The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pay hikes needed to retain staff, Nocco says

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Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco says he needs a $5.4 million increase in his annual budget to provide better pay and benefits — both to recruit new employees and to keep veterans from leaving for higher paying jobs.

“It’s a morale issue,” Nocco told Pasco County commissioners at a June 2 workshop in New Port Richey.

The sheriff’s office is on pace to set a record for 50 resignations this year, largely due to low compensation, Nocco said.

His 2016 budget request is about $104 million in total, about 6.7 percent higher than the budget approved by commissioners last year.

Other increases in Nocco’s budget include $475,000 for body cameras and $254,000 for aircraft maintenance.

The argument that Pasco is losing officers tired of low pay isn’t new. Nocco has issued the warning in past years.

He came to this year’s budget workshop armed with fresh data and a salary survey to back up his claims.

“We didn’t just cry wolf,” said Nocco. “The problem is growing.”

The salary of a Tampa police officer is more than $48,000 a year, and in Pinellas it is more than $45,000, based on information gleaned from agency websites as part of a salary survey done by Tallahassee-based Evergreen Solutions. Pasco deputies make just under $40,000 a year.

Some counties, including Pinellas, also use the incentive of a signing bonus to attract staff.

Evergreen Solutions reviewed salaries paid by 13 of 16 peer law enforcement agencies in the state. Pasco was at the bottom in salary compensation, and gives no signing bonuses.

At Nocco’s request, the survey focused on the local market area of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa.

Evergreen Solutions is recommending a three-year phased in step pay plan to provide incremental increases linked to an employee’s job description. The requested $5.4 million would cover the first year’s cost of salaries and benefits.

Commissioners are in the midst of reviewing budget proposals from all county departments.

Data on revenues will be provided by the tax collector’s office on July 1. A final budget won’t be approved until September, with two budget hearings in the interim.

“We know we have challenges ahead of us,” said Chairman Ted Schrader.

Pasco doesn’t have the tax base to pay for everything it needs, he said.

While everyone supports public safety, Schrader was skeptical of the proposed pay plan and its impact on future budget requests. “Where does it stop?” he said.

The economic downturn in the economy that began in 2008 has strained Pasco’s coffers. Many departments, including libraries and parks, took hits in recent years.

Since 2013, the county has boosted the budget for the sheriff’s office by 12 percent, including an additional $7.2 million for fiscal 2015, according to county budget records. Those records also reveal that the sheriff’s office’s budget represents more than 40 percent of total ad valorem expenditures from the county’s general fund.

Nocco acknowledged the commission’s support for past requests. “We know if there was more money in the pot, our numbers would go up,” he said. “ I think a lot of people are seeing the need. The Tampa Bay market in law enforcement is very competitive. But, you have been supportive. There is no doubt about it.”

Commissioner Mike Moore appeared generally favorable toward Nocco’s request. Based on the sheriff’s data, he calculated that the county has spent close to $5 million in training costs for officers who later left for better paying jobs.

Better retention of employees would be cost efficient, he added.

“We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” Moore said. “It’s not just about big versus small (counties) anymore. It’s who’s growing the fastest.”

Preliminary numbers from the tax collector are looking good, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “We’ll have an even better next year.”

But she said challenges remain.

“We are filling up with people who don’t have a lot of money to pay for everything we want to do,” Starkey said.

Published June 10, 2015

Going the extra mile to express gratitude

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Pat Gavros set off on a journey last month, in a personal show of gratitude to the nation’s veterans and first responders.

It was a 21-day trip that took her through 19 states, with stops at veterans’ homes, police and fire stations, and memorials.

Along the way, Gavros handed out plaques and cards, thanking the men and women she met for their service.

Pat Gavros, who lives in Dade City, spent 21 days on the road delivering a message of gratitude to the nation’s veterans and first responders during her Gratitude Journey in May. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Pat Gavros, who lives in Dade City, spent 21 days on the road delivering a message of gratitude to the nation’s veterans and first responders during her Gratitude Journey in May.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She made the trip alone. She ate inexpensive meals and carried apples, bananas, yogurt and water in the car.

She had scheduled many of the visits she made during her travels, but there were spontaneous stops, as well.

Gavros is a 67-year-old woman who lives in Dade City.

