The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Planning board delays vote on new flood prevention regulations

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has delayed consideration of new flood prevention regulations until July 21, to make sure that details are worked out before it votes on the issue.

The planning board provides recommendations to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Before sending the issue to the county board, planning board members said they want to make sure that the changes being recommended do not have unanticipated impacts.

Jonathan Moody, who was sworn in as new planning commissioner on July 7, said he’s been working on the issue, alongside Barbara Wilhite, a private attorney, who often appears before the planning board to represent clients on land use and zoning issues.

Moody, who was named to the planning board as Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano’s appointee, is a civil engineering consultant who specializes in land planning, permitting and drainage design.

He asked the planning board and county staff if the issue could be delayed until the planning board’s July 21 meeting, to try to work out the details before voting.

Esther Oluyemi, an official with the county’s building department, represented the county on the issue. She said she thought it would be possible to address the loose ends by the July 21 meeting

Moody’s request for the delay came after he raised questions on some issues for which there were no immediately available answers.

Moody and Wilhite pointed out that county staff has been responsive, diligent and collaborative in working on the issue.

But more clarity is needed, Moody said.

Wilhite said the goal is “to make sure there is not unintended consequences.”

Changes are needed to the county’s land development code to bring the county’s flood damage prevention regulations in line with the model ordinance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and to coordinate with Chapter 18, buildings and building regulations of the Pasco County Code, according to Oluyemi.

The county participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and is currently a 6 on the Community Rating System, qualifying county residents for a 20% discount on flood insurance policy rates.

In 2021, the county had 19,015 policies and the discount represented $3.1 million in savings, Oluyemi said.

Summer’s here — a great time for grilling

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What’s for lunch?

Shall we have some barbecue, or barbeque, or perhaps BBQ?

Well, no matter how you spell it, if it’s a summer gathering, chances are that grilled or barbecued foods are on the menu.

People often use the words grilling and barbecuing interchangeably, but the cooking methods differ.

Technically, when barbecuing:

  • Food is cooked at about 225 degrees F
  • Food is cooked slowly, from 4 hours to 24 hours
  • The lid is closed to create an encircled unit of heat for flavor

This method works best for larger, tougher and fattier cuts of meat, such as ribs, shoulder and brisket.

When grilling:

  • Food is cooked at 500 degrees F, or higher
  • Food is cooked quickly, from 5 minutes to 15 minutes
  • The lid is removed and the heat source is directly beneath the food

This method works best for thin or ground meats, such as burgers, chicken breast, or steak.

Whether you prefer to grill or barbecue, chances are you’ll have plenty of opportunities to show off skills.

There are a lot of foods you can grill or barbecue, to serve at gatherings. When grilling, be sure to remember to cook ground turkey to 165°F. Ground beef and pork should be cooked to 160°F. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)

Some of the most popular occasions for grilling have already gone by this year.

The Fourth of July is the most popular day in America to have a barbecue. An estimated 73% of the country consumes barbecue on Independence Day.

Memorial Day ranks second, at 60%; and, Father’s Day, places third, at 45%.

But there’s plenty of summer left — which means opportunities for family picnics, birthday parties, reunions and other gatherings.

Here are a few fun facts about barbecue.

First off, it didn’t originate in the United States.

Spanish explorers encountered barbecue on the Caribbean islands in the 1500s, where the Native Americans were cooking meat and fish on a wooden frame made out of green wood – freshly chopped wood with a high moisture content – over fire. The explorers noticed how the wooden platform didn’t burn.

The natives called this cooking method barbacoa, and as the Spanish continued their journey north, they brought this “new” cooking method with them, where it eventually spread throughout the colonies, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

Pork became the predominant cooked meat, as pigs thrived well, once brought to America. The pigs needed minimal care, reproduced quickly, and lived easily on tobacco farms.

Hogs also could be cooked whole and could feed a big crowd, and because of that barbecued pork became the go-to meal for large social events or feasts.

As time went on, regions of the U.S. developed their own styles of barbecue.

Four regions with a distinct approach are the Carolinas, Texas, Memphis, and Kansas City.

