The Laker-East Pasco-October 28, 2020

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Diverging Diamond is behind schedule

Pasco commissioners urge state roads officials to turn up the heat on the road contractor to get the project back on track.

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

HOLLIDAY KARATINOS

A road project that’s expected to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is running behind schedule, and Pasco County commissioners aren’t happy.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore raised the issue during the

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board’s Oct. 20 meeting — citing the apparent lack of workers on the project.

“I drive it daily. My wife drives it daily. My oldest daughter probably drives it three to four times a week,” he said.

“Yesterday, when I drove through there, I took a few photos. I saw one truck. I don’t know what he was doing, I’m not a contractor. And, I saw two guys standing on the side, down below.

“On a project of that magnitude, those are the only people I saw working on it Monday — a sunny Monday.

“That was about 1:15, 1:30 (in the after-

noon), when I drove through there. Those were the only people working on that project when I drove by there.

“That’s insane.

“That’s ridiculous.

“That’s embarrassing,” Moore said.

“I know Commissioner (Kathryn) Starkey and I received a letter from a group of businesses over on the west side of the interchange, everywhere from the outlet mall to across the street to Sierra’s properties (Cypress Creek Town Center), too,” See DIAMOND, page 15A

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CHRISTINE HOLTZMAN

Safe autumn activities Club Connerton previously has hosted several autumn events for residents in the Land O’ Lakes community — but this year, because of COVID-19, the activities were reimagined, to follow social distancing guidelines. Instead of the adult beer garden and costume contests, Gregg Svendgard, Club Connerton’s general manager, and his staff, came up with some new activities. There was the annual Monster Mash Dash Costume 5K Run, a pumpkin patch and a scarecrow-themed hay bale to give families a backdrop for photos. Staff members disinfected pumpkins regularly, and plastic gloves were supplied to those picking out their perfect pumpkin. The pumpkins were free, and each children received a bag with candy and a craft-to-go, while supplies lasted. Above, 7-year-old Noah Claridge and his 2-year-old sister, Ava, pose for a family photo at the scarecrow-themed hay bale display. The siblings visited the Connerton pumpkin patch with their parents, Jennifer and Matthew.

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Seven-year-old Sophia Husby and her 5-year-old sister, Chloe, select their perfect pumpkins from the patch on the lawn of Club Connerton. The girls were there their parents, Juliana and Eric.

Four-year-old Kendall Smith is all smiles, as she proudly shows her mother, Tia, the pumpkin that she chose.

New contract gives Dade Local officials City police a bump in pay continue mask mandates, urge social distancing

By Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

Members of the Dade City Police Department are set to receive across-theboard salary increases, plus the starting salary will be higher, too.

Those are just two of the provisions in a 56-page collective bargaining agreement between the City of Dade City and the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association (WCFPBA) on behalf of the local law enforcement agency.

The new three-year contract was approved unanimously at the Dade City Commission’s Oct. 13 meeting. The agreement runs through fiscal year 2022-2023.

The respective negotiations team for the city and police union met three times during the summer, and reached tentative agreement on all articles in early September.

The collective bargaining unit notified the city that its members had ratified the proposed contract during a vote later that month.

The most noteworthy changes are the increased officer salaries, as well as

established pay steps. The new starting salary for a Dade City police officer is $40,000 — up from the previous starting salary of $37,000.

Meanwhile, a pay step plan implemented for sworn officers will create a 2% increase for every year of service between years one to 15, a 5% increase at year 20, and a 5% increase at year 25. This pay step plan eliminates a separate Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase and eliminates a separate longevity incentive.

Under the plan, all current officers will receive some sort of immediate pay increase — with most receiving up to 5%.

Officers and detectives requiring a greater increase to fit respective pay step will have the balance adjusted in equal installments in year two and year three, according to the agreement.

As an example, a rookie officer who was making $37,377.60 will see pay jump to $40,000 this fiscal year. In 2022-2023, that salary will be $41,616.

An 11-year veteran of the force making See CONTRACT, page 15A

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Elected leaders in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are still requiring masks to be worn indoors in their counties, as rates of COVID-19 remain concerning.

Mike Napier, health officer for the Florida Department of Health – Pasco County, updated the Pasco County Commission on current local conditions during an Oct. 20 meeting.

“I wish I had better news. Our goal, when we talked last time was, ‘Let’s see what the data looks like and maybe we can make revisions,” Napier said.

In his update, that came 30 days after his last appearance, Napier told board members: “We have 10,294 positive cases, as of yesterday (Oct. 19).That’s a 3.5% increase over See MANDATES, page 15A

Check out this drive-up food fair The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report You can indulge in locally baked goods and gourmet specialty items from the comfort of your car and help small businesses — during the drive-up SMARTstart Vendor Fair.

The event will be on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Pasco Extension One Stop Shop, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Superfood Bakeshop, Chef Sweets – Luminous Sweets,

Nutoriously Good and other local incubator businesses will be ready with their most popular offerings – ranging from shortbread to organic, gluten-free items packed with superfoods, according to a news release from Pasco County.

Just drive up and you’ll receive online menu access to place an order that will be delivered to your car.

The event is being co-hosted by UF/IFAS Pasco Extension and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc.’s SMARTstart program.

COURTESY OF ANDY TAYLOR/PASCO COUNTY

Pasco County commissioners honored their colleague, Mike Wells, who is leaving the board to become Pasco County Property Appraiser. Shown here, from left: Commissioner Ron Oakley, Commission Chairman Mike Moore, Commissioner Mike Wells, Commissioner Jack Mariano and Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. Wells is holding a framed copy of a resolution honoring his service on the board.

COURTESY OF ANN KOLESSAR

A spooky sign of the times

Children aren’t the only ones wearing masks this Halloween season. Check out these Halloween characters, complete with their personal protection equipment. Ann Kolessar, who lives in Lutz, shared this shot with our readers.

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Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr., concluded his last meeting with the county board, on Oct. 20 with a playful gesture.

He dropped the gavel.

The action — which essentially means, ‘My work is done here’ — provided a glimpse into the commissioner’s self-deprecating humor, and it came at the conclusion of a meeting where he received a standing ovation, and was lavished with praise for his six years of service on the county board.

Commissioners paused from their formal agenda to honor some of Wells’ accomplishments since he won the District 4 seat in 2014 and subsequently won re-election.

He’s leaving the board to become the Pasco County Property Appraiser.

Wells has a long association with politics and government.

After all, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Mike Wells Sr., who served on the Pasco County Commission and then was Pasco County Property Appraiser.

Besides growing up in a household where public service was valued, Wells got involved in political campaigns when he was just 12 years old.

During his tenure on the Pasco County Commission, Wells has voted on myriad issues important to Pasco County residents, businesses, organizations and communities.

He advocated for the extension of Ridge Road — a project the county had pursued for decades that finally began construction at the beginning of this year.

He and his colleagues selected County Administrator Dan Biles to lead the county’s staff.

Wells also took the leading role in reviving scalloping in Pasco County, after a hiatus that had lasted nearly 25 years.

During county meetings and through work with community organizations, he has championed efforts to help the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, the unemployed, veterans and small businesses.

Wells also has called for high expectations of the county staff, as it relates to customer service.

At the same time, he demonstrated support of county staff, too.

During this year’s budget talks, the county administrator recommended a 2% raise for county staff, in keeping with the inflation rate.

Wells balked.

He pushed for a 3% raise — to match the

percentage approved for state employees and staff of the county’s constitutional officers.

Wells’ firm stand on the issue found support among his colleagues, and ultimately, it won the day.

During the commissioner’s final board meeting, board members surprised him with a resolution outlining Wells’ public service.

They also offered words of praise.

“We campaigned together for a long time,” said Commission Chairman Mike Moore.“We were sworn together Nov. 18 of 2014.The first meeting, it was a doozy of a meeting. Remember that?”

During that session, the board turned down a concept for a sports park on the land that is now occupied by the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County.

That first “no vote” ultimately resulted in a superior outcome, Moore said.

The commission chairman also noted that through the years, Wells has taken “numerous, numerous votes that are going to change this community for the better, and this county for the better, for a long, long time.

“You will be missed,” Moore said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley weighed in, too.

“I think we were all put here at the right time to move Pasco forward. You played a big part in doing that, and doing it the right way,” Oakley said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added:“I appreciate your leadership here on the board. It’s been really fun working with you all of these years, and I look forward to working with you as property appraiser. I know you’re going to do a great job.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano put it this way:“Mike, I want to say, you’ve been a highimpact commissioner. I think when the two Mikes (Mike Wells and Mike Moore) came on board, they brought a great energy of getting things done.”

He said Wells has worked to help push stormwater projects forward. He also said Wells helped secure funding for Starkey Park and SunWest Park, and supported the county’s acquisition of private water systems, leading to lower rates for customers.

“It’s been a great pleasure working with you,” Mariano said. “I think people recognized that you would be a great property appraiser,” he added.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder and County Administrator Biles also expressed their appreciation for Wells’ service on the board.

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Treating others — to a happy, haunting Halloween

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Every year, right after Labor Day, Sid Simandl starts sorting out his Halloween décor.

He begins early because it takes weeks for him and his wife, Kathy, to create a haunted attraction that will, well, raise people’s spirits.

“It started out small, just a little display.

And, each year, it just got a little bit bigger and a little bit bigger. It’s taken on a life of its own,” said Simandl, who lives in the Stagecoach subdivision in Land O’ Lakes, just off Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

“We change it every year. We do new props every year,” said Simandl, noting the display has 68 props, including many that light up and are animated.

The attraction has developed a reputation.

“Everyone knows that’s the Halloween House,” said John Higgins, who lives next door to the Simandls.

Hundreds of people typically drop by the house, at 3651 Mossy Oak Circle, on Halloween night — the only night the display is open, Simandl said.

For many, the annual visit has become a ritual.

Simandl has been setting up his display for 18 years.

It’s never quite the same, from year to year.

Typically, he has constructed a Haunted House, inside his garage, which people would tour through.

But, this year, he’s changing that up because of a need for COVID-19 precautions and to provide social distancing.

Instead of traipsing through an enclosed Haunted House, visitors will be able to check out a haunted trail, outdoors.

This year, there’s also a bonus:“We’re actually sponsoring a movie in the park at 9 o’clock (p.m.) We’re right across the street from the rec center,” Simandl said.

There’s no admission charge to visit the Halloween display or to watch “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” but nonperishable foods and canned goods are being accepted for a local food pantry, Higgins said.

The annual Halloween display at the Simandls is fun for both children and adults,

COURTESY OF SID SIMANDL

If spiders give you the creeps, you’ll likely want to steer clear of the massive one in front of this home, in the Stagecoach subdivision in Land O’ Lakes.

Simandl said. It has become a tradition in the neighborhood:“There’s a whole group of us that gets together and hangs out,” he said.

Typically, trick-or-treaters start showing up around 6:30 p.m., on Halloween.

Besides getting a feast for the eyes, the kids get a fistful of candy, too.

That’s because a lot of his neighbors hang out in the driveway, and the trick-ortreaters each get six or seven pieces of candy.

Higgins praised his neighbor, for creating such a nice experience for families and kids.

“He just does it for the pure joy of it,” Higgins said, noting that the couple’s children are grown and live out of town.

Simandl who has nicknamed himself “Mr. Halloween,” puts on a pumpkin sports coat for the occasion.

“It’s my favorite holiday,” he said.

He and his wife have a solitary goal, in sharing their seasonal showcase:“We want them to love Halloween as much as we do,” he said.

Typically, the last trick-or-treaters trickle in around 9 p.m., or shortly after, but this year that could be later, because Halloween is on Saturday.

All are welcome, Simandl said.

“We’re there until the last ghost goes home,” he said.

If you go Halloween décor galore WHAT: Visit a haunted Halloween trail in the yard at Sid and Kathy Simandl’s home. Dozens of animated and lighted props will be on display.

WHERE: 3651 Mossy Oak Circle, Land O’ Lakes WHEN: Oct. 31, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

COST: Free admission; nonperishable foods and canned goods will be accepted to benefit a local food pantry.

