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Baldomero Lopez was more than a local hero

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When motorists drive past the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, chances are they won’t know much about the history of the man for whom the facility is named.

That’s where Bill Dotterer comes in.

This iconic image was taken of 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez leading troops in an invasion at Inchon during the Korean War. Lopez died minutes after the photo was taken.
(Bill Dotterer)

He’s a volunteer with the Tampa Bay History Center and he shared the story of 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez’s life and his heroic actions during a talk earlier this year at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library. The history center and library jointly presented the free program.

Lopez may not be widely known in many circles, but he is in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dotterer said.

“Lopez is a very important person in Tampa Bay’s history,” the speaker added, noting Lopez was the first person who grew up in Tampa to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Dotterer shared details of Lopez’s early years.

Lopez grew up during a time when Ybor City and West Tampa were vibrant places, with a thriving cigar industry, with people living there who had come from Spain, Cuba, Italy and Sicily, Dotterer said. There were social clubs, baseball teams and dominoes, he noted, and Lopez grew up in that milieu.

“In the neighborhood where he lived, he was well known as a baseball player. He had a paper route. He was just an All-American kid,” Dotterer said.

Lopez also was interested in the military.

He attended Hillsborough High School, where he was in charge of the ROTC program. He marched in the Gasparilla Parade one year, leading all of the junior ROTC units, Dotterer said.

Baldomero Lopez
Company A, 1st Battalion
5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Born: Aug, 23, 1925
Died: Sept. 15, 1950

The speaker noted that much of his talk was based on information he gleaned from a conversation he had with E.J. Salcines, a former judge and noted Tampa historian.

Lopez was third in his class when he graduated from Hillsborough High in 1943. He decided to enlist in the Navy, Dotterer said.

Initially, Lopez was sent to Quantico, Virginia, but he was pulled from that program and sent to Annapolis for an officer training program, Dotterer added. Next, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, as a second lieutenant.

By then, it was 1947 and the war had ended.

Lopez was sent to China, to lead a mortar platoon, and after that, he returned to Camp Pendleton, where he received orders to become an instructor at the Basic School in Quantico, Dotterer said.

Lopez was still at Pendleton when the Korean War broke out and his unit was assigned to go overseas, Dotterer said. Lopez wanted to go with them.

Dotterer then shared this account, which he said came from Salcines.

Lopez was a on a train, heading from California to Virginia, Dotterer said.

“Every place that the train stopped, he got off and called and said, ‘Please change my orders. I want to go with my unit.’

“When he finally gets to Quantico, they say, ‘OK, you can rejoin your unit.’,” Dotterer said.

Lopez heads back to California, but at that point, his unit is already gone. Somehow, he catches up with them, across the Pacific, Dotterer continued.

The Korean War began when the North Koreans attacked south of this 38th parallel, which is what divides North Korea and South Korea, Dotterer said.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the head commander of allied forces in Korea, and he decided to take back Seoul, Dotterer said.

The invasion is made at Inchon Harbor, near Seoul.

It wasn’t an ideal place to invade because it had the third-highest tides in the world, going from zero to 40 feet in a day. It also had 40-foot seawalls around it, which the Marines had to build ladders to scale, Dotterer said.

“The anchorage, itself, where all of the ships would end up for the invasion, was pretty small. It was pretty tight to get in there,” he added.

At the same time, however, the limiting factors at Inchon also may have made it a good place to invade because the enemy would never expect it, he said.

Lopez demonstrated courage
Lopez, who was 25, was on one of the landing ships.

Before the invasion, he wrote his parents a final letter, not knowing it would be his final letter, Dotterer said.

“Basically, he said, ‘Hey, I chose to do this, so if anything happens, I decided I wanted to be a Marine officer, so here I am. Secondly, please send me some good cigars.’

“On Sept. 15, the invasion begins. He is with Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, and they’re going into Red Beach,” Dotterer said.

This historic marker in downtown Tampa commemorates the heroic actions that 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez took during the Korean War.
(B.C. Manion)

There were two hills, which meant the enemy was at the top of the hill shooting down.

An iconic photograph, taken during the invasion, shows Lopez leading his troops up a wooden ladder over the seawall, Dotterer said.

