The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Shoppers can save during sales tax holiday

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It’s commonly called a Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, but the truth is that any Florida shopper can skip the sales tax on a multitude of items from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7.

The sales tax exemption starts a minute after midnight on Aug. 5 and ends a minute before midnight on Aug. 7.

Back to school shopping is an annual tradition for many families.

Nationally, back-to-school spending is expected to reach $75.8 billion this year, according to a survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics for the National Retail Federation.

That’s up from $68 billion last year, according to a story on consumer trends posted on the NRF’s website.

If current trends continue, The Shops at Wiregrass is expecting to have a very good back-to-school shopping season, according to Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for the regional mall. Shoppers can enjoy a break from state and local sales taxes on certain items, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. (Courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass)
If current trends continue, The Shops at Wiregrass is expecting to have a very good back-to-school shopping season, according to Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for the regional mall. Shoppers can enjoy a break from state and local sales taxes on certain items, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7.
(Courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass)

Locally, Tampa Premium Outlets has kicked off its back-to-school season, with a campaign targeted at teens that features three seasonal trends inspired by ’80s and ‘90s fashions — Off-Beat, Modern Utility and ’90s Nostalgia.

“Back-to-school shoppers spend more during this season than they do during Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day combined, so we want to make sure the experience is a pleasurable one that appeals to students and parents alike,” Stacey Nance, general manager at Tampa Premium Outlets said, in a news release.

“Our campaign celebrates the fashion trends of the past and today — the evolution of fashion and mixing the old with the new to ‘Find your style,’” added Nance, whose center opened last October, off State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Tampa Premium Outlets also is hosting a sidewalk sale during mall hours, Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. It also has the GAP spend-and-receive gift card promotion. When a guest buys at least $150 worth of any Gap family brand gift cards, the guest receives a $30 Simon Visa gift card. That special runs July 29 to Aug 26. Check with Guest Services for more details.

Not far away, off State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, The Shops at Wiregrass also is gearing up for the sales tax holiday.

“If the current sales trend continues, we are expecting to have a very good back-to-school season,” said Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for the regional shopping mall, via email.

The mall is having a special deal during the sales tax holiday. Shoppers who spend $200 in a single day, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7, can get a $20 mall gift card. The shopper must bring same-day receipts to the mall’s Guest Services to receive the gift card. Department store and restaurant purchases cannot be counted toward the $200, and gift cards will be given out only as long as supplies last.

The Florida sales tax break applies to a multitude of items, but there are some exclusions, too.

Clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item, and certain school supplies selling for $15 or less, are generally exempt from state and local sales taxes — but, there are many exceptions to that rule.

It can get a little tricky to interpret.

For instance, dress, garden and work gloves sold for less than $60 are exempt, but athletic gloves are taxable because sporting equipment is excluded in the definition of clothing, according to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website.

Here’s the way the state defines clothing: “’Clothing’ means any article of wearing apparel, including all footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades and skates) intended to be worn on or about the human body. Clothing does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, or handkerchiefs.”

Here’s how the state defines school supplies: “‘School supplies’ means pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunchboxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rules, computer disks, protractors, compasses and calculators.”

Exclusions to the sales tax holiday include:

  • Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
  • Any school supply item selling for more than $15
  • Personal computers and computer-related accessories
  • Sales of clothing or school supplies in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

It’s also important to remember that the exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not the total sale amount. So, it’s possible to buy three $59 dresses at the same time and still get the exemption, because each item meets the requirement of having a selling price of $60 or less.

Another thing that’s good to know is that there is no limit on how many tax-exempt items can be purchased during the sales tax holiday.

According to the National Retail Federation’s survey, families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade expect to spend an average of $673.57 on apparel and accessories, electronics, shoes and school supplies, according to the survey. That’s up from $630.36 last year.

College students and families with children in college plan to spend an average of $888.71, according to the survey. That’s a slight dip from last year, when the average was $899.18.

For more information on the state’s sales tax holiday, visit the Florida Department of Revenue’s website at DOR.MyFlorida.com.

Published August 3, 2016

 

Pasco grapples with marijuana dilemma

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Pasco County commissioners want to extend an existing moratorium on the growth, sales and distribution of cannabis until the end of the year.

The delay would give the county’s legal staff time to craft an ordinance to ban those activities in the future. As a backup, the county would approve regulations to restrict those activities to industrially zoned locations, with conditions.

The ordinance also would update police powers in making arrests for illegal possession of marijuana — which is derived from cannabis.

A one-year ban on cannabis production activities is set to expire on Sept. 2.

But, a Nov. 8 referendum on medical marijuana, if approved, could quickly change the regulatory landscape both statewide and at the local level.

TitleState law currently permits, in some instances, a non-euphoric form of marijuana, known as Charlotte’s web, for medical use by patients with epilepsy, seizure disorders or who are terminally ill. Only one organization is approved to dispense the product so far, with the first delivery of medical marijuana going to a resident of Hudson.

The state referendum proposes to broaden when medical marijuana is allowed and open the door for new dispensaries.

