Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A curious ‘reflection’

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Tina James, daughter of Bernie and Kathy Welton of Land O’ Lakes, painted this portrait of the Weltons’ cat, Zee, who was adopted when he could fit in the palm of Kathy’s hand. Zee now is 13 years old and weighs a little more than 20 pounds. When presented with his portrait, Zee took to sitting for a good 10 minutes, just admiring himself in his ‘reflection.’

Avalon Applauds GFWC Woman’s Club

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Congratulations to the GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs) Woman’s Club, a nonprofit 501(3)C group in Wesley Chapel, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

The GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club is dedicated to community improvement and helping those in need, through volunteer service and fundraising events. The organization is likely to focus much of its efforts on domestic violence and awareness, homelessness, hospice, and foster care, among other community issues.

The GFWC Woman’s Club has been together since February 2020. It is a small organization led by strong female community members, like newly elected president Shantel Meyers.

In just a small amount of time, the nonprofit provided Luggage of Love with suitcases for children in foster care, raised $500 in college scholarship money for a young lady, installed a little free library in Lexington Oaks, and helped other nonprofits such as Planned PetHood, the Ronald McDonald House, and Caterpillars to Butterflies.

The club also worked closely with Sunrise Domestic Violence Shelter, where it adopted its own room and provided bed linens, wall decor, etc.

“We wanted to dress up the room for women and families for a fresh and positive look for their recovery,” says Meyers.

Meyers and the club also hosted a food drive to provide food for the shelter, and gifted purses stuffed with women’s essentials.

“The most rewarding part about being involved with this organization is the personal satisfaction of helping others and the unexpected personal growth from what we learn and do,” says Meyers.

The club meets once a month, on the first Wednesday, at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“We are always looking for new members to join us,” says Meyers.

For more information, email , or search GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club Inc., on Facebook.

To help support the GFWC Woman’s Club, please mail your donations to: GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club, 7702 Timberview Loop, Wesley Chapel, FL 33545.

Published February 09, 2022

Pasco Schools spending ‘Penny’ funds wisely

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Pasco School Oversight Committee has determined that Pasco County Schools is properly spending taxes generated by voter-approved Penny for Pasco tax proceeds.

The oversight committee’s charter mandates it “to provide general, financial, design, and construction oversight to the School Board’s capital outlay, maintenance and construction projects involving Penny for Pasco revenues.”

It also is required to issue an annual report, which it did on Feb. 1.

That report says, “the School Board and Citizens of Pasco County can be assured that the funds generated are being used for the express purposes as outlined in the referendum authorizing the implementation of the additional penny sales tax.”

The oversight committee also noted that: “In this, the eighth year of the second cycle, (Penny for Pasco tax) revenue remains good despite all the challenges presented by our ongoing battle with COVID 19. Current collections, as of January 2022, are almost 23% above calculated projections.”

The committee also reported “that real progress is being made with several Penny projects. Hudson High School is on track to complete its renovation by 2023. Plans for the renovation of Gulf High School are on track with construction commencing in the summer of 2022.”

The committee resumed in-person meetings in 2021.

The report highlights a collaborative project between the school system and Pasco County on the Starkey Ranch K8 and Pasco County TLC (Theatre, Library, Cultural Center) project where the combined resources of the school system and county provided “a more effective use” of tax dollars.

“We realize utilization of a combination of resources can be complicated, but they give our taxpayers a better return on their investment,” the committee said.

Published February 09, 2022

Work continues on plans to extend Overpass Road

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Work is set to proceed this spring to lay the groundwork for an extension of Overpass Road, east of Boyette Road to U.S. 301.

Design permitting and re-evaluation of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study is set to begin this spring and is expected to be finished in 2023.

Pasco County is providing $2.5 million and the Florida Department of Transportation also is providing $2.5 million, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

The county board approved a Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) Agreement with FDOT on Jan. 12, 2021, for the design phase of the project.

Under terms of that agreement, Pasco County agreed to fund $2,584,107 and FDOT would fund $2,415,893, of the estimated $5 million design cost.

Typically, TRIP Agreements are funded 50/50, but the FDOT had to reduce its funding by $84,107 because of fiscal impacts to their Work Program. The state transportation agency agreed to restore those funds in its Fiscal Year 2022 Work Program.

