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Local teen moves on to next round on ‘American Idol’

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Zach D’Onofrio has received a Golden Ticket, and his next national appearance on American Idol will be during Hollywood Week.

The 17-year-old Wiregrass Ranch High School student impressed judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie with “The Way You Look Tonight,” a Frank Sinatra song.

When he appeared before the celebrity judges in New York, the first thing he did was give each of them a pair of socks from his collection.

Katy Perry immediately put the socks on her hands.

Zach D’Onofrio said he didn’t feel too rattled while singing for celebrity judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Luke Bryan. His performance earned him a Golden Ticket, taking him to the next round of the competition in Hollywood. (Courtesy of ABC)

Then, when Zach began singing, Perry came down from her chair and began dancing with him. Meanwhile, Richie and Bryan danced, too.

The Wesley Chapel teen said the judges appeared to be surprised when he started to sing.

“Can I hear you speak again?” Bryan asked. “Is this really your speaking voice, you swear?”

Zach responded: “I swear, this is my natural voice.”

Then Richie added: “You are unique.”

Then they asked him to sing for them again.

Richie then gave Zach a Golden Ticket, signaling that he’d made it to the next round.

Despite performing before celebrity judges, Zach wasn’t rattled.

“I wasn’t really too nervous,” he said, in an interview. “I tried to stay confident and believe I could do well in front of them,” he said, adding that it helped to have his mom in New York with him.

Zach’s American Idol experience began when he auditioned at Tampa Bay Idol at Florida Hospital Center Ice, an event hosted by ABC Action News and Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend.

There, he received a Front of the Line Pass for the next audition in Orlando.

His mom, Darci, and his dad, Bryan, took the day off from work to go to Orlando, and his sister, Taylor, took the day off from classes at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, to be there, too.

“We got there at 7 a.m., or so,” Bryan said. “There were roughly 5,000 people auditioning that day. The majority of them had to wait in this huge line. But, we only had to wait probably about an hour, and Zach got to sing in front of some of the judges.”

Still, Bryan said, “it was a LONG day.

“That was in August. It was all outside at Disney Springs,” Bryan said.

“In the sun,” Darci added.

“It was brutal,” Bryan said.

Zach finished his first audition, and then was held back for a second one later in the day before he found out he had made the cut to sing before the celebrity judges.

At that point, he had a choice to sing in various cities, Darci said.

Zach D’Onofrio has a collection of 40 pairs to 50 pairs of colorful socks. He gave each of the judges a pair, and Katy Perry promptly put them on her hands, like gloves.

Zach announced: “We’ve got to go to New York, Mom. I’m a Frank Sinatra guy. I’m a crooner.”

Darci and Bryan had to decide which of them would accompany Zach because they had a show scheduled at their Dreamhouse Theatre, which they operate in Lutz.

“I pulled the Mom card —  ‘Hey, I birthed him,’” Darci said. Plus, she added, “I’ve never been to New York.’”

Zach hadn’t been there, either, so the two of them made the most of it.

They arrived on a Sunday and stayed for three days, in a hotel within walking distance of Times Square. They visited The Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial.

The day they went to the 9/11 Memorial was the morning after the shootings in Las Vegas, Darci said.

“It was very, very touching to be there that day,” she said.

Zach’s audition day was on a Tuesday. The day began at 6 a.m., with Zach auditioning around 1 p.m.

“By the time we were done with filming, we weren’t out of there until 10 o’clock that night. It was pretty intense,” Darci said.

Bryan and Darci knew that Zach could sing, but didn’t realize how well he could sing until Zach came across a Frank Sinatra album, while shopping for vinyl with Bryan.

“When he heard Frank Sinatra, he was like: ‘I think I kind of sing like him’,” Bryan said.

Zach, who has performed in various Dreamhouse Theatre productions, said initially he ran the lights and the sound for shows.

“I would always see the actors on the stage perform, and I always wanted to go on the stage and perform myself, but I was always too nervous to do it because I wasn’t sure what other people would say about my voice,” he said.

After singing Sinatra-style for his parents, he decided to sing for cast members of “Little Shop of Horrors” at the theater.

“They really liked my voice, and they thought I should keep pursuing this and keep putting myself out there,” Zach said.

Although he’s interested in becoming a doctor, Zach is now considering the possibility of a singing career.

Like most things in life, time will tell.

Published March 14, 2018

USA Women’s Hockey, fans celebrate gold in Wesley Chapel

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Just days removed from celebrating a gold medal win in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the USA women’s ice hockey team returned to where their remarkable journey all began — Wesley Chapel.

The U.S. women’s national ice hockey team posed for pictures on Feb. 28 at Florida Hospital Center Ice, in Wesley Chapel. The team spent more than five months training at the facility and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. (Kevin Weiss)

It’s where the team spent more than five months getting prepared for the Winter Olympics, training at Florida Hospital Center Ice and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. It’s also where daily practices, off-ice testing and intrasquad scrimmages were used to determine the 23 players selected for the Team USA roster back in May.

The team spent the better part of an hour on the afternoon of Feb. 28 greeting fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs at the Center Ice facility.

The surprise visit was part of a nationwide media blitz that took them to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York City.

A week earlier, the team defeated Canada in a 3-2 shootout to win gold, ending a 20-year drought for the women’s hockey program.

Moments since have been nothing short of surreal for Team USA, from celebrating the victory to the fan support.

“It’s been overwhelming, exciting, just a whirlwind,” said two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne. “It’s been truly an honor to bring home this gold to the United States, and to see the reaction from everybody and the support.”

“It’s been crazy,” added 19-year-old defenseman Cayla Barnes, the youngest member of Team USA. “This has been a goal of ours for so long, and it just proves you can do whatever you set your mind to.”

Two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne shows off her Olympic gold medal. She is one of 23 players on the U.S. women’s national ice hockey team.

