The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Lutz Library ‘Friends’ group is back in action

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The Friends of the Library Book Depot is located inside the Lutz Branch Library. (Courtesy of The Friends of the Lutz Branch Library)

The Friends of the Lutz Branch Library have been active on and off — because of the COVID pandemic and plumbing repairs at the library.

But now the group is active again and would love for patrons to come check out its selection of affordably priced books, according to a news release.

The selection is diverse, offering books that can be enjoyed and informative for people of all ages.

The Friends have organized and re-stocked the Book Depot with a diverse collection of hundreds of donated books ready for purchase.

The Friends of the Library is a nonprofit group with a passion for reading and for helping to improve the community. All funds raised by book sales are used to sponsor programs and events at the library.

In addition to purchasing a book to add to your collection, you may want to make a donation to the group, or check into getting involved with it.

If you’d like to find out more, stop by the Lutz Branch Library, at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, or call 813-273-3652.

Published August 16, 2023

Don’t let bites and stings ‘bug’ you

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Spending time outdoors is good for your health, but whether you are heading out on the water, hiking a trail, or just hanging out in the backyard — be sure to know how to protect yourself and your family from bites and stings.

AdventHealth’s Network of Care provides tips on how to avoid the most common culprits. AdventHealth also provides guidance on what to do if you get bitten or stung this warm-weather season:

Learn how to protect yourself and your family from bites and stings when spending time outdoors.

Mosquitoes: These insects are a nuisance and love warm, wet environments. Their bites can be itchy and can also carry some of the Zika virus.

Try to stay inside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. If you go outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants to protect your skin. Adults can safely use insect repellent with DEET, but children younger than 2 months old should not be exposed to the chemical. Over-the-counter remedies can soothe the sensation and redness. Avoid scratching the bite so it does not become inflamed and trigger a skin infection.

Jellyfish stings — Jellyfish stings are painful but avoidable.

Check marine warnings ahead of going in the water (a purple lifeguard station flag means there is something dangerous in the water). Keep an eye out for jellyfish that wash up on shore, too. If you get stung, get to safety and wash the area well with seawater. Remove any tentacles that are left behind, using gloves if you can. Head to the lifeguard station for a vinegar solution to pour on your skin and leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing. Swelling and redness should go away, but if it increases, seek medical attention.

Stingrays: Check for marine warnings before entering the water.

Do the “stingray shuffle” by slowing down your walk and shuffling your feet through the top layer of sand as you wade into the water. This will alert stingrays that are buried under the sand in 10 inches or 12 inches of water. If you do get stung and a barb remains, head to the emergency room. Do not attempt to remove the barb by yourself. If there is no barb, soak the area in a bucket of hot water for about an hour, to soothe the pain. If you experience severe reactions like a rash, vomiting or trouble breathing, get medical help.

Snake Bites: If you see a snake, avoid it. Don’t try to catch, trap or kill it.

Avoid tall grasses and piles of leaves where snakes may be resting or hiding. Snakes are most active at night or early in the morning. If you are bitten by a snake, take a photo of the snake if you can. If not, pay attention to its coloring and patterns. Snake bites tend to swell, so remove jewelry around the area if you get a bite on your hand or arm. Call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not suck venom from the bite wound, as it will not stop the venom from spreading.

Ticks: Though most tick bites are benign, some are associated with certain diseases, like Lyme disease.

Hiking trails are common places to pick up ticks. Wear protective clothing like long sleeves, pants, tall socks and boots when venturing into a heavily wooded area. Tuck your pants into your socks to close any gaps and use a lotion with DEET to repel ticks. Inspect your skin when you get home. If you find a tick, remove it with sanitized tweezers and clean and disinfect the area. If you develop a rash that spreads or experience a fever or joint pain, go to the doctor.

Bees: Bees can pack a painful sting, but usually do not need professional treatment unless you have an allergic reaction.

Bees do not respond to insect repellant. Give flowers a wide berth and keep an eye out for hives. If you are stung, bees will release a stinger into the skin, which can be removed by scraping or pulling it out. Apply ice to the area to help relieve the pain. Benadryl may reduce itching. A mixture of baking soda and water can help remove the stinger. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have a reaction such as trouble breathing, a rash over the entire body, swelling or vomiting. If you have had severe reactions in the past due to insect bites or stings, consider carrying an EpiPen, which can be prescribed by your doctor.

Published August 16, 2023

Pasco County takes action on residential lot sizes

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Pasco County has established a new minimum standard, relating to residential lot sizes.

