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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church celebrates 70 years

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Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church celebrated 70 years of operations with special Rosary processions before each of its Masses last weekend.

The church is a mainstay in Land O’ Lakes, providing a spiritual home for families in many communities within The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area.

Besides conducting regular services, the church is known by many for its Lenten Fish Fry suppers, its active scouts programs, and for helping others in need through its St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, among other things.

In a recent interview, the church’s newest pastor, the Rev. Justin Paskert, recounted the church’s early days.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, located at 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, moved to its current 26-acre campus in 1999. (Mike Camunas)

“In ’52, there was a place called The Florida Bar, on (U.S.) 41,” Paskert said. “Back then, bars had to be closed on Sunday. We rented it out and had our first gatherings over there.”

Next, the church used the VFW Hall on U.S. 41 for its meeting space.

When Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church was formed, it pre-dated the Diocese of St. Petersburg, so it was a mission church, as part of the Diocese of St. Augustine.

To get it started, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, of the Diocese of St. Augustine, asked the Benedictine monks from St. Leo, to support the mission, Paskert said.

“So, the first handful of pastors — they were all kind of short-term — but they were the Benedictine Brothers,” he said.

Occasionally, Jesuits from downtown Tampa’s Sacred Heart Church would help out, too, he said.

Early on, just a handful of families attended the mission church.

The church bought land for a permanent building in 1957, began holding services there in 1958 and had a formal dedication ceremony, with Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley presiding, on April 26, 1959.

Monsignor Ron Aubin, who led Our Lady of the Rosary for 27 years, shared some of the big changes regarding the church, in an interview before he retired in June 2021.

When Aubin arrived at the parish on July 1, 1994, about 830 families belonged to the church, he said, in The Laker/Lutz News story, published on June 23, 2021.

At the time, the church was still located on the southwest corner of U.S. 41 and State Road 54, Aubin said.

Both of those roads were two lanes then, and there were very few stoplights, he added.

“There are two churches there now. One on the north side of the highway and one on the south side of the highway. Both were ours. Except the one on the north side of the street used to be on the south side of the street.

“When they widened the intersection there — widened (U.S.) 41 to four lanes, did the whole intersection — they were going to chop off the (smaller) church,” Aubin said.

Instead, the building was sold to the Episcopal Church, which paid $1, and moved it across the street.

Bishop Gregory Parkes (seated), of the Diocese of St. Peterburg, participated in the formal installation of the Rev. Justin Paskert (standing, facing the congregation), as the new pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, at 2348 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. The installation ceremony occurred at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sept. 18. (Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Church)

Our Lady of the Rosary had already been using the larger building on the site on the south side of State Road 54. The structure later became home to Keystone Community Church.

Our Lady of the Rosary moved to its current campus at 2348 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes, on Nov. 27, 1999.

Initially, the new site had a church and an office. Over time, it added an early childhood center and a youth center.

During Aubin’s tenure, the church weathered the Great Recession and shutdowns caused by COVID-19.

As Aubin departed, he expressed optimism that the new pastor would bring fresh energy and be able to revitalize the parish that had been forced to limit gatherings and personal interactions because of the pandemic.

In his previous role, Paskert ran the campus ministry for six years at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus. He believes that background will prove useful in his new role.

“With doing campus ministry, the entire focus is on evangelizing,” he explained.

He believes his outreach experiences will help promote growth in the Land O’ Lakes church community.

“It’s not just trying to take care of the Catholics who show up, it’s really kind of challenging our whole community to kind of get out and share who we are and what we’re about, and share the Gospel,” he said.

When Paskert arrived at Our Lady of the Rosary, “we still had limited capacity, and we had just stopped having to register if you were going to come on the weekend.

“The first thing I did was put all available chairs back into the church — which was way more than what we needed — but it was kind of a signal to everybody: ‘We’re going to fill this back up again.’”

The efforts are showing results.

“Last summer, after I first got here, after Fr. Ron retired, we probably had about 1,300, 1,400 people on a weekend. This past month, we’ve been about 2,400 people.

“That’s been a very good momentum.

“I think people are being excited, in coming back to church,” the pastor said.

He also shared this thoughts about the various influences the pandemic has had, on church attendance.

“You had some people, kind of regular and prayerfully participate in church. Then, everybody stopped going. People very strong in their faith came back right away, as soon as the doors were open,” he said.

(Mike Camunas)

Now, he added, “a lot of people who are coming are a lot of new people that we didn’t necessarily see before the pandemic and the shutdown.”

Some are likely newcomers to the area, Paskert said. But others are people, who during COVID, decided to find a church home.

“People were asking themselves what they wanted their life to look like. I think it was kind of a hinge-point, a lynch pin, for people establishing new priorities for themselves or their family, post-pandemic,” Paskert said.

