The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Earth Fare enters Pasco market

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Earth Fare, a North Carolina-based grocer, opened its 51st store with special deals and fanfare at Cypress Creek Town Center last week.

The 24,000-square-foot store, off State Road 56 and just west of Interstate 75, aims to promote the health and well-being of its customers by selling an assortment of healthy foods, said Frank Scorpiniti, president and CEO, in an interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Earth Fare’s opening festivities included a ribbon cutting. Shown here, are the dignitaries involved in that ceremony. They are second from left, is store manager Mike Hall; President and CEO Frank Scorpiniti; North Tampa Bay Chamber President /CEO Hope Allen; and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore; while others look on. (Christine Holtzman)

“We’re pretty enthusiastic that because we are a philosophy-guided company, when we look across the retail landscape, there are no other food retailers doing what Earth Fare does,” Scorpiniti said. Earth Fare plans to open a total of eight to 10 stores in the greater Tampa area.

The store which opened last week, at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz, has 107 employees. It is the fourth store that the company has opened in the general Tampa Bay area in recent years.

Earth Fare also has opened stores in Seminole, Oldsmar and Lakewood Ranch, and within weeks will open stores in Boynton Beach and downtown Orlando.

“We see an opportunity for our brand to fill a void in the marketplace,” Scorpiniti said.

“Americans, just generally, are seeking healthier alternatives to feed their families and their children,” Scorpiniti explained. “We have found that there is a lot of need of what we bring to communities.

“We don’t want to be preachy. That’s not our mission here. Our mission is to make health and wellness easy to come by, at Earth Fare,” he said.

“Our first litmus test is whether or not what we sell is healthy,” he added. If it’s not, it doesn’t make the cut.

The grocery chain’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Angela Hind helps assure that Earth Fare  meets that commitment, Scorpiniti said.

“She and I have become very close colleagues in helping refine Earth Fare’s assortment, and understanding that this is a journey. We’re all learning still. But, when we look across North America, no one else is doing this,” Scorpiniti said.

Earth Fare offers a wide assortment of local, fresh and organic vegetables.

Reading labels not required
Earth Fare pledges that its foods are free of:

  • Added hormones
  • Antibiotics
  • Artificial fats and trans-fats
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Artificial preservatives
  • Bleached or bromated flour
  • Artificial colors or flavors

The grocer also maintains a Boot List on its website, listing all of the food ingredients it has banned from its stores.

Besides the groceries it sells, the store has an organic juice bar, a  salad bar, a hot foods bar, a pizza station, a sandwich counter and packaged meals-to-go. It also has a café.

People might not view pizza as being healthy, Scorpiniti said. But, Earth Fare’s version is made with organic dough. It uses sauce with tomatoes from Italy, when the tomatoes are at their sweetest — foregoing the common practice of adding sugar to the sauce.

The cheese comes from Italy, too, and the pepperoni has no nitrates or nitrites, Scorpiniti said.

“Dare I say, it’s an amazing-tasting pizza,” he added.

On opening day, customers appeared to be enthusiastic about having a new grocery option.

“It’s proximity is really great,” said Lynn Pabst, who is retired and lives in Lutz. “To be able to get things that are fresh and healthy, and to promote that kind of style of living is very important, and it’s nice to have in our community.”

C. Walker, who lives in Wesley Chapel, likes the choices that the store offers.

“I’m a plant-based eater, and they have everything I need in this store,” she said, adding that now she won’t have to drive out her community to get what she wants.

Interest in the store was apparent in the early afternoon on Day 2, when it buzzed with customers. Shoppers perused shelves. They added fruits, vegetables, rotisserie chickens and other items to their carts. Others took a break to grab a bite, and ate it on the patio.

Earth Fare has come a long way since it debuted in Asheville, as a 1,200-square-foot store called Dinner for Earth. It was the city’s first health food store, and it offered a modest selection of organic dried bulk goods and wellness process.

Many varieties of apples, peaches and pears offer a bouquet of colors in the produce section of the Earth Fare supermarket.

Over time, it has opened locations from Portage, Michigan to Palm Beach Gardens.

Its assortment has evolved, but its commitment to healthy food has not wavered, Scorpiniti said.

The grocer promises its customers that they can shop in every aisle of the store without ever needing to read a label, and they can be confident that their food selection will be healthy, the executive added.

He also touched on what he considers to be a misperception when it comes to the price of healthy foods.

“I think health and wellness eating has sometimes created this connotation that you have to pay a lot more to be healthy in the food you buy,” Scorpiniti said.

Earth Fare thinks it can provide, with a curated assortment in a 24,000-square-foot store,

“a nice, bright, shoppable, friendly store,” and do it efficiently, in order to sell a 98-cent, non-GMO, baguette, every day, and a $5 rotisserie chicken, every day, Scorpiniti said.

As a newcomer to the area, the company also has reached out to learn what the community needs from Earth Fare, he added. It has a 19-member community advisory panel, which provided  suggestions regarding items to stock on store shelves, and offered input on what local cause the store should support. In this case, it is the New Tampa YMCA, which received a $3,000 check from the grocer.

When Earth Fare opens a new location, it’s a big day for the company, the president and CEO said.

He said he typically gives the new team a pep talk.

In essence, his message to them is this: “This is a different mission. It looks like we’re selling groceries, but we’re changing lives.”

Earth Fare, a 24,000-square-foot healthy food supermarket
Where: 25535 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz
When: Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily
Details: The store offers a wide selection of healthy fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and other foods. Its services include delivery and catering.
Earth Fare’s Lutz/Wesley Chapel location opened last week. It has 107 employees.

Earth Fare’s sustainable stores
Earth Fare:

  • Uses the heat generated from cooling its freezers and refrigerators to heat its water
  • Has polished concrete floors to eliminate the need for harsh cleaning chemicals
  • Is built with a reflective roof to reduce cooling costs in warmer months
  • Uses LED bulbs, which consume 60 percent to 75 percent less energy
  • Uses pure water, filtered through reverse osmosis, throughout the store — including in its produce misters

Christine Holtzman contributed to this report

Published February 27, 2019

Local band primed for big stage

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They’ve been featured on radio stations, such as 102.5 The Bone and 88.5 WMNF.

