Lutz

Sunlake grad earns AP distinction

August 26, 2015 By Michael Murillo

When Alex Minnick was a senior at Sunlake High School back in June, he had to submit a 24-piece portfolio for his Advanced Placement Drawing class. They were on display at a scoring event in Salt Lake City, Utah, where judges determined an overall score of one through six.

As it turns out, no sixes were awarded, and only around 15.5 percent of the approximately 18,000 entries earned a 5, which was the highest score awarded by the judges.

Alex Minnick's favorite piece is the one he drew of his sister, Michelle. (Photos courtesy of Alex Minnick) — Alex Minnick’s favorite piece is the one he drew of his sister, Michelle.
(Photos courtesy of Alex Minnick)

Minnick was surprised when he learned his score.

“I thought I would get a three or a four,” he said.

The Lutz resident tends to be critical of his own work, but he devotes considerable time and effort to each piece.

He estimates that it typically takes eight hours or more to complete a piece, and he generally prefers the quiet of his room, so he can focus on his work.

When he finishes, he often feels more relieved, than satisfied.

“Most of the time, I’m just exhausted because I’m really critical of what I do. So when I look at the final piece, it’s not exactly how I planned it originally, but it still turns out fine,” Minnick said.

One piece that turned out fine involves hands, which Minnick said was a challenge. They’re easy to get wrong, he explained, because people know when they don’t look right. And, he noted, they need to be expressive and convey strength.

Another difficult piece shows Minnick looking at his reflection in a mirror. That one took closer to 14 hours to complete. He said he had to work hard to get the face in the reflection just right.

Still, he doesn’t think it’s perfect.

“I feel like it’s a good starting point, but I don’t feel like it’s one of my stronger pieces,” Minnick said.

Hands are difficult to draw, Alex Minnick said. They need to look realistic and convey the appropriate emotion at the same time. After significant practice, he’s improved his technique.

If the artist sounds like an unforgiving critic, it’s because he specializes in a type of art with little room for error. Realistic pieces are supposed to look like the subject. Any deviation is noticed and detracts from the goal, which is to represent the subject in an authentic manner. Other subjects, such as a depiction of a reflection in a chrome faucet, are actually easier for Minnick to create. Because those images are supposed to look distorted, a viewer can be more forgiving — the eye doesn’t expect the image to be normal.

As a fan of art, Minnick’s preferences deviate from his own talents. His favorite artist is M.C. Escher, known for his famous and challenging works that often depict physically impossible images. The viewer sees staircases and other visuals, and tries to reconcile them with the physical world, but they don’t match up, creating an optical illusion of sorts.

In fact, departures from realistic depictions of subjects tend to interest Minnick.

“I like surrealist art, because I’m not too good at that. So, it’s something I like because it’s different from what I do,” Minnick said.

He’ll continue his own style at Pasco-Hernando State College, where he’ll continue to study art.

His teacher from Sunlake High School’s 2D AP Studio, Carolyn Frances, is impressed by Minnick’s talents.

“The AP Studio process challenges the student to reach expressive and artistic milestones that match the rigor and skills required of college-level studio art students,” Frances said, in a news release. “Alex is definitely ready for the college studio experience.”

While Minnick acknowledged that he’s not perfectly happy with his Advanced Placement submissions, his friends and family were excited about his score.

He has learned to accept that, even though he still sees aspects in his art that didn’t come out the way he wanted, he’s been recognized for excellence with a score that the vast majority of students won’t achieve.

“I still see the things I don’t like, but now that I know that I got a five, I’m more accepting of those things,” Minnick said.

This piece, depicting his reflection in a mirror, took Alex Minnick nearly 14 hours to complete. Minnick spent a lot of time on getting the reflection image correct.

Published August 26, 2015

Retired CPA becomes published novelist

August 26, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The morning after John Chaplick retired from his consulting business, he knew after he’d finished his first cup of coffee that he wasn’t a man who could live without plans.

As he was drinking that cup of coffee, he quickly realized that no one was seeking his advice, he had no meetings to attend and no one was waiting for his reports.

John Chaplick, a retired certified public accountant who lives in Lutz, has penned three novels and is working on No. 4. (Courtesy of John Chaplick) — John Chaplick, a retired certified public accountant who lives in Lutz, has penned three novels and is working on No. 4.
(Courtesy of John Chaplick)

So, he decided to do something he’d promised himself years before that he would do. He decided to write a book.

Of course, he soon learned that it sounded much easier than it was.

It didn’t take long either to discover he had a great deal to learn.

But he was up for the challenges.

And now, the retired certified public accountant has published three novels and is working on his fourth.

His publishers are Cricket Cottage Publishing and Southern Yellow Pines Publishing.

The titles of his novels are “The Rivergrass Legacy,” “Bridge of the Paper Tiger” and “Forbidden Chronicles of a Roman Centurion.”

