The Laker/Lutz News

North Dale Mabry Highway

‘TRAVERSE’ AND ENJOY THE LANDSCAPE IN THIS CHEVY CROSSOVER

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Numerous three-row SUVs compete vigorously in the market, but among the standouts is the Chevrolet Traverse, which went through a major overhaul this year. It’s like the rebirth of an all-new vehicle, with a total revamping inside and out.

Sharing its design with the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, the body-frame integral structure of the Traverse will boost the confidence of any driver. Lighter by 400 pounds with a 3-inch legroom boost for second-row passengers (from previous model), it is equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine putting out a healthy 310 horsepower. That is plenty of clout to propel this 4,362-pound SUV toward its destination briskly on challenging roads.

Power routed through the crisp-shifting 9-speed auto gear box delivers adequate performance. Standard active noise cancellation isolates occupants from road sound and imperfections.

Available as front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the Traverse comes in base L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier and High Country seating seven or eight passengers.

Of course, it’s in the passenger/cargo department that the Traverse truly shines. Have a seat up front in the muscularly-styled SUV and you will notice that the center stack offers MyLink with a 7-inch color touch screen for hands-free phone and audio. Underneath the infotainment system are large illuminated climate control knobs. The instrument cluster of two gauge binnacles hosting readings for speedometer, tachometer, water temp, battery and fuel, as well as a driver information center, is simple but clear.

Thanks to tri-zone auto a/c, the driver and all passengers can control their own individual temperature settings. The 60/40 second-row and 50/50 third-row seats can be folded via a lever. That opens up 98.2 cubic feet of storage area. Simply put, throw in a stroller, numerous pieces of luggage, backpack, ice chest, cooler, etc., into the cargo hold and the Traverse laps it all up.

The four-spoke robust steering wheel, which offers controls for audio, phone and cruise, has a robust look and feel to it. Providing eye candy is wood sprinkled on the front center console around cup holders and doors in certain trims. And, during those occasional rainy days, umbrella holders in the front doors will come in quite handy.

Dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for both rows, front center airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes with brake assist, antiskid system, stability and traction control, remote vehicle start, rearview camera, hill start assist, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are standard.

Go ahead and ‘Traverse’ the landscape in this Chevy crossover. There is abundant power to ensure a quick but silent and smooth ride, with superb handling and cornering balance. A solid chassis and exceptional people- and cargo-hauling capabilities in this nearly full-size SUV will serve the needs of large households quite well.

TRAVERSE (FWD L)

Tires: P225/65R18
Wheelbase: 120.9 inches
Length: 204.9 inches
Width: 78.6 inches
Height: 70.7 inches
Suspension: MacPherson strut independent front; 5-link rear
Steering: electric variable power
Tow capacity: 5,000 pounds
Fuel capacity: 19.4 gallons
Highway: 27 mpg
City: 18 mpg
Base price: $30,925
Web site: DavidMausChevrolet.com

Test drive the Traverse and other Chevrolet vehicles at David Maus Chevrolet, 16414 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa or call (813) 969-2600.

Published December 19, 2018

Duke Energy is planning a project in Lutz-Land O’ Lakes

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Duke Energy plans to install a new substation and transmission lines to meet the electrical demands of the growing population and businesses in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

The energy company had a public open house at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lutz to share its plans.

Those attending could drop by multiple booths, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., to learn the particular’s about the project’s engineering and potential impacts to traffic, the environment and vegetation.

Construction for the new substation is planned to start January 2020 at an open field in Land O’ Lakes, where Morgan Road and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard intersect.

A 230-kV line and two 69-kV lines will run from the new substation to the existing Denham substation on State Road 54.

Three routes are being considered:

  • Route 1 would run down the eastside of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard heading south, then turning east on to Carson Drive where it would then cut south through a trail to State Road 54.
  • Route 2 would take the same path as Route 1, while traveling on the westside of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.
  • Route 3 would cross from the west side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard to the east side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and then head south, cutting through an open field and then turning east on Carson Drive, then head south where Route 1 and Route 2 run to State Road 54.

Property owners will be informed by letter in November regarding which route has been selected.

At the same time, Duke Energy will announce the path that a 230-kV transmission line will take  to get from the new Morgan Road substation to its endpoint at the intersection of North Dale Mabry Highway and West County Line Road in Lutz.

Currently, Duke and Pasco County are only making a proposal for the 3-mile path, and are working in accordance with the Tampa Electric Company.

Substations control the flow of electricity, taking high amounts of voltage and converting it to lower levels so transmission lines can distribute appropriate amounts to local communities.

Mark Hickson, a Duke Energy associate, was at the engineering booth and stressed the benefit of new lines for backup energy.

“These transmission lines are here to help boost the capacity so that during storms, winter peaks, summer peaks – we’re not in a situation [where] we could lose the area,” he said.

