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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Lighthouse Books shines on, in Dade City

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Step inside Lighthouse Books in downtown Dade City, and you might feel like you’ve entered an oversized time capsule – but one that encases memorabilia from far more than a single moment in history.

Shelves and tables inside the store display eclectic collections of books, periodicals, how-to manuals, and even vintage brochures that document humanity’s literary musings through the ages.

In a sense, Lighthouse Books is the quintessential used-book store, though most of its hand-me-downs are anything but mass-produced reprints.

Lighthouse Books founder Michael Slicker sits at his desk surrounded by scores of vintage books waiting to be cataloged into the store’s inventory. (Courtesy of Susan Green)

Proprietor Michael Slicker reflects on that, as he handles a 1478 edition of “Commentaries on Juvenal’s Satires,” one of the oldest and rarest artifacts available for purchase at the store.

“It was used back when Columbus got here,” he quips.

Slicker is an antiquarian bookseller, one of only about 450 members of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America. Born in St. Petersburg, he founded his store there in 1977 and chose the name, in part, for its original location overlooking the water.

In 2019, after being twice cramped by encroaching development, he relocated Lighthouse Books to Dade City, where his daughter, Sarah Smith, had already put down roots. Together, father and daughter run the business, which includes appraisals, purchases and sales of thousands of yesteryear’s treasures.

Specialties include books chronicling Florida and Caribbean history, as well as many works related to military histories. But Lighthouse offers collectible books, maps, and print materials from all over the world and just about every time period.

“We have a niche. We don’t have to compete with all the paperback sellers,” Slicker says.

He doesn’t count online booksellers such as Amazon as competitors, either, even though most of Lighthouse’s sales these days are made online through the company’s website.

Mainstream booksellers generally don’t handle books published before the 1970s because they don’t have ISBN numbers, Slicker explains. Without those unique identifiers, book vendors can’t easily enter books into a computerized inventory system.

At Lighthouse, each of the thousands of vintage materials that enter the store’s inventory must be cataloged by hand – a task that falls mostly to Smith.

Sarah Smith displays a vintage marketing brochure for Appleton Manufacturing Co., which crafted windmills and farm implements in the early to mid-1900s.

“It’s definitely something we work on constantly,” she says.

Judging books by their covers
Slicker’s expertise as an antiquarian book appraiser has been sought by universities, private collectors and estate sellers. And when it comes to antique book valuations, the old adage against judging a book by its cover doesn’t apply. Slicker notes that a book’s artwork and binding materials play a significant role in valuations, and they tell tales about the people of yesteryear, just as the written words do.

For example, take the 1854 volume titled “The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray.” As Slicker bends the Moroccan leather binding slightly and thumbs across the pages’ gilded edges, a portrait of the author against a churchyard backdrop appears. It’s a hidden flourish known as a fore-edge painting that sets the scene for the poet’s best-known poem, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” before the first page is turned.

Or take the American decorative binding trends of the early 20th century. Lighthouse is home to quite a few examples of books with elaborate artwork gracing the covers, usually the handiwork of women.

Grace Smith, 9, daughter of Sarah Smith and granddaughter of Michael Slicker, finds plenty to ways to while away the time in the kids’ section at Lighthouse Books.

“Since women were kind of shut out of all the fine arts, they did these decorative bindings,” Slicker says.

Slicker’s appraisal talents have put him in touch with the past in a way that few people ever experience. For example, one of his assignments was to appraise a log book that the famous pilot Amelia Earhart carried with her on one of her transatlantic flights. To him, the entries read like letters to her parents in the event she didn’t return.

“You have to picture that she’s writing in her log as she’s soloing across the Atlantic,” Slicker says. “And she writes that there’s an 8-foot wave and her right engine is going out.”

As much as he loves books, Slicker doesn’t collect them himself. It’s not a good idea for an antiquarian bookseller to compete with his customers, he explains.

“I tell people I got into the business because of the books, but I stayed because of the people,” Slicker says. “It’s a joy when an enthusiastic person comes in and says, ‘Oh, I’ve been looking for this for a long time.’”

Tina Ross, of Dade City, is just such a customer. Recently, she came to Lighthouse Books looking for a specialty craft book.

“I’m like in heaven here,” she said. “I like bookstores, but they have all the new titles everywhere — nothing juicy.”