He’s already about 80 pages into his next novel, “Wolves of Antikythera,” which he expects to be 300-plus pages, because of the research involved.

Chaplick said he does his writing on the computer in his den at home, surrounded by his materials.

He believes that readers want more than an engaging story.

His novels always include a broad underlying premise, such as money laundering in “The Rivergrass Legacy.”

When he writes, he keeps in mind that there’s no such thing as a perfectly righteous hero or completely evil villain.

Obstacles change his characters, as the novel progresses.

His novels always have a twist at the end, too.

He believes that authors must capture the reader’s interest at the outset and use concise writing to keep them reading.

He seeks to do more than merely tell a story.

He uses “atmospherics” — which is a descriptive kind of writing that give readers a sense that they’ve been transported to the place where the story is unfolding and brings the characters in the novel to life.

When it comes to the actual writing, Chaplick has no particular routine.

“I probably write a little bit every day. Sometimes I’ll sit there for four hours. Sometimes I’ll sit there for 10 minutes,” he said.

Essentially, he doesn’t write unless he feels like he has something to say.

“I just don’t write unless I feel like it. If you try to write when you really don’t feel like it, it comes out kind of forced, and I’m not sure what kind of quality you get.”

If he hits a wall, he takes a break for a few days to mull things over.

“I usually find my way around it,” he said. “When I get stuck, it’s usually because the novel says, ‘Hey, I want to go in a different direction.’ ”

Sometimes, he’ll wake up at 2 a.m., with an idea, so he heads to the den and gets to work.

“I get on the computer and punch away.”

Chaplick said he’s always on the lookout for ways to enhance his material.

Occasionally, he’ll see something while he’s driving that will make him think of a scene or an image, and he’ll pull over to jot down some notes.

“Sometimes, a billboard believe it or not, will trigger a thought,” the author said.

He begins every novel with an outline, but doesn’t always stick to it.

“I find, as I go along — as the characters develop and the plot thickens — sometimes the book drives me,” Chaplick said.

His novels tend to run between 275 and 325 pages.

He despises the use of fill material.

And, he’s not impressed by sequels.

“I think sequels are weaker than the first one. And, they’re playing on their readers’ desire to see a repeat of the first, and it’s usually a disappointment,” he said.

None of his books have been sequels.

Chaplick said he would encourage anyone who is serious about writing a book, to pursue that desire.

But he advised: “Don’t do it unless you’re committed to it long term. It’s a long, long journey.”

He also warned would-be authors about the dangers of being exploited by publishers.

“Every new writer who enters the field is suddenly set adrift on a sea of protocol without a compass, and the navigation is difficult because there are literary sharks waiting at every turn to take advantage of a new writer. There are a lot of predators out there,” he said.

Effective writing requires solid research, which adds depth and dimension to the storytelling, he said.

It’s a good idea to join writing groups to help authors develop and refine their writing skills, Chaplick said. It’s also a good idea to read a lot, to learn techniques from other writers.

Chaplick’s wife, Avis, edits his drafts, his writer groups critique his work, he has several readers who offer advice, and he has an editor, Paula Stahel, too.

It’s important to develop a thick skin, Chaplick said.

Once one of his writing groups was critiquing his work, while there was a visitor from Scotland there, thinking about joining the group.

“Well, he was sitting next to me. As they were taking mine (Chaplick’s writing) apart, with their red ink and criticizing, he kept looking at me. He looked over to see my reaction.

“I sat there because I was used to it.

“They got all through, and the director turned around and said, ‘Well Angus, what do you think? Would you like to join our group?’

“And, in a thick Scottish brogue, (Angus replied)‘No, I wanted to join, but after I seen what ya done to this lad, I don’t think I will.’

“He walked out, and we never saw him again.”

Critiques can be deflating, Chaplick said.

But they’re instructive and can help writers grow, Chaplick said.

“You have to get better and better each time, and the red marks get fewer and fewer,” Chaplick said.

John Chaplick appearances
Lutz author John Chaplick will be taking part in the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading on Oct. 24 in St. Petersburg. He also will be giving a book talk at 5:30 p.m., on Oct. 26, at the Lutz Branch Library. He is the author of three books, “The Rivergrass Legacy,” “Bridge of the Paper Tiger” and “Forbidden Chronicles of a Roman Centurion.”

The author is available to give talks to schools, libraries, service clubs and other groups. For more information, email him at , or visit his website at EngagingBooksBlog.com.

Published August 26, 2015

New Catholic school opens in Lutz

August 19, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on Aug. 17.

The school is operating in a new structure on the campus of St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17524 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.

Most Holy Redeemer, which was founded in 1954, took on its new name last year, but didn’t move to its new campus until this academic year.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on the campus of Saint Timothy Catholic Church on Aug. 17. This photo was taken just days before classes began. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on the campus of Saint Timothy Catholic Church on Aug. 17. This photo was taken just days before classes began.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The school, for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, has an enrollment of 355 students, said Principal Johnnathan Combs.