“Sad to say, this is minutes before he is killed. He’s leading his troops over the seawall. There’s a machine-gun, automatic type position here, that they are trying to take out.

“He had actually pulled a pin on a grenade to throw it into the pill box,” Dotterer said.

Instead, “he gets hit with automatic weapon fire. One in the shoulder. One in the abdomen or chest. He’s shot down. That grenade has the pin out.”

Within seconds, Lopez decided to save his troops. He scooped the grenade under his body.

“He took the full brunt of the grenade in the explosion. His troops were essentially saved. They went on to take that pillbox,” Dotterer said.

Since then, Lopez has been honored in various ways.

There’s a historic marker commemorating Lopez’s heroics in downtown Tampa and there’s a memorial for him at Hillsborough High School. There’s a public elementary school named after him in Seffner and there’s a memorial to Lopez at Veterans Memorial Park.

In 2012, the Tampa Bay History Center received a Korean War Veterans Medal on behalf of Lopez, presented by Jong-Hoon Kim, a member of the 19th National Assembly and Chair of the International Relations Committee, Saenuri Party. Kim was accompanied by Choi Young-Jin, the Korean Ambassador to the United Nations and other Korean Dignitaries.

Additionally, there’s Lopez Hall at the Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, a dining facility that was dedicated in 2013, and there’s a navy ship named in his honor.

And, the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, (MCA&F), bestows The Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Honor Graduate Award to the Marine of each graduating company from the Basic School who demonstrates the highest potential for future leadership and responsibility in the Marine Corps.

In essence, Dotterer said, “he was an amazing hero.”

Published June 6, 2018

Mount Dora: A charming way to spend a day

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Arriving in Mount Dora is like walking onto a movie set: sparkling Lake Dora provides the backdrop. Panning out from the lake, front-porched homes, American flags flying, line shady streets, an easy walk from main street shops, parks and even a candy cane-colored lighthouse.

The Mount Dora Lighthouse on the shores of Lake Dora draws visitors with its candy cane colors. It is 35 feet tall and was dedicated in 1988 over the Port of Mount Dora. (Karen Haymon Long)

In the daytime, visitors – like movie extras – fan out to the lake on scenic boat tours, hikes on lakeside boardwalks, then strolls to downtown shops and cafes. They can even take seaplane rides over the lake or rent their own pontoon boat to watch for gators, turtles, otters, herons, egrets and other wildlife.

In the evening, they’re back at the lake to witness salmon-colored sunsets over the water and maybe later to stroll to historic Lakeside Inn for a nightcap.

Mount Dora, a town of 12,534 residents in Lake County, 40 minutes northwest of Orlando, looks like small-town USA, with its moss-draped oaks, flowering magnolias, hilly terrain and higher-than-normal – for Florida anyway – elevation of 184 feet above sea level.

“It’s an extra friendly town. Everyone is really welcoming,” says Henry Ollendick, who co-owns one of downtown’s most charming shops, Papilio, which is Latin for butterfly.

Renninger’s Antique Center in Mount Dora offers all kinds of interesting treasures. You never know what you might find at the center and at one of its antique extravaganzas. The next one is Nov. 17 to Nov. 19. (Karen Haymon Long)

When he and his partner, Joel Maas, opened their shop in 2013, other shop owners welcomed them and asked if they needed anything, which made them feel at home, Ollendick says.

That friendliness, as well as “the hills, the big oaks, the Spanish moss hanging from the trees – so different from the rest of Florida,” convinced them to leave Key West and move to Mount Dora. Now, they walk to work.
“You get to know your neighbors that way,” Ollendick says. “It’s very homey.”

The two were also drawn by the town’s many festivals, which earned it the nickname “Festival City.” Its 33rd annual Craft Fair, coming up on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, features the work of 400 crafters and artists. Its antique extravaganzas at Renninger’s Antique Center, — the next one is Nov. 17 to Nov. 19 — draws treasure hunters from around the world.

Years ago, the antique center and sister flea market next door helped make Mount Dora a darling of travel guide book authors. The flea market is open weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the antique center Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vendor Stan Lawson, who owns Triple LLL Treasures in the antique center, says he meets people from all over the U.S., and from around the world in his shop. Not long ago, he sold his Native American jewelry to visitors from Iceland, and he often sells to Germans and Brits, he says.