The Pasco County Commission wants new residential lots to be at least 45 feet wide, except in specific situations.

The new policy will affect applications that had not yet had their first round of comments, as of the board’s meeting on Aug. 8.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano said that’s the fair approach to take.

The Pasco County Commission wants new residential construction coming to the county to create neighborhoods where, except in specific situations, houses are on lots that are at least 45 feet wide. The county board also wants to avoid having sidewalks that are less than 13 feet long, to keep park vehicles from overlapping sidewalks. (File)

“To throw the switch on them, would not be the right thing to do. We haven’t done in the past, with other things we’ve changed in the county. I don’t want to start doing that now,” Mariano said.

Martin Frame, incoming president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA), told the board that the building community had expressed significant interest in when the new rules would be imposed.

“This was a hot-button issue for us because we have a lot of projects that have taken quite a while to get through comments,” Frame said.

Nectarios Pittos, director of planning and development for the county, gave the county board an overview of the rules that resulted from collaboration between the county’s staff and stakeholders from the building community.

“Forty-foot-wide lots will only be allowed in specific instances, in TNDs (traditional neighborhood developments) or TOD (transit-oriented developments,) or in 55-plus communities,” Pittos said.

Otherwise, the minimum lot width size will be 45 feet, Pittos said.

The TBBA initially pushed for a minimum lot width of 42 feet, Frame said.

“We’re at 45 today, and, while it’s not exactly what we want, we’re willing to support it because we know it’s a negotiation. We want a back-and-forth relationship with you all,” Frame said. “We have a lot of support internally. And, it’s not without some internal debate to get where we are today.”

Edward Briggs, of the Florida State Consulting Group, also addressed the board, on behalf of the TBBA.

“I think one of the biggest things that came out of all of this is options. That’s what you’re looking at today, is different options for homebuyers, different options for the market.

“This memo that you have before you today, the TBBA feels comfortable supporting.

“Is it everything that we want? No.”

“I think what this memo does — keeps the integrity of the market, allows those options to continue, allows for that flexibility of the homebuyer to be able to afford different particular price points, but also gives you something that we’ve heard over and over, which is quality product that will last the test of time,” Briggs said.

County commissioners have been discussing the need to create better-looking communities.

They don’t want neighborhoods that have too much concrete and not enough landscaping and trees. They don’t want rows of houses that all look the same, jammed up next to each other.

They don’t want vehicles that are parked in driveways to overlap sidewalks, and when there’s parking on the street, they want enough room for garbage trucks and emergency vehicles to get through.

When the discussion on lot size began months ago, Commissioner Ron Oakley said he wanted to do away with 40-foot-wide lots. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, however, said she supports the 40s, but thinks that parking needs to be behind the homes on 40-foot-wide lots.

Discussion is likely to continue over these uses and other development standards, but the Aug. 8 session set the general tone of the county board’s expectations for a higher degree of quality for future residential development.

Published August 16, 2023

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel High charter approved

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The Pasco County School Board has approved a charter application for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel High School, at 33347 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

The approval is for a five-year period, which began July 1 and runs through June 30, 2028.

The approval includes a provision that the term shall be automatically extended on a month-to-month basis until the charter has been renewed, non-renewed, or terminated by the sponsor, according to background materials in the Pasco County School Board’s July 25 agenda packet.

The school is authorized to serve students in grades nine through 12. 

The following is the student enrollment capacity by year: 

  1. Year 1 (2023-2024): Grade nine up to a maximum of 200 students 
  2. Year 2 (2024-2025): Grades nine to 10 up to a maximum of 550 students 
  3. Year 3 (2025-2026): Grades nine to 11 up to a maximum of 900 students 
  4. Year 4 (2026-2027): Grades nine to 12 up to a maximum of 1,250 students 
  5. Year 5 (2027-2028): Grades nine to 12 up to a maximum of 1,400 students

The charter approval allows the school to recruit throughout all segments of the community, using direct mailings, public advertisement, information in the local and community press, and informational meetings at various locations and in English or other languages, as appropriate.

If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of the program, class, grade level, or building, all applicants shall have an equal chance of being admitted through a random selection process. 

Students at the school also are eligible to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at the public school to which the student would be otherwise assigned, the background materials say.

Published August 16, 2023

Staying cool, when it’s hot, hot, hot

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Pasco County employees Rachel Nieto, left, and Stephen Roa fill their water bottles, while Matthew Potts, center, takes a sip and Jimmy Sullivan, wears a water backpack, as he works. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Pasco County’s Safety Team put together some pointers to help people stay cool – whether they are on the job for the county, or for anyone who is outside mowing the lawn, tending their garden, exercising or exerting themselves in other ways during this sweltering summer.