In addition to assuring the project will provide a safe infrastructure, Hickson stated that Duke is keeping in constant communication with the Pasco County officials.

The project will use overhead transmission lines, which the utility officials say are more cost effective and pose fewer impacts on natural resources, such as wetlands and wildlife habitats.

The proposed routes are not in dense residential areas.

Once the official path has been chosen, the public will be informed of any traffic detours needed during construction.

“We might have to close down a lane for a few hours,” said Drew Gilmore, lead public engagement specialist for Duke Energy. “That’s all carefully planned and choreographed.”

The company will avoid causing traffic delays during peak traffic times, Gilmore said.

The project is scheduled for completion in November 2021.

To view the current project proposals online, visit tinyurl.com/ybl5yhfl.

For additional information, contact Duke Energy at (877) 552-8725 or by emailing .

Published October 24, 2018

Former radio programmer launches new musical venture

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In his former days as a music radio program director, Rick Schmidt helped launched the careers of such hit bands as Sister Hazel, Creed, and Shinedown.

His next venture: A music school in Lutz.

Schmidt is the new franchise owner of Bach to Rock, which offers a progressive music education for all ages.

The school, slated to open in October, will be located in the Van Dyke Commons shopping plaza, at 17463 N. Dale Mabry Highway.

Former 98 Rock program director Rick Schmidt is the new franchise owner of Bach to Rock Tampa music school, in Lutz. The school, scheduled to open in October, will be located in the Van Dyke Commons shopping plaza, at 17463 N. Dale Mabry Highway. (Courtesy of Bach to Rock)

The Bach to Rock franchise calls itself “the music school kids would have designed for themselves.”

Schmidt describes it as “a music school on steroids.”

Before taking on the franchise, the Odessa resident said he’d been searching for music lessons for his four children for the past few years.

Uninspired by local offerings, he caught wind of Bach to Rock — and figured he’d open his own.

“As a parent, it sort of worked that I just got the most expensive music lessons ever,” Schmidt jokes about opening a music school.

It marks the Tampa area’s first Bach to Rock franchise. Nationally, there are more than 30 locations of the franchise that first opened in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2007.

Bach to Rock Tampa will offer individual and group lessons in piano, voice, guitar, drum and DJ/EDM production. It also offers music programs for preschoolers and toddlers, and beginning piano for children in kindergarten through second grade.

Students at the school will quickly be able to form bands once they learn the basics of music theory and how to read music. The school will have between six and eight music instructors to start.

Weekly ensemble instruction and band formations will lead to public concerts, Battle of the Bands and recording sessions in the school’s professional recording studios.

Schmidt explained: “The goal is to get you into a band and get you playing out on a stage within a couple of months, and get you comfortable being out and getting practice on your songs.”

Students will be free to learn various instruments and play music of all genres, whether it be alternative, country, pop, classic rock or jazz.

They also will be encouraged to play current hits — everything from Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, to Imagine Dragons, Twenty One Pilots, and so on.

“There’s so many kids nowadays that go from (listening to) a country song to a hip-hop song,” Schmidt said, “so I really like the idea that there’s multiple music genres.”

In addition to music instruction and performances, Bach to Rock Tampa also will host summer camps, birthday parties and corporate events inside its 2,100-square- foot space.

Not everyone has to be a rock star
Schmidt said the goal of the new school isn’t necessarily “to find the next rock star.”

Instead, he wants kids to learn to play music — and have a blast doing it.

“You don’t have to be a rock star to play a song,” Schmidt said. “The goal is to try to get them to play, to get them to have fun and enjoy it.”

For students who exhibit exceptional musical abilities, Schmidt believes he will be able to leverage his music industry experience and connections.

“I have radio ears,” said Schmidt, who spent 20-plus years in the industry before stepping away in 2007. “I can hear a single and go, ‘Hey, let’s tighten this up, let’s do this, let’s move this bridge over here.’”

As a music radio program director, Schmidt ran Tampa’s 98 Rock and DC101, a heritage rock station in Washington D.C., that famously housed Howard Stern’s radio show in the early 1980s.

He also programmed stations in other locations, including Gainesville, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.

With an ability to spot talent, Schmidt gave airplay to rock bands like Sister Hazel, Creed, and Shinedown — well before they were famous and sold millions of records.

One of Schmidt’s favorite tales comes from doing radio in Tallahassee in the 1990s.

When he was helping to record some commercials for a local bar, he was handed a 6 ½-minute song on a cassette.

Schmidt liked the song, but urged the bar owner to tell the band to cut the song’s length for radio play.

That band happened to be Creed, which went on to sell more than 50 million albums worldwide.

Before their massive popularity, Schmidt remembers Creed playing “all these tiny little gigs” such as Tallahassee’s The Mill Bakery, Eatery and Brewery.

