The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Andrew Powell

Florida officials seeking public input on proposed energy rebate programs

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(The Center Square) — Florida officials are seeking feedback from the public about the Florida Energy Rebate programs currently under development.

The program still awaits approval from the U.S. Department of Energy. Florida has been allocated $346 million to assist residents in reducing energy costs by improving their home’s energy efficiency through qualified upgrades, retrofits and high-efficiency appliances.

Brooks Rumenik, the director of the Office of Energy at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said during last month’s meeting devoted to the implementation of Florida’s Energy Rebate Program that it is designed to help businesses and individuals cope with rising energy costs.

(Jon Moore/Unsplash)

“In today’s challenging economy, it’s important we provide opportunities for individuals and businesses to save on their energy costs,” Rumenik said. “Florida’s energy rebate programs will provide a unique opportunity to save money through increased energy efficiency.”

Rumenik added that the energy programs are designed to provide financial incentives that can lead to actual savings and the meeting’s objectives included engaging with stakeholders during the development of the programs, as well as the implementation process and aggregating and considering all feedback.

“The goal of Florida’s energy rebate program is to enhance energy savings for Floridians, while accelerating the transition to more affordable, efficient and resilient homes,” Rumenik said.

The programs will run until all the funds are exhausted or through Sept. 30, 2031, whichever comes first.

Deputy Director of the Office of Energy Tony Morgan said that they are still designing the specifics of the two programs and are waiting for guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Morgan explained that the first of the two programs is the Whole Home Efficiency Rebate, which is a performance-based rebate opportunity for single-family or multi-family households that requires a minimum energy savings.

However, Morgan pointed out that the rebate amounts are low and might work better with other incentives. Eligible upgrades include heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, heat pump dryers and weatherization, and must increase efficiency by at least 20%.

The second program is Home Efficiency Appliances & Electrification. It is income-restricted, and only specific appliances, including insulation and air-sealing, electric load service, ventilation, and electric wiring qualify for the rebate.

The programs allow a maximum rebate of $14,000, including up to an $8,000 rebate for heat pumps.

For more information, visit fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Florida-Energy-Rebates.

Published June 12, 2024

Pony up

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He’s a one-trick pony
One trick is all that horse can do
He does, one trick only
It’s the principal source of his revenue.
-Paul Simon, “One-Trick Pony”

My parents moved out to Lutz from Tampa in the early 1950s and bought a little one-room “honeymoon cabin” on Lake Hobbs to start a family. They built onto the house as the family grew and they bought a few acres of grove across the road from the house and made it into a pasture and garden. 

Growing up in Lutz was a wonderful experience and I feel sorry for kids today who are being raised in a time when they are taught not to talk to any strangers and are not let out of their parents’ sight.  

Randall’s sister Melinda with Cleve in 1968. (Courtesy of Grantham Family Archives)

While growing up in Lutz was different than growing up in other areas, just growing up in that era was different from now but remarkably similar across the country.  

Going through some old pictures the other day, I came across a photo of me sitting in a little cowboy outfit on a pony. I have seen similar pictures on Facebook and other sharing sites of other people, from other areas, as children, sitting on what could have been the very same pony and it made me think — what was up with the kid on a pony gig? 

Turns out itinerant photographers would co-opt a pony and go from neighborhood to neighborhood and from house to house taking pictures of the local kids sitting on the pony and sell the photos to the parents. They usually even had a suitcase full of cowboy outfits to dress the kids up for their big moment. This was a nationwide occurrence. You can find these pictures going from Michigan to Texas to Florida and beyond, and dating back decades before my experience. 

They probably had better luck in the metropolitan areas than they did in rural farm country, as many countrified homes had pastures and animals, including sometimes horses and ponies of their own. 

We mainly had cows and chickens but we did have a pony for a while. His name was Cleve and he was one ornery animal. He would bite you if you got too close to the front and kick the slop out of you if you got too close to the rear. 

We would ride him, bareback sometimes, and I even rode him to “Downtown” Lutz a couple of times. On one such trip, as my next-door neighbor Cheryl and I cut through the groves where the Lutz ballfields stand now, Cleve decided he was going to take a dust bath. He plopped down to his knees and I realized what was about to happen. So, as I scrambled off of him and away, I grabbed Cheryl, pulling her with me, “saving her life,” as he began rolling around on his back in the sand. 

At least that’s what I felt I had done, but there was no parade or celebration for my brave deed. 

Another time, my entrepreneurial instincts got the better of me and I was charging kids at the little ball field that used to be behind Old Lutz Elementary to ride Cleve around the bases. He only threw off one kid and he didn’t really get hurt, but when my mom found out what I was up to, I couldn’t comfortably sit on that pony for a while. 

Turns out there was something called “liability” that could have cost my parents big money. 