His shop sells jewelry made by Native Americans in the Southwest who he’s known for years. In another area in the center, Steve and Barbara Gretchko sell hard-to-find barrister’s bookcases, wood filing cabinets and other early 20th century office furniture.

Dozens of other booths sell everything from antique glassware and furniture to books, toys, linens, sports

Mount Dora’s downtown shops and restaurants remind visitors of what they would think of as ‘downtown USA.’ (Karen Haymon Long)

memorabilia and paintings. Outside, vendors sell old birdbaths, yard statuary, vintage signs, plants and more, while the flea market next door sells plants and produce, garage-sale-type items, T-shirts and other new clothes.

Downtown shops vary from home decor to paintings and other art, clothing and even dog bakery items. At Papilio, Joel Maas sells his artwork made with real butterflies, as well as stationery, jewelry, garden and home decor, plants and other items.

Like their visitors, downtown restaurants span the globe, with cuisine representing Cuba, Peru, Great Britain, Mexico, India, Italy, China and the Caribbean, along with the usual pizza and pub grub. Florida celebrity chef and cookbook author Norman Van Aken owns a restaurant in a house built in 1921, called, appropriately enough, 1921 by Norman Van Aken.

We chose Magical Meat Boutique for lunch, partly because of its kooky name and partly because it got raves on the online travel site Trip Advisor. Housed in a British pub-style space, it specializes in British fare – think bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. It also attracts British tourists. On our visit, two parties at nearby tables had British accents and talked nostalgically about how happy they were to find a little home so far away from their homeland.

Next time, we thought we’d try The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge, a fancier place with a book-lined dining room and delicious sounding rack of lamb, duck, quail, Idaho trout, and jumbo lump crab cakes with peach and chive chutney on its menu.

The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge in Mount Dora looks as friendly inside as out. Its menu offers lamb, duck, quail, crab cakes and other fare. (Karen Haymon Long)

Visitors need at least two days — or three, four or five — to take a boat ride, go out fishing, hike along the lake or just drive around and look at some of the neighborhoods and some of the old Victorian houses, such as the Donnelly House, built in 1893 and now owned by the Masonic Lodge, and open to the public for special occasions.

The old railroad depot, built in 1915, now houses the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce offices and visitor center at the corner of Third Avenue and Alexander Street. The picturesque Lakeside Inn, opened in 1883, is an elegant place to stay and dine, get married or take a boat ride off its shores.

Some 36 years ago, Mount Dora was the setting for the movie “Honky Tonk Freeway,” starring Jessica Tandy, Beau Bridges, Teri Garr and Beverly D’Angelo. Townspeople were extras. The plot: The town – named Ticlaw – already has a wildlife safari park and a waterskiing elephant named Bubbles, so when residents hear a freeway is about to be built, they hope an off-ramp will lead to more riches. But, when the new freeway bypasses them without an off-ramp, they paint their downtown buildings pink to get people to come.

Today, Mount Dora doesn’t have to paint itself pink. It has charm enough to attract visitors – even without a waterskiing elephant.

Tips for the Trip
How to get there: The easiest way to get to Mount Dora from Pasco County is to go north on Interstate 75. That way, MapQuest says it’s an hour and a half, and 80 miles, from Wesley Chapel. Another route is Interstate 4 toward Orlando, then north to Mount Dora. For details, see MapQuest or another directions site.

Where to eat: We liked Magical Meat Boutique, at 112 W. Third Ave., where we had bangers and mash, a stilton, pear and walnut salad, and two Scottish beers for $37. For menu, visit MagicalMeatBoutique.com.

Where to stay: We’ve stayed at Lakeside Inn before and enjoyed its quiet elegance. The town also has a variety of bed and breakfast inns, and other hotels. See the chamber of commerce’s MountDora.com for options.

Festivals: This city of festivals has all sorts of offerings, including Renninger’s Antique Extravaganzas Nov. 17 through Nov. 19; Jan. 19 through Jan. 21 and Feb. 16 through Feb.18 at its antique center, 20651 U.S. 441. For details, visit Renningers.net.

