The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Earth Day coming to Crews Lake Park

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Crews Lake Park will celebrate Earth Day April 26 with a day-long event featuring workshops, crafts and even a ladybug release.

The event is sponsored by Pasco County Parks & Recreation, Covanta Pasco, the University of Florida Pasco Cooperative Extension and Pasco County Utilities. It takes place at the park, located at 16739 Crews Lake Drive in Spring Hill, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Two workshops are scheduled, the first talking about rain water harvesting at both 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and a worm composting workshop at noon. There also are opportunities for attendees to bring in electronics for recycling, including televisions — although more than two televisions will cost $7.

The event also will accept any mercury-containing device, with each person bringing that receiving a $5 gift card from Walmart. Anyone with expired or unused medications can bring them to the event as well as part of its pill take-back program.

Crews Lake also will the the site Saturday for hazardous household waste collection from residential sources only. The utilities department will accept all kinds of waste, except explosives, biomedical, business, household trash, substances in containers greater than five gallons, radioactive materials, drums of any size, yard debris, carpet and padding, and construction demolition debris.

The event will include a native plant sale, as well as train rides from Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad.

For more information on the event, call (727) 856-2917, ext. 201.

Earth Day itself is celebrated April 22, calling attention to the need for environmental protection.

MADD wants Florida to get tougher on drunk drivers

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State lawmakers are looking to crack down on drunk drivers with H.B. 7005’s requirement to study the effectiveness of ignition interlocks for first time convicted offenders with blood-alcohol content above 0.08, but MADD wants them to go even further.

In a letter to state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, Mothers Against Drunk Driving national president Jan Withers wants ignition interlocks to be required for all first-time convicted drunk drivers for at least six months. An ignition interlock is a device wired into the ignition system of a vehicle that requires the driver to take a breathalyzer to check for alcohol before starting the car, according to MADD.

“A study of the effectiveness of ignition interlock devices has already been conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and MADD’s advocacy efforts are grounded in this research,” Withers wrote. “According to this research, requiring or highly incentivizing interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers reduces drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent.”

Currently, 22 states require the devices for all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, Withers said.

Florida does use the devices for convicted drivers who had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or greater, and H.B. 7005 would give a judge discretion on whether to offer it for drivers with blood-alcohol content levels below that.

CDC research finds that “first-time officers are rarely first-time drunk drivers,” Withers wrote. “Conservative estimates show that a first-time convicted DUI offender has driven drunk at least 80 times prior to the first arrest. And that 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers will continue to drive with a suspended driver’s license.”

In 2012, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that more than 17,200 Florida residents were convicted of driving on a license suspended because they were driving under the influence.

“MADD believes Florida needs … a new approach to handle persons arrested for drunk driving as license suspension alone is no longer practical,” Withers wrote.

Other states with similar ignition interlock measures as what MADD is proposing saw drunk driving fatalities drop, Withers said. That includes a 38 percent decline in New Mexico, 43 percent in Arizona and 35 percent in Louisiana.

H.B. 7005 moved through its latest committee April 15 on its way to the House floor.

Region under severe thunderstorm watch

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The National Weather Service says a line of strong thunderstorms have formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and are threatening the entire Tampa Bay region — including Pasco and Hillsborough counties — until 8 p.m.

Meteorologists with the weather service detected the storms just after 2 p.m. Friday along a line extending from Honeymoon Island near Palm Harbor to Longboat Key. The system was moving northeast at 30 mph, and has gusty winds of 45 to 55 mph that can cause unsecured object to blow around, snap tree limbs and cause power outages.

Torrential rains will reduce visibility to near zero, and will cause water ponding on roadways, the weather service said.

The watch also is for Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Manatee, Polk, Pinellas, Sarasota and Sumter counties.

UPDATE: The watch has been lifted.

Rabies alert area in Zephyrhills expanded

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The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has expanded the boundaries for a rabies alert it issued last month, after a raccoon found outside the previous boundaries tested positive for rabies.

The current alert is for the next 60 days, with the center of the affected area in the southeast area of Pasco. It’s bordered on the west by County Road 535, on the south by Centennial Road, on the east by River Glen Boulevard, and on the north by Chancey Road.

Domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated, officials said, even if they are outside the current rabies alert area.

“In rural and urban surroundings, rabies in the wild animal population — specifically raccoons — are more prevalent than most people think,” said county health office Mike Napier, in a release. “We urge you to be responsible pet owners and get your pets vaccinated, and to educate your children to stay away from raccoons or animals they are not familiar with.”

All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies, and all wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly with raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes, officials said.

Rabies is a disease of the nervous system, and is fatal to humans and warm-blooded animals. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization.

