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Figure skating heats up in Wesley Chapel

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As Tampa Bay becomes synonymous with hockey this time of year, another ice-based sport is heating up in the region.

For the first time, the Florida Sports Foundation selected Pasco County to be the host community for the annual Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships.

The competition took place at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, from May 18 through May 20.

The games drew more than 300 male and female skaters of all ages, with skaters and their families trekking all the way from the First Coast to South Florida, and everywhere in-between, to compete in the statewide, Olympic-style program.

The majority of the participants were girls between the ages of 10 to 14.

Ten-year-old Jordan Scott, of Wesley Chapel, won the juvenile girls free skate event and was a recipient of the Betty Stark Award as the games’ top juvenile skater.

Skating sisters shine
A pair of young sisters from Wesley Chapel fared among the best.

Twelve-year-old Haley Scott and 10-year-old Jordan Scott each earned gold medals in their respective competitions.

Haley won the novice ladies division with a personal-best in the free skate (84.96 total score).

Jordan, meanwhile, won the juvenile girls free skate event (48.75 score) and was a recipient of the Betty Stark Award as the games’ top juvenile skater.

Haley won the same award back in 2016 for first-place finishes in the juvenile girls free skate and intermediate ladies short events.

She also won the games’ Dorothy Dodson Award in 2017, named after the late long-time figure skating judge that recognizes the highest combined score in the intermediate ladies free skating and short program events.

The success in Florida has translated to the national stage, for Haley.

Between October and January, she skated in the South Atlantic Regional Championships in Ashburn, Virginia (second place, Intermediate Ladies); the Eastern Sectional Championships in Foxborough, Massachusetts (second place, Intermediate Ladies); and in the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California (10th place Intermediate Ladies).

Twelve-year-old Haley Scott, of Wesley Chapel, won the novice ladies division with a personal-best in the free skate (84.96 total score). Her younger sister, Jordan Scott, 10, also earned a gold medal in the juvenile free skate. (Courtesy of Julie Scott)

But, her proudest skating moment came the year before, when she earned a bronze medal in the juvenile girls division at the 2017 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ranked among the nation’s top young figure skaters, the Olympics may be a reality someday.

“My goal is just to keep having fun, keep pushing to my potential, just enjoying the journey,” she said. “The Olympics would be great.”

The Scott sisters have each been skating for about six years, when they first tried it out at a friend’s birthday party.

They’ve been hooked ever since.

“I like the challenge of it. Each day you get to do something new and try to push yourself,” Haley said.

Added Jordan: “I also love competing. It’s really fun to ice skate.”

In the juvenile division, figure skater Kaitlyn Wright, 6, left, talks with friend, Briana Reich, 7, of Wellington. The two girls are coached by Lauren Salzlechner, also of Wellington. Wright and her family may be moving to Wesley Chapel in order to live near Florida Hospital Center Ice. (Fred Bellet)

A convenient training ground
The skating wunderkinds, along with their mother Julie Scott, moved to Wesley Chapel from Port Orange, chiefly for the offerings at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Labeled the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern U.S., the 150,500-square-foot, two-story complex features five ice rinks — an Olympic rink (200 feet by 100 feet), three National Hockey League-sized rinks (200 feet by 85 feet) and a mini rink.

While living in Port Orange, the family would commute three hours everyday to a skating facility in Jacksonville.

They made the daily drive for about four years, until Florida Hospital Center Ice launched in January 2017.

Now they’re just minutes away from sheets of ice.

“This facility is probably the best in the southeast right now. It really is. You really can’t beat it,” Julie Scott said.

The Scott sisters, who are home-schooled, use the Wesley Chapel facility about six days a week for practice and training. Their team of coaches is also stationed there.

“They’ve got ballet here. They’ve got yoga. They have it all. They have a trainer. It’s all in-house, which is really nice,” their mother said.

Other skating families are relocating to Wesley Chapel to access those opportunities.

Josh and Marissa Wright and their two children soon plan to move to the area from Boynton Beach. They want to be within a 15-minute drive of Center Ice.

They recently made the 3 ½-hour drive from South Florida so their 6-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, could participate in the games’ basic series event.

When Josh first toured the facility, he was awestruck with the complex located off Interstate 75 at the State Road 56 interchange.

“It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable. I mean, there’s nothing like this,” he said, adding the facility his family currently uses only has one rink.

Florida’s figure skating surge
The first Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships began 32 years ago in Clearwater with less than 60 skaters.

It’s grown nearly fivefold since, and has been hosted at several other locations over the years, including Tampa, Ellenton, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, among others.

Twelve-year-old Avery Kelley and her coach, Steve Belanger, both of Jupiter, made the trip to the annual Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. Kelley, a competitor in the intermediate division, skates with “elegance and poise,” according to her coach. (Fred Bellet)

Betty Stark has served as the games’ figure skating director since its inception.

She said it’s “a good tune-up” for skaters with aspirations of reaching qualifying competitions, like regionals and sectionals, later in the year.

“A lot of the kids that participate in the Sunshine State Games get the opportunity, if they place, to go on to the State Games of America,” she said, noting several homegrown skaters have wound up competing nationally and internationally.

Stark, a former club figure skater herself at the University of Florida, has also witnessed the sport’s surge in the state across the past three decades.

“It’s been taking off a lot.” she said. “The number of rinks and the interest in figure skating has increased a lot. Coaches have been coming down here starting up programs. Guests coaches from across the country love to come down for the warm weather…and some of them just wind up staying here; and they bring their expertise from their years of skating and their coaching.”

Meantime, the figure skating event may remain here for the foreseeable future.

Pasco County Tourism Manager Consuelo Sanchez said the county plans to bid to keep the state games in Wesley Chapel for the next few years.

“We are interested to keep it here because it is the most important (figure skating) competition in the whole state of Florida,” she said.