A perfect fit
Margaret Angell, a 20-year downtown business owner who chairs the Dade City Merchants Association, says Lighthouse Books is a welcome addition to a historic commercial district that draws visitors to its antique stores, specialty shops and restaurants.

“We’re delighted to have them,” she says. “They bring a whole new element to our downtown with their historic books and maps.”

Slicker and Smith say they’ve been happy with the move.

“I think it’s definitely a more leisurely pace than we experienced in St. Petersburg,” Smith says. “People come and spend the day, and they’re glad to be out and about. … I think it’s easier to be kind when they’re less stressed.”

Lighthouse Books in Dade City advertises collectible ‘books, maps, prints and ephemera,’ the latter being vintage advertisements, magazines, brochures, and other ‘throwaway’ literature of the past.

If you go
Lighthouse Books, ABAA
Where: 14046 Fifth St., Dade City
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
Contact: 727-822-3278 or
Info: OldFloridaBookstore.com

Calling old book lovers
What: 39th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair
When: April 1 to April 3
Where: The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N., St Petersburg
Cost: Admission $10 for the entire event
Info: FloridaAntiquarianBookFair.com

By Susan Green

Published March 30, 2022

Pasco adopts policies to address residential design on small lots

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The Pasco County Commission has adopted policies aimed at improving the architectural look of houses built on 40-foot wide and 50-foot wide lots in master-planned communities.

The idea is to avoid creating subdivisions in which the houses on small lots within the neighborhood all look alike.

To prevent that, commissioners want houses on the 40-foot-wide and 50-foot-wide lots to have, at a minimum, three architectural distinctions.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey called for requiring that minimum for houses on any size of lot, but other commissioners did not think that was necessary.

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey continues to push for better-looking developments in Pasco County. (File)

Commissioner Ron Oakley put it like this: “As you move to larger lots, the architecture kind of takes care of itself.

“On 40-foot lots, it’s very important we make sure you do it the right way. But as you get to 60-foot lots and others, people are spending more money on their home. They care about the architectural view and they don’t want what somebody has next door, or across the street,” Oakley said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said, “I think with the smallest — the 40s and the 50s — I think the architecture is critical.”

Like Oakley, though, he was less concerned about imposing the standards on the larger lot sizes.

Mariano asked how the new policies will be enforced.

Sally Sherman, assistant county administrator, said the onus will be on the people seeking the smaller lot sizes, in master-planned unit developments (MPUDs), to keep track of complying with requirements.

Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, said quarterly reporting will be required.

Starkey, whose family is involved in development, said: “This is commonly done. You rarely build the same model next to each other.”

She said it’s easy to achieve differences in architectural details, by varying such things as the style of a garage door, a shutter, some brick.

“Brick, stone, stucco, Hardie plank — there’s so many to choose from, I don’t think it’s ever going to be an issue. But we should at least have three details,” Starkey said.

Jennifer Motsinger, representing the Tampa Bay Homebuilders Association, said the county and stakeholders had an in-depth conversation.

“The real issue that we were concerned about was that this already takes care of itself. And, so it puts a lot more pressure on the staff and essentially, you’re kind of doing double work.

“The staff is already reviewing the plans in the process and then they are doing this extra layer, which they’ve already kind of done. And because the bigger lots have all of the bells and whistles that you guys like anyway, why regulate something just for the sake of a regulation?”

“Chairman, to your point, of course, we understand that generally speaking, you want a better product in Pasco County. That’s what we’re trying to deliver for you,” Motsinger said.

“That’s the goal,” Starkey said.

Clarke Hobby, a land use attorney who represents many applicants who appear before the county board, told commissioners: “We were tasked with dealing with a 40-foot lot issue and townhouse issues, so we were dealing with those issues with MPUDs.

“And, there was discussion with stakeholders about applying architectural features to 50-foot lots. And again, there’s some similarity of building type on those lots, so we don’t deny that we should be stepping up those issues.

“We’re trying to avoid creating a bigger paperwork issue for the county and the building community going on, forever, on lots that are really not a problem,” Hobby said.

“The perceived problem was 40-foot lots. We broadened it to 50. We just don’t want to keep going on this forever and ever,” Hobby said.

Starkey said she also wants to pursue changes relating to driveways, which she will research and bring back for further discussion at a later date.

Pittos said that “by October, we should have a number of (MPUD) negotiations under our belt and should have been able to test these conditions of approval under a series of situations, and we can make an assessment at that time to see whether or not the provisions work, what needs to be changed and what now can be added into the land development code, as a standard.”

