The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

This 100-year-old veteran wanted a party, and he got one

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Frank Charles hit the big 1-0-0 on Sept. 6, and he celebrated hitting the century-mark in grand fashion.

Jennene Colky, Frank Charles and Debbie Charles take a break from their masks to pose for a photo in the courtyard at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes. The photo was taken on Sept. 6, the day that Frank celebrated hitting the century-mark. (Courtesy of Frank Charles’ family)

There was live music, visits from family members, appearances from dignitaries and a gathering — along with a cake and balloons — at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home, 6919 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Frank — a veteran of the U.S. Air Force — talked about his upcoming party.

He was looking forward to the cake, the gathering and seeing his daughters, Debbie Charles, who lives in Gainesville, and Jennnene Colky, who lives in Denver.

Debbie’s in-laws — Madison Welch, Bob Welch and Colleen Welch, of Tampa, and June Russell, of Lutz — were also at the birthday bash.

“The nursing home and the FDVA (Florida Department of Veterans Affairs) did an outstanding job of making my father feel special on his 100th birthday,” his daughter, Debbie, said in a telephone interview, following the event.

“They did a marvelous job of decorating with balloons,” she added, and those attending were able to enjoy their choice of a piece of chocolate or white cake from a sheet cake she brought to the party.

“They played Elvis, and they sang Happy Birthday and God Bless America. It was wonderful,” Debbie added.

Rebecca Pinson, social services program manager at Baldomero Lopez, recounted some of the party highlights.

Frank Charles trained to be a pilot and then a navigator, but didn’t do either of those jobs. Instead, he served as a gunner in a ball turret on a B54 and lost consciousness when his oxygen was cut off, according to his daughter, Jannene Colky. He was just 22 when someone rescued him. (Courtesy of Frank Charles’ Family)

She said Frank received a service medal from Bob Asztalos, deputy executive director of FDVA, and an award from Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Marlies Sarrett, the nursing home administrator, congratulated Frank, too.

Frank’s daughter, Jennene, provided some background about her dad, during a telephone interview.

She said he grew up in Philadelphia, where he lived before enlisting in U.S. Air Force.

“He was initially trained as a pilot, in Texas. They decided they didn’t need any more pilots, so they trained him as a navigator. They decided they didn’t need any more navigators. By time he got into the war, it was September 1944, and the poor guy was a ball turret gunner.”

Somehow, while he was in the ball turret, his oxygen lines were cut and he passed out, she said. Fortunately, someone saw what happened and he was rescued.

Frank was just 22 at the time.

Frank Charles received an award from Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, who thanked Frank for his service. (Courtesy of Rebecca Pinson)

After the war, he returned to Philadelphia where he went to work for the Philadelphia Electric Company, as a machinist.

He later made a trip to Florida, where he fell in love with the weather. He decided to move his family to Ft. Lauderdale, where he went to work as a machinist for Florida Power & Light.

Later, the family moved to Vero Beach, and then, Frank and his second wife moved to Gainesville, to live closer to Debbie.

After his second wife died, Frank remained in the Gainesville area until he moved to Baldomero Lopez about 14 months ago Debbie said.

Besides his two daughters, Frank has three grandchildren who live in Colorado and one who lives in Pennsylvania.

During a recent interview, Frank said his usual routine at the nursing home typically includes a breakfast of scrambled eggs and orange juice, followed by exercise and then cruising around the nursing home in his wheelchair.

He said he enjoys watching television, especially old westerns and episodes of M.A.S.H.

His daughter, Debbie, said her dad seems to be in his element.

“He’s totally happy there. He’s been there for more than a year. It’s his home,” she said.

Published September 14, 2022

Dade City’s inaugural art walk will celebrate local artists

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Get ready to walk into a new kind of arts scene — within the shops and businesses in the heart of Dade City’s historic downtown.

