The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Check out this drive-up food fair

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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.

Published October 28, 2020

Does an apple a day keep the doctor at bay?

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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?

The green apple is one of 7,000 varieties of apples. The fruit offers a broad range of flavors and textures, and can be enjoyed in many forms, such as a caramel apple, a candy apple, in a cake, as a pie, freshly sliced or baked. (Courtesy of pixabay.com)

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.

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

Here are some ways apples can improve your health:

  • Eat the whole apple, including the peel, to add fiber to your diet, to help lower cholesterol.
  • Carry one with you, they provide quick access to a healthy snack, reducing your hunger and helping you to avoid junk food.
  • Use applesauce to replace fat, when baking cakes and muffins.
  • They help with allergies. Research published by The National Institute of Health says quercetin, an antioxidant in apples, can prevent histamine release.

By Shari Bresin

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.

So, now that cooler weather is here, you may be baking more often.

Here’s an apple pie recipe that you might like to try.

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, just so that the flour turns into a solid)

Filling 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.

Published October 28, 2020

Scammers targeting online DMV services

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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for scammers who are fooling people through websites that look like those used by state departments of motor vehicles.

The scammers are exploiting the opportunity created by an increasing number of people who are turning to online offerings from state DMVs, during this time of COVID-19, according to information provided by the BBB.

They are using these lookalike websites to steal money and personal information, according to reports filed by consumers on BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Here’s how the scam works: You need to change your car’s title, get a Real ID, or perform another service that you would normally do at your local DMV. Instead, you visit what you think is the DMV website to learn about their new COVID-19 procedures. Your state may now allow you to complete the transaction online, or you may need to schedule an in-person appointment through the DMV website.

Before you enter any personal or payment information, double check the site’s URL to make sure it’s the real deal.

Also, be sure to make online purchases with your credit card. Fraudulent charges made on a credit card can usually be disputed, whereas that might not be the case with other payment methods. Unfortunately, there is no way to get back the personal information you may have shared, the release says.

There’s also a similar scam involving change of address services.

If you have been the victim of this or another scam, you can help make others aware by filing a report on BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Published October 28, 2020

In-person jury trials to resume in Pasco

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A modest schedule of trials is on the calendars at the courthouses in east and west Pasco beginning on Nov. 2, according to a news release from the Office of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller.

To optimize the safety of those coming to the Pasco Judicial Center or Robert Sumner Judicial Center, the center will be:

  • Limiting the number of jurors called to allow for social distancing in each Jury Assembly Room
  • Spacing out the days of the week on which jurors are summoned
  • Requiring face coverings
  • Installing Plexiglas barriers
  • Locating hand-sanitizing stations throughout each courthouse
  • Frequently disinfecting common-area surfaces

Details may be found at PascoClerk.com/260/Jury-Services.

The resumption of in-person trials is occurring under the direction of state Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady for Florida courts to pursue a safe return to more traditional operations. Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino recently instructed courts in Pasco and Pinellas Counties to begin preparations for Phase 2 functions, clearing the path toward restarting trials with in-person jurors, the release says.

Published October 28, 2020

Dr. Craven Says Goodbye After 42 years Of Chiropractic Care

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After 42 years of providing chiropractic care to families in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and the surrounding areas, Dr. Michael Craven has sold his practice and will soon be leaving town. He and his wife, Linda, are planning a months-long, bucket-list journey next summer with their two dogs, traveling out West in their Fifth Wheel RV.

“As much as we hate saying goodbye to our patients and community, Linda and I are ready,” said Dr. Craven, who turned 67 in September. “We are looking forward to spending more time with our grandchildren and visiting extended family out of state. Plus, we’re planning on buying and living in that mountain cabin in the woods we’ve always dreamed about.”

Dr. Michael Craven, left, recently sold his Land O’ Lakes chiropractic practice to Dr. Michael McClure.

For the past few weeks Dr. Craven has been introducing patients to the new owner of his practice —  Dr. Michael McClure, who acquired the business in late September.

