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Recycling center plans to move By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Land O’ Lakes Recycling is in hot water with a state regulatory agency for failing to meet an Oct. 7 deadline to build a retention pond or shut down its business. Staff members of the Southwest Florida Water Management District referred the matter to the agency’s Office of General Counsel on Oct. 18 “because corrective actions have not been taken at this site,” according to an email from the agency, known as Swiftmud. Also, staff members observed on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 that the business was still operating despite locked gates and a sign displaying a message that Land O’ Lakes Recycling is closed.
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The company has recycled paper, plastic, metal and cardboard from its site at 5710 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., for decades. Owner Greg Conaty said he plans to
move his business to Brooksville, and he plans to continue providing paper-recycling services to existing customers. He said he hasn’t decided what will happen with the Land O’ Lakes property. “We’re looking at our options,” he said, in a phone interview with The Laker/Lutz News shortly after the sign was posted, but prior to Swiftmud’s latest action. His sign puts the blame for the recycling center’s situation on business neighbors at Lakes Auto. But, John and Peter Inhofer, the father and son owners of Lakes Auto, say Conaty is responsible for years of violating county codes and state environmental regulations. See RECYCLING, page 19A
Local businesses are ‘companies to watch’ By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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Three local businesses will be honored on Nov. 3 as being among 50 “companies to watch” in Florida. Gator Cleaning Solutions, RISA and X-Link Medical Software Interfacing will receive their awards at a celebration at Hard Rock Live, Universal CityWalk, in Orlando. These companies were selected from 500 nominees in the annual Florida Companies to Watch annual awards program. The statewide program identifies companies that are expected to achieve significant growth over the next several years. The awards program is managed by GrowFl, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, in association with Edward Lowe Foundation and with programmatic support from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Winners of the distinction were singled out based on several factors, including their entrepreneurial management teams, competitive marketing positions and strong community involvement. The 50 companies making the list generated more than $1.1 billion in combined revenue and added nearly 1,200 employees, between 2012 and 2015, according to information provided by the Pasco Economic Development Council. Businesses on the list also had a 30 percent increase in revenue and 33 percent increase in job growth in 2016, the Pasco EDC reports.
COURTESY OF GATOR CLEANING SOLUTIONS
Jenny Connell, an account manager with Gator Cleaning Solutions, prepares to visit a client.
Gary and Mary Lynn Gorsline, owners of X-Link Medical Software Interfacing, are delighted that their Land O’ Lakes-based company is one to watch. Their company, which began in March 1988, now has 12 employees, but has immediate needs to add three more, Mary Lynn Gorsline said. The couple is pleased to see second-stage companies receive recognition and support. “It’s a group of companies that are not startups, and they’re not Ford Motor companies,” Gary Gorsline said. Mary Lynn, added:“Second-stage companies are hugely important because they generate more jobs — yet get very little attention. Startups get lots of attention. Tiny
Halloween tricks, treats and traditions on tap
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See LOCAL, page 19A
Assisted care center opens in Lutz
By B.C. Manion
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Halloween, you’ll find plenty of options across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., is hosting a Family Fun Festival that it’s calling “Light the Night.” The event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 31. Cars will be decorated with favorite kidfriendly themes and will line up on the Yellow parking lot and grounds outside the church’s Gatheria. The cars’ trunks will be full of candy for children through fifth grade. Each car also will provide a game, face painting, puppet show or other opportunity for fun. Other highlights will be inflatables, balloon animals and a hayride. Bring a camera to take advantage of photo opportunities. Admission is $3 per person, with a maximum charge of $15 per family. Children age 2 and under will be admitted without charge. Hungry Harry’s BBQ will be available for purchase for $5, and other food items also will be available through the church’s kitchen. The trunks will be open for children to pick up candy from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.The inflatables will be available the entire evening. Register by Oct. 30 at Idlewild.org/children, to avoid waiting in long lines.To find out more, call (813) 264-1515, ext. 1561. Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the 12th an-
little businesses get lots of attention, but second-stage that drive the economy are largely overlooked.” Innovation has played a huge role in the company’s success and remains essential, she added. “We have to never, ever, ever stop innovating because if we do, we’ll go away,” she said. One pivotal moment for the company came from the exposure it derived from being among 80 top U.S. vendors that demonstrated at the Interoperability Showcase for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the largest
nual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & Carnival is set for Oct. 28 through Oct. 30, at 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd. This year, the event has added a day to give families more time to enjoy carnival food, midway games and rides. The festival will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. 28; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. 29; and, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Oct. 30. Highlights on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 will include live music, a business expo, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, fall foods and beverages, food trucks, interactive craft activities, arts and crafts exhibitors, vendors, a doggie fun area and pet adoption event. Kids can celebrate Halloween in a safe environment on Oct. 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Trunk or Treat activity. For more information on the festival, a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce event, visit GroveShopping.com.
The legendary Pat Boone helped create an air of excitement at the grand opening ceremony of a new $13 million assisted care living facility in Lutz. Boone made an appearance at Angels Senior Living at Lodges of Idlewild, 18440 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., on Oct. 22, to help celebrate the facility’s completion. The three-story living facility is about 76,000 square feet. It features 94 units, including studio, onebedroom, two-bedroom to serve more than 100 residents. The 82-year-old Boone has sold an estimated 45 million records, and was especially popular during the ‘50s and ‘60s. He had 38 Top 40 hits and has appeared in more than 12 Hollywood films. This is a phenomenal building,” said Boone, addressing several hundred guests in attendance. “I believe very strongly in these facilities. My grandmother lived her last years in an HCA (Hotel Corporation of America) facility in Jacksonville. I got to visit with her there long after she was not able to take care of herself.” Boone, a longtime friend of John Young, executive director of Lodges of Idlewild, continued to heap praise on the new facility throughout the ceremony. “You’ve got something really special in your midst.You have time to relive a lot of your life again,” Boone said. Including Young, Lodges of Idlewild features a six-member leadership team with over 100-plus years experience in health
See HALLOWEEN, page 19A
See CARE, page 19A
FILE PHOTO
Pumpkin patches are popping up all over Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as area residents prepare for Halloween and fall festivals.
For additional Halloween activities, see our What’s Happening section on Page 4.