The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz

This kiosk offers a dough-licious new treat

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Trey Seaholm and Cary Sanchez weren’t looking for a life-changing leap into adventure.

He’s an electrician.

She’s a clinical technician.

And, they’re the new owners of The Happy Dough.

Lutz resident Trey Seaholm and Cary Sanchez are owners of The Happy Dough, a kiosk that sells edible cookie dough at Tampa Premium Outlets. (Kathy Steele)

The couple sells edible cookie dough by the ice cream scoop at a kiosk at Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56.

Eat it raw. Take it home to bake. Or, mix it with other desserts.

Cookie dough, that forbidden fruit of childhood, is the newest trend in sweet treats.

Recipe changes – using pasteurized eggs/heat treated flour – make the difference.

There’s no more need to sneak sticky-finger globs from a mixing bowl.

“We thought it was a wonderful, unique idea,” Sanchez said.  “It’s now safe to lick the bowl.”

Do, a shop near Greenwich Village in New York City, gets credit for pioneering edible cookie dough. Its customers line up out the door. Its reputation is spurring others to catch cookie dough’s rising star.

Seaholm, Sanchez and Seaholm’s mother, Debra Fuxan, hopped a flight to the Big Apple for a visit to Do. They came away persuaded that Tampa Bay needed cookie dough.

“I have entrepreneurial spirit,” said Seaholm. “I see all kinds of ideas and think I can do it all.”

Seaholm began researching the idea.

“He was talking about it. He was so excited,” Sanchez said. “He was the engine.”

Everyone pitched in to try out recipes that met the taste test, including Fuxan, who is a Realtor in Lutz.

That took months.

On a whim, the couple visited the outlet mall and met with, by chance, Stacy Nance, the mall’s manager.

It was a Saturday, when Nance normally wouldn’t be on site.

“She loved the concept,” Sanchez said. “She wanted something here.”

A kiosk spot happened to be open across from Skechers and PacSun.

The couple felt something more than chance put them in the right place at the right time. Their Christian faith is a guide.

“This is from the Lord that this is happening,” Sanchez said.

She and Seaholm plan to marry and blend their families. She has 11-year-old twin daughters, and a four-year-old son. He has two daughters, ages 9 and 11.

From opening day on July 25 to the grand opening on Aug. 4, The Happy Dough has met the couple’s expectations, and more.

Still, there is a learning curve, but in a good way.

Seaholm bought nearly 5,000 cups to serve up the dough for the first month. Sales were brisk from Day 1.

On grand opening day, the cups ran out, forcing Seaholm to rush over to Costco Wholesale to restock.

Sanchez estimates that more than 800 people bought cookie dough that day. Sometimes the lines were 20 to 30 people deep, she said.

The dough is mixed at a local commercial kitchen.

About 10 flavors, and one gluten-free flavor are available. But, the couple welcomes flavor suggestions from customers. They also are beginning to try to perfect a vegan recipe.

It’s a family commitment with Fuxan, and even, Sanchez’ brother and sister-in-law doing their part.

Sanchez takes charge of social media including The Happy Dough’s Facebook and Instagram sites. Seaholm is full-time at the kiosk. Sanchez works at Moffitt Cancer Center, and helps out as her schedule permits.

This is only the beginning, family members said.

As time goes on, they would like to see their kiosk grow into a brick-and-mortar storefront at the mall.

Published August 16, 2017

Changes afoot, as school bells ring in a new year

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School bells are summoning students back to classes in Hillsborough and Pasco counties — and some students will be attending classes on entirely new campuses.

Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, a new public charter school in Hillsborough County, begins its inaugural school year on Aug. 10. It is located at 18681 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, at 18681 N. Dale Mabry Highway, is opening this year as a new public charter school in Hillsborough County. The school, located in Lutz, will serve elementary and middle school students. (B.C. Manion)

Meanwhile, Pasco County is opening Bexley Elementary, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, and Cypress Creek Middle High School, in Wesley Chapel.

Students arriving at Land O’ Lakes High School will find reconfigured spaces, to accommodate a $29 million makeover.

At Sunlake High School and Rushe Middle School, there will be a new traffic pattern for student drop-off and pickups, and at Wiregrass Ranch High, the school will be back to operating on a seven-period day.

Those are just a few of the changes in store for the new school year, which begins in Hillsborough County on Aug. 10 and in Pasco County on Aug. 14.

Some changes, which are state mandates, affect public school students in both counties.

Other changes affect students at a particular school or within a specific county.

For instance, the Pasco school district is revising its crisis plans to give students and staff a better chance to survive an active threat on campus.

Meanwhile, Principal Vicki Wolin will lead the new Bexley Elementary School, in the Bexley subdivision off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. That school was built to ease crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.

Bexley is also part of the school district’s feeder pattern for the Aviation Academy at Sunlake High School.

