelt Nursery & Bamboo Gardens on U.S. 98 east of Dade City. Members of the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club recently toured the farm to check out Leonard Daszkiewicz’s 10-acre garden sanctuary that includes his impressive collection of bamboo plants. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

Daszkiewicz’s collection boasts more than four-dozen stands of bamboo, with some canes soaring more than 70 feet. As he led the group around his property, Daszkiewicz told the garden club members about the various kinds of bamboo in his collection.

The avid gardener also told the group about the multitude of plants and trees on his 10-acre plot.

The pride and joy of his collection is a tropical blue bamboo that he bought for $90 in 2003. At the time, it was in a pot and it was 2 feet tall.

Now, it towers skyward.

Bamboo is a resilient plant, Daszkiewicz informed the group. In 2004, he thought he’d lose his bamboo because of the three back-to-back hurricanes that hit the state.

“The river was in flood stage for six weeks,” Daszkiewicz said. “I thought I was going to lose my bamboo. I didn’t lose a one. (But) it killed every laurel oak tree.”

The bamboo didn’t die, because it’s technically not a tree, but a giant grass.

“It can take flooding,” he said.

In another spot in the garden, Daszkiewicz has a stand of running bamboo. This bamboo lives up to its name, he said, unless steps are taken to keep it from running too far.

He has enclosed his stand in a barrier that runs more than 2 feet into the ground. Even so, he keeps an eye on it just to be sure it doesn’t escape its confinement.

“You can’t ignore it,” Daszkiewicz said. “It’s invasive.”

Besides being beautiful, bamboo canes also are musical. When the wind is blowing around 15 to 20 miles an hour, he said, “The canes bonk together and make musical sounds.”

Daszkiewicz’s wife Noreen is impressed by her husband’s handiwork.

“It’s fantastic,” she said. “It’s a sanctuary.”

Daszkiewicz’s extensive garden sits on a plot that is part of the acreage his grandparents homesteaded during the 1930s, after moving here from Chicago.

As the garden club members made their way around the property, Daszkiewicz — a Pasco County master gardener — pointed out his extensive collection of trees and plants. Some yield beauty for the soul. Others, food for the body.

He grows okra, kale, onion, beets and sweet potato, among other things. He also grows giant stalks of sugar cane.

“In December, I’ll cut it down,” Daszkiewicz said. Then he’ll take it to a processor, who will turn it into syrup.

“Last year, I got about three gallons of syrup,” he added

Daszkiewicz uses the syrup on everything from pancakes to rice. He also grows camellias, which add color during the cooler months.

Marie Woody, president of the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club, said the club goes on field trips to see beautiful gardens, and to learn new gardening techniques. The group has 15 members, coming primarily from Land O’ Lakes, but also from Zephyrhills, Tampa and other areas, too.

It is open to men and women, she said, and welcomes new members.

The club meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, from September through April. It ends the year with a celebration dinner in May.

Annual dues are $10.

For more information about the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club, call (813) 961-2697.

Published October 29, 2014

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