The Laker/Lutz News

Palm Harbor

Delving into the world of pottery

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Glenn Woods knows a thing or two about pottery.

The Indiana native has been a potter since 1974.

Inside the kiln room, Pottery Boys Studio owner Glenn Woods, center, shows off a piece belonging to Martha Grover, of Wellman & Welsch Pottery in Lutz. The piece is ready to be fired in a bisque kiln. Also seen: Diana Reichert, left, and Carol Schubert, both of Largo. (Christine Holtzman)

Now, he and Keith Herbrand are co-owners of Pottery Boys, a studio on Bogie Lane in Palm Harbor.

The studio is in a converted garage — filled with pottery wheels, pounds of clay and batches of handmade glazes.

And, on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, it was one of five studio stops on the 12th annual Tampa Bay Tour De Clay.

The event featured studio presentations, which included demos, kiln openings and discussions.

Besides Pottery Boys, other stops on the tour were Hidden Lake Pottery, Odessa; Schiemann Pottery, St. Petersburg; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, San Antonio.

This year’s Tour De Clay  featured 33 guest artists, each offering an array of unique pieces.

One of the highlights at Pottery Boys was a crystalline kiln opening.

A wall of pottery, belonging to the Pottery Boys Studio owner Glenn Woods, is displayed during the 12th annual Tampa Bay Tour De Clay. Woods and the guest artists had pieces available for sale during the tour.

During the kiln opening, Woods pulled fired pieces out of both a glossy and a matte glaze kiln. He brought a few of the pieces out to discuss his glazes and technique, how clay variations can effect the glaze’s behavior, and the trial-and-error process he experiences while perfecting his recipe.

One of the special guests during the event was Judy Wenig-Horswell from Indiana, who was  Woods’ art teacher at Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana.

Guest artists at Pottery Boys Studio, included Larry Allen, from Birmingham, Alabama, who said the events of Sept. 11 inspired him to incorporate a unity design in all his pieces.

Jennifer McCurdy from Martha’s Vineyard was another featured artist.

Ellen Cole, of Tarpon Springs, right, smiles with her husband of 57 years, Sonny, as she greets visitors of the Tour De Clay at Pottery Boys Studio in Palm Harbor. The Tarpon Springs resident works exclusively with the medium silver metal clay to create one-of-a-kind jewelry. A former potter, she now works in small batches of this medium because of the effects that Lyme Disease has had on her body.

Her porcelain pieces are wheel thrown, then altered, carved and sanded by hand before being fired bare (without a glaze) to cone 10. Cone 10 temperature allows the porcelain to become nonporous and translucent.

There was also another guest artist, Ellen Cole, of Tarpon Springs.

Cole was a potter until she contracted Lyme Disease about 20 years ago, while hiking. Because of her weakened condition, she no longer had the strength in her wrists or legs to work with traditional clay.

About 15 years ago, she attended a class at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, where she learned about a medium called fine silver clay. This medium involves using small batches of the material, not much larger than a postage stamp. Because of its small size, Cole found she could tolerate working with her hands again.

She now creates very intricate jewelry — sometimes taking months to complete a single piece.

She often incorporates complicated layers over layers of fine silver clay, and uses items such as empty ball point pens and an antique broach to produce various textures in her designs.

Published December 18, 2019

Palm Harbor’s Wall Springs Park

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A place where everyone can reach great heights, see priceless views

You don’t have to be a millionaire to have water views worth millions.

Just spend a little time at Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor.

A new observation tower features wide ramps, so everyone can get to the top to see water views. (Karen Haymon Long)

There, you can see the sultry Gulf of Mexico and mullet-jumping Boggy Bayou from fishing piers, docks and a $1.7-million observation tower that’s accessible by wheelchair all the way to the top.

You might just see a giant snook – fat and at least 30 inches long – like we did from one of the fishing piers. Or, perhaps you’ll spy soaring great blue herons, fish-toting osprey, and butterflies fluttering in their very own flower garden.

We watched a man and a woman fishing in waist-deep water out in the bayou, saw a tricolored heron, snowy egrets and park benches shaped like Doctor Seuss fish. We took all the trails and looked out

A wide boardwalk in the park leads to water views. The park is surrounded by watery beauty.

over the bubbling spring, where we watched wading birds fishing from grassy islands.