“People aren’t just necessarily going back to what they were doing before. They might be trying some things that are different,” he added.

Paskert noted that it’s not enough to attract people to try out the church.

“It’s constantly the work of how to welcome people, how to integrate them into the community,” the pastor said.

That challenge is likely to continue, as Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church moves forward beyond its first 70 years.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church milestones
1952: The Mission’s first official Mass was celebrated on Oct. 5, at the VFW Hall on U.S. 41. The celebrant was Abbot Francis Sadler, O.S.B. The mission’s patroness, and title, is established because the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is Oct 7.
1957: Land is purchased of the south side of State Road 54, a quarter-mile west of U.S. 41. The groundbreaking ceremony happened soon after signing of contract.
1958: The first Mass celebrated at the new church building on State Road 54.
1959: A formal dedication ceremony is held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on April 26.
1970: The last Benedictine pastor, the Rev. Edward Martineau, completes his assignment. The Rev. Peter Reynolds becomes the first diocesan-assigned pastor.
1979: The parish hall is constructed on the State Road 54 property.
1984: Our Lady of the Rosary Church purchases 26.75 acres, four-tenths of a mile north of State Road, on the east side of Collier Parkway.
1996: Planning and permitting begins for the new church, on Collier Parkway.
1999: Bishop Robert Lynch, of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, dedicates the new church on Collier Parkway. The dedication occurs on Nov. 27. The new location includes a multipurpose building, with the church, offices, rectory and a large parking area.
2001: An extension is added for a fourth living space for associate priest.
2007: Construction is completed on Immaculata Hall and the Early Childhood Center (Mary’s House).
2018: The Mater Dei building is completed, to be used for youth and adult formation.

Source: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church

Pastors of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church:

  • Reverend Stephan Herrmann, O.S.B.: 1953 to 1955
  • Reverend James Hoge, O.S.B.: 1955 to 1956
  • Reverend Cassian Foley, O.S.B.: 1956 to 1958
  • Reverend Michael Leap, O.S.B.: 1958 to 1963
  • Reverend Aloysius Dressman, O.S.B.: 1963 to 1966
  • Reverend Edward Martineau, O.S.B: 1966 to 1970
  • Reverend Peter Reynolds: 1970 to 1972
  • Reverend John Bolger: 1972 to 1973
  • Reverend Stephen Dambrauskas: 1973 to 1994
  • Reverend Ronald Aubin, J.C.L.: 1994 to 2021
  • Reverend Justin Paskert: 2021 to present

Source: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church

Published October 12, 2022

Community service is in this club’s heart, history

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The women of The Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills are busy bees.

And, that’s nothing new for this group, which was established 107 years ago to be of service in Pasco County’s largest municipality.

“Bee kind — that’s our theme,” said Emily Keene, the club’s recording secretary.

“Be kind, be generous, be happy. All those be’s, all of them, are part of every woman here and what brings them here,” said Keene, displaying her fun-loving spirit by sporting a bee-antenna headband. Each member of the group has one.

Members of The Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills pose together with their bee headbands, which is part of their motto to ‘Bee Kind.’ (Mike Camunas)

“There are all walks of life (in this club), and they come to this club because they want to provide services to this community that make a difference,” said Keene, a member of the club for eight years.

“It is a lot of fun, we have a good time and we’re friends, but it’s not a social club — it’s a working club,” she emphasized.

The Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills has been working for 107 years to help improve life in its community. It is the Zephyrhills branch of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs that was established in 1889.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills was formed on Nov. 11, 1915 by 15 civic-minded women, while, through the efforts of Walter R. Gail and Mayor B.F. Parson, The Works Progress Administration built the clubhouse, located at 38545 Fifth Ave., from native rock hauled from a quarry on the Hillsborough River.

The Women’s Club first meeting at the clubhouse was April 18, 1941, and the club maintains the building through renting it for events. The club’s rent for the building is $1 year.

“We’ve been growing in leaps and bounds,” the club’s seventh-year president Gina Granger said. “We have a very diverse group of ladies, who all have a servant’s heart, and they just want to serve their community in some way, shape or form.”

Within every GFWC woman’s club, there are five committees, each focusing on a different aspect of the community. There is Arts & Culture; Civic Engagement & Outreach; Education & Libraries; Environment; and, Health & Wellness.

These committees help clubs light a path for the future. They also help focus efforts to address the current and upcoming needs within the community.

“We ask all members to join at least one committee, but some of them have multiple interests, so they might join more than one,” Granger said. “Those committees then come up with an annual service project — this is in every woman’s club.”

GFWC, nationwide, also has a signature service program: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention, with an aim to increase awareness of and to help prevent the widespread occurrence of violence against women in communities.

