The LAKER
ee r F
EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
Last-minute pact saves gas tax By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
Orthopedic care that’s close. So you can go far.
If Congress is any indication, it’s rare to see Democrats and Republicans agreeing on very much, if anything, these days. But when it comes to increasing the Pasco County tax on gas sales, local leaders from both parties agreed:They didn’t want it. Yet, it would be an agreement of a differ-
ent sort that won the day last week, when Pasco County commissioners finally found that fourth vote to approve a 5-cent increase in gas taxes, which is expected to raise an additional $8 million annually to help fund road construction. And it came in the form of outgoing commissioner Henry Wilson Jr. “We’re all in a lose-lose situation, primarily me,” Wilson shared with fellow commissioners during a meeting Sept. 9.“If I say yes to the gas tax after I said no every
single time before, I will be labeled as a flipflopper. If I say no to it today, I’m ostracized by the people who are trying to build here.” Wilson had joined with Commissioner Jack Mariano last year to block an increase in the gas tax, which requires four of five commissioners to approve. Both Democrats and Republicans lauded the two at least week’s meeting for holding their ground See GAS TAX, page 5
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More than two dozen hot air balloons will take part in the second annual Festival of Flight, with evening balloon glows and sunrise mass ascensions.
Festival of Flight features a flying pig and a soaring clown By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The second annual Festival of Flight will offer event-goers the chance to see more than two dozen hot air balloons, to explore all types of aircraft, to grab a bite to eat, and to enjoy live music. Admission is free, and parking is $2. This year, there will even be a flying pig and a giant clown bobbing among the hot air balloons, said festival director Jessica Warren of American Balloons. Ham-Let, the flying pig, will be operated by Doug Gantt, who is making a return trip from Taiwan to take part in the festival. “Those are quite a treat to have,” said Warren, who began planning for the festival
If you go WHAT: Second annual Festival of Flight 2014 WHEN: Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 20, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 21, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., in Lutz COST: Admission is free, but parking is $2 Tickets for airplane and helicopter rides are available on the day of the event. Balloon rides must be arranged in advance. To book a balloon ride, call American Balloons (813) 243-9507. The cost is $189 per person.
more than a year ago. The idea is to celebrate all things flight, she said, including everything from bubbles and kites, to T-6 warbirds and helicopters. Last year, more than 3,500 people attended the festival. This year, Warren expects somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 to turn out. See FLIGHT, page 5
If you’ve ever wanted to see a flying pig, the second annual Festival of Flight will give you a chance to do so. Doug Gantt will operate Ham-Let during the event, which brings together aviation enthusiasts of all types.
Twins set to become second-generation Eagle Scouts By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera
Lt. Gov. paying visit to Zephyrhills By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
The Conservative Club of East Pasco is welcoming a very high-profile guest to its Sept. 22 meeting in Zephyrhills. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is the scheduled speaker for the group when it meets at the Zephyrhills Woman’s Club next week, 38549 Fifth Ave. Lopez-Cantera is running on the Republican gubernatorial ticket with Gov. Rick Scott in November against Democrat and former governor Charlie Crist.The 40year-old assumed the duties of lieutenant governor last February following the resignation of Jennifer Carroll. Before that, Lopez-Cantera spent eight years in the Florida House, and later was the property appraiser for Miami-Dade County. He was born in Madrid, Spain, but moved to Miami soon after he was born. The meeting next Monday is set to start at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the meeting, or the Conservative Club itself, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email nilslenz@gmail.com.
Last year, only 7 percent of all Boy Scouts achieved the organization’s highest honor — the Eagle Scout rank.Yet, fraternal twin brothers Joseph Nystrom II and Jonathan Nystrom will officially earn that final badge — even though they’ll only be able to wear it for six days. “The ceremony is on Sept. 20, but our birthday is on Sept. 26,” said Joseph, who is two minutes older than his brother.“Once we turn 18, we won’t be able to wear it.” The Nystrom brothers will actually become second-generation Eagle Scouts, following in the footsteps of their father, Dr. Joseph Nystrom, a family practice doctor in Zephyrhills. They each earned at least 21 merit badges, served six months in a troop leadership position, and planned a project that will leave a lasting legacy in the community. Joseph wrapped up his project a few weeks ago, constructing a landscaping project, volleyball court and a bench at his family’s church, St. Rita Catholic Church in Dade City. Jonathan got his project going much earlier, building a portable fishing storage unit for the Teneroc Youth Conservation Center in Lakeland late last year. “This summer camp program had 260 fishing rods in a shed that just wasn’t organized at all,” Jonathan said.“They wanted me to build some way to hold all of them, and store them, and be transportable. It took me three months, but it’s made out of steel, and that thing is going to last 20 years.” Joseph’s project kept him a little closer to home, paying close attention to a neighboring religious school building that needed some attention. “Surrounding the CCD building is a whole bunch of shrubbery, and it didn’t look very good,” Joseph said. “I decided I
MICHAEL HINMAN/STAFF PHOTO
Twin brothers Jonathan Nystrom, left, and Joseph Nystrom II, will be awarded Boy Scout of America’s highest honor Sept. 20, when each receives the Eagle Scout rank. Jonathan created a portable storage container for a fishing camp in Lakeland, while Joseph did landscaping work, including shrubbery like they’re posing with at St. Rita Catholic Church.
wanted to redo it. But then the church’s Life Teen group wanted something for kids to do while they waited for their families at church, and asked for volleyball posts and stuff, so I built that, too.” Both decided to wait for the official
Eagle ceremony so that they could do it together. The brothers are part of Boy Scout Troop 311, which meets in San Antonio. They both started as Cub Scouts, working See SCOUTS, page 5