As such, Bexley will have drones, flight simulators and robotics. Its STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab is situated in its media center, which it calls its REC Center, which stands for Research, Engage and Collaborate.

Cypress Creek Middle High School, at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, will serve students previously assigned to Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake high schools and John Long, Weightman and Rushe middle schools.

Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles, previously principal at Wesley Chapel High, will recognize many of the students streaming onto the campus for their first day.

But, there will be many unfamiliar faces, too.

The school has been hosting events ahead of opening day to help students get acquainted with the school and to find out what it has to offer.

Cypress Creek Middle High will serve sixth- through 11th-graders its initial year and will add a senior class its second year.

The new high school’s curriculum runs the gamut from ballet to digital design to American Sign Language. It offers several certification programs, including Microsoft Office, QuickBooks and Autodesk Inventor.

Cypress Creek’s middle school curriculum includes Criminal Justice and Engineering academies, plus core classes.

The new schools aren’t the only places where Pasco County students will have a chance for new experiences.

The district also is expanding its Cambridge Programme to San Antonio Elementary School.

And, Zephyrhills High School is adding a new academy of Building Construction Technology and Public Safety Telecommunications 911 certification for the Academy of Criminal Justice.

A new public charter school also has opened in Pasco County, too, bringing the district’s total number of charter schools to 11. The new charter is called Pasco MYcroSchool and is located in New Port Richey.

Besides new schools and programs, Pasco County also has shifted some principals since last school year and promoted an assistant principal to the top post.

Those changes are:

  • Principal Scott Atkins has moved from Sand Pine Elementary School to West Zephyrhills Elementary School.
  • Christine Twardosz has transferred from Centennial Elementary School to Sand Pine.
  • Gretchen Rudolph Fladd has moved from Veterans to Centennial.
  • Melissa Bidgood, who was an assistant principal at Watergrass Elementary, has been promoted to the principal’s post at Veterans.

Parents wanting to know more about the upcoming school year should check out their school’s website.

School websites can provide a wealth of information. They generally list important upcoming dates for school activities, such as cheerleader tryouts, booster club meetings, school spirit nights and parent-teacher events.

The websites also often let parents know how they can get involved at school and how they can help their children at home.

Most schools also have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, and some post videos to YouTube, too.

Websites maintained by the Hillsborough and Pasco school districts can also provide useful information, too.

Free breakfasts
Pasco County Schools will serve free breakfasts to all students at these sites in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area during the 2017-2018 school year:

Elementary schools

  • Centennial Elementary
  • Chester Taylor Elementary
  • Lacoochee Elementary
  • Pasco Elementary
  • Quail Hollow Elementary
  • Rodney B. Cox Elementary
  • West Zephyrhills Elementary
  • Woodland Elementary

Middle schools:

  • Centennial Middle
  • Pasco Middle
  • Stewart Middle

High schools:

  • Pasco High
  • Zephyrhills High

 

Meal prices for Pasco County Schools
Reduced-price meals

Reduced-price breakfast: .30
Reduced-price lunch: .40
Full-price meals
Full-price breakfast
Elementary: $1.35
Secondary: $1.50
Charter, K-8: $1.50
Charter, high school: $1.60
Full-price lunch
Elementary: $2.50
Middle: $3
High: $3.25

Published August 9, 2017

A conference where bromeliads are the stars

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There’s an extravaganza set for this coming weekend aimed at celebrating bromeliads — plants that can be grown indoors or out, and often feature long-lasting flower displays, colorful foliage, or both.

A look at a bromeliad from one of the yards that will be featured on a tour during the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies Extravaganza, Aug. 4 through Aug. 6 The bus tour has been filled, but conference registrations are still being accepted. (Courtesy of Carol Wolfe)

People who are seriously into bromeliads may want to register to attend the conference, but others may want to simply check out two bromeliad plant sales that are being held as part of the event.

The Tampa Bromeliad Extravaganza is being presented in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies. The conference is at the Clarion Hotel, 2710 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa.

There are 11 bromeliad clubs around the state that make up the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies, said Tom Wolfe, of Lutz, general chairman of the Tampa Extravaganza.

The clubs take turns hosting the statewide gathering every other year, he said.

This year, as of last week, the conference had 160 registered to attend.

The event features a chance to hear from bromeliad experts and to hang out with other bromeliad enthusiasts. There’s a chance to purchase some plants for your garden, too.

The plant sales also are open to the general public, Wolfe said.

“On Saturday morning (Aug. 5), the entire ballroom will be filled with bromeliads for sale. Most of the bromeliad vendors in the state will be there,” he said. That sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

That evening, around 7:30 p.m., a rare plant auction will be held, giving collectors a chance to purchase some interesting plants. Proceeds from that sale will be used to support research to battle a weevil (Metamasius callizona) that’s been attacking 12 of Florida’s native bromeliads.

So far, more than $97,000 has been raised and donated, and organizers hope this rare plant auction will raise at $3,000 to put it over the $100,000 mark.

