The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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As classes begin, PHCC becomes Pasco-Hernando State College

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Pasco-Hernando Community College has changed its named to Pasco-Hernando State College.

The new name reflects the college’s broader mission as it prepares to offer bachelor degree programs. The college’s board of trustees approved the name change at its Jan. 21 board meeting.

Students fill the walkways on the first day of classes at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, a new satellite campus for Pasco-Hernando State College. (Photo courtesy of Stephen John Photography)
Students fill the walkways on the first day of classes at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, a new satellite campus for Pasco-Hernando State College. (Photo courtesy of Stephen John Photography)

The vote follows the December approval by board of directors of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to authorize the bachelor degree programs.

“Our new name signifies enhanced opportunities for our current and future students,” John DiRienzo Jr., PHSC district board of trustees chair, said in a release. “This is a pivotal moment in our college’s 41-year history. The transition to a state college is reflective of the college’s enhanced mission to provide accessible, affordable, quality higher education that meets the needs of our local residents and employers.”

PHSC plans to begin offering a bachelor of applied science degree in supervision and management, and a bachelor of science in nursing, both in August.

“These two baccalaureate degrees are in high demand fields that will provide advanced career opportunities in fast-growing, stable industries,” PHSC president Katherine M. Johnson said, in a release. “While the word ‘community’ no longer appears in our new name, the college’s commitment to serve the higher education needs of residents from all of our communities has never been stronger.”

The nursing bachelor’s degree is designed to prepare graduates of associate’s degree nursing programs — who already have a registered nursing license — to obtain additional skills in management, leadership, theory and research to succeed and be promoted within the nursing profession.

Prerequisite courses for this program will be offered at any of the college’s campuses. The bachelor’s degree in nursing program will be offered only online.

Published Jan. 29, 2014

The bachelor’s degree in supervision and management is designed to meet the needs of students with business, technology and workforce-focused associate’s degrees. Several courses in this program will be available at every campus and online, with the full program initially offered at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Besides getting a new name, the college boasted an opening day enrollment of 1,600 students at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, according to campus provost Stan Giannet.

While classes have begun, construction work continues at the campus, Giannet said, adding that the ongoing construction work will not disrupt campus operations.

To learn more about Pasco-Hernando State College degree and certificate programs, visit PHSC.edu, or call (855) 669-7472.

Published Jan. 29, 2014

County waiting on feds to start Overpass Road expansion

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In just a matter of weeks or even days, federal officials are expected to give the final green light to an Interstate 75 interchange project that will forever change one rural country road in Pasco County.

Big changes could soon come to Overpass Road, especially with the point where it crosses Interstate 75. Plans are to expand the road to four lanes, and build an interchange, connecting it to the interstate. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Big changes could soon come to Overpass Road, especially with the point where it crosses Interstate 75. Plans are to expand the road to four lanes, and build an interchange, connecting it to the interstate. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Despite its proximity to Wesley Chapel District Park and the future site of a high school, Overpass Road is typically a quiet one, connecting Old Pasco and Boyette roads over the interstate. But work could begin as early as next year to turn it into an important Pasco County traffic corridor, alleviating some of the congestion at State Road 52 to the north and State Road 54 to the south.

“Over time, you’re going to see more access points coming into this portion of the county,” said James Edwards, transportation planning manager for Pasco County. “Overpass Road is a $50 million project, and the county is going to have to come up with a funding plan to make it work.”

Once the county receives approval from the Federal Highway Administration through the Florida Department of Transportation, it has just eight years to construct the interchange. If it fails, then the entire planning process would have to start again.

“When we get approval is when the clock starts ticking,” Edwards said. “You don’t want to miss that window, because basically you’d be starting from scratch with your planning studies. And that could put you back two or three more years.”

Immediate plans are to widen Overpass Road to four lanes, with the ability to expand to six in the future. Eventually, the county is interested in using an expanded Overpass Road to connect Old Pasco Road and U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

The area might be quiet and rural now, but it’s not expected to look that way over the next 20 years, Edwards said. Studies show that the population will explode 400 percent to 218,000 people in 2035. Right now, just fewer than 60,000 people live in that area.

Capacity on I-75 also will increase through that area from the current 51,000 vehicles daily between State Roads 52 and 54, to 165,800 in 2040. That volume will completely clog up the existing interchanges in San Antonio to the north and Wesley Chapel to the south, and could even back up State Road 56 just north of the Hillsborough County line.

Some officials already have speculated that the State Road 54/56 corridor could some day be forced to expand to 20 lanes, which has prompted one private group to propose an elevated toll road to create express lanes between Zephyrhills and New Port Richey. While the expansion of Overpass Road would be just nine miles compared to the 33 miles of the elevated road, traffic going back and forth between the interstate and east Pasco could at least have another road alternative, Edwards said.