From wooden boardwalks, visitors can watch water from the Upper Floridian Aquifer bubble up through rocks and out a spill flowing westward. Park officials say the spring’s flow can vary from next to nothing during droughts to 7,405 gallons a minute. During heavy rainfall, an astounding 10.7 million gallons of water can flow through the spring in a day.

The spring – always 74 degrees – is named for the Wall family, who owned the property from 1884 to 1927. The Davis family, who bought it from the Walls, renamed it Health Springs and turned it into a popular health spa and bathing area for locals and tourists. The Cullens, who bought it in 1948, renamed it Wall Springs and opened it to the public as a recreation and swimming area until the mid-1960s.

Wall Spring remains a constant 74 degrees and can pump up to 10.7 million gallons a day during rainy season.

Pinellas County began buying the land in 1988 for a park. Today, to protect the spring, no swimming is allowed.

But, if you want to, you can stare at water all day from the top of the 35-foot observation tower that just opened last summer. An arsonist burned down its predecessor on Sept. 11, 2013, and it had to be rebuilt, fortunately, mostly with insurance money, according to a county official.

This tower, unlike the last, was designed with wide, ADA-approved ramps, so it’s easy for everyone to get to the gorgeous Gulf views at the top.

We even saw a man with a bike up there, although we wondered if that was against park rules.

The park’s benches add a whimsical touch to its natural beauty.

The park is 84 acres, so it offers plenty of room for serene walks, either along the wide, paved paths, or among fragrant magnolias, soaring pines and old oaks.

Picnickers can reserve covered shelters, or eat lunch on picnic tables, blankets on the grass, or on whimsical benches. Kids can play on a new playground under a soaring white canopy next to the butterfly garden and a Little Free Library shaped like a birdhouse.

The park has lots of other things to brag about – more than ample parking and clean restrooms, for starters. Plus, it is connected to the Pinellas Trail, which makes biking or walking there from Tarpon Springs or Palm Harbor a nice outing.

And, it’s about to get bigger and better.

The county owns 125 acres north of the park – acquired with a grant from the Florida Communities Trust Forever Florida program that helps communities protect natural resources, provide recreation and preserve fast-disappearing waterfronts.

A couple fishes in waters within view of Wall Springs Park. The park also has two fishing piers.

Plans call for another picnic shelter, restrooms, more trails and a parking area. A paved, mile-long path will lead from the existing park to a new observation platform overlooking the Gulf shoreline on the new property.

County officials hope the new segment of the park will be ready by the fall of 2020.

The park doesn’t have everything. There’s no kayak/canoe launch, and there is no plan for one in the future, at least for now.

Still, the park offers plenty to do, plenty to see and plenty of watery beauty.

Tips for the Trip
Wall Springs Park is a Pinellas County park at 3725 De Soto Blvd., in Palm Harbor. From Alternate 19 North (Palm Harbor Boulevard) take Brevard Street west to the park entrance.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily
Admission: free
Info: (727) 943-4653 or PinellasCounty.org/park/21_Wall_Springs.htm
Where to eat: The park has five picnic shelters and grills, and other picnic tables, so it’s an ideal place to eat outdoors.

Wall Springs Park’s stone entrance wall reflects Pinellas County parks’ iconic architecture.

If you prefer to explore nearby restaurants, here are a few recommendations:

  • Iron Oak New American BBQ, at 917 11th St., in downtown old Palm Harbor, is an easy drive south from the park and has delicious barbecue, craft cocktails and lots of craft beers on tap. Sit outside or inside at the cozy bar; IronOakBBQ.com; (727) 754-7337. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
  • Rusty Bellies on the water, at 937 Dodecanese Blvd., in Tarpon Springs. Go for fresh seafood and the views; RustyBellies.com; (727) 934-4047. Closed Mondays. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • Mykonos, at 628 Dodecanese Blvd., in Tarpon Springs, across from the sponge docks. Go for wonderful, authentic Greek specialties; (727) 934-4306. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Rusty Bellies and Mykonos have free parking, a real plus in Tarpon Springs. The town has many other restaurants, not all Greek. Search for “Tarpon Springs restaurants” on the Web.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published July 31, 2019

There’s no shortage of holiday cheer here

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The Thanksgiving turkey and all of the fixins’ — and all of the leftovers — are gone.