No dispensing sites have been approved in Pasco, but county officials said they have received inquiries about future retail sites within the county.

At a July 19 workshop in New Port Richey, the county’s attorneys sought guidance from commissioners on how to tackle the evolving marijuana issue.

They offered several options, including a total ban on dispensaries, which some counties are choosing to do.

The ban also would establish regulations as a backup to legal challenges.

“I call it a dry county kind of option,” said Kristi Sims, senior assistant county attorney, in outlining Pasco’s choices. “You can expect probably some litigation. It does carry with it the obligation to defend it, if it is challenged.”

Another option would allow dispensaries in commercial areas and calls for regulating them like pain management clinics.

Public hearings would be held before commissioners vote on the ordinance.

In recent years, 25 states have opted to approve medical marijuana, decriminalize its use or allow recreational use.

Supporters say legalizing marijuana benefits people with illnesses that haven’t responded to traditional medicines. They also say it fills state coffers with tax revenues, and reduces incarceration costs related to arrests for sale or possession of marijuana.

Opponents say medical marijuana will only open the door to recreational uses, addictive behaviors and increases in crime.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s office provided commissioners with data on crime and marijuana use in states, such as Colorado and California, where marijuana is legal in some form.

Colorado has fully legalized marijuana use. About 7,000 reported crimes occurred within 1,000 feet of some dispensaries in the first six months of 2012 and 2013, according to a report from the Colorado Police Chiefs Association.

Based on federal banking regulations, dispensaries offer cash-only sales for medical marijuana. That’s affecting crime rates, the association’s reporting shows.

“The problem with this is they (dispensaries) obviously are very easy sitting targets,” said Chase Daniels, spokesman for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

California is a medical marijuana state, also operating dispensaries with cash only. Police reported about 200 percent increase in robberies and 130 percent increase in automobile burglaries largely, Daniels said, “because so much cash is on hand.”

“It’s really caused quite a bit of problems,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. “Statistics on crime are horrible.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said she’d read about families relocating to Colorado specifically to obtain legal marijuana for their ailing children.

But, Starkey also noted that the crime data is of serious concern and should be considered in deciding how Pasco should proceed.

Commissioner Mike Wells said he wanted more information on how medical marijuana helps people, especially children. “I’d still like to hear how others see this as a help. What’s the economic impact? We still need to be open to it. We have some time.”

County attorneys, in crafting the new ordinance, have an array of conditions that can be applied to dispensary permits.

Those conditions can include advertising limitations, no vending machines, no co-location with other medical facilities, a ban on sales of marijuana-related paraphernalia, regulations on sale of edible products, and an annual registry.

Legal staff urged commissioners to approve the ordinance prior to the Nov. 8 referendum to establish some “grandfathered” rights for the county, in the event the ordinance is at odds with what the state finally approves.

“It may get a little more respect if it’s in place prior to,” said Sims.

Published July 27, 2016

Permit granted for Raymond James

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Raymond James is a step closer to building a campus in Wesley Chapel, according to J.D. Porter, whose family has a pending contract on a land sale to the financial services giant.

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the permit needed for the project last week, Porter said. “It covers the entire Raymond James project,” he said.

The project, which would be built near State Road 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Boulevard, ultimately could have 1 million square feet in office space.

J.D. Porter addressed members of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations in March, talking about various projects in Wiregrass Ranch, including a campus for Raymond James, the financial services giant (File Photo)
J.D. Porter addressed members of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations in March, talking about various projects in Wiregrass Ranch, including a campus for Raymond James, the financial services giant
(File Photo)

“The process from here on out is that we’ve got to go back before the Board of County Commissioners and ratify the deal, update timelines, because it took a little while to get the permit in. And then, after that, per their contract, they have 30 days to close,” Porter said.

Steve Hollister, a spokesman for Raymond James, offered no timetable for when the project will proceed.

“Raymond James continues to evaluate occupancy needs as part of the firm’s long-term growth strategy. We believe the Wiregrass Ranch property is a good future development opportunity and expect to close on the property within the next three months, but cannot commit to a specific construction schedule at this time,” Hollister said, via email.

Still, the Corps’ approval is a significant milestone for a project, which has been described by leading Pasco officials as “a game changer” for the county.

The Pasco County Commission enticed Raymond James to locate in Wesley Chapel by providing about $10 million in roadwork and tax breaks. The state also provided about $4 million in incentives.

Before the county approved the deal in 2011, the Pasco Economic Development Council commissioned an independent analysis of the potential economic impacts.

That analysis, conducted by Impact DataSource, of Austin, Texas, estimated that the Raymond James campus would lead directly or indirectly to 1,200 jobs, providing total salaries of more than $600 million and would yield approximately $135 million in additional taxable sales within the county.

Raymond James is a diversified financial services holding company, with subsidiaries engaged primarily in investment and financial planning, in addition to investment banking and asset management, according to the company’s website. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company has more than 6,700 financial advisors who serve more than 2.7 million client accounts in more than 2,700 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas, the website adds. Its total client assets are approximately $500 billion.

