The Laker-East Pasco-February 24, 2016

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The LAKER

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EAST PASCO EDITION

LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Zephyrhills chamber names new director By Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

“Bayfront Health saved my heart. And my life.” ---Oliver D., Heart Patient

Zephyrhills native Melonie Monson has been named as the new executive director for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. She was appointed to the post on Feb. 16 and will begin work on Feb. 29. She replaces Rod Mayhew, who held the job about three months before stepping down in January. Monson, 54, spent the past year working as assistant city clerk for the city of Zephyrhills. The Zephyrhills High graduate previously was the chamber’s member services

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce hired Melonie Monson to serve the role as executive director, effective Feb. 29. She will be the chamber’s third executive director in nine months, following Rod Mayhew and Vonnie Mikkelsen.

coordinator for about a year, where she worked alongside former chamber director Vonnie Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen left the position in July 2015 to take on a similar role in Springfield, Oregon. Monson stood out during the hiring process because she’s a local resident, is familiar with the inner workings of the city and is a former chamber employee, said Tim Linville, chamber president and search committee chairman. Another bonus for the selection committee was Monson’s business experience, Linville said. She owned and See DIRECTOR, page 11A

COURTESY OF THE GREATER ZEPHYRHILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

To find a cardiologist for your heart’s health, visit

BayfrontDadeCity.com.

Bayfront Health Dade City is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL ®

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Roya R Royal al F Fun un un for Everyone!

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March 3-13, 2016 • Plant City, Florida

FLstrawberryfestival.com #berryfest16

THE PASCO COUNTY FAIR INSIDE, PAGE 1B

RICHARD K. RILEY/PHOTOS

The fairgrounds take on a magical look, as motion and color combine, while amusement rides whiz by during an evening at the Pasco County Fair.

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The LAKER WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION

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FEBRUARY 3, 2016

The LAKER

LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

Auto Accident? Slip and Fall?

By Kathy Steele

FREE CONSULTATION

The site is located at the corner of of heading toward a construction start Magnolia Boulevard and Wesley Chapel Amici Plaza in spring with an opening likely Boulevard, which is also known as County ksteele@lakerlutznews.com by the end of 2016. Road 54. Pasco County records show a conceptual Pasco County is moving forward with acOwners of Amici Pizza & Deli are planthe plan with about 3,000 square feet for Road ning to build a new stand-alone restaurant, for quisition of right-of-way along County restaurant, and about 1,800 square feet 54 to prepare for the expansion of the twowith additional retail space, on Wesley retail. the lane road into a four-lane road at Chapel Boulevard. “We’d like to have our own building and 54 junction of State Road 56 and State Road The new restaurant is a short distance a bigger kitchen,” said Andrea Mannino. from the existing Amici restaurant in Grand No decisions have been made on the adSee PIZZA, page 13A Oaks Square, at Wesley Chapel and Pet Lane. ditional retail space, he said. Andrea and Josephine Mannino, are

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FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

EDITION

JANUARY 27, 2016

Pasco administrator to retire in

By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker expects to be very busy over the next year and a half. She’ll be crossing off a to-do list, one by one, before leaving in 2017 to go on a lengthy road trip with her husband. The couple will hit the road with their recreational vehicle and their motorcycles, on a tour of as many baseball parks and national parks as they can squeeze into a year. “That’s been our dream,” Baker said, so letting her contract lapse in July 2017 makes sense. But, don’t expect a lame duck administrator. “There’s no kicking back here,” Baker said.“This isn’t me slowing down. ” Baker has told Pasco County commissioners she won’t seek renewal of her current two-year contract, which makes her

2017

last day July 9, 2017. the jail and construction of new fire stations By then, Baker will • Relocating have worked 35 years central Pasco more government offices to in public service, 24 Baker also plans to fill vacancies for a of those years with few key leadership positions that remain, Pasco County. cluding an assistant county administrator infor Her to-do list, in public safety and administration. short form, includes: Progress has been made, Baker said, but • Completing mas- government services still could be more ter plans and updates customer-friendly. for storm water, solid A culture that was decades in the waste and tourism making is being changed, she said.“You don’t • Funding and building a diverging get to dia- turn a canoe.You’re turning mond road design to ease traffic congestion a ship.” Public service wasn’t Baker’s first at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 career choice. • Completing the State Road 56 extenOver the years she worked sion as a waitress, • Nurturing SunWest Park, the county’s flight attendant and a theater manager. She also served in the U.S.Air Force Reserve. fledgling aqua park Her undergraduate degree was in • Replacing and repairing aging busiinfra- ness administration. structure and roads damaged by the It wasn’t until she accepted a secretarial summer flooding • Making progress on the expansion of See RETIRE, page 11A Michele Baker

Kumquats reign supreme at area festival By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

®

Saturday, January 30, 2016 9 AM - 5 PM Historic Downtown Dade City

FREE ADMISSION KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS

©

WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA

Amici Pizza plans stand-alone location

Mark Pizzurro, Joe Traina and Peter Abreut

anticipate

Lakes in spring. opening their craft brewery in Land O’

I th

The first kumquat tree in St. Joseph took root more than 100 years ago, when C.J. Nathe planted it in his backyard. He added a few more, and soon he had small grove on an acre of fertile ground. a The kumquat king, as Nathe was later dubbed, transformed a quiet back road community into the Kumquat Capital of the World. An open house will take place on Jan. and Jan. 29 at the Kumquat Growers 28 pack- Margie Neuhofer and her i h h b dJ d

KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTO

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Members of the Pasco County Sheriff's Mounted Posse line up in preparation for their participation in the Pasco County Fair Parade through downtown Dade City.

Helping homeless people reclaim sense of dignity By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

In the spiritual realm, preachers often talk about being cleansed by the healing power of Jesus. But, members of Vine Church in Zephyrhills, also want to share their love of the Lord in a more practical, down-to-earth way. Members of the church at 4743 Allen Road already routinely feed the homeless. Their latest quest has been a fundraising campaign to raise money for a mobile shower unit. The idea came while sharing food with the hungry, said Pastor Carlos Santana. Santana said some of his “homeless brothers and sisters” told him what they would really like is a nice, hot shower. Initially he thought a shower could be built in someone’s barn. But, then he realized that homeless peo-

Shower fundraiser WHAT: A showing of ‘The War Room,’ a movie about prayer, to raise money to purchase a portable shower unit to help the homeless. Popcorn and hotdogs and other refreshments will be available for purchase. Movie-goers should bring their own chairs. WHEN: Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. WHERE: Behind Vine Church, 4743 Allen Road in Zephyrhills COST: A donation of $10 is suggested. Less will be accepted, and more will be appreciated.

ple would have a hard time getting to the shower. So, then he thought: “Why don’t we make it mobile?”

“Through a lot of prayer, we found out that FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) uses these mobile showers every time they have a disaster.” So, now the church is raising money to buy a mobile unit with four shower stalls. To help things along, it is planning a movie night behind the church on Feb. 26. Donations of $10 are requested, but people are welcome if they can’t afford to pay, Santana said.And, donations exceeding $10 would be gratefully accepted, he said. The church needs $30,000. So far, it has raised about $4,000. Vine Church, which began about two years ago, is a nondenominational Christian church, with about 45 members, ranging in age from infants to around age 70. “Our basic mission as a church is to love God fully and people unconditionally.That’s our mission.That’s our vision.To love people See HOMELESS, page 11A


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