The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Ash Wednesday events vary, across region

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Ash Wednesday observances normally involve Christians flocking to churches to receive ashes on their foreheads — in the sign of a cross, to mark the beginning of Lent, which leads up to Easter.

But this year — as the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic — local Ash Wednesday observances were varied.

Pastor Kevin Grills and the retired Rev. Barry White stand near a cross at First United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes. (B.C. Manion)

The First United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes, for instance, offered “Ashes to Go, a free Cup of Joe,” to motorists streaming by the church, located on U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

At Saint Leo University, in St. Leo, students and staff could get ashes at various locations on campus.

Meanwhile, Bishop Gregory Parkes, who presides over the Diocese St. Petersburg, offered  guidance for Ash Wednesday observances.

During this season, “Catholics are reminded to turn away from faithless ways and to be renewed in their faith,” Parkes said, in a news release.

The sign of the cross received on Ash Wednesday serves as an “external sign of this inner reality,” Parkes adds, in the release.

The release also said that Parkes had “determined that the distribution of ashes can be done in a safe manner as long as certain protocols are in place. Some parishes will distribute ashes by sprinkling on the crown of the head, a method commonly used in other countries. Masks are to be worn by ministers and recipients during the distribution, and the minister will take a pinch of ashes and silently sprinkle them over the head of each recipient.

“Additionally, parishes have the option to distribute ashes via a swab or cotton ball, as long as masks are worn by ministers and the cotton balls or swabs are replaced after application. Also, ministers may choose to apply ashes with the thumb as long as they and the recipients wear masks during the distribution and ministers sanitize their thumbs before and after the distribution.”

Sam Boehne uses ashes to make the sign of the cross on the forehead of Danny Torres, left, as Saint Leo University Music Minister Lucas Nocera distributes ashes, right. (Courtesy of Sam Gonzalez/Saint Leo University)

Meanwhile, back at First United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes, Pastor Kevin Grills and retired Rev. Barry White, stood ready early Feb. 17 to distribute ashes to motorists who wanted to receive them, while passing by on their way to work.

Sue Shea, a church volunteer, and Glenn Cote, a church member and owner of Aroma Joe’s coffee, also were on hand, to offer coffee to those dropping by.

Cars zoomed past the church quickly.

Chances are that motorists didn’t see the sign posted near the entrance to the church’s driveway. The church also extended the invitation, by posting signs in nearby neighborhoods, welcoming people to drop by to receive some ashes and a free cup of Joe.

But, there weren’t many takers on Ash Wednesday morning.

Still, the ministers and the volunteers weren’t discouraged.

“I just love to be part of what God is calling us to do,” said Cote. “Part of his commandment is to go out and to serve, and to make disciplines. So, we’re hopefully able to do that,” he said.

Shea has belonged to the church since its inception in 1959, when it was located in Lutz before moving to Land O’ Lakes in 1974.

“I am a servant,” Shea said. “I am always excited about being able to serve the community, and share God’s love.”

Rev. White said the church’s efforts are in response to the impacts of COVID-19.

“These are different times. You’ve got to offer things, to hopefully reach out to the community,” White said.

The outreach, Pastor Grills said, is a sign that the church desires to go out to the people.

“It’s not about people coming inside the walls,” Grills said.

He added, it’s a chance for motorists streaming by to see, “we’re out here — at least attempting, meaning well.”

“It’s an opportunity to pray for every car that goes by,” Grills said, and “that’s certainly what we’ll do, when we close up here, we’ll spend some time in prayer.”

Published February 24, 2021

State testing should not be punitive, board members say

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Florida education officials have given school districts additional time to administer the Florida Standards Assessments, known as FSA for short.

But, the Pasco County School Board wants to avoid penalizing its teachers, students or schools based on results from the assessments.

Board member Alison Crumbley raised the issue during the board’s meeting on Feb. 16.

“In my opinion, the FSA testing is possibly going to be more valuable than ever this year because we need to find out our strengths and our weaknesses, and everything during the COVID year, and find where we need extra work or what have you.

“But, for school grade assessment and high stakes assessment, personally, I think they should be put on hold,” Crumbley said.

“Teachers I don’t feel should be held responsible when their MSOL (MySchool Online) students aren’t participating well, and they’re struggling, for example, and our school grades, I don’t see how they can be considered accurate, during these COVID-related times,” Crumbley said.

She asked the board to put those requests in the district’s legislative platform, and for the board to pass a resolution on the issue.