She said she made the trip because when it comes to patriotism, she considers the word to be more of a verb than a noun.

“Talk is cheap,” Gavros said, adding, in matters of gratitude, actions are what count.

“I just am passionate about honoring our veterans. I thought, why don’t I drive to different states and visit different veterans’ homes and bring some kind of a little token of my gratitude.

“Then, when I started thinking about it, I thought, ‘You know what? Our first responders – those people in uniform — they’re part of our patriotic fabric. The people that keep us safe. They allow us to live the lifestyle without ever giving it a thought. You never think, ‘Oh, if my house burns, who can I call?’ ” she said.

Gavros began planning the trip in January, choosing a path that included important memorials and was compact enough she could make it happen.

And, she began seeking supporters.

“My biggest supporter, who gave me a beautiful 2015 RAV 4 to drive, was Wesley Chapel Toyota. They saw the vision, and they supplied a nice, safe car for me,” said Gavros, who recently reluctantly returned the vehicle to the dealership.

“I had a couple of hotels that gave me a few nights’ lodging,” she added.

But the financial support she’d been hoping to attract failed to materialize.

That didn’t dissuade Gavros.

She began her journey with a stop in Dade City, then headed east and north. She visited 42 cities, including stops in Washington D.C., Oklahoma City and even Ferguson, Missouri.

She visited famous memorials, as well as police and fire stations in lesser-known places.

She doled out words of appreciation and mementoes of gratitude wherever she went.

Sometimes, a local police station would make a big deal of her visit, she said.

Other encounters were smaller and more personal.

She handed out 40 plaques, including one to a patrol officer sitting in his cruiser and another to a highway patrol officer standing on the side of a road.

Gavros received badges and commemorative coins from first responders, documenting her many stops.

The effort was more physically demanding than she had expected.

She had to rise by 5 a.m., each day, to stick to her itinerary.

“I wasn’t out on a vacation. I was on a mission,” the Dade City woman said.

Besides being exhausted at times, she got lonely, too.

Those spells happened mostly during long treks between cities.

“There were some days when I was really down. You’re wondering: ‘Does it matter?’ ” Gavros said.

But then, she had experiences that erased any doubts.

One of those moments came at a veterans’ home.

As she was handing out gratitude cards, she said to a veteran: “I have a little thank you for you, but I didn’t want to buy a stamp.

“The guy said, ‘That’s OK.”

“And I said, ‘So, instead, I got in my car and I drove 2,700 miles.

“The guy looked at me. It just took a minute to gel, and he said, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’

“It was like slow motion. The smile came, and he said, ‘Well, isn’t that something.’ ”

Then she told the vet: “This thank you isn’t just from me. It’s from millions of Americans. I’m the emissary. I’m the one who gets the honor of coming here and bringing the message.”

Another time, she encountered a group of uniformed soldiers on a metro train in Washington D.C.

She wasn’t sure what kind of reception she would get, but she approached one and said: “Sir, today I’m going to make your day.”

Then, she handed him a card, with a heart stuck inside.

She told him: “I’m on a 5,000-mile gratitude journey, I just want to tell you thank you.”

Then, she gave out cards and hearts to the other soldiers.

“This one guy said to me, ‘Thank you for doing that.’

“I got off the train and I just wanted to go, ‘Yes!’ ”

“It was such a high. It was like, ‘Wow, this is what I came for.’ ”

During her trip, she also encountered an element of danger.

Torrential rainfall near Saint Louis forced her to change her itinerary, and the threat of tornados caused her to cut her trip short.

Gavros understands some people may wonder what would compel her to make her Gratitude Journey.

“I believe in the power of one. Every single person has the God-given gift to make a difference. I am a perfect example of that. I have no money, no resources, and yet I am able to do what I do.”

She believes it is her duty to do what she can.

“What is your obligation? What is it that you want to do that makes America better?

“Our country is in perilous times. We are in such a state of apathy. It’s unbelievable how narcissistic and self-absorbed we are.

“Whatever your gift is — it doesn’t matter what your gift is — do something.”

If you would like to know more about Pat Gavros or her Gratitude Journey, visit PatGavros.com.

Published June 3, 2015

Today, we honor our graduates

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Today’s paper is a record issue for The Laker/Lutz News.

There are 28 pages in two sections — eight pages more than we usually publish.