They’ve performed gigs at major venues, including The Orpheum and State Theatre.

Now, they’re poised to release their first EP.

Not too shabby for a two-year-old band made of three local high school graduates, all still under the legal drinking age.

The band is called Sick Hot.

Local up-and-coming band Sick Hot is releasing their first EP on March 1. From left, bassist Chris Erickson, guitarist and vocalist Nik Wilson, and drummer Cory Bernardi. (Courtesy of Jim Chambers)

It features a pair of Land O’ Lakes High School graduates — guitarist and vocalist Nik Wilson and bassist Chris Erickson— along with Carrollwood Day School graduate Cory Bernardi, who’s on the drums.

For the past six months they’ve been perfecting a three-song EP, titled “House of Delight.” It will be unveiled during a release party on March 1 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Crowbar in Tampa.

There, Sick Hot will perform an hourlong set of originals and covers. Other local bands slated to perform include Cannibal Kids, The Raine, and Up From Here.

The young trio is described as “classic rock, with a little modern tinge on it,” by Jim Chambers, the band’s manager and founder.

“You’re going to see a young band that performs well beyond their years,” said Chambers, a longtime music industry executive who now operates Jim Chambers Music Box in Carrollwood.

“They’re fantastic, accomplished players, and at such a young age, the music sounds very mature.”

Wilson and Erickson are both 19. Bernardi is 20.

Shaped by their parents’ love of music — and mainly classic rock — each have been playing various instruments since grade school.

Sick Hot’s three-song debut EP, ‘House of Delight,’ will be celebrated with a release party at Crowbar on March 1.

That passion for creating music has stayed with them since.

“I just like playing, especially with (Nik and Cory) because they’re always challenging me to be better and keep it interesting,” Erickson said. “We’re always bouncing stuff off each other, but I think the three of us enjoy playing more than anything.”

“We’re always kind of force each other to be better than we could,” Bernardi said.

Wilson undoubtedly stands out, as Sick Hot’s lead guitarist and vocalist.

So does his long, wavy hair, slender frame, and tattoo of Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page on his left wrist.

The bandleader doesn’t read music. Instead, he’s able to play back virtually any record after hearing it a few times, keying in on different tones and so forth.

“I can read tabs, but I can’t read like actual music,” Wilson said. “I have a musician’s ear, I guess.”

However Wilson does it, Chambers describes him as “kind of a wunderkind.”

Bernardi and Erickson, meanwhile, mostly let their instruments do the talking.

Aside from Led Zeppelin, of course, Sick Hot draws influences from Rush, Aerosmith and Ted Nugent. They also twist in their own “technical, funky vibes.”

The band swears their sound isn’t just another ’70s rock band clone.

“That’s the one thing we’re trying to avoid,” Erickson said. “No one wants to hear the same thing over and over.”

Added Wilson: “It’s like keeping the spirit of classic rock, like in our generation.”

Sick Hot’s lyrics, meanwhile, have a “kind of psychedelic” feel in the mold of Jimi Hendrix and Cream, band members agreed.

Some of the band’s songs are based on a historical narrative. One track, for instance, revolves around the Prohibition Era.

“I think the idea is we’re kind of like telling a story, rather than singing about a personal thing or something that happened in your life,” Erickson explained. “Kind of telling a story from the outset.”

Whatever they are, Chambers sees a bright future for Sick Hot.

He noted recent Grammy Award-winning Greta Van Fleet has opened the door for other bands to bring classic rock “back into the fray.”

Chambers would know. He won three Grammys with Maroon 5, the Dave Matthews Band and Flyleaf, as a record executive.

“I see classic rock coming back into the modicum of everything, and so with that, they’re poised to be shopped (to record labels),” Chambers said. “I have no doubt I’ll be shopping this record personally to New York City, trying to get them a deal.”

In the meantime, Sick Hot plans to flood the local market with their sound, then take a small summer tour somewhere out of state.

They’re currently shooting a music video for one of their EP tracks, titled “Lost and Forever Gone,” which is set to be released later this month.

A full-length album is also being considered by the up-and-coming band.

“We definitely have enough material to make a whole other album, a full LP,” Bernardi said. “That’s definitely an idea we’ve thought of before.”

Sick Hot’s  “House of Delight” EP release party
When: March 1, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: Crowbar, 1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City
What: Celebration of Sick Hot’s debut EP, “House of Delight,” with live music performances from several local bands
Cost: $10, all ages
Tickets: Visit Eventbrite.com, and search “Sick Hot”

Published February 20, 2019

New opportunities coming to Cypress Creek campus

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Crews have begun work on Cypress Creek Middle School, being built on the site where Cypress Creek Middle High School now operates.

A new Instructional and Performing Arts Center, which will provide educational opportunities and entertainment, will rise on the same site.

This is what the new Instructional Performing Arts Center, to be built on the campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and the new Cypress Creek Middle School, will look like. The campus is at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Both are slated to open in fall of 2020.

Pasco County Schools gave Pasco-Hernando State College the land where the performing arts center, IPAC, will be built. The state college is paying the construction costs for IPAC, and will oversee its use.

But, the new facility will benefit middle school through college students, through the programs it offers.

In a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News, representatives of the state college and the school district provided details relating to IPAC and the new middle school building.

The middle school project — at roughly 190,000 square feet, will take much longer to build than the 35,000-square foot performing arts center.

At the middle school, “they’re working on the site work. The foundation work is ongoing right now. Everything is on schedule for completion in July of 2020 for an August 2020 opening,” said Mike Gude, the school district’s director of construction services.

Cypress Creek Middle will have a capacity of 1,691 students, making it the largest of the district’s middle schools.

Safety and security will be first and foremost, with a single point of entry, controlled access and a fence around the school, Gude said.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, envisions opportunities for education, entertainment and growth for the local economy through the collaborative project involving the school district and state college.

“We designed our middle school to be very much compatible with the IPAC (performing arts center),” added Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools. “We have a black box theater. A beautiful state-of-the-art black box theater. We also have an orchestra room. Dance. Chorus,” Gadd said.

Dr. Stanley Giannet, vice president of academic affairs and faculty development at PHSC, said the performing arts center will serve an important academic role.

