The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Cooper Hinson wins Wade Boggs Award

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The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners recognized Cooper Hinson of Bloomingdale High with the 18th annual Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award. The award honors a high school baseball player or team in Hillsborough County who displays outstanding athletic, scholastic and community achievements, according to a news release.

Hinson led Bloomingdale to the State Final Four this year, and is a two-time Perfect Game High School All-American and two-time All-Western Conference First Team, all while maintaining a 5.84 GPA and meritorious community involvement, according to the release. 

Two honorable mentions went to Demetrios Passalaris of Leto High and Blaine Rowland from Durant High.

Business Digest 06/12/2024

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The CO.STARTERS for Causes cohort graduates. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

CO.STARTERS cohort completes program
The Pasco Economic Development Council announced that its CO.STARTERS for Causes cohort successfully completed the inaugural program. The nine-week program was designed to provide local nonprofit organizations training to “scale and meet the demands of our growing community,” by engaging on topics including “knowing their customer, finding the right solution, marketing, financial modeling and legal considerations,” according to a news release. The cohort members were:

  • Patti Templeton – One Community Now
  • Debbie Proulx – NAMI Pasco
  • Debi Shackowsky – Marjorie’s Hope
  • Lexa Duno – LILLY Education Foundation
  • Freddie Hinson – Nature Coast Community Development Corporation
  • Julia Pauls – ERProjectExtreme/End Recidivism
  • Kelly Sinn – Sunrise Domestic and Sexual Violence Center
  • Felice Flake – The 502 Project
  • Beth Aker – ChipZ and Meals on Wheels Pasco

For more information about CO.STARTERS for Causes, contact SMARTstart Program Director Dan Mitchell at , or visit SmartStartPasco.com/CoStarters.

Professional networking breakfast
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Professional Networking Breakfast on June 21 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., for anyone who works with or for a nonprofit as a business owner or organization. The topic of discussion will be how Pasco Libraries partners with nonprofits to both enhance library services and nonprofit exposure. A complimentary breakfast will be provided. Registration is required. Call 727-815-7126.

NTBC coffee social
The North Tampa Bay Chamber will host a coffee social on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at SVB Restaurant, 6585 Simons Road, Zephyrhills. The networking event is free to attend and will offer light bites and coffee.

Best state economies ranked
The personal-finance website WalletHub ranked Florida seventh overall in its recently released report 2024’s Best & Worst State Economies. It compared 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength, including GDP growth and unemployment rate, according to a news release. Here’s how Florida ranked in various sub-categories:

First – Startup Activity
Second – Change in Nonfarm Payrolls
Seventh – Change in GDP
16th – Unemployment Rate
24th – Government Surplus/Deficit per Capita

For the full report, visit WalletHub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-economies/21697.

Black Business Loan Program open for applications
FloridaCommerce announced the opening of the application period for Loan Program Administrators to apply for the Black Business Loan Program (BBLP) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, according to a news release. BBLP administrators provide “alternative lending opportunities and technical assistance to Black business enterprises that cannot obtain capital through conventional lending institutions but could otherwise compete successfully in the private sector,” according to the release. The application period is open until June 30, and new and current BBLP administrators may apply.

For more information, visit floridajobs.org/business-growth-and-partnerships/Small-and-Minority-Business-Resources/Small-Business-Innovation/black-business-loan-program, or contact Program Manager Kyle Parsons at .

Official: Pasco needs more affordable housing

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Pasco County’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was recently told the county has a very evident need for more affordable housing.

One of the reasons for this is its expectation that approximately 100,000 people will move to Pasco in the next few years so they can work on projects the county has already approved, Pasco County’s Economic Growth Director David Engel said during a May 21 workshop on affordable housing. Engel makes recommendations to the BOCC about projects that should be approved.

(Jens Behrmann/Unsplash)

One of his recently approved recommendations was for a development agreement to be approved between the county and two companies that are in the process of developing a large employment center on a 785-acre site north of State Road 52 and west of Interstate 75. When it’s completed, the employment center is anticipated to result in the creation of 2,770 new jobs.

However, Pasco County’s population is estimated to increase by 200,000 people between now and 2045, said Elizabeth Strom, who is an associate professor at the University of South Florida. This would require 80,000 more housing units to be constructed to house those people, Strom said.