Their time spent in Wesley Chapel won’t soon be forgotten, either, from top-flight training digs and hospitality, to the warm, sunny weather.

“These facilities were awesome, the staff here was amazing, and they really helped us with everything we needed,” Barnes said. “It was great to be down here, such nice weather, and really nice to train out here in preparation for the games.”

“Hockey in Florida was new to a lot of us, but I don’t think it took long for us to realize that hockey is serious in Florida,” said Coyne. “The growth is amazing, and just to see the growth in the short six months we were here just shows how much more there can be.”

Coyne added, the gold medal victory provides a “huge opportunity” to further the sport in the United States, particularly among young girls.

The 25-year-old herself was inspired by Hall of Famer Cammi Granato and the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey, the last team to win gold.

“With our win, I think we can get more girls playing across the United States,” Coyne said.

“If you look at our team currently, a lot of us are playing because we saw the ’98 team win a gold medal. So, knowing that feeling and knowing personally I was one of them… I saw Cammi Granato, and seeing her gold medal made me want to become one of them.”

Tampa resident Chad Courson is all smiles after posing for a picture with Team USA Women’s Hockey. He came equipped with a Team USA jacket and ‘Gold Medal edition’ box of Corn Flakes to get autographed.

Having Team USA train in Wesley Chapel was likewise beneficial to Florida Hospital Center Ice and the Tampa Bay hockey community, said Gordie Zimmerman, managing partner and developer of Florida Hospital Center Ice.

The $28 million,150,500-square-foot complex was picked as Team USA’s training ground over such hockey facilities in Boston, Chicago and others.

“It’s been terrific on every front — for the development of hockey for the girls and the boys, and just the awareness and having the girls here in the facility,” explained Zimmerman.

“I think there was a lot of pressure on them and where they train…and it turned out to be a great experience for everybody. This wave is going to continue, and you can see like with the girls’ (programs) — and that’s what it’s all about.”

As one of dozens of fans at the meet-and-greet, Wesley Chapel resident Rob Simonelli just couldn’t pass up the chance to take photos and chat it up with the newly crowned Olympic gold medalists.

He found out about the team’s surprise appearance at Center Ice through a friend who caught wind of the event.

“I had a feeling because they had been here for a couple months with their training that they’ve got to come back and take a look at the people at the rink,” said Simonelli, who plays recreational hockey at Center Ice along with his son.

“They’re really friendly, and it’s nice that they decided to come and just kind of say ‘Hey’ to the people.”

Simonelli said he watched much of the Olympic coverage on television, and even attended some of the team’s tryouts and international games at Center Ice last year.

Besides national pride, he felt some local pride, too.

“I just was excited that this was their home base. Just following them when they made this their home was kind of cool,” Simonelli said.

Another exuberant fan, Tampa resident Chad Courson, came to the event equipped with a Team USA jacket and a “Gold Medal edition” box of Corn Flakes featuring a cover picture of USA women’s gold winning hockey star Meghan Duggan.

He brought both items to get signed. He also bought about 40 other boxes of the limited-edition Corn Flakes to get signed later that night at Amalie Arena as part of another Team USA appearance.

“I met the team on previous occasions, but it’s still cool,” Courson said of the team’s stop in Wesley Chapel.

As for the team’s run in PyeongChang?

“It was amazing,” Courson said.

Published March 7, 2018

Tampa Bay housing market has solid outlook for 2018, experts say

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Tampa Bay’s housing market is looking strong for 2018, but changes are expected, as the market evolves, according to experts featured at the 2018 Economic Forecast meeting presented by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Buck Horne, vice president for equity research, housing and real estate for Raymond James, presented an analysis featuring three key findings during the Feb. 6 meeting at Tampa.

Buck Horne, vice president — equity research, housing and real estate, for Raymond James & Associates, provided a look at key trends in the housing market. (B.C. Manion)

The first involves a deluge of new apartments expected soon.

“We see what we’re calling a wall of new supply in multifamily rental apartments, which is going to be delivering into the front half of 2018, and it could spill into the back half of ‘18, as well,” said Horne, who specializes in the housing and real estate sectors.

“In the latter half of last year, we were doing our data digging and what we found were just surprising levels — how widespread pervasive construction delays started to mount.

“Labor shortages, permitting issues, entitlement delays — all of it really started to mount. And, we saw an incredible backing up of supply in multifamily that was supposed to deliver last year, which is now scheduled to deliver this year,” he said.

The scheduled new supply in 2018 could be as much as 50 percent higher than either 2017 or 2016, according to figures on one of Horne’s charts.

“We think it’s going to start to affect multifamily rental markets, mainly in the big urban core coastal cities — that’s where it’s going to be most acutely felt. But, it’s in a lot of places. It’s not just New York and San Francisco and L.A., although those are the worst.

“But, you’re going to see it in Charlotte. You’ll see it in Nashville. You’ll see it in Tampa, in the second and third quarters, as well,” he said.

Lots of new homes are going up in the Bexley subdivision, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. Housing experts expect the Tampa Bay housing market to have a solid outlook in 2018.

There has also been a shift within the composition of household formation, which has started to tilt to the single-family side, said Horne, who has been a regular guest on CNBC, offering insight into the housing sector, and has also been widely quoted in major media outlets, such as Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.

“Last year was the first in 10 that we saw multifamily renter households actually decline, rather than growing. We saw accelerations in new single-family household formation,” Horne said.

Dearth of homes for sale
As the spring selling season begins, there’s a historically tight inventory, Horne said.

Listed inventory for sale, as measured as a percentage of total housing stock, is at its lowest recorded level in more than 30 years, according to Raymond James data.

Horne also observed: “We’ve got reliable data going back to the late 1980s, and we haven’t seen anything like this. Anything that’s even affordable and that’s in reasonably good condition gets snapped up very quickly.”