The county has a chance to have state and federal highway construction dollars offset the Overpass Road project, but first officials have to show they can fund it on their own, Edwards said. County officials use money primarily from gas taxes, Penny for Pasco and mobility fees to fund construction. But those funds have not necessarily been plentiful in recent years, especially after county commissioners rejected an expansion of the gas tax last year.

Raising money through bonds is another possibility, Edwards said. That could be more costly in the long run because the county would have to pay interest on the bonds.

Pasco County has already started to earmark funds for this particular project, however, with $15 million, Edwards said. And there’s a chance the new Penny for Pasco that starts in 2015 could generate some money for this project.

“Whether the state or federal government will put in any money, you can’t depend on that,” Edwards said.

Kumquat Festival aims at old-fashioned, down-home fun

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Somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 people are expected to head to Dade City on Jan. 25 to attend the 17th annual Kumquat Festival, one of Pasco County’s most popular events.

The festival that pays homage to the diminutive orange fruit had humble beginnings. Phyllis Smith, Roxanne Barthle and Carlene Ellberg were looking for a way to help inject new life into downtown Dade City. They put their heads together and decided to have a festival to honor the kumquat.

John Moors holds a poster promoting the 17th annual Kumquat Festival presented by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. He thinks the event will draw between 40,000 and 50,000 to the East Pasco County city this year. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
John Moors holds a poster promoting the 17th annual Kumquat Festival presented by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. He thinks the event will draw between 40,000 and 50,000 to the East Pasco County city this year. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The inaugural festival was on the lawn of the historic Dade City Courthouse. It included a few vendors, some food and some kumquat growers.

This year, there are 430 vendors offering fine arts, craft items, food and other services — and that’s after about 150 vendors were turned away, said John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event.

There also will be two entertainment stages, a car and truck show, children’s activities, and a health and wellness section, Moors said.

The festival is a magnet for visitors and has raised Dade City’s profile. It was heralded by the Pasco County Tourism Board as the Pasco County Event of the Year in 2012 and has enjoyed the distinction of being named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society, which selects premier events in 13 Southeastern states.

It gives the community a chance to show off its old-fashioned charm and gives event-goers an opportunity to enjoy a family-friendly event, with free parking and admission, Moors said.

Offering the event without charging an admission means that organizers must cover costs from vendor fees and sponsors, and drum up support from volunteers. Fortunately, the festival enjoys the help of the city, county and state governments, as well as corporate sponsors. Community volunteers play a vital role, too, Moors said.

Volunteers from Calvary Assembly of God Church, for instance, help set a friendly tone for visitors by doling out bottles of water to people who park in the satellite lot at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

Getting ready for the festival requires thorough planning and some elbow grease, starting a year ahead of the event to make sure all of the logistics are covered, Moors said.

On festival day, volunteers are up well before sunrise to pitch in.

“We have hundreds of local volunteers that start at 4:30 in the morning to get all of the vendors in and get all of our things in and set up,” Moors said. “By 9 o’clock, which is the festival opening time, we’re all ready to go.”

There’s plenty of parking with the satellite lots, but last year organizers discovered that those using the shuttles had to wait too long. So, this year there are more shuttle buses, and the bus routes have been tweaked to prevent long waits.

Moors expects the festival to attract 5,000 to 10,000 more people this year because of increased marketing efforts. This year, event organizers are making a bigger push to try to entice people from Sun City Center, The Villages, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa and the Nature Coast in Pinellas to make the trip to Dade City.

The event has a regional impact, Moors said. Using the same formula Visit Florida uses for fairs and festivals, he believes $1 million exchanges hands over the course of the festival.

Of course, much of that money goes to the vendors, but the event has an impact in Dade City, too, he said.

“I’ve had restaurants tell me that they do one week’s worth of business in that one day,” he said. “Our merchant’s association is geared up. They know that if they don’t make a sale on that day, there’s a good possibility that they can make a connection for somebody to come back and visit again and perhaps buy because they like what they see.”

The king of the event is the kumquat. Described as the “little gold gem of the citrus industry” by kumquat promoters, the fruit can be found in virtually every form at the festival.

Vendors will offer kumquat pie, kumquat salsa, kumquat jam, kumquat jelly, kumquat preserves, kumquat ice cream, and even kumquat lotions and soaps.

It’s easy to understand why the event attracts big crowds, Moors said.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful family experience and experience for mature adults who enjoy a good, old-fashioned, down-home unique Florida experience,” he said.

EVENTS:
WHAT: Miss and Mr. Kumquat Festival Pageant
WHEN: Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Calvary Assembly of God Church, 13544 U.S. 98 Bypass
DETAILS: Contestants in various age categories will be judged on their poise, personality, communication skills and overall appearance.