Group is devoted, has staying power
The Zephyrhills club’s efforts to address the national GFWC’s signature program involves working extensively with Sunrise of Pasco, the Dade City-based center that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The club also works with Meals on Wheels, Zephyrhills Task Force, St. Joseph’s Baby Pantry, Helping Hands Food Pantry, and Support our Troops, and Hospice.
The club, as well as its Education Committee, works with the ABC Program at Zephyrhills High, West Zephyrhills Elementary and Woodland Elementary.

The Women’s Club of Zephyrhills Clubhouse, at 38545 Fifth Ave., is a distinctive structure, built from native rock hauled from a quarry on the Hillsborough River. The building is used for club meetings, but also is available for event rentals. Money raised from those rentals is used for charitable endeavors and scholarships. (Mike Camunas)

Through their members’ education focus, the club created the Pasco-Hernando State College Lola Lambert Memorial Scholarship. Named after a former president, the $15,000-a-year perpetual scholarship supports students who demonstrate financial need and maintain a 3.2 or higher GPA.

“Well, Zephyrhills (High) is a Title 1 school, and it’s been a tough few years to be a teacher,” said Granger, who is a teacher at the high school. “So, there have been ladies here who have adopted my classroom, and collected supplies and even prizes and other things to motivate (students). They’ve done the same at West Zephyrhills (Elementary), and even one year they took care of the teachers, getting them supplies and other stuff to thank them.

“We always try to do service projects that are near and dear to our hearts, but we like to focus on education a lot.”

Granger added that the club also awards 10 $1,000 scholarships, as well as participates in Take Stock in Children of Florida — a nonprofit mentoring, college success and college scholarship organization that will look after a student all the way through high school and into college.

“That one is definitely important to me, and it means a lot to me that others have joined in helping me with Take Stock in Children,” Granger said.

As a new service season gets rolling, members expect to keep themselves busy.

“I have seen this group grow and grow,” said Linda Weyer, a former club president.

“I joined in 2008 and next year I became the president and was president for the 100-year anniversary in 2015. That was a big deal, because (GFWC) is, nationally, one of the oldest community service organizations around.

“And, in all my time, never have I seen the group not be enthusiastic or not dedicated to community service. Members come and go, but we’ve always had amazing numbers and amazing women.”

The Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills
Where: 38545 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
Details: Founded in 1915, the club, with about 80 members, is dedicated to community service, civic participation and educational programs. Members work together in the spirit of friendship for the betterment of the community, and support local national and international relief efforts. The club has a more than 100-year history of community service and is open to any woman 18 years of age or older. The club’s outreach includes education, scholarships, supporting local food banks and charitable, nonprofit organizations, and more.
Info: GFWCWomansClubOfZephyrhills.com

Published October 12, 2022

Pasco School Board continues to push for more sidewalks

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Months are passing since school began, and Pasco County and Pasco County Schools appear to be no closer to finding a solution for a lack of county sidewalks than they were on opening day in August.

The Pasco County School Board has sent a letter to the Pasco County Commission asking the county to put a priority on getting some sidewalks built.

But as of Oct. 4, there had been no response from the county board, according to Pasco County school board member Megan Harding.

A shortage of bus drivers and insufficient state funding for transportation prompted the school district to drop “courtesy” busing for students in grades six through 12 who live within 2 miles of school.

(Mike Camunas)

That action prompted an outcry from parents who are worried about their children’s safety, as they walk to school on roads that often have no sidewalks or street lighting.

Parents have appeared at school board members expressing their concerns and describing conditions they believe are dangerous to their children.

In many cases, parents said they are not able to give their child a ride to school because they have to be at work.

A suggestion was made at one school board meeting to allow children who are walking to fill empty seats on the bus.

But Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district can’t do that because it would be inequitable to similarly situated students the district could not accommodate.

Meanwhile, the school system continues to deal with a driver shortage.

“We currently have 54 vacancies for our regular 331 routes,” Harding reported to her colleagues.

Many students are still arriving late to school and are not getting home on time, she said.

“I am worried about those students who are missing first period,” Harding added, noting she’s heard that students are being given an unexcused absence when they don’t arrive on time to get to class.

Harding said she’s discussed the problem with Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services and it is being addressed.

School board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said work to provide additional sidewalks can begin soon.

“We’re seeing a lot of complaints with parents, having 11-year-olds, not having safe walking (conditions),” Armstrong said.

On another issue, the school board agreed with a plan to provide 2.37 acres of right of way in conjunction with a new townhome project across from Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills. As part of the project, the development is required to make improvement to Henry Drive, which runs along the south side of Woodland Elementary and Zephyrhills High.

In exchange, district staff has negotiated that a crosswalk, with pedestrian flashing beacons, be installed along Henry Drive at a location to be determined in the future.