The company’s name came from merging companies run by Robert A. James and Edward Raymond, the website says.

Published July 20, 2016

Lutz robotics team already gearing up for next season

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It’s been less than three months since the Lutz-based Trinity Dragons had a strong showing at the 2016 Vex World Robotics Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, yet the club’s high school team is already strategizing for next year’s robotics season. While other robotics clubs may take some time off to regroup and recharge their batteries, that isn’t the case for Team 6430.

The team —Braeden Adams, 15; Sean Carr, 17; Maddie Jones, 16; and, RJ Walters, 17 has been working diligently in hopes of building off last year’s achievements and again reaching the world championships.

The members of the 2015-2016 Team 6430, from left, RJ Walters, Braeden Adams, Addie Adams, Sean Carr, Maddie Jones and Ross Edwards. (Courtesy of Ray Carr)
The members of the 2015-2016 Team 6430, from left, RJ Walters, Braeden Adams, Addie Adams, Sean Carr, Maddie Jones and Ross Edwards.
(Courtesy of Ray Carr)

“We try to tell them to take a couple months off, but it never works,” said Ray Carr, robotics coach for the Trinity Dragons. “They just start building again as soon as the (robotics) parts show up.

“It is nonstop,” the coach said.

The group often spends 30 hours a week building a Vex robot from scratch, and then methodically attempts to optimize it for a particular Vex robotic challenge. The process is arduous. It consists of designing a robotic prototype from a combination of intricate software, and mechanical equipment and sensors.

“Software makes a big difference, and how you run control systems and stuff like that,” said Ray Carr, the chief technical officer for OccamMD, a leading engineering services firm. “That’s where they’ve excelled — getting their controls working and their software working, and making it different than just a robot that can drive (itself).”

This past season, Team 6430 won the Florida Vex Robotics State Championship and finished ninth among 500 teams at the world championships, which consisted of more than 16,000 participants from 37 nations.

The 2016 competition, called “Nothing But Net” required teams to construct robots that could essentially score as many balls into goals during a two-minute span.

A replay of the 2016 Vex Robotics World Championships will be airing on ESPN2 on July 20.

Competing —and teaming up — with elite teams from other countries inside the 1.2 million square-foot Kentucky Exposition Center proved to be a fulfilling experience, team members said. They interacted with students from nations like Canada, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

“The human element is the most important part,” Ray Carr said, “because it gives them exposure to managing teams and managing people. They’re learning about real-world applications and real-world interfaces; it’s been really good for them.”

“I have a lot of friends that I actually met online through this stuff, and then we got to go to Worlds and I (was able) to meet them,” Walters said.

Team 6430 is already building their robot for next season’s Vex robotics challenge, ‘Starstruck.’ (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Team 6430 is already building their robot for next season’s Vex robotics challenge, ‘Starstruck.’
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Admittedly, Team 6430 has come a long way since the club formed about four years ago. Then, they were only involved with “real simple stuff,” often not standing a chance against more polished robotics teams.

“We were getting ourselves killed,” Ray Carr candidly acknowledged. “They really struggled when they started; they’ve really kind of progressively learned.

“We’ve always stressed during their development to keep it simple,” he added. “The fact that (the robot) even turns on and runs each time is a big deal.”

For them, the process of putting together a high-functioning robot — including the countless batteries and motors they’ve burned through — is what ultimately creates a sense of accomplishment.

“It’s a very satisfying feeling when something actually works for once,” Jones said.

“It’s fun to put all this time into something and actually see it work in a competition,” Adams said.

While the Trinity Dragons’ Team 6430 ranks as the top robotics team in Florida, the coach insists the group’s merit isn’t based on the number of tournaments they win, or how many awards they rack up.

Instead, it’s more about following three interlocking pillars: faith, family and fun.

“We’re a Christian-based team; character is really most important,” Ray Carr said.

“We never started it to win. It’s just they’ve done well, but it’s never, ever been about that,” he added.

“Some teams will check MCAT scores, SAT scores or you have to try out, but we never did that. We just had families that got together and started,” the coach said.

This year’s Vex robotics challenge, named “Starstruck,” will be played on a 12-by-12 square field, in which two alliances consisting of two robotics teams each, compete in matches consisting of a 15-fifteen second autonomous period, followed by 1 minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled play.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by having each robot place “stars” and “cubes” in designated zones, and remotely hanging robots onto a hanging pole.

Team 6430 will constantly tweak their robot — which they’ve already assembled — to master the art of “Starstruck,” as they compete in monthly regional tournaments, beginning in September. The team’s goal is to again qualify for the VEX World Robotics Championships, and to have another strong performance.

“Throughout our season, we’ll try a lot of things,” said Sean Carr, the coach’s son.

“It’s like your little baby the whole season,” Walters said. “You’ve got to take care of it.”

Students interested in joining the Trinity Dragons robotics team can reach Ray Carr at (813) 679-1795.

Published July 13, 2016

Ceremony honors Vietnam veterans

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It was a day set aside to honor veterans of the Vietnam War, and their loved ones.