  • The Carolinas: Pork is the traditional meat of choice. The sauce is typically vinegar-based, thanks to British influence, but also mustard-based, as many French and German immigrants settled in South Carolina, and mustard was common in their cuisine.
  • Texas: The Texas style has similar sauces to the Carolinas, but thanks to cattle farming, it expanded to more than just pork.

Of course, even within Texas, there’s a split between Eastern and Central with the different variations.

  • Memphis: Memphis cooks its barbecue with a sweeter sauce, typically tomato-based with molasses. Because the city was located along the Mississippi River, it had easy access to molasses. Like the Carolinas, pork is the main meat.
  • Kansas City: In the early 1900s, a Memphis-born African American man named Henry Perry opened up the first barbecue restaurant in Kansas City, and while he kept the sweet sauce tradition of Memphis, he mixed in beef in addition to pork, combining Texas and Memphis style.

He was known as the barbecue king.

Of course, there are as many variations as there are cooks who like to experiment.

Alabama has a white sauce, which is a combination of a mayonnaise and vinegar-based sauce.

If you’re not a meat-eater, there are vegetarian options, too, including veggie burgers, bean burgers, and meat alternative burgers that have similar taste and texture as meat.

RECIPE
Herbed Turkey Burger (Six servings) – Courtesy of the University of Illinois Extension:

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
½ cup minced parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon thyme
1 teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and form six patties.
Refrigerate burgers until ready for cooking.
Grill patties on medium heat for 7 minutes each side, or until burger reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
Add any toppings of tomato, leaf lettuce, cheese or sliced avocado to your liking, as well as your choice of bun.

By Shari Bresin

Published July 13, 2022

One vet and a truck

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Despite losing his leg, Zephyrhills veteran Ken Fabiani is still very active.

And he can move all kinds of furniture, too.

“I can do anything (anyone with two legs can do),” the former Navy sailor and Vietnam veteran said. “I play golf every Sunday. I putz around in my yard and I do move a lot of furniture.”

Zephyrhills veteran Ken Fabiani goes through donated furniture at Value Store It Self Storage in Wesley Chapel with volunteer Dave Greene, as they will then take any furnishings or household items to a veteran located in the Pasco County or Tampa area. (Mike Camunas)

For the past three years, Fabiani, through Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731, has been collecting furniture and household items for veterans, who are set up with housing, however, don’t have any furnishings. Fabiani, the Veterans Committee chairperson and past exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, then loads up furniture and other items on a truck and/or a trailer, and delivers them himself.

At first, he made a delivery maybe once a week. Now, with the help of about a dozen volunteers that are either his neighbors or other members of the Elks Lodge, Fabiani could have up to five deliveries a week.

“Honestly, (I started doing this) because I was bored,” Fabiani said. “Once I got back on my feet after the amputation (because a rod in my reconstructed leg got infected), I needed something to do.

“The need is out there, but the donations are right there with it,” he added. “I’ll get two or three calls while taking out a donation and they’re like when can you be here, and I can’t give them an answer because I’m all over the place. … (Veterans) need everything, when they get a place. It’s just four walls, a ceiling and floor.”

When Fabiani started out, he gave his name and number to Domiciliary Rehab Clinic for Veterans, which then made sure his contact info also was at Tampa Bay Crossroads, New Beginnings and Hog Bash, all of which help veterans get back on their feet and with housing. Several communities, especially those in Pasco County, know how to get ahold of Fabiani, if they’re looking to help a veteran.

“We’ve gone to Scotland Yards, Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club, all over Zephyrhills and Dade City, and Pasco County and Tampa area,” he said. “The word just keeps spreading.”

Fabiani served in the Vietnam War and was in the Navy for eight years. In fact, he was on the infamous aircraft carrier, the USS Forrestal, which had an unusual number of fires, including the 1967 fire in which 134 sailors died and 161 more were injured. Fabiani considers himself lucky to survive that, as well as when he left the Navy, he didn’t need quite as much help as other veterans sometimes do.

Zephyrhills veteran Ken Fabiani takes a call while going through donated furniture he has collected from all over Pasco County and the Tampa area. He then will transport to a fellow veteran that has housing, but no furnishing or household items. Fabiani started doing this charity work because ‘he was bored,’ but also to look out for his fellow veterans, some of whom have nothing once they are discharged from the VA.