Further, the event may be a springboard for drawing even larger figure skating competitions at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

“The good thing about bringing the Sunshine Games is we’re going to show that we can host big events,” Sanchez said.

“We’re already having conversations with USA Figure Skating to try and bring regionals and, hopefully, national championships here. But, they wanted to see that we have the capability of hosting these events, and this is a great experience.”

The facility is already no stranger to the big stage.

It was the training home for the USA Hockey Women’s National Team that won gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

It has also hosted multiple National USA Hockey championships and is the training home for international athletes — including six-time French national champion figure skating pair Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres.

And, it’s bucking the notion that ice sports are reserved for northern states and colder climates.

Said Julie Scott, “Everybody always asks us, ‘Why ice skating in Florida?’ But, why not? You’ve got these great facilities.”

Published June 6, 2018

Two Unique Pulte Communities Designed For Families

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Pulte Homes offers two distinct communities for families wanting a new home in the areas most desirable north of Tampa.

Birchwood Preserve in Lutz and Starkey Ranch in Odessa offer multiple floor plans designed for the way families live today, with Pulte’s unique Life Tested® home designs. Plus, both communities provide lifestyle amenities from everything to swimming pools with cabana seating to family play areas for fun in the outdoors.

Because Pulte recognizes that today’s homebuyers are looking for different community features, Birchwood Preserve and Starkey Ranch offer families very distinctive benefits. Here is an introduction to both.

Birchwood Preserve

Birchwood Preserve is a smaller community of just 196 home sites, has a beautifully landscaped gated entrance and no CDD. Owners help support shared amenities and common areas with an affordable HOA.

Close to 40 new homes have been sold since Birchwood Preserve’s grand opening last May. Sales continue to be brisk, with many buyers coming from surrounding neighborhoods, WestChase and Citrus Park. Home prices begin at $321,990.

Birchwood Preserve offers 10 unique single-family models, which range from 1,904 to 4,600 square feet and offer three to six bedrooms, two to six bathrooms and two- or three-car garages. Because families with children make up over 80 percent of buyers, larger two-story homes are selling especially well.

Birchwood Preserve’s fabulous amenity center is the heart of the community. It boasts a luxurious swimming pool with cabanas and hammocks, a multipurpose clubhouse with kitchen, and children’s exploration climbing dome playground, swing set and other discovery play equipment.

Families choose Birchwood Preserve because of its A-rated schools. It is the only new, single-family-home community in Lutz whose children are zoned to all three schools at the highly desirable public school complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road — Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.

Another plus is the community’s convenient location, located a half mile from Dale Mabry Highway and less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway. It offers easy access to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District, International Plaza and Gulf Coast beaches.

For more information, go to Pulte.com/birchwoodpreserve, or call (888) 500-2107.

Starkey Ranch

It’s hard to imagine a community that’s greener than Starkey Ranch. Located in rural Odessa along the in-demand State Road 54 corridor, about half of the community’s 2,400 acres is devoted to lakes, ponds, wetlands and parks.

To the north and east, its only neighbor is the 18,000-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. At dawn and dusk, the community feels like a bird sanctuary, with wood storks, herons, egrets and cranes. Reclaimed water is used for irrigation in parks, common areas and individual yards.

Pulte Homes offers 20 energy-efficient home designs in this beautiful, exclusive community. Its newest Starkey Ranch neighborhood, Monroe Commons, is an enclave of 95 home sites located adjacent to Huckleberry Pond and the Starkey Ranch District Park.

Monroe Commons is introducing six new home designs, offering two to five bedrooms and 1,950 to 2,470 square feet. Residents love splashing in the community’s pools, exploring the playgrounds, hiking wilderness trails and playing baseball or soccer at its multi-sports fields.

Priced from the high $200s, each new smart home comes with ultra-fast fiber-to-the-home connectivity and the Diamond-rated Environments for Living energy efficiency package. Pulte is looking forward to the upcoming grand opening of the community’s newest models, the Clearwater and the Sienna, which will take place this spring.

In 2016, Starkey Ranch received national recognition as the Master Planned Community of the Year by the National Home Builders Association.

For more information, go to Pulte.com/starkeyranch, or call (877) 752-0173

Life Tested® Designs

Every Pulte home includes Life Tested® Designs that come from Pulte homeowners.

The Pulte Planning Center® is a multifunctional area with counters and cabinets to help a family get organized in one convenient place off their kitchen or gathering room.

The Everyday Entry® drop zone has built-in shelving, hooks and storage to accommodate backpacks, shoes, purses and jackets.

Published on January 24, 2018.

Light rail is top Tampa Bay choice for transit

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A light rail system running beside Interstate 275 is the top choice for transit in a study that identifies potential projects in the Tampa Bay region, according to rankings from the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan.

The route would link Wesley Chapel to Tampa and St. Petersburg, with a stop at the University of South Florida.

The second choice would follow the same route but rely on “rubber tires” in a dedicated lane, most likely buses or self-driving vehicles.

The results are part of an ongoing study, which has included workshops, meetings and social media responses.

The study focused on the urban areas of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Light rail, alongside Interstate 275 or the CSX rail line, is a popular option for a transit project, according to a regional study. (File)

The approximately $1.5 million cost is being funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, with support from local governments and agencies, including the three county governments and their transit agencies.

The study considered rail and rubber tire modes of transportation including express bus, bus rapid transit, light rail/modern streetcar, and commuter rail. A total of 15 projects were ranked based on technical merit, and public opinion.

The study’s findings were presented by HART on Sept. 29 at a meeting attended by the Tampa Bay Transportation Management Area (TMA) Leadership Group. The group includes members from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Previously, the study identified five potential transit corridors. They are Wesley Chapel to USF, Tampa, and St. Petersburg; downtown Tampa to USF; Westshore to Brandon; south Tampa to downtown Tampa; and Clearwater and Gateway to St. Petersburg.

