The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Road work causes Quail Hollow detour

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A second portion of Quail Hollow Boulevard, at Old Pasco Road, will be closed for a week because of work being done to improve the road.

Motorists will need to reroute during construction work on Quail Hollow Boulevard. The detour route is shown in green. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Pasco County sent out a news release about the closure, which is scheduled from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14.

The work is being done to improve the road’s safety and its capacity, according to the news release.

Northbound and southbound Old Pasco Road will remain open during this time and residents will have access to their homes via a detour along Sonny Drive (the detour on the map, marked in green).

The work will occur 24 hours a day, and electronic message boards will be stationed along Old Pasco Road to direct traffic.

The road is scheduled to reopen on Sept. 15, depending upon weather conditions.

Emergency vehicles will have access.

D.A.B. Constructors is the contractor for this Pasco County Engineering Services project.

If you have questions about the temporary closure, please contact Project Manager Larry Harris at (727) 834-3604 or by email at .

Published September 09, 2020

Cleanup volunteers needed

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Volunteers are needed to help with the International Coastal Cleanup in Pasco County.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the efforts are shifting to smaller groups at more sites, to encourage social distancing, according to a Pasco County news release.

Volunteers are encouraged to find a public area in their community that needs to be cleaned, and recruit a small team to assist.

Pasco is again partnering with Keep Pasco Beautiful in the effort to help clean public lands, roads and waterways.

The annual International Coastal Cleanup, presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc., will take place throughout Pasco on Sept. 19 from 8 .m. too noon.

Anyone who would like to volunteer must register at bit.ly/2020CoastalCleanup.

Face masks, disposable gloves, and trash bags will be provided, as well as Coastal Cleanup face buffs while supplies last.

“We’re thrilled to have the partnership and funding support of Withlacoochee River Electric, the Rotary District 6950 Foundation and our local Rotary Clubs – including West Pasco Sunset, New Port Richey, Trinity and Dade City Sunrise,” Keep Pasco Beautiful Coordinator Kristen King, said in the release.

The purpose is to clean up and track the trash collected.

Since 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup has captured more than 334 million pounds of trash with the efforts of more than 16 million volunteers.

Published September 09, 2020

‘Wear It’ for safety reasons

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has joined the Coast Guard to help raise public awareness on the use of life jackets, through a “Wear It Florida” campaign.
The campaign goal is clear and simple: to increase the number of recreational boaters who consistently wear a life jacket while on the water.

The most common misconceptions associated with wearing a life jacket, according MyFWC.com, are:

  • The person is a great swimmer and doesn’t need a life jacket.

Even the greatest swimmers aren’t always ready to be thrown overboard, and a look at boating safety statistics makes that evident. Typically, more than half of Florida’s boating fatalities each year are due to falls overboard and boaters entering the water unprepared.

  • The person is not a kid, but is an experienced boater and knows what he or she is doing.

Age and experience do not float. They also are not good indicators of whether survival is guaranteed in an unexpected fall overboard. On average, about one-half to two-thirds of Florida’s annual boating fatalities are men age 30 and older, with more than 100 hours of experience on the water.

  • It is too hot to wear a bulky, uncomfortable life jacket.

The availability of inflatable life jackets makes wearing a life jacket more comfortable, as it is less bulky and less constrictive. An inflatable life jacket has twice the buoyancy of a traditional orange horseshoe life jacket and is less than half the size.

Set an example for your family and others around you by practicing safe boating habits and by wearing a life jacket.

For information on life jackets, including where to get them, check out Wear It Florida at MyFWC.com/boating/safety-education/wear-it-florida.

Visit the National Safe Boating Council at SafeBoatingCouncil.org for more tips.

Published September 09, 2020

Citizens’ Academy graduates announced

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The Pasco County Citizens’ Academy recently announced the latest group of graduates from its  program.

The academy helps to educate citizens about the county’s governmental operations, according to a Pasco County news release.

It includes sessions hosted by elected officials, department directors and other county staff aimed at providing a deeper look at  government functions and services.

In addition to giving citizens a better understanding of local government, the program also helps develop a pool of knowledgeable people who can act as ambassadors, serve on advisory boards, and volunteer, the release said.

Pasco County offers the program twice a year, in the fall and winter.