From Sept. 17 through Sept. 24, downtown Dade City businesses will feature local artists and their works in their storefronts on the town’s historic streets. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

The Dade City Center for the Arts and the Dade City Merchants Association are hosting the inaugural Dade City Art Walk from Sept. 17 through Sept. 24.

The week-long event is a celebration of local artists and their work, as well as a chance to mesh business and the arts, in a creative new collaboration.

“As someone who grew up here (in Dade City), I can say that sometimes you don’t always go to the downtown of your hometown,” said Jasmine Wright, a board member at the arts center. “So this all started as, ‘How do we get people to come see what our downtown has?’ and ‘How could we do something with the small businesses in town?’

“We thought it was just the perfect way to get people out and walking around our historic, beautiful downtown, which is very walkable,” Wright said. “And, it turns out everyone was very excited and willing to be a part of it.”

The Art Walk will feature 22 artists, each one in a different one of 22 select businesses that line the streets of downtown Dade City, such as Meridian Avenue and Seventh Street.

The event kicks off with a Sept. 17 opening ceremony at 5 p.m., at the Florida National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City.

The artists will be on hand for a meet-and-greet, plus to sell some of their work. There also will be the “PreCasso” Kids Art Zone, where children can make their own art, and foster children from Caterpillars to Butterflies Charitable Foundation will display art they created.

Wright, who is owner and operator of Treehouse Mercantile on Meridian Avenue, said she and other arts center members were genuinely surprised at the enthusiastic response from artists and businesses that wanted to participate.

“From the start, we said and thought, if we got 10 people to do this, then we could make it work,” Wright said. “Then, we had so many that we had to stop, but people were already asking us about doing it next year!”

Once all the artists and businesses were slated to participate, Wright set about pairing the artists with businesses. She took into account the type of art each artist would feature, as well as the style, vibe and type of business that would be the perfect match.

“It came down to what the store offers and who was going to be in that store, customer-wise,” said Wright, who also will feature an artist in her store.

“There are going to be all kinds of arts and, I think, we did a pretty good job of which artist is going to fit in perfectly with a certain store,” she said.

“And we’re all really excited to see everyone walking around to see some art and shop.”

Dade City Art Walk
When: Sept. 17 to Sept. 24; hours vary
Where: Downtown Dade City
Details: Works from 22 local artists will be on display at downtown Dade City businesses for a week. An opening ceremony is planned on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m., at the Florida National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave. Artists will meet-and-greet those attending and will have works available for purchase. A “PreCasso” Kids Art Zone will give children a chance to make their own art.
Info: Contact the Dade City Center for the Arts at 813-363-4385 or .

Published September 14, 2022

Senior athletes are focused on competing, and then on having fun

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When the Florida Senior Games come to Pasco County in December, spectators at the games will be able to watch athletes age 50 and older competing intensely to demonstrate their skills.

Senior athletes will be competing in such sports as basketball, volleyball, table tennis, bowling, powerlifting, racquetball, tennis and shuffleboard.

But after the athletes are done competing, chances are people who live and work in the county will notice a stream of visitors who are out and about enjoying what Pasco has to offer, said Nick Gandy, a media consultant for the Florida Sports Foundation.

The Florida Sports Foundation has selected Florida Sports Coast — the county’s tourism arm — to host the games at venues throughout Pasco County during the first two weeks of December in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Gandy briefed the Pasco County Commission about the upcoming games during the board’s Sept. 6 meeting.

Adam Thomas, director of tourism for Florida Sports Coast, told board members: “We are excited to have not just one, not just two, but three annual Florida Senior Games here in Pasco County.”

Thomas also credited Consuelo Sanchez, the sports development and tourism manager on his team, for helping to make it happen.

This year’s games are scheduled for Dec. 3 through Dec. 11, with a roster of 22 sports.

Athletes will be competing in such sports as basketball, volleyball, table tennis, bowling, powerlifting, racquetball, track and field, tennis, archery, cycling, padel and Footgolf.