“When I met Dr. McClure, I knew almost immediately that he was a perfect fit,” said Dr. Craven. “His medical experience and philosophy, and how he sincerely cares for patients like they are members of his family, were exactly what I was looking for in a doctor to take over my practice.”

Buying a practice like Craven Chiropractic was a longtime dream for Dr. McClure and his wife, Julie. The couple had been wanting to move from Pittsburgh to Florida for several years, to be closer to Dr. McClure’s parents who live in Spring Hill and to get away from the cold.

“We almost made the move three years ago, and actually explored Land O’ Lakes back then and loved the community, but we could not find a practice that fit with our goals,” explained Dr. McClure. “It was actually my mother who saw the listing for Craven Chiropractic. When she called me about the opportunity, I said to my wife, ‘Oh My God, Julie, there is a practice in Land O’ Lakes that seems perfect for us.’”

After talking to Dr. Craven, Dr. McClure quickly surmised the strengths of Craven Chiropractic. “And, the more I got to know Dr. Craven, the more I was amazed at how much we had in common – he was almost a mirror image of myself,” he said.

Saying Goodbye
“When you sell your business, it’s not like you’re selling your house. It’s more like hiring a babysitter, because you are entrusting the person to care for the people very important to you,” said Dr. Craven.

“I could not think of a better chiropractor to take my place than Dr. McClure. He not only delivers a great adjustment, but his style and personality are very similar to mine. He is someone who I know will treat you as a friend, and not just a patient,” Dr. Craven wrote his patients when announcing his retirement.

Reminiscing about his professional life, Dr. Craven shares that after graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic Medicine in 1977, he worked in a group practice in Tampa for five years before opening his solo practice in Land O’ Lakes in 1983.

His prior office was in the Village Lakes Shopping Plaza, where he built his practice serving families in Lutz, Land O’Lakes and Wesley Chapel. In 2008, the Cravens built a new office designed specifically for the needs of a modern chiropractic center, just north of the Land O’ Lakes Post Office.

“It’s been so much fun and rewarding to see kids and grandchildren of previous patients, who became my patients. We even have a few fourth generations,” said Dr. Craven.

Asked what is the biggest change he has seen since he started practicing, he quickly responds the Internet.

“Because of Google searches, patients are much more informed today and come prepared with many questions,” Dr. Craven said. “There has also been lots of changes in documentation that consumes so much of a doctor’s time. I am glad to be done with all the regulations, documentation and paperwork.”

Biggest technical improvement?

“By far, laser therapy. In the last seven years, we’ve seen incredible results with laser therapy in pain reduction, stimulating healing and reducing inflammation at the cellular level. It’s the most dramatic improvement I’ve seen in 42 years of practice,” he said.

The couple plans to settle not far from their daughter, Kristin, and three grandsons who live in Dahlonega, Georgia. Two of the boys are in middle school and play football — games their grandparents have only seen once.

The Cravens have two other children — son Michael, a mechanical engineer in Oviedo, and daughter Lacey in Tampa, a mother of three and foster parent. The Cravens have six grandchildren who have always been the focus of their lives, outside of their practice.

It is apparent that Dr. Craven loves being a chiropractor as much today as he did when he first started out, and that retiring was not an easy decision.

“It has been tremendously rewarding to enjoy what you do and put down such deep roots in a community,” said Dr. Craven. “To see people we know at the grocery store and about town ‑ knowing our practice has helped them and made a difference in their lives ‑ has been very fulfilling. It will be difficult to leave a community that has given so much to me and my family.”

About Dr. McClure
Dr. McClure wanted a single-chiropractor office that he could expand into new areas, including weight loss and sports injuries. He has a CCSP Certification in sport injuries, and in 2009-2010 was a staff chiropractor for the PGA Tour in New York State. With his varied background, Dr. McClure is changing the name of the practice to Lakes Chiropractic and Wellness.