So, the county board approved an action at its Jan. 25 meeting to reduce the amount of funding contributed by the county and increase FDOT’s funding, to arrive at a match of $2.5 million each.

No other changes to the initial TRIP Agreement are proposed.

According to FDOT’s website, the project limits extend from Old Pasco Road on the west to U.S. 301 on the east, for a total length of approximately 9 miles.

Improvements for Overpass Road include the following:

Four lanes from Old Pasco Road to Interstate 75
A new interchange at I-75 and Overpass Road
Six lanes plus two auxiliary lanes from I-75 to Boyette Road
Six lanes from Boyette Road to US 301

Published February 09, 2022

Pasco County transfers house to Habitat for Humanity

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County purchased a property at 14629 20th St., in Dade City, through a foreclosure sale for $60,621.40, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

At the time of the sale, Pasco County had costs in the property in the amount of $74,877.03 through its Community Development Department.

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County Inc., has agreed to oversee the rehabilitation of the property, to comply with the county’s building code.

The purchase agreement and developer’s agreement transfers the property to Habitat for Humanity to renovate and sell to a qualified purchaser, as defined by the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP). The purchase is subject to a mortgage to Pasco County in the amount of $74,877.03, according to the agenda materials.

The Pasco County Commission authorized the county to convey the property to a not-for-profit organization at a private sale for a nominal price, pursuant to Section 125.38, Florida Statutes.

The county’s Community Development Department recommended approval of the item, which the county board approved as part of its consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are approved without discussion, as part of a single action.

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco, describes Habitat for Humanity on its website as a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Habitat works toward that vision in partnership with families who need decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Habitat for Humanity East Pasco was founded in Trilby, in 1994, and merged in 2009 with Central Pasco. Now Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco serves the entire county, east of the Suncoast Parkway.

In 2019, the organization celebrated its 25th year and 150th home dedication.

Published February 09, 2022

The versatility of milk, and alternative plant-based options

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The high fat in coconut milk makes this pudding very filling. Use unflavored almond milk and let the fruit be your sweetener. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)

Milk is one of those staples that can be used in many dishes.

You can cook or bake with it. Use it in a bowl of cereal. You can add it in smoothies, or you can just drink it.

But did you know about the increasing number of plant-based milk alternatives that are now available on the market?

Here’s a breakdown on some of the options, according to Practical Gastroenterology:

Cereal grain-based: oat milk, rice milk
Legume-based: soy milk, pea milk
Vegetable-based: potato milk
Seed-based: flax milk, hemp milk
Nut-based: almond, cashew, coconut milk

One downside of plant-based milk is that it is much lower in the nutrients that we usually associate with milk, including protein, Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus.

Only soy milk has a comparable amount of natural protein to cow’s milk.

While some food companies will fortify, or add, these nutrients to the plant-based milk, that’s not a universal practice.

So, as consumers, it’s important for us to check the food label to see which options yield the most nutrition.

Also, while coconut milk is typically used for cooking rather than drinking straight out of a glass, keep in mind that is high in calories and saturated fat.

Just one cup of canned coconut milk can have over 400 calories and almost 40 grams of saturated fat. Also, if you cook with the entire can, don’t forget that standard cans are more than one cup.

Overall, most plant-based milks are lower in fat and calories, but the main nutrients found in cow’s milk may or may not be equivalent – it depends on the fortification process during manufacturing and the plant source itself.

Plant-based milks, as well as lactose-free milks, can be options for those who are lactose intolerant.

Plant-based milks also provide more options for vegans or those with dairy allergies.

You’ve probably seen plant-based yogurts at the store, too, made with soy milk or almond milk. More stores also are carrying plant-based cheeses, too.

Also, remember that flavored options, which are increasingly popular — such as chocolate soy milk, vanilla almond milk and so on — have high amounts of added sugar. The same is true, of course, for chocolate milk made with cow’s milk.