No funding sources have been identified. The study is scheduled to conclude in September 2018 with a recommendation for a specific project that can attract funding and is “forward thinking.”

Other projects with top rankings in order are:

  • Light rail along the CSX rail line between downtown Tampa and USF
  • Rubber tire in a dedicated lane along the rail line, also between downtown Tampa and USF
  • Commuter rail along I-275 linking Wesley Chapel, USF, Tampa and St. Petersburg – tied for fifth
  • Commuter rail along CSX linking downtown Tampa and USF – tied for fifth

Commuter trains generally operate with heavier train cars at higher speeds, more passengers and fewer stops than light rail.

Light rail is closer to a modernized street car with quicker starts and stops, and fewer passengers than commuter trains.

The study also provided a county by county breakdown on preferred choices for transit based on public opinion.

Light rail along I-275 for Wesley Chapel, USF, Tampa, Gateway and St. Petersburg ranked first in Hillsborough and Pinellas.

In Pasco, the same route with some type of bus or self-driving vehicle placed first. Light rail ranked in third place.

For information, visit Tbregionaltransit.com.

Published Oct. 11, 2017

Local athlete relishes national team experience

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Alexis Kilfoyl has had a busy summer, as a member of the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team.

The Academy at the Lakes pitching sensation is one of just 24 athletes on the prestigious roster, which features some of the nation’s top players under 19 years old.

After a weeklong training camp in mid-June, Kilfoyl and her Team USA comrades participated in a round of friendlies and exhibition games against elite travel teams from California, Florida, Massachusetts and Washington.

Alexis Kilfoyl is one of just 24 athletes on the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team. She made the team in January, following a two-day selection process in Clearwater. (Courtesy of USA Softball)

They also competed in the World Cup of Softball XII in Oklahoma City earlier this month, squaring off against some of the top international teams, including Australia, Canada and Japan, among others.

Kilfoyl, who mainly served in a relief role, pitched in six games, posting a 5.04 ERA over 8.1 innings.

The toughest team faced?

“Japan really stood out,” Kilfoyl said. “They have a lot of talent.”

Altogether, the Team USA experience has been enjoyable and unique.

At 16, the right-hander is easily the youngest, and one of just three Floridians on the roster.

She made the team in January, following a two-day selection process in Clearwater.

“It’s very different,” she said. “Just knowing all the girls from all around the country and how they play and meeting them, it was really fun. Knowing (some) of the girls are already in college, the competition is legit.

“I’ve learned like how really high up on the scale the talent is,” she added.

Building relationships and making new friends has proven worthwhile, too.

Kilfoyl previously was familiar with just two other players — University of Alabama’s Elissa Brown and Kaylee Tow.

“I love meeting new people,” Kilfoyl said. “Pretty much everyone was new. Some were friends of friends, but it was my first time meeting them.”

The U.S junior national team is currently in Clearwater, competing in the 26-team WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) Junior Women’s World Championship.

The summer experience also has given Kilfoyl the opportunity to receive top-level coaching, from the likes of Oregon State head coach Laura Berg, Arizona State head coach Trisha Ford, and University of Texas-Arlington head coach Kristie Fox.

“They’ve given us little tips that’ve helped, some in pitching, but definitely more in fielding,” Kilfoyl said. “It’s been more about fixing up little things.”

She added: “I was working just on having everything ready, like having all of my pitches ready when I throw them in a game. Coming up this season for softball, I’m actually going to work on my weaker points, like my rise ball.”

The U.S. squad is currently in Clearwater through July 30, competing in the 26-team WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) Junior Women’s World Championship, trying to defend its 2015 title.

Kilfoyl, however, will be traveling to California, as a member of the Georgia-based East Cobb Bullets Fastpitch travel team. (The U.S. junior team roster was recently pared down to 17 players, with Kilfoyl named one of seven alternates.)

She’ll rejoin the U.S. junior national team Aug. 9 and Aug. 10 in Cincinnati, Ohio, for an exhibition game at the MLB RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) World Series. The RBI program is Major League Baseball’s youth initiative designed to provide young people from underserved and diverse communities with opportunities to play baseball and softball.

One of Tampa Bay’s elite softball prospects, Kilfoyl has always stood out on the diamond.

She’s played varsity softball since the seventh grade, and committed to Alabama her freshman year.

At 6-foot-1, she stands nearly a foot taller than most of her high school teammates.

She has the game to match, with a 68-mph fastball and signature drop-ball pitch.

Kilfoyl won 16 games as a sophomore last season, posting a 0.85 ERA and striking out 201 batters in 115.3 innings — guiding Academy at the Lakes to the Class 2A regional final.

The campaign earned her a nod to the Miracle Sports Class 2A All-State First Team.

“I worked on hitting my spots more consistently,” Kilfoyl said of her sophomore season. “Freshman year, I was kind of chaotic. I would just throw the pitch for no reason, and was a little more careless. But, this year we were playing better teams, where you have to step up your game and start throwing stuff for a purpose.”

Meanwhile, her development —along with fellow AATL teammates—excites her for the 2018 season.

Besides Kilfoyl, the Wildcats are stacked with gifted, young hitters, including freshman Brooke Blankenship (.522 average, six home runs) and Kendra Falby (.537 average, six doubles), and sophomore Jessica Mott (.522 average, nine doubles).

“People are definitely working harder,” she said. “Like all of the girls are playing in really good travel teams this summer, and traveling the country playing in the best tournaments. So, next year everyone’s going to come out a better player, and I think we have a chance to move on to states next year.”