The improvement will be made when the City of Zephyrhills develops its park site, adjacent to Woodland Elementary, which is expected soon.

In other action, the school board has selected the Williams Company, of Tampa, to be the  construction management firm to oversee the construction of a new classroom building at Starkey Ranch K8 School, in Odessa.

The preconstruction services component is established as a fixed fee in the amount of $39,659.52. In addition to these base services, there is an additional $2,000 in not-to-exceed allowances.

The guaranteed maximum price proposal for the project will be presented to the school board at a later date.

Published October 12, 2022

Big changes are being proposed in Saddlebrook, in Wesley Chapel

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A proposed large-scale comprehensive plan amendment has been requested for Saddlebrook Resort, a place that helped put Wesley Chapel on the map.

The request calls for amending the county’s future land-use map on about 420.5 acres of land, south of State Road 54 and east of Service Road.

The property has an existing master-planned unit development (MPUD) — Saddlebrook Resort — which has existing entitlements, development and infrastructure.

But a substantial modification has been requested to add acreage to the existing MPUD and to convert one existing golf course and the driving range into commercial/retail, multifamily, single family, dorm rooms, clubhouse and restaurant uses, according to information contained in the Pasco County Planning Commission’s Sept. 22 agenda packet.

Saddlebrook Resort, located in Wesley Chapel, is a hotel, spa, tennis and golf complex that opened in 1981 and is home to Saddlebrook Tennis Academy, Saddlebrook Golf Academy, Saddlebrook Preparatory School and two 18-hole, Arnold-Palmer designed golf courses. (Mike Camunas)

The Saddlebrook Resort currently contains a number of different uses including commercial/office, multi-family, single-family, recreational and hotel/convention center uses. The proposed use calls for converting the area which is the golf driving range into the town center for Saddlebrook, the background materials say.

But at the planning board’s Sept. 22 meeting, the request being considered was whether the proposed change to the land-use should be recommended for approval.

The request still must go through public hearings before the Pasco County Commission to change the long-range plan and to change the zoning to clear the way for the proposed plans.

The request had been on the planning board’s consent agenda — meaning it would be approved in a single action with other items, unless it was pulled.

Planning board member Jon Moody pulled the item for discussion.

He said he did that a matter of principal, reminding board members that he had previously expressed a concern about too many items being placed on the consent agenda, and noting it is not the role of the planning board to rubberstamp requests.

“The consent agenda is for the duplexes, Mrs. Jones’ variance for her shed, but not a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment,” Moody said.

“The second reason that I pulled this and want to discuss this has to do with public notice.

“Saddlebrook Golf Course — the proposal here is that we’re going to change the golf course to single-family homes, townhouses, multifamily dorms for a golf academy — and all of these things may be good things, and I’m not necessarily opposed to them.

“But I know this, if I bought a house in Saddlebrook on a golf course and paid $750,000 or a million dollars for that, my expectation is that’s a golf course.

“And, maybe I don’t have the right to have that expectation, but at least if someone is going to change it, they need to let me know what’s going on, so I can come out and exercise my right as a citizen, to speak for or against the proposal.

“So, that’s the issue and the reason that I brought it up,” Moody said.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, representing the applicant, told the planning board: “Although the code only requires an ad, we did post three signs.”

She also noted: “My client has had communications with all five homeowner associations within Saddlebrook and made presentations to them.

Saddlebrook Golf Club, in Wesley Chapel (File)

“This is a pre-transmittal hearing. This is the only time that you’ll hear the comp plan amendment, but what you do is you recommend to the board.

“Then the board will have a transmittal hearing, where they send it to the state. We have an MPUD (master-planned unit development zoning request) pending, so it will be coming,” she said.

Under the MPUD requirement, letters must be sent to everyone.

Wilhite told the planning board that its vote on the request before it would merely get the process started.

The MPUD request will spell out the specifics, and when it comes back to the planning board it will be fully noticed, she said.

Moody reiterated the need to discuss projects, such as the Saddlebrook request.

“My concern is, when we put comprehensive plan amendments on the consent agenda, or we don’t hear the accompanying MPUD consecutively, we’re laying the groundwork for a legal argument in the future, if we want to deny the zoning, if they argue ‘Well, wait a minute, my MPUD is consistent with the comp plan amendment that you passed a month ago or two months ago.

“My particular concern in Saddlebrook is that a great number of the property owners, adjacent to the golf course, to which this comp plan amendment applies, live out of state, many of them live out of country, so they didn’t see the sign posted,” Moody added.

Moody said the county should require that written notices be sent to property owners whose rights could be affected by proposed land-use and zoning changes.

Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, told Moody a proposed change to the county’s land development code will require that notices of proposed changes be mailed, posted and published.

