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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco

Leveraging the power to do good

October 9, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The tables aren’t exactly round.

Instead, they’re set up in the shape of a giant square, and those seated around it are taking turns — talking about organizations they represent.

They share what they do day-to-day. They announce upcoming events. They identify current needs.

Some folks in the room are familiar with others. The rest are total strangers.

But all have come to Bridgeway Church, 30660 Wells Road, to attend the inaugural “Wesley Chapel Pasco Difference Makers” roundtable meeting.

David West and Larry Guilford, of Make a Difference, are involved in efforts to make a difference in Pasco County, through a variety of efforts. One of those is called Wesley Chapel Pasco Difference Makers roundtable, which brings people together from a variety of charitable and service-oriented organizations, to create the potential for helping each other. Another roundtable is also held in East Pasco. (B.C. Manion)

The group an extension of the same kind of roundtable that has been meeting,  at the Make A Difference, Inc., headquarters at 12311 U.S. 301, in Dade City.

“Our goal is to bring our community together,” said Larry Guilford, founder of Make A Difference, Inc., which initiated the monthly roundtables.

“We don’t want to get in the middle,” he told those gathered. “We want to help you guys network together.”

Organizations tend to operate in silos, explained David West, who works for Make A Difference, Inc. The roundtables are intended to open lines of communication.

By sharing information, organizations can become aware of new opportunities, such as grants or training in a particular expertise, Guilford said. They also might tell each other about resources, such as  volunteers or equipment — that they need or can provide.

It didn’t take long at the initial session to learn that this assorted group of organizations had diverse immediate needs.

Bridgeway Church, for instance, could use some fill dirt.

It wants to use the dirt to help smooth out a field it would like to use for football and soccer games, said Joel Eason, senior pastor.

Diapers are in big demand at the locations operated by Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers, said Dave Dorsey, organization’s development director.

And, volunteers who can help build houses — especially on week days — would be greatly appreciated, said Jere Ferguson, director of volunteer services for Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco.

Todd Woodfill, executive director of Defeat Suicide Foundation, said he’s in search of a mentor who is especially good at raising money.

He said that he needs to raise $80,000 for some services he’d like to provide next year, and so far, he noted, with a self-deprecating laugh, he’s about $79,000 short.

Jody Armstrong, of Disability Achievement Center, said her group welcomes donations of wheelchairs, walkers and other durable pieces of medical equipment. It cleans up the equipment and gets it to people who need it, she said.

Those were among needs expressed during a roundtable session that offered a glimpse into the wide range of services being provided by multiple organizations operating in Pasco County.

Work being done ranges from providing diabetic testing to encouraging students to read; from providing clothing and personal items for foster kids to supporting athletes for the Special Olympics; and, more.

Guilford said he hopes the roundtable sessions will attract not only organizations that are doing good work, but also members of the community who want to provide resources to help.

“We’re here to help you fill your needs, and also show you other needs in the area that you may not be aware of,” said Guilford, a Wesley Chapel real estate agent, who has been involved in charitable giving for numerous years.

Before his current efforts, Guilford was involved many years doing charitable work in Ukraine, Colombia and the Philippines.

He decided to return home in 2015 to focus on selling real estate and helping people in Eastern Pasco, which has been so good to him.

Make A Difference focuses on serving Dade City, Zephyrhills, San Antonio, Lacoochee and Wesley Chapel.

Its services include a mobile food pantry that distributes food once a month in Dade City and once a month in Zephyrhills. It also provides new shoes to students in need at area schools.

Guilford said he has seen an incredible amount of need in Pasco communities.

Wesley Chapel’s growth and new development has boomed in recent years, making it difficult for some people to realize it has pockets of poverty, he said.

“We don’t see the needs because Wesley Chapel is so promising,” Guilford said.

The roundtables are based on old-fashioned concept of networking.

“We’re open to anybody who is trying to help people in the community,” West said.

And, it’s not limited to charitable organizations.

“There are businesses that are very involved in doing community support, so we’re hoping that we’ll have a pretty good representation of them, too,” West said.

He issues this invitation to them: “Come and listen to what everybody’s needs are.”

The whole point of having the roundtables, West said, “is to find out what people need and to try to find resources for them.”

Pasco Difference Makers roundtables
What: Various charitable and service-providing organizations share information about what they do, upcoming events and immediate needs
Where: There are two locations
The roundtable in East Pasco meets on the first Wednesday of the month, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Make A Difference office, 12311 U.S. 301.
The roundtable in Wesley Chapel meets on the third Wednesday of the month, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the roundtable meets at Bridgeway Church, 30660 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel.
Info: Call (352) 437-3466.

Published October 09, 2019

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Bridgeway Church, Dade City, Dave Dorsey, David West, Defeat Suicide Foundation, Disability Achievement Center, Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco, Jere Ferguson, Jody Armstrong, Joel Eason, Larry Guilford, Make a Difference, Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers, Todd Woodfill, U.S. 301, Wells Road, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel Pasco Difference Makers

Two families celebrate new Habitat homes

October 9, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

It’s not every day that a new homeowner moves into a new Habitat for Humanity home, and it’s even less common for two housewarmings to take place on the same day.