“It’s called the Instructional and Performing Arts Center, the IPAC. The reason we have instructional there first is because in addition to a community-type events space and a performing arts space, the primary responsibility is to provide educational opportunities for our students, both dual enrollment students, students who will pipeline from the school district to PHSC, and community students, who wish to partake in the program,” he explained.

The state college will be using space within the performing arts center to provide courses to support a new Associate of Science degree in digital design and multimedia technology.

That new program was based on a needs analysis, and takes advantage of the fact that some programs are already offered in these areas at Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass and Cypress Creek high schools.

“It’s a natural extension,” Giannet said. Plus, there’s a documented need in the community for employees with these skills.

“This is a high-wage target industry,” Giannet said. The skills learned in this program can be applied to the performing arts, but also transferred to jobs in other industries, he said.

In the fall of 2020, Pasco County Schools is scheduled to open Cypress Creek Middle School. It is being designed for 1,600 students, making it the district’s largest middle school. The middle school will join Cypress Creek High and Pasco Hernando State College’s Instructional and Performing Arts Center. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Students also will be able to take courses to support an Associate of Arts degree, which they can transfer to a four-year degree, he said.

Students will be able to take dance, theater and music classes as electives toward their associate’s degree, Giannet said. To get the associate’s, students would need 36 hours of general education, but the remaining 24 could be acquired at IPAC, focused on the performing arts.

Campus could draw regional events
The performing arts center is considered to be an extension of the state college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, which will be under the direction of an administrator who will report to Kevin O’ Farrell, provost of the Porter Campus.

The community also will have access to a new performing arts venue, and the campus could attract national or regional thespian festivals, or other kinds of performing arts events.

The 444-seat performing arts theater, the 150-seat black box theater at the middle school, and the arts classrooms available on campus provide a set of resources that could be attractive for such events, Gadd said. Plus, the site has plenty of parking to support such events, after school hours.

The black box theater might prove particularly popular with local theater groups, Gadd said.

“One of the advantages of the black box in the middle school is that it might be more amenable to some community theater activities, because I think the IPAC center is going to be like an anthill — it’s going to be very busy,” Gadd said.

The combined state college and school district resources on the campus create the potential for increased economic development, additional educational programs, and a new entertainment venue for the community, Gadd said.

Dr. Stanley Giannet, vice president of academic affairs and faculty development at Pasco-Hernando State College, said the new performing arts center on the Cypress Creek campus will offer a broad array of educational opportunities.

Gianett noted that the center will be a source of revenue for the college, too.

“We’ll have professional troupes, professional shows that we can bring in,” he said, and there will be opportunities for groups to rent the facility for events.

The theater also will provide another place for the school district to offer plays and other events.

Working together on this project has helped the district and state college develop a greater level of collaboration, said Gadd, who not only serves as the school district’s deputy superintendent, but also sits on the state college’s board.

The dual role offers a vantage point that allows him to see areas where the district and college can leverage the resources of the individual organizations, through collaboration.

Construction is expected to begin on the performing arts center around June of this year, and the project is expected to be completed by July of 2020, said Tony Rivas, associate vice president facilities management and administrative services for the state college.

O’ Farrell said a request is being made to the Florida Legislature for some additional funding for the project.

“One of the final pushes that we’re making this legislative session is for an additional $2.5 million,” he said.

“We had $15.5 million for the facility,” he explained.

Because of the partnership between the state college and the school district, the site for the arts center has been secured, and it is almost ready for construction, O’ Farrell said.

If additional money can be secured for this project, it would go to enlarge the interior space in the arts center’s foyer to accommodate breakfasts, receptions and community gatherings.

Published February 13, 2019

Diverging Diamond aims to ease traffic flow

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Construction began on Jan. 7 for a project known as the Diverging Diamond, in Wesley Chapel.

The project will redesign the existing diamond-shaped bridge that interchanges Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

“All we’re really doing is reconfiguring the diamond,” explained John McShaffrey, community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation. “You still got the diamond, but how you get to the diamond and where you come off the diamond is going to be different.”

Traffic backs up daily, as commuters make their way home at the end of the day. A project known as the ‘Diverging Diamond’ will help improve traffic flow, thus cutting the amount of time that drivers are on the road. (File)

The project is expected to ease the flow of traffic, save time for drivers and reduce bottlenecks.

At this stage, construction workers are drilling underground and installing drainage pipes to align with road expansion on the state road. All lanes will remain open, as work will be done off-road – with no expected impact to traffic.

There are scheduled lane closures at night along State Road 56 and interstate ramps, to allow paving work to be done.

To avoid conflicting with peak traffic hours, those closures are scheduled from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and are expected to continue for the next three months.

Barrier walls will be used to block off one lane of traffic at a time, and traffic delays due to those closures are expected to be minimal, McShaffrey said.

There also may be some rare lane closures on I-75 at night, but most will occur on State Road 56.

“The diverging diamond is a popular new method of moving traffic through interchanges around the country,” McShaffrey said, explaining why that option was chosen.

The State Road 56 bridge, which spans I-75, will not be widened, but will be redesigned to accommodate additional lanes.

The redesign includes removing the pedestrian walkways on both ends of the bridge, and placing a single walkway between eastbound and westbound lanes.

Before reaching the bridge, the lanes on State Road 56 will crisscross, putting eastbound traffic on the north end of the bridge and westbound traffic on the south end.

State Department of Transportation figures reveal that westbound traffic is heavier than eastbound. There are 67,500 vehicles heading westbound each day, compared with 51,000 vehicles heading eastbound.

Also, the northbound ramp that leads to State Road 56 from I-75 is more congested that its southbound counterpart.

This is an aerial view of what a Diverging Diamond looks like.

And, vehicles heading south from State Road 56, back onto the I-75 ramp, outnumber motorists who are heading north from State Road 56 onto the interstate.

In response, the transportation department plans to have four through lanes and two left-turning lanes heading westbound, and to have three through lanes and one left-turning lane heading eastbound.

The changes will provide a better flow of traffic for motorists, McShaffrey said.

Also, “we’ll have more continuous green time for the through traffic – that’s the big benefit of it.”

Once vehicles in the left-turning lanes pass the lights and reach the bridge, they can smoothly transition onto the ramps without any competing traffic.

While this will be a new adjustment for travelers, there will be visible pavement markings and overhead signs to clearly guide motorists, assured McShaffrey.