Watch a spooky movie WHAT: Sid and Kathy Simandl are hosting a free outdoor Halloween movie at the Stagecoach park.

WHAT: A screening of “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” WHERE: 3632 Mossy Oak Circle, Land O’ Lakes WHEN: Oct. 31 at 9 p.m.

COST: Free admission; nonperishable foods and canned goods will be accepted to benefit a local food pantry.

This sign provides an inkling of how excited the Simandls get about Halloween each year. Sid Simandl, who puts up a giant display, says Halloween is his favorite holiday.

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The LAKER / Lutz NEWS

LUTZ, ODESSA, LAND O’ LAKES, WESLEY CHAPEL, NEW TAMPA, ZEPHYRHILLS, DADE CITY Serving Pasco since 1981 / Serving Lutz since 1964

The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report

Besides selecting the nation’s leader, voters will be choosing congressional representatives, state legislators, and myriad other state and local representatives in the 2020 General Election.

They also will decide the fate of six proposed amendments to the state’s constitution.

Early voting ends on Oct. 31 in Pasco County, and on Nov.1 in Hillsborough County. The early voting sites are open in each county from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mail-in voting is ongoing. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Polls will be open on Election Day, from

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PUBLISHER & OWNER: DIANE KORTUS, dkortus@lakerlutznews.com

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For details on specific early voting sites and other election information, please visit PascoVotes.gov and VoteHillsborough.org.

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B.C. MANION, Editor bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

TERRI WILLIAMSON, Sr. Acct. Mgr. twilliamson@lakerlutznews.com

MATTHEW MISTRETTA, Art Director mmistretta@lakerlutznews.com

KEVIN WEISS, Staff Writer kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

CAROLYN BENNETT, Customer Service cbennett@lakerlutznews.com

STEFANIE BURLINGAME, Graphic Designer sburlingame@lakerlutznews.com

MARY RATHMAN, Editorial Assistant mrathman@lakerlutznews.com

KELLI CARMACK, Marketing Asst. kcarmack@lakerlutznews.com

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KENNEDY MURDOCK, Marketing Asst. kmurdock@lakerlutznews.com

MARY EBERHARD meberhard@lakerlutznews.com

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What’s Happening

Your Community Calendar • Submit 2 weeks in advance to: news@lakerlutznews.com • All listings free of charge

HISTORY OF TAROT

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host “History of Tarot” with Christiana Gaudet on Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Zoom. Gaudet will give insight on the different decks, art styles and historical figures involved within tarot reading.

Contact the Land O’ Lakes Library at (813) 929-1214 or lol@pascolibraries.org, to register for a Zoom invitation.

EARLY BIRD TRICK-OR-TREAT

First Presbyterian Church and the First United Methodist Church, both in Zephyrhills, will host an Early Bird Trick or Treating event on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Stop by either church, at 5510 19th St., or 38635 Fifth Ave., to pick up a goody bag. Costumes are encouraged, but face masks/coverings must be worn by all participants.

Alternative Halloween activities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips on alternative Halloween activities, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

• Decorate and carve pumpkins: Decorate your home for Halloween and carve pumpkins with members of the household, or outside with neighbors and friends. Walk from house to house and admire Halloween decorations at a distance.

• Visit an orchard, forest or corn maze, or attend a scavenger hunt: Visit a pumpkin patch or orchard. Go on an outdoor Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. Remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching frequently touched surfaces, pumpkins or apples. Go to a one-way, walk-through haunted forest or corn maze.

• Hide Halloween treats in and around your house: Hold a Halloween treat hunt with household members.

• Host an outdoor costume parade or contest so everyone can show off their costumes.

• Host an outdoor Halloween movie night with friends or neighbors, or an indoor movie night with household members.

MOVIE NIGHT

Zephyrhills Alliance Church, 6251 Fort King Road, will host a Family Movie Night on Oct. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Admission is free and includes goody bags, a hot dog dinner and popcorn. For information, call (813) 782-8865.

DRIVE-THRU HALLOWEEN

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation and Friends of the County Parks & Recreation have created a Haunted Highway, a drive-thru Halloween experience, at four county recreation centers. Families can visit on Oct. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and see outdoor spaces decorated with Halloween scenes, sights and sounds.The route will end with a contactless ghoulie bag distribution for the first 500 children at each location.The bag will contain treats, toys, and information from local organizations.Admission is free.

Visit a Haunted Highway at Keystone Park & Recreation Center, 17928 Gunn Highway in Odessa; Northdale Park & Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive,Tampa; Emanuel P. Johnson Park & Recreation Center, 5855 S. 78th St.,Tampa; and Ruskin Park & Recreation Center, 901 Sixth St., S.E., in Ruskin.

YMCA HALLOWEEN

The East Pasco Family YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills, will host a free Halloween Spooktacular outdoor event on Oct. 30, for all YMCA members and the community. Family activities start at 6 p.m.,

with Halloween crafts, a Haunted Obstacle Course, a costume contest, and more.

Guests can visit various stations and receive a bag of goodies to take home. Parents can take part in a Hall-O-Spin at 7 p.m., and there will be an outdoor movie,“Hotel Transylvania” at 8 p.m., with popcorn provided. For information, email ryan.pratt@tampaymca.org.

IMPROV NIGHT

Live Oak Theatre will host an Improv Night on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m., at the Carol & Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortex Blvd., in Brooksville. Live Oak Conservatory’s Improv Troupe will take the stage to create a show of games and skits.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Seats are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance.

Tickets will not be available at the door.

Items at the concession stand can be purchased before the show and during intermission. For information and tickets, visit LiveOakTheatre.org, call (352) 5930027, or email LiveOakBoxOffice@gmail.com.

OUTDOOR NIGHT EVENT

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, will present “Blue Moon at the Museum” on Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.The event will include “A Haunted History of Pasco County” by Madonna Jervis Wise book launch and signing, and book contributors speaking on local chilling tales and more.

There also will be lantern tours of the museum buildings; live music; a food truck; shortbread and hot cider; and drawings for door prizes.Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for students; and, free for kids younger than age 5. For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

NOT-SO-SCARY PARTY

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m., on Zoom. Kids can wear their costumes, play Spooky Bingo, and dance. Registration is required, one per family. Contact Amaris Papadopoulos to find out how to print out a bingo board (to prep before party) at (727) 861-3020 or amarisp@pascolibraries.org.

FALL FESTIVAL

The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will host the Wesley Chapel Fall Festival on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6104 Wesley Grove Blvd.

There will be live concerts both days.The event also includes food and beverages; a business expo; an arts and crafts section; interactive craft activities; a Halloween celebration; a carnival (open until 10 p.m.); a pet parade and costume contest (Oct. 31 at 11:30 a.m.); and,Trunk or Treat (Oct. 31 at 4 p.m.).Trunk or Treat is sponsored by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, and participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and join in the

contests (Best Decorated Vehicle, Best Family Costume, and Best Costume).

Admission is free. Play All Day Bounce House wristbands will be available for $5.

Gates open at 11 a.m. For information on the festival, call (727) 674-1464, or visit FloridaPenguinProductions.com.

TRUNK OR TREAT

Lake Padgett East, 4533 Savanah Way in Land O’ Lakes, will host a free Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Park your vehicle and hand out candy as trick-ortreaters walk up, or bring the family to collect candy. Costumes are encouraged.

For information, visit LakePadgettEast.com.

DAY OF THE DEAD

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host “Day of the Dead: Pan de Muerto” on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. Participants can learn how to make Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead), a traditional Mexican sweet bread.

For information on how to access video on Facebook or Instagram, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at (727) 861-3020 or amarisp@pascolibraries.org.

FELT AVOCADO

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a curbside pickup craft starting Nov. 2, all day.Adults and teens can pick up a DIY kit to make an avocado magnet.The kit includes pre-cut felt, magnet, poly-fil, thread and instructions.

Pickup will be available through Nov. 7.

Registration is required by calling (813) 929-1214.

VIRTUAL STORY TIME

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a virtual story time on Nov. 4, all day, for kids ages up to 5.The theme will be “Self-Care/Brushing Teeth.” Kids can learn how to help take care of themselves, through fingerplay, books, songs and rhymes. See the prerecorded video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary.

Pasco Tax Collector office closure dates: • Nov. 3 – Election Day • Nov. 11 – Veterans Day • Nov. 14 – State of Florida Computer System Upgrade • Nov. 26, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving holiday

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There’s no place like in PASCO & NORTH HILLSBOROUGH

Experience Is Essential In This Ever-Changing Real Estate Market

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he COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the upcoming Presidential election, has created an environment where sellers are holding off on listing their homes due to the uncertainty of the nation.

Because of this, this year’s real estate inventory is at an all-time low with only a 1-month supply of homes. To put it in perspective, a normal market is typically between a 4-month to a 6-month supply of homes.

A low inventory market makes it more difficult for buyers because they are now competing with a huge cluster of offers as soon as a house becomes listed for sale. Buyers have to act quickly, often offering well above the listing price.

Experience also is essential when selling a home in this market. Sellers need to evaluate all terms of the contract to determine which offer truly is the best for them. Price is an important component; however, the highest offer is not always the best.

Having an experienced agent review the terms of every offer, and discuss the benefits and risks of each one is essential in positioning the seller for the best possible outcome.

“With over 39 years of experience in the local market, we have the knowledge to navigate these hurdles and make our clients successful in this challenging environment,” says Holly Molnar Ruhlig, owner of Advantage Real Estate Services.

Advantage Real Estate Services is

a full-service real estate company representing buyers and sellers of residential and commercial property primarily in Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties. Agents at Advantage Real Estate Services understand local market trends, area home values, and critical information about area schools, roads and growth that impacts decisions behind buying or selling a home.

“We have a diversified team of agents, many having over 25 years of local real estate experience,” said Holly. “Our agents are experienced professionals who pride themselves on the highest level of customer service.”

Advantage Real Estate Services, located in a small neighborhood plaza on Bell Lake Road and Lake Padgett Drive in Land O’ Lakes, is where Holly’s parents, Lou and Sharon Molnar, started their real estate company, which they founded in 1981.

Fast-forward to 2020, and Holly has taken the strong work ethic she grew up with to rebrand the company.

“Not many businesses can say they’ve been in the same location for 39 years,” said Holly.

Holly’s mother, Sharon Molnar Johnson, still works alongside Holly, as well as Holly’s sister, Stephanie

Meid, and mother-in-law, Linda Ruhlig.

We’re truly a family business, and have created an environment where our agents and clients are extended members of our family,” said Holly, “It’s our collaborative approach that makes us different from other real estate offices.”

Holly and her sister grew up on Lake Joyce in Lake Padgett Estates, and both still call Land O’ Lakes home.

“We absolutely love Pasco County.

Our lifelong experience living here is a big advantage when working with people buying or selling homes in the area,” said Holly.

Advantage g Real Estate Services iis a full f ll service i reall estate t t company representi ting both b th buyers b and d sellers ll off residential id ti l and commercial property primarily in Pasco o, Hernando and Hillsborough counties.

Property management division is looking to add d additional properties to its rental program.

BUYING OR SELLING A HOM ME? Advantage Real Estate Services is a full-service real estate company representing both buyers and sellers of residential and commercial propertyy,, primarily in Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando Counties.

Headed up by Broker Holly Ruhlig, whose family has been involved in the local real estate market since 1981, agents at Advantage Real Estate Services understand local trends, area

Holly Ruhlig Broker/Owner 813-240-6768 hollyruhlig@advantagereservices.com

home values, and are knowledgeable about area schools, roads and growth that impact buying or selling a home.

“W Wee have a diversified team of agents who live in our market, many having over 25 years of local real estate experience,” said Hollyy.. “Our agents are experienced professionals who pride themselves on the highest level of customer service.

The Advantage team shares these reasons to use a licensed Realtor for buying or selling your home.

