The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Voters are making big choices, in Pasco and Hillsborough counties

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Pasco and Hillsborough County voters have begun making their choices, through early voting sites and mail-in ballots, to decide the outcome of the 2022 General Election.

Voters will make decisions on a broad array of issues.

In Pasco, the races for Pasco County Commission already have been decided, with Seth Weightman claiming the District 2 seat being vacated by Mike Moore; and Gary H. Bradford winning the District 4 seat occupied by Christina Fitzpatrick. A write-in candidate for District 4 has withdrawn.

The race for District 1 of the Pasco County School Board finds Al Hernandez facing James M. Washington.

Voters will be casting their ballots by mail, through early voting, and at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 8. Those heading to precincts likely will encounter signs like this one. (Mike Camunas)

A judge had determined that Hernandez was ineligible, ruling that he did not meet the residency requirements, but Hernandez appealed that ruling and was granted a stay — enabling him to remain on the ballot, pending the outcome of the appeal.

Whoever wins that race will fill the seat being vacated by Allen Altman, who is retiring from public office. Incumbent school board members Cynthia Armstrong and Megan Harding already have been reelected for additional four-year terms.

Pasco voters also will decide if they want to extend Penny for Pasco for 15 years. If adopted, this would be the third time that voters found favor with the voluntary tax.

Proceeds from the 1-cent sales surtax would be split among Pasco County, Pasco County Schools and the county’s six municipalities. The money goes for a broad array of uses, including such things as school construction, road improvements, environmental lands acquisition, police vehicles and other public safety enhancements.

In Hillsborough County, voters will decide who they want to represent them on the Hillsborough County Commission.

In District 1, incumbent Harry Cohen faces challenger Scott D. Levinson.

In District 2, incumbent Ken Hagan faces Angela Birdsong.

In District 5, incumbent Mariella Smith goes up against Donna Cameron Cepeda, and in District 7, incumbent Kimberly Overman faces Joshua Wostal.

Hillsborough County voters also have the opportunity to express their position on a proposed 1-cent surtax to support transportation projects.

The ballot initiative had been nullified by a circuit court judge, but the Hillsborough County Commission appealed that ruling, and because of that appeal, the issue remains on the ballot.

If the tax ultimately passes, it would last 30 years and would pay for transportation improvements throughout Hillsborough County’s incorporated and unincorporated areas.

Meanwhile, local voters also will have their say on statewide and federal races.

They will help determine whether incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis will return for a second term, or if he will be replaced by challenger Charlie Crist.

They will choose whether incumbent Jimmy Patronis serves another term as the state’s chief financial officer, or challenger Adam Hattersley assumes that post.

They will select either Wilton Simpson or Naomi Esther Blemur to serve as the state’s commissioner of agriculture, filling a seat vacated by Nikki Fried, who made an unsuccessful bid for governor.

Voters also will choose a number of state lawmakers to serve in the Florida Senate or the Florida House of Representatives.

And, voters will decide the fate of three constitutional amendments.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 1, which would take effect Jan. 1, would authorize the Legislature to prohibit consideration of any improvement made to residential property to resist flood damage, in determining the property’s assessed value, for taxing purposes.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 2 would abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets at 20-year intervals, to submit proposed revisions to the state’s constitution. The next meeting is scheduled for 2037.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 3, which would take effect Jan. 1, would authorize the Legislature to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for non-school levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members.

Voters also will be making some big decisions at the federal level.

They will determine the outcome of races in the U.S. Senate and in the congressional House of Representatives. The outcome of those races will have an impact on which party garners more seats in the U.S. Congress, which will influence the future direction on spending and policy issues.

In Florida, specifically, voters will decide if incumbent Marco Rubio should remain in office, or if he should be replaced by challenger Val Demings.