The local and state bromeliad organizations are working closely with Teresa M. Cooper, Ph.D., with the “Save Florida’s Bromeliads Conservation Project,” SaveBromeliads.com.

For more information about the conference, call (813) 391-1542, or go online to FCBS.org and click on the link to 2017 FCBS Extravaganza Information.

If you go
Bromeliad Extravaganza
Where: Clarion Hotel, 2710 E. Fowler Ave.
When: Aug. 4 through Aug. 6
Cost: Registration is $100, which includes two meals
Details: Event celebrates the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies’ 40th anniversary.
Information: Call (813) 391-1542, or go online to FCBS.org and click on the 2017 FCBS Extravaganza Information.

Bromeliad sale events
Bromeliad lovers will have plenty of plants to choose from at these two sales events.
Where: Clarion Hotel, 2710 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa
When: Aug. 5. The first sales event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the second event is a rare plant auction, also on Aug. 5, beginning around 7:30 p.m.
Details: These bromeliad sales are in conjunction with the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies ‘Extravaganza.’ Proceeds from the rare plant auction will be used to support research aimed at stopping a weevil that is destroying native Florida bromeliads.

Published August 2, 2017

Local athlete aspires to play major league soccer

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Adam Hassan is a step closer to his goal of playing professional soccer.

Hassan is bypassing his junior year at Steinbrenner High School to enter the D.C. United U-17 Academy, a youth and development program for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club D.C. United.

Hassan, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound defender, is regarded for using both feet equally, along with his athleticism and tactical strength.
(Courtesy of Kelly and Melissa Hassan)

He will be among a rare group of about 20 players chosen to join the Academy, which scouts regionally and internationally for young talent exhibiting pro potential.

Hassan, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound defender, will have access to top-caliber coaching and advanced training methods, and play in arguably the most competitive league in North America, the United States Soccer Developmental Academy.

Via the Academy’s residency program, Hassan will board at The Calverton School in Huntingtown, Maryland, located about 25 miles outside Washington D.C.

For him and others, the developmental academy helps provide a more systematic route to play in college, and perhaps, reach the pro ranks.

In 2016, D.C. United sent 16 players to Division I soccer programs. Additionally, eight Academy players have gone on to professional homegrown contracts since its inception in 2005.

Months ago, Hassan sent out his resume and game film to multiple MLS academies.

The footage caught the eye of D.C. United staff, which invited him for a trial period. He performed well enough to earn a formal offer to join the topflight program.

Hassan will receive structured soccer training, at a higher frequency than high schoolers typically receive.

It means practice sessions twice a day, plus more instruction, more drills, more workouts and more competitive matches.

Simply, he’ll be placed in a pro-like soccer environment.

Adam Hassan was just 9 when he began playing for the Lutz-based Tampa Ranger soccer club. (Kevin Weiss)

He doesn’t plan to shy away from the added workload. He intends to elevate his game.

“I want to improve every aspect of my game,” Hassan said. “I want to try to be the best that I can be. Of course, I have to get faster, stronger and jump higher, and I have to be able to control the ball better.”

Hassan leaves for Washington D.C. on Aug. 5, temporarily saying farewell to family and friends in Lutz.

It’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make, to follow his dream through.

“This is something that I’ve always wanted to do,” said Hassan, who started playing soccer at 3 years old.

“As a soccer player, there’s always room to learn and take in new things. You always can be building your game. “His parents, understandably, are still adjusting to the realization their teenage son is leaving home, for the Mid-Atlantic.

His mother, Melissa, said they didn’t expect to be empty-nesters so soon. “But, we’re very proud of him,” she said.

“We’re supporting him pursuing his dream,” added his father, Kelly. “He made a tough decision to leave. Those opportunities are few and far between, so you’ve got to capitalize. It will better prepare him for a chance for the pros, or if not, he’ll be college-ready.”

Hassan played varsity soccer at Steinbrenner the past two seasons.

He was the only sophomore in the team’s starting lineup last season, where he played a total of 1,350 minutes — more than any 10th-grader in school history.

He also was named the team’s Most Improved Player, morphing into a standout on a regional-qualifying team that went 18-5-2.

Simultaneously, Hassan played for the Lutz-based Tampa Rangers soccer club.

It’s where he says he developed most, since joining at age 9.

“I became a better player,” Hassan said of his Rangers experience. “The curriculum that you’re learning ends up paying off, and that’s what I’ve always liked about the club.”

Sean Coniglio, one of Hassan’s first Rangers coaches, saw the defender’s potential early on.

Coniglio, who played at the University of Tampa (1989-1990), says Hassan stood out for his tenacity and ability to attack the ball.