Alexis Kilfoyl’s Academy at the Lakes varsity stats
Sophomore
Pitching: 16 wins, 0.85 ERA, 201 strikeouts in 115.2 innings
Hitting: .517 average, with five home runs, eight doubles and 36 RBIs

Freshman
Pitching: 11 wins, 1.36 ERA, 163 strikeouts in 103 innings
Hitting: .561 average, three home runs, six doubles, 20 RBIs

Eighth grade
Pitching: 12 wins, 0.72 ERA, 111 strikeouts in 87.1 innings
Hitting: .458 average, four home runs, eight doubles, 25 RBIs

Seventh grade
Pitching: 14 wins, 2.61 ERA, 118 strikeouts in 115.1 innings
Hitting: .309 average, four doubles, 12 RBIs

Alexis Kilfoyl’s other accomplishments:

  • First year Team USA member
  • 2016 Junior Olympic Cup Champion,
  • Placed third at 2015 USA Softball 14U Nationals
  • Named 2015 Team MVP at Gainesville GOLD USA Softball Nationals
  • Competed at 2013 USA Softball 12U Nationals
  • Played for the East Cobb Bullets Schnute 18U and Gainesville Gold McFadyen 16U

Q-and-A
What it means to represent the United States: “It’s a dream come true. It’s the biggest honor to wear the letters ‘USA’ across your chest.”

What she enjoys most about softball: “I love working together as a team and the friendships that I have made. I love how everyone is different and works hard in their position. I love the feeling of striking people out and know that if I don’t, I have a team behind me that has my back.”

How she got started playing softball: “I first watched my older brother play baseball when I was 5 years old, so I gave softball a try and absolutely hated it. My dad asked if I would continue to play if he coached the team, and I agreed. I was 7 years old at the time.”

-Stats compiled using maxpreps.com

Published July 26, 2017

Nudist tourism needs more exposure

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Pasco County is the nudist capital of Florida.

The state of Florida is the nudist capital of North America.

But, the clothing-optional lifestyle is an often overlooked tourism market that contributes $7.4 billion to the state’s economy annually, according to a report from the American Association of Nudist Recreation.

Monique Liliensiek, center, filmed a German documentary, ‘World of Nudism,’ at Lake Como Resort in 2014.
(File)

The association wants to put the spotlight on missed economic opportunities across the state, and in Pasco.

How about nudist days at Pasco’s beach parks? Should there be nudist beaches at Sand Island and Anclote Island, or at an undeveloped lake at SunWest Park?

Starkey Wilderness might yield opportunities for nude recreation activities, too.

Those were some of the ideas included in the AANR report, which was compiled by John Heather, a consultant for the organization and an instructor of international tourism & hospitality management at Saint Leo University.

Heather was guest speaker at the Feb. 14 general meeting of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco could be a role model on how to build on the existing economic base of nudist recreation, Heather said.

“We don’t have the beaches of Clearwater or the vibrant culture of downtown St. Petersburg,” Heather said. “But, we are so fortunate to be on major (highway) arteries. A lot of these resorts are in rural areas. They are something to make your place unique.”

Pasco’s history with the nudist lifestyle began decades ago, with resorts, social clubs and residential communities. Lake Como Resort, for instance, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2016.

Other locations for vacations and permanent residency are Caliente Resort & Spa and Lake Paradise Resort. The Oasis is a gated, upscale subdivision described as a hybrid nudist community.

Nudist communities and resorts are spread across the state.

According to the AANR report there are:

  • 34 nudist resorts, including eight in Pasco County
  • 30 naturist social clubs
  • 5,100 nudist resort rooms available
  • 2 million nudist room nights sold in 2016
  • 22 million visitor nights
  • Visitors on average stay 10 nights, with a high percentage staying a month or more
  • $4.3 billion a year in direct spending by nudist visitors.

While the nudist population in Pasco is sometimes pegged at about 10,000, Heather said it’s difficult to pin down exact numbers.

Some visitors are “snowbirds” who stay during the winter; others are international visitors who might stay 10 days; some are day-trippers from nearby counties; and others are permanent residents, he said.

Pasco clearly is a star in the nudist firmament.

In 2014, a German documentary, “World of Nudism,” was filmed at Lake Como. A TLC reality television show, “Buy Naked,” features local real estate agent, Jackie Youngblood, as she finds and sells homes in Pasco for her nudist clients.

A Bare Dare 5K is an annual event at Caliente and is probably the largest naked runners’ race in North America.

Pasco County’s website has an online link, “Naked People Vacation Here,” at VisitPasco.net.

“They recognize that it is very important to our tourism tax here,” said Heather.

But, much more could be done to promote nudist tourism, he added.

Six new hotels are under construction or newly opened in Pasco, but Heather said they often focus on the business traveler. More resorts and tourist hotels are needed, he said.

Statewide, cruise lines are adding more clothing-optional vacations.

Currently, the only officially sanctioned nudist beach is in Miami, on the northern end of Haulover Beach.

But, nudists are quietly accepted at a few other locations including Playlinda, at the federally owned Cape Canaveral National Seashore.

The AANR report highlighted Haulover’s economic benefits to Miami.

About $988,000 in parking fees from nude beach visitors were collected at the north parking lot in 2015-2016.

The annual expenditures from nudist tourism is pegged at about $1 billion.

“The nude beach is packed with people,” Heather said.

Still, there is acknowledgement that nude beaches would be a challenge. “It could be a political back and forth,” Heather said.

But, the payoff could be significant, he said.

Pasco County set a record last year by earning nearly $1 million from tourist tax revenues.

Overall, tourism has grown in Florida from about $87 billion in 2011 to about $109 billion in 2016.

“Your return on investment is just too great,” he said.

Published February 22, 2017

 

Enjoying a free concert with mom

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Mother’s Day is coming up. That probably means flowers and a card for your mom, your spouse or someone you know who is a mom.

And that sounds like a nice way to recognize them: Flowers and a card. Not very creative, of course. Maybe a little boring when you think about it. But nice, I guess.

The question is, do you want to be boring, or do you want mom to know she’s special? Does she really want another year of flowers to throw away and a card to put in a shoebox? Or does she want to spend some quality time with you and the family?

