The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Reasons To Smile

Safe Autumn activities

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Seven-year-old Noah Claridge and his 2-year-old sister, Ava, pose for a family photo at the scarecrow-themed hay bale display. The siblings visited the Connerton pumpkin patch with their parents, Jennifer and Matthew. (Christine Holtzman)

Club Connerton previously has hosted several autumn events for residents in the Land O’ Lakes community — but this year, because of COVID-19, the activities were reimagined, to follow social distancing guidelines.

Instead of the adult beer garden and costume contests, Gregg Svendgard, Club Connerton’s general manager, and his staff, came up with some new activities.

There was the annual Monster Mash Dash Costume 5K Run, a pumpkin patch and a scarecrow-themed hay bale to give families a backdrop for photos.

Staff members disinfected pumpkins regularly, and plastic gloves were supplied to those picking out their perfect pumpkin.

The pumpkins were free, and each children received a bag with candy and a craft-to-go, while supplies lasted.

Seven-year-old Sophia Husby and her 5-year-old sister, Chloe, select their perfect pumpkins from the patch on the lawn of Club Connerton. The girls were there their parents, Juliana and Eric.
Four-year-old Kendall Smith is all smiles, as she proudly shows her mother, Tia, the pumpkin that she chose.
These costumed characters are getting ready to take off at Connerton’s annual Monster Mash Dash 5K. The participants, who live in Connerton, were disguised as superheroes and Harry Potter characters. From left: Chelsea Frati, Nicole Jarvis, Izzy Pettey, Marina Lowe, Adysson Lowe and Elyssa Lowe.

1,000+ crowd at Scarecrow Festival

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There were plenty of fun activities to do at the Scarecrow Festival, held on Oct. 10, at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village. Guests could make their own scarecrow, participate in costume contests, enjoy live entertainment and so much more. (Kelli Carmack)

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, in Dade City, held its annual Scarecrow Festival on Oct. 10.

With the purchase of a $5 admission ticket, attendees could participate in games, costume contests and petting zoos, as well as enjoy watching performances from soccer-playing dogs and a bubble balloon magician.

The most popular activity was “Make Your Own Scarecrow,” where guests could create life-sized scarecrows by stuffing them with loads of hay.

The Scarecrow Festival was sponsored by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union.

Published October 21, 2020

This scarecrow seems to enjoy hanging out near the livestock.
Over 72 vendors were at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village’s annual Scarecrow Festival. Guests were able to purchase Fall-themed items, such as tin pumpkins, candles, home décor and more. The item featured here was created by Karen Gaskin, member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
The main activity at the Scarecrow Festival, held on Oct. 10 at the Pioneer Florida Museum, was creating your own life-sized scarecrow to take home.
The Soccer Collies brought lots of fun to the Scarecrow Festival when they played soccer in front of a captivated crowd. The Soccer Collies are the entertainment side of the Soccer Dogs organization, whose goal is to locate and assist in the training and placement of rescue and shelter dogs that show potential to become soccer playing dogs. Shown with the Soccer Collies is Mark Lukas, founder of Soccer Dogs

Pumpkin patch photo op!

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(Courtesy of Brock Communications)

Bearss Groves, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in North Tampa, is home to a gigantic pumpkin weighing 989 pounds that Bearss Groves purchased at auction in Michigan. The pumpkin is on display in front of the farmer’s market. Visitors are encouraged to take photos in front of the pumpkin display, free of charge. Pets also are welcome. Bearss Groves also has a large pumpkin patch open through the end of October. Explore the market’s pumpkin patch, take photos, and relax under Bearss Groves very own 400-year-old Oak Tree. Fall attire is welcome!

 

Soaking in a Stanley Cup win

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Mary, David and Kimberly Eberhard joined the ‘Distant Thunder’ on Sept. 28 to cheer on the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. When the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars, Kimberly declared the win was an early present for her, since her birthday was the next day.

In fact, Kim is such a big fan of the Bolts that her best friend, Ashley Cretcher, arranged a surprise visit by Thunderbug, the team’s mascot, to Kim’s school on her birthday. Plus, Kim joined in festivities when the Bolts returned to Tampa by riding on the Sticks of Fire boat and joining her parents at the celebration at Raymond James stadium.

The Eberhards aren’t wearing masks in this photo, but once the photo was taken, they put their masks back on to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

The Eberhards are from Wesley Chapel, and Mary is in charge of accounting at The Laker/Lutz News.

Here, the family poses with an inflatable Stanley Cup, soaking in the joy of the moment, after the Tampa Bay Lightning capture the real Stanley Cup by defeating the Dallas Stars.