“Mike is upbeat, high energy, and deeply listens and cares for his patients, in the same ways I’ve strived to do,” said Dr. Craven. “It was just a great fit, and I feel completely confident turning my patients over to him.”

Remaining at the practice as office manager is Lori Rivera, who Dr. Craven describes as the best office manager he has ever worked with. “Lori is a huge help to patients with their insurance claims, appointment scheduling and making them feel welcome,” he said.

Dr. McClure comes from a large practice in Pittsburgh with two offices and five chiropractors, where he was a majority partner for the past 17 years. “While I loved my practice and patients in Pittsburgh, I wanted to be out on my own.”

He made the decision to focus on finding a Florida practice to buy this past spring during a snowstorm. “I’ll never forget the day because it was Cinque de Mayo — May 5, and I was so tired of the snow and cold,” said Dr. McClure.

Once he connected with Dr. Craven, things moved quickly, and the McClure family relocated to Land O’ Lakes this summer, buying a home in Lakeshore Ranch, a subdivision less than 10 minutes from his new office on U.S. 41 in Black Lake Professional Office Park.

The McClures quickly got their children involved in local sports —7-year-old Camden is a goalie  for the Tampa Bay Crunch youth hockey team in Wesley Chapel, and 9-year-old Daniella competes at Florida Elite Swimming Club in Land O’ Lakes.

While the McClures are getting settled, the past few months have been a very emotional time for the Cravens, as they prepare to leave Land O’ Lakes, their home for over 40 years.

Published October 21, 2020

She has lofty goals, and the will to achieve them

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After a lifetime of preparation, Olivia Jenkins was ready to fly.

She boarded a Cessna 172 Skyhawk — and her instructor stayed on the ground.

She took off from Tampa North Flight Center in Lutz on Sept. 23 and flew her pattern, soaring to 1,000 feet, then she touched down flawlessly to begin a run of three landings.

Olivia Jenkins stands near a plane at the North Tampa Flight Center in Lutz. (Courtesy of Olivia Jenkins)

Her quirky goal was complete.

“I flew a plane solo before I drove a car solo,’’ she explained.

Jenkins, 16, has many more goals in mind (including getting her driver’s license — one day). On her birthday — Feb. 10 — she intends to take her last check ride and finalize her private pilot’s license. Then she can fly without restrictions and even take some passengers aboard.

She’s a member of Mitchell High School’s Navy ROTC program and will seek a congressional nomination to a military service academy. One day, she hopes to fly for the U.S. Air Force or perhaps fly helicopters for the Army.

“I would not put anything past Olivia,’’ said Robert Crews, her flight instructor. “For a 16-year-old, she approaches it so professionally. When you ask her to do something, she does it and she understands it.

“You know how 16-year-olds are? They say, ‘Yeah, I got it, I got it.’ Then they don’t have it. When Olivia says she’s got it, she’s got it.”

Jenkins, whose family lives in Trinity, has a 3.9 grade-point average. She has honed her skills and training through the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary unit of the U.S. Air Force. As a cadet commander, she has taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in orientation flights, where cadets fly with instructors and take the controls themselves, while soaking up knowledge.

“Beyond the flight experience, the Civil Air Patrol has allowed Olivia to build a lot of character and leadership skills, as she has progressed through the ranks,’’ said Rich Jenkins, her father. “I think it has all shown her raw ambition. Whenever we set a goal for her, she has always outperformed that goal. She takes it on and masters it, whether it’s schoolwork or anything else.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Jenkins recently took her first solo flight.

“But, clearly, she has a passion for flying. And, she had it from a very early age.’’

Jenkins’ father helped with that. As a private pilot himself, he took Olivia on flights when she was still in a car seat. She doesn’t remember much from those early days. But, the father recalls when they were at the top of the old Pier in St. Petersburg. She had a clear view of Albert Whitted Airport. She spotted the landing indicator lights and knew if the planes were coming in too low. Olivia was 4.