 

WHAT: Kumquat Growers Open House
WHEN: Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: 31647 Gude Road, Dade City
DETAILS: Visit a farmer’s market, tour grove houses, view antique equipment and sample kumquat products.
COST: Tours are free
INFO: Call (352) 588-2761, or visit KumquatGrowers.com

 

WHAT: 17th annual Kumquat Festival
WHEN:  Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Historic downtown Dade City
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 and go east on State Road 52; or take U.S. 301. Follow signs.
COST: Free admission, free parking and free shuttles from remote satellite parking lots at the Pasco Fairgrounds on State Road 52 approaching Dade City, or near Jarrett Ford, 38300 Dick Jarrett Way.
INFO: Visit KumquatFestival.org, or drop by an information booth at the festival. There are information booths at Third Street and Meridian Avenue, and at Seventh Street and Meridian.

Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch is ready for students

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When Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch opens its doors to students on Jan. 13, it will mark a new chapter in Wesley Chapel history.

It will be the first time that students in that community will be able to attend college, without having to commute.

Stan Giannet is the provost of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, a new satellite campus of Pasco-Hernando Community College set to open its doors to students on Jan. 13.
Stan Giannet is the provost of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, a new satellite campus of Pasco-Hernando Community College set to open its doors to students on Jan. 13.

Stan Giannet, provost of Pasco-Hernando Community College’s fifth campus, is fired up about the campus’ inaugural day of classes.

“We’re ready. We’re poised to open successfully,” he said.

Porter Campus will have a beginning enrollment of about 1,300 individual students, which is within the college’s projections, Giannet said. Its inaugural staff consists of 48 full-time positions, including 15 faculty members and 33 staff members. There also will be a large number of adjunct faculty members.

Officials theorize students come from Wesley Chapel, choosing the Porter Campus over the college’s East Campus in Dade City and West Campus in New Port Richey. At the same time, the college also expects to pick up some enrollment from nearby counties.

“We also know that many students in Wesley Chapel might not have been going to school,” Giannet said. “There’s no doubt that we’ll be bringing in students from Hillsborough, maybe even Polk.”

Porter Campus officials won’t be able to pinpoint where the enrollment is coming from, however, until they do a ZIP code analysis, expected to take place after the semester begins, Giannet said.

The campus, at 2727 Mansfield Blvd., is situated off State Road 56, about two miles east of Interstate 75, in the heart of Wesley Chapel. It is across the street from the planned Raymond James financial services office park, next to Wiregrass Ranch High School, down the road from The Shops at Wiregrass and around the corner from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

In addition to offering a two-year degree program, the campus plans to launch two bachelor’s degree programs in the fall. One is a bachelor’s degree in nursing and the other is a bachelor’s in applied science, focusing on supervision and management.

In keeping with its new baccalaureate offerings, the Pasco-Hernando Community College board is scheduled to vote on Jan. 21 on a proposal to change the college’s name to Pasco-Hernando State College.

As it opens, the Porter Campus is offering about 160 bricks-and-mortar, face-to-face sections and about 15 hybrid sections, which includes online and face-to-face instruction, Giannet said.

“That’s not counting our nursing courses. We’ll have several courses in our nursing program, which is a limited access program,” he added.

Courses being offered run the gamut from microbiology and human anatomy, to psychology and sociology, to cinema and literature.

The campus also will be the only PHCC location to offer two new certification programs. Those programs are for surgery and pharmacy technicians, both fields where workers are in high demand.

Porter Campus has six buildings, including a seven-story classroom building — said to be the tallest structure in Pasco County. It consists of a three-story parking deck, topped by four floors of classrooms and labs.

The nursing lab on the fifth floor simulates a hospital ward. The equipment is so current that the mannequins there can talk and breathe, officials said during a November preview tour.

Porter Campus boasts a beautiful architectural design, Giannet said, but it won’t truly come to life until the students, staff and faculty are using it.

“We want to create a milieu, an ambience, that will be conducive to a totally meaningful experience — from the learning perspective and from the working perspective,” Giannet said.

He wants the campus’ staff and faculty to enjoy being at the campus, serving students and he wants students to enjoy being there, too.

“We have small classes, “ Giannet said, enabling teachers to know students by name.

He also plans to have an open-door policy.

“Students can come to the provost office at any time,” Giannet said. “If the student perceives that he or she is valued, they feel more invested in their education. The research is unequivocal: The more connected that students feel to the campus, to the faculty, to the events on campus, the greater the likelihood that they’ll be retained and will succeed.”

The college will work closely with guidance counselors at Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel high schools, he said. Besides being able to earn college and high school credits through dual enrollment programs, students also will have a chance to have their questions answered about degree programs available through the college.

Giannet said he’s gratified by the warm reception that the new campus has received.

“The community has shown a tremendous interest in the campus and in the programs we are going to have,” he said.