Sea turtle makes it to new home

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Pistachio (shown), an endangered female Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, was brought to The Florida Aquarium in 2012, after being injured by a boat strike off the coast of Cedar Key.

The turtle was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and was transported to the aquarium’s rescue and rehabilitation program. Pistachio arrived with wounds to her skull and the front of her carpace (top shell), and as a result, she is partially blind in her left eye, has some partial rear flipper paralysis, and has experienced conformational changes to her shell. Pistachio’s injuries also left her with eating difficulties.

After years of care by the aquarium’s animal care and health experts, Pistachio is now swimming in her new home at the Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo.

Turtles Fly Too is a national nonprofit organization that engages general aviation pilots who donate their expertise, aircraft, fuel and labor in support of endangered species rescue efforts.

Turtle flier team member pilot Brenda Tibbs navigated the special mission of flying Pistachio from Tampa International Airport to Midway Airport in Chicago, on Sept. 9.

A tradition, with some new twists

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Five-year-old Connor Mathes and his 3-year-old brother, Zachary, get ready for the first day of preschool at Xavier Elementary School in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Courtesy of Erin Mathes)

Getting ready for the First Day of School typically means new back-to-school clothes, shoes and a backpack. This year — during the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic— it means a mask, too. Five-year-old Connor and 3-year-old Zachary Mathes, grandsons of Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, were among the millions of children across the country beginning the 2020-2021 school year. The boys attend preschool at Xavier Elementary School, in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Movie-goers share laughter, and a sense of normalcy

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Floodgates Church hosted a drive-in theater night on Aug. 15 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. “We wanted to give some love and outreach to our community, and give people who have been cooped up in their homes a chance to get out,” said Pastor Kenton Brake, who leads the Lutz church. Families of all ages came out to watch the film.

Cannan Allen and his sister, Hayley, grab front row seats and settle in to watch the movie, ‘Up.’ (Kelli Carmack)

 

She ushered in a broader selection of healthy food choices

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If you want to know about the legacy of Julie Hedine, the recently retired director of Food and Nutrition for the Pasco County School District, you should rewind to the days when school menus were different.

You should think about the jumbo chocolate chip cookie.

Of course, it was wildly popular with the students.

It was also an extremely profitable item, adding to the program’s financial flexibility. But, Hedine knew better.

“When she told us we should back away from those cookies and focus on healthy items, we all agreed with her,’’ said Rick Kurtz, who hired Hedine in 1995 as the county’s first registered dietician and then selected her as the replacement for program director in 2012.

“She took a lot of heat for that. But, she knew it was best to move away from the jumbo chocolate chip cookies — because that was the best thing for kids. That’s how she always operated,’’ Kurtz said.

Julie Hedine recently retired from the top job in Pasco County Schools’ department of Food and Nutrition Services. (Courtesy of Pasco County School District)

Hedine, who oversaw 750 employees and a $38-million annual budget, was there when the last fryer was removed from Pasco’s school kitchens.

She piqued the interest of vegetarians — and all students, really — by introducing hummus platters. She prided herself on the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables — every day.

She made the dollars stretch and maintained great relationships with vendors, always keeping new food trends in mind. She standardized menus and recipes throughout the county, for a more efficient approach.

When Hedine took over, Pasco had 38 schools/feeding stations. Now there are more than 80.

“We grew significantly and lot of things changed, but we always tried to keep it interesting for the students and follow trends,’’ Hedine said. “We wanted our students to want to eat with us. It doesn’t do any good to put out a meal that kids have no interest in eating, no matter how healthy it is.

“You have to find a happy medium, where you are satisfying nutritional requirements, but also making it enticing for students to participate,” she said.

Hedine, born and raised in Phoenix, was food and nutrition director for the Scottsdale (Arizona) School District before moving to Florida, after her marriage. She spent one year with the Hillsborough County School District before shifting to Pasco’s dietician position.

Kurtz already knew bigger things were ahead.

“She was director material from the day she walked in, so I’m grateful that she stayed with Pasco and didn’t leave for something else,’’ Kurtz said. “I knew we needed a registered dietician. I wanted one slightly moderate, child focused and someone bright. Julie brought all of that, plus she has such a happy personality, a contagious laughter and that was great to have in our office.

“She knew nutrition. She was bright enough to work the numbers and figure out how to do things within the constraints of our program. She was the perfect choice to take over and take the food program to another level, which she certainly did.’’

Hedine will pass the reins to Stephanie Spicknall, her assistant, secure in the knowledge that the Pasco food and nutrition program is on solid ground.