Pasco is the ninth community in Florida to host the games for more than one year, since the games began in 1991.

Since the games’ inception, more than 50,000 athletes have competed, including three who were 100 years old, Gandy said.

The competitions will be held at area venues across Pasco County, including the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus and Saddlebrook Resort, in Wesley Chapel, the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, in Zephyrhills, and Fox Hollow Golf Club, in Trinity.

Gandy said the timing of the Florida Senior Games likely will prompt a greater number of competitors because the games are the final qualifier for athletes hoping to compete in the 2023 National Senior Games, to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

But even without that consideration, the competition enjoys widespread appeal, Gandy said.

The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills is one of the venues for the upcoming Florida Senior Games, which will be held in Pasco County in 2022, 2023 and 2024. (FILE)

“We’ve had athletes from over 40 states come to compete in the Florida Senior Games.

“Cities from Alachua to Zephyrhills are represented in the Florida Senior Games. I’ve counted over 200 cities, where athletes have come, for the Florida Senior Games. We’ve even had athletes come from the Caribbean Islands; there’s track teams from Barbados and Jamaica that come,” he said.

Plus, the games are more than just a place to compete, Gandy said.

“The Florida Senior Games is also about fellowship among the athletes.

“Once these athletes are done competing … they come to spend time together. They’ll be hanging out together in the hotel, catching up with one another, going out for dinner, taking in a lot of the amenities that the county has to offer. So, the fellowship part and the camaraderie of the Florida Senior Games is going to spread, over the next three years,” Gandy said.

He also noted many of the 65-and-up athletes have worked their careers and raised their families.

“And, this is now what they do. They compete in athletic competitions in the Florida Senior Games,” Gandy said.

In fact, during the 30th anniversary games, nine athletes received lifetime achievement awards.

They received that distinction because each had competed in at least one senior games in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

“Now, that’s a commitment,” Gandy said.

Registration for the Florida Senior Games is now open until Nov. 15. For more information, visit FloridaSeniorGames.com, or check out the Florida Senior Games Facebook page.

Published September 14, 2022

Proposed towing operation meets resistance

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Neighbors to a proposed towing operation in Land O’ Lakes made it clear at a recent Pasco County Planning Commission meeting that they think the business should set up shop elsewhere.

A proposed towing operation in Land O’ Lakes is meeting resistance from neighboring locals. The 0.62-acre site would be on the east side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, about a mile north of State Road 54.

Christopher Brown, who is seeking permission for the proposed towing service, wants the county to allow him to operate on a 0.62-acre site on the east side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, about 1 mile north of State Road 54.

Ray Gustafson, of Gustafson Engineering, appeared at the planning board’s Sept. 1 meeting to provide details on the request.

The site would include a small modular office, and parking would be provided on the front and a secured impound yard would be in the back, according to a narrative included in the planning board’s agenda packet.

Gustafson said the towing company tows cars that are parked at locations without proper permits, and also removes cars illegally parked on roadsides.

He estimated about 30 vehicles to 40 vehicles would be towed each week.

Brown told the planning board that the office hours would be between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., but the cars typically are towed onto the lot after midnight.

They also can be picked up after-hours, but there is an extra charge for doing that, he said.

Gustafson said the cars will be stored on the back of the property and there will be a heavy buffer wall.

County planners recommended approval of the request, along with a set of conditions.

But neighbors are vehemently opposed.

John Miller, who lives nearby, said a proposed towing operation and impound yard is not a good fit.

“I beg of you to please take into consideration compatibility,” Miller said.

“This is a very intense use, which is not compatible with the Swan Lake subdivision,” he said, noting there are 54 families and also small children who play outdoors.

“It’s an increase of noise and commotion,” he said, noting it’s a 24-hour operation.

“It’s a very lucrative business. They tow cars all of the time,” Miller said.

“The other issue is appearance. This is a junkyard. It’s basically what it is.”

He also noted that U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, is in transition.