He expects the college to forge close relationships with businesses and organizations in the community. It already has established a relationship with Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

“We’ve developed a partnership for our students to have their clinicals on that site, for our nursing students and some of the other Allied Health. That’s already in the works,” he said.

Work also is under way to create opportunities for Porter students at the North Tampa Behavioral Health center, a new psychiatric hospital on State Road 56.

“As a psychologist, I’m very excited about that,” Giannet said.

The campus was named to honor the Porter family, which donated more than 60 acres for the facility. It is the same family that sold the land now occupied by The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The family also owns the land expected to become the site for the Raymond James office park.

 

Lawmakers promise to fix broken flood insurance program

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Groans, interruptions, occasional applause. That was the scene in the New Port Richey city council chambers last week when federal, state and local officials — led by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis — pulled homeowners together to talk about what’s been a painful subject in recent months: flood insurance.

The city council chambers at New Port Richey’s city hall were overflowing last week for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, addressing skyrocketing flood insurance rates. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
The city council chambers at New Port Richey’s city hall were overflowing last week for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, addressing skyrocketing flood insurance rates. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program, a federal insurance plan administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have skyrocketed since October when a federal law went into effect designed to help the program make up for losses from major disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.

Implementation was designed to slowly ramp up increases for affected policyholders, but what has actually happened has been much different.

One homeowner on the west side of Pasco County got a rude awakening soon after purchasing his waterfront property in April.

“I have a $2,500 monthly mortgage, and now we’re talking about $2,000 a month more to pay for our insurance, and that’s not going to happen,” the resident said. “If we don’t get a fix, they are going to foreclose on my property. I cannot physically make my payment.”

For some NFIP policyholders, what were once annual premium amounts became their monthly payments, in many cases, creating situations where some homeowners would pay the entire value of their property in a little more than a decade, before turning around to start the process all over again.

Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, says he’s demanding immediate relief for those affected, especially in Florida which has traditionally paid out three times more than they’ve ever received in the program.

“We’re not going to rest until we get results,” said Bilirakis, who introduced what he calls the Homeowners Flood Insurance Relief Act last October. It’s expected to cap premiums at the value of a home at the time it was purchased, divided by 30 — the typical timeframe of a mortgage — and would cap annual premium increases the first 10 years at 10 percent.

“I think we have a real good chance of passing a version of the bill,” Bilirakis said. “I don’t care if it passes with my name on it or not, you guys need relief.”

Bilirakis, who sternly questioned a FEMA representative flown in from Atlanta to talk about the rates, had to answer some questions of his own, however. For one, why he voted for a 2012 bill widely blamed for current increases in flood insurance.

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 passed Congress and was signed by President Obama last year. The bill phases out government subsidies for premiums in long-standing policies, but caps the annual increases at 25 percent.

It was part of an overall transportation bill that overwhelmingly passed both the House and the Senate.

“We voted for the bill to save the program, but it has not been properly implemented,” Bilirakis said. “We need an NFIP until we get a viable private flood insurance.”

The bill instructed FEMA to, in part, conduct an affordability study for its proposed premiums before implementing the bill, Bilirakis said. Susan Wilson, chief of the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch of FEMA, admitted the study had not been done, but only because there was no money to fund it.

Although the insurance program has been self-sustaining for decades, storms like Hurricane Katrina and later Hurricane Sandy threw the program into debt of more than $24 billion.

“Hurricane Katrina was anything but an average loss year, and everyone can agree with that,” Wilson said. “I spent many months in Mississippi, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and there were a lot of losses paid out for claims.”

Before Biggert-Waters, the NFIP was different from private insurance companies as it was not allowed to maintain a reserve fund. With a reserve fund, the organization would have extra cash on hand in case more claims were paid than premiums received — like when Katrina or Sandy hit. Otherwise, the program has to borrow to pay claims, and premiums would have to rise to pay not only the additional money, but the interest for the loans, as well.

State Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said Florida is looking to help policyholders, as well. The bill he is co-sponsoring would allow private insurers to help with flood insurance in the state.

“This is the backstop to give homeowners options,” Simpson said. “Since this has become such a big issue for the state of Florida, we have started working on legislative solutions in Tallahassee.”

That bill is set to go in front of the state senate’s banking and insurance committee on Jan. 8.

Goodbye Lutz Little League, Hello Lutz Baseball

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The baseball diamond at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex is empty of ballplayers right now. But when it reopens in 2014, it will no longer be Little League players on the field, but instead members of the Babe Ruth League. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
The baseball diamond at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex is empty of ballplayers right now. But when it reopens in 2014, it will no longer be Little League players on the field, but instead members of the Babe Ruth League. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Last month, the national Little League organization released new rules for the 2014 baseball season that adjusted eligibility requirements and compensation for traveling expenses.