When it comes to housing starts, Horne said, “we’re looking for basically good, but not great, growth. We’re forecasting another year at a low double-digit growth in single-family housing starts and new home sales.

“But, you’ll see we are projecting that multifamily starts will begin to come down. We think that’s a function of the supply issues that are coming this year, as well as possibly some demand that starts to tail off,” he said. He also expects rent levels to begin to stall.

Horne also expects to see growth in single-family housing, both owner-occupied and rental.

There are a lot of factors at play, he said, but he noted: “We are seeing evidence that the push into single-family and away from multifamily is beginning to gain some momentum,” Horne said.

Older millennials are beginning to make the move from apartments into single-family dwellings, he added.

One of the fastest-growing housing types in America is the single-family renter household, Horne said.

“We’ve also got for the first time, in a long time, real household income growth: 2016 household income got up to about a little over $59,000.

“That is driving some better demand, but it’s also driving higher and higher household prices,” he said.

Concerns about affordability
“The cost to build a new single-family house just is relentlessly going higher,” Horne said.

“The under-$200,000 single-family house is becoming an extinct species. It’s harder and harder to build, unless you go way out to the periphery, to actually make that math work.

To build the same house as five years ago, it’s 36 percent more today, he said.

Many new homes have been built in the Long Lake Ranch Community in Lutz and more are being built there, as new home construction continues to create new housing options in Pasco County.

Most of that was labor and lot costs, but rising material costs now are compounding cost issues, he added.

“The point is, it’s not going to get any better anytime soon,” Horne predicted.

“We know there’s a tremendous amount of pent-up demand for entry level, but increasingly fewer and fewer — particularly smaller builders — are able to meet the cost required to build at that price point.

“You’re finding the larger builders, who can get the efficiencies and the scales needed to build in high volumes and production efficiencies, that can acquire the land in large enough chunks and develop it, those are the guys that are soaking up that entry land demand.

“The smaller guys — it’s harder and harder to compete for that entry-level buyer,” Horne said.

Lesley Deutch, a principal for John Burns Real Estate Consulting, said the affordability issue is her greatest worry.

While Tampa is one of the most affordable markets in the state, it is getting more expensive to buy a house, she said.

In Tampa, there’s a two months’ supply of resale housing inventory, she said.

“So, that’s really driving people to the new home market, and we expect to drive up prices of resale homes,” she said.

Deutch offered a forecast for 2018 for Tampa’s housing market.

She expects employment to be up by 2 percent, adding 26,600 jobs. She expects income to increase by 5 percent.

She’s projecting total construction activity to rise by nearly 12 percent, up to 20,000 permits.

Most of that growth will be in the single-family sector, she said.

She expects the median price of new homes to increase by 4.3 percent.

“(It’s) not a booming, doubling of growth, but a very, very strong growth market. One of the strongest, actually, in Florida,” Deutch said.

John Burns Real Estate Consulting is based in California. The company spends a substantial amount of time looking at demographics across the country, and doing consumer research.

Its research reveals a high demand for communities that allow residents to walk to destinations, such as restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops, Deutch said.

“I think that having housing that’s close to something walkable — people will pay a premium for it because that’s what they’re looking for,” she said.

She also sees a shift coming for Tampa’s housing market.

“It’s going to be a different world over the next 10 years,” she said, as households grow substantially in the 65-plus age category (+142,000), grow modestly in the 25 to 44 age group (+14,000), as they decline in the 45 to 64 age group (-14,000). The 45 to 64 age group is typically the move-up buyer.

“So, where is the opportunity here? It’s really a different strategy than we’ve been using in the past. It’s a different buyer. It’s a young buyer and an older buyer,” Deutch said.

Buck Horne, vice president for equity research, housing and real estate for Raymond James & Associates, and Lesley Deutch, principal for John Burns Real Estate Consulting shared their insights at the Tampa Bay Builders Association’s 2018 Economic Forecast breakfast.
Here are some of Buck Horne’s key points:

  • A supply surge in multifamily could disrupt rent pricing.
  • Apartment occupancy has been falling noticeably on a year-to-year basis.
  • Investors should shift their focus more significantly in favor of single-family homes.
  • Inflation-adjusted median household income in the United States hit a new record high of $59,039 in 2016, breaking a previous high mark set in 1999.
  • The cost to build a like-kind single family home has increased 36 percent over the past 5.5 years.
  • Luxury markets continue to grow. New home sales priced above $750,000 was the strongest growth category in 2017, increasing 32 percent, year on year.
  • Listed housing inventory for sale, both new and resale, as measured as a percentage of total housing stock, is at the lowest recorded levels in 30 years.

Here are some of Lesley Deutch’s key points:

  • Median housing resale price in Tampa market is expected to be up 7.6 percent in 2018.
  • Single-family permits in Tampa market are expected to be up 11 percent in 2018.
  • Tampa’s employment is expected to be up 2 percent, which is more than 26,600 jobs.
  • There’s a two-month supply of resale inventory, which is virtually none.
  • Tampa is ranked No. 2 in the United States for people moving into the area, based on U-Haul truck rental pricing.
  • A consumer preferences survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting reveals that three community features important to buyers are safety, location and street appeal.
  • The John Burns survey also shows that important home features are design, price and function.
  • The vast majority (84 percent) of buyers desire a detached, single-family home, and 62 percent expect to pay $250,000 to $450,000 for it.

Published February 28, 2018

Voters could decide on four bond issues in 2018

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Pasco County voters could be asked to support as many as four bond referendums in November to pay for upgrades to public safety, fire rescue, parks and libraries.

County officials presented information on the bonds at a Feb. 13 workshop in New Port Richey.

