The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Andrew Powell

DeSantis signs bill to help property owners more easily eject squatters

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(The Center Square) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday that he says will end the problem of squatters taking over homes in the Sunshine State.

DeSantis stated that squatters have taken over homes in states like New York and in some cases, have been murdering the homeowners when they attempt to evict them from their properties.

“Today, in the state of Florida, we say very simply, what passes muster in New York and California, is not passing muster here,” DeSantis said. “You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody’s private property and expect to get away with it.”

(Chris Anderson/Unsplash)

DeSantis stated that the “squatters’ scam” is going to be ended once and for all. He added that House Bill 621 would allow homeowners to quickly and legally remove a squatter from their property and increase penalties for those squatting.

DeSantis added that because of outdated laws, squatters knew there was a long process involved in getting them removed from a property and noted that the legislation would make this process more efficient.

“What you can do now if you’re the victim of squatting, you can simply fill out a form, give it to your local sheriff, and the sheriff is instructed to go and remove the people who are inhabiting your dwelling illegally,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis noted that because of the new legislation and the swiftness in which law enforcement can act, people will be more reluctant to occupy a dwelling in Florida illegally.

“You see these trends that happen in these other parts of the country, I think good leadership is looking and saying ok, we’re not gonna repeat what is going on in these failed jurisdictions,” DeSantis said. “So the Legislature was up to the task, and then here today we’re signing this into law, is gonna show the state of Florida is up to the task.”

DeSantis stated that he and the Legislature believe in the rule of law, and in private property rights and added that he thinks it’s good that people can aspire to own their own homes, including those who own seasonal homes in Florida.

“The squatters’ scam ends today with my signature on this piece of legislation and the state of Florida will be better for it,” DeSantis said.

Published April 10, 2024

Promote happiness with this Mother’s Day gift guide

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Sometimes, it’s the little things in life that can make one’s day. Use this Mother’s Day gift guide to promote happiness in your mom’s life:

(Ijaz Rafi/Unsplash)

Better Mornings
Coffee and tea have been scientifically proven to boost happiness. But if your mom is like many moms out there, she may get so busy taking care of others she forgets to drink her beverage before it gets cold. What if she could enjoy her coffee or tea from the first sip to the last at just the right temperature? A temperature-controlled self-heating mug, stylishly maintains an individual’s beverage at their ideal temperature — 130, 140 or 150 degrees Fahrenheit — for hours. Your mom will never have to reheat her tea or coffee again.

Endorphin Boost
Did you know that exercise is one of the best ways to promote happiness? Not only can it be a major confidence booster, it releases endorphins that offer a post-workout bliss. However, many people new to exercise don’t know how to start working out or have questions about doing so safely. If your mom is one of those people, consider gifting her a session with a personal trainer. In one session, the trainer can assess your mom’s current level of fitness and offer her a sensible routine to do on her own. Or, if your mom is social or loves variety, consider getting her a fitness membership to a service like ClassPass. This will allow her to take various types of fitness classes so she can see what style of workout she likes best.

Happy Faces on Rotation
Sometimes all one needs to smile is a reminder of a happy memory. Upgrade your mom’s photo display game with a digital frame so she can be treated to a slideshow of loved ones anytime she wants. With a model that connects to Wi-Fi, she can easily send photos to the frame through email or via online photo collections. As a thoughtful gesture, consider pre-loading it with some of her favorite family photos.

This Mother’s Day, honor your mom with thoughtful and fun gifts that will promote her happiness.

-StatePoint

Published April 10, 2024

Governor signs bill allowing larger bottles for Florida wineries

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(The Center Square) — Florida residents will be able to upsize their wine purchases after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Thursday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 583, which will allow Florida winemakers and distributors to legally sell bottles of wine up to 15 liters, almost four gallons. Previously, wine distributors and manufacturers were restricted from selling their products to everyday Florida customers in anything larger than a one-gallon container.

(Klara Kulikova/Unsplash)

“So, we’re here today to talk about wine and to talk about something that I know is near and dear to the hearts of many people in our state, and to be frank, it’s something that was near and dear to the hearts of a lot of people that founded this country,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis stated that historians have said that wine was used to toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They added that it was reported that George Washington would drink wine every evening.

“As somebody who has often cited Washington’s example as something people in political office should follow, I knew we had to work with the Legislature to ensure that Florida was living up to those great traditions,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said the Legislature looked at laws that were not working for Florida businesses and for Florida consumers. DeSantis added that the previous laws were “odd” because a customer was able to order a 15-liter bottle online but not physically buy one in a store.

“There was really no public policy reason why we should have this regulation, and this is a regulation that was something that had been in place for many many decades,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis noted that this legislation is an example of Florida cutting through unnecessary red tape.

