The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Serving meals to children in need

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Efforts are ongoing to keep children fed during this time of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

As school district officials know, for many children their school meals are their only reliable source of food.

So, both the Pasco and Hillsborough County school districts have set up meal distribution sites and have been providing meals to students ages 18 and under.

At the Pasco County School Board’s April 21 audio meeting, Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent of support services, provided this update.

“Today (April 21) was our fifth week in meal service, since schools closed,” she said.

During the week of March 23, the district served approximately 5,500 students per day, with prepackaged meals at its original feeding sites.

On March 31, it began distributing prepackaged meals once a week, with each student receiving five breakfasts and five lunches for the week. That week, it served 80,680 meals to over 8,000 students at 27 sites and 16 bus stops.

On April 21, it served 143,000 meals to 14,300 students, which was slightly less than the week before.

All in all, the district has served more than 536,200 meals since the school closure began, Kuhn said. The district has received some donations, to add to its prepackaged foods, she said, noting it has received fresh corn and cucumbers.

She also noted that Connerton Elementary was scheduled to be added on April 28, as one of the district’s distribution sites.

“We have had a huge demand in the Central Area,” Kuhn said, noting that 1,400 students were served on April 21 at Pine View Elementary.

The Pasco distribution program will cease on May 19, but is set to begin again on June 2, with some modifications.

In other news, Pasco Schools Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd said the district will be joining

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, State Rep. Ardian Zika and State Sen. President Wilton Simpson to initiate a food drive.

“Even though we’ve been very successful at feeding our students, we remain concerned that as summer approaches, it’s going to become more difficult,” Gadd said.

He noted that Fasano is donating a substantial amount of food.

He also said “we’ve also reached out to some not-for-profits around the state that are shipping fresh produce throughout the state, and we’re trying to make connections with them, and we’re very optimistic that that’s going to occur.”

School board members Allen Altman and Cynthia Armstrong expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts.

“I think it’s never been more evident that our schools are much more than education opportunities. What this system, what our employees and community support have done to support families in the last month, is nothing short of amazing,” Altman said.

He also noted that he hopes when the pandemic passes, “people will remember how much the public school system contributed to the community.”

Armstrong said it has been heartwarming to see the gratitude expressed by people receiving the food.

“Seeing the handmade thank you signs that the students have made and they hold up in the windows, really makes you appreciate what we’re able to do for our students’ families,” Armstrong said.

Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, on April 15, the district began distributing food one day per week—with students receiving one week of food at a time.

“Due to new CDC guidelines and a statewide stay-at-home order, our district wants to minimize contact between Student Nutrition Services workers and our families. We believe one-day-a-week food distribution will be safer for the community as a whole,” the website says.

“Families will be able to pick up a week’s worth of nutritious meals every Wednesday at the same 147 sites, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will include one pound of lunch meat, a loaf of bread, milk, juice and nutritious snacks.

“Students will receive enough food for each school day. Buses also will be transporting foods into specific neighborhoods for pick up every Wednesday.

Each student will receive a bag of food that needs to be refrigerated, and one that can stay at room temperature.

“It’s important to note that these food bags will weigh over 10 pounds together. If you are walking up or riding a bike to a Grab-and-Go site, please have your child bring their empty backpack to provide a simple way to transport the food,” the website says.

For a list of frequently asked questions, visit HillsboroughSchools.org.

Feeding  sites
Additional sites have been added to Pasco County Schools’ drive-thru feeding sites. Here is the current list of active sites within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. The sites are open Tuesdays only, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bags of food include breakfast and lunch for five days, for each student.

The sites are:

  • Chester W. Taylor Elementary
  • Connerton Elementary
  • New River Elementary
  • Pasco High School
  • Pasco Middle School
  • Pine View Elementary
  • Quail Hollow Elementary
  • Rodney B. Cox Elementary
  • San Antonio Elementary
  • West Zephyrhills Elementary
  • Zephyrhills High School

Published April 29, 2020

Staying positive during a pandemic

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It’s no secret that impacts from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic pose significant challenges.

“What happened to normal? Normal is just gone, right? It’s just gone,” said Paula O’Neil, former clerk and comptroller for Pasco County, and now a private business consultant.

Paula O’Neil offered words of support and encouragement in a Zoom virtual meeting of WOW TOO, a women’s networking group that is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. (File)

O’Neil’s remarks came during a Zoom meeting of WOW TOO, a women’s networking group that is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

She reminded participants about Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs — identified as physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Before COVID-19, the women typically were acting at the self-actualization level of the hierarchy, O’Neil said.

