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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco school system continues to improve safety

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Efforts to improve the safety and security of Pasco County Schools continues, as the district works to reduce potential threats on school campuses.

The district recently submitted a plan to the state’s Office of Safe Schools, outlining steps it is pursuing to make its campuses safer.

That submission came after a briefing on the efforts, presented to the Pasco County School Board, on Oct. 20.

Entry buzzers have been installed at schools across Pasco County. Visitors push the doorbell and are buzzed in, individually. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Michael Baumaister, the district’s chief of security and emergency operations, gave the briefing, after a closed-door session between the school board, district staff and representatives from local law enforcement agencies. That session was private because of the need for confidentiality, relating to security issues.

The safety upgrades that have been done, are in the works, or are planned, are in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy and laws that changed with it, Baumaister said.

The 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting spree left 17 dead and 17 injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

The public outcry, including persistent student protests, prompted state legislators to mandate safety upgrades on school campuses across Florida.

The district’s recent safety assessment was required by state law.

During its review of the district’s current measures and practices, the goal was to

“use our resources smart, do tangible security improvements that actually have meaning,” Baumaister said. “They’re (upgrades) not there just for show.”

Initially, the district responded to the state’s mandate by ensuring that security improvements — such as a hole in a fence, or a sign down — were addressed and completed through work orders.

“I visited many of the schools and, I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t seen many issues that are still out that need to be addressed,” said Baumaister, who joined the district in July.

Part of the district’s current plan involves security cameras.

Some schools don’t have any cameras, or have too few, or have them in the wrong places.

The plan is to make sure that schools lacking cameras receive them, and that those that need more get them, and that those needing relocation are moved, Baumaister said. That work is being done in phases.

The district also is adding window security film in some places.

The film provides tinting and mirroring, and also hardens the glass.

“If something punctures the glass, the glass doesn’t fall apart. It stays together. You might have a hole in the glass, but it will stay together and it will keep people out,” Baumaister said.

Improvements also are being made to ensure that school safety guardians at elementary schools can communicate directly with law enforcement.

Improving communications
There are some dead areas on some campuses, where the radio system doesn’t transmit. Those areas are being mapped out, and bi-directional antennas will be used to correct the problem.

The district also is evaluating where it needs to add perimeter fencing at some schools.

This is a screen shot from our CrisisGo app. Principals can use it to report a problem immediately to everyone who needs to know. The app helps avoid multiple phone calls, and when certain buttons are pressed, the recipients receive a tone that’s extremely loud and impossible to ignore.

“We’re also looking to put a video doorbell at each front door of every school,” Baumaister said. “Someone hits the bell, someone from the inside can see who’s coming and they get let in.

“This way, there’s a stop point. You can’t just directly enter schools. It’s important. The installation of that has been going on for the last year and it should be completed, probably, by the end of the year — give or take a little bit,” he said.

The district also is using its “human tools” to help improve security.

“We’ve increased our ‘See something, Say something’ campaign. It creates an ability for our students, if they hear about a threat, to let us know about a threat,” Baumaister said.

“Fortify Florida is very heavily implemented in the schools,” he added. “It’s like an early warning system. So, if a student hears about something, they can let us know, anonymously, if they’d like to, so we can jump ahead on it.

“Our Crisis Go app has been implemented fully, in all of schools this year. We’re doing all of our drills through Crisis Go. What Crisis Go is, is basically an alert system. You hit a button and help will come on its way.

“If an intruder is walking across the campus, they can hit the alert on their computer or on their cellphone, and it will notify the authorities and help can come to them,” he added.

Student Crime Watch programs are encouraged, and the district has fully implemented its Threat Assessment Teams, Baumaister said.

Those teams include law enforcement, mental health, guidance and administration.

The goal is to provide intervention early — to help avoid bigger issues, the security chief said.