This is the most recent crop of graduates:

  • Brian Becher, Spring Hill
  • Christopher Davis, Dade City
  • Virgil Funk, New Port Richey
  • Denise Hammond, Holiday
  • Mary Herrman, New Port Richey
  • Gena Hester, Wesley Chapel
  • Kazim Hosein, New Port Richey
  • Lori Johnston, Land O’ Lakes
  • Adam Jonas, Land O’ Lakes
  • Diane Kobernick, New Port Richey
  • Thomas Makowski, New Port Richey
  • Gina Musolino, Wesley Chapel
  • Tara O’Connor, Hudson
  • Patricia Shade, Hudson
  • Paula Sparks, Holiday
  • Richard Sparks, Holiday
  • Cheri Stevens, Trinity
  • Kathleen Swanson, Land O’ Lakes
  • Kevin Taggerty, Dade City
  • Samuel Watson, Wesley Chapel
  • Sonya Walling, New Port Richey
  • Coleen Weaver, New Port Richey
  • Gina Peterson, New Port Richey

Published September 09, 2020

Ringing in the 2020-2021 school year

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Students streamed back to Pasco County school campuses last week to begin the 2020-2021 school year, while Hillsborough County students headed to that district’s campuses this week.

The beginning of a new school year often is steeped in tradition, but this year is a year of new routines — in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students are arriving on campuses wearing masks, and teachers standing near open classroom doors to greet them are wearing masks, too.

Ten-year-old Veronika Patterson walks with her family to Bexley Elementary School. She’s accompanied by her mother, Melissa, her father, Mike, and her little sister, Izzy. (Randy Underhill)

Lunch tables have been moved outdoors, to reduce crowding in cafeterias and to accommodate outside classes.

Signs remind people to keep their distance, and bottles of hand sanitizer are within easy reach to encourage everyone to keep their hands clean.

And, there are protocols.

Lots of protocols.

They spell out what schools should do when there’s a confirmed case of COVID-19 and what to do when one is suspected.

In Pasco County, a partnership has been forged between the school district and the Florida Department of Health’s Pasco office.

Health department staff members are working in two portables on school district property, so they can respond quickly to COVID-19 cases.

The district also has spent substantial money, time and energy to prepare campuses for the arrival of students and staff; and, it has ramped up cleaning schedules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Hillsborough County school district also has increased cleaning efforts, to reduce potential spread of the virus.

Both districts also are using special care to disinfect school buses.

Pasco County Schools activated its dashboard last week, and as of 11:30 p.m. Aug. 28, the district had reported three student cases, one each at Fivay High School, Gulf High School and Moon Lake Elementary; and one employee case, at Lake Myrtle Elementary. (For more recent information, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/news.

Hillsborough superintendent Addison Davis said that the district also will have a dashboard to keep the public informed.

The district just opened campus, on Aug. 31, so it was still too early to tell what kind of impact in-school classes would have, when The Laker/Lutz News went to press

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, an educational professional for decades said: “This is definitely my first year like this.

“I think we’re going to have a great first day,” Gadd said, as he showed off Cypress Creek Middle School, on its inaugural opening day for students.

“I think our schools are well-prepared, and we’re looking forward to getting started and making the best of it,” Gadd said. But, he added, “I’d be lying, if I didn’t say I wasn’t worried about Day 2, Day 3.”

There were complaints about buses and technology on the Pasco school district’s Facebook page, but overall the district seemed to be off to a relatively smooth start.

Face-to-face instruction began this week in the Hillsborough school district, after a week of online only.

Parents line up in both directions, to drop their kids off on the first day of school at Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd.

Based on social media chatter from last week, it looks like there were some complaints about problems with technology.

This week offers the first real test of the district’s preparations, as it welcomes the arrival of students and staff.

Hillsborough plans to work closely with its medical partners at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital, the superintendent said, during a recent school board meeting.

Like Pasco, Hillsborough has adopted numerous protocols intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to respond to known or suspected cases that arise.

Both Hillsborough and Pasco delayed their initial opening from Aug. 10, until Aug. 24.

Pasco chose to offer all three of its educational options on Aug. 24.

Hillsborough’s reopening plan shifted.

Initially, the school board adopted the superintendent’s plan to offer three learning options, starting on Aug. 24.

Then, after listening to a panel of medical experts, the board voted on Aug. 6 to delay implementation of Davis’ already state-approved plan, and instead offer online learning only for the first four weeks of school.

State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran reacted to that plan by telling the district that it had to justify any closing on a school-by-school, grade-by-grade and classroom-by-classroom basis, or jeopardize state funding.