Voters also will cast ballots in their congressional districts to select members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

EARLY VOTING

  • Hillsborough County has 26 early voting sites operating, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., now through Nov. 6.
  • Pasco County has 12 early voting sites open, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Nov. 5

For specific early voting locations in each county and for additional information about the Nov. 8 General Election, visit PascoVotes.gov or VoteHillsborough.gov.

Both websites offer a wealth of information that may prove useful to voters.

Published November 02, 2022

Giving responders to disasters a comfortable place to sleep

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Hurricane Ian ravaged the state of Florida, leaving death and destruction in its path.

The devastation also made it hard for first responders — engaged in search, rescue and recovery efforts — to find a comfortable place to sleep at night, said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.

He thinks steps can be taken to improve that situation and he wants to join with Andrew Fossa, Pasco County’s emergency management director, and others, including Kevin Guthrie, the county’s former emergency management director and current director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to try to find some solutions.

Andy Fossa, director of emergency management of Pasco County, told the county board that many people were sleeping in primitive conditions because of a shortage of accommodations, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

At the Pasco County Commission’s Oct. 25 meeting, Mariano told his colleagues that he’d been in Fort Myers to help deliver food gathered by a Pasco Rotary District and to visit with some county first responders.

The commissioner said that’s when he learned that first responders sent by Pasco were sleeping in locker rooms or under bleachers.

“And, I found that very disturbing,” Mariano said.

Fossa responded: “So, it’s very difficult, especially when we were in Lee County for three weeks.

“The sleeping arrangements — you’re basically going primitive. You’re living a lifestyle, like sleeping in a campground, in tents.

“The hotels — (have) no power, no water.

“We were sleeping in the EOC (Emergency Operations Center). Some of us got better sleeping arrangements later on,” he said.

“Lee County actually secured a Best Western Hotel and blocked out all of the rooms, so first responders and contractors that were working the storm, were actually able to stay there.

“But a majority of the other folks that were down there, from other agencies, whether it be in-state or out-of-state, were sleeping on cots, or sleeping bags on the ground.

“Some were sleeping in parks.

“I met a group of folks on Pine Island that were sleeping in hammocks. They were tying their hammocks to trees and they were sleeping outside at night.

“There was just no room. There’s no place to put anybody.

“Between the displaced citizens trying to find places, the first responders trying to find places, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) coming in, contractors coming in — it got very overwhelmed, very quickly,” Fossa said.

Mariano added: “As I saw the sleeping arrangements, I was thinking, maybe there are improvements we can make.”

Typically, when a hurricane hits one part of the state, teams from other parts of the state respond to help, the county board member said.

Once cleanup efforts are underway, he said, “there’s opportunities there, we can make accommodations better.”

The board member then told Fossa: “I’d like to get with you, get with Kevin (Guthrie), get a group together and find out, ‘What can we do regionally? What can we do statewide?’ — to make (it) when you guys are going down there, to have better accommodations?”

“I think there’s some efficiencies, some things that we can do statewide, that can be a lot better,” Mariano added.

Fossa told the board: “We have been trying to get assets from the state. It is sometimes difficult.

“They do have assets that they can give to us to keep, that we can use for deployments. It’s just No. 1, finding a place to store it. No. 2, having something to haul it.”

Mariano said he wouldn’t expect all 67 counties to have the supplies they need, but he thinks a regional approach could be helpful.

The supplies could be stationed in different parts of the state, so they could be quickly deployed, when needed, Mariano said.

“What I just saw was disturbing,” Mariano.

He thinks there’s an opportunity to take steps to improve the situation, going forward.

Published November 02, 2022

Pasco first responders help Kentucky cope with flooding

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A team of Pasco County emergency responders was honored by the Pasco County Commission for its efforts to help Kentucky in the aftermath of massive flooding.

The team — Andrew Fossa, Abraham Philipson, Krysta Johnes, Jessica Milford and Danielle Lang — was honored with a resolution by the county board at its Oct. 25 meeting.

The resolution details the work that was performed and commends the “outstanding and invaluable disaster relief assistance” provided to the Commonwealth of Kentucky during its time of need.