Alexis Key, an Army veteran, who served four years including a tour in Afghanistan contacted Fabiani after her caseworker gave her his number and, without hassle, her housing through Tampa Crossroads was furnished.

“Sometimes, donations can be shabby,” Key added. “However, I was thoroughly surprised at the quality, but also how he didn’t flake on me. All I had to do was call him up, have a simple conversation of what I needed, and he brought it over.

“(I got) two 2 dressers, pots and pans, a nutribullet, shower curtains, household items and a really, really nice Bible. … He is such a nice man and so kind — it’s just inspiring to see him looking out for us veterans.”

One of his volunteers agrees.

“This is a great and easy way to help veterans,” his neighbor, Dave Greene, said. “So far, he hasn’t been able to keep the supply up with the demand. You often wonder where it all comes from, but then he gets like three phone calls when we’re out taking furniture to another veteran.

“The demand is there, so you kind of wish there was another Ken.”

There’s no slowing down Fabiani, certainly not if there’s a veteran looking from anything to furniture to a microwave to even toiletries. As he sorts through the items at a nearly full, but also donated 10×20 storage unit at Value Store It Self Storage in Wesley Chapel, Fabiani knows nothing will stop him from helping veterans get furniture.

“Maybe a little rain, but, no, we’ll still go out and pick up or deliver furniture. It’s Florida, it’s going to rain, but these vets need the furniture. It’s really unbelievable to really see people in need — as long as they’re veterans, we’ll gladly help them.”

Donate furniture for veterans
If you’re a veteran or know of a veteran who needs furniture, or would like to help Ken Fabiani’s cause by donating furniture, he can be reached at 813-469-8093.

Published July 06, 2022

Woman’s club honored by county board for its good works

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Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club who attended the Pasco County Commission meeting on June 21 were operating in a different mode than usual.

Instead of being there to give, they were there to receive.

Typically, when the women show up somewhere, they are carting books to coin laundries,  delivering practical items to help residents of a domestic violence shelter, placing flags near the headstones of veterans at a cemetery or performing some other public service.

At the county board’s meeting, however, they were there to be honored.

Commissioners adopted a resolution to acknowledge the woman’s club’s “62 years of dedicated service to the residents of Pasco County.”

The Pasco County Commission honored the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club for its 62 years of community service. From left: Commissioners Ron Oakley and Mike Moore; GFWC club members Annette Bellingar, Elayne Bassinger (club president) and Nancy Taylor; and, Pasco County Commissioners Kathryn Starkey (chairwoman), Christina Fitzpatrick and Jack Mariano. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The club is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC).

The GFWC, according to the resolution, is “one of the world’s largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women’s volunteer service organizations.”

The Lutz-Land O’ Lakes club was founded on March 4, 1960, and currently has about 100 members. It focuses on six areas of community service projects: arts and culture; civic engagement; environment; education; health and wellness; and domestic violence prevention and awareness, the resolution says.

During the club’s history, members have donated more than 1.5 million hours of volunteer service and have raised almost $3 million.

In 2021 alone, the women completed 421 projects, volunteered 29,675 hours, and raised  $109,459 to support scholarships, projects and good works, the resolution adds.

The group’s fundraising efforts and charitable acts have been covered for decades in the pages of The Laker/Lutz News.

The volunteer group hosts two major fundraisers each year. It holds an arts and crafts show during the holidays, which features vendors from around the country and attracts thousands of shoppers from throughout the region.

The club also conducts a flea market — luring crowds of bargain-seekers.

The pandemic temporarily put the kibosh on those events — putting a significant dent in the woman’s club budget.

But the club kept rolling.

And, the events are back on.

Besides the big fundraisers, the women also host periodic small fundraisers to support various projects and activities.

They provide practical support, in all sorts of ways.

When Habitat for Humanity held a housewarming in Dade City, for instance, the woman’s club was there with gifts, including a wreath, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a water filtration system, a set of Tervis tumblers and other useful items.

Kate Frederick, of Wesley Chapel, left, and her sister, Ava, sit on the back of a golf cart decked out with streamers and a message of Lutz pride. The girls are members of the GFWC Little Women of Lutz. This photo was taken during the Lutz Fourth of July parade in 2019. (File)

Club members were at the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport, to provide a warm welcome — and a unique flag star — to veterans returning from an honor flight to tour the war memorials in Washington D.C.