More than 100 veterans of the Vietnam War, and their families, gathered inside the East Pasco Adventist Academy’s gymnasium on June 27 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Veteran Air Force Sgt. Robin McIntosh, of Zephyrhills, shows off the lapel pin acknowledging service during the Vietnam War. (Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley)
Veteran Air Force Sgt. Robin McIntosh, of Zephyrhills, shows off the lapel pin acknowledging service during the Vietnam War.
(Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Veterans at the ceremony received lapel pins acknowledging their service. Tribute was paid, as well, to the 58, 307 service members who died in the war, as well as the 1,167 still considered missing in action.

In his remarks to the audience, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis thanked the veterans for their service and for their sacrifices.

Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th District and is vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said two lessons learned from the controversial Vietnam War continually stand out to him: To leave no one behind and to honor the commitment to support war veterans.

“The members of the armed services who faithfully served with courage and honor were caught in the crossfire of public debate regarding the nation’s involvement, and did not receive the welcome home that they deserved,” Bilirakis said.

“Our veterans are our heroes — not our movie actors, not our athletes and certainly not our politicians; Americans need to continue to thank veterans on a daily basis,” Bilirakis said.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis thanks veterans for their service. Others at the ceremony, included Jack Mariano, a Pasco County commissioner; Frank Jones of the Pasco Veterans Center; Arthur Hibbard, a U.S. Marine Corps corporal; and, Danny Burgess, a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis thanks veterans for their service. Others at the ceremony, included Jack Mariano, a Pasco County commissioner; Frank Jones of the Pasco Veterans Center; Arthur Hibbard, a U.S. Marine Corps corporal; and, Danny Burgess, a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Within the past three years, Bilirakis has introduced two pieces of legislation (COVER Act, PROMISE Act) to help veterans get better access to primary medical care and to address the prevalence of mental health issues amongst veterans.

Estimates show that 22 veterans a day commit suicide, with many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

A survey conducted by the Veterans Administration revealed that some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from the condition.

Rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction are also markedly higher among veterans.

“It’s awful; we must do something about it,” he said about the staggering suicide figures. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country that it is up to us to provide them with the care and benefits they need, and have earned and deserve.”

The congressman said that serving veterans will continue to be his top priority in office.

The ceremony’s featured speaker was U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Art Hibbard, who served in the war from 1968-1969.

Hibbard choked up with tears as he reminisced the moment when all U.S. troops were withdrawn from the war in 1973 and the subsequent negative treatment they received upon arriving in America.

Jim Shultz, Rod Rehrig, Trevor Gray, all of Zephyrhills, and Tom Conely, of Dade City, listen to a speech by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.
Jim Shultz, Rod Rehrig, Trevor Gray, all of Zephyrhills, and Tom Conely, of Dade City, listen to a speech by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

“There were no ticker tape parades, no triumphant marches as it were in the first two World Wars,” Hibbard said. “American Vietnam veterans returned home to silence, or worse,” he said, for having served their country during a controversial war.

Hibbard said he often gets asked about when he served in Vietnam. His response is the same each time: “Man, I was there just last night.”

For Hibbard, not a day goes by where he doesn’t think about his experiences in the Vietnam jungles.

“Every day for the past 40 years,” he said, “I wake up with it. I go to bed with it. I can’t stop thinking about it; I never will.”

The pungent odor of the bloodshed of war still haunts him, too.

“I’ll never forget the way blood smells,” he said. “You didn’t want to make a lot of friends when the possibility of dying is that real; we were in the business of death, and death was with us all the time,” Hibbard said.

Vietnam War (1954-1975)
U.S. Troop Statistics:
8,744,000 – Total number of U.S. Troops that served worldwide during Vietnam
3,403,000 served in Southeast Asia
2,594,000 served in South Vietnam

The total of American servicemen listed as POW/MIA at the end of the war was 2,646.

Death Toll
58,307- Total U.S. Deaths (Average age of 23.1 years old)
1.3 million – Total military deaths for all countries involved
1 million – Total civilian deaths
–Figures compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Defense

Published July 6, 2016

It’s time for Fourth of July fun

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People who enjoy celebrating Independence Day will find plenty of choices both locally and across the Tampa Bay region this Fourth of July weekend.

As usual, the community of Lutz will have a slate of activities geared at giving families a taste of old-fashioned Fourth of July fun.

The day kicks off with a 5-k for runners, and a 1-mile family fun run and walk for those who are geared to life at a slower pace. Other festivities for the day include a flag-raising ceremony, a parade, booths, a cake auction and the election of the new honorary Lutz Guv’na.

(File Photo)
(File Photo)

If you want to start celebrating before July Fourth, you may enjoy a musical program on July 2 at 6 p.m., or July 3 at 10:30 a.m., at CrossPointe Church, 919 Debuel Road in Land O’ Lakes.

A new tribute is planned this year in Land O’ Lakes by the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club, Land O’ Lakes Satellite.

The group will be displaying red, white and blue patriotic banners along U.S. 41, from July 1 through July 8, as a way to celebrate the nation’s independence and to honor military personnel who have given much to protect the country’s freedom.

