Special to The Laker/Lutz News

And dealing with the aftermath

Compiled for The Laker/Lutz News by Marie Abramov

Bracing for hurricanes

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Prepare before the big storm threatens, to minimize its impacts on you and loved ones.

Prepare a hurricane kit. It should include:

–One gallon of water per person for a week to ten days

–Nonperishable food items including juices, crackers, breakfast and protein bars, canned and dried fruit, peanut butter and bread

–Utensils for eating, including paper cups and plates, plastic utensils

–Blankets and pillows; hygiene supplies, moisture wipes and toilet paper; waterproof and seasonal clothing and reliable shoes; first-aid kit and special medications; flashlights, batteries, tools and tarpaulins; cameras

Take these steps:

–Freeze containers of ice in case of a power outage to help keep foods cold. Freeze highly perishable items like meat, poultry, milk and cheese so they may last longer during a hurricane. Grouped food stays colder longer. A refrigerator keeps its contents cold if left unopened for four hours; a freezer maintains functions for 24 hours if it’s half-full – 48 hours if it’s completely full.

— Protect your documents in a watertight plastic bag or waterproof container. Include social security numbers, passports, marriage and/or divorce papers, titles and deeds, mortgage and insurance documents, driver licenses, bank statements and so on.

— Fill your gas tank and have plenty of cash on hand, in case the storm knocks out power from gas pumps and ATMs.

— Protect your car from flooding damage by moving it as far inland as possible and to higher ground, like a multi-tiered parking garage. Do not park cars next to trees and other objects that could blow into them. Remove items not permanently held in place, such as a GPS.

Protect your home:

— Protect your windows with permanent storm shutters or sheets of plywood.

— Remove objects around the home that act as projectiles in high winds, such as potted plants, barbecue grills, garden gnomes and garbage cans.

Protect your family:

–Make an evacuation plan with family members. Learn the quickest evacuation routes and shelters. Bring an emergency kit. Have mobile phones or radios to maintain communications. Watch for road hazards when traveling on an evacuation route.

Pointers to help with a storm’s aftermath

Take these steps to avoid danger and minimize hassles:

–Contact your insurance agent to notify the company of any covered damage to your home, apartment or vehicle and to find out the extent of your coverage.

–Take detailed photographs of damaged items to submit with claims.

–Save receipts for all dining, hotel, medical, hygiene and even entertainment for reimbursement. The receipts should be saved from the time you leave your home until you are able to return to live in it. Also, even spoiled food items, up to a limit, may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.

In case of flooding:

–If water has flooded the interior of your car, do not try to start it because that may cause additional damage.

–Cover broken windows and tarp the windows and roof of your home to keep rain and animals from getting in and making the situation worse.

Keep yourself safe after the storm:

–Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters immediately after a hurricane. The water may be deeper than you think or there may be a strong undercurrent. Also, there may be fallen electrical lines in the water.

–If you must evacuate, avoid driving over fallen electrical lines. They can energize your car and pose a serious safety risk. If there are fallen electrical lines near your car, stay in your car and call 911 or attract attention for help.

–Be aware that metal fences, mailboxes, poles and even nonmetal objects, such as wood and standing water, become conduits for electrical lines, so use care when assessing damage to your home and car.

–Be careful of downed electrical lines when you are clearing out debris around the home. Have someone with you during the cleanup in the event of an accident so the other person may call for help. Fallen trees and their branches may be tangled up with power lines.

Watch out for scams and unlicensed contractors:

–Beware of the electricians, roofers and contractors who push or rush you into accepting their services on the spot.

–Don’t make cash-only business deals. Pay by check or credit card. Don’t pay the full price upfront before the job is satisfactorily completed.

–Before hiring a contractor, do your research. Verify the contractor’s business license and insurance. Legitimate contractors are certified and insured or bonded. They also offer written estimates, not verbal quotes.

— Be wary of those traveling door-to-door who offer services using a pitch such as, they just  “happened to be in the area and had materials leftover from previous jobs.”

Sources: hurricane.com, fda.gov, ehow.com, about.com, weltmanhomeservices.com and whitehouse.gov.

By Marie Abramov

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Kiran Shila, a 17-year-old amateur licensed radio operator, confidently displayed a colorful map of emergency radio communications with lines stretching to Steinbrenner High.

Six fellow boy scouts listened intently, as Shila explained basic physics principals – such as wavelengths and frequencies – and talked about how the group would work together to build a small radio network.

Shila is leading the project in his quest to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouts.

The group will construct three portable radio stations, which will be placed at three schools that serve as Red Cross emergency shelters. The two schools other than Steinbrenner have not yet been identified.

When the stations are operating, the three high schools will be able to communicate with a clear signal to other radio operators within a 30- to 50-mile radius.