The $33 million project is slated for completion in late 2021.

Learn more about the Diverging Diamond
When: Feb. 26, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Conference Center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
Details: To provide information and answer questions about the Diverging Diamond, a project now under construction to change the configuration of the interchange at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.
Cost: The open house is free.
To view an animation of the project and receive updates on the Diverging Diamond, sign up for an alert at FDOTTampaBay.com/project/262/430573-1-52-01.

Published February 06, 2019

A New Year’s Eve home fire sparks a community’s compassion

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A $10-a-plate pasta dinner benefit is planned this week to help a family who lost nearly all of their possessions when a New Year’s Eve fire raged through their Heritage Harbor home in Lutz.

The fundraiser also will include raffles, a  50/50 drawing and games  — with 100 percent of the proceeds going to help Steve Dorsett, his wife, Maggi, and their children, 20-year-old Austin and 16-year-old Becca.

During a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Steve Dorsett recounted the course of events, on what began as a quiet New Year’s Eve — with the family at home, along with Becca’s two best friends, who were spending the night.

Residents of Heritage Harbor help the Dorsett family, in the aftermath of a destructive New Year’s Eve fire. Kelley McHale is wearing red and Cynthia Lamb is in black. A crew of helpers turned out in force on New Year’s morning. (Courtesy of Lisa Novorska)

The family had just returned that day from a trip to Fort Worth to see Steve’s mom, for Christmas.

“We were just hanging out in the backyard,” Steve said, noting he’d grilled chicken that evening and was just finishing his meal.

“I was going to walk back outside in the front, and just see if there was any fireworks,” he said, noting his son, Austin, who is autistic and nonverbal, loves fireworks.

As Steve was walking out front, he noticed smoke coming out of a door.

He thought: ‘What the heck is that.’

“I flipped the handle and pushed. The garage was already lit up,” he said.

When he saw that, he started yelling at everyone to get out of the house.

Becca and her two friends had just come down to grab a bite to eat, Steve said.

He thought everybody was out, including the family’s two goldendoodles, Lucky and Sophie.

But then, he said:  “Maggi, she looked at me, and said: ‘Where’s Austin?’

“Oh, my God,” Steve said. “I went back in the house. I was just looking for anything that moved. I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t see 10 feet in front of me. I couldn’t breathe. I was walking through the house. I had a flashlight. It didn’t help.”

Within a few minutes, though, he heard someone yelling from outside that they’d found Austin and he was OK.

“That’s when I came back out,” Steve said. “I collapsed when I got out. The EMT guys came and grabbed me. My arm was all burned.”

The fire broke out around 10:20 p.m. It was unrelenting.

At one point, its flames shot so high they could be seen for miles away, Steve said.

He knows that because a former neighbor, who now lives several miles away, took a photo of the blaze, not knowing whose house was on fire.

Firefighters weren’t the only ones who responded.

“The neighborhood was amazing. Absolutely amazing. We probably had 100 people (that night).

“Everybody came over. (Senior) Pastor Ken Whitten came over, from Idlewild (Baptist Church). “That’s the church that we go to.

“From the story I heard, he didn’t know what was going on, he just saw a bunch of fire trucks and figured ‘I’d better follow.’

“It was maybe a spirit-led thing,” Steve said.

Among the most treasured items lost in the fire was a display that honored Austin and Becca’s dedication ceremonies at Idlewild.

Nearly everything was destroyed by the flames, or smoke or water.

Firefighters were there until the early morning hours, making sure the fire was out.

Steve was up late, trying to report an insurance claim.

“I fell asleep at 4:30 or 5. I woke up about 8.

“I went and put my nasty clothes back on. I walked outside and there were at least 25 to 30 of our neighbors. They were out there, in gloves and boots, and wearing their masks,” he said.

They had trash bags and they were sorting through the rubble, to see what could be saved.

One neighbor secured Maggi’s jewelry.

There have been countless acts of generosity, Steve said. One friend loaned the family a truck. Another is taking care of their dogs.

This image of the garage offers a glimpse of the devastation. (Courtesy of Beth Gaddis)

Others have provided meals and comfort.

And now, their friends and the community are organizing the pasta dinner fundraiser.

The cause of the fire is not 100 percent certain, Steve said. He knows it wasn’t fireworks because there weren’t any nearby. The insurance company’s private inspector told Steve it was most likely an electrical fire in the attic.

Whatever the cause, the family carries on.

Becca, an avid softball player, is gearing up for a new season.

Austin continues to attend the exceptional education program at Steinbrenner High School.

Maggi is a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

Steve, who is self-employed, is focusing on the family’s needs and making sure they can rebuild the house — right where it is.

“Heritage Harbor is unique and I use that term specifically because unique is supposed to mean ‘one of a kind.’

“As tragic as it is for us, it (the fire) has been a very positive thing in a lot of ways —not just bringing our neighbors back together, but also, old friends that we haven’t seen. People I don’t even know.

“It’s amazing,” Steve said.

Want to help?
What: $10-a-plate Pasta Dinner
Where: Heritage Harbor Club House, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway, in Lutz
When: Feb. 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: This fundraiser will benefit the Dorsett family, of Heritage Harbor, who lost nearly all of their possessions, including their home, two cars and the contents of their home from a New Year’s Eve fire.
Besides the food, there will be a 50/50 drawing, raffles and games.
All of the proceeds will go to the family.
RSVP by Jan. 30 at tinyurl.com/yajpjq2s.
Those who want to help, but can’t attend, can contribute online at GoFundMe.com/friends-lost-home-in-new-years-eve-fire.

Published January 30, 2019

Local groups help federal workers

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Organizations around the region are stepping up to help, as workers and their families struggle during the nation’s longest partial federal government shutdown.

The help has come in various forms.

“The key is to take off some of the pressure from these folks (so they can) worry less about where their food is coming from,” explained Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector of Pasco County.

Adele Richoll packs paper bags with food at Father and Son Love Ministries on Jan. 18. Her organization is one of many that are providing help to federal workers who have been furloughed, or are working without pay, during the partial federal government shutdown. (Brian Fernandes)

The federal government partially shut down on Dec. 22, in the midst of a budget battle between President Donald Trump and members of congress, over funding for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Over the past weekend, Trump offered a deal that would include money for the border wall, while granting some immigrants protection for three years. But, Democrats were not moved by Trump’s offer.