Meanwhile, the community of Connerton, 21100 Fountain Garden Way in Land O’ Lakes, will host its National Celebration Independence Day Party on July 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities will include live music, food, children’s activities, local crafters, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing, a beer garden and fireworks.

Last year, more than 3,000 turned out, and event organizers are expecting even more this year. People are encouraged to bring out blankets and lawn chairs. The fireworks are scheduled at 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, on the east side of Pasco County, organizers of Sparklebration are gearing up for a full day of festivities at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, at 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. Gates open on July 4 at 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for those age 12 and older; parking is $5. Eating contests, bounce houses, petting zoo, games, skydivers, live entertainment, and fireworks which are expected to begin at 9:15 p.m.

Skydive City, 4241 SkyDive Lane in Zephyrhills, will be staging an event that includes live music, food and a fireworks display. Gates will open at 6 p.m.

Admission will be $5 for those 12 and older, and free for those younger than age 12.

Festivities include live music from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Barbecued meals will be available for $10 a plate. Fireworks are planned for 9 p.m. Bring your own chair, blanket or cushion.

Those looking for something to do earlier during the holiday weekend may want to check out Tunes on the Lagoon at Tampa Premium Outlets, at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz.

The concert, featuring Summer Train, will be on July 2 and will kick off a series of concerts scheduled for every Saturday in July, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The July 2 event also will feature deals from retailers, family entertainment and food trucks.

Meanwhile, those who have attended Freedom Fest and watched the fireworks at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel in previous years, should make alternate plans this year.

The regional shopping mall decided to stop hosting the festivities because the event outgrew the venue, said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass.

Lenners said he always knew that would happen at some point, but he didn’t expect it to be so soon.

“It was logistically impossible,” Lenners said, noting safety was the paramount concern.

With so many people and so much traffic, the regional mall didn’t want to take a chance on someone getting hurt, he said.

Local events
Some events happening in the local area:

  • Celebrate America, CrossPointe Family Church, 919 Debuel Road in Lutz, July 2 at 6 p.m., and July 3 at 10:30 a.m. Program includes the Celebration Choir, the Kidzstreet Children’s Choir, Salute to the Military multimedia productions, the CrossPointe Dance Company, your favorite patriotic music and a presentation of colors by the North Tampa Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
  • Nation Celebration Independence Day Party at Connerton, 21100 Fountain Garden Way in Land O’ Lakes, July 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities include games, slides, bounce houses, a balloon artist and face painter. There also will be live music, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing, crafters, a beer garden and a food truck rally, as well as fireworks at 9 p.m., sponsored by Benedetto’s Italian Ristorante.
  • Lutz Independence Day, at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Festivities kick off with a 5k, followed by a 1-mile fun run. Other highlights include a baking contest, a flag raising ceremony, booths, an old-fashioned community parade, the swearing-in of the new Lutz Guv’na, and a cake and pie auction. The event is slated to start at 8 a.m.
  • Sparklebration, Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 on July 4. Gates open at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 12 and older; parking is $5. Eating contests, bounce houses, petting zoo, games, skydivers, live entertainment and fireworks which are expected to begin at 9:15 p.m.
  • Fourth of July at Skydive City, 4241 Skydive Lane in Zephyrhills. Gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 12 and older. Live music, barbecued meals for purchase and fireworks at 9 p.m.

 

Regional events
Here are some events happening across the region:

  • 4th of July at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St., in downtown Tampa on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Costumed re-enactors will be representing several eras of American military history.
  • Fourth of July Celebration at Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Live music, entertainment and family friendly activities.
  • Fourth of July at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive. Enjoy the Splash Pad and extended hours at the aquarium, which will be open until 9:30 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m.
  • Clearwater Celebrates America at Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., in Clearwater. A free family celebration featuring music, family activities, live music, food and drink for sale, local vendors, and fireworks starting between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
  • Fireworks Across the Bay Celebration in St. Pete, 612 2nd Ave., N.E. Fireworks start at 9 p.m., at St. Pete’s Spa Beach Park.

Published June 29, 2016

 

 

 

A vigil to honor a life gone too soon

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A bouquet of heart-shaped balloons separated and floated skyward into the night air, carrying messages of love for Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz.

Below, candles burned brightly, held aloft by more than 400 people who filled the stands at Ron Allen Field at Gaither High.

Junior Sanfeliz, the older brother of Christopher Sanfeliz, is consoled by friends at a candlelight vigil at Gaither High School. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Junior Sanfeliz, the older brother of Christopher Sanfeliz, is consoled by friends at a candlelight vigil at Gaither High School.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

They had gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor the life of the 24-year-old Sanfeliz, one of 49 people killed during a mass shooting on June 12 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

“Chris was taken way too soon from the world,” Stephanie Woychowski, president of Gaither’s Parent Teacher Student Association said during the June 15 vigil. “Remember Chris. Remember love.”

Besides killing 49 people, the lone gunman armed with an assault rifle, injured 50 others before he was killed by law enforcement.