While working at 98 Rock a few years later, Schmidt gave early airplay to another band, based out of Jacksonville.

That band was Shinedown. It has since sold more than 10 million records worldwide and produced a dozen No. 1 singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. That is second of all time, behind Van Halen and Three Days Grace, which each have 13.

“It’s neat to see them become that,” said Schmidt, who now works in marketing.

Schmidt hopes to enlighten future Bach to Rock students about the history of Florida’s deep-rooted music scene.

Lesson and performance rooms will be named after those Florida-based artists and groups, as well as others such as Tom Petty and Casting Crowns.

A wide assortment of memorabilia will permeate the school’s hallways and walls, including references to Matchbox 20, NSync, and Lynyrd Skynyrd — who each broke ground in Florida.

“Having that Florida theme is really important for people to just sort of recognize, ‘Wow, there’s so much talent here in this area,’” Schmidt said.

To learn more about Bach to Rock, visit BachToRock.com.

Published August 8, 2018

Lake Park: It’s a go-to place for fun

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The common lament — ‘there’s nothing to do,’ could not be farther from the truth at Lake Park, a one-stop shop for solitary getaways and fun family activities at 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

Fourteen-year-old Dalton Gerbase, No. 9, of Odessa, is leading 14-year-old Evan Hall, No. 111, of Hudson. Trailing in third place is Thomas Flint, age 13, from Palm Harbor, as they race for the finish line at the Tampa BMX Raceway. (Randy Underhill)

For $2 per car, visitors to the 589-acre park will find themselves surrounded by recreational options.

There are pavilions and grills for those wanting to picnic, plus nearby playgrounds for the kids.

There are five lakes, as well as a boat ramp, canoe rentals and kayaking.

There also are places to fish, to watch birds and to go horseback riding.

For people who enjoy fitness activities, there’s a 2-mile path for walkers, joggers, runners and bicyclists.

And, for those who prefer a bit of solitude, there are plenty of spots where you can sit back and relax.

Marsha Johnson, left, and Andrew Johnson, both of Ruskin, fish for brim (bluegill) at one the five lakes at Lake Park. The park also offers a boat and kayak launch, and canoe rentals.

Lake Park also boasts some unique features, too, including the Tampa BMX Raceway, the Gasparilla Bowmen Archery Club and the Hurricane R/C club.

The Tampa BMX Raceway track was established in 1974 and revamped in 1989. It is operated by volunteers and through donations. Competitive racing starts on Fridays at 8 p.m., and on Sundays at 4 p.m.

The track hosts local competitions and larger BMX-sanctioned events. BMX Raceway is open to the public, except when there is an event.

The Hurricane R/C club track, not far from the BMX Raceway, is a dirt track laid out with jumps and tight curves. The challenging terrain requires the radio-control operators to stay focused in order to keep the cars upright and moving. This track also is open to the public, except during events.

David Humphrey gives his 11-year-old son, Meric, some instructions on arrow placement, as Meric prepares for target practice on a Sunday morning at the Lake Park archery range. The father-son duo is from Land O’ Lakes.

The Gasparilla Bowmen Archery Club operates on a range that is tucked away in the woods for safety reasons. Those using the range must follow a trail to the secluded area, where they will find an array of paper targets attached to bales of hay. The targets are stationed at varying distances.

The club holds competitive shooting, along with raffles, and different archery-related events. Gasparilla Bowmen Archery Club, a well-established organization, is widely known throughout Tampa Bay.

So, whether you’re looking for a place to have fun with your family or friends, or merely wanting to enjoy some solitary time, chances are you’ll find what you need at Lake Park.

The park is open during the spring and summer from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and during the fall and winter from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

By Randy Underhill

Published July 25, 2018

Renowned hiker to share his stories in Tampa

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Twenty years after he hiked the Appalachian Trail, Jeff Alt’s expedition lives on.

Alt hiked an average of 17 miles a day, for nearly five months in 1998, to walk 2,160 miles, from Springer Mountain, in Georgia, to Mount Kadahdin, in Maine.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail was not only a personal goal but also a way to support people with developmental disabilities, including Alt’s brother, Aaron, who has cerebral palsy.

It took Jeff Alt 147 days to trek the entirety of the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine and 12 other states in between. Relatives in Lutz and Carrollwood served as his support system along the way. (Courtesy of Jeff Alt)

Because of that commitment, as fellow hikers in his group quit, Alt persevered.

He made a trek of an estimated 5 million steps, overcoming everything from extreme weather and scary wildlife encounters, to persistent aches and pains.

The achievement since inspired the Sunshine 5K, Walk, Run and Roll which just celebrated its 20th annual event in Greenville, Ohio, and has raised more than $500,000 for people with developmental disabilities. It benefits the Ohio-based Sunshine Communities, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as they live, work and play on their terms. It’s also where Alt’s disabled brother lives.