The impasse affects about 800,000 federal employees, including some who are not working during the shutdown, and others who are working without pay.

The U.S. Coast Guard is one group of federal employees who are working without pay.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano was inspired to specifically help those troops.

The five branches of the county’s tax office intends to distribute donations to the troops and their families.

“Mr. Fasano supports our men and women in uniform,” Giordano said. “He wanted to do something to show that this community is behind those individuals.”

On Day 1 of collections, Tom Kliebert was at the tax collector’s office to offer support.

“I’m always looking for things I can do to help out the military,” the Vietnam veteran said. “I really appreciate what they do to protect our country.”

The Wesley Chapel resident went directly to the grocery store to purchase donations when he learned online about the tax collector’s effort.

Debby Palmer, also of Wesley Chapel, received the notification through email and also wanted to help.

“I feel like I’ve been very blessed in my life, so I try to contribute where I can,” she said.

She brought in four bags of groceries to her local tax office.

Tom Kliebert wasted no time buying and donating food to his local tax office in Wesley Chapel. His contribution is one of many that will go toward members of the U.S. Coast Guard and their families. (Courtesy of Greg Giordano)

he tax collector’s five branches began collecting donations on Jan. 16 and accumulated more than $2,300 in cash, 91 bags of groceries and more than a dozen gift cards within the first two days. (For addresses of branches, go to PascoTaxes.com).

“Obviously this has touched a nerve in the community,” Giordano said. He characterized the community’s generosity as being “incredible.”

Father and Son Love Ministries, at 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway, in Lutz, also is offering a helping hand.

Pastor C.J. Johns heads the Lutz church, which has opened its doors to federal workers and their families every Friday.

Church staff and volunteers, from noon to 3 p.m. on Fridays, will give out bagged lunches, plus supplies of food for a week, for those requesting it.

The church also understands that some families won’t be able to afford to drive to the church, so it is willing to deliver food boxes to homes if they provide 48 hours’ notice, the pastor said.

Before the shutdown, the church was already operating a food drive and now has prepared for a larger turnout.

“We’re committed to helping our community,” Johns said. “It’s a need that has risen, and we’re going to do whatever we can to help ease the turmoil.”

Publix has supported the church’s efforts, Johns said, noting the grocery chain recently donated surplus items from the holidays.

Besides providing food, the church also offers free clothing and personal hygiene items.

It also understands that children need relief, too, so the church will make toys, birthday cakes and cupcakes available, the pastor said.

The church plans to keep the drive open 30 days after the government reopens to help workers get back on their feet.

Restored Hope, at 13703 17th St., in Dade City, also is committed to assisting federal workers for as long as necessary.

The nonprofit organization welcomes workers to stop by its center on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Federal employees are asked to bring identification or their last pay stub to verify their status.

The organization’s pantry room is filled with nonperishable items and clothing.

Many items were leftover donations given by Metropolitan Ministries over the holidays, said Doreen Kennard, bookkeeper of Restored Hope.

Knowing there was surplus in storage, she thought: “Perfect timing, we’ll offer it to the government employees.”

Kennard added that the organization will do what it can to help workers pay past due bills.

During the federal government shutdown, Pasco County Utilities also is working to help federal employees, who are also PCU customers, develop an action plan to ensure continuation of services.

Pasco County Utilities will waive late fees and provide extensions for utility bills due by any federal employee who is on furlough or is required to work without compensation, as long as supporting documentation is provided.

Customers in need of assistance should call (813) 235-6012 during regular business hours.

Other acts of kindness can be seen throughout the Tampa Bay Area.

Tampa Bay Salvage, at 37832 Meridian Ave., in Dade City, is accepting donations of food and personal hygiene items at its Dade City and Palm Harbor offices.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is offering pet food to support furloughed workers who have pets. The donations are available on weekdays from noon to 7 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Verification is required.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is connecting federal employees of Tampa International Airport with community resources.

Feeding Tampa Bay also has set up a food bank for TSA workers, and TECO is offering payment extensions on electric bills.

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa will also offer a day of relaxation with one free admission to federal workers.

These organizations are providing help to federal workers who are either off the job, or not being paid during the partial federal government shutdown:

  • Pasco County Tax Collector Offices (Land O’ Lakes, Dade City, Wesley Chapel, Gulf Harbors, New Port Richey); Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Restored Hope, 13703 17th St., Dade City; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (352) 437-4815.
  • Father and Son Love Ministries, 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway, Lutz; Fridays from noon to 3 p.m. Call (813) 846- 9993.
  • Tampa Bay Salvage, 37832 Meridian Ave., Dade City; Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (352) 437-5231.
  • The Florida Aquarium is offering one free admission to federal workers with identification.
  • Pasco County Utilities will help customers that are federal employees who are not receiving pay, or are furloughed, to ensure continuation of services. Documentation is needed. Those needing assistance should call (813) 235-6012.

Published January 23, 2019

Pasco tax collector’s office receives ‘Heart of Pasco’ award

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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and the Land O’ Lakes Tax Collector’s Office recently accepted the Heart of Pasco Award for the office’s exemplary customer service and outstanding community outreach efforts.

Sandy Graves, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s chairwoman for community affairs, bestowed the award to Fasano, during a Jan. 10 ceremony outside the tax collector’s office in Land O’ Lakes.

The staff of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office in Land O’ Lakes stand alongside members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. The tax office became the recipient of the Heart of Pasco Award on Jan. 10 for its exceptional community service. (Brian Fernandes)

The “Heart of Pasco” award goes to a business that exemplifies the chamber’s mission to “aggressively advocate for the interest of our diverse business community by promoting business advancement, economic growth and job creation.”

Graves said the acknowledgement stems, in part, from that the tax collector’s office expansion in Land O’ Lakes, allowing it to better accommodate its patrons.

In accepting the award, Fasano said, “as Land O’ Lakes grows and Lutz grows, so did our office.”

Fasano, who became the county’s tax collector in 2013, said he wanted to improve the agency and to expand its locations to better serve its customers.

“In some ways, we were behind the times at the tax collector’s office,” said Fasano, recalling when he joined the office. “We needed to be at the same level [and] direction that Pasco was going.”