We can credit our increased page count to the 3,000-plus high school seniors whose names are published inside our annual special graduation section.

gradIt was seven years ago — back in 2008 — that we began publishing the names of every graduate from the public and private high schools in our circulation area.

The paper you hold in your hands lists graduates from the two high schools closest to where you live. If you receive the Land O’ Lakes edition of The Laker, your schools are Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes. In Wesley Chapel, they are Wiregrass and Wesley Chapel. And in East Pasco, they are Zephyrhills and Pasco. If you live in Hillsborough County, you receive The Lutz News and your schools are Steinbrenner and Freedom.

You don’t have to be a graduate, or the parent of a graduate, to appreciate our keepsake, pullout section. Make it a point to scan the list of names to find kids you know from your neighborhood, church and through your friends.

Then, take a moment to send your congratulations in a text or email, or even better, make a personal telephone call. Graduating from high school is the first milestone of adulthood and the beginning of many more successes on the journey of life. The graduates you know will be proud to hear from you.

It is always thrilling to see your name in print, no matter how old you are. Our graduation section is the first time most graduates are recognized publicly for reaching a goal they’ve worked hard to achieve.

You may be thinking that kids today don’t read newspapers — instead they spend all day touching their mobile phones, computer keyboards and TV remotes. But they are touching this newspaper today and seeing their names and the names of their closest friends.

The tactile sensation of holding a newspaper and the smell of the ink contribute to the exuberance they experience when they see their name in print for the first time.

And that’s why today’s paper is such an important issue. It creates a spark of joy and pride for thousands of students we honor.

And, as silly as this may sound, knowing that this happens gives me goose bumps. It makes me very proud to be publisher of your community newspaper.

Published May 27, 2015

 

Florida Hospital Center Ice skates into view

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A naming contest for the ice rink complex under construction in Wesley Chapel drew some 200 suggestions.

And, the winner is: Florida Hospital Center Ice.

The name and logo were unveiled May 14 by Florida Hospital representatives and Gordie Zimmermann whose company, Z Mitch, is building the 150,000-square-foot ice rink and sports complex.

Hockey fans watch from the sidelines in this interior rendering of Florida Hospital Center Ice, an ice rink and sports complex under construction at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice)
Hockey fans watch from the sidelines in this interior rendering of Florida Hospital Center Ice, an ice rink and sports complex under construction at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice)

The name is fitting, said Zimmermann, because so much takes place in a rink at center ice. That includes face-offs over hockey pucks and figure skaters waiting for their music cues to begin their programs, he said.

“It truly is a center for sports. It has a good ring to it,” Zimmermann said, of the name for the complex at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., off State Road 56 and near Interstate 75.

Many of the contest entries adopted “center” as part of the overall name for the ice rink.

“It’s pretty exciting that we had so much interest from the community,” said Denyse Bales-Chubb, the president and chief executive officer at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The hospital, which purchased naming rights for the complex, is partnering with Z Mitch on the project and will offer sports performance and injury prevention programs. Fitness and wellness programs, as well as orthopedic and outpatient rehabilitation services, also will be provided.

“Not only are we going to be a name on the building, but we’ll have a function inside the building,” Bales-Chubb said.

The complex is headed for a fall 2015 opening, likely around the same time as the nearby Tampa Premium Outlets opens, Zimmermann said.

Pre-construction work is nearly finished, and Zimmermann anticipates building construction to be underway by summer.

The facility is expected to have regional and even international appeal from youth hockey leagues to global hockey tournaments.

“We’re getting a lot of people nationwide and in Canada who are interested,” Zimmermann said.

There will be four full-sized ice rinks and a mini-rink. A removable pad will be able to double as a multi-purpose floor for basketball and other sports, including soccer and lacrosse.

A sports-themed family-style restaurant also is planned. Non-sports activities, such as dog shows and graduation ceremonies, are likely as well.

Some open house events will be sponsored this summer, Zimmermann said.

One sport that might find a home at the ice rink is curling.

University of South Florida graduate Tabitha Holden can hardly wait. She became a curling enthusiast during the last Winter Olympics.

She and other USF students joined together to find team members and a coach and donors willing to pledge funding for a curling league. But they soon learned the biggest hurdle is finding a facility that can accommodate special icing needs for curling.