1. EXPER RT GUIDES: Whether you are buying or selling a home, the current real estate market is extremely competitive. Low interest rates coupled with very low inventory makes it very challenging. A Realtor is a knowledgeable expert who helps you prepare/negotiate the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. OBJECTIVE INFORMA ATION AND OPINIONS: Realtor can provide local information on utilities, zoning and schools, and have objective inf information formation about each property.

By understandingg both your needs and search

CALL ADVVA ANTTA AGE REAL ESTTA ATE SERVICES, FOR OVER 37 YEARS OF LOCAL EXPERTISE

arrea, your Realtor can also point out neighborrhoods you don’t know much about, but which m might suit your needs better than you had th hought.

3. MARKETING AND EXP PANDED SEARCH POWERS: When selling your home, in addition to advertising your home, m many prospects for a home sale come from a Realtor’ ’ss contacts with previous clients, friends R an nd familyy.. Y Yoour Realtor will prescreen and acccompany qualified prospects through your prroperty — you never have to worry about alllowing strangers into your home. A Realtor caan help you find opportunities not listed on home search sites, and also help you avoid outoff-date listings that might be showing up as avvailable online, but are no longer on the markeet.

4. NEGOTIA ATION KNOWLEDGE: A Realtor will look at every angle from your perr-R sppective, including crafting a purchase agreement that allows enough time for you to comm lete inspections and investigations of the propplete

ertyy,, before you are bound to finalize the purchase.

5. UP-TO-DA ATE EXPERIENCE: Most people sell only a few homes in a lifetime, and those sales typically have many years inbetween. Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. Realtors handle hundreds of transactions over the course of their career and are experts at what they do.

6. YOUR ROCK DURING EMOTIONAL MOMENTS: A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And, for most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you.

7. ETHICAL TREA AT TMENT T:: Every Realtor must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a Realtor’’ss client, you will receive honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. The first obligation is to you, the client.

Heather Acevedo, Realtor 813-352-4881 heatheracevedo@ymail.com

Renee Borchin, Realtor 401- 368-6412 rlborchin@gmail.com

Eva Ebert, Realtor 813-546-4952 EvaEbert19@hotmail.com

Patrick Harpe,, Realtor 813-382-8888 patrickharperealtor@tampabay.rr y. r..com

Karen Hernandez,, Broker Associate 813-918-5765 thinkkaren@gmail.com

Kathy Huntzingerr,, Realtor 813-784-1346 khuntzinger@ymail.com

Jodie Maddaloni,, Realtor 813-382-2692 Jodiemaddaloni@gmail.com

Stephanie Meid, Realtor 813-695-0234 stephaniemeid1@gmail.com

Sharon Molnar Johnson, Broker Associate 813-245-4971 sharonmolnar1@aol.com

Heather Patierno,, Realtor 813-833-7804 Heather@advantagereservices.com

Linda Ruhlig,, Broker Associate 813-494-5433 lindaruhlig4@gmail.com

Trish Schaefer, Realtor 813-340-2947 trish@pascoliving.net

NOW INTERVIEWING G AGENTS! 3948 Laake Padgett Drr.. • Land O’ Lakes,, FL 34639 • 813-996-4747 A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION IN THE LAKER/LUTZ NEWS • 813-909-2800 • LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

October 28, 2020

Home is W Where The T Hea Heart art Is WHERE LAUGHTER IS SHARED, MEMORIES BEGIN AND HEARTSTRINGS ARE FOREVER JOINED TOGETHER. DISCO OV VER SMALL TOWN AMERICA AT AV AVALON PA PARK WESLEY CHAPEL,, WHERE YOUR FAMILLY Y WILL LIVE,, LEARN, WORK AND PLA AY Y.

… At Avaalon Park Wesley Chapel • Classic homes rich in design and skillfully crafted d parks, tree-lined streets and wide front porches • Neighborhood • Tr Traditional dow wntown with shops, restaurants and offfiices • Tr Trails connectiing neighborhoods to downtown • New homes frrom the low $200s to over $400s • Resort-style am menity centers with pools, wo workout areas, tot lots and splash pad • We Wesley Chapel schools, including on-site elementary school c school at community entrance • K-8 Pinecrest charter

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Avalon Park We Wesley Chapel is conveniently located 3.5 miles East of I-75 on SR 54.

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October 28, 2020

Fo or more information on this and other even nts,, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com y p or call 813-783-1515

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION IN THE LAKER/LUTZ NEWS • 813-909-2800 • LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

Join The Fun At Avalon Park’s Holiday Wine & Food Pairing Party

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oin neighbors and friends Holiday Pairings on Nov. 18 for a Holiday Wines by Time for Wine Wine & Food Pairing special And appetizers/desserts by Dash of Salt & event at Avalon Park Wesley Pepper Chapel. You can join the Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. party in person at the develPayment or RSVP must be made by Nov. 12 opment’s community center, or via $25 per person, in-person Zoom. Either way, it’s a fun way to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel step back from the worries of the day 5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel and kick off the holiday season.

In person or by Zoom Co-sponsored by Time for Wine, a RSVP Cherly@timeforwine.net or Wesley Chapel-based company that AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com/ has been hosting wine tasting events holiday-dinner-wine-pairing/ for 17 years, participation will be limFor information, call (813) 664-1430. ited to assure proper social distancing.

“We are planning for a small group of adults looking to have fun while learning about great wine options for your holiday dinners,” said Cheryl Visalli, who owns Time for Wine with her husband, Charles. “We will be tasting and sharing information about two Rieslings for our whites, three Pinot Noirs for our reds, and a port or sparkling for the dessert wine. We like to have a good mix of wines to please all the pallets of all our guests.”

Holiday foods to accompany the wines are being prepared by Chef Ghada of Dash of Salt ‘N Pepper, a Virtual wine tasting party hosted by New Tampa caterer known for its ex- Charles Visalli. quisite homemade cuisine and beautiful presentations. in the conversation and share what “Our food-pairing events include they like, and perhaps don’t like, fabulous food prepared by Chef about the wines,” explains Visalli.

Ghada — who brings a beautiful Those joining by Zoom will be spread of appetizers and main able to pick up their wine at the course samplers, and of course, to- Welcome Center for Avalon Park die-for desserts,” said Visalli.

Wesley Chapel on State Road 54.

Cost for the two-hour event is just $25 for those attending in person. ABOUT TIME FOR WINE Cheryl and Charles Visalli are wine For those joining by Zoom, there is no fee — only a request to buy two of experts who have traveled around the bottles of wine (at $20 each) the world visiting vineyards and selecting wines for their customers. being featured during the event.

“To make sure our Zoom guests Their journeys have taken them to are engaged in the tasting, we ask Italy, France, Germany, Argentina, them to choose at least two of the Chile, Australia, California and wines we are serving, so they can join Oregon.

“We love to travel to meet new people, and it’s so rewarding to disMore Avalon Park Events cover a new wine to share with our friends back in Tampa Bay,” said Drawing With Still Life Cheryl Visalli.

With Lionel Sanchez The company began 17 years ago Friday, Nov. 13 doing home wine-testing parties, 10 to 4 and has expanded to include “Teach Avalon Park Amenity Center ‘N Taste” classes, corporate events, 5060 River Glen Blvd custom gift baskets, an online wine Info at 813-783-1515 shop and even a wine club.

Pasco Fine Arts Council Workshop It also hosts charity wine tastings Avalon Aglow Holiday Celebration for nonprofit groups, and wine semiSat., Dec. 12 nars for businesses. A popular FREE Family Event holiday program is its "private wine " 5 to 8 pm – FIREWORKS at 9 pm labels with company logos, which Community performances, pictures with can include delivery to customers.

Santa, bounce park, vendors, food trucks In this age of social distancing, Inside Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Time for Wine has introduced a State Road 54, 3.5 miles east of I-75 Virtual Wine Tasting program.

“With virtual tasting, you can see

Food parings catered by Chef Ghada of Dash of Salt ‘N Pepper.

Cheryl and Charles Visalli, owners of Time for Wine.

the difference and taste the bright, diverse flavors of your customized wine selection,” said Visalli, who adds that the virtual tasting experience includes wine delivery to clients’ homes, along with a tasting portfolio.

Groups who have enjoyed virtual wine tastings include Girls Night In, No-Travel Family Reunion, Back-ToSchool Teacher De-Stress and Virtual Clubhouse Gatherings.

Go to TimeForWines.net for more information.

Pre-Selling Begins Soon In Summerstone New D.R. Horton community to have over 500 homes

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.R. Horton will begin pre-selling homes in the next month or so in its new Summerstone community located inside Avalon Park Wesley Chapel on State Road 54.

Inside the community’s new Westgate Village, Summerstone homes will be the first new homes in the third phase of this prestigious master-planned community. D.R. Horton announced in August that it will be building over 500 homes in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel over the next several years.

In addition to pre-selling homes, also underway is the construction of several D.R. Horton townhome and single-family home models, which will open in early 2021.

The Summerstone neighborhood will include D.R. Horton Express Series townhomes and single-family homes. Townhome models are the Vale and Glen floor plans, and singlefamily home models are the Denton, Cali and Elston.

Single-family homes will be built on 40-foot to 50-foot homesites, with nine floor plans ranging in size from 1,504 square feet to 2,601 square feet.

Homes will offer three to five bedrooms, two to three baths, and two-car garages, giving families square-footage options that best meet their needs.

Townhomes will include three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a one-car garage with a two-car driveway. Two floor plans will be available at 1,673 square feet and 1,758 square feet.

All D.R. Horton homes come equipped with a smart home au-

Allex

D.R Horton is building townhomes with two floor plans, the Vale and the Glen.

tomation system called Home is Connected, America’s Smart Home®. Both townhomes and single-family homes are built with concrete block on the first and second floors — a superior construction process. D.R. Horton is the only production builder that utilizes concrete block on two floors of its homes.

The Westgate Village community will embrace its own set of amenities for residents, including a resort-style pool, open-air clubhouse with an outdoor kitchen, playground, open sports field, and picnic area with pavilions.

AMENITIES AND DOWNTOWN

Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry

pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel soon will offer residents places to shop and work in its downtown center.

Infrastructure construction continues on the downtown’s first phase, which will include two office buildings, two mixed-use retail/residential buildings and a community park.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is east Pasco County’s premier masterplanned community to live, learn, work and play. The plan includes 4,800 residential homes and over a half-million square feet of commercial and civic uses. Residents are in

Freeport Affordable single-family homes, with all the upscale features standard in D.R. Horton homes, are coming to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

walking and bike-riding distance to schools, shops, restaurants, workplaces and recreational amenities.

Already, close to 2,000 people call Avalon Park Wesley Chapel home, and 1,000 homes have been sold since it opened in 2012.

As the community continues to grow over the next several years, it will eventually be home to 10,000 residents.

For more information about D.R. Horton homes and the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel community, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com.

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION IN THE LAKER/LUTZ NEWS • 813-909-2800 • LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

October 28, 2020

Meet Joe Barnes And His Incredible Gift

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Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning

S

aving money and the planet can go hand-in-hand at home.

To green-up your clean-up and create healthier spaces, consider these tips: 1.Ditch paper towels for reusable cloths and sponges. Wash them regularly on the highest heat setting (dishwasher for sponges, washing machine for cloth), and use old t-shirts and towels to make fantastic reusable cleaning tools.

2. Opt for green cleaners. Most people want cleaning products that reduce the number of harsh chemicals their families are exposed to.

Good clean choices are multipurpose cleaning sprays and wipes from the Art of Green, which are tough on grease and grime as mainstream

brands, and safe for use around kids and pets, safe for sensitive skin, and are not tested on animals.

To find Art of Green products, visit artofgreen.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook for cleaning tips and tricks.

3. Skip store-bought air fresheners. Instead, simply boil lemon, cinnamon, cloves or any favorite plant for a natural, lasting aroma. You can further promote fresh air at home simply by opening windows whenever possible.

For a healthy home, prioritize cleaning habits that reduce your environmental impact and limit the harsh chemicals to which your family is exposed.

