The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Soccer team is golden

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With American flags waving, the Land O’ Lakes High School Unified Special Olympics Soccer team boarded a school bus in their first part of their journey to Los Angeles and the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

Hopes are high for a 12-member team that is the sole representative of the United States in unified soccer.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team pauses for a final group photo before they leave for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
The Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team pauses for a final group photo before they leave for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

“It will be beautiful if they bring home the gold,” said Marie Lambert. But win or lose, she said, “That whole team, I’m so proud of them.”

Lambert’s 19-year-old grandson, Andrew Ahearn, plays fullback for a team with seven Special Olympics athletes, who are intellectually disabled, and five partner players. He has played on the team since its inception nearly eight years ago.

“Soccer is his love,” said his mother, Adelle Ahearn.

In addition to Ahearn, team members are Christopher Hale, Kyle Lufcy, Hassan Shehab, Ordray Smith, Rufus Smith-Jones, Joseph Tramel III, Samantha Frahm, Thomas Guglielmello, Cameron Hilgenberg, Haley Eckel and Kyle Townsend. Vicky King is head coach. Phyllis Crain and Meghan McLean are assistant coaches.

About 40 friends, family members and school faculty members waved flags and cheered as the Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team headed to the airport on the first leg of their trip to Los Angeles.
About 40 friends, family members and school faculty members waved flags and cheered as the Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team headed to the airport on the first leg of their trip to Los Angeles.

Lambert and Ahearn joined about 40 friends, family members and Land O’ Lakes High School faculty for an impassioned and patriotic send off on July 20. They lined the covered walkway outside the school, cheering and slapping high-fives as the team boarded the bus on their way to the airport and the world stage in Los Angeles.

The Special Olympics event will host more than 6,500 athletes from 165 countries from July 25 through Aug. 2, according to its website.

It is billed as the largest event hosted by Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics. About 2,000 coaches and 30,000 volunteers will participate.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are among the honorary hosts of the world games. Michelle Obama is expected to attend the Opening Ceremony.

Marie Lambert, left, and her daughter, Adelle Ahearn, will be in Los Angeles to cheer Ahearn’s son, Andrew Ahearn, who is a member of the Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team. With them are 4-year-old Ava Jo Ahearn, and 9-year-old Inez Ahearn.
Marie Lambert, left, and her daughter, Adelle Ahearn, will be in Los Angeles to cheer Ahearn’s son, Andrew Ahearn, who is a member of the Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team. With them are 4-year-old Ava Jo Ahearn, and 9-year-old Inez Ahearn.

About 80,000 spectators are anticipated daily at more than 20 venues in and around Los Angeles, including the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

Lambert and Ahearn will be in the stands along with 9-year-old Inez Ahearn. But for those who can’t make the trip, they can stay glued to ESPN for live coverage. Updates and photos also will be shared at Instagram.com/usaunifiedsoccer and at Twitter.com/pascophotos.

Latanja Timmons will be watching her nephew, Rufus Smith-Jones, on all of the above.

He will be a standout, with a blond Mohawk streak through his hair.

“He wanted to be sure we could find him,” said Timmons, who is the athlete’s aunt and legal guardian. “It’s unbelievable. We are so excited for him and the team. This has afforded him opportunities that he would never have had.”

For the 14-year-old soccer player, simply competing on the field with his teammates is what matters.

Team member Samantha Frahm leads the way as the Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team is given a patriotic send-off to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
Team member Samantha Frahm leads the way as the Land O’ Lakes High School Special Olympics Unified Soccer team is given a patriotic send-off to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

“I don’t just stay home doing nothing,” Smith-Jones said. “Hallelujah!”

Special education teacher Geri Perchard came to the send-off, holding up a sign, reading “Good Luck,” spelled out in red, white, and blue. Many on the team are in her class and serve as peers to other students.

“It’s so exciting,” she said. “They’ve been practicing and sending pictures, and watching themselves on television.”

The team won the honor of representing the United States nearly a year ago after bringing home a gold medal in state competition, and being selected by Special Olympics Florida. Since then fundraising events, including a Breakfast of Champions, has helped collect an estimated $40,000 needed to pay for the trip.

Lambert and Ahearn helped with one event sponsored by the AmVets, Post 4. The Land O’ Lakes Moose Lodge, Pasco County firefighters and others also contributed.

Credit for dedication and hard work goes to the team, said their head coach, Vicky King.