Here’s a chart, using information from Practical Gastroenterology, to help you consider the pros and cons of the various options:

Milk	Pros	Cons
Cow’s Milk, 2%	High in protein, calcium, and Vitamin D	Those with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance cannot consume; higher saturated fat
Soy Milk	Highest protein and least processed out of all the plant-based alternatives; best for baking and cooking	May interact with some medications
Almond Milk	Low-calorie; high Vitamin E	Very low protein
Rice milk	Best for those with many allergies	Likely to have added sugar; least amount of protein
Oat milk	Has fiber, iron, and some protein	May contain common allergens
Coconut milk	Has iron, fiber, and potassium	High amount of fat compared to others; low in protein
Hemp milk	High in essential fatty acids	High fat
Cashew milk	Creamy taste and texture	Low protein
Flax milk	Low calories; high in essential fatty acids	Very low in protein
Pea milk	High in protein; creamy taste and texture	Hard to find in stores
Potato milk	Contains no fat, soy, nuts or gluten; high in calcium, Vitamin D and B12	Very low in protein; hard to find in stores

There’s another milk known as A2 milk. It is milk that comes from cows that were specifically bred to only have A2 proteins.

While the research isn’t definitive, it appears, anecdotally, that the A2 milk is easier to digest for some who can’t tolerate the A1 protein well.

However, because it does have lactose and is considered a dairy product, it isn’t recommended for those who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies.

Lastly, regular cow’s milk has the options of reduced fat, low fat and skim milk.

Those options allow you to enjoy the nutritional benefits of milk with less fat and fewer calories.

Whole milk has 8 grams of fat in an 8-ounce glass; reduced fat (2%) has 5 grams of fat; low-fat (1%) has 2.5 grams; and, skim milk has 0 grams.

For those who prefer the taste of full fat milk, but who want to make a change, begin by drinking reduced fat first and then work your way down to skim until you acquire the taste.

Whatever health changes you plan on making this year, make sure you’re getting either plant-based dairy (fortified with vitamins and minerals) or animal-based (preferably low-fat or fat-free) — or a mix of both — as they both count towards the dairy food group.

This year, I’m going to be more adventurous with the plant-based milks and try hazelnut milk, sesame milk and quinoa milk.

The options, truly, are endless.

By Shari Bresin

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

RECIPE: Chia seed pudding

This chia seed pudding uses a combination of two plant-based milks, topped with fruit.

Ingredients and directions:

Mix 2.5 ounces of coconut milk, 2.5 ounces of almond milk, and about 1 tablespoon of chia seeds per serving (or more chia seeds if you like it thicker).
Refrigerate for a few hours, until thickened.
Top with various types of fruit: mango, pineapple, blueberry, raspberry and so on. Nuts are optional.

Published February 09, 2022

Miss Pasco Outstanding Teen

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

(Courtesy of Scott and Melanie Mainwaring)

Larkin Mainwaring is a 15-year-old ninth-grader at Pasco eSchool and lives in Dade City. She recently was crowned Miss Pasco County Outstanding Teen. Larkin is passionate about singing and performing, and has been with Showstoppers Performing Arts since she was 8 years old. She also is passionate about raising awareness for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disease that she lives with. Larkin is excited to represent and serve Pasco County for the next year.

Get off the beaten track, to experience Pasco’s beauty

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Any sport can tamp down frustrations of everyday life. Hiking in the woods goes a step further. It soothes the soul.

Visit one of Pasco County’s trails and you’ll see. You can hike under ancient oaks, past cabbage palms and ferns, through pine , and along swamps and riverbanks.

You’ll hear birdsong, and smell pine needles, bay leaves and loamy lakebeds. You’ll see wild orchids, thick forests, and, maybe you’ll even taste salt air.

Scientists say getting out into nature may ward off depression, high blood pressure, even hyperactivity in children. Some doctors even prescribe a hike in the woods to alleviate stress and anxiety, and to get their patients to cut down on screen time.

Guides lead “forest bathing” meditation tours to soothe worries. And studies have shown that merely looking at photographs of nature or even the color green can be calming.

Hiking is an enjoyable way to immerse yourself in nature and get exercise.

Here are just some places in Pasco County to hit the trail:

Giant oaks, some dating back to before Florida became a state, line nature trails in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, encompassing 8,300 acres in New Port Richey. (Karen Haymon Long)

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., New Port Richey
Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
Free entrance
Contact: 727-834-3247; PascoCountyFl.net

This 8,300-acre park has a 7.3-mile paved trail that leads to the Suncoast Trail, which runs 42 miles from Hillsborough to Hernando County. Bikes share the park’s paved trail with hikers, but it’s wide enough for both. Woods often line both sides of the paved path, so it feels more serene than urban.