The lighted entryway at the Florida Botanical Gardens sums up the sentiment of many holiday events in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area and the Tampa Bay region. (File Photo)
The lighted entryway at the Florida Botanical Gardens sums up the sentiment of many holiday events in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area and the Tampa Bay region.
(File Photo)

Lucky for you, you’ve got a whole month of holiday happenings available for your enjoyment.

Here’s a look at just some of the free and low-cost options being offered in the The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, with a few other regional events tossed in that we thought would give you some holiday pleasure.

 

Lutz

  • 37th annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show, on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keystone Preparatory High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa. The event is free, but there will be a $5 parking charge to benefit the school. Event organizers expect about 355 vendors, and between 30,000 to 40,000 festival-goers.
  • 20th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, on select evenings from Dec. 8 through Dec. 27 at the school, 18819 N. US 41 in Lutz. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Dec. 8, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 22, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27. Admission is free, but there will be barrels to collect nonperishable food items and toys for families that are less fortunate. The building is decked out for the holidays, and there will be entertainment, too.
  • Breakfast with Santa at the Old Lutz School, on Dec. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the school, 18819 N. US 41. There is a $4 charge for breakfast, and a visit from Santa Claus.
  • Handbells & Friends, a free holiday concert on Dec. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., at First United Methodist of Lutz at 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. The public is welcome to this concert which will feature handbells, vocals and other instruments.
  • Tampa Bay Tour De Clay, a free family friendly, self-guided tour of four local pottery studios, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes: Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogle Lane in Palm Harbor; Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchinson Road in Odessa; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Wirley Road in Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio. (San Antonio Pottery will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 10). For more information, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

North Tampa

  • CABA tree lighting, Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Elmcroft at Carrollwood, 2626 W. Bearss Ave.
  • Build a Toy with Santa at the Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa. Children will be able to come to the museum’s Idea Zone creativity lab to make a toy to take home. Santa Claus will drop by the workshop to share pointers on holiday cheer. The workshop will be open through Jan. 3. It is included in the normal museum admission charge. For more information, visit MOSI.org.
  • Christmas in Song, free concert on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., in the sanctuary at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa. This free, family friendly concert features the church’s chancel choir, orchestra and handbells.
  • “Simply Christmas,” Christmas Eve services at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave. The evening will include a Spontaneous Christmas Pageant at 5 p.m.; a contemporary Christmas service at 6:30 p.m.; lessons and carols at 8 p.m.; and, traditional communion services at 11 p.m.

Land O’ Lakes

  • Christmas Holiday Bazaar at Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free to this event, which features a free photo with Santa, a bounce house village, a candy trail, holiday shopping, food trucks, giveaways and games. Those attending also will have a chance to meet the Mascot “Blue” from the Tampa Yankees. Plus, there will be resources for families affected by autism, including sensory-friendly activities for children.
  • Heritage Holiday Card Walk, sponsored by the Wesley Chapel Land O’ Lakes Satellite Rotary, from Dec. 3 to Jan. 7 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The event will have around 30 full-size cards on display, ranging in size from 6 feet by 4 feet to 8 feet by 4 feet. Cards can be placed on Dec. 3 between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. For information, call (813) 996-3011.

  • 23rd annual Flapjack 5k and 1-mile run, on Dec. 11, at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway. The 5k starts at 8 a.m., and the 1-mile starts at 8:45 a.m. A flapjack breakfast follows the race for each runner; non-runners can donate $5 for breakfast. Santa will be there for photos, too.

Wesley Chapel

  • CalAtlantic Homes presents Symphony in Lights, with shows on the hour between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., through Dec. 31 at The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. The show features snow, sparkle and sounds of the season. For more information, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.
  • Movies under the stars, Holiday Movie Marathon at Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz. See TampaPremiumOutlets.com for dates and times. The outlet center also will have community holiday entertainment, on select days and times through Dec. 24, and also will have a Community Gift Wrap through Dec. 24, with local organizations benefiting from donations.