The Florida Orchestra's free concert on Mother's Day will include classics, contemporary pieces and fireworks. (Photos courtesy of The Florida Orchestra)
The Florida Orchestra’s free concert on Mother’s Day will include classics, contemporary pieces and fireworks.
(Photos courtesy of The Florida Orchestra)

Maybe this is the year to surprise mom with something she doesn’t expect, like an evening listening to live, classical music from an acclaimed orchestra. How often does she get to do that?

On Mother’s Day, May 8, the whole family can do something together when the Florida Orchestra performs a free concert at Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, in Tampa. It’s a nearly two-hour show with music you’ve definitely heard before, including some classic favorites. As in, legitimate classics.

Oh, and did I mention it’s free? I did? OK, just checking.

The Florida Orchestra has put together a Mother’s Day performance for the past few years, and the concert is very popular. Thousands of people bring lawn chairs, food, drinks, blankets and even leashed pets (the park is dog-friendly) to hear them perform.

And it’s not just a few parts of the orchestra. It’s the whole thing. Around 60 musicians will perform compositions like Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Offenbach’s Can-Can.

Never heard those, you say? Yes, you have. You might not know them by name, but when you hear it you’ll recognize it. There’s also going to be music from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and a tribute to The Beatles. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. Throw in the Olympic fanfare and finish it all off with some fireworks, and you have an evening of fun, unique entertainment.

otc-crowd rgb
Thousands turn out to enjoy The Florida Orchestra’s free show each year.

And how will mom feel about taking her to a free event? I think she’ll be proud to know that you listened to her about saving money and being responsible with your finances. And she’ll be honored that you’re spending time with her to do something unique and fun. No offense to flower shops and candy makers, but this is a memory that will last a lot longer.

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m., but you’ll want to get there early to get a good spot. Feel free to invite other mothers, too. Maybe you know a mom whose children don’t live locally, or aren’t with them anymore. They deserve to be recognized, too. So whether it’s a friend, neighbor or family member, invite them to come with you and enjoy some entertaining live music from a special group of performers. This isn’t some garage band playing at a neighborhood party. The Florida Orchestra has been around for decades, performed with Whitney Houston when she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl and presents nearly 100 concerts each year.

Except most of those concerts aren’t free.

This one is.

So Happy Mother’s Day, and enjoy the music.

By the way, if you can’t make it on Sunday, the full orchestra is performing a free one-hour set on May 7 — the night before the Mother’s Day concert — at Westfield Countryside Mall, 27001 US Highway 19 North in Clearwater.

It’s a bit of a drive, but if you want to see them for free and already have Mother’s Day plans, it’s a good way to catch the orchestra. That performance begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.

Published May 4, 2016

By Michael Murillo

 

Swimming against all odds

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Thomas Casey will be making his 16th swim this year to raise money for people battling cancer.

Casey, 57, flies to his hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut each summer to participate in the annual SWIM Across the Sound — a 15.5-mile swim marathon stretching from Port Jefferson, New York to Bridgeport — helping to raise $2.5 million each year.

It wasn’t until 2012, though, that he found out that he also is dealing with the disease.

Lutz resident Thomas Casey was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma in 2012. The cancer spread from his kidney to the bones in both of his arms. (Photos courtesy of Thomas Casey)
Lutz resident Thomas Casey was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma in 2012. The cancer spread from his kidney to the bones in both of his arms.
(Photos courtesy of Thomas Casey)

When he was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma — the most common form of kidney cancer — it came without warning.

The Lutz resident said there was “no history of cancer” in his family.

He was diagnosed shortly before he was scheduled to make the trip to Bridgeport.

“Six weeks before the event, I went to the doctor’s (office) because I was having pain in my left side, and I found out I had diverticulitis, and he said, ‘Oh, and by the way, your left kidney is filled with cancer,’” Casey said. “Being told you have cancer, everybody says the same thing: ‘It’s like you got hit by a freight train,’ and it’s true.”

Casey acknowledges it’s a strange feeling — to know he is the only member of his family to be stricken with the disease.

“I’ve got three brothers and a sister with no cancer,” he said. “I’m the only one…out of my family that does any kind of (cancer) fundraising, and I get it. But, I don’t take it that way, and I never say, ‘Why me?’ I don’t have that attitude.”

Even after having his kidney removed, the cancer had spread to his arms, where tumors were virtually breaking the bones in half.

Despite being stricken with Stage IV cancer, Casey swims three to four days per week. He helps raise money for cancer victims by swimming in the annual SWIM Across the Sound, a 15.5-mile swim marathon that stretches from Port Jefferson, New York to Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Despite being stricken with Stage IV cancer, Casey swims three to four days per week. He helps raise money for cancer victims by swimming in the annual SWIM Across the Sound, a 15.5-mile swim marathon that stretches from Port Jefferson, New York to Bridgeport, Connecticut.

With the help of Dr. David Cheong, an orthopaedic oncologist, Casey had both tumors removed. To reinforce the upper-arm bone, known as the humerus, in both of Casey’s arms, the doctor inserted two 10 ½-inch plates to provide both mechanical and rotational stability.

“Humeral shaft tumors can be particularly devastating because they run the length of the bone,” said Cheong, a surgeon with Orthopaedic Associates of West Florida in Clearwater.

“Patients generally need extensive therapy to regain normal function,” the surgeon said.

However, Casey was a rare case.

The Lutz resident’s recovery went so well so quickly that he is able to swim a mile (72 lengths) three to four days a week.

“The doctor that has rebuilt me is totally amazing.  I can not thank Dr. Cheong and the other professionals enough that have worked with me,” said Casey, who’s already booked his trip for the 2016 SWIM Across the Sound event.

“I don’t know if any other person could have done what he did. …For what he’s done for me, I am totally, wholeheartedly grateful.”