Holden, 27, hasn’t given up though. Florida Hospital Center Ice could be just the place they need.

“This is a really cool game,” Holden said.

Published May 20, 2015

Speakers shed light on health care challenges

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U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis

Patients and providers offered insights into obstacles relating to the treatment of people living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis during a recent roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Bilirakis, who is a member of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health, hosted a roundtable focusing on neurological conditions on May 6 at the Carrollwood Cultural Center.

Bilirakis asked panelists and members of the audience to talk about challenges facing patients and their families, and obstacles thwarting providers. He also asked those gathered to share information about clinical trials and breakthroughs.

Ron Hall, who has Alzheimer’s disease told Bilirakis, “probably the biggest thing is the unknown —trying to figure out what you’re going to do to keep your life normal as possible.”

The hard part, he said, is “just not knowing what’s coming your way.

“With all of these other diseases out there, you can say, ‘I’m going to fight it. I’m going to beat it.’ With Alzheimer’s, there’s no beating it.”

Hall’s wife, Diane, said “we’ve never been to a neurologist, just a geriatric doctor and had tests performed.

“Sometimes, we think, maybe we should go, and then we ask ourselves: ‘Do you really want to know how far along you are?’ ” she said.

Dr. Charles Brock, another panelist, told the couple: “I think visiting the neurologist is helpful. It’s empowering because that physician is likely to know there may be drug trials going on, there may be new treatments, there may be new supportive measures that would be helpful to you and at least give you the opportunity to make a decision about what you want, which gives you more control.”

Dr. Jessica Banko, associate institute director for the University of South Florida’s Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, agreed with Brock.

“Having some of that knowledge of where in the journey you lie may open doors to additional measures, not always necessarily pharmacological,” Banko said. “There are caregiver interventions to minimize stress and burden, and improve quality of life; there are behavioral measures and other ways to get involved in, maybe in validating new diagnostic tools.”

Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos, who serves as the medical director of the Parkinson’s Research Foundation Center of Excellence at the Morsani College of Medicine, said “one of the big obstacles in moving forward in finding new treatments is the difficulties that we often encounter in the recruitment for clinical trials.

“People have a misconception about clinical trials. They’re worried, ‘Well, I might get the sugar pill.’ ‘I might get a placebo.’ Or, ‘I don’t want to be a guinea pig.’ ”

The physician said he always thought it would be easy to recruit patients for specific clinical studies, but he has learned that is not the case.

“I know, in my clinic, when I see a patient, I bring up the possibility of clinical studies and describe what’s available in Tampa and what’s available in other parts of the state, and what’s available in the United States,” he said.

Banko noted: “The truth is, the only access we have right now to new treatment measures for Alzheimer’s disease is through clinical trial participation.”

She added that the government hosts a website called ClinicalTrials.gov that lists anywhere from 20 to 60 trials, at any given time, that are enrolling for different kinds of treatment options for various stages of the disease.

Sanchez-Ramos said physicians are another source of information.

“Ask the physician if he or she is aware of any research going on involving new medications, new interventions, new surgical procedures for that specific condition,” he advised.

In the arena of Alzheimer’s disease, a huge frustration is the fact that even though amyloid imaging was a huge advancement, it is only available to patients through clinical trials, Banko said.

Dr. Rob Norman, who treats patients in long-term care facilities, expects the challenges to increase.

As Baby Boomers age, “we have what I call a silver tsunami going on.”

He said health care providers must rise to that challenge.

“We want to have, not just more treatments, but prevention and a vaccine. We shouldn’t settle for anything less than that.”

One caregiver in the audience urged Bilirakis to seek increased continuing education requirements for physicians and nurses, to improve the diagnosis and care of people who have neurological conditions.

It’s not just a lack of resources, said Diane Hall.

Some people who suffer from a neurological condition, such as Alzheimer’s, don’t want others to know about it.

“We can’t find a cure for it, if people don’t raise their hand and let everyone know there is such a need,” she said. “It’s going to be 10 to 20 times (as bad) with Baby Boomers coming up.

“Don’t be afraid, and don’t stay in a closet,” she urged. “It’s got to come out. We’ve got to find a way.”