The ladies also stopped by the Lutz Senior Center, to chat with seniors and serve breakfast treats. And, they helped on projects at a Sensory Garden on the grounds of Camp Idlewild in Land O’ Lakes.

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, club women delivered gift baskets filled with snacks, treats and fruit to eight local first responder stations in Land O’ Lakes and Lutz.

They also collaborated with the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library and its Foundry to install a little library on the campus of Shady Hills Elementary School in Spring Hill.

The woman’s club also knows how to have fun.

It holds luncheon fundraisers, fashion shows and other events to raise money for community causes.

Members can be entertaining, too.

At the Gulfside Hospice Charity Festival of Arts, in May, some club members dressed up as nuns and performed a number from “Sister Act.”

In addition to providing support for survivors of domestic violence and providing annual scholarships to help area students continue their education, the woman’s club has its hand in a wide array of projects.

It works to protect the environment, to promote education, and supply warmth and good cheer to veterans and the elderly.

It also supports efforts to mentor youths, through the Little Women of Lutz, various scouting organizations and other youth groups.

When Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles finished reading the county board’s resolution at its recent meeting, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore congratulated members who were there representing the club.

Moore told them: “You do so much for the community. It’s so greatly appreciated. The time and effort you put in, to all of these projects. You make Pasco County and the whole Tampa Bay region much better than it was.”

Elayne Bassinger, the club’s president, responded: “Thank you, commissioner. Thank you all for acknowledging what we have tried to accomplish over the last 62 years, to make our community a better place (in which) to live and to work. We appreciate it (the honor) so much.”

To find out more about the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Published July 06,202 2

Reduce congestion: Make better roadway connections

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It’s no secret that Pasco County motorists frequently are frustrated by traffic backups, as they make their way to get wherever they need to go, throughout the day.

But the county already has a tool aimed at relieving congestion on its major roads, it simply isn’t using it as frequently as it should, according to David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney.

Goldstein cited a portion of the county’s land development code that requires connections to be made between developments.

Those interconnections would give motorists additional ways to get around, without routinely being forced onto main roads to reach their destination.

The attorney’s remarks came during a June 16 discussion between members of the Pasco County Planning Commission and a consultant, regarding issues that need to be part of the county’s update of its comprehensive plan.

“To a large extent, the county has been good about trying to incentivize, encourage compact walkable communities,” Goldstein told Steve Schukraft, a planner with HDR Inc., consultants working with the county on its Pasco 2050 update.

“You’ll see some examples throughout the community,” Goldstein said, pointing to Starkey Ranch and Bexley as communities designed to be walkable and compact.

But, Goldstein said: “What happens is, you get a great community — like a Starkey Ranch or Bexley that has all of these compact, walkable, mixed-use requirements, for a sense of place — but then one development over is a gated subdivision, with no interconnectivity whatsoever. It doesn’t interconnect with the one that is connected.

“And, I’ll just be honest with you, we’re sometimes our own worst enemy. We’ll approve MPUDs (master-planned unit developments), flat-out gated subdivisions, with no interconnectivity,” Goldstein added.

He continued: “I review almost every MPUD that comes through the county. I’d say 80(%) to 90% of them have some part of the project they don’t want to interconnect.

“We have a code section that says, ‘You shall interconnect.’ But we are frequently granting alternative standards or variances, so people don’t have to do that.

“In many cases, it’s just because the developer says, ‘I don’t want to.’ Or, ‘I want to have a gated subdivision. I don’t want to have any interconnectivity.’

“With all due respect to staff, staff says, ‘OK, you don’t have to.

“Staff recommends approval of it. Planning Commission approves it. The board approves it. And everybody just acts like it’s not a problem.

“My point is, if we’re serious that this is what we want — compact, walkable communities with a street network that’s connected and plenty of alternate modes, at some point we just need to step up and say, ‘This is what you have to do.’”

There are some communities that have been planned with ways for people to get around from place to place, using golf carts, scooters, bicycles or walking.

“But in terms of local connections, local road interconnects? In my opinion, we’re doing a horrible job with it,” Goldstein said.