Other events include:

  • 33rd Annual Craft Fair, with 400 vendors, Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 510 N. Baker St.
  • Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., begins on Lake Dora at the lighthouse across from Gilbert Park on Tremain Street and Liberty Avenue, downtown.
  • Christmas Tour of Homes, Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $20; for details, visit WCFAMountDora.com.
  • 43rd annual Arts Festival, Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown, with park and ride options; for more, visit MountDoraArtsFestival.org.

For a more extensive list of festivals and events, go to MountDora.com, and click on annual events.

For a more extensive list of festivals and events, go to MountDora.com, and click on annual events.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published Oct. 18, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local athletes celebrate paralympic achievements

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Whenever she competes, 12-year-old Danielle Kanas gives it her all.

And that mindset has worked for the Martinez Middle School seventh-grader, who ran, swam, threw and jumped her way to 15 gold medals and six national records this summer at the Adaptive Sports USA Junior Nationals in Middleton, Wisconsin.

From left, Eric Lowry, 17, of Land O’ Lakes; Logan Krepop, 15, of Parrish; Andy Chasanoff, coordinator of Paralympic Sports Tampa Bay; and 12-year-old Danielle Kanas, of Lutz. The athletes won the Small Team Division at the National Junior Disability Championships, in Middleton, Wisconsin, combining for 18 gold, 11 silver and four bronze medals. (Kevin Weiss)

Kanas — a single-arm amputee, missing her left arm below the elbow — recently added another achievement to the ever-growing collection of honors in her trophy case.

She received the “Spirit of Excellence” award at the annual Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay Award (PSTB) Luncheon, held Sept. 30 at All People’s Life Center in Tampa.

The club’s highest honor, it recognizes courage, strength, determination and demonstration of a positive attitude as a role model.

Her life circumstances are distinct.

She was found in her infancy at a train station in China.

When sent to an orphanage in the Asian country, doctors determined the circulation in her left arm had been compromised, causing irreversible damage to her left hand and the lower part of her arm below the elbow. Both impaired areas were amputated.

She came from China to the United States as a toddler, settling in New Jersey with her adoptive mother, JoAnne Kanas.

Over the years, she’s received multiple prostheses, as well as occupational therapy beginning at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Philadelphia and now at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa.

Yet, those challenges have not stopped her from living a well-rounded life.

Beyond athletics, Kanas is a “straight-A” student and member of the National Junior Honor Society, a Girl Scout, and patient ambassador at Shriner’s Hospital for Children—Tampa.

She’s also a talented guitar player, who’s served up renditions of the national anthem at various Shriners conventions.

Her advice to fellow amputees is to be ambitious, and not hesitate to try new things.

“Every time you try something new, it’s exciting to see what happens next, and to see what you can improve on,” Kanas said.

The involvement in athletics, meanwhile, elicits a smile on JoAnne Kanas’ face, noting it’s helped her daughter gain confidence over the years.

“It’s just fun to see her. She puts on her game face,” JoAnne Kanas said. “When you watch her compete, she’s serious. She goes out there and tries her hardest. I just like to see her enjoy it.”

Kanas’ favorite event is javelin. It’s clear why: her 19.66 meter throw is a national record — by 6 meters— for her age group in Adaptive Sports.

“I like to watch how it goes far in the distance,” Kanas said. She wants to break 20 meters next season, she said.

Besides the countless victories, Kanas recalls the memorable experience of traveling, for the third straight year, to the junior disability championships, the oldest and largest continuously held competitive sports event in the country for athletes with physical disabilities, ages 6 to 22.

Throughout the July trip, Kanas enjoyed dining out with teammates and excursions.

“It felt good to meet other people. We got to build friendships,” she said.

Kanas, however, isn’t the only local athlete shining in Paralympic sports.

Eric Lowry, a 17-year-old Land O’ Lakes resident, is another.

Lowry, who has spina bifida and competes from a wheelchair, also earned several medals this summer.

That includes a gold medal for his 190-pound bench press, an Adaptive Sports Junior national record.

Lowry, involved with Paralympic Sports Tampa Bay (PSTB) for nearly 10 years, said he recently picked up weightlifting, originally to complement track & field, swimming and archery events.