As a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, he understood the importance of serving the needs of his constituents.

As tax collector, he identified that more space was required to serve an expanding population.

“The growth has been overwhelming, but it’s been good, solid growth for our economy and the tax base,” Fasano said.

To help address expanding needs, the tax collector’s office relocated its Land O’ Lakes office to a building next door, in October 2017. The building, previously occupied by the county’s health department, underwent a renovation supported by $1.4 million in county funds.

The Land O’ Lakes office has Saturday hours, too.

Graves also complimented the friendly nature of the tax collector’s staff.

“They all act as if they want to be there,” agreed Suzanne Beauchaine, executive director of the chamber. “They’re happy serving the community.”

Graves and Beauchaine said they have personally witnessed humble attributes of a leader in Fasano.

“The fact that Mike Fasano is the tax collector and you walk in there – he’s right there to say hello to you,” said Beauchaine. “He’s hands-on.”

In addition to attracting Fasano’s staff and chamber members, some Pasco residents also attended the award ceremony — which also recognized the tax collector’s work involving charitable organizations.

The Heart of Pasco Award is given out every four months to Central Pasco organizations for their community outreach – especially for charitable work.

Phyllis Bross, is a chamber member, who also serves as vice chair of the Community Aging and Retirement Services organization.

She said she’s seen Fasano work on behalf of the non-profit group which assists senior citizens in Pasco County.

The tax collector’s office has been involved in helping to raise money for numerous community causes and organizations.  In fact, the office has helped 58 different charities and organizations, with some being helped more than once, according to Greg Giordano, who keeps track of the efforts for Fasano’s office.

Last year, for instance, Fasano and his staff put together cookbooks to sell to raise funds for the local animal shelter.

Bross said Fasano obviously values his employees and they work together, like a family.

Under his leadership, the staff has seen their hourly wages increase by more than $5.

Fasano sees this as an expression of appreciation for his team’s hard work and dedication.

“We could not come close to the success we have if it wasn’t for the employees at the tax collector’s office,” Fasano said.

Since becoming the Pasco County tax collector in 2013, Mike Fasano and his staff have sought community support through the office for dozens of charities.

Bikers Care Charities
Support Our Troops
Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle Drive
Farm Share Annual Holiday Food Giveaway
Be a Santa to a Senior Annual Holiday Gift Collection
Lighthouse for the Blind
The Volunteer Way
Hernando Pasco Hospice
Guardian ad Litem Recruitment Drive
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation
Donate Life/ Lifelink Foundation
Center for Independence (now known as the Arc Nature Coast)
AAA Traffic Safety Foundation
Florida Breast Cancer Foundation Annual Campaign
Terri’s Tears Foundation
Toys 4 Tots Annual toy drive
Veterans Flag Pin Collection Drive
One Community Now’s Annual Hunger Walk
Salvation Army’s Domestic Violence Program
American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day for Women Campaign
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Take Stock in Children
Pasco Kids First
Lauren’s Kids
Pasco Sheriff’s K-9 Foundation
Stop Heart Disease
Community Volunteer Corps
Pasco Fine Arts Council
Kiddy-Up Ranch
AFIRE of Pasco
PACE Center for Girls
Pasco Education Foundation
Metropolitan Ministries
Alzheimer’s Family Organization
ASAP of Pasco
Two Good Soles Shoes & Socks Drive
Moffitt Cancer Center
Restored Hope
Blanket Tampa Bay/ Blanket Pasco County
NAMI of Pasco
CARES – Pet Program
Smile Faith Foundation
Homeless Coalition of Pasco
Tax Collector’s Backpack Giveaway
Good Samaritan Clinic
Hurricane Irma Victims Relief – Pasco County
Feeding Pasco’s Elderly
Nourish to Flourish
Sheriff’s Explorer’s Post #916
Special Olympics of Pasco
Connections Job Development Program
CARES – Senior Health Care Center
Catholic Charities Women’s Shelter
RAP House
Shriner’s Christmas in July Toy Drive
Hudson Boy Scout Troop #545
The ROPE Center
Pasco Friends of Animal Services
Published January 16, 2019

Pace of Pasco’s road construction picking up in 2019

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It’s no secret that dealing with traffic congestion is a way of life for Pasco County residents.

Whether they’re commuting to work, taking the kids to school, going grocery shopping, heading to a doctor’s appointment or taking care of myriad daily needs, there’s good chance motorists will get stuck in traffic and have to wait for traffic lights to cycle at intersections.

Traffic is backed up, on the access road from Interstate 75, heading to State Road 56. (Fred Bellet)

Getting anywhere can be a hassle at peak traffic hours — regardless of the direction drivers are going.

The good news is that 2019 is likely to go down as a banner year with respect to the number of projects aimed at improving traffic flow.

Here’s a look at what is underway, planned for construction, or under study for possible improvements, based on presentations by Florida Department of Transportation officials, transportation department fact sheets and previous reporting by The Laker/Lutz News.

The Diverging Diamond
One massive project, set to get underway this month, is called the Diverging Diamond Interchange.

It aims to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75-State Road 56 interchange, through a reconfiguration of the intersection, in an area between County Road 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard.

Eastbound traffic on State Road 54 at the Interstate 75 underpass.

The new design is expected to improve traffic flow, thus reducing travel time for motorists.

The estimated construction cost is $33 million, and the project is expected to take three years to complete.

Extension of State Road 56
Another significant project involves the extension of State Road 56, beginning at Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel and ending at U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Work on this 6-mile extension began in 2017. It has an estimated construction cost of $59.1 million.

Initially expected to be completed in the fall, the road could open as early as this spring, David Gwynn, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, said during the Discover Dade City symposium in November.

The project includes a four-lane road, with a 10-foot multi-use trail on the south side of the road and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side. There will be 7-foot bicycle lanes on the shoulders, in each direction.

Northbound traffic on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, stacks up and waits for the traffic light to turn green.

New signalized intersections also are being built on Morris Bridge Road, where the new State Road 56 crosses it, and on U.S. 301, where the new State Road 56 ties into it.

Also, the City of Zephyrhills requested a study to evaluate extending State Road 56 from U.S. 301 to State Road 39 with a connection to U.S. 98.