“We’re good problem-solvers, we care about people. We care about our community. We look at the facts and we can make good decisions.

“Now, all of a sudden — the world has turned around,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said.

“With COVID-19, there’s a lot of fear of getting the disease. There’s a lot of fear with our economy.

“The biggest problem we have, I think, is uncertainty. Not knowing what’s next.

“The uncertainty — we’ve got to embrace it and see how we can help other people. Because really, you heal yourself by helping other people.

“So, what do we do now? How can we use this situation to help others?”

She reminded the virtual gathering:  “Not everybody has the problem-solving skills that you have.”

No doubt, it’s a challenging time.

“This has been a big shock, in income, obviously,” O’Neil said.

“How do we get people to trust us, to let them come to our business, and let them continue to get back to a normal life?” she asked.

O’Neil then cited the work of Elisabeth Kubler Ross, who defined the five stages of grief. Those stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

“We are grieving our normal lives. We’re grieving our normal economy. We’re grieving the stock market — when it was high. We’re grieving teachers that can teach our kids, so we don’t have to.

“We’re grieving our jobs. We’re grieving our co-workers. And, we’re grieving those people who are sick and have gone,” O’Neil said.

Initially, O’Neil said, people, including herself, thought: “That’s not going to happen here.”

There’s been anger, too.

“Are we angry that the governor didn’t close the beaches during Spring Break? Are we angry that the president didn’t do things quicker. Are we angry because we just lost our jobs? What are we angry about?” O’Neil asked.

People are asking: “What can we do to try to get back to some normalcy?”

There have been losses, and that’s taking a toll.

“There’s a lot of depression,” O’Neil said. She talked about a client who told O’Neil that suddenly she “would just burst into tears because all of a sudden, no one is coming in her store.

“These are serious things,” the business consultant said.

Eventually, there’s acceptance.

“I think it’s going to be easier for us, once the economy opens back up, our country opens back up,” O’Neil said.

In the meantime, she reminded the women: “There are a lot of blessings in this challenge and nobody can deny that.

“We have time.

“We have time to ride our bikes.

“We have time to play with our kids.

“We’re cooking more.

“We’re working differently and we’re socializing differently.

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

“It’s hard to do that, when you have so many things on your schedule. But, now that your schedule is blank, except for Zoom meetings, you can easily prioritize.

“What things were you doing that were not that important?” she asked.

“Now that you are spending more time with your family — maybe you limit some of those (less important) things, so you can continue to do that (in the future),” O’Neil said.

Published April 29, 2020

$2 million in grants aim to help Pasco businesses

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The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (Pasco EDC), received more than 1,400 applications, before cutting applications off, for a grant program aimed at providing $2 million in assistance to small businesses.

Pasco EDC partnered with Pasco County to provide this relief grant program for small businesses affected by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Penny for Pasco revenues will be used to provide the relief.

Besides creating a global medical crisis, COVID-19 has caused an economic meltdown, as businesses have been shuttered to prevent potential spread of the deadly virus.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, outlined the emergency business program during an April 21 virtual Pasco County Commission meeting.

Cronin explained the idea was to provide up to $5,000 grants to eligible small businesses — based on a first-come, first-served basis.

If every business received $5,000, that would provide grants for 400 businesses, Cronin said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano praised the grant program.

“To actually find out a way to help the small businesses, especially in this tough time, I think is phenomenal,” he said.

But, Mariano asked if smaller grants could be given. Some small businesses might not need the entire $5,000, and more could be helped if they don’t.

Cronin responded: “You do need to make sure that it’s able to make an impact. At $5,000, you can actually cover a rent payment or a mortgage payment, or at least something the landlord would be willing to take. Right now, we’ve identified there is $2 million to use for this fund.”

Commission Chairman Mike Moore agreed with Cronin that the grant should be large enough to make an impact.

Commissioner Ron Oakley observed: “Those 400 small businesses are going to go in a hurry, I think.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said: “I’m very grateful for this effort.”

The board approved the emergency grant program on April 21 and, by 6 p.m., on April 22 the Pasco EDC stopped accepting applications.

The applications are being vetted and applicants will be informed of their status soon, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

Businesses must meet a number of requirements and cannot have more than 25 employees.

The review committee includes bankers and county staff.

No county commissioners are part of the committee, Moore noted, during the board discussion of the grant program.