A four-year plan for Pasco County Fire Rescue might include a $58 million bond referendum on the 2018 ballot. Approval could mean an expansion and upgrade of the fire station near the county jail in Land O’ Lakes. (File)

At a previous workshop, Pasco County commissioners had considered a single referendum for about $185 million to pay for public safety and fire rescue needs. That included a 1,000-bed expansion at the county’s jail in Land O’ Lakes, four new fire stations, and upgrades and expansions at five other fire stations.

There also was discussion on including parks and libraries in the single bond, or possibly putting those categories into a separate bond.

This is the county’s current breakdown on individual bond issues:

  • $128 million for public safety
  • $57 million for fire rescue
  • $19 million for parks and recreation
  • $9 million for libraries

Pasco County commissioners had differing opinions on whether to pursue separate bond issues.

From a legal standpoint, Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the bonds should not be “lumped” together.

“Every single item should be on there,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. “Let the people pick.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he worried about overloading voters with too many issues.

“On one ballot, that is going to be very, very full,” he said. “That’s a lot of information —  a lot going on.”

But, he later said, he could go along with four bonds.

“If you guys want to put it on the ballot, put it on the ballot,” he said.

The detention center project, at $128 million, would pay for a 1,000-bed expansion. County officials said a judicial administrative order mandates that the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office relieve overcrowding when the inmate population reaches a daily average of 1,900.

The facility was built to house 1,432 inmates but, as of January, held more than 1,800 on an average day. By 2020, the inmate population is projected to be at nearly 2,400 a day.

The cost per household, based on $100,000 property assuming a homestead exemption, is estimated at $13.87 annually.

Fire rescue is seeking $57 million for four new stations, as well as renovations at five existing stations and at the fire training center. In addition, the bond would pay for trucks for the new stations.

The cost per household, based on $100,000 property assuming a homestead exemption, would be about $8.60 annually.

The $9 million for the libraries would be used to modernize and upgrade a library system built in the 1980s. The cost per household, assuming a homestead exemption, would be $1.71 a year.

The $19 million for parks and recreation would pay for deferred maintenance projects. The cost per household, based on $100,000 property asssuming a homestead exemption, would be $3.71 a year.

“I think people would vote for $1.71 and $3.71,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, referring to the cost per household for the libraries and parks bond issues.

Currently, the county spends $1.5 million annually on deferred maintenance needs.

At that spending rate, county officials said it could take more than 15 years to catch up.

Using bond proceeds, the backlog could be completed in five years or six years, they said.

One critical recreation issue for the county is a shortage of ball fields.

Currently, sports leagues must compete for playing time, said Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources.

“As growth continues and as children want to play, the reality is we don’t have enough fields to put them on,” he said.

Revised February 28, 2018

Helping your relationships thrive — not just on Valentine’s Day

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You come home from work and you see your husband sprawled out on the couch watching television, while dishes are piled up in the sink.

You get mad.

You’re thinking: Really, he’s just sitting there while there’s work that needs to be done?

Veronique Polo is a life coach at CREATION Wellness Center, which is part of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. She will be facilitating a class aimed at helping people to have thriving relationships. (B.C. Manion)

You’re not thinking: He’s exhausted. He just finished a tough day at work and he’s stressed out. He needs to relax a little.

These are the kinds of things that occur often in relationships and can sometimes result in a fight.

Choosing to “believe the best” of the other person, however, can help avoid conflicts and help relationships thrive.

That’s just one of the eight tips that Veronique Polo, a life coach at CREATION Wellness Center in Zephyrhills, will discuss on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m., during “Eight relationship tips — A class on taking any relationship from conflicting to thriving.”

CREATION Health is part of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, which is part of the Adventist Health System.

Polo said the advice she’ll be providing applies to relationships of all types, including romantic and family, as well as friendships, neighbors and colleagues.

She said the tips came from books she has read and her life experiences.

The goal, she said, is to provide practical information, which people can use in their day-to-day lives.

“So many times you go to a class, and you’re like, ‘Well, that’s great theory, but how does that work in my life?’” Polo said.

The life coach said “The 5 Love Languages,” a book by Gary Chapman, can help people better understand the needs of those they are close to in their lives.

Chapman’s book discusses these five love languages: gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time and touch, Polo said.

“The most important thing about the love languages is understanding what the person needs.

Not just what is natural to you,” she said.

She used this example: “One of my dearest friends, she loves gifts.

“I can text her how much I appreciate her. I can wash her car. She will like those things, but what really she appreciates is if I get her a little necklace that’s meaningful, or a gift card,” Polo said.

To her friend, a gift demonstrates that someone thought about her and what she likes, and went out to spend both time and money to get it for her.

For someone else, quality time may be much more important.

“There’s no right or wrong love language,” Polo said.

The key is understanding your loved one’s needs and making a commitment to seek to meet them.

She describes it like this: “There’s a love tank, and you are either going to fill it or not.”

She also noted that relationships can’t be one-sided.

“There are deposits and withdrawals, and people can’t keep making withdrawals, if they don’t make deposits,” she said.

The way to discover your loved one’s love language is to observe them, she said.

What someone gives, is likely their love language and what they want to receive, Polo said.

A wife might be wondering: ‘Does he really love me?’

Meanwhile, her husband is thinking: ‘I always give her gifts. I’m always telling her I love her.’

The thing is, her love language might be quality of time or acts of service — and the husband is totally missing it, Polo said.

So, the wife’s love tank is not being filled, Polo said.

That’s why it’s so important to communicate, the life coach added.

“Don’t suffer in silence.

“So many times when we feel hurt, misunderstood —  we regress, we isolate ourselves. That just inflames the problem,” she said.

Communication is a two-way street, she added.

“Don’t assume what your mate is thinking. Ask them questions.

“Being open about your thoughts and your feelings is how you get clarity in a relationship,” Polo said.

It’s also important to realize that each of us is responsible for our own happiness, Polo said.

“We blame others. We think: ‘I’m not happy because I don’t have money. My husband doesn’t make me happy, or my kids are brats. Or, whatever. It’s everybody else’s fault but yourself. You need to realize, you’re in control.