The mass shooting, reported as the largest in the nation’s modern history, targeted a club popular among the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

The Gaither community responded immediately, with former classmates, current students and faculty coming together to organize the vigil for Sanfeliz, a member of the class of 2010.

“Once a Cowboy, always a Cowboy,” said Teresa Trumbach, a teacher at Gaither, known as the home of the Cowboys.

Trumbach met Sanfeliz when he was a freshman.

Friends and family dropped photographs into a memory box during a candlelight vigil for Christopher Sanfeliz, who was killed at the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando.
Friends and family dropped photographs into a memory box during a candlelight vigil for Christopher Sanfeliz, who was killed at the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando.

“He was just one of those great guys,” Trumbach said. “I find it impressive that so many of you came back.”

Before filing into the stands, people stopped to pick up candles, drop donations into a box, or leave photographic mementos of Sanfeliz in a memory box.

Friends and family clung tightly to each other in long hugs. And, they shed tears.

Amid the sorrow, though, they found a way to share the joyous times and recalled Sanfeliz’ love of life.

They talked about a young man who was the friend that everyone wanted. He was loyal, funny and compassionate. He was always ready to do whatever it took to make his friends happy.

He also had his own way of doing things.

“Chris loved cottage cheese. He loved Disney. He would walk around the house and sing Disney songs,” said Ben Mercado. “He loved Selena (the movie).”

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz (GoFundMe.com)
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz
(GoFundMe.com)

Mercado said he and Sanfeliz came out as gay at the same time. Sanfeliz was Mercado’s first date with a boyfriend.

“He was just so comfortable with himself. It was such a privilege to have Chris as a friend,” Mercado said.

Brian Dell, former band director at Gaither, remembered Sanfeliz, who played in the saxophone section.

“He loved every minute of it,” Dell said. “He always had a smile on his face. He said hello every day.”

The Gaither marching band took to the field to play the school’s alma mater.

Cindy Stuart, vice chairwoman of the Hillsborough County School Board, and Anna Brown, assistant superintendent of Student Services, attended the ceremony.

“This weighs heavy on our hearts,” Brown said.

More than 400 people held lighted candles aloft to honor Christopher Sanfeliz, who was killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12.
More than 400 people held lighted candles aloft to honor Christopher Sanfeliz, who was killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12.

The Sanfeliz family came from Cuba in the 1960s, with nothing, said Mike Wallace, a family friend.

Sanfeliz grew up in Carrollwood and attended Hillsborough Community College. About three years ago, he began working for JP Morgan Chase as a teller, and recently was promoted to personal banker.

Michele Tweedle also works for JP Morgan Chase, but not at the same branch as Sanfeliz. Her 16-year-old daughter, Rayna Tweedle, plays in Gaither’s marching band.

“It’s a sad situation,” Michele Tweedle said. “The community has got to come together.”

Yunielquis Valdespino didn’t know Sanfeliz well, but saw him occasionally at nightclubs in Tampa.

“He loved to dance,” Valdespino said. “He’d get along with anybody.”

Love is the meaning Mercado hopes people take from Sanfeliz’s life, not the hate behind the action that led to his death.

Mercado honored his friend with words from a sonnet written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, winner of a Tony award for his Broadway musical, “Hamilton.”

“Love is love is love,” said Mercado. “And, we love Chris.”

Want to help?
If you would like to make a donation, visit GoFundMe.com/297mht34.

Published June 22, 2016

Tiny dog’s barking saves family from fire

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Peanut, a tiny black Chihuahua, saved the lives of three generations of a Lutz family on June 3, when his insistent barking awakened family members at 3 a.m., alerting them to a fire in the rear of their home.

Fire ravaged the DeRolf’s family home in Lutz. Persistent barking by the family’s dog, Peanut, alerted the family to the fire. Peanut perished from smoke inhalation. (Suzanne Beauchaine/Staff Photo)
Fire ravaged the DeRolf’s family home in Lutz. Persistent barking by the family’s dog, Peanut, alerted the family to the fire. Peanut perished from smoke inhalation.
(Suzanne Beauchaine/Staff Photo)

Peanut’s barking from her crate awakened Jeff DeRolf and his 26-year-old daughter, Maria, who together started down the stairs to see why the dog was barking.

“When I was about halfway down the stairs, I heard my mother scream at the top of her lungs,” said Maria. “Our French doors leading to our back patio were engulfed in flames.”

Those screams woke up the rest of the family — Maria’s 22-year-old brother, Jeff, her 7-year-old daughter, Michelle, and a friend of Jeff’s who was spending the night. They all were able to get to the front of the house and get out safely.

Sadly, Peanut did not survive.

“My dad and brother started back into the house to get Peanut, but by then the smoke was thick and was pouring out of the house,” Maria said. “My brother actually had to hold my dad back to stop him from going back in.”

Peanut, just 6 pounds and still a puppy at a year-and-a-half, was technically her daughter’s dog, Maria said. “But, everyone loved Peanut. Her barking saved all of our lives — she is our hero.”