That’s up from the enrollment at the Most Holy Redeemer campus last year, which finished out last school year with 239 students.

All but two of those students are attending classes on the new campus. The two that aren’t moved away to Orlando, Combs said.

The students are coming to the school from St. Timothy, St. Paul, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Mary and Most Holy Redeemer parishes, he said.

Four classrooms at the school are still under construction, Combs said. But when they are finished, the school will have a capacity for 600 students.

Construction costs for the school are around $8 million, said Dr. Michael Tkacik, secretary for ministries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

The school will be celebrating a mass and a dedication ceremony on Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., he said.

Tkacik said enrollment in the Diocese’s Catholic schools has been holding steady for the past couple of years.

As he looks to the future, Tkacik said he is “guardedly optimistic.”

He points to projects such as Tampa Premium Outlets and other construction activity as a sign that the economy — stalled for several years — is showing new signs of life.

The school on Saint Timothy’s campus is inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and is rooted in the Catholic faith, according to its website. Its mission is “to develop young people who strive for academic excellence, recognize the dignity of each individual and foster service to others,” the website says.

Its fundamental reason for existence is to help children learn about Jesus and to develop their Catholic faith, Combs said. Of course, he added, academics are important.

The Pope John Paul II Youth Center, also on St. Timothy’s campus, has already opened.

The facility will be used by the school during the school day and also will be used for athletics.

Published August 19, 2015

Summer Sing 2015 showcases worship through art

August 5, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Hundreds of children and adults spent a recent week at Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church in a summer camp that combines a love for the arts, with the expression of Christian values.

Kaitlyn DeTuccio belts out a number during a rehearsal at Summer Sing, a weeklong summer camp at Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church, which was jammed with fun stuff for kids. Also in rehearsal are Alexis Davis, in yellow, and Meghan Reilly. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Kaitlyn DeTuccio belts out a number during a rehearsal at Summer Sing, a weeklong summer camp at Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church, which was jammed with fun stuff for kids. Also in rehearsal are Alexis Davis, in yellow, and Meghan Reilly.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The camp began as a singing camp several years ago and has morphed into a full-scale arts camp.

There were sessions on everything from etiquette, to playing percussion tubes, to scrapbooking and violin.

Singing, acting, harp lessons and choreography were a few other choices for the camp, designed for kids who have completed second grade through fifth grade.

Kids were busy making high heels and minions in the cake-decorating class during one recent morning. Others tried their hand at origami, or had the chance to sing a Broadway tune. Some picked up pointers on fishing. Others helped build a theatrical set. Some strummed on guitars.

The campers come from all over to the camp in Lutz, including some from as far away as Orlando, said Susan Raabe, a camp volunteer.

Summer Sing is run by teenagers, who are helped by adult volunteers. Sheila Goskie is the camp director.

Campbell Middlebrooks teaches Calvin Montgomery, left, and Oliver Crawford, right, a few of the finer points of fishing. (Courtesy of Idlewild Baptist Church) — Campbell Middlebrooks teaches Calvin Montgomery, left, and Oliver Crawford, right, a few of the finer points of fishing.
(Courtesy of Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church)

In the words of 8-year-old Joshua Barnes: “It’s really fun.”

To find out more about next year’s camp, go to Idlewild’s website at Idlewild.org.

Published August 5, 2015

Health care reforms pass House, onto Senate next

July 29, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The House of Representatives has passed legislation that could pave the way for more treatment options for people who are ill, and the bill’s bipartisan support bodes well for its passage in the Senate, said Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who has taken a leadership role on this issue.

The 21st Century Cures Act passed the House by a vote of 344-77 on July 10.

Ashleigh Pike, left, looks on as her mother, Beth Pike, describes the impacts that Ashleigh’s illness has had on the young woman’s life. (File Photo) — Ashleigh Pike, left, looks on as her mother, Beth Pike, describes the impacts that Ashleigh’s illness has had on the young woman’s life.
(File Photos)

“Now, we’re waiting on the Senate to pass a bill,” Bilirakis said, and he’s confident that will happen, perhaps by the end of the year.

Passage can’t come soon enough, Bilirakis said, noting the legislation offers hope to people who are desperate for new treatment options.

The Senate’s version of the bill will likely have fewer provisions, Bilirakis said.

To help protect provisions he believes are important, Bilirakis has sponsored stand-alone bills, as well.

One of the stand-alone bills he has introduced is called the Orphan Product Extensions Now Accelerating Cures & Treatments Act (OPEN ACT). That calls for giving drug makers and innovators incentives to “repurpose” major market drugs for life-threatening rare diseases and pediatric cancers.

The aim is to open the door to the development of hundreds of safe, effective and affordable treatments for rare disease patients, Bilirakis said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, of Utah, has co-sponsored that bill in the Senate.