– StatePoint

Brand New Homes Starting in the $90K’s

oe Barnes is a very unusual real estate agent. Every time he closes a deal — whether it is a buyer or seller — he takes up to $1,000 out of his commission and puts it into his customer’s pocket.

The only stipulation Barnes has is that this $1,000 gift be spent with a member of his local networking group of like-minded businesses in Tampa Bay — businesses who uphold the same high business ethics that he attests to.

This group, called the WBTHnetwork, includes Kia of Wesley Chapel, Go Bulls Moving Company, Crystal Springs Water, and home services that include lawn, pool and housecleaning.

“Our goal is to connect real estate clients to local businesses to help build stronger communities.

We believe that by unselfishly giving cash incentives to customers to spend with local businesses, it will help create a stronger community that shares our vision,” said Barnes.

The $1,000 gift from Barnes and his Realtor associates is 100% transferable. “If a customer wants to give his $1,000 to a family member or friend, that’s absolutely fine,” says Barnes. “We want the money to go to the person who can use it most, and oftentimes the person who sold or bought the home can’t wait to share his incentive with someone who needs the money more than they do.”

While Barnes’ altruistic business approach is unusual, be assured there is no hidden agenda or alternative purpose.

“I’m asked all the time what’s in it for me, and the truth is that I fully believe that by incentivizing customers to spend their money locally on products and services they need, my generosity will be returned with repeat business and referrals,” said Barnes.

ABOUT THE WBTHNETWORK

Barnes and his WBTHnetwork are looking for partners in other business categories, including retailers, home furnishings, appliances, theme parks, hotels and restaurants, to name just a few.

“As our network grows in more areas, we will continue to develop and grow loyal and lasting relationships in our community,” said Barnes.

Barnes is the founder and CEO of WBTH, an acronym for We Buy This Home. “In an age where ecommerce has shifted the way most companies operate, our network helps keep local businesses relevant by focusing their attention on one common denominator — the customer,” explains Barnes.

Barnes has over 25 years of experience in generating revenue and helping national brands such as Ford Motor Company, Ashley Furniture, Nestle Water and many others to achieve sales targets and growth potential. He currently is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in New Tampa.

Businesses interested in interviewing for the WBTHnetwork are asked to call Barnes at (813) 862-7713, or email whybuythishome@gmail.com.

Home sellers and buyers also are invited to contact Barnes, to learn more about the up to $1,000 shopping spree they receive when closing a deal with the Realtor.

Take A Virtual Tour and Make It Yours!

Up to $1,000 in merchandise when you close on a home with Realtor Joe Barnes

3 Easy Ways to Explore our Quick Move-In Ready Homes

Celebrate the closing of your home with a $1,000 spending spree from Realtor Joe Barnes.

Choose the deal that’s best for you!

• Up to $1,000 toward a new or used vehicle at Wesley Chapel Kia • $1,000 at a local furniture store • Six months of services for lawn/landscaping, cleaning/maid, pool and many more

Live Virtual Showings Video Tours 3-D Interactive Model Home Tours Call to schedule a private tour or virtual showing

(844) 276-8964 Joee Barnes, Realtor Resiident of Lake Bernadette, Zephyrhills

An Age-Qualified Community 4604 Lake Crystal Boulevard Zephyrhills, FL 33541

81 13-862-7713 3 wh hybuythishome@g gmail.com Kelller Williams Realty New Keller w Tampa

“WE CONNECT REAL ESTA TA ATTE CLIENTTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BUILD STRONGER CO OMMUNITIES” October 28, 2020

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION IN THE LAKER/LUTZ NEWS • 813-909-2800 • LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM

ICI Homes Now Building in Lake Jovita Golf course community with large homesites and no CDD

I

f you dream of a home in the rolling hills of North Carolina, but live in Florida because of its year-around sunshine, your work or family, here’s a new home opportunity that you’ll be glad you waited for.

ICI Homes — one of Florida’s best known and prestigious builders — is coming to Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club just north of Wesley Chapel. It will be building beautiful homes with unique floor plans on some of the largest and prettiest homesites in Tampa Bay. The builder is opening a new sales center in midNovember, and is now taking VIP reservations on 65-foot lots and 95-foot lots, as well as estate homesites with long-range vistas — some as large as 100 feet by 250 feet.

“Lake Jovita is like living outside in North Carolina, and then stepping inside to an open and sunlit Florida home,” said Greg Jones, Tampa division manager for ICI Homes. “It’s like flipping a coin that you always win, because both sides give you want you want.”

ICI Homes has 75 lots in three Lake Jovita neighborhoods: Parkside, Meadows and The Bluffs. Its semicustom homes will range from 2,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet, with pricing starting in the $300s.

Homesites in The Bluffs, which is located at some of the highest elevation in Florida, can accommodate floor plans up to 10,000 square feet designed as a family’s forever home.

“All of our neighborhoods in Lake Jovita have homesites that back up to a golf course, conservation area or lakes and ponds,” said Jones. “It is almost unheard of today for a master-planned community to offer homes for less than $400s on such

large lots with privacy and pristine views.”

In addition to Lake Jovita’s enviable homesites, families are drawn to the community because of its easy access to I-75, and all the shopping, dining and entertainment in nearby Wesley Chapel.

“The State Road 52 exit that leads to Lake Jovita is just 10 miles north of Wesley Chapel,” said Jones. “It’s literally just a 20-minute drive into the heart of Wesley Chapel. Plus, just five minutes to the east is downtown Dade City and all of its old fashioned charm.”

Dade City, which was founded in 1884, is one of Pasco County’s oldest cities and also the county seat. It offers seven blocks of unique shopping and dining in a quaint downtown that boasts over 15 locally owned restaurants; art galleries; museums; fashion and vintage boutiques; antiques; and, shops for gifts, books, wine, pets and outdoor gear.

“People are attracted to Lake Jovita because it is close to all the urban action in Wesley Chapel and

Tampa, while their residence is in a lovely rural community that boasts some of the best golf in Florida,” said Jones.

Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club has two semi-private, 18-hole courses with challenging layouts. The 220-acre South Course opened in 1999 and was designed by PGA champion Tom Lehman. The course has played host to many important tournaments, including Stage 1 of PGA Tour Qualifying. The North Course opened in 2002 with a more modern style and dramatic elevation changes. Both courses provide expansive views of neighboring citrus groves and cattle ranches.

“This is an established development that already has over 700 homes, and is a unique opportunity for families looking to build a new home in a golf course community,” said Jones.

And, because Lake Jovita began building over 20 years ago, today there are no CDD fees, saving buyers thousands of dollars a year in additional taxes. The only community expense is a $600 annual fee from the

Homeowners Association.

ICI Homes has chosen its most popular floor plans for Lake Jovita, all with family friendly layouts, where cooking, dining, relaxing and entertaining happen cohesively. Homes feature an abundance of windows that bring the outside in. Floor plans include the Juliette, Costa Mesa, Egret II and Brooke, as well as the Heron, a brand-new floor plan that is being built as ICI Homes’model home, which will be ready for tour next spring.

Be one of the first families to schedule a safe one-on-one or virtual appointment at ICI Home’s new sales center. Call (855) 215-2054, or email Jones at gjones@ icihomes.com. The new Lake Jovita Sales Center will be at 12330 Lake Jovita Blvd., Dade City, FL 33526.

PERSIMMON PARK

ICI Homes continues to build in Persimmon Park, located in Wesley Chapel in the Wiregrass Ranch community. All homes in this ICI Homes community have open floor plans with front porches, and garages and alleys at the back of the home. The community will have 150 homes, with prices beginning in the high $200s.

In November, residents will be celebrating the grand opening of Persimmon Park’s amenity center, which includes a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area. Coming soon will be dog parks for small and large breeds, and paved trails that connect to the Wiregrass recreational parkway system.

For information about Persimmon Park, please call the sales center at (813) 302-7563, or stop by the model center at 3793 Lajuana Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL 33543.

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October 28, 2020

Cornerstone Pros Celebrates 16 Years As A Family Business

W

hen Dana Spears f o u n d e d Cornerstone Pros in 2006, the company began as a small family business with just six employees. Today, 14 years later, it is still a family business, but now employs over 65 local residents who provide air conditioning, electrical and plumbing services to households in Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties.

“Being bigger doesn’t mean we have lost the family values our company was founded on,” said Dana Spears, Cornerstone’s president. “It’s actually the reason we have grown so quickly, because family values allow us to retain and attract highly skilled workers who are dedicated to our customers.”

There is a misconception that because their overhead is greater, a big company charges more for their services than a small company.

“But, being bigger actually keeps our rates more affordable because we have low employee turnover and more buying power with our suppliers,” explains Spears. “It also allows us to offer our people year-around work, top pay and employee benefits that smaller operations often cannot afford.”

Spears and her husband, James, are hands-on business owners, and are joined by several members of

their family in the daily operation of their business.

All of Cornerstone’s technicians are specialists who have specific training in their field. “This means our A/C guys are experts at air conditioning, and do not go out on plumbing and electrical calls,” said Dana. “We have certified plumbers and electricians for those calls.”

Cornerstone Pros hires people who are genuine, honest, trustworthy, clean-cut, and live their lives with good ethics and morals.

“Our employees live in our service area, and are very committed to their family and community,” said Dana.

“Most have been with us for over five years, and we have techs who have worked here for all 14 years. In the trade industry, this kind of longevity is almost unheard of.”

Spears recognizes that providing excellent customer service begins with excellent employees.

“We’ve been successful because we’ve built our business on reputation and trust,” said Spears. “Our motto is to go above and beyond customer expectations, and every one of our employees strives to make that happen every day.”

Dana also attributes Cornerstone’s success to being a woman-owned business.

“Women understand that nothing is more important than being customer-centered. It’s the little things

that we do in the first 30 seconds that sets the tone for exceeding customer expectations,” said Dana.

“When people call, they assume we have the technical expertise to solve their problem,” she continues.

“What they remember is how they felt when they first talked to our customer service rep, or first meet our technician at their door. It’s the kind, helpful voice, the clean uniform and shoe covers, the tech who focuses on them and not their phone, that sets us apart.”

Every Cornerstone employee is trained to the company’s high customer service standards.

“As a mom and wife, I know how it feels to allow someone into your home,” Dana explains. “When we send a tech to a customer’s home, I feel just like I am sending them to my own home. Over two-thirds of our calls come from the woman in the family, and as a woman, I fully understand her concerns and expectations when she allows someone into her home.”

The Spears family has deep roots in the local community. James grew up in Tampa, and Dana graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School, as did three daughters and a son, all who now work for the company. The Spears’ youngest is a second grader at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

The family’s connection to the community also is very strong.

Cornerstone Pros supports Oasis Pregnancy Center, sports programs at Land O’Lakes High School, the American Cancer Society, Operation Stand Down to support homeless veterans, Tighten The Drag Foundation fishing tournaments to benefit spinal cord research, and fundraisers for Xavier Johnson, a former Sunlake High football player who was injured.

“We want to give back to our community, which has done so much to support our business over the years,” said Dana. “This is who we are.”

Cornerstone Pros was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. It moved to its 4-acre site on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in 2011, and the following year added plumbing services. In 2014, it expanded again with electrical services.

In 2018, Cornerstone Pros built a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to its headquarters on U.S. 41, to store air conditioning units of all sizes, and stock high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It also stocks tankless hot water systems, and portable and permanent generators, including whole-house systems by Generac.

Phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Call at (813) 949-4445, anytime day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.

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October 28, 2020

11A

Pasco stays competitive, during pandemic

By B.C. Manion

Pasco EDC wins international awards

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

The news could have been gloomy, because Pasco County — like everywhere else — is in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

But, as it turns out, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s final report for last fiscal year shows that the economic development agency surpassed goals in key categories, such as attracting new projects and adding new jobs.

That’s the crux of a report delivered by Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, to the Pasco County Commission during its Oct. 20 board meeting.

Cronin leads the agency, whose mission is to stimulate balanced and diversified economic growth in Pasco County. It uses private investments and tax dollars to support the work it does to foster economic development — which includes attracting companies, helping business startups and helping companies to be resilient, and to grow.