“It’s not your circumstance that makes you happy. It’s how you see it,” Polo said.

What: “Eight relationship tips — A class on taking any relationship from conflicting to thriving.”
Where: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CREATION® Health Wellness Center Education Room, 38233 Daughtery Road, Zephyrhills
When: Feb. 22, 1 p.m.
Cost: Free, but registration is required
Info: (813) 779-6476 to register

 

Eight relationships tips:

  • If you can’t listen, don’t talk.
  • Believe the best.
  • Safety, security, love, acceptance
  • Learn about the love languages. They are: Gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, touch. (What someone gives is likely their love language, and what they want to receive)
  • You can’t control others, only yourself.
  • Stubbornness is the silent killer.
  • Take responsibility for your happiness.
  • Don’t suffer in silence. (Your mate can’t read your mind and you can’t make them guess — that’s unfair.)

Source: Veronique Polo, life coach at CREATION Health Wellness Center in Zephyrhills

Published February 14, 2018

Florida and Tampa Bay have bright prospects, economist says

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Florida and Tampa Bay will be in good economic shape for 2018 and beyond, an economist for Florida Taxwatch predicts.

Kyle Baltuch, who also is director of development at Florida Taxwatch, offered that assessment during a Feb. 2 luncheon hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council.

He said his optimism stems in part from strides made last year.

Economist Kyle Baltuch was the featured speaker at a Feb. 2 business networking event hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council. (Courtesy of Florida Taxwatch)

He pointed to Florida’s gross domestic product growth of 3.1 percent in 2017. That made Florida sixth in the nation and outpaced the state’s main competitors of New York, California and Texas.

A low unemployment rate (3.6 percent in 2017), combined with a strong housing and rental market (permit activity increased by 14.8 percent) and growth in industries like construction and management, are other positive indicators for the state going forward, Baltuch explained.

“Looking at the state as a whole we had a pretty strong 2017,” he added.

Florida’s economy is expected to reach the $1 trillion mark sometime this year.

To put that in perspective, Florida would rank as the 16th largest economy in the world, if it was a country.

Florida is a major player, he said, adding that he believes confidence in the economy will continue to have a positive effect on its growth.

Tampa meanwhile, is expected to have the second highest Gross Metro Product in all of Florida’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas in 2018.

Baltuch suggested one of the region’s largest and growing industries — the financial, insurance, real estate and leasing sector — is a positive indicator for at least the next few years.

“You want to be strong in those fields,” he said. “If you’re doing strong in real estate, you’re doing strong in rental. That means you have people that want to live in your area, and you have the jobs to pay for those.”

Other industries, including construction and phosphate mining, also have helped diversify Tampa’s economy, Baltuch said.

Some of Tampa’s major developments are another encouraging sign, he said.

For example, MetLife is expanding its Tampa operations with 430 additional high-wage jobs.

Strategic Property Partners, a real estate development company owned by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, is designing an innovation hub in downtown Tampa. And, downtown Tampa is also the top pick for the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

“Tampa is absolutely on the upswing,” Baltuch said.

Elsewhere, the economist specifically praised Pasco County for creating jobs in the advanced manufacturing and information technology arenas. He expects the percentage of Pasco residents to live and work in the county to increase over the next five years to 10 years.

“Everybody, for years, thought of Pasco as a bed county for Tampa, but what we’re seeing here is more and more jobs created in the right area, and in the right fields,” Baltuch explained.

As for improvements, Baltuch said investing in infrastructure must be Florida’s top priority, particularly for attracting major corporations.

The state received a “C” grade on its infrastructure report card for 2017.

“Infrastructure is an issue here in Florida, an issue here in Tampa. The more we can get ahead of that curve, the stronger you’re going to better prepare yourself for the future,” he said.

Other priorities include improving the state’s education system at the kindergarten through 12th grade level, as well as the state college level, he said.

While Florida personal income grew 3.1 percent in 2017, per capital personal income growth ranked in the bottom 20 among all states, according to Florida Taxwatch.

Baltuch explained much of that personal income gain is by transients from other states moving to Florida for jobs.

“We really need to work on that education gap because that will help us keep some of the jobs in the state. You’d love to be filling those jobs by people that are already here,” he said.

Florida Taxwatch is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute located in Tallahassee.

Published February 7, 2018

These gardeners are breaking new ground, in more ways than one

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Community gardens are not a new concept, but the Watson Park Community Garden in Dade City has a new twist.

This garden is the first of its kind in Florida, and the people behind it hope it will become a model for others to follow.

At a ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 26, children from Cox Elementary School were among the first to get their hands dirty in the garden.

There were others there to celebrate, including Saqib Mukhtar from the University of Florida; Whitney Elmore and Eden Santiago-Gomez, of the Pasco County Extension Office; Camille Hernandez, mayor of Dade City; representatives from the Dade City Garden Club and Pasco County Master Gardeners; financial supporters and members of the community, too.

A cast of many played a role in making the garden become reality, Elmore said, in her opening remarks.

She credited Santiago-Gomez for coming up with the idea and working relentlessly to pursue it.

But, Elmore also noted that it was a collaborative effort and required the help of many.

“It’s the first one in the state that is a partnership between the University of Florida and a municipality (Dade City), so, we’re really, no pun intended, breaking ground, breaking new ground here,” Elmore said.

“Camille Hernandez, the City of Dade City and the commissioners were kind enough to see the value in this and allow funds for the fencing, for the irrigation. They had their work crews, city crews come in and put that in very quickly, a professional job, very, very well done,” Elmore said.

Mukhtar, associate dean for extension and program leader for agriculture, said “this will be a shining example of what can be done.”

Elmore noted: “We’ve got different types of plots. We’ve got regular raised-bed plots. We’ve also got handicapped-accessible plots.”