Adam Hassan is bypassing his junior year at Steinbrenner High to enter the D.C. United U-17 Developmental Academy, a youth and development program for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club D.C. United. He’ll join a rare group of about 20 players chosen to the D.C United Academy, which scouts regionally and internationally for young talent that exhibits pro potential. (Courtesy of D.C. United)

Hassan’s work ethic impressed, too.

“He spent a lot of time on his own, outside of training, to develop his abilities and skills,” Coniglio said. “He was one of those that I knew, at home, he was working out and doing things to get better, and it made a difference as he get older.”

“Adam’s always been an ambitious player for us, and showed the effort that he always wanted to be a better player at his position a central defender,” added Rangers club director Mike Connell. “He’s been a good student of the game, and I think those are the key demands on players that want to get to the next levels, knowing that they still have to keep learning.”

Hassan, a natural lefty, today describes himself as instinctual and mentally tough, on the field.

“I can keep my head in the game,” he said. “I can stay focused, I don’t really get shaken up a lot, and I can read passes well.”

And, those qualities are critical for reaching the highest levels, explained Connell, a 10-year veteran of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“Soccer, like any other sport, is about how much sport intelligence you have,” Connell said. “You can’t be one-dimensional on the field, and just run and kick and fight. I think that’s really the difference when it comes to our country versus the rest of the world — they’re spending more time with the game, therefore their (soccer) intelligence is greater.”

Connell added the prospect of Hassan playing professionally is “all available to him.”

However, Connell acknowledged it’s also about capitalizing at every opportunity.

“He needs the breaks, but he has the ambition, and he has the ability,” Connell explained. “It’s just being there at the right time to do the right thing and play at the highest possible standard, because at that level you can’t not show up.”

For Hassan, heading overseas may be one way to break into the pros.

He was born in Egypt, before his immediate family settled in Lutz when he was about a year old.

Those Egyptian roots, Connell noted, “opens up another avenue” for reaching the pros.

“USA is an opportunity, but Egypt becomes a big difference-maker,” Connell said. “A lot of Americans don’t have that opportunity, because they don’t have that family connection to the homeland. This opens up a greater opportunity for the game.”

Meantime, Hassan isn’t the only Tampa Ranger headed to a soccer academy this fall.

Julio Plata, 13, was awarded a two-year scholarship to Brooke House soccer academy in Market Harborough, England.

Founded in 2008, the program boasts more than 70 players ages 13 to 19 filling four club teams that play in the Junior Premier League and other leagues, while also competing in various cups across Europe.

Plata, a midfielder, is a Lutz resident who most recently attended Liberty Middle School.

Q&A with Adam Hassan
What drew you to the game of soccer?“When I was younger, I used to watch my dad play. He would play with his adults, and I’d always go watch him play. So, at a young age I was already watching the game.”

Why do you enjoy soccer?
“In soccer, everything’s going, and it’s just exciting. You’re working together as a team, united with other people to accomplish one goal. And then when you end up accomplishing that goal, it’s a thrilling experience.”

Which professional soccer player do you model your game after?
“I’d have to say (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club defender) Thiago Silva. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he commands, he’s strong, and he holds downs his defense. I’ve always liked him.”

Published August 2, 2017

The Lutz Depot, by design

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Those wishing to escape the oppressive heat during the Fourth of July festivities in Lutz may have decided to check out a train show inside the Lutz Branch Library.

If I they did, they could have seen an exhibit presented by the Suncoast American Flyer Enthusiasts.

Eugene Vrooman, left, explains differences in the type of gauge size trains running on the tracks at the Lutz Public Library. (Fred Bellet)

And, perhaps they would have had a chance to chat with Eugene Vrooman, one of the club’s members.

If they did, Vrooman may have pointed out a wall display, showing the plans that were used to build the Lutz Depot building, across the street from the library.

Vrooman is quite familiar with the plans. He’s the one who drew them.

“We’ve done this (train) show for 17 years in a row,” Vrooman said, noting the Lutz Depot building was dedicated to the community’s residents in 2000.

He recounted how he got involved with the depot project.

“My brother-in-law came down from Lake Park, at Dale Mabry and Van Dyke, and he said that he went to that craft show, and there were some people who were planning to reestablish a train building,” Vrooman said.

So, the Lutz man, who is a draftsman, volunteered to draw up the plans.

He used a photo from “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,” by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus, to provide the building’s dimensions.

“I got the book and Xeroxed the pictures,” Vrooman said.

“I worked on it for about three months,” he added. It was a fun, but time-consuming project.

He isn’t an architect, so he needed one to review and sign off on the plans. That’s where Randy Stribling came in.

“He had to be happy with how the building was, appearance and structural,” Vrooman said.

The draftsman said he knew that the building had to be built to withstand hurricane winds, but he didn’t want it to be ugly.

Eugene Vrooman, a draftsman by trade, drew the drawings for this building, which was erected in 2000. He based the dimensions on a photo that was published in ‘Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,’ by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus. (B.C. Manion)

“The intent was to make it look like the original building,” he said.