“I’m not blaming anyone in particular, we’re all rubber-stamping this,” Goldstein said.

“It’s sort of a death by a thousand cuts. Nobody realizes that we’re doing it, but I’m just telling you, we are,” he said.

Published July 06, 2022

Themes emerge, as Pasco updates plan

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As Pasco County works to update its comprehensive plans, themes have been emerging through listening sessions, according to a consultant working with the county on the Pasco 2050 update.

Pasco residents primarily identify as being residents within a specific community, said Steve Schukraft, a planner with HDR Inc., the consultants working on the county’s plan update.

There’s “a very diverse set of perspectives and a diverse set of ideas about what their life is like in their community and how they see the county, overall,” he said.

Schukraft shared some of the key issues that have emerged during the listening sessions with members of the Pasco County Planning Commission, during a June 16 workshop.

The State Road 52 and Interstate 75 interchange is expected to become far busier, as large industrial projects that are planned near the interchange are developed. Pasco County has approved recent incentive packages that are expected to yield more than 8,000 jobs in the area. Planning for industrial development has been identified as one of the county’s key needs, during Pasco County Commission discussions. (Mike Camunas)

He also shared information gleaned from reviews of previous engagement efforts by the county, and from a review of the county’s planning practices and documents.

Plus, he opened the discussion up to the planning board’s thoughts on issues they think must be addressed in the Pasco 2050 plan.

One topic that’s been raised repeatedly during the listening sessions is a concern about the impacts from rapid growth on community character and compatibility, Schukraft said.

He also told the planning board: “An observation that we would make is that there’s not a real clear sense among the general public about what the comprehensive plan calls for. So, they’ll see development on the side of the road that is perfectly in line with what the comp plan calls for and what zoning allows — they’re just upset because it represents a change in their day-to-day life,” he said.

“People talked a lot about their concern when they see a site cleared for development, when they see corridors getting more development and getting more dense over time,” he said.

“People don’t know where the line is drawn now between the more suburban future land use categories and the rural categories,” he noted.

Opinions about life in Pasco vary widely, depending on where people live, he added.

“We heard from people in the new large-scale master-planned communities (who said) that they had the best quality of life of anyone in the country. We had some people in some other communities who felt they were kind of falling behind, that they didn’t have the advantages of other folks in the county —  they didn’t have the same quality of facilities, same accessibility. So, there was a big divergence in perspectives.”

One big theme that came up centered on “protecting and conserving rural communities and landscapes.

“We heard that often. We heard that throughout the county,” Schukraft said.

The consultant said he thinks for many, it’s an issue of visual impact.

His sense of their sentiment was this: “I like my open views. I like the rolling hills in Northeast Pasco and I don’t want those developed.”

Planning board member Chris Williams told Schukraft: “As somebody who lives in the Dade City area and lives on a rolling hill and has an open view, those (statements) ring true to me.”

But David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, noted: “The people who are saying, we need to protect our rural area, where are they suggesting that growth go? You can’t say, ‘We want no growth.’”

During listening sessions for the upcoming update of Pasco County’s comprehensive plan, the need for preserving rural areas was one of the common themes that emerged. Balancing that desire with the need to accommodate growth could surface as one of the major debates, in the process to create the Pasco 2050 plan.

Work on comprehensive plan update is in early stages
Schukraft told the planning board, at this point in the process, he was merely presenting what was heard in the listening sessions and what has been gleaned from reviewing previous county engagement efforts,

The research being done also includes a look at the county’s demographics and socioeconomics; land use development conditions; mobility; a review of existing planning and policy framework; a market analysis to look at where the market opportunities are; strengths and weakness in Pasco’s market position; and, some planning best practices.

Charles Grey, the planning board’s chairman raised an issue that bothers him.

“It really turns me off when I drive by a nice wooded piece of property and then the next day I drive by and it’s leveled, there’s not a tree on the site.

“I’ve seen them tear out 500-year-old oak trees to put in a car wash. That doesn’t make sense to me,” Grey said.

He’d also like to see what can be done to encourage redevelopment.

“There’s plenty of areas that could be redeveloped. From a practical point of view, how do you do it?” Grey asked.

Schukraft noted the negative impacts caused by congestion.