Published April 29, 2020

Impacts of pandemic being felt across Pasco

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As the death toll rises and the economic meltdown continues — communities and businesses across the country grapple with impacts of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Pasco County’s priorities have been to protect the health and well-being of its residents and to get the economy back on track, as quickly as possible when the pandemic passes, said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, in an email.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore said the county has been focusing its energies on keeping residents safe during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. It also is putting a high priority on getting the economy on track, once the pandemic passes. (File)

The county’s emergency management center has been working around the clock, and the county is in constant contact with local hospitals, and state and federal agencies, Moore said.

The county also has continued to order sample and test kits, as well as personal protection equipment for first responders and health care professionals, he added.

The county also has been proactive in identifying and securing locations for hospital overflow, should it be needed, Moore said, noting it has 38 standby locations.

And, Moore noted that he recently took part in a virtual town hall with representatives of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and the Florida SBDC, to provide information to businesses about resources where they can seek  help, as many struggle to survive.

Another town hall is planned April 30 at 2:30 p.m., to focus on the unique challenges being experienced by the special needs community. (This will be a Zoom conference, with audio availability. Details to come). Experts will share their knowledge of best practices.

Moore also noted that although some functions of government are closed to the public, others continue to function to provide services — such as public transportation and virtual inspections.

Library buildings are closed, but online services are being offered.

The pandemic has hurt the county’s economy, and thereby county revenues. It is now reevaluating several projects, Moore said, but he did not provide specifics.

He did say “our tourism department is taking a beating right now” because it relies on tourist development taxes to fund it.

Moore also thanked residents, noting the vast majority are staying home unless they need essentials, such as food or medicine, or need to go to essential places of work.

“I suggest wearing a face covering while at the store to protect others, as well as yourself,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Kathryn Starkey is encouraging residents and businesses to do what they can to help others during the pandemic.

During a recent ZOOM virtual meeting of WOW TOO, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also talked about the local impacts of COVID-19.

“I think we’re very fortunate in Pasco County that we don’t have the high densities that you’re seeing in South Florida and some of the counties to the south of us. Our percentage of positives is much lower, and I think people in Pasco County are doing a great job of social distancing,” Starkey told the women’s networking group, which is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“We tried to keep business open, as usual, in Pasco County,” she said.

“We were in the midst of transitioning some of our permitting to online; some of that won’t be done until the end of the month, unfortunately. A little bit of business, as far as development business, has come to a halt.”

Virtual inspections, however, are ongoing, she said.

“As far as our budget, we know that it’s taken a hit. Our sales tax has taken a hit,” she said. “We’re reanalyzing what our budget is going to look like for next year.

“We’ve got a little bit of a freeze on, as far as hiring,” she said, noting that the county wants to be sure that it is as efficient as possible.

“We hesitated at doing the Stay at Home, Safer at Home, because the Pasco County numbers were pretty darn good, and people were being, I think, mostly respectful of the 6-foot distance, and not congregating in big numbers,” Starkey said.

“We wanted our businesses to be able to stay in business as long as possible.

“We know that this is hurting a lot of people,” she said.

But, even with the governor’s Stay at Home order, there are some things that are open, Starkey noted.

For instance, people can use Starkey Wilderness Park. “You can walk and hike in the park,” she said, but you can’t drive there — you’ll need to find a place to park nearby.

There are also U-Pick farms open, where people can pick blueberries or peaches.

Starkey is encouraging county residents and businesses to do what they can to support local restaurants.

She puts out a daily newsletter to keep people posted on new developments regarding COVID-19. To sign up for the newsletter, email your request to .

Published April 22, 2020

Pandemic keeps students home from school

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Florida’s elementary and secondary campuses will not reopen this school year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on April 18.

Instead, students and teachers will continue with the distance learning model, which began in March. That approach began as a way to limit the potential spread of coronavirus disease-2019. (COVID-19).

The national death toll for the pandemic reached 37,202 as of April 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The economic meltdown has resulted in the loss of more than 22 million American jobs, according to national reports.

In explaining why he decided to close school campuses, DeSantis said “We spoke with a lot of folks throughout the state.

“There was some differing opinions. Some parents were not interested in their kids going back. Some others — it’s been tough around the house, they would have liked to have seen them go back,” the governor said, during a news conference that was carried live on WTSP 10 News.

“We’ve got pretty good momentum for distance learning. It’s obviously not the ideal situation, but given where we are in the school year, we felt that was the best decision to go forward,” he said.

DeSantis said he asked if there would be a huge academic benefit of reopening schools, but most people didn’t think so.

“I think the last thing you want to do is force everyone in school and have half the kids not show up, because the parents didn’t want (it) — their teachers didn’t want to do it.