Precautions to protect against rabies are to:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.
• Keep pets under direct supervision so they do not come into contact with wild animals. If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
• Call local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from a neighborhood.
• Do no handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals, or bring them into a house.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals — wild or domestic — even if they appear friendly.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets.
• If bitten by an animal, seek care promptly. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Visit family doctor or hospital for medical attention immediately.
• Contact Pasco County Animal Services at (813) 929-1212 to report animal bites or scratches, and for information on stray dogs and cats.
• Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (863) 648-3203 for concerns about wild animals.

Lawmakers get closer on final state budget

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There is still time for Florida lawmakers to hammer out a budget. But a review by Florida TaxWatch shows there’s still some separation between the House and Senate when it comes to education, water and tax cuts.

When legislators return  from a recess next week, they are expected to begin the budget conferencing process, where members from both chambers negotiate differences in funding levels, the organization said. Florida TaxWatch says it wants lawmakers to focus solely on resolving funding discrepancies, and resist the urge to add new projects during this time.

“Budget conferencing is a very important step in the budget process, but it is a time to review and compromise the differences in programs already approved by the state’s elected officials,” said Dominic Calabro, Florida TaxWatch’s president and chief executive, in a release. “TaxWatch encourages lawmakers not to add new projects that have not been, and will not be, vetted by the full legislative body during conference proceedings.”

Both budgets increase spending above current-year funding, but the House budget is slightly higher, spending a total of $75.3 billion, Calabro’s group said. That increases funding by nearly $1 billion. The House has earmarked more funding to education, human services, and environment and transportation.

The Senate, on the other hand, is looking to budget $74.9 billion, or $600 million above current spending. It caters more to criminal justice, general government and courts.

Both sides, however, have put aide $3 billion for reserve, something Florida TaxWatch says it commends. However, both the House and Senate also plan to sweep up to $325 million from the state trust funds into the general revenue budget this year, something the organization is not a fan of.

“Sometime sweeping trust funds into general revenue is necessary,” said Kurt Wenner, the organization’s vice president for tax research. “However, the process should include transparency and accountability measures that allow lawmakers to better evaluate the need for breaking the trust.”

Here are some tips to conserve water at home

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District — more commonly known as Swiftmud — continues its campaign to encourage water conservation year-round, and is offering tips that can help achieve those goals.

April is Water Conservation Month, and it also is traditionally one of the driest months of the year in Florida, Swiftmud officials said.

When indoors:
• Only run washing machines and dishwashers when they are full.
• Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads, since normal and permanent press wash cycles use more water.
• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
• Scrape, don’t rinse, dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
• Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.

When outdoors:
• Check a home’s irrigation system for leaks to save up to 6,300 gallons of water per month.
• Turn off a home’s irrigation system, and only water as needed. This could save up to 2,000 gallons each time a watering day is skipped.
• Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind when to turn them off.
• Use a hose with a shutoff nozzle when washing the car to save around 40 gallons of water per wash.
• Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering landscapes. Rainwater is free and better for plants, because it doesn’t contain hard minerals.

Leaks are the biggest water waster, Swiftmud officials said, both inside and outside of a home. A water meter can be used to check for leaks.

To do that, turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, and make sure no one is using water during the testing period. Make sure the hot water heater is refilled, and ice cube makers are done, as well as water softeners regenerated.

Then go to the water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes, without using any water, and then read the meter again.

If the reading has changed, there is a leak.

For information about water conservation, visit WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

Pasco County’s annual online survey now open

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It’s survey time in Pasco County again, as government officials look to get feedback from residents and businesses about the future of the county.

The 2014 Citizen Survey includes questions about quality of life, speed of growth, crime and safety, public transit, recycling, and general services, according to a release from the county. It also asks questions about the State Road 54/56 corridor, where an unsolicited bid to build an estimated $2.2 billion elevated toll road has been proposed.

Data from the survey is combined from its random, scientific National Citizen Survey, and provides input for prioritizing planning efforts and budget allocations.

County Administrator Michele Baker wrote a letter promoting the survey, talking about the sampling size used in the national survey.

“There have been some previous letters and comments about the sampling size, albeit small (at) around 1,600, used by the National Citizen Survey,” she wrote. “This is a separate survey, using many of the same questions, to provide the county commissioners with valuable citizen input and feedback.”

The survey uses scientifically proven research methods to sample a cross-section of the population, Baker said, adding it was “just one additional tool to help our county commissioners better represent” Pasco County residents and businesses.

The survey is open online through May 31, and can be accessed at PascoCountyFl.net.

Visitors to the site can provide feedback at any time as well through the customer comment card available on the site, or by sending an email to .

A direct link to the survey is available at tinyurl.com/PascoCountySurvey.

There’s always time for a good meal at Grand Horizons

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On March 14 about 50 people met at Texas Roadhouse to enjoy a great meal.