Other board members agreed.

School board member Megan Harding said, “I just know from hearing from our teachers. Mrs. Crumbley, especially the MySchool Online teachers, they still have kiddos that are not showing up. And they’re being tested and that’s part of their evaluation.”

Crumbley responded: “It’s really not fair to them, in my opinion.”

School board member Colleen Beaudoin concurred: “I agree with you, too. I support us trying to do something.”

School board member Cynthia Armstrong told her colleagues: “Just so you know, that is on the FSBA (Florida School Boards Association) platform — that although testing is important, that we really curb the punitive damages that the test results could have on students, and on teachers and school grades and so on.”

She agreed with her peers that they could add the issue to the Pasco School Board’s legislative platform.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the Florida Association of District School Superintendents is finalizing its platform. “I believe there is something about removing the impacts of testing for this year.”

Pasco School Board members are expected to vote on a resolution on this issue during the March 2 morning meeting. Following that meeting, the board plans to hold a workshop on its legislative platform.

On another issue, board member Beaudoin raised the issue of seeking out revenue sources to find a way to improve salaries at all levels in the district.

“Our students deserve to have the best teachers and administrators. It’s becoming more difficult for us to compete with our neighboring districts.

“And, I’m committed to finding a way to increase pay for teachers and administrators.

“I think we have to explore other revenue sources to be competitive with our salaries at all levels. So, I hope my colleagues and staff will be open to having that discussion,” Beaudoin said.

Kevin Shibley, the district’s executive director for administration, informed board members about rising costs relating to COVID-19-related health care claims.

“We’ve been asking Blue Cross Blue Shield to track claims being run through our health plan that are specifically related to COVID.

“They started with five-figure numbers, in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. For the month of December, alone, we had over $1.2 million of COVID-related claims, among our employee population.

“So, we’re going to continue to monitor that, but that could mean that we are going to be in for a rough renewal for health care this coming year,” Shibley said.

Betsy Kuhn, the district’s assistant superintendent for support services, shared a couple of pieces of good news with the board.

She told them about $43,000 had been raised through a cooperative effort, with public and private entities, to help feed the hungry.

That money has been used to purchase $40 Publix gift cards that will be given to families that have been identified by district social workers as needing help.

The cards will be distributed before spring break, Kuhn said.

On another matter, Kuhn thanked Idlewild Baptist Church for donating $17,000 to pay off meal debt for Pasco students.

“This donation will eliminate meal debt for 4,371 students,” Kuhn said. “The pastor said that the church community wanted to let families in the area know that they have support, even in these uncertain times, and to be a source of hope during the pandemic.”

Published February 24, 2021

Retiring ‘Old Glory’ with dignity

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A group of roughly 30 cadets of the Zephyrhills High School JROTC recently took part in a dignified ceremony to ‘retire’ worn American flags.

The event took part at Oakfield Cemetery in Zephyrhills.

Capt. Emily Quintana, of the Zephyrhills High School Army JROTC, joined other cadets in a dignified ceremony to retire worn American flags. The event took place at the Oakside Cemetery in Zephyrhills. (Fred Bellet)

Besides burning the flags, which is the appropriate way to dispose of them, members of the JROTC unit also scrubbed headstones of veterans buried in the cemetery.

Cadet Capt. James Laferriere, who spearheaded the ceremony, was the officer in charge.

Cadets Anesha Gonzalez and Madeline Starnes were among others taking part in the solemn occasion.

“The purpose of this event is to motivate cadets and raise their morale,” LaFerriere said. “Paying homage to veterans teaches the cadets citizenship, respect and professionalism, while helping to better the community.”

In addition to the cadets, some members of the public came to observe the ceremony.

Published February 24, 2021

Lt. Col. Cadet Autumn Bayless, left, a Zephyrhills High senior, leads in the singing of the national anthem.
JROTC Army cadets from Zephyrhills High School, with their distinctive black protective masks and their white gloves, rehearse before the scheduled event.
Zephyrhills High School JROTC cadets scrub the gravestones of veterans at Oakfield Cemetery.
Cadet Capt. James Laferriere, a junior at Zephyrhills High School, was officer in command at the flag retirement ceremony.
JROTC Army Cadet 1st Sgt. Jimmy McAuley III, 16, awaits commands during the flag retirement ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWFMD executive director wins geology alumni award

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When Brian Armstrong received the 2020 Geology Alumni Society Award from the University of South Florida — he was both surprised, and humbled by the honor.