She expects that proposal to be back before the planning board in coming months.

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposed Saddlebrook changes.

Published October 12, 2022

City of Zephyrhills approves 33% budget increase

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The numbers are in for the City of Zephyrhills’ budget — and this year’s total represents a 33% increase over last year.

The City of Zephyrhills approved a 33% increase in its budget, bringing the total budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 to slightly more than $100 million. (Mike Camunas)

The Zephyrhills City Council approved the city’s budget on Sept. 26. The budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 is slightly more than $100 million.

This is the fourth time in the past five budgets that the city increased its planned spending — and it marks the largest increase.

In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the city budget increased 24.5%, for a total of $75.3 million.

This year’s budget is based on a millage rate of 6.25 mills, which will generate $6,591,549 in ad valorem taxes. The city’s total property valuation is  $1,110,155,587.

Last year, the valuation was $946,676,382, generating $5,710,825 in ad valorem tax revenues.

This fiscal year’s total expenditures are expected to be $100,621,184.

Budget particulars are detailed in a 54-page book.

Here’s a look at how spending breaks down:

  • General fund: $16,391,197
  • Special revenue fund: $32,739,894
  • Community Redevelopment Agency fund: $1,380,771
  • Impact fee fund: $3,037,407
  • Utility impact fee fund: $5,841,000
  • Utility fund: $30,027,676
  • Airport fund: $8,963,569
  • Sanitation fund: $2,239,670

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe presented some budget highlights to council members. Those included:

  • Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center multipurpose indoor facility: $7,080,672, funded entirely by the state
  • Hercules Park Construction: $4,410,000, funded by Penny For Pasco and the American Rescue Plan Act
  • South Avenue Extension relating to National Guard: $1,940,000, funded entirely by the state
  • Sidewalks: $1.4 million, funded by Penny For Pasco
  • Eiland Boulevard/Simons Road intersection: $800,000, funded by transportation impact fees
  • Annual road resurfacing: $600,000, funded by gas tax
  • County Road 54, east of Hercules: $581,907, funded by Penny For Pasco
  • Stormwater Design Phase: $500,000, funded by Penny For Pasco
  • Zephyr Park Surveying: $400,00, funded by Penny For Pasco
  • Gateway Project: $350,000, funded by transportation impact fees
  • Park improvements: $300,00, funded with General Fund revenues
  • Design of City Yard: $200,000, funded by Penny For Pasco
  • Fuel tank upgrade: $150,000, funded by Penny For Pasco

The new budget calls for additional personnel, including four police officers, an administrative assistant, a code support specialist, a parks maintenance worker, an equipment operator and adding two employees to the High School Student Work Program.

City Council member salaries also will be getting an increase of $100 a month, taking effect at each election for the new elected Council member.

The budget includes a pay increase of 6% for employees and 41 cents to work toward the $15 minimum wage increase.

The budget includes $367,454 for the Zephyrhills Police Department to pay for renovation of an old ambulance, a camera system for command unit, stadium/portable lights and a dispatch consolidation project.

Also, $558,000 in Penny for Pasco funds has been allocated to purchase nine new SUV vehicles.

The streets department has budgeted $70,000 for an asphalt roller and trailer, and $600,000 for resurfacing, which will be paid for through gas taxes. It also has allocated $250,000 for a chipper truck, which will be paid for with Penny for Pasco funds.

The Sanitation Department will spend $535,000 on a new front load garbage truck, Curotto Can cart lift, cart tipper, automated truck arm, and the painting of two garbage trucks.

Parks will spend $93,000 for a zero-turn mower, two lawn trailers and a large area turf mower, paid for with gas tax proceeds, and $150,000 for playground equipment, paid for with park impact fees.

Additionally, Zephyrhills Municipal Airport received a 100% state appropriation for $6.6 million for new Terminal/Box Hangars/Taxiway and $390,000 for existing Runway 1-19 rehabilitation.

The city’s General Fund revenue sources include franchise fees, utility taxes, communication taxes, licenses and permits, state grants, state revenue sources, county shared funds (occupational licenses), building fees, other services fees, fines and forfeitures, interest income, miscellaneous fees and services, and interfund transfers.

Published October 12, 2022

School board members share joy over Kirkland opening

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During board member comments at the Oct. 4 Pasco County School Board meeting, Allen Altman expressed his appreciation for the dedication ceremony held last month at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

School board member Allen Altman said this photo of Kirkland Academy of Innovation, at 9100 Curley Road, in Wesley Chapel, perfectly captures the nature of the special celebration to dedicate the new high school. The school is designed to prepare students in an array of current and emerging technical and career fields. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The new high school, at 9100 Curley Road, in Wesley Chapel, has an emphasis on preparing students for a wide range of technical careers, in both current and emerging fields.