“It was an easier decision for me to make, knowing that we’ve done so well with the distance learning,” DeSantis said.

In a YouTube video posted on the Pasco County Schools’ website, Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district’s campuses will remain closed, but that distance learning will continue through May 27.

Browning said he agreed with DeSantis regarding the closure of campuses.

“Due to the potential health and safety risks, I could not in good conscience direct our students, teachers and staff to return in this environment,” the superintendent said.

In regards to distance learning, Browning said: “Most of our teachers and students have made tremendous progress. They have acclimated to our new normal with creativity and energy.”

He acknowledged that the district continues “to work with a very small number of students who have not yet engaged.”

Browning added that “student feeding days will continue on Tuesdays.”

The numbers are increasing each week, but the district’s food and nutrition staff, and army of volunteers are getting the job done, Browning said.

He also touched on the topics of graduations and proms.

“These are once in a lifetime experiences, and we know how important they are. We remain hopeful, and at the same time, we are weighing our options.

“We still have several weeks to make sure that our seniors have a graduation that is memorable and meaningful,” Browning said.

He added: “We know many students and teachers have a need to retrieve their belongings form school. When we left for Spring Break more than a month ago, I’m sure there were many personal belongings left in lockers and desks and cabinets. We know it’s important that you have an opportunity to retrieve your things, but it must be done safely.

“Your school will inform you about their specific plan, soon,” Browning said.

Hillsborough County public schools announced the extended closure on its website, and noted its eLearning will continue through May 29.

“We know you have many questions about your student’s grades, as well as activities and events planned during the fourth quarter. We will be providing you additional details in the coming days, including information regarding graduation ceremonies,” according to the website.

The district also announced that all May graduations will be canceled, but that it has worked with the Florida State Fairgrounds to secure alternate dates in July.

“We know this is heartbreaking for students. Especially our seniors. All extracurricular activities will be canceled during this timeframe. But, we have worked with select seniors, school-based leaders and district staff to develop multiple options for school graduations.”

In addition to announcing the campus closures, DeSantis also announced that a task force will begin work this week to “develop a three-stage approach to reopening the state: short-term, medium-term and long-term.”

The task force will meet telephonically and is expected to have its recommendations for short-term steps to DeSantis by April 24.

“Then, once we get that in place, they’re going to look to the medium- and long-term strategies,” the governor said, noting the task force will include small business owners, industry representatives and elected officials, including Wilton Simpson, incoming president of the Florida Senate, and Chris Sprowls, incoming speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

DeSantis also gave updates on Florida’s testing efforts, and announced that the state would begin publicly reporting the names of nursing homes and long-term care facilities that have reported cases of COVID-19.

Published April 22, 2020

School district adapts to distance learning

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While parents suddenly found themselves thrust into the role of being frontline teachers, educators in Pasco and Hillsborough counties also found themselves making a big shift when the state ordered school campuses to be closed.

The order is in effect until April 30, and as press time for The Laker/Lutz News it remained unclear whether that will be extended.

During a virtual Pasco County School Board meeting on April 7, district officials discussed how county schools made the switch to online learning.

Superintendent Kurt Browning told the audience viewing the meeting, “When this thing hit, I remember our first meeting in the superintendent’s conference room. We were all a little shell-shocked by the fact that school was going to be closed for an additional week after Spring Break.”

But, district staff stepped up, and by the time the shift was made, the district was well-poised to make the shift.

He credited Joanne Glenn and her eSchool team for the guidance and encouragement they provided to district teachers.

“Our brick-and-mortars classroom teachers, for a large part, most part, have never done virtual education before,” he said. But, once they received the training that the district’s Office of Leading and Learning and the eSchool staff put together, he said, “a lot of the angst disappeared.”

The district also distributed about 17,000 devices to families needing them, including roughly 9,000 for elementary school students and about 8,000 for secondary school students, said Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley. A small number of devices were still in the process of being provided for families.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, complimented the district’s handling of the transition of shifting from direct to distance instruction.

“As we work in our second week of distance learning, I want to recognize our district superintendent and staff for having a Plan B in place,” Peace said.

“A special thanks goes out to Joanne Glenn and the wonderful group of eSchool employees who have willingly served as resources to those in need of help, during this transition period,” he said.

“I also want to thank you for how you are handling the thousands of ‘new teachers’ in our district, by that I mean, the parents, grandparents and guardians who have suddenly been thrust into the role of teacher. They are now the first people asked to help with questions or concerns when students struggle.