Published May 13, 2015

A show of compassion for the Ivie family

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When Pasco High School has its talent show on May 8, it will be dedicated to Jordan Ivie, a 17-year-old whose death has caused hearts to break — as well as to expand — in Dade City.

The high school senior was riding in a 2002 Ford Mustang being driven by Austin Thomas Council on the morning of April 24, when it was involved in a crash, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Customers lined up both inside and down the block at Olga’s Bakery and Deli in downtown Dade City. The business donated 100 percent of the proceeds of its business on April 29 to help the Ivie family. (Richard Riley/Photo)
Customers lined up both inside and down the block at Olga’s Bakery and Deli in downtown Dade City. The business donated 100 percent of the proceeds of its business on April 29 to help the Ivie family.
(Richard Riley/Photo)

Council was traveling south, toward the center of Smith Road, when a sport utility vehicle approached from the other direction, the report says.

Council veered to the right and lost control of the car, which struck a mailbox and four trees before coming to a stop, the report says.

Council and Ivie were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where Ivie died on April 26.

Both Council and Ivie were wearing seatbelts and no alcohol was involved, according to the FHP report.

An investigation is ongoing and any charges would be pending its completion, which will likely be in three months to six months, said Sgt. Steve Gaskins, of the FHP.

After Ivie’s death, hundreds gathered at Pasco High School on the evening of April 26 to honor her. The high school senior had been set to graduate on May 29.

Family, friends and loved ones gathered again on April 30 at a memorial service for her at Pasco Middle School.

Social media sites reveal the family and community’s deep sense of loss.

In a 7:27-minute video posted by Jeff Jeter on YouTube, scenes from Jordan Abigail Ivie’s life flash across the screen, as she grows from infant to little girl to young woman.

Her blonde hair and blue eyes are a constant, and her bright smile conveys a joy for life.

In another YouTube post, Cora Zone, shares her grief about Ivie’s passing.

“God has gained a new angel today,” says Zone, ending her video with happy photographs of Ivie.

The video concludes with this quote, attributed to Ivie: “Don’t give up, focus on the positives, and be kind always. Seek out the most in every precious, beautiful day you are given.”

Others across Dade City were also moved by the young woman’s death.

At Olga’s Bakery and Deli, all of the proceeds from items sold on April 29 were donated to the family to help them cover expenses.

“We were open until our normal time of 2 p.m. We had run out of baked goods and materials to bake with,” said Chris Dious, the bakery’s owner.

The shop donated more than $5,000 to the family from its sales, along with $3,000 in direct donations, Dious said. Some employees also contributed their daily wages to the cause.

When people found out what the bakery was doing, they came out in droves.

“I was impressed with our customers. The line was long, and everybody was very patient,” Dious said. “This was busier than any other day we have ever had, including the Kumquat Festival. It was a very long day, but worth it.”

In Facebook posts, Ivie’s father, Alfred, apologizes for being unable to respond to all of the messages that have been sent to the family. He also expresses gratitude for the community’s response.

“Our family is truly overwhelmed by grief. However, we are also overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from our community.

“Your compassion towards us has made such a difference in our grief and we (will) always be grateful for your many acts of kindnesses and kind words,” he wrote.

To help relieve the family’s financial strain, two crowdfunding pages have been set up at GoFundMe.com.

—Richard Riley contributed to this report.

Published May 6, 2015

Learning how to police the ‘teenage brain’

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Jeff Golden
Jeff Golden

When it comes to de-escalating aggressive behavior — different methods are needed for juveniles than the ones that work on adults, said Jeff Golden, who teaches criminal justice classes at Saint Leo University.

Golden and other experts in law enforcement and criminal justice will be sharing their knowledge in a Summer Institute Course on juvenile aggression at Saint Leo University, May 5 through May 7.

In addition to Golden, other experts who will be leading instruction are Lt. Tim Enos, who currently works for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office; Norm Miller, an investigator assigned to gang prosecutions; and Deputy Dave Cappel, a school resource officer for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The class is being offered both for credit and for noncredit. Those who are not seeking credit can attend for free, provided there are still seats available.