In a county news release, the safety team says the keys to staying safe are keeping cool, staying hydrated and getting rest.

Keep Cool: Dress for the heat. Wear a hat and light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing when possible. Add a hat with neck shade, cooling neckband, headband, and vest. You can even use a portable neck fan.

Apply a sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply the sunscreen every couple of hours.

Stay hydrated: Drink cool water or a hydrating drink often, even if you are not thirsty. Limit caffeine, sugary beverages and alcohol. These beverages cause your body to remove fluids at a much quicker rate, leading to dehydration. Instead, drink an electrolyte replenishment liquid.

Take breaks: Take time to recover from the heat with periodic breaks. Take breaks in a designated shady or cool location.

Published August 23, 2023

Public is invited to help shape Pasco’s future

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Pasco County is establishing its vision for the future and is asking the public to weigh in on the Pasco County 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update.

Here are upcoming opportunities for interested parties to get involved:

  • Aug. 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel
  • Aug. 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Sessions are being held on the same day, at the same time at these two locations: River Ridge High School Gymnasium, 11646 Town Center Road in New Port Richey and at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa. Both of these sessions will cover the same materials, but held in two locations for the convenience of those who would like to take part.

During the workshops, attendees will learn about the community-driven vision derived from the public input received thus far and provide their ideas on potential implementation strategies to include in the update.

Those having questions about the event or the project may contact Hayat Mazili, project manager at 727-847-8140, ext. 7615.

Published August 16, 2023

Higher speed limits save little time, but pose safety risks, study shows

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While it might seem like raising speed limits would save time on the road, an AAA Foundation for Traffic Study found that isn’t necessarily true.

The AAA Foundation’s research found that raising posted speed limits may do little to save time and improve traffic flow, but could lead to more crashes, injuries and deaths, according to a news release from AAA.

The research results varied across 12 roadway sites that the study examined. All had new posted speed limits. Six were higher and six were lower. The study also includes various types of roads, the news release says.

The results showed:

  • Raising posted speed limits was associated with increased crashes on two of three interstate highways.
  • Lowering posted speed limits led to fewer crashes in many cases examined, but the likelihood increased for speed limit violations.
  • Changes in travel times were small, whether the speed limits were raised or lowered.

“Our study found no one-size-fits-all answer regarding the impact of changing speed limits,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in the release.

“AAA urges transportation officials to apply a “holistic” approach when setting or changing posted speed limits and prioritize safety over speed and capacity,” Jenkin said.

Speeding is a critical factor in vehicle crashes across the nation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 42,000 traffic deaths in 2021 and again in 2022, the highest levels in 16 years, according to the AAA release.

The NHTSA reports that speeding was a factor in nearly 29% of the fatalities in 2021 and 27% in 2022, the release added.

AAA recommends that changes in posted speed limits should consider a range of factors, including but not limited to the type of road, surrounding land use, and historical crash data. AAA supports automated speed enforcement, but says that programs must be carefully implemented to maintain community support, prioritize equity and consistently drive improved safety. 

“The movement in statehouses to raise speed limits is happening across the country in at least eight states this year,” Jennifer Ryan, director of state relations for AAA, said in the release. “But the benefits are overrated, and the risks are understated. Increasing speed limits does not always yield the positive results envisioned by traffic planners.”

This study is the third phase of the AAA Foundation research examining the effect of posted speed limit changes on safety.

Published August 16, 2023

Orange Belt Trail alternatives are topic of meeting

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The public is invited to attend upcoming meetings to discuss alternatives relating to the planned Orange Belt Trail, which will span roughly 37 miles through Pasco County, from Trinity to Trilby.

Some residents can’t wait for the Orange Belt Trail to come their way, others are resistant. Everyone is welcome to weigh in on Pasco County’s proposed alternatives for the trail that eventually is expected to span roughly 37 miles, from Trinity to Trilby. (File)

The meetings will provide an update on the study, which includes changes based on input received at previous workshops, according to a Pasco County news release.

The project team will present potential alignments, along with maps of the alternative routes.

Team members also will present an evaluation and solicit feedback on the alternatives.

Both meetings will cover the same information.

Here are the meeting dates and places:

  • Aug. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the GFWC Dade City Woman’s Club, 37922 Palm Ave., in Dade City
  • Aug. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive, in Odessa.