“It’s not me,” she said. “It’s all about them. It’s probably the best thing that will happen in their lives.”

Valerie Lundin, Pasco’s co-director of Special Olympics, offered some parting advice for a team facing a few intense days of practice and hard play.

“Don’t forget the fun part of it.”

Published July 29, 2015

Cindy Oelke feels ‘called’ to help Haitians

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Cindy Oelke’s home in Lutz is comfortable and spacious, but step into a back bedroom and you’ll see piles of clothing and shoes all over the room.

Oelke has been collecting the items to prepare for an upcoming trip to Haiti.

These Haitian children seem to enjoy posing for a picture. (Photos courtesy of Cindy Oelke)
These Haitian children seem to enjoy posing for a picture.
(Photos courtesy of Cindy Oelke)

This will be her third mission trip to the island nation to help provide basic necessities for people who are still recovering from a devastating earthquake there.

“The first year, I took maybe 100 pieces. Last year, I took 1,200 pieces,” she said. This year, she’s expecting to take around 2,000 items.

On previous trips, she also has pitched in on projects organized by her church — Grace Family Church, which is located on Van Dyke Road, not far from her home.

“The first year we went, we painted one of the new churches and schools. Last year, they helped build an addition on to the mountain school. This year, we’re going to be working within all of our orphanages,” she said.

She’ll also take on a new role.

Despite difficult living conditions, it is quite common to see Haiti children, like this one, smiling, says Cindy Oelke, a woman from Lutz who makes mission trips to Haiti. ‘The children are very, very happy.’
Despite difficult living conditions, it is quite common to see Haiti children, like this one, smiling, says Cindy Oelke, a woman from Lutz who makes mission trips to Haiti. ‘The children are very, very happy.’

“They’ve asked me to go and teach the mommas how to sew. So, I’m taking a lot of fabric, so I can teach the moms how to sew for their children,” she said.

She also will be leaving fabric behind that they’ll be able to continue to use.

And, passing along four donated sewing machines to Haiti.

Oelke, who works part-time, believes she’s been called to do God’s work in the impoverished country.

It all began rather simply.

“I said a prayer one day. I prayed for a sewing machine and a bicycle. And, within a week, I received both. I figured, well, I need to listen to the Lord more.

“The second week, I was also given another sewing machine.

“At that point, I really felt like God was talking to me, so, I just asked, ‘What do you want me to do?’ And, he said, ‘Sew for children.’ ”

Cindy Oelke carries containers of food in Haiti. Someday, she’d enjoy seeing Europe. For now, she feels called to do God’s work in Haiti.
Cindy Oelke carries containers of food in Haiti. Someday, she’d enjoy seeing Europe. For now, she feels called to do God’s work in Haiti.

She wasn’t sure what would become of the clothing, because she knows how expensive it is to ship packages overseas.

But one day, as she was getting ready for Bible study, she felt a prompting, she said. “The Holy Spirit sort of said to me, ‘Don’t forget your promise to Haiti.’ ”

Then she recalled how she and her husband had visited Haiti as part of a cruise years ago, after a huge storm had hit the country. They saw the devastation.

“We took a bus trip around. The children, the adults — they were just standing on the road. They were just trying to survive.”

When she got back on the bus, she felt sick.

“I just said a silent prayer, ‘Lord, help these people.’ I told my husband, ‘I will come back here and help the children,’ ” she said.

Years passed and life got busy, and the idea faded.

But after she began sewing the clothing, she began thinking about joining a church trip to take it to Haiti.

Many Haitians live in primitive living conditions, such as this house, says Cindy Oelke, a Lutz woman who is traveling to Haiti in August to help women there learn how to sew.
Many Haitians live in primitive living conditions, such as this house, says Cindy Oelke, a Lutz woman who is traveling to Haiti in August to help women there learn how to sew.

She inquired about going on the next church trip to Haiti, but was told it was already full.

She said her Bible leader mentioned to someone, “You know, Cindy has really sewn her heart out for Haiti.”

And a short while later, someone cancelled, and she was invited to fill the opening.

Still, she wasn’t absolutely certain she should make the trip. So, she prayed for a clear sign.

A really clear sign.

She asked God to put two animals in her backyard, so she’d know she was meant to go.

“The next morning, I got up. I went over to my bay window, and I started screaming for my husband to come. There, right in front of the window, were two doves. Just sitting there,” Oelke said.