Armstrong, who is executive director for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD), knew that he was going to play a role at the Jan. 30 awards banquet, but didn’t know whether it would be to bestow, or receive, an award, he said.

Brian Armstrong, executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, received the 2020 Geology Alumni Society Award from the University of South Florida. Winners are selected by members of the USF GAS and the USF Program in Geology/School of Geosciences. Armstrong said he’s aware of previous recipients of this award and was humbled by his selection. (Courtesy of Southwest Florida Water Management District)

Upon learning that he was the recipient, Armstrong said he felt humbled because he realizes the caliber of the previous winners of this award.

Plus, Armstrong noted, it felt a bit odd to receive an individual award.

“I almost feel a little bit guilty, in that, I know all of the people who have helped me along the way,” Armstrong said.

In his role at the helm of SWFMD, Armstrong leads a team of 574 full-time equivalent employees, plus some student interns.

The district includes all or parts of 16 counties, including Pasco and Hillsborough counties within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Its four areas of responsibility are water supply, flood protection, natural systems and water quality.

The district manages those areas of responsibility in various ways, including its regulatory and cooperative funding programs, Armstrong said.

In the cooperative funding program, the district and its cooperators build projects together — pooling resources to create alternative water supply projects or complete restoration projects, for example, he said.

The district also collects a tremendous amount of data, Armstrong said, “so we can keep an eye on the resources, in the areas of water quality, water levels, rainfalls.”

The SWFMD executive has great respect for the work his team does to carry out the district’s  mission.

“We have a brilliant group of scientists who are able to take that data, interpret it for us and help us make recommendations for the board,” Armstrong said.

The district’s greatest challenge — as it has been for the past 20 years — is water supply, he said.

“We’re trying to develop alternative supplies,” he said, such as surface water, desalination plants and reservoirs.

When he’s not working, Brian Armstrong, of San Antonio, enjoys the great outdoors. Here, he shows off a success in fishing. (Courtesy of Brian Armstrong)

“Matter of fact, you know, we’ve had tremendous population growth over the past two decades, but our actual groundwater use has gone down and the actual use per person has gone down. That is something we’re really, really proud of at our district,” Armstrong said.

The use of reclaimed water also has increased, and he expects that resource to play a greater role in the future.

On a personal level, Armstrong said he gets enormous satisfaction from doing work that is so closely related to his interests.

“I am an avid outdoorsman. I love nature. And, when I was able to connect science to my passion, that was it for me. I found something that I could do, and also help protect the resources that I love in Florida,” he said.

Initially, his goal was to be an engineer, like his father.

But he decided to pursue geology, instead, after finding out more about it from his brother-in-law, Tony, a geologist.

Armstrong is delighted to be able to combine his love for mathematics, science and nature in his work.

He and his wife, Pam, have two sons — 12-year-old Noah, who attends Centennial Middle School, and 14-year-old Dillon, who attends Pasco High School. Pam teaches first grade at Watergrass Elementary.

The family lives in San Antonio now, but will be making a move to an area off U.S. 98, between Dade City and Zephyrhills, Armstrong said.

“Everywhere I move just starts to explode (with growth), so I just keep moving.”

Published February 24, 2021

Perils on Pasco roads continue to climb

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The number of miles being driven in Pasco County has climbed significantly in recent years, and the number of transportation-related injuries and deaths has risen, too.

That’s the gist of a report presented by Gina Torres, an active transportation planner II, to the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) on Feb. 11.

Since 2017, MPOs have been required by federal law to adopt Safety Performance Measure Targets (PM1) by Feb. 27. To meet the requirements of Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, the measures must be date-driven, realistic and achievable, not aspirational, Torres told MPO members.

Torres covered the report’s five required safety performance measures, which apply to all public roads.

“We use a five-year rolling total to really give you a good snapshot because we’ve actually seen particular years, for some reason, really jump up or down. So that doesn’t really give you a good idea of what’s going on. So, we base these numbers on a five-year range and we do that so you get a little bit better idea of how we are doing, better or worse,” Russo said.

Based on all public roads, the five-year annual average ending in 2019 showed an increase in the number of fatalities, Torres said. At the same time, though, the number of miles driven increased greatly, she said.

A chart in the agenda backup materials shows that the number of miles driven in the Pasco MPO’s jurisdiction rose from 44.2 million miles in 2015 to 55 million miles in 2019.