“We want our businesses to thrive, we want our consumers to be happy,” DeSantis said.

Bill sponsor Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, stated that putting forward the legislation was an easy thing to do and just made sense.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie S. Griffin thanked DeSantis for making it easier for more than 51,000 DBPR licensees to succeed in their businesses.

“Under the governor’s leadership, Florida continues to cut red tape and make it easier to do business in our state…I want to take a moment to emphasize how important it is to Florida businesses,” Griffin said.

Published April 10, 2024

 

State utility to refund $5M to customers over nuclear plant outages

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(The Center Square) — The Florida Public Service Commission approved a settlement Tuesday that will allow Florida Power & Light to provide its customers with a reimbursement.

FPL will reimburse its customers $5 million after they were charged “replacement” power costs when the Turkey Point and St. Lucie nuclear plants experienced outages between 2020 and 2022.

(StellrWeb/Unsplash)

According to PSC filings, the $5 million credit, including interest, would be included in the calculation of FPL’s fuel factors the next time the company resets them. In February, state regulators recommended that the PSC refund over $11 million due to an agency audit that cited mismanagement as the reason for more than 40 shutdowns at both power plants.

During a prehearing statement, the Office of Public Counsel, which represents customers, officially requested that PSC sign off on an agreement between the OPC and FPL to resolve the issue.

“The outcome is a win-win for customers and the utility. Customers benefit not just from the recovery of $5 million of replacement power cost but also from the FPL’s improved nuclear fleet for Florida, a fact acknowledged in the staff management audit back to 2021 and running through the present time,” Trierweiler said.

Trierweiler stated that the high level of performance benefits customers as they receive cost-effective, efficient, carbon-neutral nuclear power. He added that this enhances the reliability of the utility’s service and helps keep FPL’s electric rates lower than every other investor-owned ultimately in the Sunshine State.

Trierweiler noted that there is no doubt that FPL’s response to addressing outages in a timely and transparent manner helped return its nuclear fleet to operate once again at a high level.

The utility agreed to do a follow-up staff management audit no earlier than 2030, and Trierweiler pointed out that audits are important to ensure that the utility is running in an efficient manner while still delivering savings to customers.

“The purpose of a future audit is to provide a blinking light in the future, in the distance, to remind us that these performance metrics require constant vigilance,” Trierweiler said. “This reminder should only solidify FPL’s commitment to maintain and build on a continued high level of power plant performance, which will benefit customers.”

Published April 10, 2024

Speed Starz win big at Florida International meet

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The Speed Starz, a competitive youth track club, left their mark at the Florida International track meet held at IMG Stadium in Bradenton on March 23 and 24 — in a big way. The team scored the most cumulative points and took home first place for the entire meet. 

The Speed Starz sent around 40 young athletes to the Florida International track meet. Their cumulative efforts won them first place for the entire meet. (Courtesy of Speed Starz)

The meet is one of the biggest youth track competitions in the nation, hosting around 1,500 athletes during the two day event. The majority of the competitors come from Florida, Georgia and Maryland.

The Speed Starz athletes range in age from 4 to 18, with most of them hailing from Wesley Chapel. Around 40 of them competed at the meet in running and field events, scoring points in nearly all the events they competed in. 

The combined efforts of the whole team led to the victory, which included first place finishes from four young athletes.

Seth Williamson was one of four athletes who had first place finishes.

Seth Williamson competed in the 8 and under category, and dominated in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump, placing first in all three. It was another in a series of accolades for the young athlete, considered to be one of the best in the country, and the youngest track athlete to receive a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal.

Competing in the 9 and under category, Jakobi Desroches beat the pack, taking first in the 100-meter dash and long jump, and placing second in the 200-meter dash.

Lena Budzilek, competing in 11 and under, placed first in the 80-meter hurdles in her category, and Wyatt Chapman, aged 18, competed in the college open category, winning both the 100 and 200-meter dash.

The team trains at Cypress Creek High School, led by Head Coach Bernard “BB” Roberts and four assistants.

“What’s so unique and interesting about this track club is that we have a very diverse group of kids,” Coach Roberts said.

Roberts is a local legend himself, holding multiple sprinting records at Wesley Chapel High School. That’s on top of being a stellar football player for the Wildcats, who went 10-1 in 2003, the year he played.

He organized the Speed Starz in 2013 with the aim of training kids to get an early start on track, and to help them reach their athletic potential.