Bilirakis said he doesn’t care whether these provisions are adopted in the overall legislation or his stand-alone bill. He just wants action on these issues.

A panel of health care providers discusses ways to improve health care delivery to patients. Reducing bureaucracy, increasing funding and encouraging innovation are some of their suggestions.

While legislators were drafting the 21st Century Cures Act, roundtables were held around the country to give stakeholders a chance to discuss issues being faced by patients and providers.

Bilirakis convened roundtables in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Carrollwood, where he listened to hours of testimony from patients, patient advocates, doctors, researchers, makers of medical devices and other stakeholders.

The settings for the sessions were comfortable meeting rooms, but the testimony delivered dealt with issues of life and death, and was often poignant and dramatic.

At a session in Lutz, patients told Bilirakis about difficulties in getting a proper diagnosis and finding effective treatments.

Ashleigh Pike was one of those patients.

Before she became ill, she was a vibrant young woman who delighted in teaching elementary school children. Now, she lives life from a wheelchair and requires full-time care.

“On the outside, I look fine,” the former teacher told Bilirakis. But, she added: “My quality of life has been greatly compromised.”

Pike suffers from a form of dysautonomia, a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. That system controls automatic functions of the body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, kidney function, temperature control, and dilation and constriction of the pupils, according to Dysautonomia International’s website.

At another session, health care providers told Bilirakis about a variety of roadblocks that frustrate their work.

Dr. David Morgan, the chief executive of the University of South Florida’s Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, told Bilirakis the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s patients must improve. About one in five people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s do not have the disease, Morgan said.

The disease can be accurately diagnosed with PET — positron emission tomography — scans, but those are expensive and generally not covered by insurance, Morgan said.

Proper diagnosis is important not only for treatment of patients, but also to ensure that clinical trial results are not skewed by including patients in the trials who do not have the disease.

Reforms also are needed in the way clinical trials are conducted, Morgan said, noting the current approach takes too long and costs too much.

At that same session, Dr. Richard Finkel, chief neurologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital of Orlando, told Bilirakis that the focus must be greater on patient-centered cures.

“Patients are willing to accept different levels of risk. But the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t look at it that way,” he said. “They are very risk averse.”

Medical device makers face other obstacles, Lisa Novorska, chief financial officer for Rochester Electro Medical Inc., told Bilirakis.

Her company can know how to improve a device, but can’t pursue those improvements because of the costs to comply with FDA requirements. The FDA plays a valuable role in protecting the public, but it also creates paperwork nightmares for small businesses, she said.

Bilirakis said The 21st Century Cures Act addresses many concerns raised during the roundtable sessions, and provides an $8.5 billion increase for the National Institutes for Health.

Published July 29, 2015

Scout has a sign in mind for Old Lutz School

July 29, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Eagle Scout projects are an important part of earning the distinguished designation from the Boy Scouts of America. But because they’re normally completed while a candidate is close to graduating high school, their schedule is pretty full.

In many cases, they might only have a few months to design, present and complete it.

Sam Crawford doesn’t have that problem.

He’s not getting ready to graduate high school. He hasn’t even started it yet.

Sam Crawford's project mentor, Michael Ritchie, made a detailed sketch of the proposed sign. It will need adjustments and an architect's touch before it can get final approval. — Sam Crawford’s project mentor, Michael Ritchie, made a detailed sketch of the proposed sign. It will need adjustments and an architect’s touch before it can get final approval.

Crawford, 13, will start his freshman year at Steinbrenner High School this fall. He’s also working toward his Eagle Scout designation.

The Lutz teenager had the option of either wrapping up his project and becoming a very young Eagle Scout, or spending more time on it and making it something big.

Crawford went big.

“I just really wanted to do a project that, when I was older, I could still see it, and it would still be in use,” Crawford said.

So, as he heads off to his new school, he’ll be doing something for an old one — a very old one.

His project involves the Old Lutz School, at 18819 U.S. Highway 41 N.

The school was built around 1927, and served as a school until the mid-1970s.

Now, the structure serves as a symbol of the community, a gathering place for civic groups and a host for local events.

It is also the beneficiary of Crawford’s Eagle Scout project.

Right now, as drivers on U.S. 41 pass the school, they likely have no idea what’s happening at the school, because the sign is too small to be seen clearly from both sides of the highway.

Crawford’s solution? A bigger sign that’s easy to read.

Scouting is important to Sam Crawford, who will attend Steinbrenner High School this fall. He's also working toward his Eagle Scout designation with a project that benefits the Old Lutz School. Shown here, he is standing next to Scoutmaster Jeff Potvin. Joey Hermes, another scout, is in the background. (Photos courtesy of Sam Crawford) — Scouting is important to Sam Crawford, who will attend Steinbrenner High School this fall. He’s also working toward his Eagle Scout designation with a project that benefits the Old Lutz School. Shown here, he is standing next to Scoutmaster Jeff Potvin. Joey Hermes, another scout, is in the background.
(Photos courtesy of Sam Crawford)

Current plans call for it to be 10 feet long and about 8 feet tall, with removable lettering and a protective cover on the signage.