I guess I could have taken Cleve from house to house and taken pictures of kids on his back with my little Instamatic camera, but after learning about that liability thing, I decided to become a lawyer instead. 

(Randall C. Grantham is a lifelong resident of Lutz who practices law from his offices on Dale Mabry Highway. . Copyright 2024 RCG)

Published June 12, 2024

Florida’s DeSantis signed 18 bills into law from busy legislative session

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(The Center Square) — After a busy legislative session, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 18 bills the week of May 27, including new initiatives for rural health care and economic development.

Senate Bill 644 creates a new hospital designation type, “rural emergency hospital,” and defines requirements for rural or critical access hospitals. The bill clarifies that these hospitals are required to provide emergency services and care for medical conditions following state law and are not required to provide care beyond 24 hours.

(Hush Naidoo Jade Photography/Unsplash)

SB 566 provides additional protections for specified adults — a person 65 years or older or a vulnerable adult — who may be victims of suspected financial exploitation. The bill would allow financial institutions to delay disbursements or transactions of funds from an account belonging to a specified adult.

SB 808 amends Florida statutes to authorize firefighters, law enforcement officers, correctional officers and correctional probation officers to receive medical treatment from a medical specialist of their choosing for a compensable presumptive condition such as tuberculosis, heart disease or hypertension.

SB 812 requires certain counties with over 75,000 residents — except Monroe County — and municipalities with 10,000 or more residents to create a program to expedite the issuance of residential building permits.

House Bill 141 amends the Regional Rural Development Grants Program to eliminate the requirement that grant funds received by a regional economic development organization be matched each year by nonstate resources. The bill also removes the requirement that the Department of Commerce consider the applicant’s need for assistance when approving a program participant.

HB 705 revises the definition of “public works project” in relation to current law, which prohibits the state or political subdivisions from imposing certain requirements, such as minimum wages and single-source hiring of contractors, for competitively bid public projects that use state-appropriated funds.

HB 1049 requires the seller of any residential property to inform the buyer, at or before signing a purchase agreement, of any flood risks to the property, including informing the potential buyer that homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

HB 775 authorizes a parent to surrender an infant with medical staff or licensed health care professionals at a hospital after delivery. Parents can further surrender an infant by dialing 911 and requesting that an EMS provider meet the parent to take the infant into their care.

Published June 12, 2024

Review: Substituting action-movie tropes for lasagna feasts, ‘The Garfield Movie’ could use more lard

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Animated movies can either be wonderful works of art or obnoxious cash grabs intended to capture the short attention spans of children. Sometimes you’ll get a profoundly resonant Pixar movie like the nuanced “Incredibles” or a poetically resplendent Ghibli movie (like the lyrical “Ponyo”), but too often you get “The Garfield Movie,” a hectic animation that gives you the feeling of a queasy sugar rush.

(Sony Pictures)

Starring Chris Pratt as the voice of the talking cat, “Garfield” is the latest adaptation of Jim Davis’s comics, and it’s far from purrfect. No one is expecting Ghibli when they walk into “Garfield”, but they are anticipating a certain brand of reserved wit. It’s hard to imagine what the writers were thinking when they decided to morph a cat who eats lasagna, mutters jokes and does nothing all day into a super spy, the equivalent of turning Charlie Brown into Liam Neeson. Did they not remember what made Davis’ comics so effective? What happened to the lazy, sarcastic lard who hates Mondays? Now he’s jumping off trains like he’s an action hero.

Fans are likely going to be scratching their heads when, after a greatest hits montage of Garfield shoveling food and napping on the couch, he gets kidnapped in a chaotically edited action sequence. What next? Garfield embarking on a heist? Yep. Garfield and his pals are snatched by gangsters associated with Garfield’s father (Samuel L. Jackson) who abandoned him on the streets as a child. Now he and pops are robbing dairy farms, which gives the writers an excuse to milk jokes about espionage, comparing Garfield to Tom Cruise as he climbs through vents and hangs from ceilings. Garfield is the key to everyone completing this mission, somehow, an attempt to create an entirely new image of Garfield for younger audiences, phone-addicted children who constantly need to be stimulated by action and know nothing about the tone of Davis’ comics.

Written by Paul Kaplan, Mark Torgove and David Reynolds, and directed by Mark Dindal, the result is extremely overwhelming, sporadically moving from place to place before you can settle into a single setting, which is what you expect from the director of “Chicken Little”. At 95 minutes, it’s basically just a bunch of childish vignettes strung together by spy movie tropes. As Garfield gets mixed up with a menagerie of thugs, including some bullish henchman, a bull who tries to rescue his wife, and a kitten who orchestrates the entire operation, you’ll likely be panting as you try to keep up with everyone on screen, which isn’t very “Garfield” of the filmmakers.