Davis went to Tallahassee, in an attempt to find a compromise. The state rejected his proposals and, ultimately, the district opted to open online for one week and then to offer all three options, including brick-and-mortar instruction, at all of its schools beginning Aug. 31.

But then, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled on a lawsuit brought against the state by the Florida Education Association, which was consolidated with other lawsuits brought against the state.

Dodson agreed with FEA’s contention that the state’s action — to require districts to open all brick-and-mortar schools by Aug. 31, was unconstitutional. Dodson said local school boards should have the power to make that decision.

The state appealed Dodson’s ruling, which automatically stayed his injunction, unless he decided to lift it. Dodson did lift it, essentially giving decision-making authority back to local school boards.

That decision prompted an emergency meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board on Aug. 28. Board members voted at that meeting to rescind their previous decision to open online only for four weeks, and instead to proceed with Davis’ most recent plan.

Meanwhile, the case between the FEA and the state continues on, and another lawsuit, filed by the United School Employees of Pasco, is pending.

Published September 02, 2020

Cypress Creek Middle has ‘first’ First Day

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When school bells rang in a new school year in Pasco County on Aug. 24, the day had special meaning at Cypress Creek Middle School, 8845 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

It wasn’t the first time middle school students had attended the Cypress Creek campus on the Old Pasco Road, but it was the first time they were heading to classes in a school built specifically for them.

Cypress Creek Middle School Principal Tim Light was eager to welcome students to the school he leads, on Old Pasco Road. Middle schoolers had been on the campus before, but this was the first First Day of School in a school built especially for them. (B.C. Manion)

Middle school students began attending classes at a shared campus for middle and high school students in 2017, because the district couldn’t afford to build both a high school and middle school — as it had originally intended.

Construction began on the $43.5 million middle school building in 2019, and now the middle schoolers have a place that’s their own.

The enthusiasm that typically accompanies a new school opening was muted this year, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The school is following strict safety protocols.

They include:

  • Everyone on campus must wear a mask.
  • Parents drop off students at a specific place.
  • Students are directed to walk one-way down hallways, in the main classroom building.
  • Desks and chairs are spread out in classrooms.

Other safety steps include encouraging social distancing between people, placing some lunch tables outdoors to prevent cafeteria crowding, and turning off the water fountains — except to fill water bottles.

The district also kept parents off school campuses, because of concerns about COVID-19, and it kept media off, too, with the exception of allowing a special tour of Cypress Creek Middle on its opening day.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd escorted representatives of The Laker/Lutz News and The Tampa Bay Times around the new school’s campus.

Principal Tim Light shared a few thoughts, as he stood in front of a giant painting of a coyote, the school’s mascot.

“I’m very excited,” Light said, noting he’d been planning for the school’s opening for months.

Unlike other middle schools in Pasco County Schools, this one boasts a black box theater, which will give students a chance to develop their imagination and creativity — and offer a venue for some community shows, when the pandemic lifts.

“Honestly, I never thought this day was going to get here,” Light said.

“I just want to see what the day is going to bring. Get these kids in here and get them going,” Light said.

Gadd was clearly delighted, as he showed off the district’s newest school.

“It’s really a beautiful school, the way it’s laid out,” the deputy superintendent said.

Cypress Creek Middle has the capacity of 1,600 students. Its opening reduces crowding at John Long Middle School. It also provides relief to Wiregrass Ranch High School — as Cypress Creek Middle students previously on campus shift over to the new middle school, creating more capacity at Cypress Creek High.

Beyond the normal features found at middle schools, this one has a black box theater and a suite of dance, chorus and orchestra rooms.

“It’s a space like no other in Pasco County,” said Peter Nason, the school’s theater teacher. “It is a jewel in the crown of this county, I think.

“It has space for the kids to be creative. For them to learn. For them to realize, really, what theater is, and it goes beyond the classroom,” Nason said.

Gadd is delighted by the opportunities the theater program will create.

“I first saw one of these, probably in a school 10 years ago. I’ve been dreaming about building one since then,” Gadd said.

“It’s an incredible space. It’s a dream space,” Nason told Gadd.

Gadd said: “I look forward to the first show.”

Nason responded: “I look forward to you seeing the first show.”