That happened in April of 2013. She took her Haiti mission trip that August.

This year, the group will be leaving on Aug. 15 and returning on Aug. 22.

Oelke said her solicitation — in The Laker/Lutz News and elsewhere — has yielded good results, with people donating items to help.

“I had asked for slightly used clothes, for boys and girls, and shoes.

“I got a lot of both, but I also got a lot of winter clothes.”

“I’m thinking, ‘Why are people sending me winter clothes for Haiti? “Haiti is hot year-round,” she said.

As she thought about it, it occurred to her that people often ask her why she doesn’t do more to help local people.

“So, I just know, I’m supposed to help the homeless,” she said.

She plans to store the winter clothes and give them to the homeless when colder weather arrives.

So, instead of being involved in one ministry, it seems that Oelke is involved in two.

You can help
Here is Cindy Oelke’s wish list:

  • New or slightly used spring or summer clothing for boys and girls, from age 2 to 16; new or slightly used shoes for the same ages
  • Fabric, preferably cotton, for making clothes
  • First-aid kit items, such as Wet Ones, bandages and gauze
  • Suitcases to carry donations and to leave them with Haitians, for them to store their clothing

For additional details, call Cindy Oelke at (813) 963-7541.

Published July 22, 2015

Growth spurs school construction

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When Pasco County School Board member Alison Crumbley considers anticipated growth along the State Road 54/56 corridor, she said, she is “taken aback.”

She worries about the school district’s ability to provide schools for all of the students who will be moving into the new communities that are taking shape along that corridor.

Construction continues at Sanders Memorial Elementary School, which is set to focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Construction continues at Sanders Memorial Elementary School, which is set to focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Superintendent Kurt Browning shares that sentiment.

“That 54 corridor concerns me greatly,” Browning said, during a recent school board workshop on the district’s construction plans.

“Our need certainly outpaces our resources,” the superintendent said. “When you look at the 54 corridor, from really, Little Road to just beyond Wiregrass, that’s Curley Road — there is so much growth and projected growth.

“Even up on Curley, there’s master-planned communities.

“As superintendent, it concerns me, because I know moms and dads don’t want their kids in crowded classrooms. And I don’t want their kids in crowded classrooms.

“Nor, do I want to build new schools and, the next thing you know, you see portables being pulled up on those school campuses,” Browning said.

The lack of revenue has prompted the school district to launch an impact fee study, which could lead to higher school impact fees paid for new construction of residential properties in Pasco County.

Meanwhile, the district is engaged in numerous construction projects and have others planned in the near future.

Chris Williams, director of planning, outlined those projects during the board’s workshop. He also provided additional details during a separate interview.

Crews at Sanders Memorial Elementary School work to ensure that the county’s first magnet school opens on schedule in August.
Crews at Sanders Memorial Elementary School work to ensure that the county’s first magnet school opens on schedule in August.

Sanders Memorial Elementary School is getting a massive makeover — and the Land O’ Lakes Elementary School is getting more than a brand new look. It is also becoming Pasco County’s first magnet school.

When Sanders opens in the fall, it will offer a curriculum that emphasizes science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Quail Hollow Elementary, set to reopen in August, has a new floor plan that established individual classrooms in the formerly “open” school. The school also will have updated building systems, technology on par with any new elementary school in the district and a new cafeteria with a stage.

The school district also is in the process of designing three new schools, Elementary W in Wiregrass Ranch, Elementary B in Bexley Ranch, and High School GGG on Old Pasco Road, which will open as a school for sixth grade through 12th grade.

The district also is planning additional schools in the Wesley Chapel area.

“Elementary W is the first of potentially three or four in Wiregrass,” Williams said during the board workshop.

The district is working on a new design for Elementary B in Bexley Ranch, because it wants the school to accommodate more students than a typical district elementary school, Williams said.

Bexley Ranch will provide substantial relief for Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools, Williams said.

Other future schools are proposed for the Bexley Ranch area, and a future elementary school is planned for Starkey Ranch. A future middle school is also proposed for Starkey Ranch, Williams said.

The district also already has purchased land for a future school on the south side of State Road 54.

The biggest concern about middle school capacity is in the Wesley Chapel area, Williams said.

High School GGG, which will serve grades six through 12, will provide significant relief to Wesley Chapel area middle schools and high schools.

