CDDs Seek Irrigation Expert’s Advice; Estates Road Paving Delayed

The Feb. 2 meeting of Westchase’s two Community Development Districts (CDDs) hosted another presentation by a company that markets irrigation control systems. Representatives of the Toro brand, whose PowerPoint display prompted a sense of déjà vu, echoed bragging points made by a competitor in January. Thus far, the lengthy presentations have failed to clarify any significant distinction among available systems or the costs for installing them. While CDD Chair Mark Ragusa called for another presentation by third provider of irrigation systems in March, supervisors, still unsure whether the districts’ system needs a complete overhaul or just significant repairs, also elected to ask their management company to find a skilled, unbiased irrigation expert to advise them. Continues...

Home Burglars Target Westchase

When his father stepped out to Subway at lunchtime on Monday, Jan. 25, a 15-year-old Brentford teen remained at home. When a young man in his 20s began ringing the doorbell, Slader Pich did what his parents always instructed. He didn’t go to the door. Yet when two men broke into the home after five minutes of ringing, Slader’s wits likely saved him from harm.

Four days later, the cries of a Kingsford family’s baby likely frightened off burglars attempting to gain entry into a home through its sliding glass doors. With the sudden uptick in attempted and actual burglaries, Westchasers are advised to report all solicitors appearing in the community, in particular men and vehicles matching the following descriptions. Continues.... 

The Amazing Race Comes to Westchase

Celebrate. Remember. Fight back.

In May 2009 Fords resident Debbie Steinfeld, her son, Brett, 11, and daughter, Rachel, 7, joined The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. As part of Westchase Elementary School’s team, the family walked to raise funds and honor friends who battled cancer and family members who had lost their lives to it. Little did they know that Debbie’s own father would be stricken with cancer just months later. The experience didn’t weaken the Steinfelds’ resolve. It strengthened it.

Now Brett Steinfeld, for his Bar Mitzvah project, is aiming to bring a new weapon into his family’s personal battle against cancer: outrageous fun. The young man, a fan of competitive races and puzzles, is bringing The Amazing Race to Westchase.

Five short months ago, his grandfather, Jack Orkin, seemed healthy and strong. Brett would have loved nothing more than to share his April Bar Mitzvah with his Grandpa Jack, but sadly, Jack Orkin lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Jan. 15.
 
This year, the Steinfelds aren’t just walking in the relay. They’re racing. Debbie is acting as chair for The Relay For Life of Westchase, which will be held in May. Son Brett has developed an ambitious Bar Mitzvah community service project, The Amazing Race For Life, which will be held Sunday, Feb. 21. Together, the events aim to raise $35,000 to aid The American Cancer Society.
 
Brett’s project, based on the popular reality television show, grew out of his passion for finding a cure combined with his family’s love of the program. “It is the one show that the four of us as a family watch together, religiously,” says Debbie.

Brett adds, “I love the clues and trying to figure out where to go next.”
 
The event will allow local families to experience all of the adrenaline and challenges of The Amazing Race. All proceeds raised through team registration fees will go towards Brett’s team goal for this year’s American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Westchase.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, teams will begin The Amazing Race For Life at the Westchase Recreation Center. The event is designed with families in mind. Teams can include up to six people, with a maximum of two adults per team. Each team will be given all their clues at once and has three hours to travel by either foot or bike to complete the physical tasks and/or mental challenges at various locations and businesses. For each challenge, teams will earn points. The team that garners the most points and returns by the designated finish time wins.

“The Amazing Race For Life is going to be a great adventure for all who participate,” promises Debbie.
 
To make the race as authentic as possible, the Steinfeld family turned to Tom Brennan, who is both the mastermind behind the WOW’s monthly letterbox contest and a huge enthusiast of The Amazing Race. Brennan, a resident of The Bridges, has applied to be a participant on the show six times. While he realizes that not everyone shares his desire to parachute out of a plane or hang glide off a cliff, there are elements of the production that he hopes to recreate in The Amazing Race For Life. He explains, “The goal is for everyone to enjoy the race and, more important, enjoy each other. Sometimes teammates are amazed by seeing a fellow teammate complete or do something they never thought that teammate could do.”

But Brennan doesn’t want to scare possible participants away. “The challenges won’t necessarily be hard to complete,” he says, “but it may just bring family and friends and bit closer as they work together to solve clues and puzzles. In addition, they will be raising money for a great cause.”
 
Debbie hopes that The Amazing Race For Life will help spread the word about the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Westchase in May. She says she hopes the race will help them meet their goal of having at least 30 teams in the relay on May 21-22.
 
Articulating her zeal for the May relay, she explains, “Westchase is an untapped community full of resources and people who have surely been touched with cancer. The Relay For Life is a great way to bring the community together, raise money for a good cause, have an amazing time together and fight back!”

Debbie is quick to describe the fun event. “The event itself is an overnight walk, where teams comprised of eight to 20 people take turns walking the track. Each team must be represented by at least one team member throughout the night. Cancer never sleeps, so neither do we.”

Of her first Relay for Life, Debbie Steinfeld recalls, “It was my first relay and really didn't know much about it or what I had gotten myself into. But I had such a great time. We all had the time of our lives! It was such an amazing, inspirational event.”

She adds, “Throughout the night there is so much going on: food and drink booths, games, contests, DJs, dancing, poker tournaments and face painting. We are hoping that each neighborhood in Westchase forms a team. The kids can come too and they love it. Who doesn't love camping in your own backyard and staying up all night?”
 
She invites those who cannot participate on a team to come enjoy the festivities as a spectator or to consider making a donation on their Web site: www.relayforlife.org/westchasefl.
 
Karina Footman, the Community Representative for the Greater Tampa Unit of The American Cancer Society, hopes that Debbie Steinfeld’s story, both as someone who experienced the Relay For Life as a life-changing event and as a cancer survivor, will rally the Westchase community to participate at unprecedented levels.
 
Footman urges Westchase friends, relatives, local businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based organizations, and service clubs to start organizing teams right away. “Relay For Life is a true community event where people of all ages and from all walks of life come together for a common cause,” says Footman. “The money raised during Relay For Life directly supports research, education, advocacy and service in local communities.”
 
Footman recognizes the magnitude of the dedication that the Steinfelds have shown in the battle to conquer cancer. “The Steinfeld family has been affected by this disease in so many ways,” she says. “Their commitment to fighting back and finding a cure through Relay For Life is invaluable to the American Cancer Society. Their unique and out-of-the-box fundraising efforts are a perfect example of uniting a community for a great cause. Because of their unconditional support and commitment, we are so much closer to finding a cure!”

For more information about having your family participate in Feb. 21’s Amazing Race for Life, see WOW’s inserts, which contains a registration form for the fun, Westchase event.

By Alicia McMillan; Photos by James Broome Photography