Altman, who is retiring from the board, has persistently pushed to increase opportunities for students living on the east side of Pasco County, which for years lagged in programming options behind other parts of the county.

Altman asked that a photo taken during the evening be shared with those attending or viewing the board’s meeting.

He praised Andy Dunn, a multimedia specialist for the district, for the excellent quality of the photograph.

“I thought this was an artist’s rendering when I first saw it, but it is an actual photograph,” said Altman, referring to a photo showing the school set against a stunning sky.

The school board member said the photo aptly recorded the special nature of the celebration.

“It was a tremendous night. The weather could not have been any more spectacular. Great turnout. Room was full.

“Everything was wonderful.

“We had some business partners that were there, that were in the tours, that have already reached out to us about participating and partnering in some other programs.

“So, it was well-received and very well done.

“So many students that were there that we heard just tremendous stories from, and what their intentions are and how motivated they are,” Altman said. “I’m really, really, really excited about this.”

School board member Allison Crumbley, who attended the dedication ceremony as well, said that Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation “is  such a beacon for the future for so many students.

“The school is beautiful.

“It’s truly a gem in our school district,” said Crumbley, adding that like Altman, she’s excited about what this school will do to support students’ futures.

Published October 12, 2022

Choose wisely, to support relief efforts

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Hurricane Ian has had a devastating impact on Southwest Florida, with its record-breaking storm surge. More than 2 million people have been impacted by the storm, suffering from floods, power outages, home displacements and access to basic necessities such as safe water, according to a Better Business Bureau (BBB) news release.

Many charitable organizations are seeking to provide emergency relief and assistance.

To assist donors seeking to support relief efforts, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers these tips:

  • Is the disaster appeal clear? The contribution request clearly should identify what disaster relief activities you are supporting. There are many possibilities: temporary shelter, food, medical, other emergency needs. Don’t assume what the organization does based solely on the group’s name.
  • Does the charity already have a presence in the impacted area? Charities that already have support staff in the impacted areas are more likely to develop help quickly at a time of immediate need.
  • Is the charity an experienced relief organization? Experienced relief organizations will be able to provide help with greater speed and efficiency than a newly created one.
  • If considering crowdfunding, do you know its procedures? Some crowdfunding sites take measures to vet postings after a disaster, others don’t. Review the site’s policies and procedures. If in doubt, it is safest to donate to people who you personally know and trust.
  • Does the organization meet the 20 BBB Charity Standards? The Better Business Bureau recommends donating to charities that meet all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. To access a free evaluative report on charities, visit Give.org.

Published October 12, 2022

Pasco approves new office building on North Dale Mabry Highway

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning that will clear the way for Tampa Civil Design to build a new 10,000-square-foot office on about 8.5 acres, on North Dale Mabry Highway, about 1,900 feet north of the Hillsborough County line.

The action came after some area residents appeared before the county board, seeking assurances, on the public record that the new development would not be using a private road known as Preston Lane for access to the office, either during construction or after the building opens.

The county board’s action was in keeping with recommendations for approval by Pasco County planners and the Pasco County Planning Commission.

Jeremy Couch is the applicant on the request. He often appears before the county board in his professional capacity, on zoning issues.

The proposed site of a new 10,000-square-foot office sits on 8.5 acres on North Dale Mabry Highway, about 1,900 feet north of the Hillsborough County line. (Mike Camunas)

His attorney, Barbara Wilhite, told board members that the application is a straight-forward request for an office in an area that’s been designated for retail, office and residential development.

She also noted its access is off of North Dale Mabry Highway.

But area residents wanted to be absolutely certain that the office won’t use the private road they live on.

John Calamari, who lives on Preston Lane, reiterated concerns he raised at the planning commission’s public hearing on the request.

He told the county board members: “I am a professional engineer. I’ve been licensed in multiple states for over 40 years and in the state of Florida since 1998. Prior to that, I was in construction. I’ve made my living that way for 50 years. I’m not opposed to construction and expansion. However, there are some items that need to be clarified.

“Mr. Couch just stated that he will not use Preston Lane for construction purposes, meaning as a haul road for heavy equipment and materials.

“However, he did not make it clear that it will not be used as a means of entry and exit for the occupants of his building, so that needs to be clarified.

“Secondly, it has been established that Preston Lane is a substandard drive.

“Preston Lane is only 10-feet wide.

“The paved surface does not allow passing of two vehicles. Somebody has to back down 500 feet, 900 feet, or they have to pull off on somebody’s driveway or a lawn. So, we would need to absolutely establish that it would not be used for vehicular traffic from the proposed office.”

Philip Passintino, another resident of Preston Lane, told commissioners: “We’re talking about protecting Preston Lane as a private road.”