Members of Pasco County’s emergency response team were honored with a Pasco County Commission resolution on Oct. 25, recognizing their contributions to help Kentucky recover from massive flooding. Shown here are Pasco County staff, members of the Pasco County Commission, emergency responders, and the Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The resolution recounts that “on the evening of July 27, 2022, a large rainstorm struck Southeastern Kentucky affecting Breathitt, Perry, Clay, Pike, Letcher, Owsley, and Floyd counties, resulting in widespread destruction, casualties, and missing persons.”

It also notes that “many roads throughout the affected counties were covered with water and completely impassible.”

Plus, the resolution says, “several counties had been affected by mudslides and landslides while the water systems and pumping stations were broken down from the influx of rainwater and debris.”

As a result, according to the resolution, “citizens were without water, working sewer

systems, power, and communications.”

In response, Tampa Bay’s large network of professionals who are trained to respond to natural disasters and severe weather events, stepped forward to help.

The resolution notes that “Pasco County understands the value of providing aid and relief during times of disaster and prides itself on its skilled workforce and workers’ dedication to respect, integrity, innovation, service excellence, and quality.”

In addition to feeling “a profound sense of pride” from helping, the experience also helps Pasco’s teams to hone their skills in an unfamiliar environment, the resolution says.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who sponsored the resolution, told Fossa: “One of the great things about our team is that they’re always called to action. Obviously, we don’t like to have to see them leave Pasco County, but they leave Pasco County for good reason because they are so good at what they do.”

Fossa thanked the board for the resolution.

“The deployment was very unique for us. We see storm surge, the water comes in and the water comes out,” Fossa said.

But in Kentucky, “they actually had two flooding events within a period of about eight hours. ..

“You don’t know the power of water,” he said, noting it destructive forces recently were witnessed again, through the fury of Hurricane Ian.

“We were very instrumental with the Kentucky emergency management. We had a very good working relationship,” Fossa said.

“This team behind me, they’re second to none. They’re very hard workers. They know their jobs,” Fossa added.

Commissioner Jack Mariano told Fossa and the team: “Thank you very much for going down there.”

Besides providing help where needed, it better prepares county employees to respond when a disaster strikes at home, the county board member said.

Mariano cited an observation of Kevin Guthrie, the current director of the state’s Division of Emergency Management and former director of emergency management for Pasco County.

Mariano said that Guthrie has said, “it’s much better to learn the experience there, than to learn it here — so that when it does come here, you’re better trained, as well.

Moore told Fossa: “You guys are amazing. Thanks for all of your work.”

Fossa said the experience allowed the team to form friendships with emergency management staff in Kentucky, and to share information.

Even though the team is back in Pasco, the information-sharing continues, Fossa said.

Published November 02, 2022

Pasco airport moratorium extended until May

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The Pasco County Commission has extended a temporary moratorium on new proposals near airports until next May.

The moratorium had been scheduled to expire on Nov. 13, but the board voted on Oct. 25 to extend it until May 17, 2023.

The moratorium applies to the submission and acceptance of application for building permits, site plans, special exception uses, conditional uses, rezonings and comprehensive plan amendments within the moratorium areas around airports in Pasco County.

The board took the action as part of its consent agenda, meaning it was approved as part of a bundle of items in a single action, without comment.

The board previously approved the temporary moratorium near airports on May 17, 2022.

That approval was for a 180-day period, but the board has extended that to be a total of 365 days.

The county retained the firm Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc., environmental and transportation planning consultants on July 12, to provide a draft Airport Protection Zoning Ordinance consistent with Chapters 330 and 333, Florida Statutes, according to background materials in the county board’s Oct. 25 agenda packet.

On Sept. 13, the consultants provided the draft Airport Protection Zoning regulations to the county staff.

The extension of the temporary moratorium is intended to provide time for county staff to review and comment on the draft Airport Protection Zoning regulations, present the regulations to the Airport Zoning Commission and to stakeholders, and to bring the Airport Zoning Regulations through the public hearing process, according to the agenda packet.