Dade City

  • Country Christmas Open House, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event offers free admission to the attraction, with the donation of an unwrapped toy that will be given to a local Dade City charity. The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity to come out and visit the museum’s charming history, do some holiday shopping with its vendors, listen to some Christmas music and hear the Solid Gold Barbershop Quartet. Bring the kiddos out to see Mr. Tommy Presents. He will have two performances at 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be here from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and we will offer complimentary photos by photographer Christina Strong. The barrel train also will give rides, and there will be a train show in the Mable Jordan Barn. The museum will serve punch and cookies, and hot dogs and hamburgers will be available at the concession stand. For more information, call (352) 567-0262 or (352) 206-8889, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.
  • Country Crafters third annual Arts and Crafts Fair, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Country Aire Manor Clubhouse, 10249 U.S. 19 in Dade City. This event features a wide assortment of locally produced items, which are available for purchase.
  • The Market Place, on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Seventh Street and Bougainvillea Avenue in downtown Dade City. The market will feature unique holiday presents, the jazz band from Pasco High School and musician Derrick Tucker. Vendors will be offer homemade cookies, honey, jams, handmade soaps, jewelry, garden accessories, fresh produce, Scentsy, Thirty-One, handmade baskets/gourds, hand-designed coasters, artwork and more. The Market Place is free and pet friendly. It is sponsored by the Dade City Youth Council.

Zephyrhills

•   Festival of Lights on Dec. 3 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., in downtown Zephyrhills. Free photos with Santa will be offered at 38439 Fifth Ave., courtesy of Goin’ Postal. Santa will take a brief break at 6 p.m., to appear in the lighted nighttime parade.

  • Jingle Bell Boutique & Bake Sale, on Dec. 3 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills Clubhouse, 38545 Fifth Ave., in downtown Zephyrhills. In addition to the customary bake sale, this will be the first year for the Jingle Bell Boutique, which will feature several women’s home-based businesses or showcase their handiwork of hobbies gone wild, and will give shoppers a chance to buy local. Proceeds from the bake sale and vendor fees will support the woman’s club’s projects.
  • Tampa Bay Tour De Clay, a free family friendly, self-guided tour of four local pottery studios, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes: Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogle Lane in Palm Harbor; Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchinson Road in Odessa; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Wirley Road in Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio. (San Antonio Pottery will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 10). For more information, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Downtown Tampa

  • Free screening of the movie “Elf” at Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., in downtown Tampa on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m., for a cocoa and cookies social in the theater’s lobby. A big announcement will be made at 7 p.m., followed by the movie. Admission is free and open to the public; however, guests are asked to visit TampaTheatre.org/events/Elf and click on the “Buy Tickets” link to print their complimentary Eventbrite ticket for guaranteed entry.

West Pasco

  • River Lights Boat Parade and holiday festival. The West Pasco Business Association is joining New Port Richey Main Street on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 in Sims Park, near downtown New Port Richey, for the free “River Lights Boat Parade” and a holiday festival. The movie “Polar Express” will be screened on Dec. 2 in the park. The boat parade begins at 7 p.m., on Dec. 3.
  • Sixth annual “How the Grinch Saved Christmas” will be on Dec. 9 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey. The West Pasco Business Association is hosting this event, which includes members of the association and the community.

Tickets are available online at WPBA.biz for $45. For more information contact Maria Johnson at (727) 934-0940 or "> .

Largo
More than than 750,000 lights have transformed the Florida Botanical Gardens, at 1250 Ulmerton Road in Largo, into a holiday wonderland. Visitors can stroll through the gardens from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31. A donation of $4 is suggested for those 13 and older, while children 12 and under, and parking, are free.

For more information, call (727) 582-2117 or visit, FBG.Org.

Published November 30, 2016

Freedom golf reaches 3A state tourney

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For the second time in school history, the Freedom High varsity boys golf team has reached the state tournament.

Collectively strong postseason performances were enough to earn an FHSAA 3A tournament berth, the program’s first since 2013.

The Patriots captured their fourth consecutive district title on Oct. 10, and followed up with a second-place regional finish on Oct. 17 at Lansbrook Golf Club in Palm Harbor.

The Freedom High School varsity boys golf team reached states for the second time in school history. From left: Cy Storlien, Nick Mitchell, coach Michael Passarelli, Tyler Bray, Sam Smith and Cooper Smith. (Courtesy of Freedom High School)
The Freedom High School varsity boys golf team reached states for the second time in school history. From left: Cy Storlien, Nick Mitchell, coach Michael Passarelli, Tyler Bray, Sam Smith and Cooper Smith.
(Courtesy of Freedom High School)

“It’s a pretty big achievement,” said Nick Mitchell, one of the team’s three seniors. “We’re really glad we achieved the goal that we set last year, knowing that we had a really high-caliber team for this year.

“We’ve definitely gotten more comfortable during the season,” he added.