“I know in my grandson’s case, resources, tutorials and updates are going out constantly to provide information and reassurance in these situations.

“I would urge all of us to be caring and compassionate when dealing with student and parent concerns,” Peace said.

School board chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin expressed gratitude on behalf of the board for the district’s leadership and extra efforts made by teachers and staff.

“The last several weeks, everyone has been thrust into new ways of teaching and learning, and doing the work that supports that learning,” she said.

“On behalf of the board, we are very grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make sure our students will continue to have learning opportunities and to have food in their homes.

“Thank you to the district staff who worked through the entire Spring Break getting things put into place.

“Thank you to Mrs. Glenn and the eSchool staff who have been supporting the teachers across the district, 24/7, answering questions and troubleshooting.

“Thank you to our communications team for pushing out all of the information, in multiple formats.

“Thank you to the teachers who have had to make this difficult transition to distance learning in such a short time. I have seen you collaborating and problem-solving at all hours to help our students and families.

“Thank you to the students for doing your work, even when it can be difficult to log on and while you are experiencing stressful life circumstances.

“Thank you to the parents for extending grace. We appreciate your patience as we work through some bumps in the road.

“I am confident that this district and our community will get through this and our students will continue to make academic progress,” Beaudoin said.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn also expressed appreciation to district staff for pulling together to ensure that meals could be delivered to students who depend on school meals as their only reliable source of food.

The district delivered food to 27 sites and 16 bus stops.

“This was our second week of doing the once-a-week on Tuesdays, where we give out 10 meals to each child who comes through the line,” Kuhn said.

“The unofficial number for today is that served over 121,000. That does not include our bus stops. Those are still being calculated.

“What that means is that we served over 12,000 children in our community. That is up 8,000 served last week. And, the first week we served, March 23, we served about 5,500 students per day.

“This would not be possible without the support and very hard work of FNS (Food and Nutrition Services) and transportation, after school enrichment programs and maintenance,” Kuhn said. Kuhn also gave kudos to human resources for helping to coordinate and schedule 200 volunteers that stepped up to help.

Browning said he’s incredibly proud of district employees.

“We could not be where we are today without everyone in this district pulling together and doing what’s right for our kids,” the superintendent said.

Published April 15, 2020

Crisis line’s call volume rises

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The call volume has been increasing at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Statistics kept by the crisis center reveal that from March 21 through March 27, a total of 1,617 calls came in — with 540 of those being related to COVID-19.

Calls from March 28 to April 3 totaled 1,828, including 704 pandemic-related calls.

Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, said the center is fielding more calls and spending more time on each call, as anxiety increases during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (Courtesy of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay)

“The biggest reason right now is regarding financial assistance, but we also saw a high rate of individuals seeking emotional support, as well,” said Clara Reynolds, the crisis center’s president and CEO.

“And, as you can imagine, you may be calling because you’re worried about your finances, but you can see where that would also have an emotional toll,” Reynolds said.

During the week ending March 27, there were 236 calls involving financial need; during the week ending April 3, the volume of those kind of calls increased to 412.

“Certainly, what we have seen, too, added into this stress over the past week, now Week 2, is adding the home educational requirement that many families are experiencing as well,” Reynolds noted.

“You’ve got one — the stress of the virus. Then you’ve got lockdown, which can add additional stress to households. Then you add people losing their jobs, or seeing their jobs change significantly, i.e., working from home, versus working in an office. Then, you add these children on top of it that have to have some educational stuff at home, as well.

“It is just a soup of stress and anxiety,” Reynolds said.

On top of that, there’s additional stress and anxiety for people who are living in a domestic violence situation, or in a home that’s not stable and steady.

When people call 211 looking for assistance and support, they may be calling in regarding whatever the top issue is at that time, Reynolds said.

But, she added: “it’s always a symptom of bigger problems.”

“Right now, the big symptom is, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to keep this roof over my head. I don’t know how I’m going to feed my family,’” Reynolds said.

“We believe that after we watch the COVID-19 spike and then start to decline —  we are going to see an incredible increase in the number of behavioral health calls,” she said.

“People right now are just trying to survive, whatever survival looks like.

“Once we get past it and life returns to this ‘normal’ place, we believe we’re going to see a behavioral health crisis like we’ve never seen before,” she said.

Those mental health needs are likely to come from first responders, who are working 16-hour to 20-hour days. Or, from people who had jobs and don’t have them now, or the jobs they have, have changed.

“It’s going to be this new ‘normal,’ that many of us are not going to know how to manage or navigate,” Reynolds said.