“I think it all goes together because you need strength to participate against your peers,” he said.

He offers advice for fellow amputees similar to Kanas’ suggestions.

“Try something before you give up, and if you like it keep doing it,” said Lowry, who attends Focus Academy, a charter school for special needs students in Tampa.

Andy Chasanoff, coordinator for PSTB, regularly coaches both Lowry and Kanas.

He said both are models for the program, stressing their positive attitude, hard work, enthusiasm and overall consideration for other teammates.

“They’re not only good athletes, but also they’re great kids,” Chasanoff said.

“They’re respectful, polite, honest. And, they want to be seen as athletes.”

Under Chasanoff’s guidance, Lowry, Kanas and 16-year-old Logan Krepop, of Parrish, led PSTB to its second straight Small Division Title at the national event.

“It’s never been about (the medals). It’s been about doing your best,” Chasanoff explained.

“I ask one question at the end of the meet: ‘Did you do your best?’ If you do your best, it doesn’t matter where you finish. They just happen to be very good, and we’re very humbled by it. But, it’s nice to see, and watch them grow,” he said.

Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay
As a signature program of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, the mission of Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay is to promote health, independence and personal growth through sports for people with physical disabilities. Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay (PSTB) is one of more than 100 community-based programs established by the Paralympic Division of the United States Olympic Committee.
It provides year round sports and recreation programs that promote physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and recreational and competitive sports opportunities for area children and adults with physical disabilities.

Here are few facts about the program:

  • More than 300 athletes participate in at least one PSTB program or event each year.
  • Ongoing programs are offered for athletes at all levels, from recreational to competitive elite, in multiple sports such as wheelchair basketball, track and field, tennis, swimming, and archery.
  • Periodic clinics are offered, in additional sports such as power lifting, golf, and water skiing.

Published Oct. 11, 2017

Local students shine at nationals

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Five students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School claimed national awards at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition held at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The contest, held from April 12 to April 14, drew approximately 1,800 competitors from 29 states. Participants earned the right to compete by capturing the top awards in their state contests.

The students represented nearly 200 Christian high schools. They competed in 76 categories in the areas of Bible, music, speech, art and academics.

Three students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School won first place awards in the competition and two others finished among the top five.

These five students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School were among the top five finishers at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition. In descending order, they are: Tommy Campbell, Logan Juday, Paul Wei, Ruth Zhang and Emily Mengel. Campbell, Zhang and Mengel all brought home first place honors. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes Christian School)
These five students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School were among the top five finishers at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition. In descending order, they are: Tommy Campbell, Logan Juday, Paul Wei, Ruth Zhang and Emily Mengel.
Campbell, Zhang and Mengel all brought home first place honors.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

Tommy Campbell took first place in Topical Preaching and first place in Original Persuasive Oratory.

Ruth Zhang took first place in Calligraphy, third place in Algebra/Geometry and third place in Advanced Math.

Emily Mengel took first place in Printmaking.

Paul Wei took second place in Extemporaneous Speaking and Logan Juday took third place in Accounting.

The Bible competition included Bible quiz teams, preaching and teaching. The academic competition included academic testing and a science fair. The music students challenged each other in solo and group competitions, in both vocal and instrumental music.

Speech contestants competed in such categories as debate, dramatic interpretation, original oratory, acting and other categories.

Art students displayed their works for judging.

The Land O’ Lakes Christian School students were thrilled and surprised by their impressive showing.

“I was not expecting to win. The other people were extremely good. I thought I would be blessed just to place. Even at state I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Campbell, a senior.

In the Topical Preaching category, he preached about faith, with his remarks aimed at encouraging people to “have faith and trust God” in their decision-making.

Ruth Zhang demonstrated her considerable calligraphy and artistic skills in the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition, and she brought home a first place award to Land O’ Lakes Christian School. (B.C. Manion/Staff photos)
Ruth Zhang demonstrated her considerable calligraphy and artistic skills in the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition, and she brought home a first place award to Land O’ Lakes Christian School.
(B.C. Manion/Staff photos)

For Original Persuasive Oratory, he focused on generational values.