Published March 30, 2022

Sister Miriam Cosgrove celebrates 60th Jubilee

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The Benedictine Sisters of Florida celebrated the 60th Jubilee of Sister Miriam Cosgrove, O.S.B., on March 23 at Holy Name Monastery, according to a news release from the monastery.

Born in Detroit, Sister Miriam made her first visit to St. Leo when she was in eighth grade, to attend the ordination into the priesthood of her oldest brother, Mark.

Sister Miriam Cosgrove, O.S.B. (Courtesy of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida)

After completing high school, she moved to Florida in 1960 to join the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. She made her profession of first vows in March 1962.

She taught for 20 years in Florida schools staffed by Benedictine Sisters.

She worked in Pasco County Public Schools as an elementary guidance counselor for 23 years and volunteered with patients in hospice care for 17 years.

She also volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem for at-risk children.

She has instructed adults in Catholicism.

Her artistic abilities include calligraphy, photography and note cards.

She also trained in aquaponics and learned the art of fish farming as a sustainable food source. She currently is the coordinator of the aquaponics program at Holy Name Monastery.

The morning ceremony began with Liturgy of the Hours and continued with the Jubilee Mass, celebrated by Father Anthony Ujagbo.

In her remarks, Sister Roberta Bailey, O.S.B., Prioress, addressed Sister Miriam, saying: “Your dedication has been a blessing to us and to the wider community. You have shared gifts that only you can give the world – blessings others could only receive through you. May this occasion be a source of joy and continued blessings.”

A social with family, friends and refreshments followed the Mass.

Published March 30, 2022

Pasco County hires architect for library in Seven Oaks

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The Pasco County Commission has selected FleischmanGarcia, of Tampa, to handle the design and construction administration for a library planned in the Seven Oaks area of Wesley Chapel.

The new library, currently referred to as the Seven Oaks Library, is planned for a site in Seven Oaks, at 27531 Mystic Oak Blvd.

The design work is being done over the next 12 months, according to Bob Harrison, program manager at Pasco County Libraries.

A new library is planned in the Seven Oaks area of Wesley Chapel, and is expected to open in 2025. (File)

The tentative opening date for the new location is in 2025, and when it opens, the Seven Oaks Library will become the county’s ninth library branch, Harrison said, via email.

The facility will feature an array of technology, including public computers, and will have  meeting spaces, rooms for adults, kids and teens. It also will have books and other materials for patrons to borrow or to browse through. A makerspace is planned, too.

The details of the design have not been worked out yet, but the library team will work closely with the architect, FleischmanGarcia, on the interior footprint of the building, soliciting input from the community along the way, Harrison said.

Also, the nature of the makerspace will be determined with input from the public, as has been the case when decisions were being made about makerspaces at other library locations, Harrison added.

“We’re excited that our patrons in Wesley Chapel will be getting their very own library. This community has been growing tremendously, so this is the logical place for our next location,” Harrison said.

During its March 22 meeting, the Pasco County Commission approved a professional service agreement with FleischmanGarcia in a not-to-exceed amount of $980,428.

The funding is within the county’s fiscal year 2022 budget, under the county’s capital improvements plan project fund designated for libraries.

The library project in Seven Oaks follows discussions that occurred during the 2021 budget deliberations, when Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said it was important to begin laying the groundwork to build a library on the Seven Oaks site, which the county has owned since 2004.

The library project got a push when the county board decided to set aside funding from the American Rescue Plan to build it.

In other library-related news, at its March 22 meeting, the county board also:

  • Approved 1st Class Roofing Inc., as the lowest, responsive, and responsible bidder for the replacement of the roof at New River Library, in an amount not to exceed $89,238, as well as damaged decking provision of $3 per square foot, in the not-to-exceed amount of $25,000

This project is not part of the G.O. (General Obligation) Bond approved by voters in November of 2018, but rather is a maintenance project identified by the county’s facilities department, unrelated to the library’s interior remodeling.

  • Approved a task order with Patel, Greene and Associates LLC for the completion of the Library Services Department’s Master Plan, in a not-to-exceed amount of $218,000 for a one-year term, beginning with the date of the county board’s approval.

Published March 30, 2022

A forgotten hero, with a locally known name

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A huge explosion occurred on Feb. 21, 1922, killing 34 soldiers.