Eden Santiago-Gomez works with children from Cox Elementary School to begin planting in the Watson Park Community Garden. (B.C. Manion)

The value of community gardens goes beyond growing fruits and vegetables, both Elmore and Hernandez said.

“It really is an exciting day today,” Hernandez said.

She then shared Dade City’s vision for community gardens.

That vision, Hernandez said, is “to provide opportunities for people to grow food for themselves and for donations; to promote healthy diets and activities; to get to know their neighbors and make new friends; to learn from each other; to engage our youth; to promote environmental sustainability and to create a productive and beautiful common ground in our community.

“Today is all about engaging and educating. I’m excited about this wonderful opportunity,” she told the crowd before the ribbon-cutting to officially open the garden, which offers free garden plots for lease.

After the ceremony, Hernandez donned a pair of pink garden gloves and made her way into the garden.

This is the first of many community gardens that Elmore would like to see across Pasco County.

Another community garden is planned in Dade City, which Elmore expects to open within a few months at the Stallings Building, which is owned by Pasco County.

Other possibilities include establishing community gardens at public libraries on the west side of Pasco County, adding community gardens to development projects and possibly to schools, too.

Like Hernandez, Elmore sees enormous potential in the good that community gardens can do.

Besides producing wholesome food, they offer a place where people can learn, she said. They also can bring people together and can provide a source of nutrition to reduce chronic disease.

Elmore expressed gratitude for the widespread support.

“All of these folks saw the need. They all saw the potential for good. And, if it hadn’t had been for them, we couldn’t have made this happen,” Elmore said.

She heaped particular praise on Santiago-Gomez.

“This is the result of her brainchild, of planning, coordinating, being on the phone 24/7, and getting things done. A lot of labor on her part,” Elmore said.

Published January 31, 2018

It’s Kumquat Festival time

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A day set aside for tiny orange fruits and fun

It’s that time of year when the tiny tart orange fruit reigns supreme in Dade City — the town on the eastern edge of Pasco County, with quaint shops lining its downtown streets and a historic courthouse in its center square.

Bruce Gode, of Kumquat Growers Inc., arranges a display of kumquats for sale at last year’s festival. The tiny tart orange fruit plays a starring role at the Dade City Kumquat Festival each year. (File)

About 35,000 people are expected at the festival this year, said John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, which is the event organizer.

“They literally come from all over,” he said, noting visitors come from Sarasota, Sun City Center, all over Pinellas County, The Villages, The Nature Coast, Orlando, Lakeland, and other nearby areas.

Volunteers work all year to prepare for the event, and on festival day, crews begin to arrive at 4:30 a.m., to get the vendors lined up on the streets.

“We couldn’t do this without the almost 200 volunteers,” Moors said.

The free event features Kumquat Growers, in the Wells Fargo parking lot, where visitors can learn all about kumquats and purchase some to take home.

There are lots of fun things to see and do, too.

The festival features more than 400 vendors, offering everything from arts and crafts, to fresh produce to all sorts of kumquat products.

There’s a Kid’s Corral, with all sorts of activities for children, a Quilt Show at the Hugh Embry Library, and a car and truck show in the parking lot at the Judicial Courthouse.

If you enjoy entertainment, you’ll find plenty of choices — with a full slate of acts scheduled throughout the day. There’s also a Health & Wellness Area and an area where festival sponsors have set up their booths.

There’s free parking, free shuttles and free admission.

There’s also free entertainment all day, Moors said.

“You can spend your money on some of the arts and crafts that are featured, or in some of our wonderful shops,” he said.

This is a peek at last year’s festival, from a view looking west up Meridian Avenue.

The sponsors, including this year’s headline sponsor Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, play a vital role in making the event a success, Moors said. “We couldn’t do this without the support of our sponsors,” he said.

Besides entertainment, there’s plenty of choices for food and drink.

“The local restaurants do a great business. They adjust their menus, so they can get our attendees in and out. Have them well-fed, quickly and efficiently, so they can get on and enjoy the festival,” Moors said.

“This year, we’re featuring kumquat beer by a number of local craft beer breweries. There’s also kumquat wine available for sale by the bottle,” Moors said. “People can enjoy a beverage, and stroll along the streets and look at the arts and crafts featured.”

While the kumquat takes center stage during the event, this year’s crop has been negatively affected by citrus greening and insect damage, Moors said.

Still, Moors said, “there’s going to be kumquats for the festival, and there’s going to be ample kumquat products, pies, jams, jellies, ice cream, marmalade, kumquat beer and kumquat wine — all of those things will still happen.”

The growers are also working hard to replant trees and the hope is they’ll be back in full production within a year or two.

Meanwhile, preparations go on for this year’s festival, which Moors said is Dade City’s way to invite visitors to come see what the area has to offer.

“Our message is: Enjoy the festival. Come back and visit the area at your leisure,” Moors said.

21st annual Kumquat Festival
Where: Downtown Dade City
When: Jan. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free admission and free parking. Free shuttles run continuously from the Pasco County Fairgrounds on State Road 52 and from a lot next to Jarrett Ford on the U.S. 301 Truck Route. The shuttles run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parking is available near the festival, but those spaces fill quickly.
Details: More than 400 vendors will be offering arts and crafts, foods and all things kumquat. There will be live entertainment, a car show, a quilt show and activities for kids.
Info: There are information booths at the intersection of Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue, and also at the intersection of Third Street and Meridian Avenue. (They’re Orange Tents with information in large green lettering.) Pick up your festival information flyer there.

The Kumquat Festival entertainment lineup

Jan. 27 at the Historic Courthouse Square
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Saint Leo University Totally TABS

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Calvary Assembly of Dade City (Christian Contemporary, National Anthem/Prayer)

11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.: Sweet-n-Southern Cloggers

Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Eli Mosley, country

1:45 to 2 p.m.: St. Rita Catholic Church Folklore Dancers

2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.: Dean Johnson’s Music & Friends, various styles

3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Seventeenth Street, contemporary/country

Turning Point Church of Dade City is providing and operating the sound equipment.