Keeping schools safe
The district is pursuing several ways to enhance campus security, which include:

  • Adding more security cameras
  • Installing window security film, with tinting/mirroring. This allows students and staff to see out, but makes it harder to see in. Plus, the glass doesn’t shatter, making it harder for intruders to break in.
  • Installing video doorbells.
  • Promoting programs such as, ‘See something, Say something,’ Student Crime Watch, Crisis Go and Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams
  • Providing perimeter fencing at more schools
  • Adding bi-directional antennas in some places, to improve communications through radio transmissions
  • Adding signs, to make it easier for responders to identify specific buildings where help is needed
  • Posting no trespassing signs, to reduce potential threats on campus.

Source: Pasco County Schools

Published November 04, 2020

How local hospitals have responded to COVID-19

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Just like COVID-19 has done with so many other industries, hospital and medical care systems also have needed to bob and weave, since the entire world changed around March.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City president/CEO Amanda Maggard outlined the medical community’s COVID-10 response — and what the future may hold for the pair of East Pasco hospitals that are part of one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems.

“It has definitely been an interesting year, hasn’t it? 2020 is a year I don’t think we’ll soon forget,” Maggard said, as the opening speaker at the Zephyrhills Economic Summit, held on Oct. 14.

Hospitals staffers have had to be utilized in different ways amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as elective surgeries and procedures were postponed for months. (Courtesy of AdventHealth Zephyrhills)

The hospital administrator detailed many of the initial challenges when COVID-19 cases spiked in March, during the event organized by the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, and convened at Zephyrhills City Hall.

A major issue involved procuring as much personal protective equipment (PPE) as possible.

“We have had a lot of PPE to serve, but COVID really escalated the amount and types of PPE that we needed,” the hospital executive said.

As a result, the hospital supply chain system has been forever altered. Now, it emphasizes partnerships on domestically produced PPE, while moving away from a just-in-time delivery model for such equipment and inventory, she explained.

In short, the pandemic offered “lessons learned” on how health care conglomerates handle and manage workforce, products, equipment and so on.

“We will never go back to operating our supply chain the way we did before COVID,” said Maggard, who’s had her role since 2017. “We have much more of an inventory across our system today than we did before, and that will stay.”

Since the pandemic touched down in the spring, hospitals have stopped many elective surgeries and procedures, including outpatient physical therapy.

Instead of laying  off those employees, workers were re-deployed in any and every way possible. Some tasks included handling temperature checks, child care services, cafeteria and nutritional services, and even organizing fun activities for other team members, Maggard said.

“I’m so proud of the work that our team has done during this time,” she added.

Local hospitals are “continuing to learn and apply the latest clinical, evidence-based best practices, so we’re taking lessons from all of AdventHealth and around the country, and trying to apply those to make sure that we’re giving the best possible care to patients with COVID,” the hospital CEO said.

For example, the hospital is using Remdesivir, convalescent plasma therapy and “a number of other treatments, as we continue to learn and evolve,” Maggard said.

Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication; convalescent plasma therapy involves using blood from people who’ve recovered from an illness to help others recover.

Best practices to attack and treat COVID-19 have likewise involved ongoing learning because it began and still remains a relative unknown virus to the medical industry, Maggard said.

“We’ve been learning new things every day, and every week and every month,” she said, adding  “guidance has changed, as the science has changed and evolved.”

The entire AdventHealth system actively monitors the volumes of COVID-19 cases throughout its various hospitals. The “biggest surge” of cases was seen in mid-July, Maggard said, adding: “It’s declined since then, (but) we saw a little bump up recently.”

Going forward, the hospital system is continuing its myriad health and safety protocols — such as markers on the floor to remind people to maintain six feet of social distance;  temperature checks and screening everyone who enters the facilities every day; requiring masks; and regular deep cleanings throughout entire facilities, as well as other measures.

All patients who are COVID-19 positive, or suspected of being positive, are kept in a separate space — away from other patients — “to try to keep everyone safe,” she said.