He found a creative way to fortify the structure.

“I came up with this idea of taking steel plates and putting them in the wood columns and beams, hiding them and putting the bolts through that would hold them all together,” he said.

He is completely confident it will withstand high winds.

“It’s going to be there. It has the strength of eternity,” Vrooman said.

And, despite nearly two decades since the project’s completion, Vrooman still feels a surge of satisfaction when he passes by the Lutz Depot.

The project is a testimony to community involvement, he noted.

“All of this material was paid for by donations, or donated by material suppliers,” he said, and volunteers completed the actual construction.

“The intention was to dedicate the building to the citizens of Lutz on July 4, 2000.

“So, July 3, 2000, it hadn’t received its certificate of occupancy.

“The reason it hadn’t received its certificate of occupancy was because the building inspector rejected the certificate, based on this little handrail.

“The inspector said the handrail wasn’t the right height,” he said.

That correction was made and the certificate of occupancy was issued on the afternoon of July 3, he said.

That allowed the dignitaries to come to the building and stand on the deck during the Fourth of July, and to dedicate the depot to the citizens of Lutz.

“It was nip and tuck,” Vrooman recalled.

For Vrooman, the depot building is not only a community fixture, but a reminder of the role he played in helping it to become a reality.

“It’s part of who I am,” the draftsman said. “I have a plaque on the side of the building with my name on it.”

Published July 26, 2017

Two Lutz companies win Florida business awards

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Two Lutz-based companies, Dixie Belle Paint Co., and Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, are among an elite group of 50 finalists named as “Florida Companies to Watch,” according to a news release from GrowFl.

“These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” Tom O’ Neal said, in the release. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets.”

Suzanne Fulford, founder of Dixie Belle Paint Co. (Courtesy of Dixie Belle Paint Co.)

O’Neal is executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

Dixie Belle sells chalk mineral paint and other related products. Founder Suzanne Fulford opened her company in 2013. She is a 2015 graduate of the CO.STARTER program managed by the Pasco Economic Development Council.

The program aids startups or small business owners seeking to expand their enterprises.

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice is a mobile unit-based service that provides hospice and in-home euthanasia for pets. Co-founders and veterinarians, Dani McVety and Mary Gardner, started their company in 2009.

McVety received the “Pet Industry Woman of the Year” award in 2016 from the Women in the Pet Industry Network.

Dr. Dani McVety, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice (File)

GrowFl selected the 50 honorees from more than 500 nominees.

Florida Companies to Watch is a statewide program managed by the economic development group, GrowFl, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

The finalists are described as “second stage companies” with momentum for significant growth. GrowFl is the only program that focuses solely on these kinds of companies rather than startups or incubator businesses, the release says.

To qualify as second stage, the businesses must employ six to 150 people and have $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue.

Together the award-winning companies generated a total of more than $1 billion in revenue, and added more than 1,300 jobs between 2011 and 2015. Also, collectively for 2017, they anticipate a 53 percent increase in revenue and a 36 percent increase in job growth, compared to 2016.

An awards ceremony will be held Oct. 14 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

Published July 26, 2017

Eagle Scout project honors those who served

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When Michael Valenti was looking for his Eagle Scout project, he didn’t have to look very far.

He belongs to Boy Scout Troop 12, in Lutz, and it meets just a couple of blocks away from the Lutz Memorial Park.

Michael Valenti joined scouting when he was in third grade. The 16-year-old spearheaded a project to spruce up Lutz Memorial Park. (Courtesy of Ron Valenti)

The 16-year-old said he had noticed that the Lutz Memorial Park, at 98 First Ave., N.W., needed a bit of sprucing up, and he decided it would be a fitting Eagle Scout project.

So, he organized a team of helpers, secured donations and got busy.

The base for the flagpole was already there, but it wasn’t in good shape, Valenti said.

“There was just grass all around here, so when the mowers would come, they would chip out the base,” he explained. “Some of the paint was peeling off.”

The plaque wasn’t in great shape, either.

“We removed the sign, scraped all of the paint off. We repainted it, and we got these two new signs,” Valenti said. The new plaques came from Crown Trophy in New Tampa.

Before the project began, crews from Hillsborough County’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department removed some concrete.

Then, Valenti and his volunteers went to work.

Michael Valenti, of Lutz, did an Eagle Scout project to spruce up Lutz Memorial Park. More than 40 people helped, over two weekends, to beautify the space.

“We laid the concrete, then we planted this large flower box around it,” he said.

The volunteers also built a flower box near the Lutz Memorial Park sign.

The teenager wanted plants that could tolerate the sun, the rain and the drought. In other words, he was looking for low-maintenance plants that could survive in sandy soil, he said.

Since he wasn’t sure what would be best, he turned to gardening experts for advice.

He settled on blue salvia, pink guara and firebush.

“Over the course of two weekends, we had more than 40 people,” he said, including several members of Troop 12 and friends from Freedom High School.