Alt will be in town this week to share stories and sign the 20th anniversary edition of his best-selling memoir, “A Walk for Sunshine,” on March 29 at 7 p.m., at Barnes & Noble Carrollwood,11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

The renowned hiker shared a few of those stories and anecdotes from his long, arduous 147-day journey in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Born, raised and still living in Ohio with his wife and two children, Alt has several familial ties to the Lutz and Carrollwood area. These family members served as his support system during the adventure.

His brother, Larry Alt, of Lutz, greeted him at the beginning and end of the Appalachian Trail.

His sister Stephanie Pitts, of Lutz, served as his “unofficial, official public relations person,” updating friends, relatives and media throughout the journey.

Her husband, Dan Pitts, of Lutz, joined Alt in hiking the final leg of the Appalachian Trail.

And, his stepfather, Ron Almendinger, of Northdale, often shipped supply boxes to Alt on the trail.

Each gesture kept him motivated and boosted morale, Alt said.

“Everybody played a role…so I could focus on the journey. They were like my cheerleading squad,” Alt said.

He recalled his adventure getting off to a shaky start.

On the very first day, Alt had to wrap his feet in duct tape, after several blisters formed on both feet, as a result of placing his boot orthotics on the wrong feet.

“One blister is extremely painful,” he said. “But, this was excruciating.”

Alt gave himself the self-deprecating nickname “Wrongfoot” to bring a bit of levity to his own error. “I just reminded myself that I just needed to laugh it off,” he said.

The next day, Alt was close and personal with a skunk on top of his sleeping bag. Luckily, he was able to shoo it away without getting sprayed.

That wasn’t the only “hair-raising” encounter with Mother Nature.

He was charged by a mama bear in Maine, before it abruptly dashed off into the woods with a pair of baby cubs.

Another stress-inducing — and painful — moment came while traversing the Great Smoky Mountains. That’s where Alt suffered a bad ankle sprain in the middle a 12-foot snowdrift, while trying to balance his 55-pound backpack on one leg.

“I thought at that moment, ‘My journey just ended.’ That was the only time that I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Alt said.

He took a few days off, to reduce the swelling, then resumed his journey.

Every day was painful, Alt said, joking that ibuprofen is referred to as as ‘Vitamin I’ in the hiker community.

“Literally, when you took your pack off at the end of the day, your body would say, ‘What did you just do to me? You’re going to feel this all night,’” Alt said.

Cold and hungry
The majority of fellow hikers that year quit because of frigid temperatures, which sometimes dropped to 20 below zero.

“It was so cold, at one point, if you took your boots off at night and didn’t put them in your sleeping bag, they would freeze in the position your foot was before you took it off, and then the leather would cut your feet open because it was still frozen in the morning,” Alt said.

He had never-ending food cravings.

“Your appetite quadruples,” Alt said. “I could eat a half gallon of ice cream as a snack. I could eat a whole pizza and then go eat dinner.”

Even so, he lost 30 pounds, which he refers to as “the Appalachian Diet Plan.”

He also has many positive experiences on his trek.

He marveled at the friendliness and kindness of people he met along the trail.

Complete strangers would invite him into their homes, and would offer something to eat and drink, and the use of their shower.

“It left a very warm feeling in my heart,” he said.

Along the way, he crossed paths with military folks, recent college graduates, a wealthy stock trader, to name a few.

He met a man who had abruptly quit his job to hike, and a fair number of homeless people, too.

“You meet all kinds of people. It’s America, really,” he said.

He also observed there was something to appreciate about each of the 14 states he walked through, including breathtaking views and varying geology.

Even after walking 5 million steps, Alt said the expedition wasn’t truly complete until he could share the news with his brother Aaron, back in Ohio.

His brother doesn’t speak, but he does communicate through gestures and smiles.

Seeing him, Alt said, ended his journey — “knowing that he understood and smiled.”

Jeff Alt book signing event
What: Jeff Alt will share stories about his Appalachian Trail journey and sign the anniversary edition of “A Walk for Sunshine.”
Where: Barnes & Noble Carrollwood, 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa
When: March 29 at 7 p.m.
Info: (813) 962-6446

Appalachian Trail Facts

  • The Appalachian Trail spans 14 states, covering 2,190 miles, from Georgia to Maine.
  • The Appalachian Trail was inspired by Benton MacKaye in 1921.
  • Earl Shaffer became the first person to walk the Appalachian Trail from end to end in 1948.
  • Emma Rowena Gatewood, also known as “Grandma Gatewood,” became the first female solo thru-hiker at the age of 67 when she first hiked the trail in 1955. She hiked the trail three times.
  • Each year, an estimated 2,000 hikers to 3,000 hikers attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in one season (during a four-month to six-month time frame). Just one in four succeed.
  • Hikers carry backpacks weighing 30 pounds to 75 pounds and supply in towns along the way.
  • Hikers burn 4,000 calories to 6,000 calories a day, comparable to running 2 marathons.