Shila will use a 2-meter radio wavelength. Towers from members of the Tampa Amateur Radio Club may then pick up and relay communication signals to long-distance terminals using 8- to 10-meter wavelengths.

The young men are members of Boy Scout Troop 314. The number of their troop, when expressed as 3.14, represents Pi, the ratio of circumference to diameter.

“We called it Troop Pi because our scoutmasters and parents are all engineers, and most of the kids are pretty much math and science-oriented,” Shila said.

After Shila introduced the concepts of the project, the group began building the first portable station. They took a black case, which is 2 feet long, 1 ½ feet tall and 1 foot wide, and started wiring, drilling and working with the battery. When the work on the case is finished, the radios, antennas, wiring and lights will be compactly and neatly stored on racks inside the go-box.

For the next couple of months, Shila and his scout team will work on making the antennas from scratch, assembling all the parts and building the stations.

The project is especially timely this year, as The Weather Channel experts have put Tampa at the top of the list of the 10 U.S. cities most at risk this hurricane season, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30.

The Weather Channel’s list bases a city’s vulnerability on its population, storm surge data, evacuation times and the number of years since it was hit by a hurricane. The last direct hit in Tampa was in 1921, so Tampa may be due for another one, the report says.

An AccuWeather forecast predicts 16 tropical storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes developing over the Atlantic Ocean in this hurricane season. Three hurricanes are expected to make U.S. landfall in 2013, the report says.

Tampa Bay already has felt the effects of the first storm – Tropical Storm Andrea, which swept across the region on June 6, causing heavy rain, winds and tornadoes.

Shila’s project aims to produce quick and easy communications during a natural disaster. That’s important because schools and other shelters generally have no way to communicate when telephone lines and cell towers go down during a storm, said William E. Bode, president of the Tampa Bay Amateur Radio Society.

“When they activate for some emergency, a lot of times the people who have to go to those shelters have to bring (radio) equipment with them,” Bode said. “Sometimes they have difficulty establishing communication initially, so established systems would be an ideal scenario.”

Kiran’s interest in ham radio began when he was young. By the time he was 12, he had received his ham radio license.

He said he wanted to create an organized system of emergency communications because he felt it was lacking.

“I’ve always really liked electronics, tinkering with things, taking things apart and figuring out what exactly makes them tick,” Shila said. “The whole concept behind physics and engineering really intrigues me, and ham radio is a perfect outlet for all of it because it has the physics application … (and) circuit construction from electrical engineering.”

Shila’s uncle, Jon Pairitz, a long-time licensed radio operator himself, fostered Shila’s childhood radio activity by helping him understand basic radio mechanics and getting him to take the amateur radio exam.

“A lot of people took the exam that day, but he was the youngest, by far,” Pairitz said. “A lot of them didn’t pass, but he did.”

Pairitz said people rarely, if ever, tap into amateur radio as an emergency resource because of the police, fire and Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency communications systems that are firmly in place.

But this amateur radio project can prove valuable in its own right because it could pique the interest of the youth to develop radio skills and take responsibility for disaster relief, Pairitz said.

Kevin Cucchi, a member of Shila’s crew, said he is interested in learning about the inner workings of emergency radio.

“I’m very interested in the practical applications of math, especially into physics,” Cucchi said.

He pitched in to help build the first one when the group gathered at the American Legion club. He has known Shila for about 10 years, since they both became scouts.

While the young men keep working on the project, Shila continues raising funds. He needs about $2,500 to pay for parts necessary for the other two stations.

Anyone who would like to support the project or learn more about it can call Shila at (813) 422-8343 or email him at .

By B.C. Manion

Gates High School has closed for the upcoming school year, according to a letter posted by John Leaver, chairman of the school’s board of directors.

Leaver posted the news in a letter to parents posted on the school’s website.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I am writing this email,” Leaver wrote.

The high school program has been housed in a rental space on Florida Avenue, awaiting the development of a middle and high school campus off Sunset Lane and US 41 in Lutz.

That proposed site off Sunset Lane, however, met heavy resistance from area residents, wound up in a court battle and the issue remains unresolved.

Mike White, founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, has led the opposition to the proposed school site. The group doesn’t object to the school itself, only its proposed location, White said.

White said he’d heard the idea of putting the middle and high school site off Sunset Lane had been abandoned, but said he hasn’t received written confirmation to that effect. He also said opponents to the site on Sunset will continue pursuing their court case and other strategies, until they have official word that the site has been abandoned.

In his letter to parents, Leaver explained that when he joined the school’s board, he thought the schools could resolve the issues they faced.

“I still feel as though we could have made it work, but the obstacles that continued to be presented by the board of LGCS (Learning Gate Community School) pushed us too far down the road.