The film does have some amusing gags, like when Garfield realizes he’s been wearing dog tags under his fur, and the rudimentary animation does offer occasional delights — some of the background elements are eye-popping. The use of orange colors, in particular, is a nice dollop. But unfortunately, this bright, bonkers movie overstays its welcome, and it’s exactly the kind of hyperactive drivel that’s derailing the genre. That may be fine for young viewers, but it’s going to be a headache for sentient adults.

Published June 12, 2024

Florida regulators to seek customer input on proposed Tampa Electric rate hikes

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(The Center Square) — Florida regulators will hold meetings for ratepayers after one of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities requested a rate increase.

On April 2, the Tampa Electric Company filed an application with the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) requesting an increase to its base rate. The increase would allow the company to recover operating costs, while providing a return for its investors.

Tampa Electric has a 2,000-square-mile service area and provides electricity to over 800,000 customers in Hillsborough County and portions of Polk, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

(ehmitrich/Unsplash)

The Office of the Public Counsel (OPC), an independent entity from the commission, disagrees with the rate increases and stated at a previous hearing with the commission that the utility was “not entitled” to raise rates beginning January 2025.

Tampa Electric’s last rate increase was in 2021, and according to the FPSC’s rate case overview, the company estimates that base rates will continue to increase yearly until at least 2027.

Currently, residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month pay an average monthly bill of around $136.44, which includes a base rate of $87.80.

If the base rate request is approved, it is estimated that as of January 2025, the same amount of electricity use will cost residential customers $153.90 per month, with the base rate increasing to $107.01.

Fast-forward to January 2026, and the average monthly bill will cost $160.73 for 1,000 kWh, including a base rate increase of $113.67. By January 2027, estimates expect that base rates will reach $118.15, for a total cost of $165.32 per month.

Customers on the higher end of electricity use, who use more than 3,000 kWh per month, could see their monthly base rates jump from $243.84 in June 2024 to $303.65 by January 2027. This would increase the total monthly bill from an average of $409.77 to $464.38 in that time period.

In-person and virtual public hearings by the FPSC started on June 10 and are ending on June 13. Customers can give feedback to the commission about Tampa Electric’s quality of service and the rate-setting process. The OPC is representing customers who wish to provide feedback. For more information, visit https://www.psc.state.fl.us.

Published June 12, 2024

Pew: Florida tax revenue outperforms long-term trend

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(The Center Square) – In a new analysis on state tax revenue trends, 18 states reported falling tax revenues, with California reporting the lowest. Meanwhile, tax revenue remained strong in the two largest red states. Both Texas and Florida were among 32 states whose total tax collections outperformed their long-term trend. 

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Fiscal 50 project, state tax revenue outperformed its long-term trend in 32 states, with Alaska leading all states by far. It collected more than 11 times, 1,041% more than, its long-term trend level, the report found. The states with the next-highest collections compared with their long-term trends were Wyoming (37.7%), New Mexico (32.5%), West Virginia (10.6%), and Montana (10%), the report found.

(Joshua Doubek, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The analysis evaluated tax revenue trends, which measure the difference between recent state tax collections and a 15-year trend level, Pew explains. The data is adjusted for inflation and seasonality. “This approach provides a window into how current conditions compare with a state’s long-term trajectory over the previous 15 years and may paint a different picture than recent state forecasts and relatively volatile quarterly and annual percentage changes,” the report states. “A deeper understanding of long-term trends can help state leaders judge whether their budgets are on a sustainable path and allow for better-informed fiscal planning and policy formulation.”

When tax revenue in the second quarter of 2023 was compared with 15-year trend levels, adjusted for inflation and seasonality, California had the weakest tax revenue of -16.2%, followed by Minnesota (-4.9%), New York (-4.8%), and Connecticut (-4%).

“California’s underperformance is partially attributable to the recent delay in the income tax filing deadline for state residents, which pushed large sums of personal and corporate income tax payments from April to November,” the report notes.

Overall, the number of states performing below their long-term revenue trends shifted dramatically, from four in the previous quarter to 18, according to the report. Fifteen new states reported below their long-term revenue trend: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Revenue in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin was already below trend, the report notes.

The long-term trend value is defined “as the 15-year linear trend of tax collections leading up to each quarter, after adjusting for inflation and seasonality,” the report explains. 

Overall, total state tax revenue growth was 1.2%, or $4.2 billion, in the second quarter of 2023, below its 15-year trend, according to the report. Additionally, it points out: “For the first time since 2000, no state had fewer than a month’s worth of operating funds in its total balances. Between fiscal years 2007 and 2021, 8 states ran long-term deficits, carrying forward costs of past services and government operations.”

Among the 45 states that collect sales tax, Texas and Florida were among 40 whose sales tax revenue exceeded their long-term trend. 

Their growth “stands out especially since state tax collections across the nation were 1.2% below their long-term trend,” Alexandre Fall, senior associate with The Pew Charitable Trusts, told The Center Square. 