“I call it a law of percentages, if you have a lot more people driving, a lot more miles, our fatalities are going to go up,” Torres said.

The Pasco MPO data shows a slight trend downward in the five-year rolling average for number of serious injuries. The number went from an average of 1,133 (2014-2018) to an average of 1,192 (2015-2019), for a decrease of 1.2%. The rate of serious injuries during those same time frames went from 24.556 per million miles driven to 23.197 per million miles driven, for a drop of 5.5%.

However, the trend is up for fatalities, during the same time frames went from an average of 86.8 (2014-2018) to 92.2 (2015-2019), for a 6.2% increase in the number, and the rate went from 1.856 per million miles driven to 1.883 per million miles driven, for a 1.5% increase.

“What’s really ironic, our fatalities went up, our injuries went down,” Torres said. “Some of the professionals think that the injuries may have gone down because vehicles are being made to be safer.” But, she added, “that’s speculation.”

“Speed management has been one of the biggest issues with fatalities,” Russo said.

“If you have that higher speed, there’s a good chance you’re not going to survive that crash.”

Pasco also showed a slight trend upward for bicycle and pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries, which went from an average of 121.8 (2014-201) to 122.8 (2015-2019), for an increase of 0.8%.

The number of pedestrian fatalities outnumbers the number of bicyclists who have been killed, Russo noted.

Pasco County MPO expects an eventual trend downward for all categories by implementing  safety projects and programs, re-thinking priorities, and possibly allocating additional funds toward safety projects and programs, according to the agenda background materials.

Under federal funding requirements, both the county’s Long-Range Transportation Plan and its annual Transportation Improvement Program project list must discuss how recommended or listed projects advance progress toward meeting the targets.

Russo told the MPO board members that the staff’s recommended goal is to maintain the targets from 2019, which the board approved.

Transportation planning and programming are the primary functions of Pasco’s MPO, which is  the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County. It serves Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

Published February 24, 2021

New fire truck welcomed with a ‘push-in’ ceremony

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Fire Station 38, in Wesley Chapel, now has a ladder truck.

Its arrival was celebrated with a “push-in” ceremony — a tradition among firefighters that symbolizes the days before motorized fire trucks, when hand-drawn carts or horse-drawn wagons were used to carry the water to fight a fire, and then the apparatus was pushed back into its place.

Firefighters and dignitaries line up during a push-in ceremony held to welcome Ladder 38 to Pasco Fire Rescue Station 38, at 7541 Paramount Drive, in the Watergrass subdivision of Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco Fire Rescue)

In this case, a firefighter was in the truck — and the truck was put into reverse — to make it easier to push and to make sure everything went smoothly.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, who participated in the event, briefed commissioners on the ceremony during the board’s Feb. 9 meeting.

Ladder 38, a 100-foot E-One HR100 ladder truck, can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute and can carry 500 gallons of water on board, according to Corey Dierdorff, a public information officer for Pasco Fire Rescue.

The truck was designed to set up in small spaces — allowing the fire department to perform fire ground operations and rescues in areas where aerial trucks won’t fit.

The truck, which cost $1 million, was purchased as part of the department’s  strategic plan.

In addition to telling his colleagues about the new ladder truck, Oakley told them about a practice that firefighters have adopted during this time of COVID-19.

When the firefighters respond to a fire, another truck goes out that is stocked with spare uniforms, Oakley said. The firefighters change into the clean uniforms before leaving the scene.

It’s an innovative idea and the fire department has been invited to talk about it at an upcoming convention, Oakley said.

Published February 24, 2021

Efforts underway to help deputy’s family

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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has created the Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund, to assist the family of Deputy Magli, who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 17.

This fund is open for all donations and serves as the officially recognized fund for the Magli family, according to the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office.

Those interested in donating are asked to visit any SunTrust banking location to contribute. Checks also can be sent to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Division made payable to the memorial.

The deputy, who was 30, is survived by his wife, two young children, parents and other family members, according to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who held a news conference on the day of the deputy’s death.

Gualtieri has since announced plans for a funeral service on Feb. 23, at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz. Immediately after the funeral, a special ceremony is planned, including a 21-gun salute, a riderless horse, a last call and a fly-over. After that, a law enforcement procession was planned to lead Deputy Magli from the church to Trinity Memorial Gardens, at 12609 Memorial Drive in Trinity.