Long-term health care consequences
A noteworthy consequence of the pandemic, Maggard said, is how many people have delayed routine or more serious health care issues — largely out of fear of going out to a public hospital or medical facility.

Between March and April, emergency rooms saw a 30% to 40% reduction in visits pertaining to heart attacks and strokes, Maggard said.

Amanda Maggard is president/CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City. She was a guest speaker at the annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit, organized each October by the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. (File)

“The truth is, people were still having the same amount of heart attacks and strokes, but they were waiting and not coming to the ER,” Maggard said.

Because of those fear-driven consumer behavior changes, people who recently have been coming back to the hospital have more serious clinical issues, because they chose to delay care.

The same goes for routine screenings, primary care visits and procedures, such as colonoscopies, she added.

“My concern long-term with COVID is not just the immediate impact of COVID, but what is going to be the impact of health of folks around our country and around the world over the next few years, when we may have started to put off that routine care because we’re afraid to go be seen,” said Maggard.

“Don’t put your health care on hold. We want to continue to be here and not see your long-term health suffer because of not getting some of the screenings or preventative care that you may need today.

“If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms, you want to get into the hospital. We want to assure people that we are a safe place to be, we have a number of precautions in place to keep you safe, and we don’t want you to delay that care.”

Another related question is how newly jobless people will get their needed preventative services if they’ve been laid off and therefore lose their employer-sponsored health insurance.

“With the impact to the economy and the number of jobs being lost, what impact will that have in the coming 12 to 24 to 26 months?,” Maggard said.

Another looming question is how the hospital system’s financial losses amid the pandemic — due to postponing elective surgeries and decreased emergency room visits — will impact available capital in coming years. As a nonprofit, Maggard explained such capital would otherwise would be reinvested into the facilities for operating room expansions and technology and equipment upgrades to adequately serve in a growing community, such as East Pasco.

“There have been a number of financial losses,” Maggard said, “and that is something that we’re struggling with right now, is (how) our financial impact due to COVID is going to restrict the amount of capital we have available in these coming years,” she said.

Perhaps one of the positive developments in result of the pandemic is the increased accessibility and availability of telehealth services for physicians, primary care and even specialists.

Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies, allowing for long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions.

Simply, it allows patients to virtually see a physician or specialists without having to physically visit a hospital or medical office.

Telehealth, Maggard said, is “really, truly a positive thing in health care that could increase access for a number of folks.”

“That’s actually one of the really great things that has come out of COVID,” Maggard said. “The number of guidelines and allowances that came out from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) are allowing more telehealth than we were able to do before, and we get reimbursed for that. I hope that’s something that stays out of COVID.”

Published November 04, 2020

Honor recognizes decades of service, dedication

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Tim Baldwin, the recently retired president and CEO of San Antonio Credit Union, has been singled out by The League of Southeastern Credit Unions for his outstanding service.

Tim Baldwin was honored by the League of Southeastern Credit Unions for his distinguished service. (Courtesy of San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union)

The League of Southeastern Credit Unions recognized Baldwin’s important contributions to the credit union movement by awarding to him the 2019 Distinguished Service Award.

The award is conferred on one credit union professional each year who exemplifies lifelong service to the credit union movement, service that reaches beyond the person’s credit union itself.

Baldwin spent his entire credit union career – more than 30 years – as the leader of San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, which is based in San Antonio.

During that time, he expanded the institution from:

  • $22 million in assets to $258 million in assets
  • One branch to five branches
  • 4,263 members to 16,668 members

Baldwin also expanded the credit union’s field of membership twice, allowing all residents of eastern Pasco and Hernando counties to join.

During more than 30 years at the helm of the credit union, Baldwin’s leadership was acknowledged  in the field when he served as the Tampa Chapter of Credit Unions Board as president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, and on the board’s Governmental Affairs Committee from 1991 to 2006.