He then showed board members a photo of a mail truck driving down the road, to help them visualize the road’s width.

“As you can see, a mail truck has to do a K-turn just to turn around to do the other side of the street.”

“Why do we care? Because we had to pay for a resurfacing awhile back for $35,000. We need to do that again. We were assessed $14,000 to make the corrections to Lake Como Drive, which is a feeder road to ours,” he said.

Area residents want to be sure that the road is protected.

They also wanted assurances that the buffering requirements will be met.

Wilhite assured the county board that her client will meet the county’s buffering requirements for the property.

Because of questions raised by the residents, Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey asked: “Will the applicant be using a private road to access his property?”

Commissioner Ron Oakley added: “I had the same question.”

Couch responded: “I swear, occupants of the building will not use Preston Lane for ingress and egress. I’m going to fence it off. I have no interest in using Preston Lane for anything. I’m going to put a fence on the perimeter and there will be no access to Preston Lane.”

He also told the board that the property is on North Dale Mabry Highway and he wants his business to have a North Dale Mabry Highway address.

After the board approved the rezoning, Commissioner Mike Moore remarked: “It is great to see more office, and congratulations on expansion because that means another Pasco County business is doing awesome things.”

Published October 12, 2022

Hurricane Ian pummels Florida, leaving a path of death and destruction

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The death toll continues to climb, as crews continue searching for survivors of Hurricane Ian — a hurricane of historic proportions that flattened downtown Fort Myers, knocked out the bridge connecting Sanibel Island to the mainland, and caused billions of dollars in damage.

In the days leading up to Hurricane Ian’s landfall, local officials feared a direct hit to the Tampa Bay region.

The tracking path showed Ian heading straight toward Tampa, and weather experts predicted that hurricane-strength winds, record storm surge and heavy rainfall would combine to create a worst-case scenario for Tampa Bay.

A massive tree toppled over near baseball fields at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz, however, did not damage any structures. (Mike Camunas)

Instead — just like Hurricane Charley in 2004 — Hurricane Ian shifted to the south.

It made landfall at Cayo Costa Island at 3:05 p.m., on Sept. 28, as a Category 4 hurricane, with an estimated wind speed of 150 mph.

The scope of devastation is almost unimaginable.

Footage from national and local television coverage reveals the destructive forces of Hurricane Ian, as it traveled through areas including Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Cape Coral and other places to the south of the Tampa Bay region, and then headed across the state of Florida, before entering the Atlantic Ocean and making another landfall in South Carolina.

The news footage has shown heroic rescues, and search and rescue teams going house to house looking for survivors and crews.

The coverage has captured the human emotion of people being rescued, and others dealing with the loss of homes and businesses.

Television news crews also shared images of destruction.

Boats were piled in stacks in marinas, or carried onto nearby roadways.

Roads turned into rivers. Cars and trucks floated down streets.

High winds tore through mobile home parks.

Floodwaters filled up houses. High winds sheared off roofs.

Trees toppled.

Those toppled trees damaged homes, cars and other properties.

A large tree fell into part of Corvette Generation, located at 16541 US-301, Dade City, damaging a part of the business and knocking down power lines.

At one point, millions across Florida were in the dark, as a result of high winds that snapped utility poles and downed trees. Transformers exploded, too.

Power outages were the most widespread problem within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, along with trees that fell, and additional damages.

Other disruptions occurred, as well, because schools, businesses and government offices closed, too.

But local officials were grateful the area was largely spared. At the same time they expressed empathy for Floridian communities that are dealing with Hurricane Ian’s destruction, and pledged to send support to help other communities reeling from the storm’s devastating impacts.

The scope of the state and federal response has been massive.

In the days leading up to the hurricane’s landfall, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency, setting the stage for rapid deployment of emergency personnel to wherever the hurricane hit.

President Joe Biden has pledged to help the state, as it deals with rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has been coordinating the state’s hurricane response.

The efforts include activating more than 5,000 Florida Guardsmen to help in Hurricane Ian operations. Up to 2,000 National Guardsmen from neighboring states also have been activated to assist.

Two massive tree limbs were knocked down by Hurricane Ian, bringing down power lines and blocking Fifth Street between Florida Avenue and Coleman Avenue in Dade City. Residents say the trees came down around 4 p.m. Wednesday, creating a loud explosion and leaving them without power for as late as Thursday afternoon.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s mutual aid team is coordinating the deployment of more than 1,000 law enforcement officers statewide from more than 30 agencies.

Incident Management Teams from Ohio and Colorado stepped up to provide additional support for response and recovery efforts after the storm.

Efforts to restore power has involved 42,000 linemen from numerous states, who have been working around the clock to get the lights turned back on.