As of the second quarter of 2023, Texas’ tax collections soared 9.6% above its 15-year trend, bringing in an additional $1.9 billion. “The major contributor to Texas’s strong performance was above-trend sales tax revenue, which accounts for 62% of the state’s tax collections,” she said. “These revenues were up 8.5%, or $1.1 billion, above the state’s 15-year trend. Nationally, sales tax collections were 4.9% above their long-term trend.”

Over the same time period, Florida’s tax collections were also “notably strong, exceeding the state’s 15-year trend by 6.5%, or $983 million,” Fall said. “A significant factor in Florida’s growth was above-trend sales tax revenue, which the state depends on for 61% of its tax collections. These revenues were 8.9%, or $847 million, above the state’s 15-year trend. Nationally, sales tax collections were 4.9% above their long-term trend.”

Overall, Fall said, “Understanding long-term trends helps state leaders determine if their budgets are sustainable and supports smarter fiscal planning. It’s critical that policymakers consider why tax revenues are deviating from long-term trends—both overall and for specific revenue streams. This means looking at whether changes are due to policy shifts, external forces like demographic changes, or a mix of both. To ensure long-term fiscal health, lawmakers should also figure out if these deviations are due to temporary factors or if they signal a more lasting structural change that requires policy adjustments.”

Published June 12, 2024

The Olympics and more: exciting sports events coming this summer

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As summer 2024 approaches, sports enthusiasts have much to look forward to. From the grand spectacle of the Olympics to the thrilling competition of the UEFA Euro, this summer promises a plethora of exciting sports events. Here’s a rundown of the top events to keep an eye on:

UEFA Euro 2024: June 14 – July 14
Soccer fans can rejoice as UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany. Spanning 10 cities, including Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, the tournament will showcase Europe’s finest national teams. Expect thrilling matches and potential face-offs between football powerhouses like France, Spain and defending champions Italy. The month-long festival is set to be the soccer highlight of the summer.

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 21: The Paris 2024 logo, representing the Olympic Games is displayed near the Eiffel Tower three months prior to the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games on April 21, 2024 in Paris, France. The city is gearing up to host the XXXIII Olympic Summer Games, from 26 July to 11 August. (Chesnot/Getty Images)

Tour de France: June 29 – July 21
Cycling’s most prestigious event, the Tour de France, will challenge riders with its grueling stages through beautiful French landscapes. Starting in Florence, Italy, the 2024 route includes demanding mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees, culminating in the iconic finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The race’s blend of athleticism and scenic beauty makes it a must-watch.

Wimbledon Championships: July 1 – July 14
Tennis aficionados will be glued to the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. As the oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon’s traditions, including its grass courts and royal patronage, add to its charm. With top players like Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz in the mix, the battle for the Grand Slam title promises to be intense.

The Open Championship: July 14 – July 21
Golf’s oldest major tournament, The Open Championship, returns to Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Known for its challenging links course, the tournament will see top golfers competing for the coveted Claret Jug. The unpredictable weather and unique course conditions make for a compelling competition, testing the skill and resilience of the world’s best golfers.

MLB All-Star Game: July 16
Baseball fans will turn their attention to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for the MLB All-Star Game. This annual mid-season classic showcases the best players from the American and National Leagues. Alongside the game itself, the home run derby and surrounding festivities create a celebration of the sport, highlighting the talent and excitement of Major League Baseball.

Summer Olympics in Paris: July 26 – Aug. 11
The pinnacle of the summer sports calendar, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will gather athletes from across the globe to compete in a wide array of disciplines. This edition continues to embrace new sports such as skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing. Iconic venues, including Stade de France for athletics and the Eiffel Tower as a stunning backdrop for beach volleyball, will make these games unforgettable.

US Open Tennis Championships: Aug. 26 – Sept. 8
Closing out the summer, the US Open Tennis Championships in New York City is the final Grand Slam of the year. Held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the tournament’s hard-court matches and vibrant atmosphere, especially under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, make it a fan favorite. With high stakes and intense competition, the US Open never fails to excite.

This summer, sports fans have a wealth of events to enjoy. From the global stage of the Olympics to the historic courts of Wimbledon, there’s something for everyone. Mark your calendars and get ready for an action-packed summer of sports!

Published June 12, 2024

Tampa Bay Sun schedule release

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The USL Super League released its fall schedule for the 2024-2025 season. The first Tampa Bay Sun FC match will be on Aug. 18 against Dallas Trinity FC at Tampa’s Riverfront Stadium, according to a news release.

The regular season will consist of seven at-home and seven away games during both the fall and spring schedule, for a total of 28 games, followed by a playoff.

To view the full schedule, visit TampaBaySunFC.com/schedule. For tickets, visit TampaBaySunFC.com/tickets.

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 .