The disaster garnered bold headlines, across the globe, for weeks.

But on the centennial anniversary of that tragedy, not a peep was heard.

The heavily traveled Dale Mabry Highway, which cuts through Hillsborough County and crosses into Pasco County is named after Capt. Dale Mabry, who was considered a hero when he died in during the Feb. 21, 1922 explosion of the Roma. (Courtesy of floridamemory.com)

So, here’s a look back in history of the fateful day the dirigible Roma, an army airship carrying 45 souls, crashed in Virginia.

It was the largest airship disaster at the time. Its 11 cells of hydrogen — holding a million cubic feet of highly inflammable gas — erupted after the ship hit high voltage lines.

Eleven airmen survived. Some jumped, when it was clear that the ship was crashing.

Those killed in the crash were burned beyond recognition.

Only the captain was identifiable because he was still gripping the controls steering the ship.

He never left his post in his desperate attempt to save lives.

The historical marker near the site in Norfolk, Virginia,  of this barely remembered disaster, took 98 years to erect. Even the inscription on it says prophetically, “In later years, the story of Roma was largely forgotten.”

This happened 15 years before the more famous Hindenburg disaster, which was caught on film and killed the same number of people.

Books and movies were made about the Hindenburg.

The Roma is forgotten.

But for folks in the Tampa Bay area, the ship’s heroic captain is remembered, and everyone knows his name.

There’s a legacy left behind by him that cuts through the heart of Tampa — in the form of a heavily traveled highway.

The captain’s name?  Dale Mabry.

The day after the disaster, the Tampa Morning Tribune headline screamed, “34 PERISH WITH DIRIGIBLE ROMA.”

This smaller headline was accompanied by a photograph of the captain: “Capt. Dale Mabry of Tampa, a victim.”

Mabry had lived in Tampa before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War I, and he had family here.

His father, a prominent attorney, had served as Florida’s Lt. Governor, and then later on the Florida Supreme Court, at the turn of the century.

The first mate of the Roma also was a son of a man of prominence — Walter Reed. Dale Mabry had served as best man at the younger Walter Reed’s wedding.

Reed’s father conquered yellow fever and Washington D.C.’s most famous hospital was named after him.

The junior Reed survived the Roma disaster and went on to serve as a general in World War II.

In the years after the Roma tragedy, a road was built to connect MacDill Air Force Base with Drew Field, since both airfields were being used by the military (Drew Field later became Tampa International Airport). The road between the airfields was named after Capt. Dale Mabry.

Here is the headline from the Feb. 22, 1922 issue of the Tampa Morning Tribune, recounting the explosion of the Roma, which claimed the lives of 34 and captured headlines across the globe, at the time. (Courtesy of Tampapix.com)

In decades to come, the road was lengthened through rural cow pastures and orange groves extending from one end of Hillsborough County into neighboring Pasco County.

Aerial photos from the 1950s show Dale Mabry’s northern route bisecting uninhabited pastures.

Today, the pastures and groves have disappeared.

Over the years, millions have used this road that connects the world’s most strategic military operations — Central Command — to thousands of businesses along its route. Dale Mabry Highway is a busy commercial corridor, flanked on both sides by businesses, restaurants, car dealerships and other types of development.

Raymond James Stadium is on one side of the road and George M. Steinbrenner Field is on the other.

It is one of the region’s busiest arteries, named in honor of a man who heroically perished a century ago, hands firmly at the wheel.

Travelers on the road today may not realize it, but as they grip the wheels of their vehicles, they replicate the final posture of Capt. Mabry who perished, while trying to limit casualties from the exploding aircraft.

The story of the ill-fated Roma and her crew has been largely forgotten over time.

But one name remains widely known locally, and now, a century later, his courage on that terrible day, is worth remembering.

By Charlie Reese

Published March 30, 2022

County speeding up design work on Old Pasco Road

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The county’s project management division is fast-tracking the completion of design work for a road widening along Old Pasco Road, from Deedra Drive to north of Coyote Way Road.

The division’s anticipated letting day for the project is in February 2023, according to background material in the Pasco County Commission’s March 22 agenda packet.

In keeping with that goal, the county board approved a task order with Florida Design Consultants Inc. (FDC), to provide engineering services for the design, permitting and bidding support for the relocation of existing utility infrastructure in the county’s right of way that would be affected by the road-widening work.

The engineering inspections services during construction will be negotiated with FDC upon completion of the design, according to the agenda packet.