Another neighbor, Mike Ford, said the county should be encouraging a better form of development along U.S. 41.

“Anybody can agree going on U.S. 41, from (State Road) 54 to (State Road) 52, it needs to be cleaned up.

“We need to do something about (U.S.) 41. Let’s improve (U.S.) 41. The middle of the county has been left behind,” he said.

Neighbors also raised concerns about noise from tow trucks dropping off cars, at all hours of the night and about a potential glare from outdoor lighting.

Brown told the planning board his business is under contract with apartment complexes and homeowner associations to remove cars that are double-parked, parked in fire lanes, or parked on properties without permits.

The company also will tow from Pasco roads, in areas where parking on the road is not allowed, he said. Cars typically will be brought to the impound lot between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., he said.

The company doesn’t have any current contract with law enforcement, he said.

Planning board member Chris Poole asked about potential problems of stacking on U.S. 41, as people come to retrieve their cars, or tow trucks to bring in vehicles.

Conditions intended to provide protections
Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said the county planners’ proposed conditions prohibit parking, stacking, loading or unloading on the public right of way.

Other conditions address neighbors’ concerns, he added.

For instance, there’s a condition that requires an 8-foot tall buffer to protect the neighbors from visual blight. Plus, the applicant must shield the view from the street, the attorney said. “I’m sensitive that this area’s in transition,” Poole said. However, he added: “You’re not going to see cars from the road, it’s all going to be shielded.”

Planning board member Jaime Girardi added: “If they don’t, code enforcement will shut them down.”

Poole interjected, “or the conditional use will be revoked.”

To make sure the applicant understood the conditions, Goldstein asked Brown: “You understand you cannot have any vehicle that’s more than 8 feet in height.

Brown responded: “Yes, I understand.”

To address the neighbors’ concerns about noise, the planning board added a condition referring to the county’s noise ordinance. It also noted that violating that ordinance could trigger a revocation of the conditional use.

Poole said he frequently drives by the site and will be quick to make a report to code enforcement.

Girardi said he was struggling with how to vote on the request.

“This one is difficult,” Girardi said.

U.S. 41 is transitioning, he said, adding that he’s not sure this type of operation represents a transition in the right direction.

Planning board chairman Charles Grey agreed: “If we’re trying to improve our major corridors, I’m not sure it improves it.

“If I lived there, would I want it there, on the other side of the wall? I’d have to say, ‘No, I wouldn’t.’

“When you drive by and you see a towing operation next to a nice development, it tends to bring down the value of that development,” Grey added.

On a roll call vote, the motion to recommend approval passed on a 4-2 vote, with Girardi and Grey voting no.

Planning board member Chris Williams did not vote on the request because he sits on the planning board as a representative of the school board and this application has no impact on school enrollment.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning matters.

Published September 14, 2022

Political Agenda 09/14/2022

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Pasco Republican Executive Committee
The Pasco Republic Executive Committee meeting is set for Sept. 15, at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road, in Land O’ Lakes. The doors open at 6 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m.

East Pasco Democratic Club
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet Sept. 19, remotely on ZOOM. Socializing begins at 6 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. All friends of the Democratic Party are invited to attend. The presentation is on getting out the vote. Email , or call 813-383-8315 for details.

Virtual candidate forum
A virtual candidate forum for State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit is scheduled for Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. The sixth circuit includes Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Participating candidates are incumbent Republican Bruce Bartlett and challenger Democrat Allison Miller. The forum will be moderated by Rob Lorei. The candidates will take turns addressing identical questions posed by the moderator, and then each will conclude with a personal statement.