Jeff Alt’s Appalachian Trail statistics:

  • Carried a pack that weighed 50 pounds
  • Went through three pairs of boots
  • Averaged 17 miles a day
  • Had 22 boxes of supplies shipped to him along the way
  • Slept mostly in three-walled shelters, though did carry a tent
  • Completed the trek in 147 days (nearly five months)
  • Lost 30 pounds

Published March 28, 2018

Passover begins March 30

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The holiday of Pesach, or Passover, is an eight-day festival celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan.

This year, it runs from March 30 to April 7.

The eight-day festival of Passover runs March 30 through April 7 this year. The highlight of Passover is the Seder, observed on each of the first two nights of the holiday. Symbolic foods of a Passover Seder include maror, saltwater, charoset, zeroah, beitzah and karpas. (File)

Passover commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Following its rituals allows the Jewish community to relive and experience the freedom of their ancestors.

Observances: Passover is divided into two parts. The first two days, March 30 and March 31, and the last two days, April 6 and April 7, are full-fledged holidays. Holiday candles are lit at night, and holiday meals (Seders) are enjoyed both days. The middle four days are referred to as Chol Hamoed, or semi-festive “intermediate days.”

Seders: The highlight of Passover is the Seder, which is observed on each of the first two nights of the holiday. The Seder is a 15-step, family-oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast.

Focal points of the Seder include:

  • Eating matzah, which is unleavened bread
  • Eating bitter herbs to commemorate the bitter slavery endured by the Israelites
  • Drinking four cups of wine or grape juice to celebrate the newfound freedom
  • The recitation of the Haggadah, a liturgy that describes the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah is the fulfillment of the biblical obligation to recount the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover.

Symbolic Seder foods:

  • Maror—bitter herbs, usually horseradish, to serve as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery
  • Saltwater—symbolizing the tears of the slaves
  • Charoset—sweet paste made of fruit and nuts, symbolizing the mortar the slaves used to build the Egyptian pyramids
  • Zeroah—shank bone, representing the Passover sacrifice
  • Beitzah—hard-boiled egg, symbolic of life and birth associated with the spring season
  • Karpas — a leafy green vegetable, usually a piece of lettuce, symbolizing hope and redemptionSome traditional Ashkenazi Passover dishes include gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, brisket, tzimmis (sweet carrot and fruit dish), and macaroons and sponge cake (made from matzah meal) for dessert.

Passover events

Where: Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel
What: Community Seder, complete with gourmet Passover cuisine, wine and hand-made Shemurah Matzo, while reliving the exodus and discovering the eternal message of the Pesach.
When: Friday, March 30 at 8:15 p.m.
Cost: Suggested donation of $30 per person, $100 per family, or $250 per sponsor
Info: Call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadAtWiregrass.com.

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
What: Erev Pesah I Services/Shabbat Services; Shabbat Candle Lighting
When: Friday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m.
Info: Call (813) 962-6338, or email .

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
What: A Minha Minyan Before Pesah! A brief afternoon service in advance of Passover celebrations.
When: Friday, March 30 at 5 p.m.
Info: Call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: Congregation Beth Am, 2030 W. Fletcher Ave.
What: Second Night Passover Seder
When: Saturday, March 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Info: Call (813) 968-8511, or visit BethAmTampa.org.

Where: Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of Wesley Chapel
Where: 24152 State Road 54, Lutz
What: Shabbat Service, Nosh & Fellowship, and After Service Program
When: Saturday, March 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Info: Call (813) 831-5683, or visit ShoreshDavid.org.

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Published March 28, 2018

New community park planned in North Tampa

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A new family friendly county park is coming this fall to the Greater Carrollwood area.

After nearly a year of finalizing its conceptual design, construction is slated to begin next month on the new Carrollwood Village Community Park, at 13055 Delwood Road in Tampa.

The park replaces the site of the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is situated on 50 acres along the west side of North Dale Mabry Highway, just south of West Village Drive.

Construction is expected to begin next month on the new Carrollwood Village Community Park, at 13055 Delwood Road. It replaces the site of the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is situated on 50 acres along the west side of North Dale Mabry Highway, just south of West Village Drive. (File)

Hillsborough County Public Utilities is presently decommissioning and relocating the existing treatment plant infrastructure, which has been in operation for more than 40 years.

Everything associated with the treatment plant will be demolished with the exception of two reclaimed water tanks, pump stations, an administration building structure and fencing.

Details about the forthcoming park were unveiled during a March 6 pre-construction open house at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. County parks and recreation officials were on hand to answer questions and gather input from residents.