Most of the new homes being built in Pasco County cost $300,000, $400,000 or $500,000, said Ron Oakley, BOCC chairman who represents District 1 in east Pasco County. A lot of the people who move to Pasco for jobs won’t be able to afford that type of housing, he said.

In order for housing to be considered affordable it shouldn’t cost more than 30% of an individual’s monthly income, Strom said. The Average Median Income (AMI) for Pasco County is $63,187. A person with that AMI would have to pay $1,579 or less in rent a month for their housing to be considered affordable, and people whose income is 80% of Pasco’s AMI would have to pay $1,263 or less a month.

Some of the individuals identified as likely to be earning 80% or less of Pasco’s AMI included starting teachers, medical assistants and bank tellers, Strom said.

Pasco County should try to have housing options for doctors and home health aides, and CEOs and receptionists, Strom said.

It costs approximately $1,337 to rent a one-bedroom apartment in New Port Richey, said Marcy Esbjerg, the county’s director of community development. Approximately 43% of the county’s staff could only afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment there.

Commissioners were presented with several options on how the amount of affordable housing could be increased in Pasco County. They included:

  • Making it legal for accessory dwelling units to be built on residential lots. These units are generally known as granny flats or backyard homes. The county could consider allowing that to occur on property people already own provided that the accessory unit is smaller than the primary unit, according to Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein. Normally this is only permitted in master-planned unit development districts. It would likely take about six months for commissioners to make changes in how other neighborhoods could be developed, according to Goldstein.
  • Adding duplexes, triplexes and quadruplexes to increase the density in existing single-family neighborhoods.
  • Requiring developers to provide or pay for affordable housing as part of the process of applying for the approval of new developments. Pasco County had required this in the past, according to Goldstein, but the plan expired and commissioners hadn’t applied it countywide.
  • Making some parts of West Pasco targets for development. Some communities in that area were developed 50 years ago for retirees and have since fallen into disrepair, according to Engel.

Commissioners requested additional information to be provided to them on affordable housing in the future.

Published June 05, 2024

Dade City’s Splashpad is now open

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A ribbon-cutting and grand opening were held on May 23 for the long-awaited Splashpad in Dade City.

And the more than 50 youngsters who were able to use it for the first time seemed like they couldn’t have been happier.

The Splashpad and accompanying community playground are on approximately 2.23 acres at the intersection of Church Avenue and 10th Street near downtown Dade City.

The Rev. Brian Butler, pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, offered a prayer at the beginning of the ceremony. He thanked the Lord for the Splashpad and asked that angels be dispatched “so this will become a special place to be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Dignitaries participating in the May 23 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Dade City’s new Splashpad, from left: City Commissioner Ann Cosentino, Mayor Pro Tem Normita “Angel” Woodard, Mayor Scott Black, City Commissioners James Shive and Kristin Church, and Chairman of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners Ron Oakley. (Joe Potter)

“It is my honor to welcome each and every one of you to our new Splashpad and community playground! Our City Commission has been committed to making this a reality, and we are so excited to open these new features in time for summer

vacation,” City Manager Leslie Porter said enthusiastically prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“I would like to thank our honorable guests here with us today. From the City of Dade City Commission, we have Mayor Scott Black, Mayor Pro Tem Normita Woodard, Commissioner Kristin Church, Commissioner Ann Cosentino and Commissioner James Shive.

“We also have several honorable guests joining us today including Chairman Ron Oakley from the County Commission and Andy Taylor with TECO. We are so

grateful for your participation and support of Dade City each and every day,” Porter said.

Dade City is within County Commission District 1, which Oakley represents.

“I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has made today possible — city staff has worked hard to ensure all aspects of the Splashpad and playground are ready for you and your families to enjoy. Borregard Construction and Gulf American have worked hard to construct the new amenities for us. Thank you to Kevin Taggerty for providing sound this morning, and Joy Lynn for opening the Welcome Center and sharing all that Dade City has to offer,” Porter said.

“This is great, isn’t it?” Mayor Black asked before beginning the rest of his remarks about what he said was “a momentous occasion.”

“This is an event we have been looking forward to for many years. It was a while coming, but it was worth the wait,” Black said.

He talked briefly about some of the history of Dade City, particularly in the area where the Splashpad is located. 