Published April 10, 2024

Head Coach BB Roberts
Zane Stalker, Bria Hamilton and Jeremiah Roberts
Lena and Amelia Budzilek

Tampa Bay’s first-ever women’s pro soccer team kicks off in August

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This is a rendering of more than $6 million in upgrades to the stadium and facilities for the Tampa Bay Sun FC, which will kick off its inaugural season in August. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC)

The Tampa Bay Sun FC (Football Club) will make history as Tampa Bay’s first-ever professional women’s soccer team, kicking off in August, at the Howard W. Blake High School stadium in downtown Tampa’s West Riverfront district.

Upgrades to the stadium and facilities will feature more than 5,000 seats, FIFA-approved turf, and a new state-of-the-art scoreboard.

Season ticket pricing for the historic inaugural season ranges from $15 to $37 per seat, per game for season pass holders. Fans can choose from seating options, including standing-room only zones, mid-field views and waterside locations.

For a $24 deposit toward a season per seat, fans will join the Sunchaser Club and receive early access to pick their seating location (information to be shared in the weeks ahead). Deposits for season passes are now available online at https://shop.tampabaysunfc.com/products/season-ticket-deposit. 

The Tampa Bay Sun FC logo was revealed at an event in November 2023. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sun FC)

Season passholders also will have priority to purchase tickets for playoff games.

Single-game ticket prices will be announced in the future.

The club anticipates competing in 14 home games during the regular season, primarily on Saturday nights.

Published April 3, 2024.

What families with college-bound students need to know this spring

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(MD Duran/Unsplash)

Perhaps even more nerve-wracking than waiting for your child’s college acceptance letters is learning whether they’ve been awarded financial aid. Recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) designed to simplify the process have led to unforeseen hiccups and technical glitches, causing academic institutions to delay sending out financial aid award letters. However, once you finally get the results, it can give your family a better idea of what to do next.

“Our research shows that for a majority of parents, figuring out how to pay for college was the ‘road to college’ activity that caused them the most stress. By making a financial plan and prioritizing it, you can be well-prepared to avoid the most common bumps in the road,” explains Angela Colatriano, chief marketing officer, College Ave.

Colatriano recommends using this spring to teach your child these valuable financial skills: how to set up a budget, how to pay bills and how to manage credit. If your family will potentially be borrowing to finance college, students should also gain an understanding of how loans work, and how the different terms of the loan will affect their monthly payments and overall loan cost.

Speaking of budget, you should set a realistic budget for yourself. A recent College Ave survey found that in addition to helping pay for tuition and housing costs, parents also contribute to their child’s phone bill (65%), health insurance (61%), food and groceries (42%), cable and internet bill (35%) and transportation (32%). Be realistic about which expenses you can afford and where you want to ask your child to chip in.=

Decode award letters
Financial aid award letters can look different for each school. Familiarize yourself with their components so that when they arrive, you’ll be ready to decipher them. Here’s what to look for:

  1. Free money: The award letter will list whether your student is eligible for scholarships and grants (sometimes called Merit or Gift Aid). This is money you typically don’t need to pay back.
  2. Federal Work-Study: Your child might be eligible for Federal Work-Study jobs. While jobs aren’t guaranteed, they can be a good opportunity to help cover educational expenses.
  3. Student Loans: Schools will list any federal loans your child is eligible to receive. Helpful hint: They may be grouped with scholarships and grants. You should also note whether the loan is subsidized or unsubsidized. Because unsubsidized loans accrue interest while your student is enrolled and during deferment periods, this will affect the overall loan cost.
  4. Other factors: Check if awards being offered are for all four years and understand what your child will need to do to continue being eligible for them, year-to-year.

To get an apples-to-apples look at the offers, calculate the net direct cost of each school by subtracting offered scholarships and grants from the cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, textbooks and fees). If applicable, you can subtract work-study aid, too. You should also factor in expected increases in tuition, room, board and other fees.

Fill in the gaps
If after doing the math, you find you have a financial gap to cover, look into private scholarships. 

You may also want to consider a private student loan or parent loan. Look for a lender with great rates, flexible repayment terms, and the opportunity to customize the loan to fit your budget.

“The important thing is not to panic. If you filled out the FAFSA, financial aid award letters are on the way. And once you receive them, you and your student can get to the fun part of planning for the future,” says Colatriano.

-StatePoint

Published April 3, 2024

 

Pediatricians can help teens quit vaping and using tobacco

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(E-Liquids UK/Unsplash)

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and it almost always begins during adolescence. According to leading medical advocates, pediatricians have a role to play in getting kids to quit vaping electronic cigarettes and using other tobacco products.

Ten percent of American students report using tobacco products, according to the FDA. And while there have been declines in the use of cigarettes among adolescents, the popularity of e-cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco and nicotine products is on the rise. Smoking and vaping are both harmful to health, particularly to youth, whose brains are still developing and who are uniquely vulnerable to nicotine dependence.