Besides exploring issues involved with policing the teenage brain, the experts will cover:

  • Tools for de-escalating and preventing juvenile aggression
  • Techniques for communicating with troubled youths and building trust
  • Youth gangs and violence, impacts and opportunities
  • Crisis intervention teams and school resource offices, and what they do
  • Federal and Florida laws and agencies relating to juvenile
  • Causes of juvenile aggression and schools and solution
  • Bullying, harassment, violence and cyber bullying

The vast majority of police academies spend little to no time training patrol officers on effective techniques for policing juveniles, Golden said.

Most patrol officers have been taught restraints that work well on adults, but that can actually escalate aggression in juveniles, said Golden, who teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in criminal justice, juvenile justice and law at Saint Leo University.

“Most law enforcement agencies rely on some type of pain-inducing restraint to control someone physically,” he explained. “Adults understand: Stop what you’re doing and the pain will stop.

“Their rational thinking will take over and they generally will comply,” he said.

Not so for juveniles.

“Pain for a juvenile — and on a teenage brain — is like throwing kerosene on a fire,” Golden said. “The pain is going to make them scream louder, fight harder, and they are not going to listen.”

If there are other juveniles nearby, they’ll become more hyperactive.

“Juvenile aggression is contagious,” Golden said, “so we need to isolate it as quickly as we can.

If parents are watching and their child becomes more agitated in response to an officer, the parents may get upset and tensions could ratchet higher.

Proper training can help officers de-escalate tense situations, Golden said.

“When juveniles are screaming, we need to speak softly. We need to say things that distract them or that cause them to no longer focus on their anger.

“Anger takes an incredible amount of energy to maintain. Aggression takes an enormous amount of energy to maintain.

“The sooner we can teach officers to de-escalate a juvenile by diverting their attention from that anger or aggression, the faster the juvenile is going to de-escalate.”

At the same time, there’s no instant solution.

“I can’t flip a switch and turn them off, but I can definitely dial them down. We teach officers how to do that,” Golden said.

Police officers need to learn to distinguish between different kinds of aggression. Is the youth being aggressive deliberately, or is the youth displaying emotional aggression?

It’s important to understand the distinction because the tools to de-escalate the behavior are dramatically different, Golden said.

“Every incident an officer is called to — it’s an opportunity to reach out and help a youth.

“The more they know how to identify potential problems, real problems, and actually get through to the youth and establish a connection … Once we’ve got them calmed down … we can begin to communicate with them,” he said.

The real answer to root out what’s causing the juvenile’s behavior and to address that, Golden said.

“This isn’t some kid acting out for no reason whatsoever,” he said.

In some cases, the anger and aggression may stem from a juvenile not getting the medications that they need, he said.

“I’m not asking officers to become social workers,” Golden said, but addressing this issue requires a multifaceted response.

“We try to prevent things from escalating, or exploding. We’re not going to arrest our way out of this,” Golden said.

To register for the class, contact Karin May by email at .

Published April 29, 2015

Young golfer hits links, brings home hardware

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Kailey Kleinatland is 9 years old, and she already loves golf.

Besides practicing and playing, she loves what comes afterward.

“The fun part is you get trophies,” she said.

Kailey Kleinatland took up golf when she was 7. Two years later, she has a shelf full of trophies and is a member of the USA Junior Team program. (Photo courtesy of Howard Kleinatland)

Not everyone wins trophies when they hit the links, but not everyone has Kleinatland’s skills.

In just two years, the Lutz resident has won tournaments at places like Westchase Golf Club, Carrollwood Country Club, Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, Belleair Country Club and Crescent Oaks Country Club.

And her prospects are looking even better since she has been accepted into the USA Junior Team program.

While golf is a challenging — and potentially lucrative — sport, it’s also quite expensive.

After getting off to a great start with her first coach, Bill Monical, it became clear that Kleinatland would benefit from high-level training that can cost hundreds of dollars per session.

Because her family isn’t wealthy, making the junior team was the only way she’d be able to get that training.

When she qualified, her father, Howard Kleinatland, saw it as a sign that their faith continues to reap dividends for their family.

“It just seems like whenever she needs something provided, God has always provided it for her,” he said. “She’s very strong with her faith and involved with our church.”

In addition to attending Revolutionary Life Church in Lutz, Kailey does a lot of volunteer work and hopes to get involved with Special Olympics, Howard explained.

Her older brother, Codey, has a disability, making that area of volunteering a personal one for her family.