The clean, modern facility is directly across Church Avenue from American Legion Post 15 and a couple of blocks east of the Gray Moss Inn.

Legend has it that U.S. President Calvin Coolidge visited the Gray Moss Inn while he was in Florida to attend the opening dedication of Bok Tower in Lake Wales. Black joked that someone might occasionally see Coolidge walking down one of the sidewalks on Church Avenue, jokingly adding, “he was the first president I voted for” — Coolidge died decades before Black was born.

The Splashpad represents an investment of $1,605,000 on Dade City’s part.

A large group of young children are shown enjoying the new Splashpad a few minutes after it opened at the intersection of Church Avenue and 10th Street in Dade City.

Longtime Dade City resident and businessman Otto Weitzenkorn sold the property where the Splashpad is to the city for $800,000. 

Weitzenkorn provided a charitable donation of a portion of the land that was valued at $368,000. Otherwise, the property would have cost Dade City $1,168,000 when the sale closed on Dec. 31, 2019.

The property was purchased through the use of money from the city’s general fund reserves.

Obtaining the property “was a tremendous acquisition for Dade City,” Commissioner Shive said, adding, “I think future generations will enjoy having this facility here.

“I want to give a shout-out to Borregard Construction. They care about this community,” Shive said, adding, “The next phase here will be an amphitheater and then there may be another phase.”

Dade City paid Borregard Construction $805,000 to build the 2,500-square-foot Splashpad, which sits within a 6,500-square-foot fenced-in area.

There are two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms adjacent to the Splashpad, not included in the price of the Splashpad itself.

Discussions by Dade City’s commissioners and city managers about having a Splashpad began about 10 years ago. 

City water stored in underground tanks is used to provide the water at the Splashpad, according to Ben Borregard of Borregard Construction. The water goes through a system and is sterilized after having been dispensed on the Splashpad, making it possible to use again, according to Borregard.

“I want to give a big thank you to the city,” Borregard said, adding that city officials came together to get the Splashpad project done.

Published June 05, 2024

Zephyrhills fields public input for Parks and Recreation amenities

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Numerous residents and business people made suggestions about adding to and improving the offerings of Zephyrhills’ Parks and Recreation Department while attending a community workshop on May 23 at City Hall.

GAI Consultants oversaw the 90-minute-long event regarding proposed changes to the city’s master plan.

(Lukas/Pexels)

There wasn’t any formal presentation during the open-house style workshop, as its purpose was to receive input from those attending on what the public wants compared to what the city currently has in its Parks and Recreation Department, said Kristin Caborn of GAI Consultants.

Caborn has more than 24 years of parks and recreation management and planning experience, has overseen several multimillion-dollar parks and recreation projects, and provided master plan implementation and phasing plans services for public-sector clients, according to the company’s website.

Various stations were set up in City Council chambers with displays of different programs and events currently not offered by the city.

At the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to make suggestions for changes they would like to see for both adults and children by placing brightly colored dots on the displays. The displays helped gauge interest in what the public might want to see the city offer, according to Caborn.

They also had opportunities to indicate which areas of the department they would like to see more money spent.

Several other members of GAI’s staff were present at the workshop, in addition to some city officials, including City Manager William C. “Billy” Poe Jr., Planning Director Todd Vande Berg and Community Redevelopment Agency Director Gail Hamilton.

GAI has already compiled a complete inventory of the condition of the amenities at the city’s many parks.

The input from the public that was obtained at the workshop will be evaluated by GAI Consultants and presented to the city later this year, according to Caborn.

Published June 05, 2024

Stacks of bills by Florida lawmakers await decisions by DeSantis

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(The Center Square) — The Florida Legislature finished a busy lawmaking season this year, and while a barrage of bills were signed, some are still awaiting a signature or a possible veto by the governor.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 10 bills in the last week and has until June 5 to act on another 27 bills that he received from the Legislature on Tuesday.

House Bill 1305 would define a “Florida Financial Institution” for the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The change would expressly permit landlords to comply with the act by depositing a tenant’s security deposit into any qualifying bank in Florida.

(Scott Graham/Unsplash)

HB 1331 would prohibit the state from contracting with companies that use forced labor to produce their products. The Department of Management Services must create and maintain a forced labor vendor list, identifying companies disqualified from public contracting or purchasing for 365 days.

