Lutz News-Lutz/Odessa-May 13, 2015

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MAY 13, 2015

Once again, the Guv’na’s race is on By Michael Murillo

mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com

Campaign season has begun again in Lutz. Candidates for Lutz Guv’na will gather on May 16 at the Old Lutz School to lie, make promises they’ll never keep and try to grab a little cash for their campaign. Lutz wouldn’t have it any other way. The candidates aren’t running for political office. They’re vying for the ceremonial title of Lutz Guv’na, an annual tradition that reduces the campaign to its lowest common denominator: Money. The amount of money — raised by each candidate in creative ways — is how a winner is determined. But the money raised by these candidates doesn’t go to slick television ads or campaign tour buses like you might see in a political election. It goes directly to local organizations and charities, making the Lutz Guv’na race an elaborate community fundraiser with some unusual traditions. According to Suzin Carr, the ceremonial kickoff on May 16 is a fun way for the public to meet the candidates and enjoy the spectacle. “It is a great thing to watch some smalltown silliness at its finest,” she said. Carr is quite familiar with this brand of silliness because she’s been the Guv’na — twice. Now she gets to enjoy the festivities

FILE PHOTO

Last year’s Lutz Guv’na candidates had to show off their knitting skills to impress the community. There are new, secret challenges for this year’s crop of hopefuls.

from the other side, playing the role of candidate recruiter and all-around Guv’na ambassador. The candidates will be put through their paces that afternoon, taking part in a question and answer session that demands creative answers. They’ll also have a chance to make outlandish campaign promises that defy logic, science and common sense. And they’ll be forced to play some games that remain secret so as not to give them any hints at what’s in store.

Overall, the goal is to raise money, and the Guv’na race does it well. Last year the candidates raised $9,000 in all, with less than $20 separating the winner — Dr. Cindy Perkins — from the runner-up. But all of the candidates played a role in helping around 20 different groups, including scout troops, the Lutz Civil Air Patrol and the Old Lutz School. The annual Guv’na’s race also fosters a sense of closeness for area residents in an See GUV’NA, page9A

Speakers shed light on health care challenges By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS

Construction is under way on Alta Terra Bella, an apartment complex of 311 garden apartments off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

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Land O’ Lakes to get Dairy Queen, apartments By Kathy Steele

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A Dairy Queen and a long-planned apartment complex at Terra Bella are under construction on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, between Livingston Road and Via Bella Boulevard. The fast-food restaurant is expected to open in two to three months, possibly by the Fourth of July weekend, according to Keith Bennett, owner of Retail Site Development. The Dairy Queen location is one of several outparcels adjacent to Terra Bella that are available for commercial development. These smaller commercial projects are benefiting from proximity to shopping malls such as The Grove in Wesley Chapel, The Shops at Wiregrass and the soon-to-open Tampa Premium Outlets, Bennett said. “Between those three projects…you’re getting outward growth,” he said. “It’s natural for commercial development like this, with interested companies like Dairy Queen.” The fast-food restaurant will seat about 75 people and have a drive-through window. Bennett owns additional commercial

parcels adjacent to the Dairy Queen site. Once that project is complete, he said, “We’ll look to see what we choose to do with the balance.” Southeast Commercial also is marketing commercial outparcels fronting State Road 54 at Terra Bella. Behind the Dairy Queen site, along Venezia Avenue, construction also is under way on Alta Terra Bella, an apartment complex of 311 garden apartments in 14 three-story buildings. The North Carolina-based Wood Partners is building the complex as the final residential phase of Terra Bella, a community of more than 250 single-family homes. A groundbreaking was held late in 2014. Construction is expected to finish by May 2016, but leasing could begin as early as September of this year, according to a press release from Wood Partners. The project is projected to generate $24.5 million in local income, $2.5 million in taxes and other revenues for local governments, and nearly 380 jobs. The data provided by Wood Partners in its press release is based on a formula used by the National Association of Home Builders.

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Dairy Queen is expected to open by July 4 on a parcel next to the Terra Bella subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

Patients and providers offered insights into obstacles relating to the treatment of people living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis during a recent roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Bilirakis, who is a member of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Heath, hosted a roundtable focusing on neurological conditions on May 6 at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. Bilirakis asked panelists and members of the audience to talk about challenges facing patients and their families, and obstacles thwarting U.S. Rep. providers. He also Gus Bilirakis asked those gathered to share information about clinical trials and breakthroughs. Ron Hall, who has Alzheimer’s disease told Bilirakis, “probably the biggest thing is the unknown —trying to figure out what you’re going to do to keep your life normal as possible.” The hard part, he said, is “just not knowing what’s coming your way. “With all of these other diseases out there, you can say, ‘I’m going to fight it. I’m going to beat it.’ With Alzheimer’s, there’s no beating it.” Hall’s wife, Diane, said “we’ve never been to a neurologist, just a geriatric doctor and had tests performed. “Sometimes, we think, maybe we should go, and then we ask ourselves: ‘Do you really want to know how far along you are?’ ” she said. Dr. Charles Brock, another panelist, told the couple: “I think visiting the neurologist is helpful. It’s empowering because that physician is likely to know there may be drug trials going on, there may be new treatments, there may be new supportive measures that would be helpful to you and at least give you the opportunity to make a decision about what you want, which gives you more control.” Dr. Jessica Banko, associate institute director for the University of South Florida’s Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, agreed with Brock. “Having some of that knowledge of where in the journey you lie may open doors to additional measures, not always necessarily pharmacological,” Banko said. “There are caregiver interventions to minimize stress and burden, and improve quality of life; there are behavioral measures and other ways to get involved in, maybe in validating new diagnostic tools.” See HEALTH, page9A


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