“It was about how the generation that our grandparents grew up (in), during their time, they were taught to have manners and people didn’t put so much value on material possessions and people valued the family unit, things like that — and how our generation lacks a lot of that today,” he said.

Campbell plans to attend Pensacola Christian College and to major in Bible Pastoral Ministries. He said he’ll go wherever God leads him, but he hopes that will be to be a pastor of a church.

Even though he claimed the top prize for in the preaching category, Campbell said he discovered something surprising.

“I’ve been working really hard at this for a few years now and I always thought that the ultimate joy and happiness would come from when I finally won. But now that I’ve actually won best in the nation … I realized that I’ve had the same happiness all along and that actually came from just being able to be used of God. I already had the ultimate happiness,” Campbell said.

Zhang, a junior, did an elaborate work to win the top prize in Calligraphy.

She’s interested in pursuing a degree in architecture and has identified Cornell University as her ideal school. A native of China, she has been living in the United States for two years.

She also placed in the top five in two mathematics categories. She noted that the mathematics exams at the national level were more difficult than those at the state competition.

Emily Mengel impressed the judges with her printmaking skills, capturing top honors at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition.
Emily Mengel impressed the judges with her printmaking skills, capturing top honors at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition.

Mengel depicted a skyline in her Printmaking entry. “I love being up high because you see everything,” she said, explaining her fascination for skylines.

Like her school mates, the sophomore was delighted by her first-place finish.  “I didn’t think I was even going to place, so it was a big shock,” she said.

Juday, a senior, said he previously competed in photography but decided to give accounting a try this year, after being encouraged by a teacher.

“I didn’t know I placed first until I got to the state competition and they called my name. I had no idea,” said Juday, who took third at nationals.

Paul Wei, a junior, won second in Extemporaneous Speaking. “I was very excited,” Wei said. It was his first competition and he plans to compete again, he said.

It was a great bonding experience for students, Wei said.

Published May 4, 2016

Trekking to Iowa to compete at World Finals

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After competing together for years, a local Odyssey of the Mind team has finally accomplished its goal of qualifying to compete at the World Finals in Ames, Iowa.

Now, the team is busy raising the $5,000 they need need to make the trip.

They’re doing car washes, a garage sale and restaurant fundraisers, and are hoping for the community’s support to help make their dream come true.

The four-member team is made up of students attending three different high schools.

Two of them — Kaden Robinson and Donovan Snider — attend Wesley Chapel High School. Another — Kayla Gutierrez — attends Wiregrass Ranch High School. And, Alec Guillen attends Eastlake High School.

The coaches for the team are Kayla’s mom, Tammy and Kaden’s brother, Devin.

Coach Tammy Guitierrez, left, will be accompanying a local Odyssey of the Mind team who is making the trek to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa, at the end of May. From left are three members of the team, Kayla Guitierrez, Kaden Robinson and Donovan Snider. Alec Guillen, the other member of the team and Devin Robinson, the other coach, are not pictured. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Coach Tammy Guitierrez, left, will be accompanying a local Odyssey of the Mind team who is making the trek to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa, at the end of May. From left are three members of the team, Kayla Guitierrez, Kaden Robinson and Donovan Snider. Alec Guillen, the other member of the team and Devin Robinson, the other coach, are not pictured.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The students from Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel have been competing together since they have been in middle school.

Other team members have come and gone, even as late as this year.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international program that encourages youths to work together as teams to use their creative and analytical skills to solve problems.

Last year, the team was on the brink of qualifying for the World Finals. They placed third at state, but only the top two teams advance to the world stage.

The year before, they came in fifth.

The core group has been together for five years, and that’s an advantage, Gutierrez said.

“We’re able to get working faster because you know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. You know who works well with what and who doesn’t, so you’re really able to divide and conquer the workload and get things done quickly,” she said.

Robinson noted another benefit: “It’s much easier to motivate each other, as well. Being together for so long, you tend to form a bond, like family.”

It’s a bond that extends beyond Odyssey, Robinson said. “We’re there in support for each other, whenever we’re going through anything in life.”

Snider agreed: “We’re a family first and a team second.”

The team has done most of the preparation it needs to do before making the 20-hour trip to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, for the competition that will be held May 25 through May 28.

Now, they’re focusing mostly on fundraising and have a number of events planned in coming weeks.