HB 415 would require the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care Administration to maintain a specific website to provide information to expectant families and new parents. This includes educational materials on parenting and pregnancy, maternal health services, and prenatal and postnatal services.

HB 275 would provide criminal penalties for improperly tampering with critical infrastructure, resulting in damage or the cost of restoration. The bill further would provide civil liability upon conviction for violations, including trespassing on or around critical infrastructure.

HB 691 would require the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco to issue special alcoholic beverage licenses to certain restaurants that meet minimum requirements in the town of Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County.

HB 191 would authorize the town of Orchid in Indian River County to hold public meetings within specified mileage of its jurisdictional boundary under certain circumstances.

HB 1025 would revise provisions relating to terms of office of District Trustees in the Municipal Service District of Ponte Vedra Beach in St. Johns County. The bill also would revise the capital expenditure amount required to be approved by voters.

Senate Bill 92 would revise the regulation of yacht and ship brokers and salespersons, deleting certain requirements, including that an applicant for a broker license must have been licensed as a salesperson for at least two years.

SB 892 would prohibit a contract between a health insurer and a dentist from restricting certain payment methods and from denying claims for procedures included in a prior authorization.

Published June 05, 2024

TV reviews: ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Doctor Who’ finally return

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New seasons of the two popular shows, which put their fandoms to the test with lengthy hiatuses, are now available on TV and streaming services.

Bridgerton (Courtesy of Netflix)

Bridgerton (Season 3, Part 1; Netflix)
It’s been a while since the bodice-clad antics of Netflix’s Bridgerton graced small screens, making romance fans and Regency-era aficionados swoon with delight. In its third season, the focus has turned to third son Colin (Luke Newton) and next-door neighbor Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) to get pulses racing.  After ending last season heartbroken after overhearing harsh words from crush Colin and harsher words from former best friend Eloise (Claudia Jessie), Penelope Featherington has decided it’s time for a change. Weary of wilting away in a corner, the former wallflower has decided it’s her turn in the sun, giving way to a much-needed glow-up and a newfound quest to find a husband. In an effort to make amends, Colin promises to help Penelope. But, being Bridgerton, hidden affections have a way of deterring best-laid schemes.

This is only the first part of the anxiously awaited third season, and Bridgerton continues to follow its tried-and-true template: Two fantastic-looking people with great hair resist their mutual attraction, but end up falling in love. But the actors, particularly Coughlan, keep the story fresh despite recycled formulas, while the series goes whole hog in fleshing out minor characters who had previously just adorned the parties.

Side stories are abundant, with so many additional plots that the new season feels more like an anthology than a drama. But it is not all for naught, as one of the offshoots provides an imperative (if not a shocking) revelation.

There is also plenty of humor this season. Nothing that would make a viewer guffaw, but a few chuckles among the pomp and circumstance of court life, thanks to the frankness of Eloise and the daftness of the elder Featherington sisters, who are now given more to do than just appear like vapid doilies.
For fans of Bridgerton, the drama was worth the wait. In addition to the romance that Penelope so rightfully deserves (just as Coughlan deserves the spotlight), the show also packs in twice as many tales of the Ton. This comes in handy when unveiling the season’s big twist, which will have fans clutching their pearls. 

Doctor Who (Season 14; BBC and Disney+)
After 60 years of bumping around time and space with spunky young companions, unbounded confidence, and questionable attire, the time-skipping Time Lord returns to the airwaves after a bit of stretch, which saw the goodbye of the first female Doctor, the return of a beloved Doctor, and the debut of a brand-new Doctor. Now settling into a swanky new T.A.R.D.I.S. and breaking in his new companion, the good Doctor (now played by Ncuti Gatwa) and his gal Friday, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), are ready to save the world. Again.
Welcome to a new season of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who (Courtesy of Disney+)

After a Christmas that got the Doctor a brand-new companion, the first adventure for the duo opts to attack the hearts of viewers, as the time-hopping alien from Gallifrey and Ruby find themselves taking care of space babies. But the tale takes an unexpected turn into the serious when it makes a statement regarding laws on reproduction.