Plans also call for a shingled roof and brick construction, to make the sign both durable and attractive.

When finished, the sign will be the perfect place to list announcement and events for both the school and local organizations.

Even with quality materials and a sturdy design, it might seem like a simple thing to put up a sign.

But this is no simple sign. Crawford wants it to use electricity so it will be useful at night, and the school only has a couple of outlets.

He’ll also need permits to build it, which will take time to secure.

And, he has to find a way to pay for it, since a sign this elaborate will cost thousands. He’s getting material donations and the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building are chipping in a good amount, but Crawford still needs to raise money to make up the difference.

In all, his Eagle Scout project will take about a year from start to finish. And, he’s already about halfway there.

He’s fine with taking a little extra time to create something that will be useful for years to come. He also expects to learn quite a bit by the time the project is finished.

“I’m very excited, because I’ve never led something this big,” Crawford said.

“It’ll teach me a lot about leading a group of people, and I think I’ll learn a lot from the experience,” he said.

Crawford’s extra efforts are appreciated by the people who are most involved in the school.

“He’s a very nice guy and working very hard on it. It was a big project for him to take on,” said Phyllis Hoedt, co-chair of the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building.

The new sign will be oriented so drivers traveling north and south can see it clearly, Hoedt said. It will help promote events at the school, such as yard sales, flea markets and their annual Christmas event. The end result should be better promotion on a busy highway, and better attendance at events.

“We’ll have a nice sign to advertise what’s going on the community,” she said.

For now, that nice sign is still in the planning stages.

Crawford still needs a professional sketch by an architect and must finalize structural details so it can be built once they get the proper permits. But once it’s completed, it will be useful and a point of pride.

“I really enjoy (the project) because I’ve grown up in Lutz all my life. I feel like giving back to the community and putting this sign in, it really will help the community for many years to come,” Crawford said. “Hopefully more people will be showing up at the events — thanks to the sign.

Published July 29, 2015

School supply drives aim to help kids, teachers

July 29, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Chambers of commerce, businesses, civic organizations, churches and community groups are busy collecting items that students will need once school begins.

Some efforts are broad outreach programs, and others involve individual churches.

Efforts are underway to help students who need supplies for the coming school year. (File Art) — Efforts are underway to help students who need supplies for the coming school year.
(File Art)

Some seek to help teachers fill their supply cupboards so they won’t have to dig into their own wallets to pay for supplies their students need.

Others give the items directly to children and families in need.

There is an ever-growing list of efforts, but here are some of the ongoing or planned efforts to date:

The First National Bank of Pasco is collecting school supply and monetary donations for its Stuff the Backpack Drive, through Aug. 7, at any of its three branches in Zephyrhills and Dade City. Monetary donations will be used to purchase additional school supplies. Items needed include liquid soap, Ziploc bags, crayons, highlighters, backpacks, rulers, folders, index cards and more. For locations, visit FNBPasco.com.
Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care is collecting school supplies, through Aug. 8, at all five of its thrift shops. Anyone who donates will receive a voucher for 25 percent off a single item (sale items and furniture excluded) that is valid for one week after the donation, at any thrift shop location. Supplies needed include backpacks, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, folders, glue sticks, markers, notebooks, paper, pencil cases, pens, scissors and yellow pencils. All supplies will be distributed to needy children in Pasco County through the Kiwanis Club of Greater West Pasco. For a list of shop locations, visit GHPPC.org.
Children’s Home Society of Florida, 1515 Michelin Court in Lutz, is collecting backpacks and school supplies, through Aug. 11. To arrange a drop-off or pickup, or for information, call Rachelle Duroseau at (813) 428-3832, or email .
Sharpline Investigations is hosting a school supply drive, through Aug. 21, with local drop-off locations in Wesley Chapel and Lutz. Supplies needed include backpacks, pencils, pens, spiral notebooks, composition books, binders and notebook paper. The supplies will be distributed to students in Hillsborough and Pasco counties that are at risk in attendance, academics and behavior. For information and locations, visit SharplineInvestigations.com/giving-back-to-the-community/.
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is collecting school supplies, from July 31 to Aug. 2, for the Stuff the Bus for Teachers program. Some of the school items needed include mechanical pencils, pens, scissors, pink erasers, dry erasers, dry erase markers, hand sanitizer, rulers, copy paper (white and colors), spiral notebooks, folders (3-prong and no prong), and colored pencils. For information and donation sites, email .
Cobb Theatres Grove 16, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel is hosting its seventh annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 15. The event, themed “Fantastic Four,” will take place from10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Festivities will include activities such as face painting, games, haircuts, health screenings and school supply giveaways.