Several local businesses helped out, too.

“John’s Butcher Shop and Benedetto’s (Ristorante Italiano) provided the food,” he said. “People allowed us to use their facilities, like their water and their bathrooms,” he said.

“It would have been about $2,000 with everything, including food and whatnot, but Lowe’s and Home Depot gave us significant discounts,” he said. Ace Hardware, in Lutz, helped, too.

Valenti is gratified by the prospect of becoming an Eagle Scout.

These are just a few of the 48 badges that Michael Valenti has earned. He recently completed his Eagle Scout project, which involved sprucing up Lutz Memorial Park.

“It’s kind of the pinnacle of your scouting career,” said Valenti, who lives in Lutz and is the son of Ron and Rose Valenti.

“It’s taken years of hard work to get where I am,” said the teenager, who will be a junior at Freedom High School.

And, it’s an accomplishment with staying power, he noted. “Once you’re an Eagle, you’re an Eagle for life.”

Valenti was a third-grader when he joined scouts, and he hopes he will become a scout leader when he’s an adult.

“It just ingrains very important values,” he said, and prepares youths to become good citizens.

Besides being on the path to becoming an Eagle Scout, Valenti has earned 48 scouting badges and is a member of the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society.

While he does well in school and plans to attend a state college, he hasn’t pinned down which career path he’d like to pursue.

Published July 5, 2017

Dog flu hits Florida — and it’s contagious

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It’s called the dog flu, and it has hit the Sunshine State.

The first confirmed case of the new H3N2 strain was reported in Deland over Memorial Day weekend.

According to the University of Florida, the strain entered the state from dogs and people who have attended a dog show.

The new dog flu virus is characterized by persistent coughing, along with sneezing and nasal discharge. Many infected dogs experience a fever, decreased appetite and lethargy during the first few days of illness. Unlike other forms of dog flu, whose symptoms and risk of contagion only last for about a week, the H3N2 strain is contagious for at least 26 days and can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours, health officials say. (Courtesy of American Kennel Club)

Now, more than 30 cases of canine influenza have been reported across the state, mainly in northeast and central Florida.

No cases have been reported in Hillsborough or Pasco counties, but it has reached Orlando.

The “highly contagious” H3N2 virus first infected about 1,000 dogs in Chicago in 2015, and since has spread to more than 30 states.

And, it’s more perilous than the H3N8 strain, first identified in Florida in 2004 in racing greyhounds.

The new virus is characterized by persistent coughing, along with sneezing and nasal discharge.

Many infected dogs experience a fever, decreased appetite and lethargy during the first few days of illness.

Unlike other forms of dog flu, which have symptoms and risk of contagion lasting only for about a week, the H3N2 strain is contagious for at least 26 days and can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours, health officials say.

That means it can spread through toys, leashes, kennel crates, dishes and floors, along with contaminated hands and clothing; frequent hand washing with soap and water, normal laundering of clothing and bedding, and washing food/water bowls and toys with soap is strongly advised.

Some local pharmacies and animal hospitals are offering vaccines to combat the H3N2 canine influenza virus, also known as dog flu. The first confirmed case of the new H3N2 strain was reported in Deland over Memorial Day weekend. More than 30 cases of canine influenza have been reported across the state, mainly in northeast and central Florida. No cases have been reported yet in Hillsborough or Pasco counties. (Kevin Weiss)

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine says there is no evidence the disease can infect humans, but it can spread to cats.

Dr. Cynda Crawford, of the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, said the virus is an “imminent threat” to dogs statewide.

“We’re probably just seeing the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “It is very important for both veterinarians and dog owners in the state of Florida to have very heightened awareness of the presence of this virus in the state.”

The flu can infect all canine dogs, regardless of breed, age or health status, according to Dr. Moses Kawalya, of Pet Point Animal Hospital in Lutz.

“All dogs are at risk; there’s no preferential breed,” he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the H3N2 disease is an avian flu virus that adapted and since spread to dogs. It was first detected in South Korea in 2007 before making its way to the United States in 2015.

No end appears in sight.

“Viruses generally have aggressive potential for mutation, so it’s possible that you can get one strain under control, and then another comes later on, which could be more contagious than the other ones before,” Kawalya explained.

Fortunately, most dogs recover from H3N2 without complications, health officials say.

But, some can develop “life-threatening” pneumonia, if the dog isn’t under the care of a veterinarian with proper treatments.

The best prevention is vaccination.

The Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center is taking steps to protect against the latest, highly contagious mutation of canine influenza. The facility, at 440 N. Falkenburg Road, is now closed to the public on Mondays to give veterinary staff more time to examine dogs and allow shelter staff to conduct weekly deep cleanings for added disease prevention. Beginning July 1, pet intake will end an hour earlier, at 6 p.m. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

“The more dogs that we can vaccinate and build up community immunity, the better chance we have of keeping this virus out of a community,” said Crawford.