What was missing from the list is what irked Lutz baseball organizers the most — changes in Little League playing style that could help better develop young players, and give them the skills they need to advance in the sport. Skills like stealing bases, leading off of base, bunting, and what players can gain from more tournament play.

But Little League isn’t budging from its decades-old style, and after more than a half century of affiliation, Lutz will break away from Little League on Jan. 1, and join Babe Ruth League.

“What’s been happening is a decline in membership and an increase in costs,” said Rick Parker, a board member and coach for both the current Lutz Little League organization and the upcoming Lutz Baseball operation. “The evolution of the youth leagues have been more toward traveling teams, and that’s where many are going. And during all this, Little League has been akin to the Vatican — they don’t move, and they don’t want to change their doctrine.”

Little League and Babe Ruth have a lot of similarities. Both were born during the golden era of baseball, targeting youth to participate in America’s Pastime. The Little League World Series is one of the best-known youth athletic events in the world, taking place every year in the league’s birthplace of Williamsport, Pa., while Babe Ruth has its annual championship games in various parts of the country.

Where the two leagues split, however, is how they play the game. Little League holds on to its basic game style first established in the 1940s that focus intently on batting and fielding, but not running.

Yet, thanks to its growth at the professional levels, the running game — base stealing, leading off, fighting for extra bases — has become a key part of the sport. Running game skills are necessary not just at the professional and collegiate level, but even at the high school level, which puts Little League players at a disadvantage.

“Kids want to play baseball, they want to have fun,” Parker said. “But when you get to ages of 7, 8 and 9, these are key development years. High school baseball is very competitive, and if you want a chance to potentially open the doors, you’re going to have to know the broader nuances of baseball.”

The Babe Ruth League, named after one of the sport’s most famous players, has two divisions: Babe Ruth Baseball for teenagers, and Cal Ripken Baseball for younger ages.

Lutz joins New Tampa, Bloomingdale, North Brandon and other local communities to make the switch to Babe Ruth, and the decision was virtually unanimous among not only the Lutz board, but its parents and players as well.

“It was not an easy decision,” said Dave Crawford, the president of Lutz Baseball, and formerly of Lutz Little League. “Little League has been good to us, but it’s just a different way of doing business from Cal Ripken. Little League has been around for a long time, and been able to grow and evolve. And just with any business model, they have to do what they need to do.”

Little League officials in Pennsylvania would not comment on the status of its Lutz operation, but did say they would welcome the league back if it ever changed its mind.

“Little League is constantly changing to adapt to today’s standards,” spokesman Brian McClintock told The Laker/Lutz News in an email statement. “As the world’s largest and most respected youth sports organization, we will continue to provide a positive, safe baseball and softball experience for every child in our programs.”

McClintock added that Little League did amend its rules this year to allow for children to play for a Little League in the same boundaries their school is located. They also added an intermediate baseball division this past year for children 11 to 13.

But it was still difficult for the organization to bring in players that with other youth leagues, they’d be able to attract otherwise, Crawford said.

“The Little League boundary policy is the one they are set on. They do that for the protection of the local leagues, and that is very honorable,” he said. “With Cal Ripken, we have a little more latitude, to expand our boundaries for our continued growth, and it seemed very appropriate for us.”

The new league will have much wider boundaries, allowing them to bring in players from parts of central Pasco County and northern Hillsborough County.

Although Ruth and Ripken are popular names in baseball, the Lutz program still has some work to do introducing the program locally, and moving people away from its Little League attachment at Oscar Cooler Park.

“Little League is similar to Kleenex,” Parker said. “Everyone uses the phrase ‘Little League,’ but a larger percentage of them don’t understand that Little League is kids baseball. That as you get to the older groups, the Little League brand is not necessary.”

Registration costs for players will actually be less than last year, typically by $10, Parker said. And the hope is that bringing in more tournaments through the new league will help generate more revenue, and defray even more costs in the future.

To learn more about the new league, how it will complement travel teams, and to register, visit LutzBaseball.com.

“There’s no hard feelings on our end,” Crawford said. “We just did some research on some options, and chose the one that was the best for our teams and our future.”

 

Merry Makers use music as an instrument of joy

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If you’re looking for a bit of holiday cheer, there’s a new choral group in Wesley Chapel that wants to supply it.

The group, called Merry Makers and led by Edie Ledee-Finnerty, is a choir made up of children ages 6 through 13. And it will soon sing some holiday tunes at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, a Publix grocery store and Cobb Theatres Grove 16.