“The failure to prepare for another property and lack of planning on behalf of the boards has put the schools in a position where there was not enough space to house the two schools without some modification,” Leaver noted.

“Many of you have hung in there while we tried to figure out a possible solution, and I am very grateful for your faith and support. Like you, I am now forced to analyze my children’s schooling options. I also realize some of you have waited past the choice deadline and now have to scramble to find a school for your high schoolers,” he added.

“I will follow up this email with details as to what resources we can provide to help answer questions and direct you to any available resources,” he added.

“I wish all of you the best in the coming years and regret that we will not be able to fulfill the vision of the Gates High School,” Leaver wrote.

In other news, Patti Girard, who founded Learning Gate more than a quarter-century ago,  is no longer with the school.

A request for more information about Girard’s departure was referred to Leaver, who could not be reached for comment on that issue or for more information about whether efforts to build a middle and high school site off Sunset Lane would now be abandoned.

Although the Florida Avenue location no longer will house high school students, it will continue to house seventh- and eighth-graders, as part of Learning Gates’ program.

Meanwhile, the Hillsborough County public school district is working with parents to help the students from Gates to transition to another high school, said Steve Hegarty, spokesman for the school district.

The district received word of the high school’s closing during the week of the Fourth of July holiday, Hegarty said.

There were 84 students enrolled in the Gates high school program last year, Hegarty said. Parents will have an option of choosing a choice school, a neighborhood school or a charter school, he added.

The school district’s Office of Student Planning & Placement, has reached out to parents to offer assistance in helping their children enroll in another school for the upcoming school year.

“We understand that uprooting your child at this time of year can place stress on families, and therefore, we are committed to helping you make an informed decision on a school for your child,” says a letter to parents from the Office of Student Planning & Placement.

The letter also included an application, inviting parents to indicate two Hillsborough County public schools they’re interested in having their child attend.

“Complete and submit the application and a placement specialist will call you to discuss the schools,” the letter says. The deadline for those applications is July 19.

Parents who have questions can contact the Choice Information Line at (813) 272-4692.

By B.C. Manion

A proposal for a new criminal courthouse next to the Land O’ Lakes Jail has been put on hold — despite urgings from J. Thomas McGrady, the chief judge of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, to move forward toward building the structure.

Pasco County commissioners decided July 9 to refrain from proceeding with choosing who should design and build the structure.

Commissioners said they want a master facilities plan to give them a comprehensive picture of the county’s needs, before moving forward with the courthouse project.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader said construction costs are not the only issue. He said he’s concerned about operation and maintenance costs that would arise from opening the new criminal courts building.

He urged a delay on selecting the best team to design and build the courthouse.

“What’s the point of going through the exercise if we’re not going to fund it?” Schrader said.

Commissioners decided to put off any decision on the project, at least until the fall.

That action came despite McGrady’s request to move forward.

“This is something we’ve been asking for, for many, many years. There still needs to be a new courthouse, a criminal courthouse in Land O’ Lakes,” McGrady said.

Considerable groundwork has been laid, McGrady said, noting $729,000 of courthouse improvement funds has been spent to do design work in order to put the project out for design/bid proposals.

Heery — the company that did that work — estimated it would cost $28 million for the courthouse building.

County officials said the cost is not yet clear because that would depend on the design/build team that was selected and their guarantee not-to-exceed cost.

McGrady said efforts have been made to avoid excessive costs.

“When Heery did the design work, all of us wanted more space. We all agreed, ‘We can do without this, we can do without that.’ A lot of effort, a lot of compromise went into this,” judge said.

The project is needed so the county’s criminal proceedings can be done in a central location, near the jail, instead of having inmates transported to New Port Richey and Dade City, McGrady said.

The court would also be able to clear more cases annually, McGrady said.

“We need more judges in Pasco County. There’s no question about it. But there’s no place to put them. There’s no room in Dade City. There’s no room in New Port Richey.”

Pasco County has a clearance rate of 90 percent, based on the number of cases coming in, versus the number of cases going out. That compares to a clearance rate of 108 percent in Pinellas.

The clearance rate affects the state attorney, the public defender and the jail system, as inmates wait longer to go through court.

McGrady noted that there’s $7 million available in court improvement funds that could be used for the project, with a projected $1 million a year coming in. The project can be bonded.

But County Administrator Michele Baker said the county needs to have a better grasp on all of its facility needs before going out for a bond issue. She advocates having a master facilities plan done to ensure that the county makes the most of its resources and puts together a comprehensive bond package.

A preliminary estimate for that work was $650,000.

Mulieri doesn’t support that idea. “We’re going to spend $650,000 just to tell us what we need?”

But Commissioner Kathryn Starkey countered: “We need a master facilities plan for the county. We need to know our most pressing needs.”