The county’s utilities engineering and contract management will join the contract management department to have the roadway contractor perform the utility relocation work as part of the project.

The estimated construction cost for the utility relocation work is slightly over $2 million.

The county has not determined a projected end date for the project’s completion, according to the agenda materials.

This item was approved as part of the county board’s consent agenda, meaning there was no public comment and it was included in a bundle of items that were approved in a single motion.

In other action, the county board:

  • Approved a task order with Stroud Engineering Consultants Inc., in the amount of $191,193, relating to work involving utility relocations and adjustments on State Road 52, from east of U.S. 41 to west of Bellamy Brothers Road.
  • Approved the award of a bid to Kloote Contracting Inc., the lowest, responsive and responsible bidder, for parking lot improvements at the Pasco County Animal Services Shelter. The amount is not to exceed $110,077, for fiscal year 2022. The amount includes $11,900 for a concrete dumpster pad.

Published March 30, 2022

A day for dogs, and their owners, in Dade City

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Friendly pups were out in full force, from big breeds to little leapers and every furry, four-legged dog in between, at the 12th annual Dogs’ Day in Dade City.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez poses with this year’s Dog Mayor, Abby, during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park. (Mike Camunas)

It really was a dogs’ day afternoon on March 19, at Agnes Lamb Park, just off Meridian Avenue, the city’s downtown.

“Today really is about the dogs,” Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez told the crowd of dozens of dogs accompanied by their humans. The mayor added: “But today is really about the people, too, and this great community.”

Dogs’ Day has been going on ever since Lucy Avila, along with the Dade City Youth Council, organized it with local animal-based businesses from Dade City.

With downtown businesses such as Dog-Mania & Cats, Dade City Animal Clinic and Nutrena Farmers Feed Depot, Dogs’ Day hosts a variety of activities. They include costume contests, dog parade, talent portions and even an ice-cream eating contest that pairs the dogs with the humans (who eat yogurt).

“It’s a great day for the dog and the human to come together and expose them to a fun environment,” Avila said. “This lets the dogs interact, while their owners can do some local vendor shopping that’s dog-related.”

Avila was especially proud of her own dog, Abby, a Schnauzer Terrier that became the inaugural Dog Mayor of Dade City.

Selecting a Dog Mayor is a new contest introduced this year. The person who raises the most money for the fundraiser has the honor of having his or her dog named the Dog Mayor for a year.

A dog parade was among the many fun activities during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City, held on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.

“I’m glad she’s the first Dog Mayor of Dade City,” Avila said, with a laugh.

Also on hand were several dog adoption groups with available good boys and good girls to take home.

A K-9 Challenge was held, with the sheriff’s unit showing off its canine officers and their talents.

Proceeds from this year’s event benefit the city’s K-9 program, the veteran’s K-9 program and several other adoption programs, as well as the Pasco County Animal Shelter in Land O’ Lakes.

Over the years, proceeds from Dogs’ Day also has helped to support and maintain the Dade City Dog Park, which is just down the street from where the event was held.

Avila said she thinks the event represents Dade City and what the town is all about.

“We’re a very dog/pet-friendly town and we have dog stations all around town, which some of our proceeds go to (maintaining) those.”

Avila continued: “I thought today was a great turnout because every year it’s just great to see this community come together by one thing: their love of dogs and their pets.”

Sponsors for this year’s event were The New Barker, an online dog magazine; the Green Door on 8th; and Granny’s Animal Camp.

Published March 30, 2022

This ‘Starbucks’ couple, Ocean Wolf, left, and Maddie Sparks, plus Daisy, attended the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park. They won for Most Creative Costume.
Dallas enjoys a shady spot with owner Nikita Hickey during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.
Winter gladly takes a drink served by owner, Rick Chyzzewzki, during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.
Darla Belevich and Honey Bee take a little break during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.
Ebony and Diane Krug won Cutest Costume at the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.
Kevin Taggerty sits on stage with Hamlet, left, and CJ, right, at the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.
Marley looks up at its owners while sporting a comfy red hoodie during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.
Rebecca Workman holds Khloe, a three-month old Frenchie, at the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park. Frenchie tired early.
Robie Ward, along with Yoda and Daly, enjoys the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.

 

 

 

Chasco Fiesta celebrates 100 years

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When the Chasco Fiesta began in 1922, it was headed by Postmaster Gerben DeVries as a way to raise money for the local library, according to a resolution of congratulations adopted on March 22 by the Pasco County Commission.