Two new public charter schools
Cypress Creek Middle was the only new traditional public school opened in Pasco County for the 2020-2021 school, but two new public charter schools also opened. Innovation Preparatory Academy opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 7800 Avery Scope Way in Wesley Chapel. Pinecrest Academy also opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 33347 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Published September 02, 2020

Dade City approves visitor’s center design

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Dade City Commissioners have narrowed in on a design for a new visitor’s information center building that’ll help round out Roy Hardy Trail trailhead — and serve as an important component for a future multi-use park near Church Avenue in the downtown area.

Commissioners on Aug. 25 unanimously selected a preferred design option that was favored by nearly 62% of residents in an online survey.

The visitor’s information center is being funded with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

The visitor’s information center will generally match the look of the surrounding Church Avenue neighborhood, which commonly features homes with wood siding, columns and brick embellishments. The 1,380-square-foot building will feature informational kiosks and mobile displays for all county tourism amenity partners, and showcase exhibits from local artists and museums. (Courtesy of the City of Dade City)

Plans call for a 1,380-square-foot open floor plan with two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The interior space will feature informational kiosks and mobile displays for all county tourism amenity partners. There also will be a third-party vendor space to provide maintenance, information sharing and security. The space also can be used to showcase exhibits from local artists and museums.

The center’s exterior will generally match the look of the surrounding Church Avenue neighborhood, which commonly features homes with wood siding, columns and brick embellishments; the building will be painted with a historic color palette of amber, copper red and black.

The building also will be accompanied by two porches and a bike rack — its location designed to offer easy access off the Hardy Trail for riders and exercisers to gather and rest.

The final building design, however, might take on a few more minor tweaks. Commissioner Scott Black expressed a desire to incorporate some elements of the former Seaboard Airline Depot, a Mediterranean-style structure that was once located northeast of the site. Any changes will likely apply to lighting fixtures, decorative elements and benches that can give the feel of a depot and railway platform, city officials say.

The project’s budget will next be finalized by staff and commissioners. Construction is expected to begin in January following the approval of submitted building permits.

Commissioners in May approved a design-build project bid with Dade-City based Borregard Construction Inc.

Mayor Camille Hernandez described the visitor’s center as “a major part” of a proposed downtown community park that’ll someday be “a destination in our town.” The center will be situated at the northeast corner of the 2.23-acre park property that could eventually feature a water splash pad, playground, event lawn and walking path, among other amenities.  “We certainly want it to become something that we’re all very proud of,” Hernandez said.

Published September 02, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic revives drive-in movie theaters

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While 2020 is becoming known as the year of COVID-19, it also is being associated with a revival in the popularity of drive-ins.

Once a mainstay of entertainment for families, couples and friends, drive-in theaters have mostly fallen by the wayside over the years.

The Allen family, of Lutz, including, from left, Joshua, Hayley, Cannan and Taylor, enjoyed watching a movie together at pop-up drive-in at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. (Kelli Carmack)

But, Joy-Lan Drive-in and Swap Shop, in Dade City, has held on.

For nearly 70 years, it has given locals a chance to watch outdoor movies on a giant screen.

“Drive-ins are so fun because each one you go to is very different… It’s a unique experience for everyone who goes,” said Chip Sawyer, president of Sun South Theaters, which owns Joy-Lan, and Silver Moon Drive-In, in Lakeland.

Sawyer, a drive-in enthusiast, took over the business in 2017, after his grandfather Harold Spears — the original owner — passed away.

From left: Paige Atkinson, Nicholas Hazivasilis, Delaney Young, Matthew Hazivasilis and Makayla Legrand like getting together at the Joy-Lan Drive-In, in Dade City.

He’s thrilled to see so many people coming out to drive-ins.

Joy-Lan Drive-In, which is Pasco County’s last remaining drive-in theater, presents a slice of nostalgia. Music from the ’50s plays, as movie-goers pull into the lot and get ready to view the film.

Paige Atkinson, one of those patrons, has been watching movies at Joy-Lan for years.

“It’s a nice get together for my big group of family and friends,” Atkinson said. “Plus, you get to stay in the comfort of your own car and bring whatever you want.”

Families can bring snacks, spread out on blankets or settle into their lawn chairs — to escape to the world of the movies, under a starry sky.

While Joy-Lan is maintaining a long-held tradition, other drive-in movie options have popped up during the pandemic.

The drive-in movie screenings at the Walmart Supercenter in Wesley Chapel were ‘sold-out’ for two nights in a row. Registration was free, but the store capped the number of vehicles allowed to attend the event. The screenings on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19 were part of Walmart’s traveling tour to bring drive-ins to over 160 Walmart Supercenters nationwide.