Described as a “passive” community park, the main amenities will include a dog park, multi-use walking trail, splash pad, playground, indoor community space, and picnic shelters.

Other features include a pond, an open lawn, restrooms and parking.

Each of those aspects were finalized and based on input gathered from Carrollwood residents in a series of community meetings dating back to 2015.

Officials say most of the park will be complete by October, with final touches targeted for December. A ribbon cutting is planned sometime this fall.

Speaking at the open house, Hillsborough County parks and recreation director Rick Valdez called the park a “very important project” for Carrollwood.

“We’ve been meeting on this for months, and I think we have a really good sense of what the community wants to see,” Valdez said.

Described as a ‘passive’ community park, main amenities for the Carrollwood Village Community Park will include a dog park, multi-use walking trail, splash pad, playground, indoor community space, and picnic shelters. Other features include a pond and open lawn, along with restrooms and parking. The Hillsborough County Commission approved the $6.5 million project last May. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation)

Park hours will normally be from sunrise to sunset, with staff on-site to facilitate programming and provide maintenance.

Based on renderings, the park’s main entrance will be off West Village Drive with a secondary entrance to the south, off Delwood Road. The two entrances will not connect, to avoid the potential for becoming a pass-through route. There will also be new pedestrian crossings on West Village Drive and pedestrian park access in the northeast corner of the park.

Offsite work includes re-striping West Village Drive, which includes a left-hand turn lane, deceleration lane and addition of the multi-use trail.

The Hillsborough County Commission approved the $6.5 million project last May.

If more funding becomes available, the county would look to construct an additional playground, an event center, a boardwalk and fishing dock, and a nature center. The items would be part of Phase II and perhaps a Phase III.

“Those are things we want to address; we just don’t have the money to do it right now,” said Kyla Booher, planning and development manager for the county’s parks and recreation department.

More could be on the way if at least one county commissioner gets his way, however.

Eric Denney, a legislative aide to Commissioner Ken Hagan, was at the meeting and said the commissioner is “going to work his tail off to get money in the budget” for Phase II of the park.

Hagan is a northwest area resident and longtime supporter of the park project.

“When everything is said and done, this should be a true community asset —something that will improve the standard of living here in Carrollwood,” Denney said.

The original idea for a new park in Carrollwood became a community-driven, grassroots effort after word spread four years ago about the retirement of the wastewater site.

Public comments on the Carrollwood Village Community Park will be accepted through March 20.

To provide feedback on the project, visit HCFLGov.formstack.com/forms/public_comment.

Published March 14, 2018

Garden yields lessons on math, science, conservation

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Children at Hammond Elementary School are learning all about water conservation, and honing their mathematics and science skills, too, in a class that uses a hydroponics garden to help bring the lessons home.

Children in Bonnie Cothern and Tina Miller’s classes at Hammond Elementary are learning about the advantages of hydroponics gardening. (B.C. Manion)

The school, at 8008 N. Mobley Road in Odessa, used a Splash! grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to cover the costs of creating the hydroponics garden. The grant also includes several other elements relating to water conservation.

Teachers Tina Miller and Bonnie Cothern said that Urban Roots, of 11780 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, have also helped in the program by demonstrating how to put together the plant towers and letting students help, as well as allowing them to plant vegetables and herbs.

Students in Cothern’s gifted education classes are working with Miller’s fifth-graders to help educate the entire school about hydroponics and water conservation.

This tower of plants contains rosemary, oregano, basic, chocolate mint, French sorrel lettuce and parsley.

They’ll be reporting conservation tips monthly on the school’s morning show, and will be making posters to raise awareness to the rest of the school and members of the community about the importance of water conservation.

Lessons also will include the importance of choosing Florida-friendly garden plants that are adapted to the state’s climate to prevent unnecessary water use.

On a recent day, Cothern and Miller were out in the garden with some of their students.

The children talked about some advantages of hydroponics gardening.

Third-grader Lyla Cullimore explained how the plant tower system works.

“The reservoir is right here,” she said. “When you turn it on, the water goes through a pipe and it goes up, then the water goes down and it makes it so the plants get water.”

Teacher Tina Miller checks on plants in a hydroponics garden at Hammond Elementary School.

The pump runs twice a day, for 15 minutes each time, the teachers said, via email, in a more detailed explanation of hydroponics.

The water drips from the top plant container, through the plant medium, which is composed of shredded coconut shell and perlite. Then, water in that planter drips to the one below, the teachers said.

Fifth-grader Ryan Dumont noted the water “can drip down through the angles of the planters, then, once it drops down, there’s holes in the planters and it drips down into the reservoir, and we can reuse it.”

The drip system, combined with a porous medium, conserves water and provides oxygenation to the root system of the plants. The water in the reservoir lasts 10 days to 14 days, the teachers said. The system is efficient because no water is wasted through runoff and evaporation.