Wiregrass Ranch High has so many students, it is going to a 10-period day for the next two years to manage the number of students on campus at one time.

High School GGG will have a capacity of 1,900 students. It is expected to draw students from areas now assigned to Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel high schools, and Weightman and Long middle schools.

The district is using this approach because it can’t afford to build both a high school and a middle school. As population grows and demand increases, the district plans to build Middle School HH at the same location.

The boundary process for High School GGG and Elementary School B is expected to begin in about 18 months, the planning director said.

Williams said he is concerned about the ability of Mitchell, Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes high schools to absorb anticipated future enrollment.

“Land O’ Lakes (High), hopefully, when we remodel that school, we can add some capacity. It’s not going to be enough for long-term,” Williams said.

“We do have a high school site promised to us in Bexley Ranch. That potentially is going to have a big impact, especially on Sunlake.

“I continue to look for two additional high school sites, one in the Land O’ Lakes area and one in the (State Road) 54/Suncoast Parkway area,” Williams said.

But he added: “Those are hard to come by.”

“There is a high school site promised in the River Landing area, that could potentially impact Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass and Zephyrhills,” Williams said.

“It would be along the extension of State Road 56. It would be east of Mansfield, but on the west side of Morris Bridge Road. Zephyr Egg Property, if you’d ever heard of that,” he said.

School Board member Allen Altman said he’s worried that the increasing need to spend money on new construction will make it that much harder for the district to maintain the buildings it has.

It’s a known fact that proper maintenance saves taxpayers money in the long term, but the district doesn’t have a choice. It must spend money to provide school capacity, he said.

While the district considers its long-range plans and short-term needs, construction continues.

Elementary W, being built between John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High, is set to open in 2016.

When it opens, it will be possible for students to attend elementary school through college on the same street, since Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch is just down the road.

Williams expects the school boundary process for Elementary W to begin in October or November.

That school will help relieve crowding at Seven Oaks and Double Branch elementary schools, but the particulars of how that will be achieved have not been determined yet.

“Seven Oaks really popped this year,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, in East Pasco, the school district will be building a new cafeteria, and doing parking and traffic improvements at Cox Elementary.

Pasco Elementary also is getting some improvements, as plans call for remodeling several buildings, Williams said.

Published July 15, 2015

Peering into the world of medicine

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Students who are interested in potential medical careers had a chance to get an up-close look at them during the B.E.S.T. Academy Camp Program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

Greg Mathis, program director for the B.E.S.T. Academy Camp Program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, poses with student Emily Daffron, one of 20 students taking part in the academy. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Greg Mathis, program director for the B.E.S.T. Academy Camp Program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, poses with student Emily Daffron, one of 20 students taking part in the academy.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The camp, which concluded on June 26, gave 20 students a chance to work side-by-side with experienced health care professionals to see for themselves if the world of medicine is right for them.

The students were selected through a competitive process, said Greg Mathis, of Pasco County Schools, the program coordinator for the B.E.S.T. program in Zephyrhills.

“The program is new here in Pasco County. It’s been in Hillsborough County for 10 years,” Mathis said.

Dr. Dexter Frederick initiated the program at Florida Hospital Tampa because of a desire to give kids a chance to enter the arena of medicine to see that it’s a dream they could make come true for themselves, Mathis said.

It was expanded to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills this year, after Camille Watkins, assistant principal at Zephyrhills High School, inquired into the possibility of bringing the program to Pasco County students.

Watkins’ twin sons, Abera and Addelove, both attended the Florida Hospital Tampa program last year, Mathis said.

TeNiiyah Gore, a participant at the B.E.S.T. Academy Camp Program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, said the program ‘gives us a chance to discover what we want to be.’
TeNiiyah Gore, a participant at the B.E.S.T. Academy Camp Program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, said the program ‘gives us a chance to discover what we want to be.’

Both said they benefited from the experience they had in the B.E.S.T. Academy Program at Florida Hospital Tampa last year. And, they helped with the program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills this year.

Abera Watkins said he wants to specialize in pediatrics, while his twin brother, Addelove, wants to specialize in cardiology.

Both of them said they are willing to do the work and take on the debt to make those dreams a reality.

Early exposure to potential health care career options is critical, Mathis said.

“Kids may never even think about medicine, because mom and dad didn’t go to college,” Mathis said.