“One of the direct impacts of development is traffic and most of the county is developed in auto-oriented fashion, so to get a gallon of milk, or to get your kid to school or to get to work, you’re driving.

“So, you’re in a car and you experience the county in a car to meet most of your daily and weekly needs.

“We need to look really carefully about how we accommodate those additional trips on the network with already constrained capacity,” Schukraft said.

Planning board member Don Anderson addressed the shortage of affordable housing.

He told Schukraft: “There’s already tenants being displaced because people are moving into the area. People who have lived here, were raised here, are actually being displaced because of the increase in rents.”

Schukraft responded: “People are bringing fat checkbooks into the region and pricing folks out.”

“And then just the movement from folks getting priced out of Hillsborough and Pinellas, coming up to Pasco to try to find cheap housing is putting pressure on the market, too. Some of it has to do with raw supply. The market needs to probably be producing twice the amount of houses per week or month, or units per week or month to meet that demand. And, that ramp-up hasn’t happened yet.”

If you would like to know more about Pasco County’s comprehensive plan update efforts, visit Pasco2050.com.

Published July 06, 2022

‘Watch what consumers do, not what they say’ expert says

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Is the nation headed toward recession?

Rising interest rates, high gas prices, supply chain issues, labor force shortages and the highest inflation in 40 years are prompting lots of commentators to raise the prospect of a looming recession.

But Ryan Severino, chief economist at JLL, looks at the issue this way: “If we keep the faith on this, there’s a really good chance that we can avoid a downturn.

“If we start to lose that confidence and adjust our behaviors, that’s where I think this could become a bit of a problem at some point,” Severino said.

Presently, he said, “I still think there’s good momentum. Job growth is strong. Wage growth is strong. Consumers are spending money.”

However, he noted: “We don’t live in a world of certainty, we live in a world of probability.”

If rising interest rates start to influence psychology and the way people behave as economic actors, a downturn could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, said Severino — who has been quoted in The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Financial Times, and others.

Severino was among a panel of experts assembled by Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez to talk about such issues as the economy’s impact on the current and projected real estate market in Hillsborough County. The panelists shared their expertise at a morning meeting at The Cuban Club in Ybor City, on June 23.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor offered a snapshot of what’s happening in Tampa — noting she has meetings all of the time with companies that want to move their headquarters to Tampa, or establish a presence in the city.

Other expert panelists shared their insights about what’s currently happening in the commercial and residential markets.

Severino focused on the national picture.

He expects inflation will peak this year and then begin to decline.

He notes that the pandemic, the government stimulus and the war in Ukraine each have contributed to an inflation rate that’s the highest it has been in four decades.

“The situation in Eastern Europe is not helping at all, with this,” he said. “Right now, because that part of the world is so important to energy production and food production and the economy, it is having an out-sized effect,” he said.

Severino also noted that the pandemic remains disruptive.

“It’s certainly disrupting the supply side of the economy.

“China is still shutting parts of production down because it’s (COVID) still spreading,” he said.

Economists look at core inflation, which doesn’t include food or fuel because those prices are too volatile, Severino said.

In looking at the current inflation rate of 8.5%, and backing out fuel and food, the result is 6%.

Then, back out the government stimulus of $6 trillion, that drops it to in the 3% range.

“(It’s) not as bad as 8½%, but certainly not where the Fed would like it to be,” he said.

The demand side of the economy, on the other hand, has been “doing a spectacular job of rebounding,” he said.

“It’s (inflation) not really impacting behaviors.

“Watch what consumers do and not what they say, because if you look at what consumers are doing, which is pretty much all of us, we are pretty much out powering the economy,” he said.

U.S. consumers make up 18% to 20% of the global economy. By itself, the U.S. would be the second- or third-largest economy in the world, he said.

He also noted that “the aggregate spending power of consumers has grown faster than inflation has.”

The aggregate earnings figure, he explained, serves as a proxy for the overall spending power in the economy. It’s based on the number of people working, how many hours per week they are working and the hourly wage they are paid.

“The Fed thinks the labor market is too hot,” he said.

The Fed wants to tamp down what it views as an excess demand for labor, Severino said.

“I’m not so sure that they’re really going after the right thing,” the economist said.

“I worry that there is potential for collateral damage.”