She attended the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland annually with her father, but her flight interest really took off at age 10, when she participated in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EEA) Young Eagles program.

That’s when she set her goal. She wanted to fly solo before she could drive solo.

Mission accomplished.

“I just love the feeling of flying,’’ Jenkins said. “I always had an interest, I think, but the Young Eagles experience really showed me what it’s like to be in the air.

“I was a little nervous on my first solo flight, but I was prepared. I studied hard and was confident in what I was doing. When I flew the approach nicely and touched down nice and smooth, that was absolutely the best part. It’s like achieving a lifelong dream. I’m excited for what’s ahead,” she said.

Olivia Jenkins prepares her plane, at dusk.

Jenkins is nothing but prepared.

She served an internship last summer in the office of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who represents the 12th congressional district in Florida.

Jenkins is back in Bilirakis’ office for occasional work, some of which involves helping organize students who are seeking nominations to military service academies. By next summer, with her connections firmly in place, Jenkins will be seeking her own nomination.

She also has maximized her experience with the Civil Air Patrol, taking five orientation flights (almost mini-flight lessons), getting accepted into a summer flight academy and securing most of her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examinations, the precursor to a private pilot’s license.

She has about 13 sessions remaining with Crews, her flight instructor, before the birthday flight that will make things official.

If the weather conditions are right, Jenkins can rent a plane at the Tampa North Flight Center for a brief flight. On a whim, she did that recently. It was after-hours, calm and quiet. Taking the plane up was a thrill. The landing was perfect.

“The sunset was amazing that night,’’ Jenkins said. “It was just awesome. I think I’m always going to love the feeling. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.’’

Off she goes into the wild blue yonder. She’s ready to fly.

By Joey Johnston

Published October 21, 2020

Artists’ handiwork displayed on hay bales

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People who enjoy viewing public art might want to check out six hay bales — painted by artists of various ages — that have been stationed around locations in Dade City.

The display is the Dade City Center for the Arts’ kick-off project, since being revived in July 2020.

This painting of a scarecrow’s face was done by Morgan Turgeon and Ethan Wiley, students at Pasco High School. The painted hay bale is at Price Park. (Courtesy of Dade City Center for the Arts)

Hancock Farm & Feed Co., provided and delivered the hay bales.

Those wishing to view the works can visit these Dade City locations:

  • Hardy Trail at Church Avenue, 37856 Church Ave.
  • Hibiscus Park, Seventh Street and Bougainvillea Avenue
  • Price Park, 37415 Magnolia Ave.
  • Agnes Lamb Park, 14200 Ninth St.
  • Naomi Jones Park, 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd.
  • Watson Park, on Main Avenue, between 17th and 19th streets

The paintings have been well-received, said Lucy Avila, of Dade City Center for the Arts, in a news release.

To find out more about Dade City art, check the art center’s website at DadeCityArts.com.

The center also has other projects planned to enhance downtown Dade City.

The arts center is headquartered at Out of Our Hands Gallery, 14245 Seventh St., in Dade City.

Published October 21, 2020

Who knows? The owl knows. This painted bale, located at Agnes Lamb Park, was created by Patty Resse and daughters, Cassidy, Delaney and Alissa Ross.
This painted bale, near the Hardy Trail, was created by Kevin Taggerty, a retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, and his daughter, Ryah, a first grade teacher at Lacoochee Elementary.
This symbol of Halloween and all things autumn is located at Naomi Jones Park, and was painted by Casandra Moua and Kevin Taggerty.
This painting of a butterfly was done by Russ Taylor and can be found at Watson Park.
This truck hauling pumpkins was painted by Diego Grant, a senior at Pasco High School. The artwork is located at Hibiscus Park.

COVID-19 might forever change the way we work

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The COVID-19 virus era has changed the American workplace in the short term — and maybe in the long term, too.

Safety precautions are paramount.

Many employees are working remotely with new equipment, and a different process, overall.