Dr. David Cheong is an orthopaedic oncologist with Orthopaedic Associates of West Florida in Clearwater. He removed tumors in Thomas Casey’s arms and inserted two 10 ½-inch plates to provide both mechanical and rotational stability for his upper arms. (Courtesy of Ashley Pontius)
Dr. David Cheong is an orthopaedic oncologist with Orthopaedic Associates of West Florida in Clearwater. He removed tumors in Thomas Casey’s arms and inserted two 10 ½-inch plates to provide both mechanical and rotational stability for his upper arms.
(Courtesy of Ashley Pontius)

“If you see me, you would not believe that I have these rods in my arms, and am still able to swim and raise money for the foundation up there,” he said.

While he knows the clear cell carcinoma is still in his body and “isn’t going anywhere,” Casey uses swimming as a coping mechanism.

“You think, and you kind of dream when you’re in the water. I think a lot about what’s coming up,” said Casey, who’s been a swimmer for more than half his life. “I can’t work anymore; the one thing I can do is swim. Not to be able to swim anymore would probably upset me.”

According to Dr. Cheong, it’s important for cancer patients like Casey to have an activity where they can focus their energy.

“I have always known Thomas to be a highly motivated individual with goals and aspirations to beat cancer and maintain an active lifestyle,” the surgeon said. “I believe that this attitude is the single most important aspect to a patient’s recovery and success.”

Casey also puts it on himself to speak to others about the deadly disease. He said that having open discussions about cancer has helped him deal with it.

“I don’t like sitting at home all day. I try to do things, but I don’t let this (cancer) depress me at all,” Casey said.

Casey has had radiation three times, but has never undergone chemotherapy.

Casey acknowledges that with Stage IV cancer, “the worst is yet to come.”

But, he doesn’t let the thought disturb him.

“Technically I should be dead now. But, it’s not killed me yet, and I keep fighting it,” he said, noting the typical life expectancy is two years for someone with his type of cancer.

What bothers him most is seeing children who have cancer, Casey said.

“I’ve lived 57 years and these children, basically, have not lived,” Casey said.

Published March 30, 2016

Former Lutz Guv’na is now Saucy Queen

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It all began with a carrot.

Well, a basket of carrots, actually.

Carrots were the vegetable of the week at Learning Gate Community School in Lutz, and everyone was encouraged to come up with an idea to make vegetables more enticing for kids.

Michele Northrup poses near her gourmet hot sauces, now available on the shelves of some Winn-Dixie stores in Florida. (Photos courtesy of Michele Northrup)
Michele Northrup poses near her gourmet hot sauces, now available on the shelves of some Winn-Dixie stores in Florida.
(Photos courtesy of Michele Northrup)

Michele Northrup, who works at the charter school, decided to combine the sweetness of carrots with the heat of peppers to concoct a gourmet hot sauce.

People said the sauce tasted so good, she should bottle it.

So, she did.

Since then, she launched a business named Intensity Academy and has branched out to have a product line including sauces, dry rubs and dips.

Her company’s gourmet sauces also have garnered 57 national awards.

Last year, Northrup and her husband, Tom Was, joined forces with a partner to open their own bottling plant, The Sauceology Group, in Clearwater.

Intensity Academy also was selected by Winn-Dixie to stock its product in about 150 Winn-Dixie stores across Florida.

“In the middle of the summer, Winn-Dixie did a really big, grassroots search for local, quality products,” Northrup said. “They put the word out through all festivals and markets that they were looking for products to showcase their Winn-Local program.

“So, we did a pitch, very similar to a ‘Shark Tank’ pitch,” Northrup said, referring to the television program which gives product inventors a chance to win backing from potential investors.

“We did samples of foods with all of our sauces, and we presented it to them, and we had little cheat sheets, so they knew what sauces they were eating with what foods.

“We had to talk about our fan bases and our social media, and how we built our businesses from the ground up.

“From that selection process, they narrowed it down to a few key products for the state of Florida,” Northrup said.

The rollout began around Thanksgiving and is occurring gradually.

The fun part, Northrup said, is finding out from fans where her sauces are showing up in other parts of the state. They’ll pose in front of a shelf and take a “Saucy Selfie” to send to her, Northrup said.

One of the five artisanal hot sauce developed by Intensity Academy for The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.
One of the five artisanal hot sauce developed by Intensity Academy for The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

Northrup was also notified last week that she is one of five finalists in the first annual “That Business Show Awards” selected by Jamie Meloni, host of the iheartradio show.

Northrup is thrilled by the achievement of a business she has built from, literally, the ground up.

She launched Intensity Academy in 2007, the same year she was making her run for Lutz Guv’na.

The honorary title is won by raising the most cash, and proceeds from the race go to local organizations and charities.

Northrup raised $16,912, setting a record for the race.

Throughout her bid, she was introducing her sauce and using proceeds from their sales to fill her campaign coffers.

Her Guv’na bid helped groups in Lutz, but also helped Northrup get her fledgling business off the ground.

People who had tasted her sauces during the campaign wanted to buy more, she said.

Now, Northrup’s sauces are sold at specialty markets, and dozens of festivals and fresh markets each year.

She also delivers. She tools around the area, making stops in Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Trinity, Citrus Park, Carrollwood and other spots to drop off orders.

Now, she’s transitioning the business. Her sons Christian, Sebastian and Tommy, and their girlfriends, now handle the events and markets.

She’s focusing on product development and marketing, and her husband is in charge of the Clearwater warehouse.

“I do all of the artwork for the labels. I draw all of the designs.”

She’s still developing new sauce flavors, too.

“Our newest sauce is a mustard. It’s MustThai. MustThai is a must try. It’s a spicy mustard,” she said.

The bottling plant provides services for 11 brands on a regular basis and about 20 others, periodically, she said.

At Sauceology, she helps new companies get their grassroots marketing going.