Miller asked students, what does organic mean?

Carlie Restrepo is eager to offer an answer during a discussion about hydroponics at Hammond Elementary School’s hydroponics garden.

Fifth-grader Ethan Bezaury responded: “Organic means that it’s not manmade.”

Miller then talked about the liquid fertilizer that provides nutrients to the plants.

By growing the plants in pots, arranged on a tower, more plants can be grown in a smaller area, she said.

“How many plants are in that little bit of a space?” Miller asked.

“There’s about 20,” answered third-grader Evan Rottenberger.

That’s correct, Miller said, adding that students have been able to integrate math and science into what they are learning about hydroponics.

Students have been taking measurements of the plants and charting their observations in notebooks.

Lyla Cullimore talks about how a hydroponics plant system works.

“When you guys were doing your data recording yesterday, what did you find about the different plants that you had taken your baseline data on?” Miller asked.

Fifth-grader Sophia Wyant responded: “They were growing more and more each time.”

The teacher explained: “We’ve been doing some long-term investigations because one of the claims of hydroponics is that the yield is greater.”

It’s too early to tell if that is true, but fifth-grader Angela Rosario has noticed that a plant she’s been observing has achieved noticeable growth.

The first time they observed the garden was on Oct. 27.

“It was 10 centimeters, my longest leaf. I had seven leaves. The smallest leaf was 3 cm, and the height was 17 cm. After 10 days, my height was 21 cm, I had eight leaves. My smallest was 6; the longest was 11,” Rosario said.

She said hydroponics helps conserve water and reduces problems from weeds.

Cothern’s students began their observations a week after Millers’ students.

She said she gave her students the freedom to choose how they wanted to observe their plant.

“I told them they could take whatever data they wanted to. They could measure the whole plant. They could measure the biggest leaf, the smallest leaf, whatever they decided to do,” she said.

The teachers are pleased that the children are learning about water conservation and are excited about the students sharing what they have learned with the entire school community, as well as with their families at home.

Published November 22, 2017

Jewish community gears up for Yom Kippur

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Yom Kippur, considered to the most important holiday in the Jewish faith, this year runs from sunset on Sept. 29 through nightfall on Sept. 30.

Yom Kippur runs from sunset on Sept. 29 to nightfall on Sept. 30. It’s considered to be the most important holiday in the Jewish faith, and is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. (File)

Yom Kippur, meaning “Day of Atonement,” marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Both are part of Judaism’s “High Holy Days.”

Yom Kippur is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service.

Observance: The Torah (Jewish bible) commands all Jewish adults (apart from the sick, the elderly and women who have just given birth) to abstain from eating and drinking between sundown on the evening before Yom Kippur and nightfall the following day. The fast is believed to cleanse the body and spirit, not to serve as a punishment. Religious Jews observe additional restrictions on bathing, washing, using cosmetics and wearing leather shoes. The prohibitions are intended to prevent worshippers from focusing on material possessions and superficial comforts.

History: According to tradition, the first Yom Kippur took place after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Descending from the mountain, Moses caught his people worshipping a golden calf and shattered the sacred tablets in anger. Because the Israelites atoned for their idolatry, God forgave their sins and offered Moses a second set of tablets. Jewish texts recount that during biblical times, Yom Kippur was the only day on which the high priest could enter the inner sanctum of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and made atonement and asked for God’s forgiveness on behalf of all the people of Israel. The tradition is said to have continued until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.; it was then adapted into a service for rabbis and their congregations in individual synagogues.

Traditions and symbols of Yom Kippur:

  • Pre-Yom Kippur feast: On the eve of Yom Kippur, families and friends gather for a bountiful feast that must be finished before sunset. The idea is to generate strength for 25 hours of fasting.
  • Breaking of the fast: After the final Yom Kippur service, many people return home for a festive meal. It traditionally consists of breakfast-like comfort foods such as blintzes (pancakes), noodle pudding and various baked goods.
  • Wearing white: It is customary for religious Jews to dress in white — a symbol of purity — on Yom Kippur. Some married men wear kittels — white burial shrouds — to signify repentance.
  • Charity: Some Jews make donations or volunteer their time in the days leading up to Yom Kippur. This is seen as a way to atone and seek God’s forgiveness. One ancient custom known as kapparot involves swinging a live chicken or bundle of coins over one’s head while reciting a prayer. The chicken or money is then given to the poor.

Local Yom Kippur services:

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
Services:
Sept. 29: Kol Nidre at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: Shacharit/Yizkor at 9 a.m.; Rabbi’s Teaching at 4:15 p.m.; Mincha at 6 p.m.; Neilah at 7 p.m.; Havdallah at 8 p.m.; and Break the Fast at 8:15 p.m.
For information, call (813) 962-6338, or visit KolAmi.org.