‘Many of us are working at home and not going out as much as we did. For employees, this can create stress, anxiety and loneliness,’ said Sheri Bias, a Saint Leo University associate professor. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

The upside, of course, is skipping the commute, but a recent Saint Leo University webinar — “Workplace Reimagined/Human Capital and the Return to the Workplace’’ — pointed out unintended consequences that could extract a huge toll on productivity, the human connection and mental wellness, too.

“Most businesses had a contingency plan based on natural disasters, such as hurricanes, but based on the duration and magnitude of this pandemic, many businesses were not ready for something like this,’’ said Sheri Bias, a Saint Leo associate professor with a deep background in human resources. “Now that employees are re-entering the workplace, consideration must be given to a lot of different measures.

“Employers must be cognizant of continuity and the impact on people. They need to understand wellness from a mental standpoint. And, they must understand mental health concerns as they relate to new work demands.’’

Bias said World Health Organization (WHO) research indicates that for every dollar invested by a company in mental wellness, a $4 return can be expected through improved employee health and wellness.

“Employees are juggling multiple things during this pandemic,’’ Bias said. “They may have their own health concerns. They may be dealing with elder care or helping their children with a new online environment at school. And, this is all while balancing their own workload.

‘We know COVID-19 is highly infectious and we know it can stay longer in the air, like when a smoker leaves the room, but you can still smell the smoke,’ said Rafael Rosado-Ortiz, an associate professor of health care management in Saint Leo University.

“Many of us are working at home and not going out as much as we did. For employees, this can create stress, anxiety and loneliness. There’s Zoom (video conferencing) burnout. From an organizational leadership standpoint, you must show you care. Pick up the phone. Reach out. Ask what you can do for the employee. Those type of gestures can be resounding. It’s establishing that personal connection and, in times like these, that is so very important.’’

Brandy Policita, Saint Leo’s Instructor of Health and Wellness who was a corporate wellness manager for three Fortune 500 companies, said a new term has emerged in her field.

Digital wellness.

“Before the pandemic, we were already getting a mass amount of emails and texts,’’ Policita said. “Now, communication has gone through the ceiling. The manner of consumption has changed. We’re not engaging. We are numb to it all. Distraction can come into play.’’

Policita said there has been considerable research on the harmful effects of technology on children, but some of those factors are coming into play for adults in the workplace.

“The migration to mobile has been going on quite some time, and we like our mobility,’’ Policita said. “But, as we migrate away from the office space, the lines have been blurred. We thought we were always on before. Now we are really always on.

“It’s causing an array of issues. The multitasking tendencies and technology are leading to eyestrain. Most of us don’t blink enough because we’re always on tech. We’re seeing an increase in headaches, the next for physical therapy or occupational therapy, anxiety and depression. This always-on culture is going to affect employees.’’

Policita said technology has created adverse effects that impact focus, engagement, memory and resiliency. She added that multitasking is a myth, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed and the inability to complete job functions.

So what to do?
“The goal is to be in the flow in the workplace, in the zone, where it feels effortless with no distraction,’’ Policita said. “It needs to be intentional. You need to be in control and employers need to facilitate that.

‘If an employee comes to work and has symptoms or if they become ill during the workday, obviously the person should be sent home,’ Kathleen Van Eerden said. ‘But, it could also involve making sure they don’t use public transportation, rideshare or taxi that would put others at risk,’ said Eerden, an associate dean in Saint Leo’s College of Health Professions.

“We don’t do enough daydreaming, where we reflect and process the day. If we pause now, we probably check our phone. We need harmony and that could mean a digital intervention,” she said.

She continued: “Employers and supervisors need to model proper behavior. They need to encourage weekends, vacations, work recovery. You can pause emails at 6 p.m., and turn them back on at 8 a.m. That could be policy. It would show that time away is not only encouraged, it is valued.’’

Beyond technology-related concerns, COVID-19 also has created heightened precaution and preventative health measures in the workplace. Most of them are related to common sense.