If the Kleinatlands were unsure if Kailey would qualify for the USA Junior Team, they shouldn’t have worried. Her new coach, Brad Brewer, saw something in her immediately.

“She’s just a natural,” Brewer said.

And with decades of coaching experience, specifically with golf academy programs, Brewer is an expert at knowing what to look for in a young golfer.

She had to go through profile testing on a series of skills, and Kailey qualified for the “junior stars” category in most of them. In the others, she was closer to the higher “elite” category, despite being younger than a lot of the other students.

In addition to her physical abilities, Brewer said he also is impressed with her mental approach to the game.

Some children put unhealthy pressure on themselves, but Kailey takes the good — and the bad — in stride.

“She’s like a kid just having fun, just trying to do the best she can, and I love that about her,” Brewer said.

Kailey said having fun was the reason she began playing golf in the first place. Her best friend, Jaida, started playing, so Kailey wanted to join her.

It’s still fun, Kailey said, but she also now has a more rigorous schedule.

Mondays are a combination of volleyball and golf after school.

On Tuesdays, she travels to Orlando for a 90-minute session with Brewer. Wednesdays are taken up by church and more golf, Thursday means another trip to Orlando, and Fridays are reserved for dance lessons.

And the weekends?

She often competes in two-day tournaments, and she often comes home with a trophy.

She often has to do homework on the drives to Orlando, but she enjoys learning from Brewer. He provides advice and makes sure she grasps the lesson.

“When he gives us the information and we don’t understand it, he’ll repeat it in a new way,” Kailey said.

The coaching skill might be rubbing off on Kailey.

Her dad said he began swinging clubs after he saw that Kailey had a knack for it.

After studying her dad’s swing, Kailey observed that he still has a way to go before he’ll bring home trophies of his own.

“Since he’s a little older, he’s not as flexible as the younger kids. So he can’t turn his shoulder all the way around,” Kailey observed.

Kailey’s mother, Tracy, is not a golfer, so it looks like Kailey may be the one member of the family who might make waves in competitive golf.

Brewer, who has been working with Kailey just a short time, would not put limits on what the 9-year-old may be able to accomplish as she develops as a golfer.

“I’ve helped players get all the way to the tournament. I’ve worked with major champions,” he said. “Certainly nothing is out of possibility with someone like this.”

Published April 22, 2015

Lowe’s celebrates Land O’ Lakes opening

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Lowe’s, of Land O’ Lakes, is ready to throw open the doors to its new home improvement store on State Road 54. Work crews busied themselves last week with last-minute details to spruce up the landscaping and sweep clean what has been an active construction site.

The Lowe’s home improvement store at 21500 State Road 54 has scheduled a host of activities to celebrate its opening, beginning with a Pro Services Day set for April 16, which will also serve as the store’s ‘soft opening.’ (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
The Lowe’s home improvement store at 21500 State Road 54 has scheduled a host of activities to celebrate its opening, beginning with a Pro Services Day set for April 16, which will also serve as the store’s ‘soft opening.’
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

A week of celebrations will kick off with a Pro Services Day on April 16, to highlight the services and products that Lowe’s can provide business owners and their field representatives.

The community also is welcome to this “soft opening,” with store hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Food, demonstrations and a mystery gift card giveaway will be featured during the day.

“It’s a great opportunity for business owners to learn about the options Lowe’s has,” said Meredith Kleker, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a gracious way to extend the opportunities to help the business community feel part of the growth of this area.”

The 152,000-square-foot store is located at 21500 State Road 54, across from the Village Lakes Shopping Center. It is Pasco County’s third Lowe’s location.

Motorists will find new traffic signals at the entrance to Lowe’s that are meant to ease traffic in and out of the home improvement store, and the shopping center, as well.

Ongoing festivities will include a preview night on April 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with giveaways, a scavenger hunt, guided tours and refreshments from Benedetto’s.

A grand opening on April 23 will feature dignitaries from county government, the honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes and representatives of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

The more traditional ribbon cutting will be given over to a “board cutting.”

“We’re really, really excited about the partnership (with Lowe’s),” said Kleker. “They’ve made a concerted effort to partner with businesses in our community.”

A Lowe’s Fest on April 25 will be an “all-out celebration,” according to a Lowe’s press release announcing the special opening events.