And, another study is looking into realigning U.S. 98, where U.S. 301 intersects with Clinton Avenue.

The Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization also has requested a study to evaluate the potential for the realignment of U.S. 98 at the U.S. 301, in the area of Clinton Avenue (new State Road 52).

U.S. 41 and State Road 54
While the need for a solution to daily traffic jams at U.S. 41 and State Road 54 is widely known, it is not yet clear how the issue will be addressed. Here are alternatives that have been identified, according to a state transportation department document:

  • Elevated express lanes at major intersections; express lanes on the ground for the remainder; and bus services in express lanes.
  • Parallel flow intersection.
  • Elevated lanes at major intersections; bus or rail in separate lanes, combined with a continuous flow intersection.
  • No Build: Maintaining six lanes on the ground and current transit services.
Motorists heading north on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, wait in the daily backup, just south of State Road 54.

State Road 52 improvements
Projects are in various stages along the State Road 52 corridor. Here’s a synopsis:

  • Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41: This project will widen a 3.8-mile stretch from two lanes to six lanes, with a 12-foot multi-use trail to be built on the north side of State Road 52. The project also includes a 1-mile widening of U.S. 41, approaching the intersection with State Road 52. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.
  • East of U.S. 41 to County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard): Calls for widening the two-lane road to a four-lane divided road. The 8.5-mile improvement also includes a 12-foot multi-use trail on the north side of the road. The project is under design, but there is no construction funding at this time.
  • County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard) to Old Pasco Road: Widening the two-lane road to a four-lane road, with a median. The 1.5-mile project has an estimated cost of $13.4 million and is scheduled to be completed this spring.
  • State Road 52 widening and new alignment, from Uradco Place to west of Fort King Road.

Between Uradco Place and Bayou Branch Canal, the existing road will be widened to a four-lane divided highway.

East of Bayou Branch Canal, the new alignment will be a four-lane, divided State Road 52, built south of the existing State Road 52, tying into Clinton Avenue.

Heading east, past Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, barricades guide motorists through ongoing widening construction.

Clinton Avenue, between County Road 579 and Fort King Road, will be a widened to a four-lane divided road.

Clinton Avenue, between Pasadena Avenue and U.S. 301, will be designated County Road 52, after the construction of the new State Road 52 is complete.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2019.

 

Other projects
Interstate 75 interchange at Overpass Road
Pasco County is building a future interchange at I-75 and Pasco Road. The project is scheduled for letting in 2020.

U.S. 301/U.S. 98
Resurfacing/bike lanes

An eastbound school bus turns south on to Old Pasco Road, an area where road construction continues.

Project limits: Pond Avenue to north of Long Avenue/Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City

is in design. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.

Wesley Chapel Intermodal Center Study
This study, expected to be completed in late summer, will identify the needs and location of an intermodal center that will serve as a hub for local and regional transit. It includes the analysis of facility needs, location, cost, funding, connectivity and conceptual design.

Proposed U.S. 301 widening
Another project calls for widening U.S. 301, from a four-lane road to six lanes, from County Road 54/Eiland Boulevard to north of Kossik Road, in Zephyrhills. That construction is not yet funded.

Brian Fernandes contributed to this report.

Published January 9, 2019

Addressing each student’s unique needs is her calling

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Drop by Holly Mickler’s classroom at Pasco Middle School in Dade City, and ask her students a few questions about their teacher, and you’ll hear some interesting answers.

Does she truly deserve to be Pasco County Schools’ teacher of the year?

Yes!

The class emphatically responds.

How would you describe her to someone who doesn’t know her?

First, they offer succinct responses: Wonderful. Amazing. Funny. Hardworking.

Then, they begin to elaborate.

“She wants the best for her students,” one says.

“She’s like your school mom,” says another.

Holly Mickler, Pasco County Schools’ teacher of the year, helps her students prepare for college and life. (B.C. Manion)

“She’s not only there for her students, but she’s there for her students’ families. My dad was sick, and she and the tutors brought over food for us,” still another responds.

“I had a problem with a different teacher, and she was the first one that I went to about it,” another student says, with appreciation.

“When I was in the hospital, she actually took the time to get my work from my other teachers and give it to me,” another shares.

It sounds like Mickler may have some of the very characteristics she admired in the woman who inspired her to become a teacher.

That woman was her kindergarten teacher, Dawn Brown, in Statesville, North Carolina.

Mickler was just 5 years old when she decided to become a teacher.

Her kindergarten teacher took a personal interest in her students, Mickler explained.

“I would see that love that she had for us,” Mickler said.

She cared beyond the classroom walls.

“She invited me to her house and I would play with her daughters, who were high schoolers at the time. We would sit down and play school,” she added.

It was a different time, and place, Mickler wrote, in an essay contained in her teacher of the year packet.

But, just like then, Mickler said, every student is unique and has individual needs.

“I like the challenge of trying to figure out where they need the assistance, and the best way to get it for them. Sometimes you have to get creative.

“I had a kid the other day who walked in and said, ‘I just need a hug,’ ” she said.

She said one of the main things she tells her students is: “Keep your opportunities open. Don’t start closing doors by the choices you are making now.”

Mickler, who has been at Pasco Middle School in Dade City for 14 years, is the teacher and coordinator in the school’s AVID program. The acronym stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.

She built that program at her middle school from the ground up.

It’s an elective college prep and life skills course aimed at students who typically find themselves in the middle, with some slightly above average and others slightly below, she said.

“They have what it takes to go to college,” she said, but they may need a little extra support in some areas.

The course is about helping students advance through individual determination — and that means knowing more than just how to analyze a piece of writing or solve a mathematics problem, Mickler said.

It also requires knowing how to advocate for yourself, how to resolve conflicts and how to prioritize the importance — and order of tasks — that need to be done, she said.

Mickler calls that mastering the soft skills needed to navigate the “hidden curriculum” of school.

The teacher said she’s lucky because her job gives her the luxury of flexibility not found in typical classrooms.

Most classrooms are tightly regulated by the amount of material that must be covered and the emphasis on performance.

Performance is important, she said, but so is flexibility.

Her program is an elective, and she has a greater opportunity to really get to know her students and identify their needs.

AVID, she said, has made her a better educator.

“Intentionally planned flexibility is what turns good teachers into great teachers,” Mickler believes.