What will Hedine miss?

The people.

“I loved working in the field, as I called it, getting in the kitchen to help and collaborate,’’ Hedine said. “I wasn’t able to do that as much as I would’ve liked. You might need to work on budgets or attend meetings. My favorite part was being there, being involved.

“We had a lot of employees, but it’s amazing how many of them I got to know. And, of course, the students are why you do it. I could’ve gone in a number of different directions with my career, but my passion has been making sure kids are fed a healthy meal. Kids are who kept me in this business all these years,” she said.

But, Hedine also attended to many non-glamorous details, such as the standardization of protocols to ensure food safety.

Kurtz put it this way: “I think flexibility and managing all the little things no one wants to think about really define Julie. Managing waste. Offer versus serve. Making sure kids get what they want and not having them just take things and throw them away.

“All these things are so important to the program, both fiscally and for the overall environment issues,” he said.

After a 25-year career with the Pasco County School District, Hedine had been contemplating retirement. In the spring of 2019, just before the school year concluded, her health cast a deciding vote.

She also had suffered from headaches, but they began coming with more intensity. She felt fatigued and her vision seemed off. She worried when she couldn’t write in a straight line. A doctor diagnosed her with a cancerous brain tumor — Glioblastoma, which also afflicted John McCain and Ted Kennedy — so she underwent surgery.

Her husband, Gary, also was battling cancer. In fact, they underwent radiation treatments together. They both agreed it was time to seize the day.

“As much as I loved my job, it’s time to do other things and spend time with my husband,’’ said Hedine, who will split time between Florida and their place in Cape Cod. “I will still undergo treatment and I’ll be watched closely for the rest of my life.

“I’m very goal-oriented and I didn’t want to leave until some things were accomplished. But, I have to take care of myself. I think COVID-19 may have validated the timing of the decision also. My career was wonderful, but now it’s time for the next chapter. I have nothing but fond memories.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published August 19, 2020

Lutz teen gets heartwarming surprise

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When Abbie Grace Flohr returned to her Lutz neighborhood after a life-saving surgery, she was greeted with a life-affirming welcome home celebration.

Cheryl Flohr stands with her daughter, Abbie Grace, in front of a large group of well-wishers. Abbie Grace, who will be a freshman this fall at Steinbrenner High School, just returned home. The teenager had been hospitalized following a six-hour surgery to remove a blood clot from a vein near her heart. (Courtesy of Carter Gaddis)

The young woman, who will be a freshman at Steinbrenner High this fall, was coming home from the hospital, after a surgery to address a massive blood clot in a vein near her heart, according to her mom, Cheryl Flohr.

The operation took six hours and involved putting in five stents.

This is just the latest medical issue for Abbie Grace, who has been hospitalized more than 120 times, her mom said.

When Julie Dumois-Sands, the social worker at Martinez Middle School heard that Abbie Grace would be returning home, she came up with the idea of greeting the girl with a driveway concert and car parade.

Dumois-Sands turned for help to Karen Bishop, a retired Martinez Middle orchestra teacher.

Bishop texted some of her former students to see if they could help, and she got a huge response.

Some of the volunteer musicians were Bishop’s private students, so they didn’t even know Abbie Grace.

Just the same, they turned out to create a pop-up orchestra with 25 players, including Steven Bossert, orchestra director at Plant High, and musicians from Martinez Middle and Steinbrenner, Gaither, Hillsborough and Blake high schools.

Karen Bishop stands with Abbie Grace Flohr in front of a group of musicians who welcomed the young woman home with a driveway concert and car parade.

They played a 10-minute concert, without the benefit of any practice.

It was: “Show up. Set up. Let’s go,” Bishop said.

Besides being the social worker at Martinez, Dumois-Sands also founded the school’s Circle of Friends, Bishop said. That group aims to prevent bullying and to promote inclusion, and both Bishop and Abbie Grace are among its members.

Abbie Grace and her mom were touched by the outpouring of warmth.

“We live in a place where we truly are a community,” Cheryl Flohr said. “Over 20 kids took time out of their day to do this. Thank you to all of our friends that came by to show your support,” she said.

But, Abbie Grace and her mom weren’t the only ones to take joy from the event, Bishop said.

“It certainly brought sunshine to a lot of people, not only the Flohr family, but to the kids, parents and teachers that just wanted to spread the love —  a much needed thing, especially when the world is a tough place right now, the retired orchestra teacher said.

This kind of love makes the world a “kinder place” and offers hope for the future, she said.

Published July 08, 2020