Baldwin also served as a director on the board of the Florida Credit Union League from 2000 to 2009, and advocated for the passage of the bill, HR 1151, The Credit Union Membership Access Act.

In  addition to these accomplishments, he mentored a child from eighth grade to graduation, and has served his community in other ways, including these:

  • Florida Hospital/AdventHealth Foundation Board from 2006 to present
  • Kiwanis Club from 1995 until present
  • Board of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida
  • Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church choir member

Published November 04, 2020

Turning eyesores into assets?

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Imagine if that rat-infested dilapidated house down the street — the one that’s littered with trash and mattresses — could instead become the future site for a Habitat for Humanity house.

Or, maybe the property could be transformed into a neighborhood park, or be used for some other community amenity.

That’s the kind of big-picture thinking that surfaced on Oct. 20, as the Pasco County Commission discussed  problems associated with blighted properties.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey called attention to the issue by sharing an email she’d received with her colleagues.

“This property has been vacant for over a year,” Starkey read from an email. “There was a massive fire there. There was a car that caught on fire, too, in the garage. Everything is charred and burned, terribly.”

The email went on to describe ”chunks of burned debris” that were “just hanging and dangling.”

It continued: “There are rats running everywhere. There are little children playing nearby.”

Starkey wasn’t happy.

“This is a health issue here. This is just not acceptable to me,” said Starkey, noting she’s received many emails similar to that one.

Besides raising concerns about safety, the constituent complained about being unable to get a clear answer from the county regarding the status of the site.

Code enforcement told her the case had been closed; what the caller didn’t know, though, is that it had been referred to the department that handles demolition of properties meeting the criteria for removal.

Starkey asked Kristi Sims, senior assistant county attorney, to give the board a briefing on how the process works.

Sims told board members that an internal shift had been made, regarding demolition of blighted properties.

Sims said the county’s made significant progress — with more than 130 buildings being taken down last year.

“Almost 40% of those were taken down by the owners, not at county expense,” Sims said.

But, she added, there’s a backlog of 200 cases that have built up through the years.

“To make a long story short, we’ve known we’re running behind. We’re behind the eight ball. The eight ball keeps getting bigger. We’re chasing it, we’re chasing it,” Sims said.

The county has come up with a plan that it thinks will help to chip away at the backlog, Sims said. But, as it removes derelict properties, it needs to think about what happens next, Sims added.

“The more we take down, the more empty lots we’re going to have,” Sims said.

“The answer may be for us to assist in getting it into the hands of a nonprofit, like Habitat for Humanity, that will rebuild with a responsible owner and put it back on the tax rolls,” the attorney said.

Or, perhaps there’s a way to create some kind of community asset, she said.

“Community Development has hired a program coordinator who is studying the various options we have for these properties,” Sims said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano wants to find creative ways to turn community eyesores into neighborhood assets.

“There are empty lots sitting there that are not doing the taxpayers any good, aren’t doing the neighbors any good. So, I would love for us to go explore working with the banks, working with nonprofits — maybe even put a special program together, working with a tax break or something to get a new home put in there,” Mariano said.

Starkey agreed: “I think we have to have a comprehensive plan.”

It doesn’t do any good, she said, to take down a house and then have the site become a dumping grounds, “where everyone puts their washing machine and their sofa and all that stuff.”

Another problem arises when people move onto the lots, pitch their tents and live there, Starkey said.

Sims told the board that research is being done to seek solutions to these issues.

Board members said they need more time to delve into the issues, so they agreed to bring the issue back as a board agenda item — during which staff, community nonprofits and others will have the chance to share ideas for how to turn an eyesore into an opportunity.

Published November 04, 2020

Enthusiasm not lacking in this year’s election

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By the time that readers pick up this week’s copy of The Laker/Lutz News on Nov. 4, the nation may know who won the presidential election — or not. It will depend on whether it’s a razor-thin result, or a landslide.