All of those events were set to take place after The Laker/Lutz News went to press on Feb. 22.

Gualtieri detailed the events leading up to Magli’s death, during a Feb. 17 news conference.

A call came in at 4:25 p.m., about a driver passed out in a white pickup truck at Forelock Road and East Lake Road, the sheriff said.

The man was unresponsive, so the paramedics broke the window — and the driver took off.

Initially, an attempt was made to make a traffic stop, but the driver fled, the sheriff said.

“He was swerving all over the road, weaving, driving at a high rate of speed, engaged in very, very dangerous and extremely reckless driving,” Gualtieri added.

Magli was preparing to deploy stop sticks — which are devices used to deflate tires.

The driver lost control of the pickup truck, which flipped over and violently slammed into Magli and his cruiser, the sheriff said. Magli was pinned under the cruiser and succumbed to his injuries.

Deputy Magli had been with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office since 2013 and was assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau.

The suspect, 33-year-old Robert Allen Holzaepfel, has been arrested on numerous charges, including first degree felony murder, DUI manslaughter, driving while license suspended or revoked and other charges, according to the sheriff’s office’s website.

If you would like to help
The Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund is the official memorial fund for the Magli family. Those interested in donating are asked to visit any SunTrust banking location or send checks to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Affairs Bureau made payable to the memorial.

Published February 24, 2021

Celebrating one life, saving another

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The day began with a festive feel.

Christine O’Connor, her husband Paul and their son Sean, of Lutz, had gone to an 80th birthday party for Christine’s mom.

Great care had been taken to ensure that Connie Kubiak’s milestone celebration on July 26 would be special.

A dozen people — mostly immediate family — were at the birthday gathering at Connie and Carl Kubiak’s home, in Tampa’s Dana Shores.

Paul O’Connor stands next to his brother-in-law, Chuck Kubiak. When Kubiak went into sudden cardiac arrest, O’Connor, an Eagle Scout, performed CPR — saving his brother-in-law’s life. (Courtesy of Christine O’ Connor)

The house was decked out with 80th birthday balloons, Christine and her sister-in-law Kelly Kubiak had catered the meal, and there were special cupcakes, too.

Christine had spent hours painstakingly putting together a power point presentation — showcasing her mom’s life —timed to a soundtrack of Jimmy Buffet tunes.

“That was really moving for my mom,” Christine said.

It had been a great day, and the party was wrapping up — with immediate family members saying their goodbyes.

Christine was chatting with her brother, Chuck Kubiak, when suddenly he said he felt lightheaded, and he fell into a recliner.

She thought he’d passed out. She tried to get a response, but couldn’t stir him.

“Then, all of a sudden, his color changed. I turned to Paul and I said, ‘He is not breathing.’”

When Paul heard that, he said, “I said to myself, ‘It’s go time.’

“I yelled over to my niece (Brooke Kubiak) to call 911,” Paul said.

He asked his nephew, Brian Kubiak, to go get his keychain. That’s where Paul always keeps a CPR face shield.

“I went to the other side of Chuck,” Paul said. ““I checked his carotid (artery) for a pulse. No pulse.”

Paul, Christine and her brother Craig Kubiak laid Chuck out on the floor.

“I started CPR on him, between CPR compressions and mouth-to-mouth, went back and forth about three times,” Paul said.

As he was doing mouth-to-mouth, he turned Chuck’s head and could hear gurgling.

“He started aspirating a little bit,” Paul said.

“I just flipped him up on the side. He was breathing, but it was very labored,” Paul said.

“Probably the whole scenario was around 5 minutes or so, 5-7 minutes,” Paul added, referring to when he began CPR and when emergency responders arrived.

Chuck was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital’s main campus in Tampa, where he received care and a defibrillator was installed in his chest. He was discharged nearly a week later.

Since then, Chuck has had visits with his cardiologist and had a return trip to the hospital because of blood clots. He remains on medication and said his prognosis is good.

Paul, who is an Eagle Scout, said his Scout training prepared him to do what needed to be done.

He recently received a Medal of Merit award from Boy Scouts of America.

“When it happens, it happens really, really quickly. You have to be prepared for it,” Paul said, in a video taken during the medal presentation in a Lutz Troop 12 ceremony.

“As that gurney went out the front door, he was breathing. I did my job,” Paul said.

“It’s an honor, but then again, I’m an Eagle Scout. I was doing what I was trained to do,” Paul added, after receiving the award from Troop 12 Scoutmaster Paul Evans.