Fellow senior Tyler Bray—the lone holdover from the 2013 state team — believes that this 2016 squad will have an improved showing over the team three years ago, when the the Patriots finished last (out of 16 teams) at the two-day, 36-hole tournament.

“This year, we’ve had some really good players, and I feel like this team is better than that team,” Bray said.

Michael Passarelli, Freedom’s golf coach, said the group’s success lies in its consistency since August.

“They’ve been playing well all year,” Passarelli said. “What we’ve finally done at the end of the year is we kind of put it (all) together.

“They’ve improved, and they’ve stayed within themselves.”

The 3A state tournament, which runs through Oct. 26, is played at the El Campeon Course at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Orlando.

The highly regarded course, which features elevation changes of more than 85 feet, often proves challenging for even elite golfers.

The course, Passarelli said, differs from others the team has played this season.

“The thing that separates it from what we play is the elevation difference,” he said. “You’re shooting uphill, you’re shooting downhill, and the greens are tough and fast. There are really no courses around (Tampa Bay) that we have played that come anything close to what you see there.”

He added: “You can’t have a specific strategy when some guys are hitting 50, 60 or 70 yards longer than others. It’s going to be very different for some of these kids.”

Mitchell, who played the course over the summer, noted El Campeon has a “pretty tough layout.”

“It’s pretty high-rated, a very positional course,” Mitchell said. “Distance and short game are definitely key.”

Trying to “not shoot to a number” is also crucial, Passarelli said.

“That’s the biggest thing that we worked on,” he said. “It’s just hit your next shot and that’s it.

“We looked at the scores from all the regional contenders, and they know they can play with any of them. But, you can’t control what the other guys do.”

Perhaps most important is enjoying the overall experience.

“It’s about having fun. That’s seriously a big part of this as well,” said Passarelli. “Last time we went (to states), we kind of got beat up.”

He added: “If they’re relaxed, they’ll play well.”

Freedom boys golf roster:
Tyler Bray, senior (4-year letterman, 2014 District 3A-10 champion, 2015 District runner-up)
Nick Mitchell, senior (3-year letterman)
Cooper Smith, freshman
Sam Smith, senior (2-year letterman)
Cy Storlien, junior (3-year letterman, 2015 District 3A-10 champion, 2016 District 3A-10 champion)

District results at Hunter’s Green Golf & Country Club
Freedom Patriots team score: 309 (first place)
Individual scores:
Cy Storlien-73
Tyler Bray-77
Cooper Smith-77
Sam Smith-82
Nick Mitchell-83

Regional results at Lansbrook Golf Club in Palm Harbor
Freedom Patriots team score: 313 (second place)
Individual scores:
Cy Storlien-73
Cooper Smith-77
Tyler Bray-82
Nick Mitchell-81
Sam Smith-83

Other locals: Gaither freshman Tyler Wilkes is competing in the 3A state golf tournament as an individual. Wilkes won the Class 3A, Region 4 tournament on Oct. 17, shooting a 72.  Wesley Chapel High’s Ben Wolfman (senior) and Sunlake High’s Travis Wells (senior) will compete in the Class 2A state golf tournament on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

Published October 26, 2016

Getting up close and personal with potters

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If you’re curious about the art of pottery, you can satisfy your desire for knowledge during the 2015 Tampa Bay Tour de Clay.

This is the eighth Tour de Clay, which is always held during the second weekend in December. It’s an event that gives visitors a chance to see potters in action at four pottery studios and the opportunity to experience a kiln opening at each.

A couple of finished works by Jack Boyle, of San Antonio Pottery. Those who are curious about the art of pottery can attend the Tour de Clay on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 to learn more. (Photos courtesy of Tour De Clay)
A couple of finished works by Jack Boyle, of San Antonio Pottery. Those who are curious about the art of pottery can attend the Tour de Clay on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 to learn more.
(Photos courtesy of Tour de Clay)

“It creates a situation where people can come in and talk to the artist,” said Jack Boyle of San Antonio Pottery, owner of one of the studios on the tour.

All four of the studios are hosting their kiln opening on Dec. 12.

The first kiln opening is at 9 a.m., at Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogie Lane in Palm Harbor.

The next opening is at noon at Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchison Road in Odessa.

Then, there will be an opening at 2 p.m., at Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Whirley Road in Lutz.