The theater is still seeking sponsors. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or partner, call Demene Benjamin at (813) 948-5445, or email ">.

The United Way of Pasco County will host the 5th Annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers, July 31 to Aug. 2, at various Walmart and Publix locations, and is looking for volunteers.

There are three-hour shifts available: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/stuffthebus2015 or UnitedWayPasco.org.

For information, call (727) 835-2028.

C1 Bank and Goin’ Postal are collecting school supplies, and donations will be given to local schools for on-campus personnel to distribute to students in need. Goin’ Postal locations are:
14247 Seventh St., Dade City
27221 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel
28500 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel (inside Walmart)
38439 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
7631 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills (inside Walmart)

C1 Bank, 7435 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, also is collecting supplies and will host the Back-To-School Community Party Aug. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a limited number of drawstring bags with school supplies, and drawings for gift cards, as well as games and puzzles, chalk art, coloring contests, a dance contest and more.

For information, call Shelly Brantman at C1 Bank at (813) 715-4700.

Published July 29, 2015

Cindy Oelke feels ‘called’ to help Haitians

July 22, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Cindy Oelke’s home in Lutz is comfortable and spacious, but step into a back bedroom and you’ll see piles of clothing and shoes all over the room.

Oelke has been collecting the items to prepare for an upcoming trip to Haiti.

These Haitian children seem to enjoy posing for a picture. (Photos courtesy of Cindy Oelke) — These Haitian children seem to enjoy posing for a picture.
(Photos courtesy of Cindy Oelke)

This will be her third mission trip to the island nation to help provide basic necessities for people who are still recovering from a devastating earthquake there.

“The first year, I took maybe 100 pieces. Last year, I took 1,200 pieces,” she said. This year, she’s expecting to take around 2,000 items.

On previous trips, she also has pitched in on projects organized by her church — Grace Family Church, which is located on Van Dyke Road, not far from her home.

“The first year we went, we painted one of the new churches and schools. Last year, they helped build an addition on to the mountain school. This year, we’re going to be working within all of our orphanages,” she said.

She’ll also take on a new role.

Despite difficult living conditions, it is quite common to see Haiti children, like this one, smiling, says Cindy Oelke, a woman from Lutz who makes mission trips to Haiti. ‘The children are very, very happy.’

“They’ve asked me to go and teach the mommas how to sew. So, I’m taking a lot of fabric, so I can teach the moms how to sew for their children,” she said.

She also will be leaving fabric behind that they’ll be able to continue to use.

And, passing along four donated sewing machines to Haiti.

Oelke, who works part-time, believes she’s been called to do God’s work in the impoverished country.

It all began rather simply.

“I said a prayer one day. I prayed for a sewing machine and a bicycle. And, within a week, I received both. I figured, well, I need to listen to the Lord more.

“The second week, I was also given another sewing machine.

“At that point, I really felt like God was talking to me, so, I just asked, ‘What do you want me to do?’ And, he said, ‘Sew for children.’ ”

Cindy Oelke carries containers of food in Haiti. Someday, she’d enjoy seeing Europe. For now, she feels called to do God’s work in Haiti.

She wasn’t sure what would become of the clothing, because she knows how expensive it is to ship packages overseas.

But one day, as she was getting ready for Bible study, she felt a prompting, she said. “The Holy Spirit sort of said to me, ‘Don’t forget your promise to Haiti.’ ”

Then she recalled how she and her husband had visited Haiti as part of a cruise years ago, after a huge storm had hit the country. They saw the devastation.

“We took a bus trip around. The children, the adults — they were just standing on the road. They were just trying to survive.”

When she got back on the bus, she felt sick.

“I just said a silent prayer, ‘Lord, help these people.’ I told my husband, ‘I will come back here and help the children,’ ” she said.

Years passed and life got busy, and the idea faded.

But after she began sewing the clothing, she began thinking about joining a church trip to take it to Haiti.

Many Haitians live in primitive living conditions, such as this house, says Cindy Oelke, a Lutz woman who is traveling to Haiti in August to help women there learn how to sew.

She inquired about going on the next church trip to Haiti, but was told it was already full.

She said her Bible leader mentioned to someone, “You know, Cindy has really sewn her heart out for Haiti.”

And a short while later, someone cancelled, and she was invited to fill the opening.

Still, she wasn’t absolutely certain she should make the trip. So, she prayed for a clear sign.

A really clear sign.

She asked God to put two animals in her backyard, so she’d know she was meant to go.

“The next morning, I got up. I went over to my bay window, and I started screaming for my husband to come. There, right in front of the window, were two doves. Just sitting there,” Oelke said.

That happened in April of 2013. She took her Haiti mission trip that August.

This year, the group will be leaving on Aug. 15 and returning on Aug. 22.

Oelke said her solicitation — in The Laker/Lutz News and elsewhere — has yielded good results, with people donating items to help.