“Really, for me, the marketing and the branding, and the social media — I love that.  I love the connection side of it, too,” she said, noting she has about 10,000 combined followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The common question she gets is: “How did you get started?”

Another popular query is: “How do you take an idea and actually make it into something? That’s why I ended up branching off into Sauceology, because I was giving everybody advice all of the time,” she said.

When she meets someone who has an idea and a passion for it, she tells them: “Take the chance. Take the leap. That’s the difference right there.”

It’s not necessary to know all the answers, or how it will all play out, she said.

Just get started and don’t be intimidated, she advised.

“The first step makes all of the difference,” she said.

“You don’t always have to know how you’re going to finish it, or how you’re going to do the whole thing,” Northrup said.

“I would have never thought that I’d have my own manufacturing plant — from just that little idea from a carrot in a garden,” she said.

To learn more about her business, search Intensity Academy on Facebook or visit www.intensityacademy.com.

Published January 20, 2016

Russian politics played a role in San Antonio train depot

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The history of a train depot building in San Antonio is rooted in political uncertainty in Russia roughly 135 years ago.

On Feb. 17, 1880, a second assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II occurred in the imperial dining room of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Terrorists blew up the dining room, killing or maiming 67 people – but the emperor wasn’t present during the attempt on his life.

The Orange Belt No. 203 was the primary locomotive that was used for the tourist line between San Antonio and Blanton in 1976. It was built in 1925 for the Washington & Lincolnton railroad that ran out of Lincolnton, Georgia. When it had mechanical problems, the railroad was able to lease Orange Belt No. 11. (Courtesy Jack Bejna/railroadpictures.net)
The Orange Belt No. 203 was the primary locomotive that was used for the tourist line between San Antonio and Blanton in 1976. It was built in 1925 for the Washington & Lincolnton railroad that ran out of Lincolnton, Georgia. When it had mechanical problems, the railroad was able to lease Orange Belt No. 11.
(Courtesy Jack Bejna/railroadpictures.net)

The previous year, nitroglycerine was used in a failed effort to destroy Alexander II’s train. And, there was the unsuccessful mission to blow up the Kamenny Bridge in St. Petersburg as the tsar was passing over it.

These events, and the political uncertainty that followed them, prompted Piotr Alexandrovitch Dementieff, a Russian nobleman, to flee to Florida as a Russian exile.

Dementieff, who later shortened his name to Peter A. Demens, would go on to become a co-founder of St. Petersburg, Florida.

And, the city would become home to the southern terminus for one of the longest narrow gauge railroads in the United States at the time of its completion in 1888.

The decision to locate a railway line in St. Petersburg was made during the same time that Henry B. Plant was opening up a rail line near Port Tampa, which had a depth of 5 feet.

St. Petersburg, by comparison, had a harbor with a depth of 18 feet, enabling it to import and export more cargo.

With dozens of railroads competing in Florida, Demens saw an advantage in running a railroad north from St. Petersburg to transport the area’s abundant long-leaf yellow pine and its citrus.

Known as the Orange Belt Railway, the mainline was 152 miles long.

It was the first to cross central Pasco County diagonally — through Trilby, San Antonio, Ehren, Drexel and Odessa.

The Orange Belt Railway also played a role in the development of other towns along its route including Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater and Largo.

San Antonio’s historic depot is the last one remaining on the Orange Belt Railway. The railway crossed Pasco County for 80 years, connecting northern markets in the St. Johns River area with St. Petersburg. The depot was completely restored in 1996 with a $15,600 preservation grant from the state, plus a $25,000 contribution from Pasco County and countless hours of volunteer help. The depot currently serves as railroad museum, a community building and a voting precinct location. (Doug Sanders/Photo)
San Antonio’s historic depot is the last one remaining on the Orange Belt Railway. The railway crossed Pasco County for 80 years, connecting northern markets in the St. Johns River area with St. Petersburg. The depot was completely restored in 1996 with a $15,600 preservation grant from the state, plus a $25,000 contribution from Pasco County and countless hours of volunteer help. The depot currently serves as railroad museum, a community building and a voting precinct location.
(Doug Sanders/Photo)

As a narrow gauge (3 feet) railway company, Demens had arranged for some incredible financing — which left him in debt with angry capitalists in Philadelphia.

“At one time, his creditors chained his locomotives to the tracks,” writes Glen Dill for The Suncoast News in August 1988. “At another time, his unpaid track-laying crew stormed after him on a hand car, planning to lynch him.”

The Orange Belt faced many hardships in its early years due to debt run up during various phases of construction.

Frigid temperatures during the Great Freeze of 1894-1895 killed many citrus groves in Florida.

The freeze also ended Demens’ ownership of the Orange Belt.

Within weeks, he sold the Orange Belt Railway to railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant.

Plant converted most of the railway to standard gauge (4 feet 8 1⁄2 inches), which made it more profitable.

In 1902, the Plant system became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Passengers would later ride on that railroad in luxury Pullman railcars with sleeper berths during Florida’s land boom in the 1920s.

As cars, buses and planes took more passengers, the Atlantic Coast Line discontinued its train service in 1970.

The depot in San Antonio was left abandoned and forgotten until 1976, when a group of Tampa residents organized under the name of Robert Most and Associates. They took passengers on a round-trip railroad excursion, typically a 90-minute trip, from San Antonio to Blanton on weekends and holidays.

The last ride took place on Feb. 21, 1978.

Sections of the Orange Belt rail line are now part of the Pinellas Trail in Pinellas County, the South Lake Minneola Scenic Trail in Lake County and the West Orange Trail in Orange County.

The depot in San Antonio is a reminder of the vibrant role that railroads played during the early days of Florida’s development.

The historic depot is the last one remaining on the Orange Belt Railway, which crossed Pasco County for 80 years, connecting northern markets in the St. Johns River area with St. Petersburg.