“To be in compliance and to protect everyone, it’s social distancing, wearing a face covering, washing your hands, the things we’ve been hearing all along,’’ said Rafael Rosado-Ortiz, an associate professor of health care management in Saint Leo’s Tapia College of Business.

Brandy Policita, an instructor of health and wellness at Saint Leo University, said there has been considerable research on the harmful effects of technology on children, but some of those factors are coming into play for adults in the workplace, too.

“We know COVID-19 is highly infectious and we know it can stay longer in the air, like when a smoker leaves the room, but you can still smell the smoke. You’ve got to do the right things and know things like hand sanitizer is not a substitute for soap and water. You’ve got to routinely clean and disinfect the routinely touched areas. In the classroom, it’s desks and computers. In restaurants, it’s the tables, the door handles, the bathrooms.’’

Kathleen Van Eerden, an associate dean in Saint Leo’s College of Health Professions, said employers must be vigilant.

“If an employee comes to work and has symptoms or if they become ill during the workday, obviously the person should be sent home,’’ Van Eerden said. “But, it could also involve making sure they don’t use public transportation, rideshare or taxi that would put others at risk.

“You want to follow all the CDC guidelines in terms of when an employee can come back because you don’t want exposure to other employees or customers. It’s just being aware and following through,” she said.

Being tuned in to employees — whether at the office or remotely — is part of keeping up with a very different workplace in the era of COVID-19.

By Joey Johnston

Published October 21, 2020

Christmas parade in Dade City is unlikely

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The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recently posted a notice on its website to clarify apparent myths regarding the Christmas Parade held in Dade City.

“The chamber has withdrawn the application it submitted in May, to operate, staff and insure the Christmas Parade for 2020,” the notice says.

“It takes a lot of time, effort and interaction for the entries to produce their floats, bands to practice and groups to meet and rehearse what they would be doing in the parade,” the post adds.

“A host of volunteers is needed to actually ‘run’ the parade – in some cases, folks are not yet ready to say ‘yes’ to participating in large, uncontrolled groups,” the post continues.

The announcement goes on, to make this point: “The chamber does not “own” a parade.  If another group would like to produce a Christmas Parade, they simply need to obtain a special event permit from the city.”

If any group is interested in pursuing the project of putting on the parade, the chamber would be happy to provide guidance or counsel, the posting adds.

John Moors, executive director of the chamber, invites anyone with questions to call him at (352) 567-3769.

Published October 21, 2020

Community input sought on strategic plan

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Pasco County is embarking on its five-year strategic plan and is seeking feedback from its stakeholders and the public in general to help shape the plan.

The county had planned to hold SWOT — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats — analysis sessions before the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to its plans, and now it is reviving the effort, according to a Pasco County news release.

A series of community meetings will be held to solicit feedback and ideas. The first session is  set for Oct. 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Cooperative Extension Office, at 36702 State Road 52 in Dade City.

The Pasco County Commission is seeking input on these topics:

  • Identifying Pasco’s competitive advantages in the Tampa Bay region
  • Exploring opportunities for increased levels of service
  • Preparing Pasco County for the next five years of growth
  • Identifying potential challenges
  • Improving operations and service delivery to the community

The SWOT strategic planning tool helps to clarify and summarize key internal and external issues and opportunities that affect Pasco County.

By conducting these sessions, the county is seeking to gain a better understanding of Pasco’s unique assets and competitive positioning in the Tampa Bay region, according to the news release.

This process will help develop the strategic plan — in areas related to capacity for growth, as well as cultural, economic, technological, intellectual and physical assets to promote Pasco County’s economic vitality.

Preregistration is required, face masks are required and social distancing guideline will be followed. Several virtual sessions will be offered for those who prefer not to participate in person.

To learn more about the process, view a complete community meeting schedule, and register to participate, visit bit.ly/PascoSWOT.

For more information, call (727) 847-8115, or email .

Published October 21, 2020