But that’s exactly what happened on Oct. 2, as Debra Brown turned the key to walk the hallways of her new home. Charles and Megan Free with their children, who live next door, did the same thing.

Debra Brown was all smiles as she opened the front door to her new home on Oct. 2. Recently constructed, her house was an initiative by Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County, along with its community partners. (Courtesy of Richard Riley)

They were celebrating along with Habitat of Humanity of East & Central Pasco, which held a double-home dedication on Blanton Street, in Dade City.

The event attracted scores of people to share in the homeowners’ joy.

Both homes were constructed through a program supervised by Habitat for Humanity of East &  Central Pasco County.

Beyond celebrating the homeowners’ new dwellings, the Habitat for Humanity branch is celebrating its 25th year of building homes in Pasco County.

“These keys represent hours and hours of sweat, hours of work, hours of dedication [and] hours of love,” said Laurel Weightman, Habitat development director. “It doesn’t just take hands, it takes community support.”

There was a separate housewarming ceremony at each of the homes, with gifts for each household.

The gift baskets were filled, item by item, as a scriptural text was read, representing each gift.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club contributed gardening supplies, a plant, books, food supplies, a first aid kit and fire extinguishers.

The club also gave back packs to each of the Free children, Keaton, Fallon and McKenna.

The East Pasco Quilters bestowed big, colorful quilts to the new residents of Blanton Street.

“We’ve had so much love and support from everybody all along the way,” Megan Free said, to the crowd assembled outside her home. “We really wouldn’t be where we are today without every one of you.”

In order to provide these homes, Habitat for Humanity relies on community partners, such as Catholic Charities, to help find the right candidates.

Habitat came across the Free family while they were being sheltered at a Catholic Charities facility.

The Free family children took an active role in cutting the traditional ribbon with gigantic scissors, before entering their new home. This was part of a double home dedication held on Oct. 2.

“Our circumstances were not the best, not making the money to survive on our own, with the always increasing living rates,” Charles Free said.

The couple had never owned their own home, and at times depended upon family support, he added.

Brown also faced hardships after moving to Dade City from West Palm Beach.

The phlebotomist, who also is a first-time homeowner, lived with her uncle for some time.

She sought out assistance from the Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation (CDC) and was soon referred to its collaborative partner, Habitat for Humanity.

Jere Ferguson is the director for Volunteer and Family Services at Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County.

He helped to approve Brown and the Frees for newly constructed homes that were financially suitable for them.

“The mortgage payment is capped at 30% of their income when they apply, and that never changes for the life of their mortgage,” the director explained.

This ensures the payments are manageable, so they can have funds available for other needs as well, Ferguson said.

Habitat is always thinking about long-term prosperity and that’s why Blanton Street was a good location for the homes, Ferguson explained.

Getting homeowners integrated into a safe and friendly environment is a priority, he added.

“Now what we started to do is build houses together,” Ferguson said. “Whether it’s two or three houses together, or a community of 14, so that they have each other to support and to stand with.”

And that’s why Brown and the Free family are now next-door neighbors.

For a year, the homeowners were helping to construct their new residences along with volunteers and construction crews.

Shaunce Gwinn was one of those volunteers.

“As I was walking through, I said to myself, ‘These are actual dream homes that we’re building and we’re making people’s dreams come true,’” Gwinn said.

Seeing the smiles on the homeowners’ faces makes him smile, too, he said.

Besides working on their own homes, the neighbors helped each other.

The homes were finished and ready for entry in September – 10 months after construction began.

The two homes have a similar layout. Upon entering, wooden floors lead to the dining and living rooms, as well as the hallway. The tiled kitchen is decked with marble counters, a stove, fridge, a built-in microwave and cabinets.

The hallway leads to the laundry room already supplied with a washer and dryer, then to a single bathroom and three bedrooms. The master bedroom has its own bathroom.

Looking around her new home, Brown said, “It’s something I worked towards for a long, long time.”

“Now I know how to build a house – a little bit,” she added, laughing.

In the Free household, the kids raced from room to room.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s amazing,” Charles Free said as he stood in one room. “Words can’t describe the feelings that I’m experiencing right now. We can’t wait to get in – just to have a place for the children to run and play.”

Published October 09, 2019

Filed Under: Local News, Zephyrhills/East Pasco News Tagged With: Blanton Street, Catholic Charities, Charles Free, Dade City, Debra Brown, East Pasco Quilters, GFWC Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club, Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco, Jere Ferguson, Laurel Weightman, Megan Free, Shaunce Gwinn, Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation

Industry of the year winners announced

September 4, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The Laker/Lutz News is among those honored

More than 600 people gathered at Wesley Chapel’s Saddlebrook Resort at the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards.

The Sept. 3 event attracted a who’s who in Pasco County, including movers and shakers in government and industry, as well as leaders of community organizations.