The depot was completely restored in 1996 with a $15,600 preservation grant from the state, plus a $25,000 contribution from Pasco County and countless hours of volunteer help.

With a history that had its roots in politics, the San Antonio depot also has a connection to political life today.

Besides serving as a railroad museum and community building, it’s a voting precinct, too.

Peter Demens won a coin toss, according to a local legend, and named St. Petersburg, Florida, after his hometown in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Demens was selected as a Great Floridian in 2000 by the Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities.

By Doug Sanders

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published December 9, 2015

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North turns five

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When St. Joseph’s Hospital-North opened its doors five years ago, it was the first new hospital built in Hillsborough County in 30 years.

“Our goal was to provide a health care alternative in this community because there really weren’t many alternatives,” said Paula McGuiness, president of the hospital, at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz..

“It was an underdeveloped medical infrastructure, if you will. There weren’t many doctors out here. There certainly wasn’t a hospital,” McGuiness said.

A look at the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A look at the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

People needing to go to a hospital had to drive 13 miles or more, she added. “That was why this was built.”

The hospital acquired the land in the 1980s, anticipating a future need, McGuiness said.

Since St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began operations on Feb. 15, 2010, both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Medical Center of Trinity, in neighboring Pasco County, have opened their doors.

“You would think that it would have a big impact on the volume of patients that we see, but, in fact, there has not been much change, overall,” McGuiness said.

More than a half-million people visited a loved one at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North during the hospital’s first five years, and it treated nearly a quarter-million patients.

The hospital’s work force has grown, too.

It began with around 425 employees and now exceeds 575, McGuiness said. Many employees have been there since it opened.

“We have a lot of team members who previously had worked in places like St. Pete and Clearwater, so now, we have provided a close-to-home work environment,” she said.

There’s also a medical office building on the property, housing physicians from a wide array of specialty areas.

The hospital has an ambulance service and a helipad, enabling it to transport patients to other facilities when necessary.

In fact, when St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was planning to move into Lutz, one of the most controversial aspects was its intention to have a helipad.

“People were concerned we were going to be bringing in helicopters to be a port here. We’re not transporting in. What we do is we do transfer out,” McGuiness said.

The hospital was built with comfort in mind, for both patients and their families.

“The aesthetics don’t make the care, but they are a kind of backdrop for the kind of care that we provide,” McGuiness said. “If you can provide an ambience, an environment that is soothing and restful and doesn’t have that sterile, stereotypic hospital feel, then you can support the health and well-being of individuals that come here.”

Along those lines, the hospital’s common areas are spacious and inviting, and all patient rooms are private.

The patient rooms are designed with the notion that family members would be active participants in their loved one’s care, McGuiness said.

“Even with the ICU (intensive care unit), we allow the family to stay in the room with the patient during their stay, if that’s what they desire,” McGuiness said. “It’s not just the patient, it is the family that needs that type of support.”

In terms of construction, the hospital was built to accommodate future expansion.

It also was designed with the environment and energy conservation in mind.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first acute hospital in Florida to be LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)-registered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The hospital has technology that is designed to support quality patient care, in a secure environment.

It was the first hospital in Baycare Health System to be almost entirely paperless.

The electronic medical records represent a significant technological move forward in the arena of patient care, McGuiness said. The records give doctors access to a patient’s medical history.

“No matter the event — whether you’re able to say what your history has been or not — we’re going to be able to access that (information) for you and take care of you,” McGuiness said.

The hospital surgical services include ear, nose and throat; gastrointestinal, gynecological, orthopedic, podiatry, urology and plastics, in case of reconstructions necessary from trauma.

Early on, it added a labor and delivery unit.

“When we first opened, we didn’t have a mom-baby and labor and delivery unit set up. We were still working with our physicians to bring them onboard.

“So, it was about nine months before we delivered the program,” McGuiness said. So far, more than 1,700 babies have been born there.

On another front, “we’ve added oncology infusion services, which is a big deal for us,” McGuiness said.

“Obviously, we have the cancer institute at the (St. Joseph’s Hospital) main campus (in Tampa), but this is a feeder.

“It’s not a great time when someone is going through chemo, and to be able to have the service so close to home, I think, makes a difference. At least, that’s what our patients say,” McGuiness said.

Besides providing medical care, the hospital also has become part of the community’s fabric in other ways, too, McGuiness said.

She’s especially pleased by that community partnership.

One way it connects is through its educational programs, she said.

“In the five years, we’ve provided over 500 educational classes,” she said. They can be as simple as CPR, childbirth classes or safe-sitter program.

But there’s also a whole lecture series, provided by physicians, to help people with medical issues.

“At different points of your life, you’re interested in different things: Your hip replacements, your knee replacements,” McGuiness said. “We have those kinds of sessions. Our doctors do that as a voluntary service for the community.”

The quality of food in the hospital’s café also made it an attractive place for people to meet and eat, she said.

It’s not unusual for people from nearby Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church to have meetings at the hospital, or to come by after Sunday services for brunch.

McGuiness welcomes those visitors.

“That just reinforces how much of a part of that fabric of the community that you are,” she said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North 5th anniversary
When: April 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz
Who: All are welcome
What: Children’s activities; health and wellness demonstrations and speakers; baby play area; a reunion of babies born at the hospital with the doctors and nurses who cared for them; food trucks; wellness screenings; live entertainment; a teddy bear clinic (bring your own teddy bear patient); and, judging of a baby photo contest the hospital conducted on its Facebook page throughout March.
Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated. Please call (813) 644-6772.

By the numbers
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began treating patients on Feb. 15, 2010. Since then, more than a half-million people have visited the facility.

The hospital has:

  • Delivered more than 1,700 babies
  • Treated nearly 220,000 patients
  • Logged 15,284 volunteer service hours
  • Performed 13,783 surgeries
  • Completed 9,010 endoscopies

Published April 8, 2015