These are the members of the Merry Makers, a Wesley Chapel children’s chorus. They include, in front from left, Nuvini Wijesundara, Sandali Idippili, Sayuri Ranatunga, Yuthmi Gamage, Bianca Walker and Jasmine Mazard. In back, from left, Ravidu Idippili, Thevin Wijesundara, Yeran Gamage, Jeremiah Williams and Breonna Walker. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
These are the members of the Merry Makers, a Wesley Chapel children’s chorus. They include, in front from left, Nuvini Wijesundara, Sandali Idippili, Sayuri Ranatunga, Yuthmi Gamage, Bianca Walker and Jasmine Mazard. In back, from left, Ravidu Idippili, Thevin Wijesundara, Yeran Gamage, Jeremiah Williams and Breonna Walker. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The children couldn’t be more excited. On Saturday, they were at Ledee-Finnerty’s house, rehearsing the songs they will perform.

As they sang, the choral director periodically stopped them, offering feedback. Sometimes, she called for improvement. Other times she doled out praise.

She clearly had the kids in the palm of her hand.

At one point, they were singing “Silent Night.” Some of the children knew the carol, but were rusty. Others were still learning the song. The first run-through was a little bit rough.

After Ledee-Finnerty’s coaching, however, they excelled on the second attempt.

Ledee-Finnerty’s ability to inspire the kids comes as no surprise to the children’s parents.

“They adore her,” said Jinali Idippili, whose children Sandali Idippili, 8, and Ravidu Idippili, 11, are part of the group.

Parents feel likewise, Idippili said. “She’s wonderful.”

Chulani Wijesundara said her children — Thevin and Nuvivi — have been taking piano lessons from Ledee-Finnerty for years. The teacher offers piano lessons at very reasonable prices, Wijesundara said. “Chorus is free.”

Both Ledee-Finnerty and her husband, Eugene Finnerty, are involved.

“While Ms. Edie is teaching kids, her husband, Mr. Eugene, gives her full support,” Wijesundara added.

Ledee-Finnerty said she appreciates having a group of parents who are involved.

“Each person offers their particular talent — making dresses, buying props, offering rides, making capes and costumes,” she said. “We all work together and it’s very rewarding.”

One of the moms, Katrina Williams, is the group’s choreographer. She enjoys helping the children make the right moves.

Ledee-Finnerty sees music as a powerful force for good, offering a bridge between people of diverse cultures.

“You can bring very different people together and have them learn the same song,” she said. “I particularly love music from around the world because we learn so much about each other through our music.”

It can be fun, too. As the kids sang “The 12 Days of Christmas,” they were going through the motions of milking, leaping, dancing and other actions contained in the Christmas carol.

The choir is made up of Yuthmi Gamage, 6; Sayuri Ranatunga, 7; Nuvivi Wijesundara, 7;

Bianca Walker, 8; Jasmine Mazard, 8; Sandali Idippili; Jeremiah Williams, 9; Breonna Walker, 9; Yeran Gamage, 9; Ravidu Idippili and, Thevin Wijesundara, 13.

Every member of Merry Makers said they enjoy singing.

Sandali Idippili, who attends Wesley Chapel Elementary School, put it this way: “When my voice is going high, I think of the blue sky and the birds are coming down and singing with me.”

The children are memorizing all of the words to the songs they will be performing, and Sandali Idippili believes they’ll be ready. She credited the choir director, noting, “She’s very talented.”

She offered another reason, too: “We practice a lot.”

Merry Makers performance schedule:
• Dec. 13, 6 p.m., Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
• Dec. 14, 2 p.m., Publix at Shoppes of New Tampa, 1920 County Road 581
• Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m., Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & CineBistro, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd.

Food pantry ‘blessed’ to provide for those in need

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The big red building on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard might not fetch more than a causal glance from some passersby, but many who step through the doors say it’s a place where blessings are granted regularly.

The nonprofit food pantry located just south of Ehren Cutoff has been helping feed area families in need since 1987. Although not always situated in its current 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., home, the agency has grown through the years to meet the needs of the community.

Mike Head packs grocery bags for clients of Christian Social Services. (Photo by Sherri Lonon)
Mike Head packs grocery bags for clients of Christian Social Services. (Photo by Sherri Lonon)

Holding true to its Christian roots, the pantry has very few rules for those who receive assistance. Individuals or families in need just need to stop by during regular hours to receive emergency food staples. Help is given on an honor system, explained Jacquie Petet, the agency’s executive director.

While tons of food goes out of the agency’s doors each month to hundreds of families in need, Petet said the community always steps up to make sure the food doesn’t run out.

“We are blessed,” she said, noting that 12 area churches and their congregations assist in keeping the pantry’s shelves stocked. Area residents also lend a hand by donating nonperishable food items, money and extras, such as presents for children during the holidays and backpacks at back-to-school time.

Christian Social Services also is partially self-supporting thanks to an onsite thrift store that’s open to the public.

Even though support for the mission is strong, Petet said additional help is always welcomed and needed. The last few years especially have been difficult with the economy down and donations to regular food drives, such as the postal carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger drive, down with it.