Paul and Christine are both leaders in Troop 12 and their son, Sean, is a Life Scout — preparing to seek the rank of Eagle Scout — in the same troop.

Christine’s family is both deeply impressed and enormously grateful for Paul’s actions.

“It was very surreal, very surreal,” Christine said.

Chuck, who lives in Wesley Chapel, was at the party with his 20-year-old twins, Spencer and Mackenzie. His wife, Lavon, couldn’t attend because the family’s dog was not doing well.

Paul O’Connor, left, stands with Troop 12 Scoutmaster Paul Evans, after an awards ceremony where O’Connor was honored for using CPR skills he learned in scouting to save the life of his brother-in-law, Chuck Kubiak.

Chuck knows how lucky he is to be alive.

“I had what’s called a sudden cardiac arrest. It’s 95% fatal, from what I understand,” he said.

“I was fortunate to be in the right place, at the right time, when it happened, that’s for sure,” Chuck added, because Paul was there and knew what to do.

“It’s important that people not only know CPR, but that they do it correctly, because it makes a big difference, I think, in the outcome,” said Chuck, who learned his cardiac arrest was caused by an enlarged heart, possibly the result of a virus.

In the right place, at the right time
After nearly dying, Chuck said, he’s more aware of the fragile nature of life.

“It just shows you how quick life can come and go,” Chuck said. “Once I went down, it was like the off-switch was hit.”

The experience has made him reflect about how he spends time.

“Life goes by so fast — try to slow down a little,” Chuck said, noting that his brush with death has served to remind him “not be so driven to just work, work, work.”

Christine said she’s happy that they were still at the party when Chuck needed help.

“Why did it happen that way? There’s a reason for everything.

“We could have been gone. We typically leave early on Sunday nights. And we could have left already. Or, Chuck could have been in the car with the kids.

“I’m just grateful that everybody was in the right place at the right moment, and my brother is here with us today,” Christine said.

For his part, Paul hopes more people will receive training to become certified in CPR.

“I’ve been through CPR training a number of times,” Paul said.

“Now, I’m a big proponent for the troop. Even the folks that I work with.

“It can really hit close to home,” Paul said.

Published February 17, 2021

Two Rivers will offer places to live, work, play

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Two Rivers — a community proposed to rise along State Road 56, between Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301 — is making its way through necessary government approvals, to bring the community closer to reality.

The Pasco County Commission voted last week to transmit a request to state officials for their review. The request involves changing the text in the county’s comprehensive plan and amending the county’s highway vision map.

This land, along State Road 56, east of Morris Bridge Road, is now occupied by trees, ponds and open fields. But it is proposed to become the future community of Two Rivers — a place that will feature homes, businesses, recreational options and schools, under proposals going through Pasco County’s regulatory process. (B.C. Manion)

The state review is required before the county board can take final action on the request.

In addition to gaining approval of those changes, the developer also must secure a rezoning to create the proposed community.

The rezoning request is in process and is expected to come before the board within the next few months.

Once those regulatory hurdles are cleared, efforts can begin to bring the proposed 3,405-acre community to life.

Two Rivers is envisioned as a place that features a mixture of housing types, work opportunities, shopping, recreation and schools.

Details of the proposed project were outlined during a previous Pasco County Planning Commission meeting.

The project has been in planning stages — off and on — for more than 10 years, and there have been a number of ownership changes.

The current proposal calls for creating Two Rivers as a master-planned development, on the southern edge of Pasco County. The project would tie into a community that’s under the same ownership, which is just south of the Pasco-Hillsborough line.

County documents detail the proposed plan, which includes:

  • 246 acres of conservation area
  • 3,875 single-family homes
  • 1,400 multifamily homes
  • 1,125 age-restricted homes
  • 1.3 million square feet for a targeted industry
  • 630,000 square feet retail

Other elements include schools for elementary, middle and high students, on property that would be next to an 80-acre county park.

Two Rivers is expected to be a community that emphasizes walkability and includes an extensive trail system that provides connectivity within the community. Alternate modes of transportation, such as golf carts, also will be encouraged, to help residents get from place to place.

The proposed community also calls for numerous recreational amenities, including recreational complexes, multipurpose fields, ball diamonds, an aquatics center, playgrounds, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, and open spaces.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore spoke in favor of the proposed project.