This virtual forum will be a Zoom event, and also will be streamed on the ACLU of Florida Facebook page. This online forum is free to the public and no registration is necessary. For those who can’t view the forum live, a recording will be posted at the League of Women Voters St. Petersburg Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Central Pasco Democratic Club
The Central Pasco Democratic Club has scheduled a hybrid meeting on Sept. 21 at Meadow Pointe 1, 28245 County Line Road, in Wesley Chapel. The featured guest will be Kimberly Walker, a candidate for Florida’s 12th congressional district in U.S. House of Representatives. Socializing begins at 5:45 p.m., followed by a meeting at 6:15 p.m.  The guest speaker’s talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. Snacks will be served. For reservations, email .

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Wilton Simpson, the most recent president of the Florida Senate, will be the featured guest of the Republican Club of Central Pasco on Sept. 26. Simpson is the Republican candidate for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. He will be informing the club on his vision for Florida.

The meeting is open to the public and the club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6 p.m., and the business meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 813-996-3011.

Published September 14, 2022

Pasco adopts new rules for car dealerships

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Pasco County has adopted new regulations relating to motor vehicle dealerships.

Pasco adopted new rules for car dealerships, which was approved by the County Commission with a 5-0 vote, at its Aug. 24 meeting.

The new ordinance addresses concerns expressed by the Pasco County Commission about the overstocking of cars on-site, posing potential safety hazards and making it difficult for consumers to access sites.

The new regulations address general standards for sites approved or established before Jan. 25, 2005, when the vehicle dealership ordinance was established. In that section, the changes are mostly cleanup language, resulting from a change in the Type H Buffer. That buffer used to be a 75-foot buffer and now it is anywhere between 20 feet and 40 feet. It was changed on May 3.

The ordinance also provides additional design standards for sites approved after Aug. 25, 2022.

Those address:

  • Employee and customer parking: There are four methods to choose from.
  • Vehicle inventory and vehicle storage: This section specifies that surface-level inventory and display, combined with ground floor area of buildings/structures are not to exceed 50% of the developable acreage.
  • Vehicle inventory and vehicle storage: These cannot occupy required parking spaces.
  • Vehicle inventory and vehicle storage: These cannot encroach into right of way, landscape buffer, wetland upland buffer, or drainage pond. They also must be delineated on site plans.
  • There also is allowance of triple tandem rows, or quadruple, under certain instances.
  • There also are requirements for pedestrian connectivity.
  • There also is flexibility in landscaping standards, allowing substitutions when required trees have potential for causing damage to vehicles.

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey advocated the updated rules — noting that some dealerships had far too many vehicles on their lots, making it difficult for people to even access the businesses.

She and county staff had several meetings with vehicle dealerships to address the issues.

“I want to thank staff and all our dealerships that were involved in this. We had great representation,” Starkey said, noting representatives from both new and used car dealerships were involved in the discussions.

“I think this will go a long way to help to clean up some of that blight and to make sure we have a fair process going forward,” Starkey added.

The board approved the updated rules on a 5-0 vote, at its Aug. 24 meeting.

Published September 14, 2022

Beware of these government-related scams in Pasco and Hillsborough

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Officials in Pasco and Hillsborough county governments have recently put out the word regarding scams involving the government that have been occurring in the area.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles is warning people about a scam involving jury duty.

It works this way, Alvarez-Sowles said: “An individual is called and they are told that they missed jury duty and there is a fine out for them, and if they don’t pay the fine immediately, then they’ll get arrested.

“The individual is told to go and buy gift cards, scratch off the back of the gift card, read out the number over the phone and then that satisfied their paying of the fine,” the clerk said.

“Also, I’ve heard from my customers that they require them to remain on the phone, while they drive to the store to pick up the cards.

“They obviously must be very good at threats over the phone to get people to do that,” she said. “It must be serious threats over the phone. We would not do that,” the clerk said.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles is alerting the public to a scam that requires people to pay a fine, using gift cards, for allegedly missing jury duty. (FILE)

“I just want to state, in public, that my office will never call you to ask you to pay in the form of the cards. That is not a form of payment that we would request from you.

“That is a scam,” she added. “Don’t fall for it.’

Meanwhile, Hillsborough County residents also are being warned to be mindful of text scams.