Cronin told commissioners the agency won 15 projects, surpassing its goal of 12.

The wins include 13 competitive projects (of which two were expansions already in Pasco that were competitive); plus, two expansion projects that were not competitive.

The agency’s final win came on Sept. 30, about 4:30 in the afternoon, Cronin reported.

“We received a commitment from a company that we’re going to be bringing to you, Nov. 17, for 875 jobs,” he said.

“That put us not only over our goal for a thousand (jobs), but a record for the most recruited jobs in any one fiscal year at 1,464 total jobs committed this year, from (project) wins.

“I think it’s not only significant in the sense that it was a record-breaker, but it was amidst COVID that a lot of this activity was taking place,” Cronin said.

Overall, there was $104 million in capital investment last year, exceeding the Pasco EDC’s goal of $90 million.

“We’ve got a total of 44 active projects right now,” Cronin said.That compares favorably with Jacksonville, which has 43, he added.

The majority of those active projects in Pasco’s pipeline are in manufacturing.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is enthusiastic about that.

“Those are great jobs, as you and I know,” Starkey said.“Of course, their No. 1 issue is the talent pipeline, so we are all working hard on filling that.

“Great job on those manufacturing jobs,”

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has received three awards from the International Economic Development Council, in the 2020 Excellence in Economic Development Awards Program.

The local economic development agency won in these categories: • Entrepreneurship: A gold award for its SMARTstart Pasco project • Digital Media: A silver award for its Pasco Ready Sites Interactive Maps • Special Purpose Website: A bronze award for WorkforceCONNECT Pasco.

The awards were presented during the International Economic Development Council Annual Conference.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO for the Pasco EDC, was obviously delighted to share the news with the Pasco County Commission, during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting.

The Pasco EDC was competing in the category for communities over 500,000.

“So that means we were competing with the New Yorks, the Houstons, the Chicagos of the world,” Cronin said. To receive the honors, he said,“is a really big deal for us.”

COURTESY OF PASCO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., holds the agency’s gold award it received in the entrepreneurship category during the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference.

Pasco economic statistics for 2019-2020 Overall stats

she told Cronin.

Obviously, shutdowns imposed by the pandemic created new challenges, and Pasco EDC has responded by becoming a clearinghouse to help businesses learn about available resources.

Besides sharing news about grants, loans and training opportunities on its website, Pasco EDC also administered a local small business grant program — that was supported through $7 million in funding approved by the Pasco County Commission, using revenues provided by Penny for Pasco for economic development.

Those receiving the grants were required to submit necessary paperwork, and to attend a two-hour refocus virtual workshop.

“We continue to focus on building resiliency, to work with our small businesses, to help them grow to get stronger,” Cronin said.

It also provided advice to some of its peers in other places, to help them handle

resiliency and grants, Cronin said.

The agency’s task forces have been active, too.

The Food Hub task force was expected to present its recommendation at the end of October, and the Office and Industrial Trends Task Force plans to disseminate a report to the real estate community and developers around the nation.

The economic development agency also expects to add a real estate committee to its list of committees in 2021, Cronin said.

The agency also is forming a new task forces on reshoring — which will address the issue of bringing back manufacturing to the United States.

During the board meeting, Cronin also told commissioners about three awards his agency won in an international competition.

The agency competed among communities of 500,000 or greater, and won a gold, silver and bronze award in the contest.

Business recruitment inquiries: 102 Leads: 35 Active projects: 44 Successes: 15* Active projects, by category Manufacturing: 24 Wholesale trade: 2 Information technology: 5 Professional scientific: 4 Company management: 2 Life science: 1 Finance and insurance: 2 Health care: 1 Transportation warehouse: 3 * (Successes include 13 competitive projects, of which two were expansions already in Pasco that were competitive, and two expansion projects that were not competitive)

Source: Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

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New program aims to alleviate hunger

By Mary Rathman mrathman@lakerlutznews.com

The Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger (TBNEH) has launched a new Holidays On Wheels program, to deliver a full holiday meal and toys to transportation-disadvantaged and homebound families with children in Tampa Bay, during the months of November and December.

The program was developed in partnership with Metropolitan Ministries, to help ensure that every family has a nutritious and joyous holiday celebration.

This season, the TBNEH will be helped by more than 300 volunteers to deliver to families that have no access to a working,

or reliable vehicle.

For families who have transportation, Metropolitan Ministries again will host its annual drive-thru Holiday Tent.

Registration for the Holidays On Wheels’ program is open now to all households with children that are transportation-disadvantaged living in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas counties.

Households that qualify include: those with children 0 to 18 years of age who are not able to get a ride from household members or others for life-sustaining trips; medical, grocery, work, job-related training/education and other vital services (or do not have access to their own working or reliable vehicle); and/or households led

by an adult with a disability or illness, with children 0 to 18 years of age.The head of the household must pass a background check and someone must be home to receive the delivery.

The Holidays On Wheels’ deliveries will take place on Nov. 17 (Thanksgiving meal ingredients) and Dec. 16 (holiday meal ingredients and toys for children) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The deadline to register for the

Thanksgiving delivery is Nov. 5, and the deadline to register for the holiday delivery is Dec. 7, online at NetworkToEndHunger.org/holidays.

To volunteer, please visit NetworkToEndHunger.org/volunteer.

Driving routes for volunteers will take about an hour to complete.

To make a donation to the hunger network, visit NetworkToEndHunger.org, or call (813) 344-5837.

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www.LakerLutzNews.com

October 28, 2020

13A

CHALLENGE RAISES MORE THAN MONEY The Kids Heart Challenge is an event that teaches students about the heart itself, while helping others by raising money for the American Heart Association.

The program aims to promote awareness of heart issues, and to prepare children for success through physical and emotional well-being.

Sunlake Academy of Math & Science in Lutz took part in the challenge and collected $10,858.57, more than triple the average from a charter school, for the organization.

Send school news to news@lakerlutznews.com

SMALL BUSINESS WEBINAR Saint Leo University will present a free webinar to aid small businesses on Nov. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The webinar is entitled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Business Reimagined: Set Your Course for Survival with the 13-Week Cash Flow Model.â&#x20AC;?

Presenters will be Dr. Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Lamt Ho, assistant professor of accounting at Saint Leo University, and Dr. Ruediger Mueller, president and senior partner of TCMI Inc. The program will focus on cash flow and why it is more important than profit or loss in difficult times. It will walk participants step-by-step through the construction of a cash flow model that can be used to monitor cash , as well as requirements for the near and intermediate future.

Participants also can learn how to budget tight cash resources, how to survive on existing cash and projected cash streams, when to seek additional funding, and how to obtain financing.

The 13-Week Cash Flow model is one of the most popular and commonly used tools of turnaround- and restructuring-experts today.

Small businesses and the community can attend online at tinyurl.com/y5qjpae5.

COURTESY OF SABRINA LUCAS

Hope Lancaster, left, jumps rope with Evan Littler, both third-graders, to help raise money for the American Heart Association.

The PHSC CROP is a state-sponsored educational program established by the legislature to increase the number of low-income, educationally disadvantaged students in grades six to 12 who, upon high school graduation, are admitted to and successfully complete postsecondary education. The PHSC program serves students in Hernando and Pasco counties, and involves academic enrichment, social/behavior workshops, field trips and university residential visits.

Additional program criteria includes: students who would benefit from structured motivational programs; prospective first-generation college students; and students meeting a minimum of one, preferably two, in each category of the guidelines listed below. â&#x20AC;˘ Academic: Low GPA and FSA scores, dropout prevention, grade retention, expulsions and high absenteeism

REACH-OUT PROGRAM

The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) College Reach-Out Program (CROP) is accepting applications.

Caught in action, third-graders Rebekah Ostojic, left, and Emilio Cervantes take part in the Kids Heart Challenge.

â&#x20AC;˘ Economic: Reduced or free lunch eligible; wages participant; public assistance recipient An application for CROP is online at Equity-services.phsc.edu/programs. Click on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pre-Collegiateâ&#x20AC;? link.

The grant program is funded by the Department of Education through the Office of Postsecondary Education Coordination.

For information, contact Ronteryl Black at (352) 340-4809 or blackr@phsc.edu.

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

The personal-finance website WalletHub has released its 2021 Best College & University Rankings report in addition to separate rankings for colleges and for universities.

WalletHub compared over 1,000 higher-

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education institutions across the United States based on 30 key measures grouped into seven categories, including Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing, and Career Outcomes.

The data set ranges from student-faculty ratio to graduation rate to post-attendance median salary.

The top 10 colleges and universities in Florida are, in order from No. 1 to No. 10, are: University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Miami, Florida Polytechnic University, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Southern College, Florida A&M University, University of West Florida and Florida International University.

To view the full reports, and accompanying videos, visit Wallethub.com/edu/college-rankings/40750/ and Wallethub.com/edu/best-colleges-in-the-us-ranking/40748.

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DIAMOND, from page 1A Moore said.

“It’s frustrating to all of our constituents here. It’s frustrating to the business owners,” he said.

It’s particularly irritating given the fact that the county worked with local state legislators to get the project moved up, and now it’s behind schedule, Moore said.

“Now, we’re going into 2021. This was supposed to be done in the summer of ‘21, and be finished and completed.

Unfortunately, they’re delayed.

“We have absolutely zero control, and when I say zero, we have zero control over these contractors for that project because that is a DOT project,” the commission chairman added.

Moore said he expressed the county’s displeasure to David Gwynn, secretary for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Gwynn responded with an email outlining what’s happened so far in the project, and the DOT’s actions.

The project was started in early 2019 with an original schedule of 800 days, which would result in a finish date of April 2021, Gwynne’s email notes.

That schedule did not account for rain and holiday allowances or other factors outside the contractors control, the email adds.

To date, the contractor has been granted: • 99 days for weather • 34 days of holiday time • 30 days for unforeseen conditions As a result, 163 days will be added to the contract, bringing the new end date to Aug. 26, 2021, the email notes.

“The department has discussed its concern with the contractor, DAB Constructors, as a result the contractor has gone to a 6-day

work week to mitigate the schedule, and has agreed to focus their resources on completing existing work,” the email says.

The DOT also is looking for opportunities to move the job forward, the email notes, including: • Approving the use of alternate fill materials less sensitive to water, to accelerate work in low-lying areas • Examining ways to combine traffic phases to shorten the overall duration of the project • Utilizing alternate road base options to accelerate new roadway construction • Examining ways to reconfigure walls on the project to shorten construction duration Gwynn’s email says that “should the contractor not meet the contract end date, liquidated damages, of $9,837 a day, will be assessed for every day that the contractor is late in completing the project.”

The email goes on to say that the department sent a letter of concern to the contractor on March 23, and continues to review the contractor’s progress.

Finally, Gwynn said, “Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to hold the contractor accountable and accelerate the schedule where possible.”

Starkey said “I think DOT is doing as much as it can, to push it along,” but, she would like to see changes in the way contracts are awarded, to give greater consideration to a company’s performance.

Moore said he’s happy to see what the DOT is doing, but isn’t satisfied with the results.

“The pressure needs to stay on,” Moore said.

“Basically, what needs to happen, is they need to hold their feet to the fire,” Moore said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed:“Keep the pressure on.”

CONTRACT, from page 1A $43,992 will see pay jump to $46,191,60 this year; the salary will be $51,744.27 by 2022-2023.

To further put this in perspective, here’s how an officer would be compensated based on years of service, under the plan: • Rookie officer: $40,000 • One year service: $40,800 • Five years of service: $44,163.23 • 10 years of service: $48,759.78 • 15 years of service: $53,834.73 • 20 years of service: $56,526.47 • 25 years of service: $59,352.79 There also were other special payment provisions implemented in the contract, including a $100 footwear allowance for all officers each year.

Another clause of the contract compensates officers for a loss of personal items during a physical incident on duty, or due to the exposure to hazardous materials.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez commended both city staffers and the police union for arriving at a workable agreement.

“I want to thank both sides,” Hernandez said.“I’m impressed at the amount of time, thought and deliberation, and action that ultimately we came to.”