Before the economy turned a few years ago, the postal drive brought enough food into the pantry to handle demand for months. That’s no longer the case, Petet said.

“The last few years, it’s been substantially down,” she said.

There are many ways area residents can help out, said Llurah Utt, a longtime volunteer at Christian Social Services. Not only can they donate food, money or even items for the thrift store, but volunteers are always needed as well.

“We always welcome people that want to volunteer,” Utt said.

Christian Social Services operates its pantry and community thrift store with the help of three full-time employees — including Petet — and two part-time workers. About 20 volunteers fill in the gaps to make sure shelves are stocked, items are sorted, and bags of food are prepared for those in need.

“Our volunteers are a hundred times better than most people’s employees,” Petet said.

Employee Mike Head said the agency has been a godsend to his family and he’s been “blessed” to help others in return. Head began working at Christian Social Services several years ago after he was laid off from a full-time cable installer job.

While Mike now works at the agency, his wife Bobbi and two children, Bianka, 8, and Bryan, 10, are often at his side volunteering to help other families facing difficult times.

“It’s nice to be able to instill that,” Head said of giving back.

Christian Social Services’ pantry and thrift store are open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit CSS-HelpingHands.org, or call (813) 995-0088.

— Sherri Lonon

CES goes public, putting Pasco on the map

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Will take over former bank branch on Fifth Avenue

It’s not very often Pasco County can brag about being the home of a public company. But in less than a week, Zephyrhills will get that honor when CES Synergies begins trading over-the-counter under the symbol “CESX.”

It’s an effort that is expected to raise millions of dollars for the full-service environmental, demolition and mold remediation company, creating potentially thousands of jobs across the country. And even better for Zephyrhills, CES also plans to move the core of its operations from nearby Crystal Springs right into the city’s growing downtown district. The company plans to open offices in the upper floors of the former Wachovia Bank building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street, right in the heart of proposed road upgrades by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Jeff Chartier, president of Strategic Capital Markets, and a member of the CES Synergies board of directors, shares why he feels people should invest in the Crystal Springs company on the public market. A small group of people gathered at Manolo’s Ristorante Italiano on Fifth Avenue in Zephyrhills to hear the presentation. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Jeff Chartier, president of Strategic Capital Markets, and a member of the CES Synergies board of directors, shares why he feels people should invest in the Crystal Springs company on the public market. A small group of people gathered at Manolo’s Ristorante Italiano on Fifth Avenue in Zephyrhills to hear the presentation. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“This gives the chance for local people who know the company to actually enjoy the fruits of it going public,” said Jeff Chartier, president of Strategic Capital Markets of North Miami Beach, who is now a member of the CES board of directors. “They have a chance to own part of the company, and join us as we’re poised to go on the bigger market,” like the Nasdaq exchange.

Chartier presented the new public company to an audience of potential investors last week at Manolo’s Ristorante Italiano in Zephyrhills. There, Chartier offered shares at $1 each — as long as buyers were ready to gobble them up in blocks of 15,000.

Traditionally, companies would hit the stock market through an initial public offering, similar to what Twitter did earlier this month when it closed on its first day at $44.90 a share, and raising $31 billion.

Taking that approach is very expensive and time-consuming, and could take longer than the year CES needed to go public. Instead, CES took a different approach, called a reverse merger. It found a public shell company — basically a company with no remaining assets — and purchased it.

It’s similar to buying a house. The infrastructure is already there for electricity, water and cable, just as the shell company had everything in place to operate as a public company.

Chartier discovered CES nearly by accident. While he’s always looking for businesses that could potentially be good public company candidates, Chartier said he didn’t even have CES on his radar until he met owner Al Biston. When he finally did, Chartier liked what he saw.

“There’s 140 years of experience with management alone,” Chartier said. “We feel that a lot of institutional funds will be very attracted to this company,” thus potentially boosting the stock price in the near future.

Becoming a public company is a completely new world for CES, which has operated 35 years doing business in private, starting originally as Cross Environmental Services. Now everything from its financial records to major personnel changes are part of the public record through the SEC, necessary so investors have a complete picture before buying in.

According to its initial filings, CES has a little more than 140 employees, had revenue of $6.8 million over the last six months — generating a loss of a little more than $363,000 — but the company also has a backlog of projects worth more than $9 million. Its clients include federal agencies like NASA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Air Force, as well as industrial and commercial companies like Publix, Cemex, and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Local governments that work with CES include the University of South Florida and the Florida Department of Transportation.

This same time last year, CES turned a profit of $1.3 million on revenue of $9.7 million.

Money raised through this stock offering will fuel expansion for CES, primarily in the acquisition of other smaller companies like it around the country, to help broaden its client base. Although the jobs created through that growth will be outside Pasco and Hillsborough counties, the success will filter its way back into the area —especially for local investors if the stock value rises, as Chartier expects.