“I’m in support of this. In the future, this is going to be a really, really nice, very well-done, master-planned community. This is something that has really been on line for a long, long time,” Moore said.

And, while Moore has decried what he perceives as a proliferation of multifamily development, he said he doesn’t oppose including multifamily in Two Rivers.

“There are multifamily apartments in the future of this property, which I understand and am in support of because this is an area that does not have the oversaturation of the multifamily. It makes sense in a large master-planned community,” Moore said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also spoke in favor of the proposal.

She also noted that she’ll be very interested in seeing the proposed trail network in the rezoning request for the master-planned community.

Commissioners unanimously approved the transmittal request.

Published February 17, 2021

Efforts continue to speed, simplify vaccine rollout

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National and local news reports show images of long lines of vehicles waiting to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations, as efforts continue to improve the process for signing up for the shots, and to speed the production and distribution of the vaccines.

President Joe Biden last week announced that the United States signed a final contract for 100 million more Moderna and 100 million more Pfizer vaccines. The news came during a Feb. 11 speech at the National Institutes of Health.

Biden also said that 100 million doses that were promised by the end of June now will be delivered by the end of May, and that the country is on track to have enough supply for 300 million shots by the end of July.

A public-private partnership has been launched, as well, with vaccinations being distributed through 21 national pharmacy partners and networks of independent pharmacies representing over 40,000 pharmacy locations across the country. The effort is part of a national strategy to expand equitable access to the vaccines. (More information is available at CDC.gov/covid19)

Participating chains nationwide include Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Publix, Costco and Winn-Dixie. To find participating local pharmacies, check those companies’ websites.

The retail pharmacy efforts are in addition to ongoing distributions coordinated through local public health departments.

So far, based on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order, COVID-19 vaccinations are limited to long-term care facility residents and staff; individuals age 65 and older; and, health care personnel with direct patient contact.

Hospital providers also may vaccinate persons deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Pasco County seniors can register through the Pasco County health department’s portal.

They also can register through participating private pharmacies.

In Hillsborough County, seniors can pre-register for the state’s portal and reserve their space in line. The state will contact them once it is their turn for a vaccine. Additionally, they can register through participating private pharmacies.

Florida has no county residency requirement, so individuals can attempt to secure an appointment through any of these options.

Despite increased supplies and more vaccination options, Pasco County commissioners said they continue to hear from constituents who are frustrated about not being able to get registered for a shot.

At their Feb. 9 meeting, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told her colleagues: “I am concerned and want to be sure that we’re doing all we can, that our senior citizens who don’t have access to computers and aren’t computer savvy, are able to figure out how to get on. I’m hearing this over and over again.”

She thinks the county needs to do more to help.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed. He’d like to see a system that would allow people to sign up and be put on a waiting list, and then to be notified when a vaccine becomes available.

That would be better, he said, “even if you’re going to be (number) 135,000 — as opposed to not getting in the system.”

Starkey reiterated her concerns: “The queue is the queue. I’m just saying, some people don’t know how to get in the queue.”

County Administrator Dan Biles noted there is a telephone number that people can call to make appointments.

Starkey responded: “I know, but it’s really hard to get through.

Biles observed: “You have 100,000 people trying to get 1,000 shots. It’s going to be hard to get through right now.”

Meanwhile, across the country, 52.9 million COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of COVID-19 cases nationally stood at more than 27.4 million, as of Feb. 14, and there has been a downward trend in cases for the past 30 days. The death toll for COVID-19 related cases stood at 482,536.

In Florida, the total number of positive cases exceeded 1.82 million, and there were 28,779 resident deaths, as of Feb. 14, according to data recorded on the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard.

The figures stood at 31,348 positive resident cases in Pasco County, and 642 deaths; and at 105,531 positive resident cases and 1,397 deaths in Hillsborough County.

COVID-19 vaccinations
To register:

In Pasco County: Go to PatientPortalFl.com to complete an account with CDR Maguire Health & Medical for upcoming appointments, or call 1-844-770-8548. New appointments open up every Sunday at 2 p.m., for the following week, and are typically filled within minutes.

In Hillsborough County: Call 866-200-3896, TTY 844-251-5532, or visit MyVaccine.fl.gov.

National Retail Pharmacy Program: Some retail pharmacies also are participating in a public-private partnership to administer COVID-19 vaccinations. Check the website of  individual retail pharmacies to find out more.

For the most recent COVID-19 vaccination information, check with your local health department websites.

Published February 17, 2021