Published November 02, 2022

Helping to bring neighbors together

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Hillsborough County’s mini-grant program aims to foster engaged communities through creative projects.

Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations is accepting applications for the 2023 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program, which aims to bring neighbors together and boost community involvement, according to a news release.

The program provides up to $5,000 of funding for neighborhood organizations that foster healthy, safe and engaged communities through innovative and creative community projects.

This year’s project categories are: Neighborhood Identification; Leadership Empowerment; Safety Opportunities and Education; Environmental Enhancements; Health and Wellness Engagement; Neighborhood Preparedness; and Neighborhood and Community Innovation.

Civic associations, homeowner associations, or special taxing districts in Hillsborough County are eligible to apply including those in Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace, the release said. Neighborhood organizations must be registered in the Neighborhood Directory Listing before applying for a mini-grant.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

For more information about the application process, the requirements, and how to complete an application, contact or 813-272-5860.

Published November 02, 2022

This project is lit

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On the 27-acre acre campus at Learning Gate Community School, in Lutz, sixth-graders have built solar panels that power and charge electrical devices.

Learning Gate Community School environmental science teacher Steve Warrener, right, looks on as Ryan Khalfouni, left, and R.J. Akers work on connecting plugs and wires that will connect to the solar panel field the sixth-graders built. (Mike Camunas)

So, why did they do that?

They gave several reasons for taking on the challenge.

They wanted to create clean energy, to stop CO2 emissions, to educate themselves and others about solar power and, last, but not least, to impress Elon Musk.

Working with solar panels was a new experience for sixth-grader Harvey Lemieux.

He said the project was fun and informative, teaching students a lot about creating clean energy.

Learning Gate Community School sixth-graders Mya Stapleton, right, and Hattie Pham-Yancey, left, use a karaoke machine that is powered by a solar panel farm the students built by hand. The panels can power appliances and devices, as well as charge an electric car and a rebuilt electric go-kart. It even powered a house during a power outage caused by Hurricane Ian in September.

It took the first quarter of the school year to build the solar panels and wire them so the power can be converted into electricity. Once they had the power, the students — supervised by environmental science teacher Steve Warrener — were able to plug in devices such as a power drill, as well as a karaoke machine speaker to listen to some of their favorite tunes.

They also were able to charge a modified and rebuilt go-kart.

The kart is aptly named “Edmond” — after Edmond Becquerel. He’s the French physicist credited with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect, the operating principle of the solar cell. The student’s kart is fully electric and runs on recycled batteries from a front loader.

“Learning Gate is a pretty special school. I don’t know of any other school that’s building solar power stations, but I sure hope there will be more,” the teacher said.

The project is more than just building solar panels. The students worked out how the panels would work, even preparing a professional presentation they would use, if approaching a company seeking a solar-power solution.

The students had to research every part and component, Warrener said.

In addition to building a solar panel field, sixth-graders at Learning Gate Community School also restored a go-kart, converting it to electric. The kart, which can be charged with the panels, is named ‘Edmond’ after Edmond Becquerel, the French physicist credited with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect, which is the operating principle of the solar cell.

That showed them “why they have to do it that way and why it would be the most efficient way,” Warrener said.

Annabelle Avant, a sixth-grader at Learning Gate Community School, connects plugs and cords from the solar panels that will power things such as a karaoke machine and power tools.

“What the project really did was show that it’s not hard to use solar power and go with clean energy,” the teacher added. “In fact, it’s easily accessible and that it can be done, it can be made affordable and it can be built — even by kids!”

The project was so successful, it will allow Learning Gate to lower its electric bill and carbon footprint.

It also was used to charge up a teacher’s electric car — and, also used to power a house, Warrener said.

During Hurricane Ian, some houses in his neighborhood lost power. Warrener offered to bring over the panels. In one case, the energy was used to keep a fridge running to avoid spoiling food and also to run other devices, the day after the storm.