Republican supporters turned out to the Land O’ Lakes Recreational Complex during Early Voting on Oct. 24. From left: John Keller, Sandy Graves, Paul Blevins, Summer Blevins, Kurt Browning, James Mallo and Steve Graves. Summer Blevins is the deputy chief of staff for Congressman Gus Bilirakis, on the ballot for an additional term; and Browning also is up for reelection as superintendent of Pasco County Schools. (Randy Underhill)

But, based on ballots cast by mail, or at early voting sites — there’s no doubt that this election motivated people to get out and vote.

Election officials in both Pasco and Hillsborough counties said operations went smoothly during early voting and that turnout was high.

“Pre-Election Day turnout was 60% of our entire voter roll and far surpassed the Pre-Election Day turnout from 2016,” said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, via email.

“We expect a strong election day turnout and to far exceed 2016 General Election turnout.”

Corley added that the county had the greatest number of days and locations for early voting in Pasco.

Voters had no problems voting at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library on Oct. 25. The wait was less than 15 minutes.

He also said “voters were very pleased with the precautions we took to ensure a safe environment.”

The supervisor said that he appreciates the county’s poll workers, who continually step up to serve voters.

He also thanks the patience of voters, as his office administers “the most scrutinized election, during a pandemic.”

In Hillsborough County, the vote totals for early voting and Vote by Mail are already approaching the total voter turnout for 2016, said Gerri Kramer, director of communications for  Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer’s office.

Vote by Mail drop-off tents — used for the first time this year at Early Voting sites and offices —proved to be very popular with voters.

To find out the latest turnout numbers, go to VoteHillsborough.org or PascoVotes.com.

Published November 04, 2020

Towing companies must clear crash debris in Pasco

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Companies that remove vehicles from the scene of an accident in Pasco County must be sure to clear away the crash debris, too.

That’s the word from the Pasco County Commission, which adopted an ordinance to that effect during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting.

Commissioner Mike Wells had called for the local ordinance in the spring, to ensure that towing companies do a thorough job when clearing accident scenes.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the ordinance came to commissioners several months ago, but was delayed because of the pandemic.

“It basically mirrors state law, but gives us some teeth with towing companies that fail to clean up the scene of an accident,” Steinsnyder said.

Wells told the county attorney: “I’m glad it has finally made it back to us.”

The ordinance says that the board “recognizes that its streets and intersections are littered with debris from accidents and that this debris creates dangerous conditions for other persons using the roads.”

It also requires that: “Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a street, road, or highway shall remove and lawfully dispose of any glass, debris, or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.”

The ordinance aims to hold tow-truck drivers to the standards that state law requires.

In calling for the ordinance earlier this year, Wells said he didn’t think every hauler is guilty of leaving debris in the road, but he wanted to increase the level of accountability.

The ordinance was adopted without public comment, on a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kathryn Starkey absent.

Published November 04, 2020

Donations being sought for law officer memorial

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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices are accepting donations during the month of November to help build the Pasco Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

This rendering depicts what the permanent memorial for fallen law enforcement officers is expected to look like. (File)

The memorial is planned to be located on the grounds of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City, and will honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, according to a news release from Fasano’s office.

Pasco County is the only one of Florida’s 67 counties without a permanent law enforcement memorial, so efforts led by Attorney Craig LaPorte and other volunteers have been ongoing to raise enough money to build one. Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley also has been involved in the fundraising efforts.

An annual memorial service is held to honor the officers who have been lost, but the memorial will provide a place to visit year-round.

Cash donations can be made at any of the five tax collector locations in Pasco County. They also can be included in registration renewals mailed to the tax collector during the month of November, the release says.

For more information about the charitable giving program at the Pasco Tax Collector’s office, contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

For more information about the Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, call Craig LaPorte at (727) 863-1553.

Donations also may be mailed to the tax collector’s office at the following address: Tax Collector Mike Fasano, P.O. Box 276, Dade City, FL 33526.  Please note on the check’s memo line “Law Enforcement Memorial.”