Marco’s Pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Café, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, and a dessert truck will provide food. Activities include interactive demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, a children’s craft station, a community hand print banner and a petting zoo.

There also will be a special safety demonstration.

Store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lowe’s opening events

Pro Services Day
Where: Lowe’s, 21500 State Road 54
When: April 16, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
What: Pro Services Day is dedicated to business owners and their field representatives, but anyone is welcome.

Breakfast will be provided by Panera Bread at 7 a.m. Lunch will be from Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Manufacturing representatives will do product demonstrations, there will be giveaways and Lowe’s in-house specialists can help set up business accounts. Giveaways include mystery gift cards ranging from $5 to $500.

From here on, the store will be “soft opened.”

Regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Preview Night
When: April 22, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
What: A scavenger hunt, project starter giveaways, guided tours and refreshments by Benedetto’s.

Formal grand opening ceremony
When: April 23, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Who: Dignitaries from Pasco County, the honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes and members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the store’s opening.

Lowe’s Fest
When: April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What: An all-out celebration featuring food from Marco’s pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Cafe, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que and a dessert truck. Activities will include interactive manufacturing demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, balloon art, face painting, a Build & Grow workshop, mystery gift card giveaways, a kids’ craft station, community hand print banner, a petting zoo and a demonstration by a fire safety inspector.

Published April 15, 2015

Musicians, fans celebrate old time music in Dade City

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When people listen to songs from the 1960s, they might consider it “old” music.

The upcoming Florida Old Time Music Championship also features music from the ’60s.

The 1860s, that is.

Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones will perform at the Florida Old Time Music Championship on April 10 and April 11. (Courtesy of Jackson & Moser Photography)
Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones will perform at the Florida Old Time Music Championship on April 10 and April 11.
(Courtesy of Jackson & Moser Photography)

“It’s the kind of music that people who lived during pioneer times in early Florida would have actually played,” said Jessica Budin, office manager for the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, where the event will be on April 10 and April 11.

Old time music is a genre of North American folk music that contains elements from the European countries from where the settlers came. It is characterized by acoustic string instruments such as the fiddle, guitar or banjo and can be instrumental or include vocals. Listeners might hear some similarities with bluegrass music, but old time music actually pre-dates that genre.

The Florida Old Time Music Championship is an opportunity to bring performers together and celebrate historic music, and the event itself is getting up there in years. Now in its 33rd year, it continues to bring musicians and fans of this style of music from across Florida, and even some from out of state as well.

The event began at the museum, but relocated after about a decade. A few years ago it moved back, and the creators of the competition are happy to see it return to such an appropriate venue.

“It’s been great,” said Jim Strickland, who still runs the event with Ernie Williams. “They love having us, and we love being there. Our stage is the front porch of the Overstreet House (on display at the museum). It’s a beautiful setting.”

Playing old time music on a front porch is especially authentic, since that’s often where it was performed. Another popular venue for this kind of music was church, Strickland said.

The music brought people together and was a main source of entertainment, he said.

While the Florida Old Time Music Championship will have competitions across many categories, Strickland said it’s not a high-pressure event.

When they’re not onstage, performers might get together for an impromptu jam session.

Groups also form on the spot to enter a contest. There’s even a chance a musician may perform as a backup player for a competitor.

“It’s a very friendly, non-threatening atmosphere for a contest,” Strickland said.

The event will also feature music professionals as special guests.

Recording artists Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones, a married couple known for their old time talents, will perform three sets over the two-day event. Jones will also host a guitar workshop on Saturday morning.

While the music naturally appeals to fans of old time, Budin said that the event will also appeal to people who aren’t familiar with the genre. The songs performed are authentic to the time period, but have been passed down from generation to generation and still exist even in today’s culture. It might be a melody or a beat from a commercial, or perhaps something heard as a child, but elements of old time music will be familiar to many listeners.

“Really, anybody who enjoys music will find something that they like to listen to out here,” she said.

The Florida Old Time Music Championship
Where: The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
When: 7 p.m. on April 10, and 10 a.m. on April 11. The banjo and fiddle finals will be at 7 p.m., April 11
The cost is $5 on April 10, and $10 on April 11. Parking is free.
For more information, call (352) 567-0262 or visit FOTMC.org.

Published April 8, 2015