“I don’t even know how that happened (powering a house),” Lemieux said. “Just taking the power of the sun and turning it into electricity for a house — that’s just crazy to me.”

“That was pretty cool and amazing that it was able to power a house,” sixth-grader Ellis Brodski added. “We had just been using it to charge the kart or power the (karaoke machine), so to see it have a big use like that was pretty cool.

“I thought we were able to make these solar panels that work pretty easily, so I think others should do it, too.”

Lemieux agrees.

“It could save so much money and energy, so yeah, I think that those solar farms that people build, I think people take it for granted and that more people should use solar power,” he said. “Maybe more schools can get students to do what we did and build it as a project and then it helps the school save money.”

Published October 26, 2022

Zephyrhills asks citizens to help with rebranding efforts

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The City of Zephyrhills once again is turning to its citizens to help rebrand itself.

The City of Zephyrhills is working toward distancing itself from its current designation as ‘The City of Pure Water’ and rebranding itself with input obtained from research and the community. (Mike Camunas)

In July, city leaders brought in North Star Place Branding + Marketing, a Jacksonville-based consulting firm that will conduct research within the community to uncover how Zephyrhills is perceived, attitudes that people have about it and will explore the city’s unique offerings.

On Oct. 17, the city and the firm launched a community-wide online survey giving everyone in Zephyrhills a place where they can share their input and have their perspective counted.

The survey asks several questions, including how one would describe Zephyrhills, how others perceive Zephyrhills and even to name some things that people outside the community should know about the city.

Zephyrhills, the largest municipality in Pasco County, plans to “rebrand” itself beyond being widely known as a great place for skydiving and for winter residents. The effort also includes rewriting the city’s current “The City of Pure Water” slogan. The rebranding effort is aimed at increasing interest and investment in Zephyrhills from residents, entrepreneurs, companies and visitors.

The survey is about researching to uncover what is distinctive and authentic about the entire community and using that to creatively proceed with a new town slogan, logo, accent colors and more.

Survey results will remain confidential, and the information will be presented in total. The city asks participants to complete the survey before Nov. 25.

To complete the survey, visit tinyurl.com/ZephyrhillsSurvey, or visit AuthenticZephyrhills.com, to learn more about the city’s research/branding initiative.

Published October 26, 2022

Going batty for bats — in a good way

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Bats.

They’re those winged creatures that fly into people’s hair, right?

They bite people, too, right?

And, of course, they wreak all kinds of havoc, right?

Wrong, wrong and wrong, says Tracy Weaver, a master gardener volunteer with the Pasco County Cooperative Extension, which is part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).

Tracy Weaver, a master gardener volunteer with the Pasco County Cooperative Extension, shared her knowledge about bats, which she says, are often misunderstood. (B.C. Manion)

Weaver shared her knowledge of, and her downright affection for, bats, during a talk she gave at the Starkey Ranch Theatre, Library and Cultural Center, at 12118 Lake Blanche Drive, in the Starkey Ranch community in Odessa.

She shared some myths and misconceptions about bats, which, she said, is why bats are sometimes feared.

“They are misunderstood because of us. We have so little knowledge of them.

“You all grew up, ‘Oh, they’re terrible, they’re going to get in my hair. They’re going to bite me.’

“And then, all of those vampire movies we used to watch. Oh, my gosh, did they do an injustice to the bats. It just drives me crazy,” Weaver told the audience.

In truth, Weaver said, “there are only three species of vampire bats and they only live in Central and South America.”

Bats are nocturnal and often live in eerie places, such as in caves, or under bridges, in the eaves of houses, or in attics.

“That’s kind of spooky and scary to people: ‘I don’t want that bat in my house. I’m going to get rabies. It’s going to bite me. It’s going to spit up blood,’” she said.

While it is possible to get rabies from bats, that rarely happens, Weaver added.

“Less than ½ of 1% (of bats) get rabies, and if they do, they crash and die, within days,” she said.