And, finally, there will be a 4 p.m. opening at San Antonio Pottery in San Antonio, at 11903 Curley Street.

“It is rare that people get a chance to see a kiln opening,” said Glenn Woods of Pottery Boys in Palm Harbor. “Potters work for weeks to create enough pieces to fill their kiln. When it’s finally time to open the kiln, after days of firing, it’s always exciting to see, because the artist never knows exactly how a piece will turn out, or how a glaze will look, until the kiln is opened.”

He likens the experience of opening a kiln to that of opening presents on Christmas morning.

“Sometimes you get a shiny new bike, and other times you get socks and underwear,” he said.

Glenn Woods demonstrates the skill involved in carving work on a piece of pottery.
Glenn Woods demonstrates the skill involved in carving work on a piece of pottery.

After a piece is taken from the kiln, it is passed around to those gathered, so they can see and feel it. Sometimes, the newly fired piece is still warm.

“We talk about the results,” Woods said. Sometimes, the effects are intentional; sometimes, they’re a surprise.

The tour gives people a greater understanding of the art of pottery, Woods said.

“I think it’s really important to see that a piece of handmade pottery isn’t just another pot sitting on a shelf, that’s been made in a factory. These are all individually made, hand-crafted items,” Woods said.

To encourage people to visit all four studios, visitors can pick up a Tour de Clay “Passport to Pottery” tour guide at each studio location, or download it from the event’s website at TampaTourDeClay.com.

As they make their way from studio to studio, they have their passport stamped. Those completing the tour are eligible for prizes.

Every stop on the Tour de Clay allows visitors to:
• Watch artists work in their studios

  • See pottery made by hand or by wheel
  • Learn about the many types of kilns and firing techniques
  • See examples of glazes and finishes for finely crafted decorative pieces, as well as functional vessels and dinnerware.

Participating artists are:

  • Pottery Boys Studios: Jennifer McCurdy, Fong Choo, Zan Barnes, Teresa Testa, and studio owners, Glenn Woods and Keith Herbrand.
  • Hidden Lake Pottery: Jonathan Barnes, Chuck McGee, LC McGee, McKenzie Smith, and studio owners, Kim Kirchman and Mark Fehl.
  • Wellman & Welsch Pottery: Kimberli Cummings, John Kellum, Laurie Landry, Katherine Mathisen, Charlie Parker, Matt Schiemann, and studio owners, Harry Welsch and Kim Wellman-Welsch.
  • San Antonio Pottery: Ira Burhans, Ken Jensen, William Kidd, Michele Ginouves, and studio owner, Jack Boyle.

Proceeds from Tour de Clay go to support local charities and community radio station WMNF.

What: Pottery demonstrations, kiln openings, sales, demos, raffles and refreshments. The event features 25 nationally known clay artists.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 12, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 13. (Note: San Antonio Pottery’s hours will be extended to 8 p.m. on Dec. 12, and there will be live performances there from “The Barking Dogs” and “Those Unscrupulous Sunspots.”
Where: The studios are in Palm Harbor, Odessa, Lutz and San Antonio. For specific locations, tour map, kiln openings and list of ceramic artists, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.
How much: The tour is free. Those taking the entire tour will be eligible to win prizes.

Published December 2, 2015

Local lawmakers want to overhaul Public Service Commission

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The Public Service Commission could be looking at a major overhaul, thanks to the efforts of two local lawmakers.

State Sen. John Legg and state Rep. Chris Sprowls say they have introduced legislation that will make PSC commissioners “more reflective of the people they are supposed to serve.”

“The Public Service Commission should service the public good,” said Sprowls, a Republican out of Palm Harbor, in a release. “While millions of Floridians are left in the dark — or fleeced by companies like Duke Energy — the PSC continues to turn a blind eye.

“These meaningful first steps will add some diversity and accountability to the PSC as we work on other reforms that will fundamentally alter the culture of the PSC.”

The legislation, according to the release, would limit commissioners to just two consecutive terms. It also would divide the state into five districts, the boundaries aligning with the district courts of appeal, and requiring each commissioner to live in each district.

It also would restrict elected officials from earning an appointment to the commission for two years after they leave office.

“Reforms are needed to restore confidence in the Public Service Commission,” said Legg, a Lutz Republican. “Unfortunately, people don’t feel like they’ve been dealt with fairly, and that is a problem.”