But, he added, if they become aware of options they want to explore, they can be sure to take the proper classes to enable them to lay the groundwork for those careers.

The Zephyrhills program accepted freshmen through seniors, who were selected through a process that considered a variety of factors, including their academic record and interviews with them and their parents, Mathis said.

Students taking part in the Pasco program came from Zephyrhills, Pasco and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Joan Conrad, director of patient experience at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, coordinated the hospital’s participation.

Program participant Alexayra Classen enjoyed observing the hospital’s operating room. ‘It’s really fast. No one bumps into each other. That was interesting, how they all kind of work around each other,’ she said.
Program participant Alexayra Classen enjoyed observing the hospital’s operating room. ‘It’s really fast. No one bumps into each other. That was interesting, how they all kind of work around each other,’ she said.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Conrad said. It can help give kids a road map to pursuing their dreams, she said, noting some kids know they want something, but have no idea how to pursue it.

By observing and talking to people who work in the field, students get a real feel for possible careers in health care, Conrad said. In some cases, they may find out that a field they thought they wanted to pursue isn’t exactly what they had pictured. In other cases, they may be exposed to a career that they find captivating.

Mathis, who is a teacher for Pasco County Schools, is delighted with Florida Hospital’s support of the program.

“I can’t say enough about Florida Hospital, and what they’re doing. I am thrilled, overwhelmed,” Mathis said.

Activities in the program included hospital rotations, classroom instruction, guest speakers and workshops on health careers and health issues.

“The good thing is that now we have a lot of kids who say, ‘This is possible.’ ” Mathis said.

“It’s a lot of hard work. That’s been stressed. Don’t think that anything you feel is worthwhile in life is going to be easy,” Mathis said. “We’re not only preaching medicine, medicine, medicine. We’re preaching professionalism, courtesy, hard work.

“It’s hands-on. That’s the beautiful part of it,” Mathis said.

The students are exposed to different health careers and different options, to see which one best fits them.

“Like today, we have kids in the OR (operating room), OB (obstetrics), ICU (intensive care unit), post-cardiac care, dietary. They’re everywhere,” Mathis said.

Jenny Craig, will be a sophomore at Pasco High, was enjoying the experience.

Jenny Craig said she took part in the program because she thought it ‘would be a great opportunity to get some experience in OB (obstetrics), as well as the other departments.’
Jenny Craig said she took part in the program because she thought it ‘would be a great opportunity to get some experience in OB (obstetrics), as well as the other departments.’

“I’ve always been interested in medicine. I thought this would be a great opportunity to get some experience in OB (obstetrics), as well as the other departments.

“Today, I was on a PT (physical therapy) rotation. I thought it was really cool,” she said.

TeNiiyah Gore, will be a junior at Zephyrhills High School, said the experience is beneficial for students.

“I think it gives us a chance to discover what we want to be. It helps us to see what it’s like to be in the medical field and whether you want to be here or not,” Gore said.

Alexayra Classen, who will be a senior at Pasco High School, said she’s leaning toward a career in neonatal nursing.”

She enjoyed observing the way things work in the hospital’s operating room.

“It’s really fast. No one bumps into each other. That was interesting, how they all kind of work around each other,” Classen said.

Emily Daffron, who will be a senior at Zephyrhills High School, knows that her future holds a career in the health care arena.

“I’m really dead set on pursuing a medical career. I don’t have any other backup plans,” Daffron said. “I really want to be a nurse. I want to interact with patients and I want to have an impact on their lives.”

In addition to gaining from the experience, the students got scrubs with the B.E.S.T. logo on them, and also a medical starter kit.

The starter kit contains thermometers, litmus testers, gloves, a stethoscope and other medical equipment.

The two-week B.E.S.T. program began on June 15 and concluded with a graduation ceremony on June 26.

B.E.S.T. Academy participants
These students took part in the inaugural B.E.S.T. Academy program at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills: Lyndsey Lee, Alexayra Classen, TeNiiyah Gore, Eve Faison, Sandra Garcia, Janessa Barbar, Jamiqua Mutcherson, Keith Brockington, Nora Ripley, Alec Troidl, Jamie Howard, Tabria James, John First, Bailey Douberley, Kiaria Singleton, Dahian Iozada, Jenny Craig, Maycalla Hicks, Emily Daffron and Christy Saji.