Seven-year-old Michelle DeRolf holds Peanut. (Photos courtesy of the DeRolf family)
Seven-year-old Michelle DeRolf holds Peanut.
(Photos courtesy of the DeRolf family)

The family escaped from the house with just the clothes on their backs.

“We were able to retrieve my grandfather’s ashes and a few pieces of clothing, but that was all,” Maria said.

That means everything else was gone — every treasure that a family of five has amassed after 30 years of living in one place.

Jeff and Carmen DeRolf moved into their two-story home at 17838 Morninghigh Drive in the Barrington subdivision before they had their children.

“This is the house that we lived in for our whole lives. It’s where we took our first steps, as well as the next generation’s,” said Maria.

A Go Fund Me Account under the DeRolf name has been established for the family to help with expenses not covered by insurance. As of June 13, more than $4,700 had been raised.

“The amount of love and support coming our way is amazing. Thank you to everyone who has donated. Whether it be money or physical items, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Maria said.

The DeRolf family wants people to know the house had working smoke detectors.

The DeRolf family has lived in Lutz for over 30 years. Front row: Margarita Ruiz and Michelle DeRolf. Other members of the DeRolf family, in the back row, from left, are son Jeff Jr., mother Carmen, daughter Mariah, father Jeff and daughter Maria.
The DeRolf family has lived in Lutz for over 30 years. Front row: Margarita Ruiz and Michelle DeRolf. Other members of the DeRolf family, in the back row, from left, are son Jeff Jr., mother Carmen, daughter Mariah, father Jeff and daughter Maria.

“The fire started in the back of the house and the smoke detectors were more towards the front, so the dog woke us up before the smoke detectors went off,” Maria explained.

The family’s homeowner’s insurance is paying for temporary housing at the Marriott Residence Inn in Telecom Park until a rental home can be leased.

Maria said the home is a total loss, and insurance company says it will be at least a year until their home is rebuilt.

Maria said the cause of the fire has not been found, and the fire marshal has begun an investigation.

In addition to suffering the loss of his home, Jeff DeRolf is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Moffitt Cancer Center for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Maria said her father’s cancer was first diagnosed in 2008, and occurred again just six months ago.

The family gathered the day after the fire to bury Peanut — the little dog that saved them all — in their backyard, next to Duke, a German Shepard they had before Peanut.

“When the firefighters retrieved Peanut’s body, her body was not burned, and we know she died of smoke inhalation,” said Maria. “We were thankful for that.”

Here are ways you can help
Monetary donations
GoFundMe.com, Search DeRolf Family Fire Recovery

Clothing for Michelle
Girls size 8
Shoes size 2-3
Maniscalco Elementary School Uniforms
Collared shirts in white, blue, grey and maroon
Jeans, pants and skirts in white, blue, grey and maroon

Questions?
Contact Maria DeRolf at .

Those wishing to contribute clothing or other items are welcome to bring them to The Laker/Lutz News office, at 3632 Land O’Lakes Blvd., Suite 102, in Land O’ Lakes. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, call (813) 909-2800.

Published June 15, 2016

No progress yet on reopening Lake Park

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A park in Lutz that draws an estimated 300,000 users each year will not be reopening anytime soon.

Lake Park, at 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, has been closed since Dec. 2 due to a sinkhole that spans 6 feet across and is about 90 feet deep.

Lake Park typically draws 300,000 visitors annually. The 589-acre site features an archery range, a BMX bicycle track, two equestrian arenas and a radio-controlled car track. (File Photo)
Lake Park typically draws 300,000 visitors annually. The 589-acre site features an archery range, a BMX bicycle track, two equestrian arenas and a radio-controlled car track.
(File Photo)

No progress has been made in repairing the sinkhole because Hillsborough County has not yet negotiated a new lease with the City of St. Petersburg, which owns the park, said Forest Turbiville, Hillsborough County’s director of conservation and environmental lands management.

A meeting regarding the lease has been set for June 23.

“During those discussions, we will talk about sinkholes, who’s responsible for paying to remedy that situation, and other issues, too — like the term of the agreement,” Turbiville said.

The county prefers a lease that lasts around 30 years, Turbiville said.

“If we’re going to be spending several hundred thousands of dollars over the next few years to make various improvements, whether it’s filling in the sinkhole or paving the main road, upgrading facilities — we want to make sure we have a long-term agreement,” Turbiville explained.

The existing lease agreement for Lake Park expires on June 3, 2019. Under that deal, Hillsborough County pays just $1 per year to the City of St. Petersburg to operate the park.

However, Turbiville said the City of St. Petersburg has proposed a new lease agreement requesting $3,000 per month, or $36,000 per year. It also is requesting $2,000 per month from the county to lease Lake Rogers Park. That lease agreement expires on Sept. 30.

“One of the things we’re going to discuss in our meeting (with St. Petersburg) is what the basis is for those numbers,” Turbiville said.

The low-end estimate to repair the sinkhole is $103,000, but Turbiville said the cost could be nearly double that amount, based on the county’s previous experience in repairing sinkholes in other locations.

He also noted the sinkhole repair would likely take six weeks to eight weeks, after a new lease agreement is executed.