“The bad news is the more aggressive the Fed is with interest rates, the higher the probability of the dreaded R word. The good news is that the Fed doesn’t have a really great track record for even following its own forecast for a measure that they themselves control,” Severino said.

He expects the Fed to respond to signals it gets from the economy.

“For now, short- to medium-term, I still feel confident about the economy,” the economic expert said.

Published July 06, 2022

Fate of Penny for Pasco will be on November ballot

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Voters will decide in the Nov. 8 general election whether Penny for Pasco, a local infrastructure surtax, should be extended for an additional 15 years.

If approved, the extension is expected to yield about $1.9 billion in revenues, which would be split between the school district, the county and the county’s municipalities.

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

The special 1-cent sales tax initially was adopted in March 2004, and was in effect from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2014. Voters extended it for 10 years, with that renewal going from Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2024.

The proposed renewal would be from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2039.

The Pasco County Commission and the Pasco County School Board both took action June 21 to ensure the initiative could be placed on the general election ballot.

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

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.

The county proposes to spend its portion of the tax revenues this way: 40% for transportation, 20% for economic development, 20% for public safety; and, 20% for environmental lands, as well as park infrastructure.

Economic development funds will be used to attract new companies, enhance the potential for existing companies, stimulate redevelopment of blighted areas and help develop the work force, among other things. The funds also will support business incubators and locally owned small business assistance.

In general, the aim of these programs is to help businesses of all sizes to be successful, to generate more high-paying jobs in the county and to broaden its tax base.

A portion of the county’s proceeds also would be used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands. It is estimated that 3,000 to 3,700 additional acres could be acquired with future Penny for Pasco revenue.

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

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

Fire Rescue would receive boats, life-saving emergency response equipment, in-vehicle computers, facility upgrades and some 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.

A portion of that money would be spent on a countywide multimodal needs study.

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

Published July 06, 2022

Zephyrhills planning for, looking toward 2035

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Zephyrhills — the city and its officials — are turning to the citizens for help.

The East Pasco County city — also known as the county’s largest municipality — is spending the rest of 2022 to plan through 2035. The city will take a look at its comprehensive plan and make various updates on what it intends to do to make improvements over time.

However, a significant part of the planning effort is to bring people together from all parts of the city to talk about issues and needs that should be addressed, as well as new ways to help Zephyrhills be an even better place to live, work and play.

That’s why the city set up three “Community Conversations” aimed at collecting ideas from residents, business owners, workers, and other community stakeholders for use in creating a citywide vision for 2035.

The final “Community Conversation” will be July 7 at 6 p.m., at the Zephyrhills Train Depot Museum. Townsfolk are encouraged to attend not only to learn more about the city from a statistical and analytical point of view, but also to suggest ideas of what they’d like to see from Zephyrhills in the next decade-plus.

City Planning representatives will be on hand to take suggestions, but also to explain exactly what goes into a city’s comprehensive plan.

Zephyrhills also will engage its citizens through an online hub, where they can take a survey that will help answer two central questions of comprehensive planning: “What does our community’s best future look like?” and “How will we achieve that vision of the future?”

The citywide vision will be described in words and illustrations, to paint a picture of the community’s desired future. This ‘picture’ will become the foundation for setting goals and policies for the new comprehensive plan: PlanZepyrhills 2035.

Zephyrhills Community Conversation Session 3
When: July 7, 6 p.m.
Where: Zephyrhills Train Depot Museum, 39110 South Ave.
Details: Join representatives from the City of Zephyrhills in a conversation focused on the PlanZephyrhills 2035 and to help plan for the city’s next phase.
To participate in the PlanZephyrhills 2035 Comprehensive Plan Survey, visit Plan2035.zhills.city.

Published July 06, 2022

Zephyrhills is ranked among top RV destinations

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It’s no secret that Zephyrhills has been known as a ‘Snowbird Haven’ for decades.

It’s a place where northerners routinely flock, to escape the winter chill.

Happy Days RV Park is home to several RV sites and plugs, year-round, as the resort features several amenities and is well-located in between vacation destinations, such as the Disney parks and the Gulf beaches. (Mike Camunas)

So perhaps it’s only logical it would become home to lots of RV parks. There are 19 to be exact, within the city limits.