Off the paved trail, signs lead to leaf-strewn nature trails through pine and oak forests, palmettos, fern beds, red mulberry, magnolias and other trees.

Trails are marked with green and blue slashes on trees, so it’s easy to find your way. One trail leads to the Pithlachascotee River, in a spot where it’s tea-colored and crossed with fallen tree trunks.

Birdwatchers have identified 177 species of birds in the park. Look for wood ducks, little blue herons, even sandhill cranes. The park also has a 10-mile equestrian trail, camping, restrooms, picnic shelters, tables and grills.

Nearby, Starkey Gap Trail starts on the south side of State Road 54 at Starkey Boulevard. Heading south, it crosses Trinity Boulevard (where there is a parking lot) and continues through grassy fields, past cow pastures and woods. After about a mile, it joins the Pinellas Trail.

Suncoast Trail
Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
Free entrance
Contact: PascoCountyFl.net

This 42-mile paved trail passes through Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties, running along the east side of the Suncoast Parkway.

Half the trail is in Pasco County. Benches, water and portable toilets are available in some areas. The trail passes through residential, agricultural and natural areas.

“There are many areas where you really can’t see the parkway,” says David Jay, site supervisor for the Suncoast Trail and Crews Lake Park. “It’s completely wooded to the west in many areas.”

He says most hikers (and bikers) access the trail at State Road 54 at the Suncoast Parkway. That’s the official trailhead, with a free parking lot, a picnic table, portable toilets and a fix-it station.

Pasco County’s other main access points, he says, are off Wellfield Road, where the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park Trail leads onto the Suncoast Trail; and off Shady Hills Road, a mile hike from Crews Lake Park in Spring Hill.

Other Pasco access points are at the Ridge Road Extension, State Road 52, Caldwell Lane, Lawless Road, Bowman Road and County Line Road.

Everywhere you hike in the Green Swamp, you’ll likely see towering trees and watery views. The Green Swamp is a vital recharge area for the Florida Aquifer. (Karen Haymon Long)

Green Swamp Wilderness West Tract
13347 Ranch Road, 5 miles from downtown Dade City in East Pasco County
Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset
Free entrance
Contact: 352-796-7211; www.swfwmd.state.fl.us

This preserve, with an astounding 37,350 acres, has 65 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.

A section of the Florida National Scenic Trail meanders through thick woods shaded by towering oaks, pines and magnolias. Some stretches are lined with ponds and brown grasses, saw palmettos and cabbage palms.

On a portion of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, hikers may see deer, wild hogs, turkeys, alligators, wading birds and soaring, squawking osprey.

The Green Swamp is one of Florida’s largest wetlands, and because it is considered an environmentally sensitive habitat, hikers are urged to stay on designated trails.

The tract also has picnic tables, portable toilets and campsites.

Trails in Withlacoochee River State Park near Dade City wend through woods and past the picturesque river. (Courtesy of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast)

Withlacoochee River Park
12449 Withlacoochee Blvd., Dade City
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free entrance
Contact: 352-567-0264; PascoCountyFl.net

This picturesque Pasco County park, on the western edge of the Green Swamp, has sandhill bluffs overlooking the Withlacoochee River, a forest, prairies and wetlands.

Eight miles of well-marked hiking trails and boardwalks loop through the park, past the Withlacoochee River, cypress trees and old oaks. The park also has a 1.7-mile paved trail for walkers and bikers. All trails begin at a kayak dock, the south parking area and the campgrounds.

The park is home to barn owls, woodcocks, ibis, limpkins and many other bird species, some that can be seen from an observation tower. Other amenities: picnic shelters, restrooms, cabins, and primitive and RV campsites.

At Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in Port Richey, you’ll see springs, deep woods, and maybe even bald eagles and dolphins. (Karen Haymon Long)

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
8737 U.S. 19 N., Port Richey
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to sunset
Fee: $2 for walkers and bikers; $3 for vehicles with up to 8 people
Contact: 727-816-1890; FloridaStateParks.org

This tranquil park of bayous, salt marches, creeks and thick mangroves is just off busy U.S. 19, but you’d never know it. It’s a peaceful place to hike, kayak and have a picnic.