“It is all about using vaccines to build a wall — an immune barrier to stop the virus from entry.”

Dogs are most at-risk when around other dogs that may be sick or in areas other dogs hang out at. Nose-to-nose contact with other dogs is one of the ways dogs can contract the virus.

Dog parks, pet stores, pet day care centers and grooming salons are also examples of places canines can contract the dog flu from, if a contagious dog has been there.

Besides public places, dog shows are particularly risky, Crawford said.

“This is a clear problem in the dog show population,” she said.

“I think it is a high risk to take dogs to dog shows at this time, because there could be dogs that are infected and contagious to other dogs,” Crawford added.

She also noted canines that mainly stay within the confines of their homes or yard are least at-risk.

Though she still recommends vaccination, in case an emergency arises.

“Most dogs are probably in a risk group for exposure,” Crawford said. “Their risk for exposure increases significantly, if the virus has been documented to be circulating in the community and state where they live.”

Despite the virus’ rise, some local residents don’t plan to vaccinate their dogs, yet.

Sharon Espinola, a Lutz resident who owns a 5-year-old border collie mix, said she doesn’t believe her dog, Leo, needs the flu vaccine.

Dr. Cynda Crawford, of the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, said the H3N2 virus is an ‘imminent threat’ to dogs statewide. (Courtesy of University of Florida)

“Given his age and health status, and the fact that we don’t go to dog parks, I feel like he’s not at risk,” she said. “Now, if it looked like it was more widespread and was something that was really going to impact his health negatively, I would certainly take a second look at it.”

Nevertheless, she’s still monitoring the disease to see if it reaches the Tampa Bay region.

“I think being aware is really important,” she said, “and, if you have a dog with a compromised immune system, I think it would definitely be something to look at.”

Terri Garey, a Lutz resident who owns two Yorkillons, hasn’t vaccinated, either.

“I haven’t had the dogs vaccinated because their contact with other dogs is very limited. We don’t board them or take them to the dog park,” Garey wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

For pet owners who think their dog has become infected, Kawalya suggests calling their veterinarian ahead so they can take precautionary measures.

“The vet has to make sure they minimize any exposure to any dog that may be at the vet’s office,” he said. “They may want to bring the dog through a separate door or entrance.”

Meanwhile, the Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center is taking steps to protect against the latest, highly contagious mutation of canine influenza.

The facility, at 440 N. Falkenburg Road, is now closed to the public on Mondays to give veterinary staff more time to examine dogs and allow shelter staff to conduct weekly deep cleanings for added disease prevention; the closure will give the dogs and cats a day of rest from constant human interaction.

Beginning July 1, pet intake will end an hour earlier, at 6 p.m., to allow more time for the veterinary staff to examine dogs that are received at the end of the day.

Also beginning July 1, owners who surrender dogs will be asked to make appointments so the facility can proactively combat outside contamination.

Additionally, county residents bringing in dogs or cats that are coughing or sneezing will be asked to keep the pet outside of the Pet Resource Center and contained in the resident’s vehicle to avoid possible contamination, whereby veterinary staff will provide an initial examination prior to the pet entering the building to ensure the safety of the pets inside the building.

Published June 21, 2017

They’re off to learn the ins and outs of leadership

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While some kids are heading to the beach or to a theme park this summer, a trio of girls who just wrapped up fifth grade at Lutz Elementary are gearing up for a trip to Washington D.C.

Kylie Flynn, Kaitlyn Britton and Alice Mooneyham will be participating in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.

The students were nominated by their former teacher, Cindy Morrissey.

The girls can’t wait to check out the nation’s capital.

This trio of girls are heading to Washington D.C., to find out a few things about leadership. They are, from left, Alice Mooneyham, Kaitlyn Britton and Kylie Flynn. They’ll be participating in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. (B.C. Manion)

“I’ve never been to Washington D.C., and I’ve wanted to go there,” said Alice, who is 11. “I think it’s going to be a really cool experience.”

Eleven-year-old Kaitlynn shares her enthusiasm.

“It’s going to be fun. My sister went in eighth grade. She got a lot of really cool photos. It was really pretty there.”

Plus, Kaitlyn added: “It will be fun to learn all about the statues.”

Ten-year-old Kylie is eager to make the trip, too.

“I can’t wait for the experiences to go to the different places,” she said. “I was really happy that I was nominated.”

Alice is particularly interested in visiting the Lincoln Memorial, while Kylie is looking forward to visiting Harper’s Ferry. Kaitlyn is looking forward to an activity-packed schedule.

“There’s going to be a lot of stuff to do in the day,” Kaitlyn said. “You’ll get to learn the history behind the monuments.”

The conference includes sessions on leadership traits and historic topics, as well as visits to national memorials, museums and a sleepover at the Maryland Science Center, amid mummies, dinosaurs and space exhibits.