Dora May and Jim were all decked out and ready to go for the St. Patty’s Day dinner. (Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)
Dora May and Jim were all decked out and ready to go for the St. Patty’s Day dinner.
(Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)

The menu was filled with a variety of choices, and along with all the peanuts you care to eat, everyone was sufficiently fed. Many doggie bags were taken home as the meals were quite large.

Appetizers were given to every couple because of a slight mix-up. Al and Sandy Lindke, who hosted this meal, were able to get the appetizers for us. In addition to having the lunch run smoothly, our thanks go to them for the extra mile they went in obtaining this extra treat for us.

Then, on March 17, about 86 people enjoyed a St. Patty’s day dinner that included corn beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, and roll and butter, with all the accompanying condiments. Desserts also were served, and there were two kinds of cake. All was delicious.

Vivian Sturdevant gave grace before the meal. Wayne Bloomfield was the host, and the helpers were Jeanne Bloomfield, Andy and Margaret Castonguay, and Chuck and Shirley Carlson. The people who attended this dinner had plenty to eat and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

On March 20, there was a lovely luncheon at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City. Helen Hardardt hosted this, and all who attended had a very nice luncheon.

From what Helen told me, approximately 15 women went to this function and they sat in the dining room overlooking the golf course. What a fantastic view they all had!  Helen also went on to say that there was a drawing for three lucky winners.

There was a variety of gifts that were given out including a stuffed rabbit. That means that three women went home with a memento of their luncheon. I had a previous engagement that day but have gone to Lake Jovita before, and every time is a pure pleasure.

During the week, residents were busy donating their rummage to the community center for the sale on March 29. The bakers also were busy getting goodies ready for the bake sale and the people who wanted something sweet to eat.

Once the day arrived, there were many homes that had sales plus a book sale, bake and rummage sale in the community center. There were a variety of treasures to browse through, and everyone seemed to have a good time. If you were too busy shopping to go out for lunch, you could purchase a bite to eat in the center.

On April 2, pool exercises have started once again. The instructor is Judy Ellsworth. They had these exercises last year, but when the cold weather came, they had to stop. Now that the weather looks to be promising, exercises have started once again.

This is a good way to get into shape once again, and it is very relaxing and good for your health.

On April 3, there were several residents in the community center for a monthly social club meeting. This is the place to go to discuss your concerns that are within the community.

I would like to mention there was a luncheon on April 10.  Sam Sage, who is the coordinator of this group, said, “The greeting card ladies of Grand Horizons have been invited to a volunteer dinner hosted by Zephyr Haven Rehab center. We have been making greeting cards for Zephyr Haven for about four years now. We also send greeting cards to our service personnel in the Middle East, as well as two other nursing homes in Zephyrhills.”

Good going to all who participated, as everyone is doing a good service, and I am sure the cards are appreciated.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published April 16, 2014

Harmony group sweetens the end of the season

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(Courtesy of Anne Astles)
(Courtesy of Anne Astles)

Leisure Days’ Women in Harmony gave their first public performance at the park’s 29th Strawberry Festival. Peggy Goodmurphy directed the group, and Marian Reece accompanied the ladies on the piano. Park residents enjoyed the fun-filled song ‘We Love Strawberries,’ along with other familiar tunes. The festival wrapped up the 2013-14 season at Leisure Days. Most of the residents are heading north, but activities will continue and year-round residents will be busy planning the Halloween Welcome Back Party for the seasonal folks.

Area prepares for National Day of Prayer on May 1

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Former Zephyrhills mayor and current state House candidate Danny Burgess will lead National Day of Prayer activities in his town as part of several events taking place locally on May 1.

Burgess will open the Zephyrhills ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. with a prayer for the city as well as the state from Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St. The theme is “One Voice United in Prayer, based on the Bible verse from Romans 15:6: “So that with one mind and one voice, you may Florida the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Burgess is followed by the Rev. Robert McKinney of Westside Baptist Church will speak on the needs of the nation, and pray for national and local leaders. The Rev. Shelton Wood, president of Georgetown Wesleyan University of the Americas, will pray for the military. Pastor Mike Holm of Calvary Chapel of Tampa in Lutz will pray for the family, while Pastor Thomas Marino of Community Harvest Church, will speak on the condition of the church, and ask God for unity among Christians.

Alyse Merritt of Tendershoot Films will pray for Israel, and the Adventist Bell Choir will perform patriotic music under the direction of Stephen Herr.

Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz, will pray for the nation, church and personal needs beginning 9:30 a.m. Generations Christian Church, 1540 Little Road in Trinity, will host a self-guided event complete with soft music, slides and prayer guides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The National Day of Prayer is held the first Thursday of May each year, open to people of all faiths. It was first signed into law in 1952 by President Harry S. Truman.

For information, visit NationalDayOfPrayer.org.