Weaver gave her talk at the Starkey Ranch library because she wants to help people gain a greater understanding about bats.

She hopes increased knowledge will create a greater appreciation of the benefits bats provide and will lead to more activities aimed at attracting and protecting the winged creatures.

Besides touting the advantages of having bats nearby, she discussed how to make bat houses, how to create good conditions for attracting bats and steps that can be taken to reduce the threat of predators.

She also pointed out resources that can provide more information to help those interested in attracting bats to their properties, or who simply want to satisfy their curiosity about them.

Weaver’s enthusiasm for bats is obvious.

While some might freak out when they see a bat dart by, Weaver has a different reaction.

Her response?

“That was a bat, cool,” Weaver said. “They’re flying mammals. They’re just so cool, it’s amazing.”

Do you want to attract bats?
If you want to attract bats, don’t cut your palm fronds.

“They love those palm fronds,” said Weaver, a former agriculture teacher.

There are 13 species of bats that live year-round in Florida. This is an image of a Southeastern Myotis bat that primarily feeds on mosquitoes, but also eats crane flies, moths and small beetles. (Courtesy of University of Florida)

Building a bat house is another way to encourage bats to live on your property.

The bat house should be at least 24 inches tall and 16 inches wide. It needs a landing pad that’s 3 inches to 6 inches wide. There should be vents in the boxes, and at least four chambers.

The boxes can be built from exterior plywood, or cedar, she added. But pressure-treated wood should be avoided because of the chemicals it contains.

In Florida, light colors are good because that reflects, rather than absorbs, heat.

The bat box should be at least 10 feet above ground, but ideally between 15 feet to 25 feet, she said. Flag poles can make good poles for bat boxes, she said.

It’s best to mount the bat houses at least 25 feet away from trees and in an area with easy access to water.

Bats come in, in the mornings, sleep all day and leave their roost at night, she said.

Bat houses need to be in open spaces.

“If you put it near trees, they’re going to have a hard time swooping in,” she said.

The boxes also need to be far enough away from trees to prevent predators from climbing up to get to them.

Predators of bats include owls, hawks, snakes and raccoons.

More than 1,400 species of bats have been counted in the world, including 48 in the United States, Weaver said. Of those, 13 live in Florida year-round, and about 65 come and go, Weaver said.

Many people are not aware of the critical role that bats play, in eating mosquitoes and all kinds of agricultural pests, Weaver said.

They are an asset for both the ecosystem and the economy, Weaver said, noting in the United States alone they have saved billions of dollars by protecting agricultural crops.

Myths and facts about bats

Myths:

  • Bats are flying mice: No, they’re not.
  • Bats are blind: No, they can see as well as humans.
  • They get tangled in people’s hair: That’s more likely to happen in a horror movie.

Facts:

  • If bats get close to people it’s because bats eat insects, and like humans, insects exhale carbon dioxide.
  • Bats can have lengthy lives, some exceeding 40 years — and typically live between 20 and 30 years.
  • Bats live everywhere, except in extremely cold or extremely hot places.
  • In Florida, the longevity of bats in Florida is typically between 10 to 12 years.
  • There’s an abundance of bats in South America and Central America. Those are the fruit-eating and nectar bats.
  • Distinguishing features of bats include its ears, color, size and whether or not it has a tail.
  • 1,421 species of bats have been counted in the world. There are 48 species in the United States, and of those, 13 live in Florida year-round.

Want to know more about bats? Check out this website, www.BatCon.org, or visit FloridaMuseum.ufl.edu/bats/.

Source: Tracy Weaver, master gardener volunteer with Pasco County Cooperative Extension

How to help bats

  • Raise public awareness about the benefits they provide
  • Discourage the inhumane removal of bats from buildings
  • Provide forage for them: Give them a place to be
  • Keep your cats indoors at dawn and dusk

Source: Tracy Weaver, master gardener volunteer with Pasco County Cooperative Extension

Published October 26, 2022

For Halloween fun, check out this spooky trail

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Christine Lewis takes Halloween very seriously.