Each park entrance has hiking trails. The half-mile Springs Trail leads to sinks and artesian springs, through oak hammocks and pinewoods. Just past Salt Spring, if it’s low tide, hikers may see a tidal waterfall created by a spring that is 351 feet deep.

Bald eagles are sometimes seen on the Eagle Trail, along with hawks, roseate spoonbills, great blue herons and snowy egrets. A boardwalk leads to a kayak launch, where you’ll see water views and, if you’re lucky, dolphins and otters.

From the launch, kayakers can paddle through bayous, salt marshes and creeks. The park also has restrooms, picnic tables and a pavilion.

A boardwalk trail makes it easy for hikers to see the Pithlachascotee River in the James E. Grey Preserve in New Port Richey. (Courtesy of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast)

James E. Grey Preserve
6938 Plathe Road, New Port Richey
Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset
Free entrance
Contact: 727-841-4560; FloridaHikes.com

This 80-acre wildlife preserve is on a stretch of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, with 140 bird species, manatees, deer, wild boar, gopher tortoises and more.

Hikers can walk along a boardwalk past the Pithlachascotee River, take the shaded Palmetto Loop, with a river overlook, or follow the Uplands Trail Loop through a scrub habitat of palms, wildflowers and gopher tortoises.

Towering palms cast shadows on the river. Thick palmettos and cabbage palms line the boardwalk, and benches dot trails, all adding to the preserve’s tranquility.

The preserve also has a lake, playground, restrooms, a picnic shelter and an observation deck.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published February 09, 2022

Pasco tourism agency wins prestigious award

February 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Experience Florida’s Sports Coast (FSC) — the tourism agency for Pasco County — recently won Florida Sports Foundation’s Small Market Venue of the Year award, for the contribution of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County to the state’s sports tourism industry.

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex of Pasco County, in Wesley Chapel (Courtesy of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast)

This award was received at the 2021 Florida Sports Summit, held last month at the Hammock Beach Resort on the Palm Coast. The awards given by the Florida Sports Foundation recognize sports industry partners’ contributions to the state’s $57.4 billion sports industry.

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus opened its doors in August 2020, at 3021 Sports Coast Way, in Wesley Chapel. It since has hosted amateur events sanctioned by several national governing bodies such as USA Volleyball, USA Gymnastics, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, AAU volleyball, Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), Florida Senior Games, Special Olympics, and U.S. Club Soccer.

Through those events and others hosted at both the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus and various venues, the county welcomed over 50,000 visitors coming in for sports tourism-related events in the past year, according to a release from FSC. Additionally, those visitors generated over 26,500 room nights with an estimated $27 million in local economic impact for the Pasco community, the release reads.

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus offers two 35,500-square-foot multi-purpose courts featuring eight drop-down basketball hoops and 16 volleyball nets; a 5,000-square-foot indoor cheer zone with springboard floor; and two full-size, outdoor multi-purpose fields.

The campus was developed as part of a private-public partnership between Pasco County Commission, the county’s tourism agency, and the Porter Family who donated the land.

Festival-goers determined to have fun, despite frigid weather

February 1, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Seventeen-year-old Chase Jordan was among several Pasco High students who volunteered behind the plastic safety shield, while serving customers who were buying fruit at the Kumquat Growers patio. Kumquat Growers also displayed and sold various kumquat products. (Fred Bellet)

Folks attending the Kumquat Festival in Dade City last weekend had at least two things in common: They bundled up to brave the brisk weather, and they helped to mark the festival’s quarter-century anniversary.

Normally, the late January festival benefits from weather that typically is not too hot, or not too cold — but just right for strolling along downtown streets, with their quaint storefronts and hundreds of vendors on hand to offer all sorts of specialty items.

This year, though, an arctic blast reached into the nation’s southeast region causing much colder-than-usual weather for the festival.

Still, people turned out from all over — from places such as Dade City, Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Lakeland, The Villages, Spring Hill and other locales.

They were there, enjoying the blue sky and sunshine — and tasting the kumquat pie, purchasing kumquats, grabbing a bite to eat and doing a bit of shopping.

Published February 02, 2022