Kurt Conover appeared on behalf of the Chasco Fiesta celebration, at the March 22 Pasco County Commission meeting, to receive a resolution of congratulations honoring the event’s 100th anniversary. From left: Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, County Commissioner Ron Oakley, County Commissioner Mike Moore, Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey, Kurt Conover, Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick and Commissioner Jack Mariano. This year’s festivities began on March 25 and runs through April 3. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

DeVries was inspired by the Native Americans in the area and the nearby Pithlachascotee River, the source of the names for King Pithla and Queen Chasco, two central characters of the festival, the resolution says.

The resolution credits the sponsors and more than 700 volunteers as the driving forces behind Chasco Fiesta.

They “work tirelessly to create a fun and memorable experience for every attendee, including a steering committee that oversees the year-round planning and organization of the Chasco Fiesta,” the resolution says.

Kurt Conover, accepted the resolution, on behalf of Chasco Fiesta.

“We are very excited. We anticipate record crowds,” Conover said. “We’re expecting over 200,000 people to be participating,” he said.

This year’s festival began on March 25 and runs through April 3.

After the resolution was read, Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said: “I cannot believe the 100-year date, that it’s the oldest fiesta celebration in the state. That’s amazing. Very cool.”

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick, who sponsored the resolution, said, “I want to say thank you to all of the volunteers who help make this possible. I’ve been attending this for 33 years, since I’ve been here.

“From watching the parade and watching the boat parade every year. It’s been a very exciting event. I want to encourage everyone to come out,” Fitzpatrick said.

Chasco Fiesta is a 501(C)4 organization, and in 2019 benefited 20 not-for-profit organizations in the local community and surrounding areas.

This year’s festival began on March 25 and runs through April 3. For a look at the festival’s remaining schedule, visit the events calendar at ChascoFiesta.com.

Published March 30, 2022

Charity of the Month supports special athletes

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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s offices will be collecting donations throughout April for its charity of the month: Special Olympics of Pasco County.

Special Olympics is a sports and training program for people with intellectual disabilities, and provides year-round training and competition in 17 different sports. There is no cost for athletes to participate.

“We are very excited to once again be selected as the Charity of the Month for April,” said Joeyn Dearsman, senior manager Pasco, in a news release.

“Mike Fasano and his team have been big supporters of Special Olympics of Pasco for many years and we are grateful for everything they do for our athletes. With the help from our community during this campaign, we will be able to provide athletic training, equipment and uniforms for our athletes,” Dearsman said.

“The Pasco County branch of this excellent program has a long history of success in not only the state of Florida but at the national level as well. The opportunities provided to people with intellectual challenges have proven to help enrich the lives of the athletes in a great way,” said Mike Fasano in the release.

All five locations of the tax collector’s office will participate – they can be found online at PascoTaxes.com.

For information about the charitable giving program at the tax collector’s office, contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179.

For more about the services provided by Special Olympics of Pasco, call Joeyn Dearsman at 727-992-8850, or visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org.

Published March 30, 2022

Tampa announces ‘Spring it Forward’ initiative

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The City of Tampa’s Solid Waste Department is launching the “Spring It Forward” Initiative, designed to help reduce extra waste and its environmental impact during the spring-cleaning season, according to a city news release.

The City of Tampa’s McKay Bay Waste Facility experiences an increase in tonnage each March.

Specifically, there was a 22% increase in waste generated in March 2021, the release says.

To help reduce waste, at the beginning of spring, residents are encouraged to repurpose and donate their unwanted items rather than disposing of them when spring cleaning their homes.

By using the Tampa Trash and Recycling App or on the recycling website, it is possible to search the Waste Sort to find out whether a material can be reused or donated to consignment or local thrift shops.

Taking your items to a local thrift or consignment shop can extend the life span of resources used to create items, the release notes.

“Springing your unwanted, good and working-condition items forward can help those in need,” said Larry Washington, the city’s solid waste director.

“Springing It Forward also helps local charities and nonprofit agencies collect gently used items. We’re excited to help connect families with these resources,” Washington added, in the release.

Residents can download the mobile app, Tampa Trash and Recycling, for Apple or Android devices. The app also can be found on the city website Tampa.gov/Recycle for convenient calendar and waste items search.

Published March 30, 2022