The PSC is tasked to regulate the five investor-owned electric companies, seven investor-owned natural gas utilities, and 149 investor-owned water and wastewater utilities, according to the organization’s website. The governor appoints the five members based on recommendations from a nominating council. Before 1979, however, three of the five members were elected statewide.

The PSC has come under fire in recent months, especially with Duke Energy and its decision to allow the utility to collect billions of dollars from customers for two nuclear plants that are no longer in operation, or was never in operation to begin with. Another lawmaker, Tallahassee Democrat Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, has introduced a bill that would eliminate the so-called nuclear cost recovery statute.

Mixed local reaction to new defense spending bill

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The U.S. House passed the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act during a lame-duck session, but not all lawmakers are in support.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said the bill presented a “troubling dilemma for me and my colleagues.”

“After speaking with local veterans and military leaders in my community, I cannot vote for reduced benefits and a reduction in a pay raise for our service members,” Ross said, in a statement. “There needs to be a proper balance of military compensation, training and equipment, but this NDAA does not meet that requirement.”

Instead, Ross said, it decreases the military pay raise Ross voted for earlier this year, and increases the cost of prescription drugs.

“We already ask our military to make incredible sacrifices for the security of our nation. We must look at other areas of the budget before we put more of a financial burden on our war heroes.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, however, highlighted the $7.7 billion that will go to MacDill Air Force Base. It also provides $26 million in additional funding for behavioral and psychological health programs and initiatives, specifically for special operations forces.

“We are concerned about higher suicide rates among special forces compared to (the) military overall,” the Tampa Democrat said in a statement. “Additional resources for behavioral and psychological health for special forces will build upon our community efforts to seek solutions in military and veterans suicides.”

The vote, which took place through a motion to concur on a amendment to H.R. 3979 written to address protections to volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. It passed 300-119, with 87 of the House’s 201 Democrats voting against it.

Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, the only other local Congressman in Washington, joined Castor in voting for the bill.

Bilirakis wants incentives to treat rare diseases

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U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis has introduced H.R. 5750 to Congress, known as the Orphan Product Extensions Now Accelerating Cures & Treatment — or the OPEN ACT.

The bill would incentivize drug makers and innovators to repurpose major market drugs for life-threatening, rare diseases and pediatric cancers, the Palm Harbor Republican said, which would open the door to development of hundreds of treatments for rare disease patients.

“There are over 7,000 rare diseases, impacting 40 million Americans — that is nearly 1 in 10 people,” Bilirakis said in a statement. More than 95 percent of those diseases have no treatments, because each rare disease impacts just a small number of patients.

“My bill will leverage the free market to incentivize drugs to be repurposed to treat rare diseases,” Bilirakis said. “The OPEN ACT has the potential to result in hundreds of new drugs and treatments for individuals with rare diseases, as well as a new surge in biotechnology jobs and investments.

“This bill can help millions of people by ensuring medications are safe and effective for rare conditions, and can be reimbursed through insurance coverage.”

The inspiration for the bill on the importance of repurposing drugs came during his 21st Century Cures Roundtable he hosted last summer.

Local reaction split on president’s immigration plan

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The debate on whether President Barack Obama has the authority to enact his own immigration reform without the help of Congress extends beyond Washington, D.C., and is drawing both criticism and praise from lawmakers here at home as well.

But which side each congressman takes depends on what side of the aisle he or she is on.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis waited until Obama’s presidential address from the White House Thursday night to speak out against the planned executive action that could leave up to 5 million illegal immigrants safe from deportation, if they meet certain criteria.

President Barack Obama works on his immigration speech with speechwriters Cody Keenan, left, and David Litt in the Oval Office ahead of the president's Nov. 20 remarks on immigration reform. (Courtesy of Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama works on his immigration speech with speechwriters Cody Keenan, left, and David Litt in the Oval Office ahead of the president’s Nov. 20 remarks on immigration reform. (Courtesy of Pete Souza)

“As a second generation Greek American, I have a firsthand understanding of the importance and power of the American dream, as well as the sensitivity and passion surrounding immigration reform,” the Palm Harbor Republican said in a statement. “There is no doubt our immigration system is broken, but President Obama cannot act unilaterally and refuse to work with Congress. In the president’s own words: ‘That’s not how our democracy functions.'”