She’s so devoted to the holiday that she built a spooky, interactive trail in front of her Land O’ Lakes home in Wilderness Lake Preserve.

Wilderness Lake Preserve resident Karla Arita enjoys the spooky trail her neighbor, Christine Lewis, set up in front of her house. Lewis created the attraction for her neighbors and other nearby community residents to come by to enjoy, free of charge, from now until Halloween. Anyone can come walk the trail, at 7232 Night Heron Drive, in Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)

And someone special in her life inspired her.

“The grandbaby asked, ‘Grandma, are you going to decorate?’” Lewis said. “About five houses here (on her street) really do all the decorations, so it’s been on (like a competition) when it comes to Halloween.

“It just morphed into something that was made for my grandbaby, but now is shared with the community.”

It didn’t begin as an interactive trail. For Lewis, it was just decorating to the brim during October. She was happy her grandson, Logan, 4, and her autistic stepson, Hayden, 19, loved it.

Now, after a trial year in 2021, Lewis, with the help of her neighbor, Robert Kersey, may have just perfected the setup. This year’s display will allow residents and nearby visitors to enjoy the spooky trail that has photo ops and lights up at night.

Wilderness Lake Preserve resident Christine Lewis created a spooky trail in front of her house at 7232 Night Heron Drive, in Land O’ Lakes. She welcomes all neighbors — from her subdivision and nearby ones — to come check it out, until Halloween.

Lewis learned from last year to add a designated entrance and exit, but also to space out the trail so “anyone with a stroller or a walker” can easily walk through.

At the end, and on Halloween night, the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood will be on a small stage and available for photos.

“Oh, we got well over 200 visitors last year — on Halloween alone,” said Lewis, who has lived in Wilderness Lake since 2015 and is also a Wiccan. “And we’ll get well over that this year, but it is a nice way to meet people in the community. And since I posted it on the (neighborhood) Facebook group, everyone asks about it and thanks me for doing it, and really appreciates it and embraces it.

“That really means a lot to me — really lifts my spirits,” the four-time cancer survivor added.

Lewis says everyone is welcome to see the trail, free of charge, in front of her house at 7232 Night Heron Drive — and not just residents of Wilderness Lake, but those from neighboring communities in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel and beyond.

Anyone can come by for candy, photos and, of course, fun.

“It’s not just for kids,” she added. “An 84-year-old woman just stopped by with her husband and came to the door and asked, ‘Can I walk it?’ And I was like, ‘Of course!’ … Plus, on Halloween, we’ll have over 1,000 pieces of candy to hand out.

“And some beer for the adults,” she added, with a laugh.

Published October 26, 2022

Christine Lewis also has the spooky trail lit up at night, and on Halloween, will have Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf waiting for visitors at the end.

Voters to decide fate of Penny for Pasco

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Pasco County voters casting a ballot in the Nov. 8 General Election will decide the fate of a proposed 1-cent sales tax to pay for local projects.

Proceeds from the tax would be divided between Pasco County, Pasco County Schools and the county’s six municipalities.

The county and school district each would receive 45% . The municipalities would split the remaining 10%.

Zephyrhills High underwent a two-year, $33-million renovation, which included redesigning the common area to make it more spacious and to provide a prominent location for the school’s massive trophy case. (File)

This is the third time Pasco residents have been asked to support the Penny for Pasco local government surtax.

Voters initially approved the tax in 2004, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2005 and lasted through Dec. 31, 2014. Voters renewed the tax for 10 more years, from Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2024.

This time, voters are being asked to extend the tax for 15 years.

If approved, it would be in effect from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2039.

The Pasco County School Board has identified a list of projects the tax extension would support.

The school board’s list includes new schools, school expansions, school renovations, additional technology, school safety enhancements, athletic facility improvements, improvements in the driver pickup areas at schools, and other projects.

