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MARCH 4, 2015
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Molly Flanagan, 14, sets up her slap shot at the groundbreaking ceremony for the largest ice and sports complex in the southeastern United States.
Ice rink skates into Pasco By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The traditional gear of hard hats and shovels gave way to hockey sticks and the whack of slap shots at the groundbreaking ceremony for the largest ice and sports complex in the southeastern United States. The 150,000-square-foot sports facility in Wesley Chapel is expected to become a
Get all your favorite local Second-grader news stories advises Orlando online. aquarium
major tourism draw. Roughly 100 people attended the Feb. 24 groundbreaking festivities to celebrate the $20 million project. The facility is expected to be popular with youth hockey leagues and to attract international hockey tournaments. But other sports including figure skating, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and even curling will be possible in a chameleon-like facility that can accommodate
a variety of playing fields and sports. It’s a dream come true for Canadian-born Gordie Zimmermann, managing partner of Z Mitch LLC and former general manager at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. He and business partner George Mitchell are the project’s developers. “I really love hockey,” Zimmermann said. See ICE, page7A
By Michael Murillo
mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
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When Land O’ Lakes resident Maddy Smith was asked to serve on a special panel for Sea Life Orlando, a new aquarium, it gave her an opportunity to share her thoughts on marine education and conservation. The second-grader also is taking part in events leading up to the aquarium’s May 4 opening. She just has to be sure nothing conflicts with her bedtime at 8 p.m. Maddy attends Imagine School Land O’ Lakes, a Pasco County charter school for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. She is one of just six children selected to the aquarium’s Young Environmentalists Panel. Before the aquarium opens, she’ll oversee the habitats’ progress and will watch the animals get accustomed to their new home. She’ll also be on hand as a VIP for the grand opening. “She was completely in shock and excited,” her mother, Jessica Smith, said in describing how Maddy reacted when she learned she had been selected. “She felt really special.” The honor wasn’t a random selection. Maddy had to earn her way onto the panel. To qualify, children had to submit an essay or video talking about their interest in conservation and the environment. The seven-year-old made a video discussing Florida’s marine animals, and she shared her enthusiasm for a fishing class she takes at her church. “Last Saturday, I caught and released three freshwater fish!” Maddy said in the
COURTESY OF JESSICA SMITH
Maddy Smith of Land O’ Lakes loves talking about her fishing class, and it helped the second-grader get selected to a special panel for a new aquarium opening in Orlando this May.
one-minute video. “Kids can do a lot to help didn’t happen in this case. our environment when we learn about how Maddy’s mother made it clear that it was to be safe around Florida’s wildlife.” her daughter’s video from start to finish. She Some parents may take the lead and do a See AQUARIUM, page7A lot of the work on a child’s project, but that
Crabby Floyd:
Winner 2012, 2013, 2014
CornerstonePros.com
813-949-4445
Memorial service for Floyd DeForest
A hard worker with a quick wit
7 p.m., March 5 at Loyless Funeral Home, 5310 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Floyd DeForest’s memory to Gulfside Hospice.
By B.C. Manion
B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
“God needed another crabber, so he called out for Crabby Floyd.” So reads the first sentence of “Crabby” Floyd DeForest’s obituary, published on the website of Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’ Lakes. DeForest, 63 of Lutz, died Feb. 20, after a battle with cancer. He was a commercial fisherman, but after the net bans went into effect, he became a crabber, said Richard Ortiz, a long-time friend of DeForest. “He was such a vibrant man,” Ortiz said. “He’s the first person I met when I moved up here,” said Ortiz, who has lived in
COURTESY OF LOYLESS FUNERAL HOME
‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics.
the area for about 20 years. “As soon as I moved into the house, he came over and introduced himself, and we remained friends from that day on,” Ortiz said. DeForest used to refer to himself as “a round man,” Ortiz added. “He’d say, ‘This little round man can move.’ ” That was true, Ortiz continued. “If I had to sit down and pick the hardest working person I’ve known, it would have to be Floyd,” Ortiz said. See FLOYD, page7A