Before COVID-19, she said. “we would spend about 7 minutes on average, with each caller, helping them to talk through what their issues were, so we could really get to the root of a problem.”

Now, it’s taking 15 minutes to 20 minutes.

“There’s so much stress, we’ve got to de-escalate first before we can then get to the root of the problem,” she said.

There’s also a percentage of callers that Reynolds described as “high-need, high-utilizers.”

Those callers may call in as may 200 to 300 times a year, because the crisis center is their outlet, she said.

Typically, a call like that may take 15 minutes to 20 minutes to de-escalate. Now, it’s maybe taking 30 minutes to 45 minutes, Reynolds said.

“So, not only has our call volume increased, but it’s taking us longer to get through each call to make sure that we’re providing a real benefit,” Reynolds said.

Concerns about the pandemic can affect people of all ages, so Reynolds offers this advice on how to talk to children about it.

“I think it’s important for them to understand how they can help because kids are natural helpers. Anything that they can do to feel like they are doing something positive to contribute, will help to lessen their anxiety.”

Teach them about washing their hands, covering their coughs and sneezes, staying 6 feet away from others, she said.

It’s also easy for people to feel socially isolated and miss having contact with family and friends, she said.

She recommends making creative use of technology to bridge gaps, such as holding virtual happy hours.

She said it’s also a great time to journal, express yourself artistically, do coloring sheets, or cook.

At a time when you can’t make in-person connections with your family and friends, it’s a good time to give yourself permission to engage “in more self-care than you normally would,” Reynolds said.

Need help?
Those in a domestic violence situation should call 911, 211 or The Spring of Tampa. TheSpring.org has resources to help.

Published April 15, 2020

Signs of our time

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Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected every aspect of life.

Most of the time, when kids aren’t in school, they can just go to the park to play. But, during this time of COVID-19, that is not an option. (B.C. Manion)

The global pandemic has caused thousands of deaths and has rocked the economy — with no clear end in sight.

The unemployment rate has soared; millions are out of work.

School campuses are closed and parents, teachers and students are adapting to distance teaching and learning.

Businesses have suffered huge losses. Some have shuttered temporarily. Some don’t expect to be back. Others are trying to hold on by changing the way they do business.

Roller-skating at Eddie’s Roller Rink, on State Road 52 in San Antonio, will have to wait — until the pandemic passes. (Christine Holtzman)

Grocery stores have signs on shelves, limiting the number of items patrons can purchase, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, eggs, canned fruits, bread and others.

More customers are ordering groceries online and having them delivered.

The threat posed by the deadly virus has halted social gatherings, shut down parks, and closed gyms and libraries. It has forced movie theaters to go dark.

Churches, synagogues and other religious centers have had to find new ways to share their faith.

Sanders Memorial Elementary School offers an upbeat message on its school marquee, encouraging everyone to be strong and stay healthy. (B.C. Manion)

Efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in nursing homes closing their doors to visitors. Hospitals have imposed strict visitor policies. Large gatherings for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and even funerals are being postponed, or skipped entirely.

People in some states, including Florida, are being ordered to stay home when possible, and to wear masks in public places.

In the midst of the upheaval, there are those who offer hope, humor, optimism and help.

And, there are some offering encouragement, too, such as Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes.

Its sign reads:  “Stay safe and healthy.”

Published April 15, 2020

Hungry Harry’s, a mainstay in Land O’ Lakes, is still serving to-go orders pit-side. Call ahead for faster service. (Christine Holtzman)
The school community of Countryside Montessori wants its Cougars to know that they’re missed. (B.C. Manion)
This signs informs patrons that the CrossFit facility in Lutz is closed due to the governor’s mandate, relating to COVID-19. (B.C. Manion)

Working with animals is this woman’s passion

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Gina Botticello can’t remember a time in her life when she didn’t love animals.

It wasn’t because her house was full of them, though.

Her dad was allergic to cats.

So, officially, there weren’t any cats in the house.

But, Botticello admitted: “I would find a kitten and hide it in my room.”

That didn’t last long, though. “That was not OK,” she said.

Still, even when she was very young, she knew she wanted to work with animals.

“I feel very fortunate that I always knew what I wanted to do. And, I always loved it. I think that’s a blessing.”

And, her work at Pasco County Animal Services also has resulted in bringing honor to Botticello and her department.

Gina Botticello was named Supervisor of the Year by the Florida Animal Control Association. She said she was humbled, and surprised, by the honor. (Courtesy of Pasco County Animal Services)

Recently, she was named Supervisor of the Year by the Florida Animal Control Association.