The meetings are held open-house style, so participants can come and go.

A brief formal presentation will be given each evening at 6 p.m., and staff will be available to answer questions.

Input collected at the sessions will help Pasco County determine which alternatives will move forward through the study.

A recommended alignment is expected to be presented to the Pasco Board of County Commissioners in mid-2024.

For more information, visit OrangeBeltTrail.com. To learn more about Pasco County Engineering Services, visit MyPas.co/3tzL8N3.

Published August 09, 2023

Pasco youth influencing change

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The group became active because of inactivity.

Pasco County STAND Above the Influence, a youth-led coalition that takes on community initiatives such as underage drinking, drug abuse and more, has two divisions, with one on both the east and west side of the county.

East Pasco STAND recently reactivated, after COVID depleted its roster.

President of Pasco County STAND Above the Influence coalition Maddie Horn listens as a fellow member speaks during a youth panel at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus on July 25. STAND will meet monthly to work on community-wide initiatives to address youth drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction, mental health and other issues. (Mike Camunas)

“We did a little recruitment to show (the kids) this is what we’re all about and to come out and see what we do,” said Bonni Snider, one of the four adult mentors and advisors to STAND. She’s been with the group since its formation in 2014.

“And now, we have about seven (members) back on East Pasco STAND.”

The group of middle school and high school members looks to inspire positive change, and cultivate safe and healthy communities. They focus on issues including youth drug use, mental health, underage drinking, impaired driving, tobacco and vaping use, safety, violence and bullying.

At the group meetings, which are typically once a month, the middle school and high school members choose priority initiatives and talk about what actions they want to take within the community.

Meetings typically begin at the start of the school year, Snider said.

The group generally chooses about three priority initiatives, she added.

“One thing we want people to understand about STAND and its youth is that it is entirely youth-led,” Snider said. “When we have our summit meetings, everyone gets together, and when we did, we passed around sticky notes and told them to write down what they wanted to focus on this year. Then, we take votes and narrow down to the top three.

Jaylynn Grady, STAND secretary, speaks at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel during a youth panel discussion for Pasco Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (ASAP).

“For example, the youth got together, then said what about all the people affected by COVID. Then they said ‘What about all those pets?’ So they did a fundraiser and donated it to a shelter and another one for needy families who needed food around Christmas.”

STAND president Maddie Horn said this year the group’s top three priority issues are youth and mental health; underage drug use; and, abuse and inclusivity.

Horn joined the group nearly five years ago as a way to become active in the community.

“We host summits for youth to come and learn about how to contribute to our initiatives,” Horn said. “We find that, at the beginning, (new members) can be, sometimes, soft-spoken or shy. But once in STAND, they find their confidence and their voice because we tell them that it matters what they do and say — it can and will make a difference. 

“All they have to do is show up and be involved.”

STAND vice president Liam Moore agreed.

“Everything falls upon people participating and being active within this community because if you’re not active, how are we going to be able to do anything to make a difference at all?” Moore said. “Most people who join STAND, at the beginning, are very inactive, and what happens — they leave the group or disappear and we never see them again.

“We need teenagers and middle-schoolers to be as active as possible so we can maximize the impact we make in the community. The more kids that get involved with STAND, the more people are going to notice.”

Snider points to Horn as the best example of this.

Jamye Cardello-Peters, a Pasco County STAND member, speaks during a youth panel discussion at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

When Horn joined STAND, Snider said, “I would have said she would have been a viable member, but our president? Back then, I wasn’t so sure.

“She came in and wasn’t sure she could do this,” Snider added. “Now, she’s the president of our STAND coalition and leading in the community and inspiring other members.”

Other members include Kiley Griggs, who has special needs and is passionate about STAND’s initiative regarding inclusivity.

“We need to educate on the intolerance of kids with special needs and disabilities and normalize it,” she said. “Thirty-five years after the ADA (Americans Disability Act) was established and those people, and kids, with special needs are still not normalized. It shouldn’t be that way.”

Snider said getting involved can make a difference, and added that STAND offers an easy way to do that.

“It is vitally important to join and be a part, to reach out, to show up, to be active (with STAND),” Snider said. “The idea as a youth, that they learn that being a part makes a difference, no matter if they have a direct connection (to an issue) or just feel passionate about being a part of something that works to help fellow youth and the community, that’s important as anything.

“And I think that people who join STAND already realize that or come to realize it.”