But while the new season of Doctor Who has something to say about modern times, it also embraces a more flamboyant nature this time around. Sensing a loss of interest in the show of late, the 14th season swings for the fences with big ideas, interesting guest stars, and fun concepts in time travel, like visiting a version of the Beatles made abysmal thanks to the devious plans of Drag Race superstar Jinkx Monsoon as a musically minded villain.

As the new Doctor, Gatwa has all the components one needs in a planet-hopping Time Lord — he’s charismatic and absolutely entertaining to watch, injecting the proper amount of panache and cockiness we have come to expect from any Doctor. As his companion, Gibson expresses just the right amount of wide-eyed wonder and cheekiness into the role, though she tones down her natural sparkle so as to not outshine the Doc when they share scenes.

Though the new season might not capture the full glory of previously exalted seasons of Doctor Who, it does promise to be more entertaining than the previous house calls. The newest Doctor assures an injection of much-needed vigor, as these episodes promise to be more vivacious and slightly more demented than previous outings, with far more to say about the state of the world, without blatantly stating it. 

Published June 05, 2024

Florida regulators hold hearing on Duke’s request for storm recovery costs

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(The Center Square) — The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) held a hearing this week to oversee Duke Energy Florida’s storm recovery costs but didn’t issue an order.

Docket intervenor Walmart opted out of closing arguments on Tuesday and will instead submit a brief due June 14.

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) serves approximately 2 million customers across the state of Florida and sought cost recovery related to Hurricanes Elsa, Eta, Isaias, Ian and Nicole, and Tropical Storm Fred.

Crews work to restore power following Hurricane Ian. (Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA)

In September 2023, Duke Energy filed its petition to approve the actual storm-related costs, totaling $431.4 million. Then, in October 2023, the company filed another petition to implement an interim storm restoration recovery surcharge to recover $166.1 million in incremental storm restoration costs.

Approximately $73.9 million is related to uncollected restoration costs from the storms, and $91.9 million is related to Hurricane Idalia, which hit in late August 2023. Duke Energy requested that these costs be recovered over a 12-month period beginning January 2024.

Walmart submitted comments in response to Duke’s petition for recovery of storm restorations costs. While Walmart did not take a stance on other issues, Walmart objected to DEF’s recovery of storm costs through the energy charge for its demand-metered customers.

Instead, Walmart argued that this should be recovered through the demand-charge, because this approach would better align cost recovery with cost causation, since distribution costs are typically classified as demand-related because they do not vary with the amount of electricity provided.

Walmart had previously raised concerns about shifting cost responsibility from lower to higher load-factor customers.

The Office of the Public Counsel stated during the hearing that Duke had complied with all stipulations and added that it supports the company’s commitment to an ongoing continuous storm restoration process improvement plan to ensure customers are only paying for cost-effective storm restoration costs that have been incurred.

PSC staff questioned Christopher Menendez, director of Rates and Regulatory Planning at Duke Energy Florida, about the surcharges. Menendez stated that switching to a demand-based charge during a recovery cycle would likely lead to customer confusion and frustration.

“Customers who have been incurring the storm surcharge up to this point on an energy basis could be surprised, confused and frustrated if this were to switch towards the end of the recovery cycle,” Menendez told PSC staff.

Published June 05, 2024

Tampa Bay Sun home opener

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The Tampa Bay Sun FC will host the home opener of its first USL Super League season on Aug. 18, at the Riverfront Stadium in Tampa, against the newly formed Dallas Trinity FC, according to a news release. Kickoff time and the full season schedule will be announced in the near future. Five members of the Sun roster have been announced so far: midfielder Erika Tymrak, midfielder Jordyn Listro, midfielder Domi Richardson, forward Riley Parker and defender Vivianne Bessette. For tickets and more information, visit TampaBaySunFC.com.

(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC)

Florida best for golfers

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A golf shipping service called My Baggage has named Florida the best state for golfers, based on a study that “analyzed the distribution of golf courses, driving ranges, tournaments, and golf coaches per 100,000 residents in every state, alongside the number of platinum clubs,” according to a news release. The study reports Florida has the highest number of PGA coaches, platinum clubs and the most amount of courses with 1,131. The rest of the top 10 states are 2. Colorado, 3. Arizona, 4. South Carolina, 5. Wyoming, 6. Pennsylvania, 7. New York, 8. Minnesota, 9. Illinois and 10. Maryland. For more information, visit MyBaggage.com.