She was humbled by the selection.

“There were some really accomplished nominees, so it was very surprising and very exciting.”

Her path to the honor began when she was 18 and she began working at Bayonet Point Animal Clinic. Then, as she got older, she became interested in working in the not-for-profit industry.

Then, she became interested in working for an animal shelter.

“A lot of people told me that would not be a good direction. They felt that it would make me very sad.

“But, whoever listens to advice, right?”

So, Botticello joined the team at Pasco County Animal Services.

“I ended up taking a massive pay cut. I left Animal Coalition of Tampa as a technician and came over (to animal services) as an animal care tech, which is the entry position.”

She was willing to take less pay and begin at a lower level to get her foot in the door.

“It was the best thing I ever did,” she said. “So, the leap of faith really paid off. The pay cut. The fear. All of that second-guessing. It really paid off,” Botticello said.

Over time, she worked various positions and was named Pet Services Supervisor in 2017.

To her, it’s more than a job. It’s a mission.

“We’re wearing a lot of hats, and that’s a challenge throughout the day — to shift gears, from placing kittens in foster; to organizing a transfer of an aggressive animal; to solving a customer’s need.

“It’s not an 8 to 5. It’s not, ‘Oh, it’s 5 o’clock, I’ve got to go.

“You want to do more because you believe in it. You know you can get a result. You know you can help. And, when you are able to accomplish what you need, it feels amazing,” she said.

She’s quick to credit the roughly 400 rescue partners, the volunteers and her colleagues at Animal Services for the success the agency has achieved.

“It takes a village, and we have an amazing one,” Botticello said.

The shelter is a Save 90 shelter, which means its goal is to save 90% of the animals that arrive there.

“That can be a challenge because a lot of the animals coming through our door are sick or injured,” she said. They don’t have a family claiming them, so they may be unaccustomed to positive interactions with people.

“The animals that come into our care, they need help,” said Botticello, noting most are a “bit broken” when they arrive.

“There are days when you walk up and down the rows, and your heart is breaking,” she said. “The animals are shaking. Some of them are growling. They don’t know where they’re at, and that’s their defensiveness.”

The flip side of that scene, however, is “to see that same animal walking out of the door, with their tail wagging and relaxed body language. They’re not scared anymore.”

And, they’re on their way to someone’s living room, or a veterinarian, to get the help that the shelter cannot provide.

Botticello greatly appreciates the shelter’s volunteers.

“They are an extension of us,” she said. “They have the deepest love for these animals. They go home from the shelter and they work all night, posting animals on social media to get them help.

“To me, they’re almost like family.”

Being able to adapt, especially when facing challenges, is crucial, Botticello said.

“I definitely think you need to be flexible and creative, and just take things in stride,” she said. “If it’s not a hurricane, it’s a pandemic, or a hoarding case of 400 animals that are coming.

“You just have to have that ‘hit the ground running’ approach, and work together, because one person certainly cannot do the work. It takes a team.”

Botticello said the department always is looking for ways to serve both the animals, and the public.

“We are a public service. That’s a mentality that is saturated in all that we do,” she said.

“We embrace suggestions, ideas.

“Anyone that has any kind of time or energy to give us information, I have time to listen to it. I don’t want to disregard anything,” she said.

When she received her award, she said, it felt odd to be standing there alone.

“Nobody accomplishes this much, independently,” Botticello said.

Under Gina Botticello’s leadership

  • 1,650 animals were sent to rescue partners (a 120% increase over 2017, and a 45% increase over 2018)
  • Dozens of animals that would have been automatic euthanasia decisions in years past are now being transferred to willing rescue groups and veterinary partners.
  • Animal services has pulled animals from Polk, Hillsborough, Hernando and Levy counties, and it has worked closely with Pinellas, Marion and Citrus counties in life-saving efforts through rescue program development and partnership growth.
  • Achieved a save rate for cats exceeding 90% in August of 2019, the first month the shelter ever accomplished that

Published April 15, 2020

Stepping forward to help, in time of need

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These are not normal times and the community is responding to surging needs in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and Firefighters Charities of Pasco joined together to purchase $10,000 of nonperishable food items, as well as toilet paper, tissues and paper towels — to help Pasco County seniors.

Helpers in a food drive effort sort out food. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

The two groups collaborated with Pasco County Senior Services’ center based in Land O’ Lakes, to ensure seniors in the Central Pasco community are helped during this unique time in the history of the United States.

The Land O’ Lakes senior center serves 84 seniors, Monday through Friday.