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
Services:
Sept. 29: Erev Shabbat at 6: 30 p.m.; Kol Nidre at 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 30: Yom Kippur at 9 a.m.; and, Minha, Ma’ariv, Neilah & Shofar Blast at 5:30 p.m.
For information, call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: Congregation Beth Am, 2030 W. Fletcher Ave.
Services:
Sept. 29: Kol Nidre at 8 p.m.
Sept. 30: Yom Kippur morning service at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation at 11:30 a.m.; Children’s Service at 2 p.m.; Discussion Group at 3 p.m.; Yom Kippur afternoon, Yizkor, N’eila Final Shofar at 4:30 p.m.
For information, call (813) 968-8511, or visit BethAmTampa.org.

Where: Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel
Services:
Sept. 29: Kol Nidre at 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 30: Yom Kippur morning service at 10 a.m.; Yizkor Memorial Service at 12 p.m.; Afternoon & Neilah Closing Service at 5:45 p.m., and Shofar Blast at 7:51 p.m.

For information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadAtWiregrass.com.

Published September 27, 2017

Hurricane Irma leaves behind stories to tell

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A day after Hurricane Irma stormed through Tampa Bay, residents ventured out for ice, gas and cleaning supplies.

Some had a ray of hope that somewhere they would find an open restaurant. They tooled along the busier corridors spying telltale signs of life – cars and the people in them.

Bagging ice
A Twice the Ice machine on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard had a steady line of residents waiting to fill coolers with bags of ice.

Sheila Crawford’s house, off North Dale Mabry Highway at County Line Road, lost power about 6 p.m., as Hurricane Irma swept into Pasco County.

The next day, there was still no power, and no gas to be found for a generator.

She wanted ice and sodas, preferably cold ones. She found the ice, but the drinks were still on her to-do list.

She recalled the “whipping wind and listening to cracking of trees going down. It was scary.”

The day after Hurricane Irma stormed through Pasco County, Harry Perkerson picked up bags of ice at a Twice the Ice machine on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. (Kathy Steele)

The first thing she wanted to do after being freed from Irma was to find a hot cup of coffee. “Now, I’m just so happy to be out,” she said.

Harry Perkerson also stood in line for ice. He and his wife Shirley lost power sometime early Monday morning.

They had filled a bathtub full of water, bought gas for their generator, and filled their car with gas.

Besides ice, post-Irma, he needed more gas.

Irma took out four “big trees” at their Land O’ Lakes’ home, including two large oak trees.

“It’s a mess,” he said. But, he added, “They didn’t hit the house.”

Next up for the Perkersons? Dining out.

“Have you found anything open yet?” he asked.

To go or not to go
Angela Lynch ended up at home with her mother and her fiancé. As Irma raged outside, Lynch, at times, watched the storm from behind her sliding glass doors.

She didn’t plan to be a spectator.

“I went shopping to leave town,” she said. “We ended up staying.”

News reports said Irma was shifting eastward, so it seemed safe to stay.

With food on hand, she mixed up a “Manwich” meal from hamburger and baked beans. And, she even managed to cook up her mother’s breakfast biscuits on a grill.

Her family and house survived with no damage, but she was waiting for word on how her office in Ruskin fared.

Friends help friends
Kathy Moré and Sandra Randazzo combined forces to deal with Irma. And, on Tuesday they celebrated with margaritas at Ukulele Brand’s in Land O’ Lakes.

Randazzo came to Moré’s house, which lost power Sunday night. They had cooked up a mess of food, including pork chops and potatoes.

They fashioned a safe room in a hallway, with a futon, a cooler, snacks and wine. And, they never used the room.

“I think we got lucky,” said More. “We prepared for the worst and are glad that didn’t happened.”

Her house was still without power on Tuesday, and no sign of when it might be turned back on.

“I feel displaced without my electricity,” Moré said.

Randozzo’s home apparently never lost power.

But, no matter, they felt lucky. Moré planned to donate her trove of leftover canned goods to a local shelter.

Randazzo recalled Hurricane Andrew, from 1992, when she lived in Miami.

“Andrew was worse,” she said. “The howling wind was a hell of a lot worse in Andrew. It was definitely worse, but that was a hurricane 5.”

Share your hurricane stories and photos
We’d love to share your Hurricane Irma experiences and photos with our readers. Please tell us how you weathered Hurricane Irma. Did your home, car or property suffer damage? Did your power go out? Is your power still out? How did you cope without television, telephone or Internet? How did you handle child care, while the schools were closed? Finally, did Irma ruin wedding, proposal or other special plans?

Please send us your stories and photos, if you have any, by Sept. 22. We plan to publish a selection of what we receive in our Sept. 27 issue. Send your submissions to .

Thanks!

Published September 20, 2017