Early on, AVID emphasizes team-building with the goal of creating a family atmosphere in the class.

“It is never ‘my classroom.’ It is ‘our classroom,’ ” Mickler said.

Mickler never expected to be selected as Pasco’s teacher of the year.

She was helping to judge science projects in the school’s media center, when a contingent of district officials showed up to let her know.

“I was in shock. It was so completely unexpected.

“It made me feel incredibly special,” Mickler said.

And, she wasn’t just happy for herself.

She thinks the honor will help boost morale at a school which contends with a poor image — that Mickler said is inaccurate and unfair.

“People think it’s a rough school, a rough clientele, and it’s not. We have amazing kids. We have an incredible staff of teachers.

“It’s not without its problems. Every place has problems,” she said.

But, she’s a big believer in Pasco Middle — so much so that she commutes daily from Wesley Chapel.

“It’s about a 35-minute drive, but it’s worth it.”

“I cannot picture myself anywhere else. I’m a pirate,” Mickler said.

Published January 2, 2019

Love One Another serves up food, and kindness

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It’s not uncommon for generous acts to surface during the holiday, especially charitable gestures for those who are less fortunate.

But, when you have a group that guarantees a hot plate every Sunday throughout the year, that’s not such a common thing.

That’s precisely what an organization called Love One Another has been doing for 10 years.

The Rev. Dayan Machado, left, of St. Rita Catholic Church, and Ed Laezza, a coordinator for Love One Another, are all smiles as they welcome people to Pasco County Nutrition Center on Dec. 16 for a meal served by the Love One Another ministry. (Richard Riley)

The ministry serves meals every Sunday at the Pasco County Nutrition Center, 13853 15th St., in Dade City.

It feeds whomever walks through the door.

Lucy Avila helped to found Love One Another.

She said it all began with a simple idea brought up during a staff meeting at the First Baptist Church, where she attends.

Initially, it was a program aimed at feeding only the homeless.

Flyers were placed around the city to get the word out.

In the beginning, organizers planned for 100 people, but only 10 showed up.

The First Baptist Church supplied and prepared the meals for the first five months, but then decided to reach out to other churches in Dade City, asking them to help.

The churches responded.

Now, in addition to First Baptist Church, other churches pitching in are St. Rita Catholic Church, Calvary Assembly of God, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church and Dade City Christian Church.

“It’s really a joint venture, but it’s all to promote Jesus Christ,” explained Jesse O’ Berry, a volunteer who attends Dade City Christian Church.

Each Sunday, a different church prepares and serves the meals.

Besides expanding the ministry, the organization also began opening its doors to anyone who wanted to come to enjoy a hot dish.

Kevin Yawn, left, and his brother, Joey, enjoy a nice hot meal with their longtime friend, Ben Lehman.

There’s also a food pantry — so those attending can take home items to last them through the week, and they can select items from a collection of clothing and personal hygiene items.

Offering these items, Avila said, benefits people who are limited financially and who are sometimes are forced to make the difficult choice between buying groceries or prescription medicines.

This time of year, the Nutrition Center has a holiday feel. There’s a decorated Christmas tree behind a table of pantry items, and the tables are neatly set with holiday-themed tablecloths.

The desserts even include some colorful cookies, shaped like ornaments.

Avila is grateful for the year-round generosity of those who sustain the ministry.

“I’m so thankful that people have contributed to make these things happen,” Avila said.

Donors include the nonprofit organization Restored Hope, and Panera Bread. A fitness center also helps, by providing canned goods and pet food.

Schools pitch in, too. Pasco Middle School, Centennial Middle School and Centennial Elementary School all contribute canned goods on Fridays.

Students from Saint Leo University volunteer occasionally, too.

In addition to the Sunday meals, Love One Another also helps other organizations, when it has a surplus of food.

“If there’s a need out there, and we can help somebody else because we’ve been blessed, then we pass that on,” Avila said.

Forty-one-year-old Joey Yawn has witnessed Love One Another’s good works, and tries to emulate them. He’s been attending the Sunday meals for the past 10 years.

The Dade City man said he’s willing to open his home to others in need because the organization has helped him.

In addition to providing a welcome meal, the program has created a community, where friendships are formed and people care about each other, Yawn said.

He recalled one instance someone gave him some eggs and he passed them along to a single mom, so she could take them home.

Over time, Yawn has managed to get his brother, Kevin, and a friend, Ben Lehman, to come to the Sunday dinners.

“It’s been a blessing that God has put this in our lives because, without this, a lot of us would probably go hungry during the week,” the 20-year-old Lehman said.

Like his friend, he too has learned the meaning of sharing love and compassion to others.

“If I see a homeless guy on the way and I have a bag, I try to give him something,” he explained, quoting the Golden Rule.

When people ask him why he has such a joyful spirit, he tells them he can only attribute it to having a close relationship with God.

Many of those attending a recent Sunday gathering felt the same way as Vonette Mobley, who said, “Everybody that we meet, they’re very nice and make us feel like we’re family.”

Vonette Mobley smiles, while holding her granddaughter, Destiny, who is enjoying a candy cane.

Mobley, who initially came because she was invited by Avila, said she always felt respected and welcome.

There’s never been a sense of being looked down on, Mobley said. She has always felt like an equal.

She brings along her two daughters, Jasmine and Moesha, plus her granddaughter, Destiny.

“I was wondering earlier — ‘What am I going to cook for a Sunday meal?’ — and then my kids said, ‘Mom, just go to Love One Another’,” she said, chuckling.

Besides the meal and company, those attending often get something else, too: News of free events that will be coming up soon in the community, such as the Dade City Symphony or the Christmas Parade.

Plus, at the beginning of each month, there’s also a cake to celebrate those having a birthday that month.

At Love One Another gatherings, there’s food for the body, and soul.

For more information on Love One Another, contact Lucy Avila at (352) 424-4972 or at .

Love One Another
Where: Pasco County Nutrition Center, 13853 15th St., Dade City
When: Every Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Hot meals and desserts are provided at the center, as well as clothing, hygienic products and additional groceries to take home.
Info: If you’d like to know more about Love One Another, or you’d like to help, please contact Lucy Avila at (352) 424-4972 or at .

Published December 26, 2018