Kaitlyn thinks the conference will be a good experience, but she’s not sure if it will help her with her future career. She wants to be a chiropractor when she grows up.

Alice wants to be a teacher.

Kylie wants to be a teacher, too. But, she said: “If that doesn’t work out, I want to be a lawyer. I want to be a lawyer that helps people get custody of their kids.”

Both Kylie and Kaitlyn live in Lutz, and Alice just moved from Lutz to Land O’ Lakes.

Kaitlyn will be attending Terrace Community Middle School in Temple Terrace. Kylie will be attending Buchanan Middle School in Tampa, and Alice will be attending Cypress Creek Middle High in Wesley Chapel.

Alice’s mom, Michelle Milone, is thrilled that Alice was nominated for the program.

“All three of you should be so super-duper proud of yourselves,” Milone told the girls, during a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

“I think it’s really, really great,” Milone said.

“When I was in high school, I went to something called GHP, the governor’s honors program. It was paid for by the state. It was a big deal. I learned a lot.

“I went to law camp, one year,” she added. “I went to Spanish camp.”

“I met people. I learned things,” Milone said. She’s glad the girls can take advantage of this opportunity.

Like Milone, Andrea and Kiel Flynn are delighted that the girls were nominated.

They estimated the conference cost for each of the girls to be around $3,000, and that doesn’t count the expenses that Flynn, Milone or Dave and Melissa Britton will incur because they’ll be on their own.

While it’s pricey, Milone and Flynn think its worthwhile because they believe the experience will have a lasting impression.

Published June 14, 2017

Guv’na incumbent looks to defend ‘sash’

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With three weeks remaining in the Lutz Guv’na race, incumbent candidate Greg Gilbert is looking to defend the ‘sash.’

Gilbert, the managing owner of Beef O’ Brady’s in Lutz, became last year’s honorary mayor of Lutz, raising more than $1,500.

But, with two formidable challengers this year — Jessica Sherman, of Pinch A Penny, and Kori Rankin, of Kori Rankin Photography — winning again won’t likely come easy, he admits.

Gilbert readies to toss a cow patty, during last month’s Lutz Guv’na Debate, at the Old Lutz School. (Kevin Weiss)

“Those girls seem very impressive with being involved with the community, so I don’t feel like I have any advantage over anybody,” Gilbert said. “I think it’s all going to be work, work, work to stay in the race.”

Gilbert and his family moved to Spring Hill in 2013.

Before moving to Florida, he spent 20-plus years in Michigan working as a general manager for both T.G.I. Fridays and Ruby Tuesday.

Though he doesn’t live in Lutz, Gilbert has tried to ingrain himself within the area, since taking over the local restaurant in December 2015.

“I know most of the regulars now; I’ve been out in the community a little bit more,” he said.

Gilbert decided to re-enter the Guv’na race to provide “a challenge” to the other contenders.

“It’s all for fun, so I thought it’d be a fun thing to do,” Gilbert said. “Last year I was afraid to do it, because I am not the public speaker kind of guy, and I had enough fun last year that I thought I’d try again.”

He’s stayed busy on the campaign trail, organizing various donations and raffles.

He also plans to host a classic car show July 1, and designate a percent of restaurant sales to the Guv’na campaign.

While he didn’t win the May 20 Guv’na debate, Gilbert arguably had the top slogan: “Hang up your boots in Lutz.”

Last year’s slogan — “Beef it up at Brady’s” — was equally catchy.

Additionally, many of Gilbert’s platform answers during the tongue-in-cheek event still resonate.

The Guv’na hopeful advocated for a motorcycle ban in Lutz, to make roads safer and less noisy. He, too, endeared himself to the women of Lutz by proposing free massages “at least once a week.”

“The first year I spent a couple days thinking about the things I wanted to say, and then this year it seemed to have come a little bit faster and easier,” Gilbert said of his debate answers.

Greg Gilbert is the incumbent candidate for the annual Lutz Guv’na race. Gilbert is the managing owner of Beef O’ Brady’s, 18421 N. U.S. 41 in Lutz.

When he’s not working or dedicating time to fundraising efforts, the Guv’na incumbent has a passion for brainteasers — he previously described himself as a “crossword and Sudoku junkie.”

No matter the outcome of this year’s Guv’na race, Gilbert is just content to raise money for a good cause.

“I’ll be happy with whoever wins, I really will,” he said.

The Guv’na race continues through the Fourth of July weekend.

The winner will be announced after the community’s traditional parade.

The annual charity event— which started in 1991— is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association, and benefits about 20 local causes, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Old Lutz School and the Friends of the Library.

More than $100,000 has been raised in the past decade alone.

The winner of the Guv’na race may also earmark 10 percent of what they raise to the organization of their choice.

If you’d like to contribute to Gilbert’s campaign, visit Beef ’O’ Brady’s Lutz, or call (813) 909-2300.

Published June 14, 2017