The mayor, however, did acknowledge more work needs to be done in the future — alluding to greater officer pay and benefits in the future, as the city grows, develops and expands.

Even with the raises, the upgraded starting salary for a Dade City police officer still lags behind other agencies in Pasco County, where starting pay for police officers and deputies hovers around the mid-40s.

The nearby City of Zephyrhills, for instance, is actively advertising a starting salary of $44,500.

Hernandez put it this way: “You know, we have lots to do better on, we know that.

But, I’m happy of where we are and we know there’s more to go, but I do believe we are moving in the right direction...”

Dade City Police Chief James Walters echoed the mayor’s sentiments regarding the agreement, overall.

“We appreciate the hard work for getting this done,” said Walters, a 25-year veteran of the agency who’s served as chief since 2018.“It is a great accomplishment for the employees and staff and officers, to be able to understand where they’re going to be at, and how they’re going to get there.”

The city’s police department has about 40 employees, including 23 sworn officers, civilian personnel and part-time staff.

BETTER PAY DEEMED ESSENTIAL FOR RETAINING OFFICERS The finalized contract comes at a point

FILE

The Dade City Police Department is set to receive across-the-board salary increases and other benefits as part of a new threeyear collective bargaining agreement between the City of Dade City and the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association (WCFPBA). The new base salary is $40,000, up from the previous base salary of $37,000.

when the city is expected to need additional officers, as it continues to experience residential growth.

Walters advised commissioners during a budget meeting in August that additional staffing will be required to match the additional demands. At that time, he said: “In order to provide the services this community has come to expect and deserve, the police department must grow as well.

“We are already seeing a tremendous increase in our calls for service, and the more calls for service that we have with the same number of officers, the less time there is to spend on direct speeding enforcement, and community outreach and community-oriented policing.”

At the same meeting,WCFPBA president Nick Marolda underscored the importance of competitive pay for the city’s police force, noting the challenge the lower pay presents in both attracting and retaining officers.

“You’re spending thousands and thousands of dollars training these officers.They get great training, and then in about two years or three years, they look around and they see they’re the lowest (paid) in Pasco County, and they bail on you, and you lose all that money in training, and they go to another agency and you’ve got to start over again,” he said.

MANDATES, from page 1A

the country where restrictions were more extensive.

In some places, people are wearing a mask if they are outside their own homes, she said, noting she’d see people outside riding bicycles or on trails, wearing masks.

She doesn’t think Pasco’s ordinance is excessive.

Commission Mike Wells addressed Napier:“I’m assuming you’re telling us that you recommend us continue with the mask.”

Napier responded:“I don’t think anybody here is saying that masks are fun to use.

Nobody enjoys using them. We understand that. It’s just a matter of the times that we’re in and the need to be able to do something to be able to prevent the spread of the disease.”

The mandate is being recommended throughout the region.

He said he spoke with his counterparts in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and the consensus was to keep the mask ordinance in each county in place.

“If I was standing here and the numbers had declined since my last presentation and we were starting to make good progress, then, all right, that might be a little bit different conversation. Right now, with what our numbers are demonstrating, I couldn’t suggest that the data says we should change course,” Napier said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county should “strongly recommend” rather than mandate masks, and he made a motion to that effect.

Wells told Mariano that he agreed with him, but didn’t think there were enough votes to make that happen.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said his colleagues should consult with local hospital CEOs, frontline medical workers and epidemiologists to help inform their decisions Mariano’s motion failed, for lack of a second, keeping Pasco’s mandate in place.

Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, commissioners extended the requirement for face coverings inside of local business, with certain exceptions, until Oct. 29, according to a news release.

The board approves its emergency orders for a maximum of seven days at a time. (See HCFLGov.net/facecoverings, for more detail).

Commissioners also approved spending $4.5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for a project at Tampa General Hospital to repurpose an existing stand-alone structure into a dedicated COVID-19 unit.

The $8.2 million unit will contain 59 fully equipped ICU beds and up to 45 surge-readiness beds. Under a three-year contract with TGH, the unit also will serve as an alternate care site during declared states of emergency, the release said.

the last seven days. That’s 358 new cases, just this past week.

“The total population infected was just under 2%, and we have a less than 1% (.04) population that has died.That’s 229 cases.

“The other point that we talk about is the seven-day rolling average of cases. Last month, when I was here, we had increased from 29 cases per day, on average for seven days, up to 49.As of today, we’re looking at 53 cases per day. That represented an 8.1% increase from last month when I came and spoke with you.

“The other part that’s a little bit alarming is our 14-day rolling average.That’s the percent of positive cases that we get each day. It has climbed from 3.2% to 4.5%. That represents a 40% increase in the number of positive cases, percentage-wise.”

“As of today, we have 227 deaths.

The county is not seeing a huge increase, but it is trending in the wrong direction, Napier said.

The gold standard would be about 1 case per 100,000 — which means Pasco County would have 5.5 case per day, Napier said.

“We’ve got a ways to get there.”

“We know that schools was one of the questions — what was going to be the impact of schools?

“I’ve got to give a shout-out to the school system.They’ve been great in working with the students and faculty and health department, in letting parents know as soon as we can about a positive case.

“I will tell you that the schools are not driving our case increases. They represent roughly 15% of our cases, which is what we had seen previously,” he said.

Students who have been exposed to someone positive must be isolated, which interrupts football practices and other things, as “life continues to go on,” he said.

“We understand that it’s disruptive, but we’re also trying to prevent the spread,” Napier said.

He said his staff is not finding spread within the schools themselves.

“Typically, what we’re finding is that a parent is sick and then the child is sick,” the health officer said.

“Our positivity rate is concerning. We were feeling pretty good when we were at 3%. We’re getting pretty close to 5% right now,” Napier said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley weighed in:“I think we should continue our masks,” he said, adding that he’d feel more comfortable doing away with the restriction when a vaccine becomes available.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agreed with keeping the mask mandate:“I say,‘Stay the course, still.”

She said she’d traveled to other parts of

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15A

Community Sports Your Neighborhood Sports Source

Lutz native manages Rays to World Series

By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

T

ampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash has come full circle (err, diamond) with his baseball career.

The Lutz native and Gaither High School alum is managing his hometown pro ball club at the sport’s grandest stage, in the 2020 World Series.

He’s making other sorts of history, too.

The 42-year-old Cash is the first person to have played in the Little League Baseball World Series and manage a team to Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Fall Classic.

He was a 12-year-old second baseman on the 1989 Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series, which then consisted of the top four little league teams each — from both the United States and the world.

The North Tampa-based team fell in the quarterfinals to Eastview (California) Little League 12-5, though it was a team from Trumball, Connecticut, that took home the title in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Cash is hoping for a better outcome some three decades later against a much more distinguished California-based club in the Los Angeles Dodgers, at Globe Life Field in Arlington,Texas.

The best-of-seven World Series could run through Oct. 28.

Whatever the result, Cash has done yeoman’s work guiding the Rays to its second World Series appearance in franchise history — the other coming in 2008, where the team lost in five games to the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Pretty special feeling,” Cash said about reaching the World Series, during a recent postseason press conference.“I don’t think I’ve had many better, other than getting married and having three kids.This is right there below that. Can’t get much better than that.

This is a special group to be a part of. It’s fun to see them win games and fun to be a part of it.”

AMONG BASEBALL’S BRIGHTEST

Amid a logistically, emotionally taxing, pandemic-delayed, 60-game shortened season, Cash navigated success for a young, diverse team with a low payroll, and dearth of superstars and household names.

Also consider:The Rays this season had 19 players serve 20 injured-list stints. On Sept. 1, they set a team-record-tying (not in a good way) 13 players unavailable for action.

All that, though, didn’t stop Tampa Bay from finishing with an American League (AL)-best 40-20 regular season record and division title — then downing the Toronto Blue Jays, the large-pocket New York Yankees and the Houston Astros en route to the World Series in an expanded 16-team playoff format.

Cash, in his sixth year as Rays skipper, has consistently garnered high marks throughout the baseball industry as a steadying cog in the team’s accomplishments.

Last season he steered the team to 96 regular season wins and its first playoff berth in six years. He also holds the franchise’s best all-time managerial winning percentage (.522).

Sporting News already crowned him AL Manager of the Year, for a second-straight time. Other outlets are likely to follow.

FILE

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash has led the franchise to the 2020 World Series in Arlington, Texas. Cash is a Lutz native and Gaither High School alum.

Cash is revered for putting players in position to succeed via ever-changing batting orders, increased bullpen usage, openers, platoons, positional versatility, defensive positioning and shifts, and more.

He’s likewise praised for cultivating a loose, welcoming clubhouse that features many players from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. The team’s World Series roster, in addition to players from all quadrants of the United States, also is represented by Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan and South Korea, respectively.

While some old-school baseball types scoff at some of the team’s myriad unconventional methods, Cash and other Rays coaches embrace it, with understandable assistance from the team’s front office and analytics department.

The organization’s philosophy as a whole facilitates free-thinking and considers all sorts of out-of-the-box ideas in trying to eke out games in any way fathomable against richer teams with pockets three or four times as great.The Rays $28.6 million payroll pales in comparison to the Dodgers’ $105.5 million, for instance.

Cash described the Rays’ approach this way: “We think what we’re doing is maximizing a roster and doing everything we can to make the best decisions and put the players in the right spot to succeed, and ultimately win as many games as possible.”

Such a collaborative working environment allowed Cash to grow and thrive when he became the game’s youngest manager back in December 2014.

“Well, personally for me, it’s helped me immensely, for somebody that had never managed six years ago, to be able to make some mistakes and learn from them. Try some things that people would use the word ‘different’ and it be OK and accepted, it’s been hugely beneficial,” said Cash.“We’ve listened to everybody, we’ve learned from everybody, and everybody’s opinions are valued here, and that’s how we think we can come up with what we think is the best decision on a given year, a given season, a given game, whatever it is, so it’s a pretty great situation to be a part of.”

FILE

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash is the first person to have played in the Little League Baseball World Series and manage a team to Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Fall Classic. The Lutz native was a 12-year-old second baseman on the 1989 Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.

COURTESY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS

Tampa Bay Rays’ Kevin Cash was an AllState baseball player at Gaither High School. He graduated in 1997.

LUTZ ROOTS Besides leading the Rays to baseball’s promised land, Cash enjoyed a spirited playing career beyond his Little League days and growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood across from Lake Park, along North Dale Mabry Highway.

He recalled those early roots back in a 2016 interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

“I remember when my parents moved to the neighborhood in Lutz, it was like a one street cul-de-sac, and there were boys everywhere,” Cash said.“We had pickup football games, pickup basketball, baseball games every day. It was just a pretty cool neighborhood to grow up in, because there were so many kids our age that we could go out there and have a complete game with.”

Cash would later star at Gaither High School and Florida State University before enjoying an eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher, spending time on the then-Devil Rays (in 2005), along with the Blue Jays, Yankees,Astros and Boston Red Sox, respectively.

Once his playing career ended, Cash be-

came a bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians, working under manager Terry Francona from 2013-2014, until landing the Tampa Bay gig.

Cash’s knack for getting the best out of his team was a learning process as he ascended through the sport’s ranks.

“I was really fortunate to be around a lot of good coaches, managers, just baseball people, teammates, and watched how people went about it different ways, and not every way works for individuals, and not every player responds to one way.

“I think Terry Francona was probably the biggest influence, in the way that he came to the ballpark, in watching the way he treated players one through 25 on the roster,” Cash explained.

As for the significance of delivering a baseball championship to the region where he was born and raised, it’s a question Cash hasn’t yet given much reflection.

“You know what, I’ve briefly thought about that, but I’m trying to avoid it,” Cash said.“You want to bring it back to the club that you work for. If you add another layer to it, it was similar to getting the job six years ago, but this is now more magnified than being a guy that was born and raised in the Bay Area. I think any city, I would appreciate it, any team in this position would appreciate it, (but) it just might make it a little sweeter if we’re able to do some special things here in Texas.”