“We’re hopeful that (the park) will be open sometime this year; that’s the best I can say,” Turbiville said.

Flooding on Lake Park’s central road also must be addressed, Turbiville said.

Two lakes situated near the flooded road have begun to merge — caused by a significant drop-off in water pumping by the aquifer, he said.

“Those lakes are…filling up almost like a bathtub, and they’re going over the road, so about nine (months) to 10 months out of the year, we have a couple of feet of water over the road,” Turbiville explained.

“Ever since 2013, the pumping has dropped from 10 (million gallons) or 12 million gallons down to 1 million gallons per day. As a result, the lakes and the wetlands within the park have come back up, so what you have now is a much wetter park than you did even five years ago,” Turbiville said.

Turbiville believes the nearly three-quarter-mile stretch of road will have to be repaved and elevated.

The estimated cost for the project, which is about $850,000, would likely fall on the shoulders of Hillsborough County, he said.

The project would require culverts or some other type of system that would allow water to flow underneath the road, he noted.

Other long-term Lake Park improvements include renovations to the park’s main offices and restrooms, and upgrades to the concession area.

Lake Park, a 589-acre site, features an archery range, a BMX bicycle track, two equestrian arenas and a radio-controlled car track.

Based on revenue figures from 2014-2015, the park typically nets about $10,000 per month in revenue from park-goers.

Due to Lake Park’s closure, Turbiville said most of the park’s employees have been temporarily reassigned to other locations within the regional park system. A skeleton crew remains at Lake Park for upkeep and maintenance.

Published June 8, 2016

 

‘Adopt a Hero’ aims to improve veterans’ lives

By

Some staff members at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home have come up with an idea they think will enrich the lives of the residents.

They’ve launched an initiative they’re calling “Adopt A Hero.”

The concept is simple, but they need a corps of volunteers to pull it off, and they’re reaching out to the community to try to bring their vision to life.

Johanna Snee, left, and Rebecca Pinson, staff members at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home have come up with an idea they’re calling ‘Adopt a Hero.’ It’s a simple concept, but could yield powerful results. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Johanna Snee, left, and Rebecca Pinson, staff members at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home have come up with an idea they’re calling ‘Adopt a Hero.’ It’s a simple concept, but could yield powerful results.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Rebecca Pinson, social work program manager, and Johanna Snee, activity director, hope that “Adopt A Hero” will give the veterans something to look forward to each week, while giving volunteers a chance to make a meaningful contribution.

In essence, they’re asking for volunteers who are willing to spend one hour per week engaging with a veteran.

“A lot of veterans don’t have visitors,” Pinson said. “Their friends have passed,” she said, and family members may not live in the area.

Each volunteer would be paired with a specific veteran, Pinson said.

“We would try to connect the volunteer with the resident that has similar interests, hobbies or skillsets,” Pinson said.

For instance, Snee said, “we have a resident who just enjoys playing chess.”

Unfortunately, Pinson said, he doesn’t have someone to play chess with.

Volunteers could come at their convenience, Pinson said.

Once the volunteer arrives, it will be up to the volunteer and the veteran to decide how they want to spend their time together, Snee said.

“They can read to them, if they’d like,” she said. Or, “they could help them to write letters,” Snee added.

Or, they could help the veterans figure out how to use new technology, Pinson said.

 

Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, at 6919 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, is a 120-bed nursing home for veterans.
Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, at 6919 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, is a 120-bed nursing home for veterans.

“Someone who likes to sing and play instruments — they could come and do that,” the social work program manager said.

“They would do whatever they like. If they wanted to play a game with the resident, if they wanted to just chat, maybe have lunch with them,” Snee said.

In fact, lunch would be a pretty good deal for the volunteer, the women said.

“For $3.50 they can have lunch with them,” Snee said, noting there is a wide array of choices.

“The food is good, too,” Pinson said.

The nursing home is seeking volunteers who are at least 18 years old, who are willing to make an hour commitment every week, for at least a year, Snee said. They want the continuity to make the program meaningful for the veteran.

Those who are interested can come over to tour the facility and fill out an application form, Snee said.

They can give it a try a couple of times, to see if it is a good fit, she said.

This statue of a soldier in the foreground and the emblems of the various armed services in the background are symbolic of the sacrifices made by the men and women at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in service to the nation.
This statue of a soldier in the foreground and the emblems of the various armed services in the background are symbolic of the sacrifices made by the men and women at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in service to the nation.

If they want to proceed, a background check will be done at the state’s expense, Snee said. That’s necessary to protect the nursing home residents and its staff, she explained.

The nursing home, which opened in 1999, is a 120-bed facility at 6919 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Pinson and Snee have high hopes for this new volunteer program.

“It will make a big difference in some of our veterans’ lives, to have that social connection,” Pinson said, noting that the lack of personal relationships can lead to loneliness and depression.

Snee also encouraged anyone who wants to help at the nursing home, even if they’re not drawn to this opportunity, to give her a call. There are plenty of ways to pitch in, she said.

For more information, call Snee at (813) 558-5000, ext. 1424.

Published June 1, 2016