At the world competition, they’ll be testing their skills against teams who are converging on Iowa from all over the globe. About 800 teams are expected to compete and countries that will be represented there include Russia, China, India, Poland, Japan and Morocco, to name just a few.

During one part of the competition, they’ll be presenting a play. The theme of their presentation will be “Saying Goodbye to Odyssey,” which draws on their years of competing in the competition, and which draws on their creativity and problem-solving.

“We have 8 minutes for set up and performance,” Gutierrez said. “We’re bringing past Odyssey into the present so we can move through to the future because we’re all moving on,” she said.

The entire team plans to shift into judging OM after this year because Robinson is graduating and will no longer be able to compete with them.

Snider said he’s grateful the team has held together for this long and is happy to be going out on a high note by competing at the international level.

“We’ve been trying for five years,” Snider said.

For more information about the team or the competition, or to help the team, contact Tammy Gutierrez at

Fundraisers for Odyssey of the Mind Team

Carwash: 5811 Ehren Cutoff, Land O Lakes, May 14 and May 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Moe’s fundraiser: 28211 Paseo Drive Suite 100, Wesley Chapel. May 7 and May 14, 3 p.m. to closing

Texas Roadhouse fundraiser: 26409 Silver Maple Parkway, Wesley Chapel, May 16, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser: 26725 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel, May 9 and May 18, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Garage Sale: 30546 Eastcourt Drive, Wesley Chapel, May 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Published May 4, 2016

In Print: Is Cypress Creek outlet mall ready to go?

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Some site work on land across the road from the proposed outlet mall at Cypress Creek Town Center had some people mistakenly excited that work was finally beginning on the long-awaited project.

No site plan has been submitted yet for land under development across from the proposed outlet mall on State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. However, county officials expect outparcel-like retail stores to be built there in the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
No site plan has been submitted yet for land under development across from the proposed outlet mall on State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. However, county officials expect outparcel-like retail stores to be built there in the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But while actual dirt has yet to be moved on the 482,000-square-foot project from developers that include Simon Property Group, there is still plenty of work being done behind the scenes that could allow construction to start before the end of the year.

“There was earth working done there, which was part of what they were initially going to do,” Carol Clarke, assistant planning and development administrator for Pasco County, told reporter Michael Hinman. “They have this new plan, but it looks like they are endeavoring to use as much of the existing infrastructure there as they can.”

The outlet was supposed to be built several years ago, but environmental concerns and a crashing economy put those plans on hold until late last year. Now, developers are working to get things underway again.

To find out more about what’s happening in that area around State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, pick up this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Or you can read it for free online by clicking here.

Being able to turn balloons into fun shapes is an art that seems to be common on Sunday mornings in many restaurants. But Jonathan Fudge has turned it into a growing local business that now has more than 130 performers.

YTE Events is quickly becoming a go-to company for entertainment of all sorts, giving the Lutz resident some bold attention for parties, celebrations, school program, charity events and more.

“I got my start through charity,” Fudge told reporter Michael Murillo. “Someone taught me for free. But i’m not the only one who’s been touched by that. When I can give my entertainers an outlet to do something they love, and to share what they love with other people, that skips over all kinds of boundaries.”

So what does it mean to be a balloon artist? And what does the future hold for this type of industry? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available right now. Or read our free online e-edition by clicking here.

Finally, there are so many places to take a school field trip: The zoo, the performing arts center, maybe a local farm. But Darin Kilfoyl, a student at the Academy at the Lakes, went a little farther — China.

Sponsored by the University of South Florida and the Confucius Institute, the 15-year-old spent two weeks in the country, seeing parts that are typically not common stops on the tourist route.

“In the morning, we’d eat breakfast at the cafeteria, then we’d normally have a class where we’d practice learning Chinese or about the culture or something about China’s history,” Kilfoyl told reporter B.C. Manion. “Then we would go on a trip, somewhere within the province.”

At each stop, despite being an outsider, Kilfoyl said everyone was friendly. So what all did he do while in China? Well, you don’t have to travel anywhere near as far to find out — just your driveway or a local store to read the print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Or, if you want to travel virtually, click here to read it in our free online e-edition.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.