That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed the Youth Tobacco Cessation Progressive Web App. This new, free clinical decision resource, which can be used on a computer, tablet or offline mobile app, leads physicians through the following steps:

  1. Ask: Screen for tobacco use with all youth, during every clinical encounter.
  2. Counsel: Advise all youth who use tobacco to quit and have them set a quit date within two weeks.
  3. Treat: Link adolescents to behavioral treatment extenders and prescribe pharmacologic support when indicated. After the visit, follow up to assess progress and offer support.

The web app also provides a flowchart for clinical interactions, links to product descriptions, an AAP policy and clinical report, sample counseling statements, behavioral support options, such as texting services, quitlines and online resources, and detailed information on pharmacologic support, including nicotine replacement therapy.

There is currently little data on successful youth tobacco treatment strategies. In the meantime, clinicians can leverage existing literature and promising practices to support tobacco cessation in young people. To learn more and to access the Youth Tobacco Cessation Progressive Web App, visit aap.org/HelpKidsQuit.

Tobacco use and nicotine dependence are significant health concerns. Pediatricians can use their vital, trusted role as a source of expertise, support and guidance to provide teens with confidential tobacco cessation care.

-StatePoint

Published April 3, 2024

 

Major Land O’ Lakes intersection to close for paving

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The intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 54 will be closed for milling and paving work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday (April 1 – April 4) nights, weather permitting. All traffic will be directed to turn right at the intersection, according to a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) email. Drivers who planned to make left turns at the intersection will need to use two of the detour routes listed below. Drivers are advised to plan extra travel time to go through the detours or choose alternate routes.

Detour Routes:

1) Northbound US 41: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to eastbound SR 54, U-Turn at Raden Drive, then go west and turn right to continue north on US 41. Traffic planning to go west on SR 54 will then need to use detour 4.

2) Southbound US 41: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to westbound SR 54, U-Turn at Sophia Drive, then go east and turn right to continue south on US 41. Traffic planning to go east on SR 54 will then need to use detour 3.

3) Eastbound SR 54: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to southbound US 41, U-Turn at Lake Floyd Drive, then go north and turn right to continue east on SR 54. Traffic planning to go north on US 41 will then need to use detour 1.

4) Westbound SR 54: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to northbound US 41, U-Turn at Morgan Road, then go south and turn right to continue west on SR 54. Traffic planning to go south on US 41 will then need to use detour 2.

For project information and to sign up to receive email alerts, visit https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/759/441659-1-52-01-441658-1-52-01.

In Loving Memory of Vickie Annette West

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Vickie Annette West was a woman of virtue. She was born Dec. 3, 1953 in Ocala, FL to Hascal & Christine Hill, who raised her in a loving home until she graduated from Forest High School in 1971. The Hill family embraced the Ocala community wholeheartedly, and Vickie was no exception. She worked as a legal secretary and helped her parents run Hill’s Men’s Shop, a high-class menswear store. Soon after marrying her soulmate, David West, in 1989, Vickie moved to Dade City, FL. It became her lifelong home. Through their commitment to others, she & David would impact countless lives throughout their new community.

Vickie loved effortlessly and served selflessly, always ready with a glowing smile, a kind word, a helping hand. An unwavering Christian and stalwart member of the Dade City Church of Christ, Vickie shined her light brightly. She was a fountain of blessings and advice, brimming with compassion and wisdom, which she called common sense. She raised her children with boundless love and celebrated their accomplishments with pride. When Vickie was with her family, her heart was full.

Vickie was a talented gardener, leading the Dade City Garden Club’s Dogwood Chapter. She was a masterful cook, famous for her unbeatable chicken salad. In the early years of the Academy at the Farm, Board Chair Vickie successfully fought to keep the school open for her child and later grandchild to attend. In recent years, she was a fixture of downtown, operating Betty Cakes, selling for Kiefer Jewelers, and helping her daughter run Garden of Eden Salon. At the end of her life, Vickie and David traveled the country, often winding up in her favorite place: the beach.

Vickie left this life on Feb. 27, 2024, giving up her home here for a home with her God. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, David; children Jennifer, Jessica (Noah), and Joni (Morgan); grandchildren Matthew, Noah, Elle, Nathaniel, and Michael; and two great-grandchildren. Her mother and her sisters, Sandra and Sharon, also grieve. Vickie lives on in the lives she touched, the family she raised, and the community she helped build, looking down from heaven with a smile on her face.

In lieu of flowers, the family opened a scholarship fund in her name. Donations are appreciated at bit.ly/vickiew, clicking “Other” and entering “Vickie West fund” in the text
box.