Baker said she believes it would cost significantly less than $650,000 for that work, based on the actual scope of the work. By having an overall view of the county’s needs, it can make better decisions about sharing sites and space, she said.

Schrader said he also thinks the criminal courthouse project might offer the opportunity to explore a public-private partnership.

State Attorney Bernie McCabe told commissioners he had been under the impression that these issues had been discussed before Heery was hired to do the extensive design work the company has completed.

Public Defender Bob Dillinger said he needs more space. His staff is falling 10 percent behind every year because he doesn’t have enough room to provide space for attorneys.

By B.C. Manion

Michele Baker made history on July 9 by becoming the first female to be at the helm of Pasco County government.

Baker’s appointment was approved for a two-year term, which is automatically renewable for two years, unless she or the Pasco County Commission gives a 60-day notice before the end of the first two years.

Baker’s contract was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Henry Wilson voting no.

Baker was hired at a salary of $170,000.

Contract terms call for Baker to receive a $10,000 increase after her first year, if the board is satisfied with her performance. The board will evaluate Baker on a set of measurable goals that Baker will draft and it will approve.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey questioned including the $10,000 figure in the contract, noting it locks in the board for that amount.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader said he thought it was fair.

“Quit frankly, the average is $190,000,” Schrader said. “She’s underpaid.”

The contract also includes a car allowance of $450 a month, to cover expenses such as fuel costs, maintenance and insurance. Baker will use her own car, rather than having a county car.

Wilson questioned the allowance: “We’re going to pay $450 a month, whether she uses it or not.”

Commissioner Pat Mulieri also questioned the car allowance. “We travel a lot in our jobs. We all use our vehicles.”

But Commissioner Jack Mariano said he thinks the amount is reasonable.

Baker said she sought the $10,000 increase after her first year because she is willing to demonstrate that she’s worthy of the increase.

Baker describes her management style as “collaborative.”

“I love to brainstorm. I don’t mind being challenged,” Baker said.

She said she thinks the best results occur from bringing people together and blending their talents to tackle challenges.

“The people who are doing the jobs are the experts on it,” she said, so it makes sense to ask them to identify problems and offer solutions.

Baker stepped up to the top job after serving as interim county administrator since June 1, following the retirement of John Gallagher, who was the county’s top executive for 31years.

She joined the county in 1993 as its emergency management director. In 2005, she became program administrator for engineering services. Two years later, she became chief assistant county administrator.

Baker said she believes the best answers for improving systems come from the people on the front lines, who are engaged in performing the duties on a daily basis.

By B.C. Manion and Steve Schwarzkopf

Alexander Santa – a recent graduate of Wesley Chapel High – placed in the top 40 of students from around the nation at the 2013 Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference.

Santa jetted out to Anaheim, Calif., along with other local students Madison Jacoves, Lindsay and Kaitlyn King and FBLA advisor Renee Marsella to test their skills against their peers.

While none of the students made it to the finals, Santa and Jacoves made it to the preliminary rounds, which means they were among the top 40, Marsella said.

They qualified to compete in Anaheim, by placing in the top three at the state competition, Marsella said. Santa won first place in web design at the state competition in Orlando. Jacoves won second place in the electronic career portfolio category and the Kings, who are twin sisters, took third place in the banking and financial systems category, Marsella said.

The Pasco County Schools district covered Santa’s expenses, because he was the first place winner at state, said Marsella, whose expenses were also picked up by the district. The female competitors raised their own money to cover their costs, she said.

While Santa didn’t win any prizes this year, he was seventh in the nation last year, Marsella said. He won first place at state in the ebusiness category last year, she said.

Even though he didn’t bring home a prize, Santa said he enjoyed attending the conference in Anaheim. He said he had a chance to attend sessions to bolster his networking and marketing skills, which he’s sure will come in handy in promoting his DJ business.

Santa credited Marsella for helping him succeed. He said she “has definitely pushed me hard and taught me to reach for my goals as an entrepreneur.”

He also said his parents have played a key role. “They have always been there and supported me in all my projects,” he said.

Santa’s winning submission in the state competition was based on his online design and marketing business, Xigence Media. The business helps companies gain brand recognition on the Web.

Santa’s interest in computers began early.

“I was 11-years-old when I got my first computer,” he said. “I began to design in 2007 and am pretty much self-taught. I picked it up by looking at the coding of other pages on the Web. I work with HTML, PHP, CSS and some other programming languages.”

Santa is enrolled at the University of South Florida, where he is pursuing a degree in business and information management. The major merges business and technology, which Santa said is perfect for him because he’s interested in both areas.

His career plans are uncertain at this point.

“Right now, I am just taking all possible paths to see where they lead.”

To see his FBLA entry, visit xmdevs.com