Biston and two other business partners purchased the former Wachovia Bank building on Fifth Avenue in 2009 for $550,000. They later offered the building to the city for $855,000 as a possible new library before council members decided to expand the library at its current site.

Biston told The Laker/Lutz News that he had bought out his other partners on the building recently, and is now the sole owner. He plans to use the upper floors, and lease out the bottom floor for a storefront business, possibly an eatery.

“He’s a one-man show. He is economic development, and obviously a very successful man,” City Councilman Kenneth Compton said of Biston. Compton was at the presentation Thursday night with fellow councilman Charlie Proctor.

“I think we all have a mutually beneficial relationship,” he said. “Zephyrhills has benefitted from a competitive businessman. It’s a very big day for Zephyrhills, and it’s a big day for Pasco County.”

Top tennis player Isner headlines Avila fundraiser

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At one time, he led a restaurant company with more than 96,000 employees and nearly 1,500 locations. But when he wasn’t working to grow Outback Steakhouse and other restaurants that were part of Bloomin’ Brands Inc., Paul Avery’s focus was on his family.

In particular, his daughters, who both suffer from a rare nerve degenerative disease called Friedreich’s ataxia.

John Isner, currently the top-ranked male tennis player in the United States, takes a break on the Avila Golf & Country Club tennis courts while getting ready for the Ace for a Cure tennis fundraiser on Nov. 24 that will benefit Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
John Isner, currently the top-ranked male tennis player in the United States, takes a break on the Avila Golf & Country Club tennis courts while getting ready for the Ace for a Cure tennis fundraiser on Nov. 24 that will benefit Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“Before we knew what they had, I never heard of Friedreich’s ataxia,” Avery said. “I didn’t even know how to pronounce it. Like many people in life, you hear of these types of diseases and challenges, and it happens to somebody else. It hit home for us with both of our kids.”

Avery, who is now president and chief executive of the World of Beer chain, is sharing the story of his daughters ahead of this weekend’s Ace for a Cure tennis fundraiser hosted by Avila Golf & Country Club. It will feature Avila resident John Isner, the top-ranked male tennis player in the United States, and No. 14 in the world.

Isner, who grew up in North Carolina, has been friends with Avery and his family since he first started to attend fundraisers benefiting Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance in Tampa. And he has seen firsthand what the condition can do.

“The Averys are the absolutely nicest people, and they’ve worked really hard to conquer this disease,” Isner said. “Before I met them, I didn’t even know about Friedreich’s ataxia at all. But I’ve really gotten to know the ins and outs, and Paul and (wife) Suzanne are right on top of it.”

Only 6,000 people in America have been diagnosed with the condition, but 1 in 100 people are carriers of the gene that can cause it, Avery said. The disease itself typically attacks the spinal cord, especially those nerves that direct muscle movement in the arms and legs.

It can lead to muscle weakness, vision and hearing impairment, spine curvature, diabetes and heart problems.

While pharmaceutical companies and research centers have been working on treatments and a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia because of how it relates to other diseases like Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases, there is still a long way to go.

“Today, we have several drugs that are in advanced clinical trials,” Avery said. “They are showing to be very promising, so we’re excited about that. And the awareness of the condition continues to grow.”

While the tennis event itself is on Sunday, the entire weekend actually kicks off Nov. 21 with a meet and greet and autograph session with Isner. Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., Avila tennis director Roger Cypriano and his team will conduct a tennis Teach-A-Thon with half-hour lessons available for $25.

The Spin-A-Thon begins at 9 a.m. with one-hour spin classes starting at $50, and additional hours at $25. The Mind Body-A-Thon begins at 11 a.m. with Pilates and yoga.

Tennis round robin takes place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., for sponsors who spend $1,000 or more.

Sunday is the tennis exhibition match featuring Isner, where gates open at 11:30 a.m. at Avila. Tickets to that match, which includes lunch, are $80 each.

“I’ve always had a good time playing, and it’s convenient for me, because it’s all right here in the neighborhood,” Isner said. “And it’s for a great cause, and I’m glad that I can really help out.”

Avery’s daughters are looking forward to some of the treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia making their way through clinical trials. In the meantime, however, they’re living normal lives. One is in college, and the other is finishing her senior year of high school.

“They’re super kids in their attitudes and expectations, and they have a great outlook,” Avery said. “They’re not defined by the disease, and just want to get ahead in life like everyone else.”

To purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit tinyurl.com/AceCure. For more information on the event, call Roger Cypriano at (813) 968-6792, or email him at .

If you go
WHAT: Ace for a Cure tennis fundraiser featuring John Isner
WHO: Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance
WHEN: Nov. 24, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Avila Golf & Country Club, 943 Guisando De Avila, Tampa
COST: $80
INFO: tinyurl.com/AceCure