Published November 04, 2020

Tax collectors returns more than $3 million to county

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When the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on the local economy, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano thought it would mean that he’d be able to return about half of the money that he typically returns to the county each year.

But, it turned out that the tax collector’s offices were able to continue operations — with adaptations, and last week, Fasano presented a check topping $3 million, more than double what he expected.

“God bless my staff; we were able to keep things going, even though we had to close our lobbies. We still continued to provide service,” Fasano said. “I will also tell you that we’re No. 1 in the state, and continue to be, in giving out concealed weapons permits.”

He praised the work of County Administrator Dan Biles.

“Dan Biles has been phenomenal in leading us through this serious crisis,” Fasano said, noting  his offices were able to stay open — using temperature gauging and other precautions to keep people safe.

“We’re able to give people tickets so they can wait in their cars, and they are texted when their numbers come up. And, Dan has been outstanding in making sure that happened, and we appreciate that,” Fasano said.

Fasano presented a check for $3,457,000 to the county, of which he requested $305,000 to renovate a building in San Antonio to house his office’s department that oversees printing and mailing of tax notices, registration renewals and other materials.

“With that said, we’re asking that from that $3,457,000 — $305,000 be put to the side,” Fasano said, to pay that contractor. “You can keep $3.1 million. I want $305,000,” Fasano said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore assured Fasano that the request was on the board’s consent agenda, which was subsequently approved by the board.

Published November 04, 2020

Cleanup a success, amid pandemic

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Small teams made for mighty results during this year’s socially distanced version of the annual International Coastal Cleanup, presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, according to a Pasco County news release.

Olivia O’Malley, of Land O’ Lakes, holds a trash bag open, as her father, Michael, throws away a decaying trash bag that was found on the side of Parkway Boulevard, during last year’s coastal cleanup. O’Malley and her dad also found a piece of a car bumper. (File)

Volunteers worked throughout Pasco County to pick up nearly 40,000 pounds of trash and litter along roadways, public spaces and waterways.

Here’s a breakdown from the cleanup:

  • 19.52 tons of trash and litter
  • 36 locations in Pasco County
  • 922 volunteers
  • 3,248 volunteer hours logged

“We always strive for a year-over-year increase, but not all success is measured in numbers,” said Kristen King, Keep Pasco Beautiful coordinator.

“Even during the pandemic, we had a volunteer turnout that we are extremely grateful for, and we’re consistently welcoming a younger generation who cares about the environment and will ultimately create lasting behavior change,” King said.

The Pasco County Department of Public Works assists with trash pickup from the cleanup, and it manages the Adopt-a-Road program for volunteers who are interested in additional efforts.

For information, visit KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

Published November 04, 2020

Tourist Development Council has board opening

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Pasco County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) has an opening on its volunteer board for a representative or operator of a hotel, motel, RV park, or other tourist accommodation, according to a county news release.

Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, which is Pasco’s Destination Management Organization, is recruiting volunteers to apply to serve on the board.

Applications are being accepted online through Nov. 30, at bit.ly/TDCApp2020.

The TDC is an advisory council to the Pasco County Commission.

It is made up of elected officials and tourism industry professionals who provide recommendations to the staff of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast on promotional/partnership proposals, marketing opportunities and oversight of tourism tax expenditures – also known as the “Bed Tax.”

Position Details:

  • Must be an owner or operator of a motel, hotel, RV park, or other tourist accommodation in the county subject to the tourist development tax
  • TDC members serve four-year terms; appointments are staggered.
  • The position is voluntary; there is no financial compensation.
  • The TDC typically meets monthly, alternating between New Port Richey and Dade City.
  • Applicants must live in Pasco County, and must be registered to vote.

To find out more, visit bit.ly/PascoTDC.

For additional information, email Kolby Kucyk Gayson at .

Published November 04, 2020