“I had asked for slightly used clothes, for boys and girls, and shoes.

“I got a lot of both, but I also got a lot of winter clothes.”

“I’m thinking, ‘Why are people sending me winter clothes for Haiti? “Haiti is hot year-round,” she said.

As she thought about it, it occurred to her that people often ask her why she doesn’t do more to help local people.

“So, I just know, I’m supposed to help the homeless,” she said.

She plans to store the winter clothes and give them to the homeless when colder weather arrives.

So, instead of being involved in one ministry, it seems that Oelke is involved in two.

You can help
Here is Cindy Oelke’s wish list:

New or slightly used spring or summer clothing for boys and girls, from age 2 to 16; new or slightly used shoes for the same ages
Fabric, preferably cotton, for making clothes
First-aid kit items, such as Wet Ones, bandages and gauze
Suitcases to carry donations and to leave them with Haitians, for them to store their clothing

For additional details, call Cindy Oelke at (813) 963-7541.

Published July 22, 2015

Lutz artist’s work selected for international exhibit

July 22, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr always wanted to be a painter — whose works would sell and gain recognition for artistic excellence.

She got there, but it was no simple path.

She enjoyed drawing as a child. She won art awards in high school. And, in college, she obtained an art degree.

So far so good.

Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr's ‘Off the Path’ was accepted into the International Society of Acrylic Painters open exhibition in California. Landscapes are preferred subjects for the artist. (Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr) — Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr’s ‘Off the Path’ was accepted into the International Society of Acrylic Painters open exhibition in California. Landscapes are preferred subjects for the artist.
(Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr)

Then she realized something was missing.

“They don’t tell you how to make money when you graduate in painting,” Fontaine-Barr said.

Knowing there would be bills to pay as an adult, the New Orleans native had studied advertising design in New York.

She opened a store back home with another artist where they taught art classes to children and did custom picture framing.

Then she was a freelance commercial artist, and she went on to become the editor for a New Orleans hospital newsletter.

After that, Fontaine-Barr went into advertising sales, managed a rock ‘n roll band, and spent time in the health field. And during that time, she worked on film and video, serving as a production coordinator when she moved to Florida.

“I’ve worn a lot of different hats,” she admits.

Now, Fontaine-Barr, who moved to Lutz in 1990, wears the hat that fits her best.

She returned to painting and is selling her work.

She’s being recognized with admittance into the 18th Annual International Society of Acrylic Painters open exhibition, July 30 through Aug. 23, in Paso Robles, California. Her accepted piece, “Off the Path,” made the cut after being scrutinized by a juror, who examined all the submissions and accepted just 58 into the exhibition.

“Off the Path,” like most of Fontaine-Barr’s works, is a colorful landscape that doesn’t look like anything you’d see in real life.

Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr has been a custom picture framer, an editor, and a manager for a rock band among other careers. But she came back to painting, which she has loved since her childhood.

She draws inspiration from real-life landscapes — often they’re vacation photographs — and puts them through the filter of her own emotions.

The result is an expressionist’s interpretation of the image. “Off the Path” is filled with vibrant hues and an expansive sky.

Unlike many of her works, it doesn’t have foliage to break up the scene.

The inspiration for her ISAP entry came from a photograph of a different painting of a landscape, though you wouldn’t recognize the painting or the original image in Fontaine-Barr’s art.

Once it goes through her creative process, all that’s left is her own impression of what she’s seen.

“Just because I’m looking at a photograph, it’s not going to look like that photograph,” Fontaine-Barr said. “It’s just a trigger for an emotion that I am trying to get down on canvas.”

Fontaine-Barr started getting back into painting around 2008, and it took some adjustment.

Like a blank sheet of paper can be intimidating to a writer, a blank canvas can be daunting to a painter, she explained.

When her creativity flows, she takes advantage of it while she can, coming back to a work periodically on a piece until it’s done.

And because she’s not replicating that particular landscape, it can be hard to tell where it’s going or when she’s actually finished.

“Sometimes, because I’m not drawing what I’m seeing, I don’t know how this is going to turn out,” she said. “It’s almost like the painting has to paint itself.”

Fontaine-Barr does the actual painting, and now she’s doing some selling as well. She estimates that she’s sold more than two dozen works, and hopes “Off the Path” will be another.

Still, it’s no fast track to wealth.

Once an artist factors in the cost to enter exhibits, ship the painting to the event and give the gallery its cut, a painter isn’t looking at a life of luxury, even if the work sells.

Fontaine-Barr won’t be attending the exhibition in California. Going there would add even more to the expense.

Still, being accepted into exhibitions is good for an artist’s resume, Fontaine-Barr said. In addition to the ISAP exhibition, she’s been accepted into regional and local events, as well.

Also, if an artist wants gallery representation — something Fontaine-Barr is considering pursuing in the future — it helps to have a proven track record of acceptance.