Published January 24, 2018

Flu can be deadly; use precautions to avoid it

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Sick people are showing up in doctor’s offices and emergency rooms seeking treatment for the flu.

Both in Florida and across the United States, flu activity is on the rise, according to Mara Gambineri, communications director for the Florida Department of Health.

“We’re seeing more activity across all age groups this year than we’ve seen in previous seasons at this time, which may be an early indication of a more severe influenza season,” Gambineri said, via email.

Kelly Ranieri, a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, receives the flu shot from Pamela Wayne, also a registered nurse there. Hospital team members are required to get the flu shot every year for their own health and for that of their patients. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Several Pasco County public schools experienced some degree of significant absence related to flu activity in December before break, said Linda Cobbe, the district’s spokeswoman.

The concern was reported to the health department and a generic notice from the health department was sent home to all parents at Bexley Elementary School on Dec. 18 and at Plato Academy on Dec. 6, Cobbe said.

So far, the district hasn’t seen the same trends since returning from the holiday break, however, Cobbe said, the district’s nurse supervisor said this year is predicted to be “quite challenging” from a flu standpoint.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has seen an uptick in flu cases.

“The surge that we’ve noticed has been mostly since Christmas, around Dec. 24, Dec. 25,” said Dr. Nadeem Khan, a community physician and the medical director, Infectious Diseases at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

In the first week of 2017, the hospital had eight confirmed cases of the flu. This year, it had 12 cases during the same week last year. The Wesley Chapel hospital also had 16 confirmed cases from Jan. 5 through Jan. 8, which is more than it had seen the entire previous week, according to figures supplied by the hospital.

“A lot of people did not get vaccinated this year. A lot of the patients you talk to, just didn’t do it,” Khan said.

Holiday crowds also likely figured in, Khan said.

During the holidays, people tend to travel, he observed. “You’re in planes. You’re in airports. There’s delays.

“Somebody is sneezing and coughing, and you can’t do anything about it,” he said.

The sudden cold weather likely contributed, too, he said.

“When your immune system goes down a little bit, you’re more susceptible,” he explained.

The flu cases seem to be coming in earlier than usual this year at Saint Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, in Lutz, said Cindy McGrath, nursing manager in the hospital’s emergency department.

Dr. Nadeem Khan is a community physician and the medical director, Infectious Diseases at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

Both health care professionals said there are ways to reduce your chances of catching the flu, and it’s important to protect yourself.

Aside from getting a flu shot, washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect yourself, Khan said.

“At restaurants, we’re picking up salt and pepper shakers. No one cleans those, ever. We’re touching menus that no one cleans. You need to make sure that you’re washing your hands, or using hand sanitizer,” he said.

He also recommends wearing a mask in crowded places, such as airports, airplanes and other places where you could be risking exposure from being too close to others in tight quarters.

“If you’re not sure what’s going on around you, it’s always better to get a mask.”

“Even if you look funny, or you think people are going to stare at you, who cares?” Khan asked.

Those who are most vulnerable to the flu include the very young and the elderly, according to the Florida Department of Health’s website. Pregnant women also are at risk.

People who have underlying medical conditions also are more susceptible to catching the flu, McGrath said.

Once flu symptoms begin to show up, it’s a good idea to see a health care provider for antiviral medication, both McGrath and Khan said. The sooner, the better, they said.

State and federal health officials still recommend getting a flu shot, even though it may not always prevent the flu.

“Flu vaccines can vary in effectiveness from season to season, but they continue to be the best way to prevent influenza infection and serious influenza complications,” said Gambineri, of the state health department.

Khan agrees.

“You might get sick even if you’ve had the flu shot, but not sick enough to be in the hospital or the ICU (intensive care unit),” he said.

Catching the flu can have serious consequences, Khan said.

“We definitely lose patients from influenza. That is something that people don’t understand. Young, healthy individuals, 23 to 30 years old. They die,” he said.

Symptoms:

  • High-grade fever, generally 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuff nose
  • Body aches, chills
  • Diarrhea, vomiting
  • Breathing difficulties

The infectious period can start 24 hours to 48 hours before symptoms show up.

Prevention tips

  • Get a flu shot
  • Wash your hands often, with soap and warm water, rubbing hands for 15 seconds to 20 seconds, then drying with a clean towel.
  • Stay away from people who are sick, and avoid crowded spaces, if possible
  • Wear a mask to protect yourself in crowded places, such as airplanes and airports

Avoid spreading the flu

  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover sneezes or coughs
  • Use a disposable tissue when blowing your nose and discard that tissue immediately
  • Wash your hands often, using soap and warm water. Rub your hands for 15 seconds to 20 seconds. Be sure to use a clean towel when drying your hands.
  • Do not share glasses, forks, spoons, toothbrushes and so on.

Sources: Dr. Nadeem Khan, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel; Cindy McGrath, nurse manager for the emergency department and Kim Demers, assistant nurse manager for the emergency department at Saint Joseph’s Hospital — North; and, FloridaHealth.gov.

Published January 17, 2018

Region has frigid wake-up call

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The new year brought the first blast of winter to Pasco County, and to the Tampa Bay region.

Freeze warnings and wind chill advisories rained down daily from the National Weather Service, as frigid air dipped into north and central Florida, and stayed for days.

For the first time in decades, Tallahassee had measurable snowfall.

The Greenery of Tampa Bay, a nursery on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, covered some of its cold-sensitive plants, as arctic air arrived in Pasco County. (Kathy Steele)

Here in Tampa Bay, snow was a no-show, but temperatures plunged into the low 30s and upper 20s.

The unexpected weather meant many area residents turned on the heat in their homes for the first time, and pulled out those rarely used sweaters and coats.