Pasco County also identified how it will divide the revenues among categories of spending. The county would allocate its portion this way: 40% for transportation, 20% for economic development, 20% for public safety; and, 20% for environmental lands and parks infrastructure.

Spending a portion of the proceeds for parks equipment is new, but county officials said the idea is to enable equipping the parks more quickly for the public’s enjoyment.

Economic development funds would be spent on attracting new companies to boost job opportunities, expanding opportunities for existing companies, stimulating redevelopment of blighted areas and helping in workforce development, among other things.

The funds will also support business incubators and provide small business assistance to locally owned companies.

In general, the economic development funds are intended to help businesses of all sizes to be successful, to generate more high-paying jobs in the county and to broaden Pasco’s tax base.

A portion of the county’s proceeds also will be used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands. Officials estimate 3,000 acres to 3,700 acres could be acquired with future Penny for Pasco revenue.

The funds also will support infrastructure projects at Baillies Bluff Wilderness Park and at the Len Angeline Wilderness and Recreation Park.

The county’s allocation also includes 20% for public safety.

Woodland Elementary School’s cafeteria is now quite spacious, allowing more children to eat at the same time and allowing the school to reduce the serving time needed for lunch. The cafeteria also has a stage, and the room is big enough for school events. Those improvements were done using proceeds from the Penny for Pasco surtax. (File)

Fire Rescue would receive boats, life-saving emergency response equipment, in-vehicle computers, facility upgrades and new vehicles, including utility terrain vehicles.

The sheriff’s office would receive new vehicles and in-vehicle computers and equipment.

Transportation and engineering services would receive 40% of the county’s share of the proceeds.

Tax proceeds also will go to a wide array of projects in specific areas around the county, including sidewalks, multi-use paths, bicycle lanes, intersection improvements and roundabouts.

The school district has identified a number of new schools supported by the 15-year extension of the tax. The district also uses state funds and impact fees to help pay for new school construction.

One school that would be supported through Penny for Pasco funds would be built near the Bexley development, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

A K-8 school would be built in the State Road 52 corridor, in an area known as the Central Pasco Employment Village, also in Land O’ Lakes.

Another K-8 would be built on the State Road 54 corridor, in the Ballantrae area.

Plus, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills — between Wesley Chapel and Dade City — the school district is expected to be building a K-8, or whatever is needed there.

But those are just some of the projects that would be built with Penny proceeds.

The school district also would use the tax revenues to add computers in schools, upgrade the district’s computer network, fortify the safety on its campuses, upgrade athletic facilities and improve safety at driver pickup locations at schools, among other things.

For more information about projects that have been completed using Penny for Pasco proceeds, as well as proposed projects, visit Pasco County Schools’ website at Pasco.k12.fl.us, and click on the Penny for Pasco tab. That also includes a link to Pasco County’s website, which also has information about the proposed tax.

Hillsborough 1-cent surtax for transportation
In Hillsborough County, meanwhile, a proposed 1-cent surtax to support transportation projects has been nullified by a circuit court judge, but remains on the ballot because of an appeal filed by the Hillsborough County Commission.

That tax would last 30 years and would pay for transportation improvements throughout the county, including unincorporated areas and Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Riverview, Carrollwood and Town ’N Country.

Projects, according to the ballot language, would include build and widen roads, fix roads and bridges, expand transit options, fix potholes, enhance bus services, improve intersections, and make walking and biking safer.

If approved, the funds would be deposited in an audited trust fund, which would have citizen oversight, according to the ballot language.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer’s office issued a news release on Oct. 19, reporting: “The Circuit Court issued a judgment yesterday removing the Hillsborough County surtax referendum from the 2022 General Election ballot. Because the County then filed a Notice of Appeal of the judgment, the judgment is stayed pending review or until further notice from the Courts. Votes for and against this measure continue to be tabulated. The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office will continue to follow any and all orders of the Circuit and Appellate Courts.”

Published October 26, 2022