Published July 8, 2015

Fun on (and before) the Fourth

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How do you celebrate the Fourth of July? Do you prefer an early event with food and a parade? How about a later celebration, complete with music and fireworks? Or maybe something family friendly, with activities geared specifically toward children? And even though July 4 falls on a Saturday, would you like to get a head start on the celebration?

Bridget Richwine, second from right, helped her sons get into the Fourth of July spirit with hats she made for C.J., 11, at right, and Ben, 5. Grandmother Chloie Adkins, far left, looks on. They were at the Fourth of July celebration in Lutz last year. (File Photos)
Bridget Richwine, second from right, helped her sons get into the Fourth of July spirit with hats she made for C.J., 11, at right, and Ben, 5. Grandmother Chloie Adkins, far left, looks on. They were at the Fourth of July celebration in Lutz last year.
(File Photos)

If you answered “yes” to any of those options, there’s a full schedule waiting this weekend. Several venues are planning on large crowds ready for patriotic fun that’s either free or low cost. Here’s a rundown of some events happening Friday and Saturday:

Celebrate July 4 on July 3
You don’t have to wait until July 4 to start your weekend festivities. Get an early jump on the patriotic celebrations at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival will take place July 3 from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

More than 50,000 people are expected to attend this family friendly event, which includes a bike decorating contest, watermelon-eating contest and the annual Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker Pageant. And it will end with a special fireworks show.

The details:

Opening ceremonies begin at 4 p.m. at Center Court. The pageants will be held at the Center Court stage from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. A line dance will begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of the watermelon-eating contest at Buckle, located at No. 140. A parade will begin at 7:45 p.m., with fireworks to follow.

The Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker Pageant has three separate age categories. For information and an application form, email Jennifer Cofini at ">.

A Lutz Tradition
What would the Fourth of July be without the Lutz Independence Day celebration? This year’s event (themed Lutz Heritage: Proudly We Serve) includes a 5K race, one-mile fun run, flag-raising ceremony and cake auction. And, the parade, of course. Afterward, trophies will be handed out and the winner of this year’s Lutz Guv’na race will be announced.

The details:

One young girl jumps in excitement as the North Tampa-Lutz squadron of the Civil Air Patrol makes its way down Lutz Lake Fern Road as part of the Lutz Fourth of July celebration last year.
One young girl jumps in excitement as the North Tampa-Lutz squadron of the Civil Air Patrol makes its way down Lutz Lake Fern Road as part of the Lutz Fourth of July celebration last year.

The parade setup begins Friday at 10 a.m., at the Train Depot, and volunteers are welcome. Cake entries can be dropped off on Friday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave., NW.

The final cake registration ends Saturday at 7:30 a.m. The 5K race begins at 8 a.m., with the fun run beginning at 8:45 a.m. The flag-raising ceremony begins at 9 a.m., with the parade starting at 10 a.m. The cake auction, trophy presentation and Guv’na announcement begins at 11 a.m. For more information, call Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937.

Fourth at the Fairgrounds
The annual Sparklebration event will be July 4 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. There will be watermelon and hot dog eating contests (and food trucks for everyone else, serving up churros, barbeque, bacon specialties and other treats), live entertainment including Dennis Lee, the Red, White & Blue baby pageant, a watermelon spitting contest and skydivers. And, of course, fireworks to cap off the day.

There are plenty of special activities for children as well, including bounce houses, pony rides and a petting zoo.

The details:

Gates open at 3 p.m. The baby pageant begins at 3:30 p.m., with entertainment on two stages starting at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person (children ages 12 and younger are free), and parking is $5. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets and chairs, but pets, alcohol and personal fireworks are prohibited. For more information and to register for contests online, visit PascoCountyFair.com.

Special For Military Families
In addition to all the local celebrations, it’s a good weekend for military families to visit Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave. During their Red, White & Zoo celebration, active duty personnel, retirees and veterans get in free July 3 to July 5 with valid military identification, as well as up to three direct dependents.

The dependents can participate without the military member as long as an adult with valid military identification accompanies minors. For more information, call (813) 935-8552 or visit LowryParkZoo.com.

Published July 1, 2015

Central Pasco Chamber celebrates four decades of service

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The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 40th anniversary on June 26 with its awards and installation banquet at The Event Factory, 7565 W. Hillsborough Ave.

But it originally got its start as the Land O’ Lakes Chamber of Commerce. It was a different name at a different time in the area’s growth.