Awards were presented to eight companies making their mark in Pasco County, and the winners were:

  • The Laker/Lutz News: Service/Distribution, category 1 (1-25 employees)
  • Applicant Insight: Service/Distribution, category 2 (26+ employees)
  • SAHM Co.: New Business Award
  • Big Storm Brewing Co.: Manufacturer of the Year, category 1 (1-25 employees)
  • Preferred Materials: Manufacturer of the Year, category 2 (26+ employees)
  • Easy Business Software: Technology Award
  • Veterans Alternative Therapy: Special Recognition Award
  • Florida Hospital Zephyrhills: Special Contribution Award

The companies honored during the banquet were nominated in late spring and then interviewed by members of a Pasco EDC awards committee.

The committee considered a total of 23 nominees. Winners are selected based on exemplary growth in job creation, capital investment, technology, innovation and community service.

The awards committee used a specific grading scale to select the winners.

The Laker/Lutz News was honored during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards. Shown here, from left, are John Hagen, CEO and president of Pasco EDC; Diane Kortus, publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News; Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager; Mary Eberhard, accounting; B.C. Manion, editor; Terri Williamson, senior account manager; and Lex Smith, outgoing chairman of the board for Pasco EDC. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)
The Laker/Lutz News was honored during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards. Shown here, from left, are John Hagen, CEO and president of Pasco EDC; Diane Kortus, publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News; Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager; Mary Eberhard, accounting; B.C. Manion, editor; Terri Williamson, senior account manager; and Lex Smith, outgoing chairman of the board for Pasco EDC.
(Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

“It is tremendously gratifying to be recognized by Pasco’s business leaders for our commitment to give readers a top-notch newspaper every week,” said Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News. “This past year, my team embraced the vision to take our papers to its larger format, and their talent, determination and hard work is reflected in this honor.”

Other finalists this year were: Aviation Instrument Technologies Inc.; Can Can Concealment LLC; Covanta Pasco; Electro Tape Specialties; Fifth Third Bank/New Port Richey Branch; Freedom Scooter & Supply LLC; Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco; Manufacturers Distributor Inc.; Morton Plant North Bay Hospital; Oasis Pregnancy Center; and Retail Process Engineering LLC.

Pasco EDC is a nonprofit organization that promotes economic development in Pasco County.

Besides those receiving Industry of the Year awards, John Hagen, the outgoing CEO and president of Pasco EDC, also was honored for his years of service. He expects to retire within the next few months.

The banquet program also featured an update on Pasco County’s economy from Lex Smith, the outgoing chairman of the Pasco EDC.

Smith noted that the council completed 14 new job creation projects since October 2014.

Those job creators include the attraction of three Fortune 500 companies: Leggett & Platt, Ortho Technologies (which is part of Henry Schein Inc.), and Tru Simulation and Training (part of Textron). Those 14 projects are expected to yield more than 900 jobs and $118 million of investment.

 

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Applicant Insight, Aviation Instrument Technologies, Big Storm Brewing Co., Can Can Concealment, Covanta Pasco, Diane Kortus, Easy Business Software, Electro Tape Specialties, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Freedom Scooter & Supply, Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco, John Hagen, Leggett & Platt, Lex Smith, Manufacturers Distributor, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, New Port Richey, Oasis Pregnancy Center, Ortho Technologies, Pasco Economic Development Council, Preferred Materials, Retail Process Engineering, SAHM Co., Tru Simulation and Training, Veterans Alternative Therapy, Wesley Chapel. Saddlebrook Resort

Terri Dusek Central Pasco’s new honorary mayor

June 30, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The votes are in, and so is the money. Pasco County has a new mayor, and it’s Terri Dusek.

Dusek, a local real estate agent, ran a campaign of “Paying it Forward Through Music.” She was one of several people and businesses honored at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce annual dinner last week. Dusek also won Ambassador of the Year.

The dinner included the installation of the new chamber president, Charlene Ierna, of Ierna’s Heating & Cooling. She succeeds Denny Esber, who also is retiring from board along with director Gary Loman. Before he left, Esber handed out his President’s Award to Tony Masella of OurTownFla.com for his outstanding service to the chamber and the community.

Hungry Harry’s Bar-B-Que was the Large Business of the Year while All Smiles Tampa Bay won Small Business of the Year. A Focus on Fitness was New Business of the Year, while Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco was Non-Profit Member of the Year.

If honorary mayor and the chamber’s top ambassador wasn’t enough, Dusek topped a successful season as Chamber Member of the Year.

The Community Service Award was a tie between April Saland of A.L. Saland Insurance Solutions, and Pam Oakes of Pasco International Tourism.

Finally, the Central Pasco Chamber honored the lifetime service of Larry Delucenay, and retiring Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri.

To learn more about the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: A Focus on Fitness, A.L. Saland Insurance Solutions, All Smiles Tampa Bay, April Saland, Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Charlene Ierna, Denny Esber, Gary Loman, Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco, Hungry Harry's Bar-B-Que, Ierna's Heating & Cooling, Larry Delucenay, OurTownFla.com, Pam Oakes, Pasco County, Pasco International Tourism, Pat Mulieri, Terri Dusek, Tony Masella

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