Visit MLB.com for a full broadcast schedule and results of the 2020 World Series.

COURTESY OF ACADEMY AT THE LAKES

Twice All-American COURTESY OF CARROLLWOOD DAY SCHOOL ATHLETICS

1,000 digs and counting Carrollwood Day School junior libero Jessie Golden last month surpassed the 1,000 career dig mark, in a regular season game against Wharton High School. The 5-foot-6 team captain has been playing varsity volleyball with the Patriots since the eighth grade. In addition to 300-plus digs and counting this year, Golden registered 360 digs as a sophomore, 190 as a freshman and 246 as an eighth grader, respectively.

COURTESY OF SUNLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Conference champs

The Sunlake High varsity cross-country program swept the Oct. 10 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Championship East meet, claiming top team finishes and individual champions in both the boys and girls 5K races. The Seahawks girls tallied a perfect 15 points (school’s top five runners place one through five), paced by top individual finisher senior Shannon Gordy (21:16.40), while the boys registered 21 points behind race champion, junior Colby Robbins (16:27.40). Sunlake en route defeated six other East Pasco County high schools, including Wiregrass Ranch, Land O’ Lakes, Cypress Creek, Zephyrhills, Pasco and Wesley Chapel. The meet was hosted by Wesley Chapel High.

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Academy at the Lakes senior McKenna Smith was recently named to the 2019-2020 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) High School AllAmerican team, for her marks in the 50 and 100 girls freestyle events. Her 50 free (23.05 seconds) ranks 32nd best in the nation, while her 100 free (50.11) is tied for 34th best nationwide. It marks the second consecutive year that Smith’s been selected to the All-American list. Last November, Smith earned bronze medals in both events at the Class 1A Florida High School Athletic Association state swimming and diving championships in Stuart.

The LAKER / Lutz NEWS INSIDE: Directories, Classifieds, Games & More

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O C TO B E R 2 8 , 2 0 2 0

COURTESY OF MADONNA JERVIS WISE

The Edwinola opened in 1912, in Dade City. But, before it opened, the original owner fell out of a third-story window and died. Stories circulate about phantoms being seen and murmuring voices being heard there.

A book of supernatural stories, local history

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

W

hen Madonna Jervis Wise was considering the opportunity to do a book venturing into the realm of the unknown, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to pursue it.

After all, she’d spent much of her life meticulously researching the history of the people and places in Pasco County, and she didn’t want to take any chances of damaging her credibility.

But the more she thought about it, the more intriguing it became.

So, in true Madonna Jervis Wise fashion, she soon was immersed in the hunt for ghost tales and other unexplained phenomena in Pasco County.

She used social media tools to solicit stories.

Wise said she had no idea she’d get the response that she did — adding, apparently there’s a huge following for these kinds of stories.

“Folks would call me up and say, ‘I heard this story. I wanted to tell you about it,’”Wise said.

Her book, “A Haunted History of Pasco County,” shares the tales, while not attempting to be a final authority on the veracity of the claims. She also mixes in stories about Pasco County’s history along the way — drawing from a vast storehouse of knowledge she’s built up through decades of research.

As a result, there are stories involving widely known community landmarks, as well as accounts of odd and unusual characters and events.

Wise said she used her discretion to exclude stories that seemed to be a bit too outlandish, but based on some of the stories that did make the cut, those must have been doozies.

She describes the story of Georg Karl Tanzel as “the creepiest story in the book.” So, we’ll start with an excerpt of that story, and share excerpts of other stories, too.

THE MACABRE ‘SLEEPING BEAUTY’ IN ZEPHYRHILLS Georg Karl Tanzler, a native of Germany and a medic in World War I, was living in Zephyrhills when he became obsessed with 17-year-old Elena Hoyos Mesa. After her death — he abducted her body from a private mausoleum he had funded — and meticulously reconstructed it, and experimented further with radiation in attempts to revive her.

“He serenaded her Georg Karl Tanzler every morning with melodious organ music (on a pipe organ he built himself) and dressed her in bridal finery,

jewels and daily fresh flowers.

“When police, with the help of Elena’s sister, Florinda Medina, found the corpse in 1940, it was a doll-like configuration of papiermache, wax, cheesecloth, piano wire, chemicals and glass eyes.

“In the yard was a portion of a strange, dilapidated airplane fuselage that was labeled in his photo albums as ‘Elena’s air ship to heaven.’”

When the body was discovered, it attracted international coverage, with Tanzler reveling in the publicity.

It was one of the “darkest and most macabre chapters in Zephyrhills’ history,”Wise writes.

This is one of the sculptures at a place called ‘Enchantment,’ at the home of Lewis Van Dercar, who had hundreds of statues and sculptures in his yard. Besides being an artist, he was a self-proclaimed warlock and had Halloween parties that attracted thousands of people.

If you go Blue Moon at the Museum

THE DEMISE OF 109 Maj. Francis Longhorne Dade and his troops camped along Fort King Road on Dec. 25, 1835, near the site of the current-day Pasco High School.

It’s said that Dade had a dream that turned out to be a premonition.

During his dream, he confided to another: “He had seen images of deceased comrades from the War of 1812 marching hypnotically in front of him.”

Just three days later, on Dec. 28, Dade and his 108 soldiers were killed in an attack by the Seminole Indians, who waited in the palmettos near current-day Bushnell.

“The fatalistic ambush, later labeled the Dade Massacre, set off the Second Seminole War.” The hillside where Major Dade camped is still linked to much mystery.

HISTORIC PASCO COUNTY COURTHOUSE The ghostly form of Grace Maud Karney Evans has been glimpsed, or perhaps imagined, in the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, in downtown Dade City.

Evans was sentenced for a life term on Oct. 4, 1935, to be served at the Florida State Farm, in Raiford, for murder in the first degree, with recommendation of mercy.

“She had chosen to survive in the midst of unthinkable abuse from two men, in an era when women were to be seen and not heard,” Wise writes.

Evans was paroled in 1947, granted a full pardon in 1965, and lived a long and productive life, before passing away at age 96.

Since her death, in 1973, there have been reports of a faint illusion of a creature carrying the scales of justice — who could be any number of ghostly tenants — sporadically descending the staircase in the historic 1909 structure.

A HISTORIC AND GHOSTLY HOTEL? The Edwinola, once one of Dade City’s most genteel hotels, also is said to have ghosts.

The original developer and owner, Seymour H. Gerrowe, was killed there, in 1911, after falling from a third-story window.

After his death, his widow sold the unfinished

IT DOESN’T MAAT ATTER

In her book, ‘A Haunted History of Pasco County,’ Madonna Jervis Wise delves into some of the unexplained stories in Pasco County’s past.

hotel to Gerrowe’s brother-in-law, Edwin, and his wife, Lola Gasque.They completed it, and named it Edwinola, by combining their first names.

Gerrowe is believed to be an occasional phantom there.

There have been reports of soft murmurs coming from empty rooms and the faint smell of cigar smoke from former dining areas.

Some also have reported the apparition of a female ghost, which quickly vanishes, as well as other mysterious sightings.

NOT HAUNTED, BUT PART OF PASCO’S HISTORY Besides the unexplained stories in Pasco County’s past, this book also includes some stories that are simply unusual.

For instance, Pasco County was the film location for “Edward Scissorhands,” a film directed by Tim Burton.

The Carpenter Runs neighborhood of pastel-colored homes, in Lutz, is one memorable part of the movie, but another setting, off County Road 41, outside of Dade City, is visually interesting, too.That was the setting for the film’s castle, complete with topiaries. The 1990 film featured actors Vincent Price, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest and Alan Arkin, among others.

LEWIS VAN DERCAR’S ‘ENCHANTMENT’ Lewis Van Dercar — the self-proclaimed warlock and prince of the Order of Magi — was known to welcome up to 3,000 people from across the country to his annual Halloween festivities at his Wesley Chapel hideaway that he called Enchantment.

The artist and sculptor, who came to the area from Miami, filled his forest with artworks, including gargoyles, statues and

WHAT: The event will include the book launch of “A Haunted History of Pasco County” by Madonna Jervis Wise, including book contributors sharing local, chilling tales. There will be lantern tours of the museum buildings; live music; a food truck; shortbread and hot cider; and drawings for door prizes.

WHERE: The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City WHEN: Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

COST: $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for students; free for kids under age 5.

INFO: Visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

The castle depicted in the movie ‘Edward Scissorhands’ was built on a site east of Dade City.

other sculptures.

Folks “remembered the advertisement he posted in 1961 to sell his poltergeist. He explained that he had purchased a new table for his study which had been used in a stage play, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and discovered it was possessed by a female poltergeist. He said he tolerated the poltergeist until she started leaving marks on his paintings, which he wouldn’t have minded, if she could paint,” according to Wise’s account.

A MURDER THAT TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN There’s also the story of a graphic murder of a nun at St. Edwards Hall, on the campus of what is now Saint Leo University. It turns out that story was concocted by local attorney Bill Dayton and a friend, as a Halloween prank, when they were students in the class of 1962.

The story is still making the rounds.

“A Haunted History of Pasco County,” published by Haunted America, sells for $21.99.

For more information, contact madonnajwise@gmail.com.

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has uncovered a transnational wildlife trafficking operation in Florida, according to a release.

Earlier this year, the FWC made its first arrests in a series, which now totals seven suspects and 25 felony charges with additional arrests forthcoming. The group of suspects have been charged with racketeering, money laundering, scheming to defraud and other organized criminal laws involving an elaborate organized enterprise to smuggle Florida’s wildlife to interstate and international buyers.

Flying squirrels, a protected wild animal in Florida, are sold internationally in the pet trade.

Following a complaint from a concerned citizen, FWC investigators pieced together a scheme in which flying squirrels were illegally captured by poachers in multiple counties throughout central Florida.The squirrels were then sold to a wildlife dealer in Bushnell and laundered through the licensed business of the dealer.

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In addition, the FWC investigators learned the suspects were dealing in multiple species of poached animals. Protected freshwater turtles and alligators were illegally taken and laundered through other seemingly legitimate licensed businesses.

“Wildlife conservation laws protect Florida’s precious natural resources from abuse.The concerned citizen who initially reported this activity started an investigation that uncovered a major smuggling operation.These poachers could have severely damaged Florida’s wildlife populations,” Maj. Grant Burton, FWC Investigation’s section leader, said in the release.

The public can report any suspected violations to the FWC by calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922, or texting Tip@MyFWC.com.

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November 3, 2020 November Be Election Ready Be

A few quick reminders: Éť Polling locations are open from 7a.m. to 7 p.m. You must

be in line by 7 p.m. Éť Know your polling location. It is unlawful to vote in a

precinct in which you do not reside. Éť Review your sample ballot and take it with you to the polls.

The ballot is lengthy with constitutional amendments. Éť Save time by updating your address on-line prior to Election Day or before going to the polls. Éť Take your photo and signature ID when voting or you will be required to vote a provisional ballot.

Vote-by-Mail Ballots on Election Day:

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$0 monthly premium $0 primary care physician visi sits $0 specialist visits $0 medical and $0 pharmacy deductibles â&#x20AC;˘ Dental services with a $2,000 allowance, go to the licensed dentist off your choice* â&#x20AC;˘ Fitness program, hearing and vision services

Éť Vote-by-mail ballots must be in one of the three electionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

RIĂ&#x20AC;FHV E\ S P (OHFWLRQ 'D\ Éť Vote-by-mail ballots may not be dropped off at the polling locations on Election Day. Éť If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot and are now voting in-person on Election Day, take your ballot with you and surrender it at the polls.

Get your free Medicare Advantage Guide today y..

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no obligation. Visit GetCignaMedicare.com or call 1-855-263-0989 (TTY 711).