However, in his address to the nation, Obama said he and Democrats have tried to work with Congress to pass reform, and a bipartisan bill actually made it through the U.S. Senate in 2013. But the bill never came to a vote in the U.S. House, and such reform has remained stalled ever since.

“It wasn’t perfect. It was a compromise,” Obama said, according to his prepared remarks. “But it reflected common sense. It would have doubled the number of border patrol agents while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line. And independent experts said that it would help grow our economy and shrink our deficits.

“Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of bill a simple yes-or-note vote, it would have passed with support from both parties, and today it would be the law. But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote.”

Obama got support from a fellow Democrat in Congress, Kathy Castor of Tampa.

“Republicans who control the U.S. House failed to act, failed to allow debate on the floor, and blocked a vote — even after two-thirds of the U.S. Senate voted to pass a bipartisan reform bill a year and a half ago,” Castor said in a statement. “Speaker (John) Boehner said many times that the House would act, but it never did.”

In order to qualify for protection from deportation under the executive action, illegal immigrants would have to meet a series of conditions, including having children here who are American citizens or legal permanent residents, have been in the country at least five years, pass a background check, and pay taxes.

“Most of these immigrants have been here a long time,” Obama said, according to his prepared remarks. “They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches. Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here. And their hopes, dreams and patriotism are just like ours. As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: ‘They are a part of American life.'”

But U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, believes Obama is taking the wrong approach, and had not “heard the voters’ message” who gave Republicans majority control of Congress during the mid-term elections.

“I have repeatedly stated that the best way to address immigration reform is with incremental steps, with the first critical step being to secure our borders,” Ross said in a statement issued ahead of Obama’s address. “Instead, the president is headed to Las Vegas to gamble away our national security by granting massive amnesty rights while failing to secure our border. The president’s go-it-alone attitude will cause irreparable harm to any effort to reform our immigration system, and ruin any chance of having a positive working relationship with Congress during his final two years in office.”

Obama, however, stood behind his claim that the reform he has proposed is not amnesty.

“I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty,” Obama said. “Well, it’s not. Amnesty is the immigration system we have today — millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules, while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time.”

Bilirakis reminded the president that leaders like himself and others in Washington “have an obligation to preserve the promise of the American dream for future generations.”

“To do so, we must uphold the rule of law and ensure its equal application,” Bilirakis said. “This means that we must enforce current immigration laws, strengthen the borders, and ensure all visas are enforced properly. This is an issue that impacts all Americans, and we must unite to solve this problem.

“In doing so, we can ensure the American dream remains alive and well for future generations.”

West Winds in Zephyrhills sells to California group

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West Winds Assisted Living Facility is no longer locally owned.

The 75-bed for-profit facility, located at 37411 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills, was sold Oct. 1 to Sabra Health Care Holdings III, which lists its address in Irvine, California, according to Pasco County property records.

West Winds Assisted Living Facility on Eiland Boulevard is now known as Rosecastle of Zephyrhills. (File photo)
West Winds Assisted Living Facility on Eiland Boulevard is now known as Rosecastle of Zephyrhills. (File photo)

West Winds Prime LLC was the seller. The Palm Harbor company’s ownership has essentially managed the facility through various companies since West Winds opened in 2008.

Sabra is a real estate investment trust that acquires senior citizen housing, memory care and skilled nursing facilities around the country. It purchased West Winds for $10.2 million, adding it to six skilled nursing facilities and three senior housing facilities Sabra purchased through the first half of 2014 for $141.5 million, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

It’s not clear how many facilities purchased recently, but a newspaper in Nashville reported the REIT closed on a facility there around the same time for $21.1 million.

Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, are financial securities that allow investors to buy ownership into a property or mortgage, rather than in a company like what would typically be found on the stock market. Investors in such projects usually earn a percentage of profit from rents or fees collected from tenants in those properties, and would receive a portion of any profits made when the REIT sells that project to someone else.

Through the end of June, Sabra already owned six skilled nursing facilities in Florida, according to the company’s website. That includes a 107-bed campus in Fort Pierce the company purchased last March as part of a two-facility, $24.5 million deal.

West Winds did not respond to a request for comment.

This is the third largest real estate transaction in Pasco this year, behind the $36.1 million sale of the Arlington at Northwood apartment complex in Wesley Chapel, and the $16 million sale of more than 330 acres of land in Wiregrass Ranch to make way for a proposed 550-home subdivision. Both of those transactions took place in May.