STAND Above the Influence
Details: STAND Above the Influence is a youth-led coalition that empowers youth to be agents of change by strengthening their voices and educating others to build a healthier community. Its members are made up of middle school and high school students who seek to embrace the voices of youth and to inspire innovative initiatives to address issues, and cultivate safe and healthy communities. The group’s priority issues include youth drug use, mental health, underage drinking, impaired driving, tobacco and vaping use, safety, violence and bullying.
STAND in Pasco County has two coalitions, one in East Pasco and one in West Pasco. The East Pasco Youth Advocacy Meeting is held every third Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at YESS Office Space, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.
Info: Visit EmpoweredCommunities.org/stand/home/, or email advisor Bonni Snider at .

Published August 09, 2023

Higher park impact fees are coming to Pasco, so are more parks

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The Pasco County Commission has approved park impact fees of $3,450.15 per residential dwelling.

The higher fees, adopted by the board on July 11, take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

The new rate is a whopping increase from the current rate of $891.82 per single-family unit and $627 per multi-family unit.

Impact fees are charged to new construction to address demands caused by growth.

State law limits impact fee increases to 50%, unless extraordinary circumstances can be demonstrated.

Recreational centers, such as the Wesley Chapel Recreational Complex, are popular gathering spots for people of all ages. They offer a variety of programs — giving people a chance to keep fit and make friends. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

In addressing the board about the proposed rate hike, Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources, noted that Pasco hasn’t raised its park impact fees since 2002. He also pointed out that the county has experienced unprecedented growth, while also encountering steeper costs because of inflation.

Simply put, the county can’t keep up with increasing demands caused by Pasco’s increased population, he said.

The higher fees will support projects outlined in a master plan that addresses park and recreation needs through 2045.

The master plan includes more than 20 new parks, expansions or other facilities — aimed at providing more recreational opportunities throughout the county.

Joe Farrell, of the Central Pasco Realtor Organization, spoke during the county board’s July 11 public hearing.

“In general, we are supportive of impact fees. We understand there are needs in our community — and the answer, almost all of the time, is money, for those needs,” Farrell said.

However, he told the board: “One thing we’d like to see more expressly identified, or lined out in this ordinance, in the fee schedule area there’d be an exemption for affordable housing. The cost of housing is going up, that’s not news to anyone.

“What is unusual is that when interest rates are going up, the prices are either stabilizing, staying the same, or going up, too; that’s unusual and we’re seeing that throughout Tampa Bay.

“That means there’s still going to be an increased need and an increased cost for construction in our region.

“So, we’re really looking out for those kinds of folks — just basically for our workforce. For first-time homebuyers, it’s getting harder and harder,” Farrell said.

Farrell’s appeal found some support from Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano:  “They’re not looking for a full exemption, but maybe a partial.”

But Commissioner Seth Weightman said he could not support the request.

“I’m opposed to the exemption, until we understand the full impacts of the Live Local Act. I don’t think we need to be giving any further exemption to fees for affordable housing,” Weightman said.

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, provides a chance to sit on a bench and relax for a while, watch a ball game, go for a ride on a swing and do all sorts of other activities. (File)

The Live Local Act, approved by the Florida Legislature during its last session, allows land that has been zoned for commercial or industrial uses to be converted to multifamily development and to qualify for a tax exemption — provided the development meets requirements relating to a provision of affordable housing.

It is unclear, at this point, what impact the new law will have on the ability of local jurisdictions to promote economic development, and on tax revenues that support local budgets.

Weightman has been paying close attention to potential impacts.

“We have five (Live Local projects) in the pipeline,” Weightman said.

“I think we need to wait 12 months to understand the impact of this bill and what it can mean to our tax base before we make any decision on this particular exemption,” he said.

However, Weightman added, he would be willing to take another look at the issue in 12 months — after more is known about potential impacts from Live Local.

While stakeholders asked for the higher fees to be phased in, the Pasco County Planning Commission asked the board to consider a smaller increase.

The planning board pointed to other jurisdictions with lesser fees and to an economy that is not as strong as it was when the county board began talking about the increased park impact fee last year.

But the planning board’s concerns did not sway the county board.

After the rate increase was approved, Wiley said, via email, that the board’s action demonstrates that the county knows that parks, recreation centers and natural resources play an essential role in the community.

“The approval of the impact fee by the Pasco Board of County Commissioners shows the board’s tremendous and unwavering support for our team and the services we provide,” the parks department leader said.

“This increase will help us fund more than 20 major park projects across the county and will allow us to continue to improve the quality of life of Pasco County residents by providing even more athletic, recreational, cultural and educational opportunities,” Wiley said.

Published August 09, 2023