Remember the FlapJack Festival? It was just one of many area events the chamber has supported in its 40-year history. (Photos courtesy of Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce)
Remember the FlapJack Festival? It was just one of many area events the chamber has supported in its 40-year history.
(Photos courtesy of Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce)

“When this chamber first started, (US Highway) 41 was a one-lane roadway each way, and the intersection of 41 and (State Road) 54 was a stop sign,” said executive director Meredith Kleker.

The roads have grown quite a bit since that time, and so has the chamber. Now boasting more than 400 members, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has continued to serve the needs and be a voice for Central Pasco and Northern Hillsborough residents and businesses.

That influence can be seen in the advocacy and support for what are now considered staples in the area. From the Suncoast Parkway to the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home, chamber businesses and individuals have been a part of improving the community for decades.

While the numbers have grown and the names have changed, the secret ingredient in the chamber’s success has stayed the same, according to member Terri Dusek.

It’s about the people.

“They care about their community, and they care about each other,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful. I absolutely love our chamber.”

Dusek also loves her title as honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes. She earned it by winning a race to raise the most money, which goes to the chamber and helps fund local causes and groups. She also directed a portion to the charity of her choice, ShelterBox, which provides emergency relief and aid to disaster victims.

The folks from Great Clips, at 19231 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, provided free haircuts from their booth at the Central Pasco Chamber’s business expo. The event also drew bankers, commercial leasing agents, trophy makers, movers and a variety of other businesses to the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on March 6 and March 7.
The folks from Great Clips, at 19231 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, provided free haircuts from their booth at the Central Pasco Chamber’s business expo. The event also drew bankers, commercial leasing agents, trophy makers, movers and a variety of other businesses to the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on March 6 and March 7.

Last year’s race wasn’t much of a contest, Dusek said. In the end, she was the only candidate. While that might have given her license to relax and take it easy on the fundraising, she did no such thing. Instead she collected more than $4,000 to earn the title. Now, after a year’s worth of ribbon-cutting and other ceremonial duties, she’ll turn it over to this year’s winner at the end of the month.

While she won’t be mayor anymore, she’ll remain an active member of the chamber, which will benefit both her realty business and her personal growth.

“It has helped me in my own business, and it has helped me in a lot of different areas of my life,” Dusek said. “I’m happy, I love going to our events, I love being around the people that are there. I love meeting new people when they come in. It’s helped me grow in all areas, not just business.”

But business continues to be a big focus for the chamber, and as the area has grown, their work has grown with it. That means plenty of work ahead for incoming officers, including president-elect Mary Lynn Gorsline, the team of directors and the chamber’s ambassadors.

One consistent focus for the chamber is the effort to shop locally and strengthen the local economy. For instance, the chamber has a member discount program called Shop Local First, where businesses offer special discounts and encourage working with local residents and their companies.

At the same time, chamber members have networking groups, the business expo and special events such as their golf tournament, clay shooting event and Dancing With Our Stars, which spotlights local talent.

As they look toward the future, they’ll continue to support local endeavors and foster growth within the community. Just as they’ve done for the past 40 years.

“We’ve stayed true to our roots, and we always try to find ways to encourage the community to shop local and support our businesses, because our businesses support our community,” Kleker said.

For information about the chamber, call (813) 909-2722, or visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published June 24, 2015

 

Stepping away, after a decade of progress

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When Katherine Johnson came to Pasco County a decade ago, the educational institution she was leading was known by a different name.

It had fewer campuses, fewer students and a smaller endowment fund, too.

When Johnson came on board, the college was known as Pasco-Hernando Community College and had three campuses.

Pasco-Hernando State College President Katherine Johnson poses with members of the Porter family during a school celebrating the new campus. From left are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
Pasco-Hernando State College President Katherine Johnson poses with members of the Porter family during a school celebrating the new campus. From left are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

In 2010, the college added its Spring Hill campus, and in 2014, it opened Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

The college also added baccalaureate degree programs in 2014 and changed its name to reflect its four-year degree programs.

During the past decade, the college increased its graduation by 43 percent — a statistic that is perhaps most meaningful to Johnson, who herself graduated from what was then called a junior college.

Johnson continued her education to complete a doctorate and become a college president, but it all began with the opportunity offered at the junior college.

She is passionate about the educational opportunities offered by institutions like Pasco-Hernando State College.