COVID-19 and Election Day: Éť Voters should expect longer lines and wait times due to

high voter turnout and CDC-recommended precautions such as social distancing, limiting the number of voters in the polling room, and continuous cleaning of equipment and surfaces. Éť The use of masks is strongly encouraged for your safety and in keeping with the county directive and as a courtesy for the safety of the pollworkers. Éť Due to the pandemic it was necessary to relocate a few polling locations. If your polling location was affected you ZHUH VHQW QRWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ For more information on these reminders visit www.PascoVotes.gov

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All Cigna products and ser vices are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Proper ty, Inc. Cigna complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Cigna cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no dicrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. *Y Yoou can use any licensed dental provider who is eligible under Medicare. English: ATTENTION: If yyou speak AT p Engglish, language g g assistance ser vices, free of chargge, are available to you. Call 1- 888 -284- 0268 (TT Y 711). Spanish: A AT TENCIĂ&#x201C;N: Si habla espaĂąol, tiene a su disposiciĂłn ser vicios gratuitos de asistencia lingßística. Llame al 1- 888 -284- 0268 (TT Y 711). Chinese: 注ć&#x201E;?ďź&#x161;ĺŚ&#x201A;ć&#x17E;&#x153;ć&#x201A;¨ä˝żç&#x201D;¨çš éŤ&#x201D;中ć&#x2013;&#x2021;ďź&#x152;ć&#x201A;¨ĺ?ŻäťĽĺ&#x2026;?貝 ç?˛ĺž&#x2014;čŞ&#x17E;č¨&#x20AC;ć?´ĺ&#x160;Šć&#x153;?ĺ&#x2039;&#x2122;ă&#x20AC;&#x201A;čŤ&#x2039;č&#x2021;´é&#x203A;ť 1- 888 -284- 0268 (TT Y 711). Y Yoou must reside in the plan ser vice area. Cigna is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and PPO plans in select states es, and with select State Medicaid pro grams rams. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. Free guide without the obligation to enroll. Š 2020 Cigna 95109 0 Y0036_ 21_ 87072_ M

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www.LakerLutzNews.com

October 28, 2020

3B

Health

for Gulfside Hospice.

Tickets are $10 per person and include a door prize entry.

All proceeds will help to provide patient care and bereavement support in Pasco County through Gulfside Hospice.

For information and tickets, visit GulfsideHeroes.org, or contact Leesa Fryer at (727) 845-5707 or leesa.fryer@gulfside.org.

&

Wellness Send health news to news@lakerlutznews.com

SOLUTIONS FOR HOPE

Sunrise Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center in Pasco County will host a Solutions for Hope Day 2020, to celebrate Solutions Thrift Store’s success in supporting survivors, on Oct. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Sales and donations from the store support the agency that provides free services to survivors and necessities, such as clothing for adults/children, furniture and home goods, so they can liv independently from abuse.

The event will honor current and future customers and donors, and will take place at Solutions Thrift, 35535 State Road 52 in Dade City.There will be door prizes, giveaways and sales.

For information, call (352) 521-3000.

VIRTUAL PARTY BENEFIT

Gulfside Hospice will host a “Be a Hero” Virtual Halloween Party benefit on Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m., through Zoom.

The hour-long event will include a virtual costume contest, trivia, prizes and entertainment, and an opportunity to become a hero The Laker/Lutz News likes to keep our readers informed about available classes, seminars, lectures and events regarding health and wellness issues. Hospitals, doctors, individual practitioners and anyone related to the health care industry can submit information, at least two weeks in advance, to be considered for publication. Photos of events, recognitions and so on, also are welcome. Submissions should include who, what, where, when, cost, contact information, identifications for individuals in a photo (unless it is a large group), and a photo credit. This information should be emailed to news@lakerlutznews.com.

STROKE CENTER CERTIFICATION

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has received certification from DNV – GL Healthcare as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, recognizing the highest level of competence for treatment of serious stroke events.

Safety tips for trick or treating The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these steps to take when trick or treating: • Avoid direct contact with trick-ortreaters, and keep your distance. Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you. Indoors and outdoors, it is more likely someone can get or spread COVID-19 when in close contact with others for a long time.

• Give out treats outdoors, if possible.

• Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.

• Wash hands before handling treats.

Bring hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) with you and use it after touching objects or people. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.

• Wear a mask: Make your cloth mask part of your costume. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask. Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask, as it can make breathing more difficult.

Masks should not be worn by children under the age of 2 or by anyone who has difficulty breathing.

For more information, please visit CDC.gov/coronavirus.

The certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, and affirms that the medical center addresses the full spectrum of stroke care — diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education — and that the center establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.

MEDICAL STAFF ANNOUNCED

Advanced Cancer Treatment Centers, opening soon at 15211 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, has announced its medical staff: • Radiation oncologists: Dr. Clayton Elliott Alonso and Dr. Peter Zavitsanos • Hematologists and medical oncologists: Dr.Aaron Denson and Dr. D.Alan Kerr II • Nurse practitioners: Amy Morgan and Elizabeth Morgan The 21,000-square-foot facility will include an infusion room, medical oncology, examination rooms, radiation oncology exam rooms, treatment vault, in-house full laboratory, and the latest in radiation oncology treatment systems and diagnostic equipment, including CT scan and mobile PET. For information, call Toni Martin at (352) 616-0698 or tmartin@ahcpllc.com.

SAFETY UPGRADE FOR AMBULANCES

AdventHealth has deployed expanded use of Aeroclave in all of its ambulances and has acquired 10 units of the disinfecting system.

Aeroclave is an aerosol disinfectant that creates a fine, dry mist that covers the entire inside of the ambulance, providing decontamination for COVID-19 and other viruses, after each patients is transported to a facility.

AdventHealth West Florida Division ambulances are able to be disinfected and returned to service in less than 30 minutes.

Aeroclave reduces staff and patient exposure to viruses, such as COVID-19, and provides a faster turnaround process, which doesn’t delay patient care.

MEDICARE SESSIONS

Learn about BayCarePlus Medicare Advantage during “Safe and Smart Small Group Meetings,” limited to 10 attendees.

Social distancing and masks will be required.

Participants can learn about the new BayCarePlus Signature plan for 2021.

COURTESY OF PATRICIA SERIO

Embracing the needs of survivors

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club donated enough supplies to make two deliveries to the Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic Violence Shelter, for the benefit of the women and children residents. October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and the woman’s club has long-supported this shelter. Included in the donations were personal and hygiene goods, children’s items, snacks and treats, sanitizers, club-made face masks for the kids, a check for $200, and a requested high chair. From left: Sabrina Scott, a shelter staff member and Nancy Swanton stand alongside the donations. For more information on the club, please visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

• Nov. 5 at noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m.: Fairfield Inn & Suites, 2650 Lajuana Blvd., Wiregrass Room,Wesley Chapel • Nov. 20 at noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m.: Spring Hill Suites, 16615 Bexley Village Drive, Denham-Drexel Room, Land O’ Lakes Also, online webinars are scheduled for Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. and noon.

For a free information kit, call (866) 5087148.

For more information, please visit BayCarePlusQuestions.org.

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What’s Cookin’ Does an apple a day keep the doctor at bay?

Apple Pie

By Shari Bresin Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Stories involving apples abound.

Some say it was the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

An apple purportedly fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head, inspiring him to discover the properties of gravity.

And, did you know the apple is often associated with fertility, peace and love?

In one superstition, a girl cuts a long single apple peel and drops it to the floor.

Whatever letter the peel looks like is said to be the initial of her future spouse.

There also is a story from ancient Roman times involving apple seeds. According to that tale, a person would toss apple seeds into a fire, while saying the name of his or her heart’s desire. If the seeds popped loudly, the love would be returned; if the seeds silently burned, it would not.

Apples also have been given as traditional gifts, and it is widely known that teachers receive apples from appreciative students.

Ever wonder how New York got its nickname as ‘The Big Apple?’ Well, it turns out that happened because big apples were given as prizes at New York horse racing events in the 1920s, or so the story goes.

The apple also is often used symbolically in logo designs and business branding, including for one of today’s largest technology companies.

You may already be familiar with some of these stories involving apples, but did you know that fruit has an entire month devoted to it? That’s October.

And, there’s a National Apple Day, too.

That’s Oct. 21.

So, is the old adage true. Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

After all, that’s what it said in an 1866 Wales publication.

As in many things in life, it may not be entirely true, but it’s not altogether false, either.

Keeping the doctor at bay requires lots of healthy choices and a variety of foods. But, eating two to four servings of fruits and vegetables daily is recommended, and after all, an apple is a fruit.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to enjoy apples.

Nobody N beats a s soNNy’s deal!

Crust ingredients 2 cups non-rising flour 3 to 4 Tablespoons of cold orange juice Pinch of salt ⅓ - ½ cup of solid Crisco shortening About 3 to 4 Tablespoons of water (don’t want it runny) Crust ingredients 5 to 6 apples, Granny Smith works best 1 cup sugar 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon Small pat of butter Pinch of salt Pinch of flour Directions: Put the flour, orange juice, water, salt and shortening into a bowl.

Use a pastry blender to mix ingredients to create a dough, and avoid touching with hands.

Once mixed, split dough in half (one for bottom crust and one for top).

Put each dough between two pieces of wax paper and roll it out using a rolling pin, about the size of the pie pan.

Carefully remove wax paper and put bottom half in pie pan.

Peel and cut apples into small pieces (or slice if you prefer).

Marinade the cut apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, salt, and flour in a bowl for as many minutes as you’d like. This is optional, but makes the pie juicier.

Place in bottom crust and then place top crust over it. Add a couple of small holes in the top crust so steam can escape.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Alisa Boderick, Extension intern

There are more than 7,000 varieties of the fruit, according to The Farmer’s Almanac.

They offer wide a variety of color, taste and texture — pleasing to many palettes.

Some apples are sweet; some, tart. Some are super juicy and others, not so much.

They can also be eaten whole, dried, baked, sauced, and converted into juice or cider.

Alisa Boderick, Pasco County Extension intern, contributed to this column.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

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October 28, 2020

5B

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6B

DRIVEWAY & SIDEWALKS

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Classifieds 813-909-2800 • classifieds@lakerlutznews.com GARAGE / YARD SALES

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intend to register the name with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco County, Florida.

Also buying CD’s

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3428 Bohannon Rd., Zephyrhills

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REALTY SERVICE

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Follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/thelakerlutznews

OTE

N NOVEMBER 3rd

FOR STA TA AT TE REPRESENTA TA AT T TIVE , DISTRICT T 38

The Right g V Voi oiice e for Pasco’s F Future PROVEN LEA ADE ER

JOB CREA AT TOR R

STRONG PASCO S O ROOT TS

E ND O R S E D BY Y LEAD DERS S WE TRU UST

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco

Senator Wiltton Simpson

Tax Collector Ta Mike Fasano

Superintendent Kurt Browning

Formerr Speaker p dC Richard Corcoran

SEE A FULL LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS SA AT T RAND DYMAGGARD.CO OM @RandyMaggardFL

@RandyMaggard_FL

www.RanndyMaggardd.cooom

Team@RandyMaggard.com

Political advertisement paid for and app proved by Randy Maggard, Republican, for State Representative R e Disstrict 38.

www.LakerLutzNews.com

October 28, 2020

7B

PICK PICK OF OF THE THE PATCH PA PA AT T CH Pumpkin Pumpkin Decorating Decorating Contest Co nt e s t

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: OCTOBER 28TH

Carve, paint or decorate a pu umpkin for your chance to WIN A PRIZE PACK* to Main Event in Wesley Cha apel.

We’ll have two winnerrs: FAN FAVORITE and COMPANY Y CHOICE To enter, sub b i your pumpkin bmit kin photo to kcarmack@lak kerlutznews.com or o scan the QR code to t fill out the entrry form. *Each Main Event Prize Paack includes: 1 Family of Four ALL ACCESS

wristbands with bowlin ng (shoes included), laser tag, gravity $125 Value ropes, billiards AND a 30 3 min game card for the arccade! for EACH Must be a local resident inn either Land O’ Lakes, Winner L t Odessa, Lutz, Od Wesley l Ch Chapel,l San S Antonio A t i , Zeph Z hyrhills hill or D Dade City

The LAKER / Lutz NEWS

8B

October 28, 2020

www.LakerLutzNews.com