The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Andrew Powell

State data shows electricity rates remain constant for most Floridians

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(The Center Square) — Florida’s electricity rates are set to decrease slightly over the coming months for some customers, while others will likely remain the same.

According to data from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), electricity rates remain steady for three of the four investor-owned electric companies in the Sunshine State.

These include Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light, Tampa Electric Company, and the Florida Public Utilities Company.

(Andrey Metelev/Unsplash)

Duke Energy’s base rate of $83.91 remains unchanged since January, and residential bills for 1,000 kilowatt hours of service average around $163.35. Florida Public Utilities Company remains one of the most expensive providers, with an average bill of $165.98.

The Tampa Electric Company has a base rate of $87.80, however, average residential bills are slightly lower at around $143.48 per month.

The state’s largest electric provider, Florida Power & Light , has two separate areas that are charged differently after the company merged with Gulf Power.

FPL’s former Gulf Power customers in Northwest Florida have an average bill of around $143.08, which decreased from an average of $149.70 in January. The rest of FPL’s residential customers pay the lowest monthly bills at $128.88.

FPL recently proposed lowering electricity rates, and the PSC is due to hear this proposal Tuesday. The proposal came after natural gas prices were lower than previously expected, and if approved customers could save a total of $662 million, with savings being seen on customer bills from May until December.

According to FPL’s website, customers could see decreases in April and then again in May, with residential customers using 1,000-kWh, having their bill reduced by over $14.

If the proposal is approved by PSC, Northwest FPL customers could see monthly bills reduced to $135.38 in May. FPL customers around the rest of Florida could see monthly bills decreased to $121.19 in May.

The company further states that the price decrease in April is due to the end of a temporary surcharge to pay for past hurricane restorations, which ended March 31.

The PSC also approved a $5 million refund to customers of FPL in late March, after they were charged “recovery” rates during outages at the power company’s nuclear power plants at Turkey Point and St. Lucie.

Published April 10, 2024

Public Works department recognized for innovation

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Pasco County works to maintain more than 600 guardrails across the county — each one different from the other — knowing the rails help keep the traveling public safe. Monitoring, repairing and upgrading guardrails is a major job, and Pasco’s Department of Public Works does it with its first-of-its-kind Guardrail Assessment Program, according to a news release.

The department recently announced it won the Technical and Management Innovation Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter – West Coast Branch and received the top honor at a ceremony on March 13.

The Public Works team spent months creating the Guardrail Assessment Program, reviewing materials from the Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies.

Training materials and assessment criteria for guardrails was developed and a guardrail ID inspection handbook was created.

“We’re extremely proud of our team for developing this top-notch program to make our roads safer,” said Public Works Director Jason Mickel in the release.

“We’re committed to keeping up this excellent work, knowing how instrumental it is in our pursuit for safety,” said Mickel.

Published April 10, 2024

Housing organization recognized as a top workplace

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Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties has been named a 2024 Tampa Bay Times Top Workplaces winner.

(Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties)

Habitat Pinellas & West Pasco is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and is part of a global nonprofit housing organization operated “on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope,” according to its website.

The Times, partnering with Energage, surveys employees of top-rated organizations and businesses from around the Tampa Bay region to better understand work cultures and employee experiences.

“We are honored to be given the ‘seal of success’ as a Top Workplaces winner,” said Habitat president and CEO, Mike Sutton, in a news release.

“At Habitat, our culture code guides employees every day. We are determined to be a workplace where everyone is accepted and treated with dignity and respect,” said Sutton.

In addition to the Top Workplaces award, Habitat Pinellas & West Pasco was recognized with the 2024 Meaningfulness Award, and recently announced it received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

To learn more about the organization, visit HabitatPWP.org and click on “Careers.”

Published April 10, 2024

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