Construction workers went to work wearing coats; nurseries were forced to cover cold-sensitive plants.

The hard freezes also put Pasco County, social service agencies, farmers, and wildlife officials on alert.

The county opened cold-weather emergency shelters for five nights in west and east Pasco, from Jan. 2 through Jan. 6.

In east Pasco, Restored Hope in Dade City, Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills, and Helping Rock, also in Zephyrhills, helped families and individuals to find shelters and resources for food and warm clothing.

In West Pasco, the United Way helped families who needed shelter, and Joining Hands Mission, in Holiday, helped individuals.

They are part of Pasco’s “Cold Weather Shelter Program” that provides outreach to the county’s neediest residents.

The program is a coalition of area churches; nonprofit agencies, such as the United Way, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross; the Homeless Coalition of Pasco County; and social service organizations.

Manatees are affected by extreme cold weather, often swimming into warm-water habitats, including discharge canals of power plants and natural springs. Wildlife officials asked that boaters watch out for manatees in shallow waters near the coast, both inland and coastal. Boaters also should obey posted manatee speed zone signs. (Courtesy of Southwest Florida Management District)

Pasco’s Office of Emergency Management, the sheriff’s office and public transportation department also provide support.

Shelters generally are opened when temperatures drop below 36 degrees, with or without wind chill, for four hours or more, according to the county’s website, PascoCountyFl.net.

The shelters, which normally open by 6 p.m., are operated by nonprofits and religious organizations. Churches and area motels often help out.

Depending on fund and donation availability, shelters can provide food, drinks and blankets, according to the county’s website.

Not all shelters are able to take families, but the program will find ways of providing shelter for families in need.

Kathy Hunt is the outreach director for Restored Hope, an organization she started about four years ago in Dade City.

She works with a local motel to secure rooms for homeless individuals and families. In one instance, a year ago, she helped a mother find warm shelter for three nights. She had been living in a shed, with her four children, Hunt said.

Over the past week, she monitored the phone line for her organization during the five nights of predicted freeze. A local motel provided a couple of rooms. And, she also checked on a homeless camp in the area.

“I’ve never seen cold that latest this long, this early,” Hunt said.

The Samaritan Project, in Zephyrhills, also monitored for phone calls, helping a couple of families find shelter.

“We want people to reach out to us,” said volunteer Paul Bathrick.

Eddy Reyes, founder of Helping Rock, said in total the three nonprofits in east Pasco, probably aided about 40 people who needed shelter from the cold. Helping Rock took in about eight people, he said.

Helping Rock is the only transitional housing program in east Pasco that can provide shelter services and other resources to the homeless population on a daily basis, Reyes said.

“There is a huge need,” he said.

Construction workers at a future apartment complex off State Road 54 are bundled up against the cold weather. (Kathy Steele)

The Pasco County Health Department offered tips on staying warm during the freeze.

Officials said to stay indoors as much as possible. When venturing outside, people should dress warmly in layers of clothing.

Also, as temperatures dip below freezing, home water taps should be kept slightly open so that they drip continuously. And, pets should be brought indoors and provided warm shelter.

Fire officials worried about the potential for house fires as residents sought to stay warm.

A major risk is the improper use of space heaters, said Karl Thompson, Pasco’s fire marshal and fire prevention division chief.

Residents in older homes, without central heat and air, are more likely to rely on those than people in newer homes, he said.

“I am worried as temperatures get into the 20s especially in some older, smaller homes that don’t have insulation,” he said. “These were built for Florida and not for the cold.”

People should avoid placing space heaters “too close to curtains. They can tip over and some don’t have automatic cutoff (systems),” Thompson said.

Christmas trees can also pose a hazard and should be disposed of, he added.

The cold weather also put farmers and wildlife officials on alert.

It’s early to know how crops, such as peaches and blueberries, will fare in the cold, but farmers are experienced in what to do, said Whitney C. Elmore, director of Pasco County Extension.

Pasco is unique in having “micro-climates” in different areas of the county, said Elmore.

For example, Dade City generally gets colder than Wesley Chapel.

“One or two degrees can make a difference,” Elmore said.

In addition to farm crops, landscaping also can take a hit from the cold.

Elmore said this was the first time in about seven to eight years that the area had a cold snap this early in the year, she said.

“A lot of people have taken that as a mandate to plant more tropicals,” she said. “I am concerned about that.”

People should take precautions and cover sensitive plants.

But, there is a right way and a wrong way to do that.

Elmore said the coverings – often bed sheets – should never touch the plants. It’s best to build a small scaffold that can hold up the coverings.

They should be removed when the sun comes up the next day, she added.

And, she cautions against using heaters to protect landscaping, including fruit trees. “This is certainly a fire hazard.”

Irrigation also can be an issue.

If possible, Elmore said irrigation systems should be turned off on the coldest nights.

“If they need to irrigate, it is best early in the morning when the temperatures are warming up,” she said.

But, residents should check with the county or extension agency regarding restrictions on when watering is allowed, she added.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitored populations of sea turtles and manatees, according to a news release from the state agency.

Sea turtles can be stunned by cold water temperatures, and float listlessly in the water or near the shore. While they might appear dead, wildlife officials said they often are still alive.

Residents can report such sightings to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922.

Manatees also are affected by extreme cold weather, often swimming into warm-water habitats, including discharge canals of power plants and natural springs.

Wildlife officials asked that boaters watch out for manatees in shallow waters near the coast, both inland and coastal. They also should obey posted manatee speed zone signs.

For information from Restored Hope, call (352) 437-4815; for the Samaritan Project, call (813) 810-8670.

For information on the county’s cold weather shelter program, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Heating safety tips

  • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heating equipment
  • Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters
  • Never use your oven to heat your home
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heaters, water heaters or central heating equipment, according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional
  • Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters
  • Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Published January 10, 2018