There are fake text messages circulating that purport to be from Hillsborough County.

“As fraudulent campaigns become more and more sophisticated, residents are urged to use caution when responding to messages claiming they are from Hillsborough County,” a county news release notes.

While text messages and push notifications have become important ways for the county government to share urgent information and offer residents opportunities to provide feedback, there’s also opportunities for scams.

At this time, the county wants residents to know that it is not conducting surveys via texts.

“If you receive a text, delete it and do not click the link,” the county says.

It also notes: Messages from Hillsborough County will always come from 88911 and will be formatted without logos.

Residents who think they have been scammed or taken advantage of by someone pretending to represent the county may visit Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Services online to report the incident, or call the department at 813-635-8316.

Published on Sept. 14.

A cause that is good for the ‘sole’

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Scores of shoes were collected during the 2021 Two Good Soles campaign, a collaborative effort between Pasco County government and the school district, now in its seventh year. (FILE)

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office once again is participating in the new shoes and socks collection drive, Two Good Soles, to assist local students and families in need.

The campaign, now in its seventh year, is a collaborative effort between the Pasco County government and the school district.

The goal of the drive is to collect as many new pairs of shoes and socks as possible.

“It is heartbreaking to know that children come to school without socks or shoes in good repair,” said Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano in a news release.

“I am pleased that our office is once again part of this county-wide effort to collect as many pairs of footwear as possible. …Every item will go to a Pasco student in need,” said Fasano.

The need for shoes is primarily at the middle school and high school level, although shoes for elementary students also will be accepted.

The sizes most in need are children’s shoes size 9 and bigger, adult shoes of all sizes, and socks of any size. It is recommended that sneakers, shoes and socks be of a neutral color. However, no flip-flops or open-toed shoes, please.

Donations will be accepted through Oct. 21, the final day of the drive, at the labeled collection box near the door, at these sites:

  • New Port Richey, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120
  • Gulf Harbors, 4720 U.S. 19, New Port Richey
  • Land O’ Lakes, 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (U.S. 41)
  • Wesley Chapel, 4614 Pet Lane, Suite 109 (Lutz)
  • Dade City, 14236 Sixth St., Room 100

For information about the Two Good Soles drive, call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector for communications and special projects, at 727-847-8179.

Published September 14, 2022

Morris Bridge Road, at State Road 54, to close temporarily

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Morris Bridge Road will be temporarily closed at State Road 54, from Sept. 17 through Sept. 22.

An around-the-clock detour of Morris Bridge Road is scheduled to begin after midnight on ay, Sept. 17.

Motorists are asked to follow the detour signs along State Road 54, U.S. 301, State Road 56, and Morris Bridge Road, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Weather permitting, the detour is expected to be active from Sept. 17 to Sept. 22.   Detour Map

The closure is needed for the contractor to construct the southern side of the intersection of State Road 54 and Morris Bridge Road.

Published on Sept. 14.

Pasco County has redesigned its website

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Pasco County has redesigned its website and invites the public to check it out.

The website has been upgraded, with the aim of creating a user-friendly experience, as well as improved navigation and functionality, according to a county news release.

Here are some of the changes:

  • The site has been consolidated from more than 1,500 pages to 650 pages
  • The drop-down menu features popular web pages and customer tools
  • There’s a department director with contact information
  • The county’s social media icons are prominently displayed on the website’s homepage
  • The news, videos and spotlight sections are in one location

The Pasco County Commission meetings are streamed live on the website’s homepage.

The county calendar has been redesigned, too.

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey offered this assessment of the new website, in the county’s news release: “This is our first website upgrade in five years, and we couldn’t be happier with our new look. Our customers can easily find information on services, events and news items – with a simple click.  We wanted to make the site faster, with an intuitive layout, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Pasco County’s information technology and media relations teams collaborated to design the new layout.

To check out the new site, visit MyPasco.net.

Published on Sept. 14.