The food drive organizers also partnered with a local food pantry operated in the Angus Valley community of Wesley Chapel, by Life Church. The pantry is located at Life Community Center.

The donated food bags include pasta, yellow rice, black beans, fruit cups, applesauce, tomato sauce, cereal, oatmeal, tuna, fruit snacks, animal crackers, white kidney beans, chewy bars and cookies.

The pantry items, which are in large bulk, include tuna, pasta, animal crackers, fruit cups, ravioli, beans, cereal and pasta sauce.

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Firefighters Charity of Pasco teamed up to feed the hungry, to help ensure that elderly people and those suffering from financial hardships have access to food during these trying times. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

Goodwill Industries Suncoast Inc., also is stepping forward to help collect food during this record time of unemployment. They are collecting food for Feeding Tampa Bay’s community food outreach program.

All Goodwill-Suncoast retail stores in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be collection points for nonperishable food donations.

Items most needed include canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and canned chicken.

Those wishing to help are asked to leave donated items in carts outside of the stores.

The food drive is being conducted April 15 through April 30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., on Sunday. For store locations, visit Goodwill-suncoast.org/store-locations/.

While some groups are focusing on food needs, volunteers from the GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club are making masks for first responders.

Numerous members are involved with picking up and dropping off supplies they can find, to allow the mask production to continue.

Meanwhile, employees of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are making a point to purchase items at local businesses to help them weather the financial blow the pandemic has caused, and Sheriff Chris Nocco and members of his team are featured in department videos, offering suggestions intended to help people through the crisis.

Volunteers with the GFWC Woman’s Club of Wesley Chapel are working around the clock to make masks for first responders. Shown here are some of the masks they made. (Courtesy of GFWC Woman’s Club of Wesley Chapel)

“We don’t know how long this will last. I know people are frustrated being at home. They’re frustrated by being on the couch, and especially for parents having those little ones constantly running around.

“But, please continue to follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. Stay at home. Keep social distancing. If you’re sick, stay inside and quarantine yourself,” Nocco said. “We have to do this to flatten the curve because it’s not going to be over next week. It’s an extended period of time.

Nocco also informed the public that they will be seeing deputies wearing masks.

“They have the option, like you, to follow the CDC guidelines. Please understand, it doesn’t mean they have symptoms of COVID-19, nor the person they are interacting with has symptoms of COVID-19.

These are some of the volunteers from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Firefighters Charity of Pasco who helped in the food drive to feed the hungry. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

“They’re just taking precautions like they want to, like you can, following the CDC guidelines.

The sheriff also encouraged parents to keep a close eye on the social media their children are using.

“Be nosy. Get involved,” he urged parents. “Unfortunately, we’ve found incidents where young girls, under age, were meeting up with adult males. So, please get on those social media sites. Know what they are doing.”

The sheriff’s office also has videos featuring department employees talking about the issues of maintaining mental health and de-escalating stressful situations during these difficult times.

To find out more, visit the department’s Facebook Page and click on the videos tab.

Local sources of help include:

Feeding Tampa Bay
Visit the website to find a pantry: FeedingTampaBay.org/find-a-pantry/

Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood Drive, Wesley Chapel
Services available include:

  • Laundry and showers for the homeless by appointment. Call (813) 994-0685.
  • Drive-thru hot meal Tuesday, from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Limited access to printing and faxing as needed. Call (813) 994-0685.
  • Food ministry/pantry drive-thru, Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Emergency food boxes on case-by-case basis. Call (813) 994-0685.

TelePals

  • Free program that provides telephone reassurance to seniors
  • If you enjoy, value and love our seniors, if you love listening to their great stories or heartfelt advice, if you love engaging in conversation and knowing that you are bringing happiness to a senior simply by listening and caring on the phone – this may be just the volunteer opportunity you’ve been seeking.
  • Go to TelePalNow.org to apply to be a TelePal (A person who makes a phone call) or a TeleClient (A person who receives a call).
  • Training, a background check and monthly crosschecks are required for all participants.
  • Volunteers must be at least 18 for this program, which operates in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Want to help?
A new effort has started in Pasco County that’s part of a national initiative.

The Pasco chapter of the Frontline Appreciation Group, FLAG2020Pasco, is raising money to hire local restaurants to prepare meals for frontline employees working in intensive care units in hospitals.

“You know it brings a smile to our frontline workers and it helps our local restaurants in these challenging times,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who is calling attention to the effort.

To find out more, check the Facebook Group, FLAG2020Pasco.

Published April 15, 2020