“My father couldn’t afford to send me to college. He was a railroad worker. My mother was a homemaker, and I didn’t have stellar grades. I wasn’t a poor student, but I wasn’t a stellar student, either,” she recalled.

“Sometimes, community colleges are viewed as the red-headed stepchild — that we take any and all (students) — but quite honestly, I think that’s a wonderful mantra.”

She believes that community colleges are sometimes the first option, sometimes the only option and sometimes the last option.

Some students choose to attend a community college because they are on scholarship. Others choose it because it’s their only feasible option. And, sometimes they choose it because they can’t get in any other postsecondary institution.

“We are an open-door institution,” Johnson said.

Besides being an option for students on a traditional path, schools like PHSC offer opportunities for people who are in the work force or who have lost their jobs and need to develop new workplace skills.

“We’ve had to adjust our programs of study, not just here at PHSC, but everywhere due to technology, the changing work force, certainly, the economics, particularly crawling out of this recession,” Johnson said.

Katherine Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, retires on June 30, after a decade of leading the school. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
Katherine Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, retires on June 30, after a decade of leading the school.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

“People had to learn to be flexible. They had to come back and learn new skills. And, so I think that the nimbleness of our institutions has provided access to perhaps many students who never even thought about coming back to college,” Johnson said.

She uses these three As to describe PHSC’s mission: “It’s accountability, accessibility and affordability. Those three As truly make an equation for success,” Johnson said.

“Those are the three As that I’ve always tried to tie our mission to, so that we don’t lose our way,” she said.

The college is focused on providing educational opportunities.

“Students, students, students – are at the heart of what we do,” Johnson said.

While she has played a visible role in steering the college through change and growth, she is quick to point out that there are many people behind the scenes who have played a vital role in the college’s daily operations, and its long-term success.

As Johnson prepares to leave her post, she’s delighted that the administration building at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch will bear her name.

“I was shocked that that would be a recommendation by the board, and that it would be so warmly engaged and approved by the board. I’m obviously humbled and honored to have my name on one of the buildings at Porter,” she said.

She recalled meeting Don Porter on her first day as college president.

At that very first lunch, Porter told Johnson about his vision for higher educational opportunities for students living in the community. The family’s later contribution of 60 acres for the campus played an instrumental role in making that vision come true,

“Don Porter has to be smiling from up above because this was his vision. This was Tom’s vision, God rest his soul, as well, and certainly Bill and J.D.”

The campus could not have happened without the Porter family, Johnson said.

“We couldn’t have afforded to buy that land,” she said, and she thinks it is fitting that the campus bears the family’s name.

“To know that that gift, for perpetuity, will forever change lives of students is a pretty strong legacy that we’re delighted to have associated with the Porter family,” Johnson said.

Now, the campus serves not only students living in Pasco and Hernando counties, but also students from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

“We certainly have picked up tremendous enrollment from our sister counties,” Johnson said, noting that the campus is convenient and offers attractive programs.

As PHSC looks to the future, it will be under the direction of Tim Beard, who becomes the college’s fourth president, effective July 1.

Johnson plans to move to Gainesville to join her husband, who has already moved to their retirement home.

She plans to sit out a year because of the state retirement system requirements, but after that, she’s interested in working part-time training potential college administrators through the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida.

“I don’t see myself being idle,” Johnson said.

As she reflects upon her life as an educator, she said she’s grateful for both its challenges and opportunities.

She said she couldn’t have asked for a better career.

Retirement receptions for Katherine M. Johnson
Pasco-Hernando State College will host several upcoming farewell receptions for president Katherine Johnson:

Wednesday, June 17
9 a.m., West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road

  • 9 a.m., West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road
  • 12:30 p.m., North Campus in Brooksville, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
  • 4 p.m., Spring Hill Campus in Spring Hill, 450 Beverly Court

Thursday, June 18

  • 9 a.m., East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road
  • 12:30 p.m., Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, 2727 Mansfield Blvd.
  • 4 p.m., West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road

 

A decade of progress
During Katherine M. Johnson’s 10-year tenure, Pasco-Hernando State College has:

° Increased its graduation rate by 43 percent

° Increased its foundation’s assets by 50 percent

  • Added the Spring Hill and Porter at Wiregrass Ranch campuses
  • Transitioned to a state college offering baccalaureate degrees.

Published June 17, 2015

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