The state’s effort have been widespread and far-reaching, dealing with everything from providing supplies to organizing manpower.

For instance, the state has shipped more than 4,000 gallons of diesel to Lee County to provide power to water plants that provide water to nearby hospitals.

It also provided 500 traffic barrels to Charlotte County to safely modify traffic patterns. It sent more than 400 bottles of oxygen to Charlotte County.

And, those are just a few examples.

Officials say it will take time to assess the full scope of Ian’s destruction, to clear out the debris, and to find a way forward.

In the meantime, those who have suffered losses are encouraged to file insurance claims, and if they qualify, to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration.

Also, if you know someone who is missing, or you want to report someone safe, visit these websites:

There are a number of ways you can help, such as through local groups, the American Red Cross at RedCross.org, or The Florida Disaster Fund, which can be found at FloridaDisasterFund.org, or text, DISASTER to 20222.

Published October 05, 2022

Some tips to help storm victims navigate a way forward

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Although Hurricane Ian did not make a direct hit, as was feared, it’s always good to have some pointers on how to respond if your area suffers substantial harm from a natural disaster.

Here are some pointers we have compiled that we hope will be helpful to our readers, in case this type of information is ever needed.

After the storm, what hazards should I watch for?

  • Keep an eye out for fallen power lines.
  • Do not walk through standing water. It could be electrically charged. It also could contain harmful contaminants. It could have a strong undercurrent. It also may be deeper than it looks.
  • Keep an eye out for wild animals that may have been driven out into the open.

What should I do if I smell natural gas?
If you detect an odor that smells like rotten eggs, it could signal there is a gas leak. Natural gas has no odor, but gas companies add a harmless chemical to make it smell like rotten eggs.

If you detect that smell, do not light matches, turn on light switches or use the telephone — any of those actions could ignite the gas and cause an explosion.

Go to a phone that is away from the odor and immediately call your local gas company. If the scent is strong, leave the property before making your call. Be sure to tell others to leave and warn others not to enter the building.

Did you need to evacuate? If so, when re-entering your home:

  • Look out for standing water. If you do, turn off the main power switch. Don’t cross standing water to access the switch. Call an electrician, instead, to check out your home’s electrical system before turning the power back on. Also do not use electric tools or appliances while standing in water.
  • If the house has been closed up for several days, enter briefly to open doors and windows to let the house air out for a while (at least 30 minutes) before you go in to stay for any length of time.
  • If your home has been flooded and has been closed up for several days, assume your home has mold. Hire professionals to dry out your house, or get guidance on how to do it yourself.

Did your property sustain damage?
Call your insurance agent. Take photos to document damage. Make repairs to prevent additional damage. Keep receipts of the supplies you used to make repairs.

A toppled over tree sits pushed away from Hale Road in Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)

If you have or had to leave your home to stay elsewhere keep receipts for hotels and meals. Insurance policies often cover “loss of use” expenses.

Is your car damaged?
Check with your auto insurance to see if it is covered.

Car flooded? If the car has been flooded, avoid turning it on right away. If there’s water in the engine it can cause more damage. Unfortunately, flood waters can do serious damage to a car, especially to the electrical system. Repairs can become so expensive they can outstrip the value of the car.

Are you using a generator?
If you are using a generator do not use it in the house and don’t plug it into your home’s electrical system. Be sure the generator is kept outdoors and is well-ventilated. Fumes from generators can be deadly.

If power’s out, how can I preserve my food?
Open the refrigerator only when necessary and close it quickly. Keep your refrigerated foods cold longer by move food from your refrigerator into coolers.

Tightly pack the coolers with ice to keep food from spoiling. Prioritize foods you’re trying to save.

If you’ve lost power, be careful about eating food that may have spoiled.

Once your perishable food reaches room temperature, many experts say it’s safe for only two hours. Don’t assume it’s safe simply because it looks and smells OK.

Also, if you cook food and it has a questionable odor, throw it out.

What should I do if I see a fallen power line?
Report it to the local utility company.

Use care not to touch anything that’s in contact with the power line. Be especially careful around standing water that may be carrying an electrical charge.

Do you need repairs? Avoid unlicensed, fly-by-night operators
If you have roof damage, need tree trimming or removal or require another type of repair, be sure to secure bids for the work and require proof that the contractor is licensed and insured.

Get a written contract detailing the work to be performed, the completion date, the types of materials to be used, warranties for the work, the start and finish dates, and who is responsible for cleanup and trash removal. Do not pay upfront for the work, although partial payments sometimes are a reasonable request. Be sure to check references.

Do you need more help?
Check with your local government and local elected officials. Often they have staff who are familiar with community resources and can find the help you need.

Don’t forget to confer with friends and family who also may know who can provide the services you need or where you can go to file complaints.

Published October 05, 2022