As she continues her artistic pursuits, she’s keeping up with her own family’s track record of creativity. Her husband, John, is a musician, and her daughter, Hannah, is involved in ballet.

After spending years in creative and noncreative careers, Fontaine-Barr is again finding satisfaction and success putting her own creativity on canvas.

“I finally came full circle back to my passion,” she said.

For more samples of Fontaine-Barr’s work, visit FontaineGallery.com.

Published July 22, 2015

Tennis app serves up statistics

July 15, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Lutz resident John Straumann was playing tennis several months ago and was trying to keep statistics on how his shots were going during a match.

It wasn’t going well.

John Straumann's work center in his Lutz home is more like a command station, with desktop computers, laptops and smartphones working together on his projects. It's where he developed the ScoreIt! sports apps for the Apple iWatch in his spare time. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo) — John Straumann’s work center in his Lutz home is more like a command station, with desktop computers, laptops and smartphones working together on his projects. It’s where he developed the ScoreIt! sports apps for the Apple Watch in his spare time.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“One of the biggest things was trying to track unforced errors versus winners, and I was trying to do it in my head. It was impossible,” said Straumann, who was then living in Washington. “I started thinking, well, this new Apple Watch is coming out. I wonder if I could do something so I could track the stuff myself.”

Like many people, Straumann thought he had come up with a pretty good idea for a mobile device application. But unlike the vast majority of those people, he actually designed the app, tested it and brought it to market.

ScoreIt! Tennis is now available in Apple’s iTunes App Store.

Straumann graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in computer science and engineering, and works in software sales, so it might sound like designing an app would be easy for Straumann.

After all, he’d been doing it for years.

There was just one problem: All his experience was with the Microsoft Windows platform. Apple’s operating system is different, and he didn’t own an Apple computer or an iPhone. He didn’t even own the watch that was supposed to be the platform for his new app.

So, he invested about $5,000 in the current technology and taught himself the ins and outs of Apple hardware and software.

He spent a couple of hours in the evenings after work and got up early on Saturday mornings to write and test the app before his family woke up.

The app is designed to be utilized on the court during a game. Straumann said it should only take about a second to input the necessary data.

During the same time frame, the family also was moving from Washington to Lutz.

It may sound like a lot of sacrifice and effort but, for Straumann, it was a form of challenging fun.

“It was almost more interesting to me because it was new. It was learning something new, taking on a new project, a new technology,” he said.

In less than two months, he had an app ready to go.

Wearing an Apple Watch, a tennis player can record his or her statistics during a match. With a couple of swipes after each point, players can record what type of shots they hit and how they fared. If there’s an unforced error, the player can log it was a forehand, backhand or serve return, for example. For winners, slices, drop shots, lobs and other types of shots can be recorded instantly and analyzed later.

Designing an app is one thing, but making it useful is another. And Straumann wanted to make sure it would work as well on the court as it did on his computer.

“The biggest things were ease of input and connectivity,” he said.

Because the watch has to be in constant communication with a companion iPhone for the app to work, he had to make sure the connection would be strong from various distances on a tennis court. And he didn’t want recording each shot to interfere with the natural flow of a game. Once a player learns how to use the app, recording statistics should take about a second, he said.

Once he had a useful app, he obtained a developer program membership and sent it to Apple for their testing and review. If they approve it, it’s ready to go. But if there’s a problem, Straumann said they don’t offer much insight into what’s wrong.

He had to wait a couple of weeks to get the verdict.

Apple responded with the green light. So it was ready for market, right?

Not quite. It turns out that Straumann was a harsher critic than Apple itself.

“I wasn’t happy with what I had done, so I rejected it myself and then submitted it again,” he said. After a couple more tweaks, and a little more back and forth, both sides were happy, and he felt good about what he had produced.

The app has only been out for a matter of weeks, but Straumann is happy with the response he’s seen so far. At $1.99 (with no ads), Apple gets about 25 percent of the tennis app revenue, allowing Straumann to see a little monetary compensation for his efforts as well.

And the ScoreIt! app family has already grown. A golf app for the Apple Watch is designed to help players keep score on their watches and input data based on the particular course they’re playing. An update to the tennis app also lets players use it to keep score if they’d prefer to do that instead. Another feature allows a parent or coach to track tennis stats via a non-watch device while the player is on the court.

The new app business is a family affair for the Straumanns. The website introduces daughters Alex (marketing and social media) and Avery (gameplay consultant), as well as wife Patti (graphics) as important team partners.

And while he considers designing apps for Apple devices to be a fun project (he’s now a fan of their products), Straumann said the tennis app has real-world uses for people looking to improve their game.

By analyzing the statistics, trends will develop that show what areas are strengths for a player and what areas need more work in practice, he said.

“I think if they really use it, they can look at things they can improve,” he said.

For more information, visit ScoreIt-app.com, or look up ScoreIt! Tennis in Apple’s App Store.

Published July 15, 2015