But it appears that the city is becoming a more popular place, in general, for RV enthusiasts.

StorageCafe.com has ranked Zephyrhills as the fourth-best RV destination nation, based on the number of campsites and their amenities; the local cost of living; the proximity to other attractions, and, of course, the year-round warm weather.

City officials were happy to hear about the survey results.

“Well, while this is a bit of news to me, it is always good to rank high in great places to visit, so we’re definitely happy and excited about that,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe.

“Does this mean the secret is out?” Poe said, with a laugh. “We’re not marketing (Zephyrhills) as a great place to RV, but my thought is, we’re a retirement community — Snowbird Haven — and we’ve always been that.”

Certainly, Zephyrhills always has been a retirement or winter-home destination. However, now there’s a trend of younger retirees and even travelers who are purchasing RVs, and using RV resorts and parks in Zephyrhills.

Part of that stems from the city’s convenient location: It’s a quick trip to destinations such as the Disney attractions and the Gulf beaches.

“Just look at us (Zephyrhills) on a map,” Poe said. “You can be in Orlando and Disney in an hour. You can be in Downtown Tampa in an hour. Wesley Chapel is nearby, too, and then, of course, the beaches.”

Majestic Oaks RV Resort is one of Zephyrhills’ larger RV resorts within city limits, and has sites and plugs available year-round.

Plus, he said, “in Zephyrhills, it’s a smaller-paced, hometown feel, which I think many people like coming to, to stay for a while.”

According to the RV Industry Association, projected 2022 RV shipments range between 578,800 and 603,300 units — slightly more than the 600,240 vehicles shipped last year.

The numbers in 2021 were up 39% from the previous year. And, from 2001 to 2021, RV ownership increased by more than 62%.

More than 11.2 million households now own RVs, with the average age of owners being 55. However, 22% of RV owners are in the 18 to 34 age range.

“I would have to say this is certainly a welcomed surprise, even if, as a town, we’ll have to revisit it (from a marketing standpoint) and be more open to it,” City Planning Director Todd Vande Berg said. “If I had to guess (on why Zephyrhills is ranked so high), it would be the affordability of RV parks. Because I think that’s the demographic that comes into play, of what people can afford. Certainly the weather and the small town feel with close proximity to beaches and a bigger city help.”

Poe added: “And not really trying to sound selfish here, but, obviously, those RVing typically have disposable income at their fingertips, so why not come spend it in Zephyrhills?”

RVs sit parked at RV Optimum Zephyrhills, the lone RV dealer in a town that has become an increasingly popular destination for RV travel, vacationing and living.

There is definite appeal to Zephyrhills, as it is a small yet still basically rural town that offers affordable sites for RVs.

Lisa Carletti, a master-certified RV inspector who has been an avid RV enthusiast since 2016, said the primary force behind Zephyrhills’ popularity is clear.

“I would say it’s the space, said Carletti, who owns MyRVResource.com and MyRvInspection.com, both which perform independent inspections of RVs, similar to the kind done when you purchase a home.

“We live part-time in a fifth wheel (RV) in Dover and the appeal there is the same: usually more space in the parks. I can fit my RV, a large shed and three vehicles — you’re never going to find a place like that over in Tampa. All those lots are too tight.”

Carletti has inspected hundreds of RVs and been to numerous parks. She said Zephyrhills’ location will rank high on any list.

“And, of course, it’s going to be less expensive in Zephyrhills than in Tampa, Orlando or the beach areas,” she added.

So, while they may not have been deliberately trying to entice RV users, the town has much to offer.

Besides being close to numerous attractions, Zephyrhills also has nice golf courses, and nearby hiking and kayaking at the Hillsborough River.

“There are so many activities at our fingertips and then we’re not as expensive to stay as other places,” Poe said.

“I think people are really starting to see that,” he said.

Zephyrhills has 19 RV resorts or campsites within the city limits. Of those, 80% have pools and nearly all have extended stay rates that are beneficial to RV enthusiasts. Zephyrhills also has a large RV dealership, Optimum RV Zephyrhills, at 3334 Paul Buchman Highway. To inquire about an RV inspection with MyRVResource.com, email Lisa Carletti at .

Published July 06, 2022