Walmart is conducting a nationwide traveling drive-in theater tour to 160 Walmart Supercenters.

The tour included a stop at the Walmart Supercenter in Wesley Chapel on the nights of Aug. 18 and Aug. 19 to screen the movies “Spy Kids” and “Selena.”

The movies were free, but required guests to register, and the store capped attendance.

To keep people safe, Walmart strictly enforced social-distance guidelines, social-distanced parking spaces, and required those attending to remain inside their vehicles.

At another local venue, Floodgates Church hosted a drive-in theater night on Aug. 15 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

Tom and Lisa McConnell, teachers at River Ridge High School, had a fun date night at Joy-Lan. Besides celebrating Lisa’s birthday, they scratched an item off their bucket list: They’d been wanting to come to Joy-Lan for several summers.

“We wanted to give some love and outreach to our community, and give people who have been cooped up in their homes a chance to get out,” said Pastor Kenton Brake, who leads the Lutz church.

Families of all ages came out to watch the Disney film “Up.”

Whether sitting in their cars, on the roof of their vehicles, or spread out on the grass with their dogs — the event had a communal feel, as movie-goers shared laughter and experienced a sense of normalcy — during the midst of a global pandemic.

The pastor said the church team wasn’t sure what to expect, so it was greatly encouraging, when they saw the parade of cars that arrived.

“All the positive comments we got that night was very rewarding,” Brake said.

Will the movies ever be the same?
When the pandemic forced movie theaters to go dark in March, it was unclear when — or if — they would reopen. AMC Theatres reported a $2.17 billion loss in the first quarter, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The national movie chain began reopening on Aug. 20, charging patrons 15 cents, for that one day only. It remains to be seen whether movie-goers will return in vast numbers, or if concerns about potential spread of COVID-19 keep them away.

Joy-Lan Drive-in and Swap Shop, offers outdoor movies that attract families, couples and groups of friends.
Where: 16414 U.S. 301, Dade City
When: Screenings are Wednesday through Sunday, with the first movie starting at 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $6 for adults, and $2 for kids ages 4 through 9, and are good for two screenings.
Info: JoyLanDriveIn.com

Published September 02, 2020

Pasco Sheriff’s Office appreciates community’s support

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Amid nationwide protests and movements for widespread police reform, Pasco County is fortunate to receive considerable community support, said Pasco Sheriff District 2 Cpt. Joseph Irizarry during a breakfast meeting with the East Pasco Networking Group.

Protesters have been persistent, and sometimes violent, in calls for reform in the wake of multiple officer-involved shootings across U.S. cities, but Pasco deputies have felt appreciated by the “support that’s been pouring out of the community,” said Irizarry said, whose patrol division runs east of U. S. Highway 41 north to the Hernando County line, south to the Hillsborough County line, and east to Polk and Sumter counties.

Pasco Sheriff’s Office District 2 Cpt. Joseph Irizarry, right, pictured with East Pasco Networking Group chairman Nils Lenz. Irizarry was the featured guest speaker at the group’s Aug. 25 breakfast meeting at IHOP in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss)

“You know, you can’t go anywhere in Pasco County pretty much without getting ‘thank yous’ and someone offering to pay for my meal or to buy me a cup of coffee — so it’s greatly appreciated,” he told the group, gathered for the Aug. 25 breakfast meeting at the IHOP in Dade City. “Unfortunately, many other law enforcement agencies aren’t experiencing the same support that we experience here in Pasco County.”

The district 2 captain said the reelection of Sheriff Chris Nocco has helped the department stay focused on county issues. No one stepped forward to challenge the sheriff, in his bid for reelection.

Touching on the county’s more pressing issues, Irizarry said the agency has placed a significant emphasis on the issues of homelessness and mental health.

He applauded Nocco’s progressive approach in addressing community issues. For instance, the sheriff used grant money to form the Behavioral Health Intervention Team (BHIT) last year.

The unit, made up of 12 detectives, partners with local hospitals and mental health facilities to conduct frequent visitations and welfare checks. It also helps expedite referrals for behavioral health resources and criminal justice diversion programs for the county’s Baker Act repeats.

For example, an individual struggling with addiction may be referred to outpatient substance abuse treatment. Or, someone struggling financially might be referred to Pasco County’s Human Services department and the county’s homeless coalition.

Before the proactive program began, Irizarry said, the sheriff’s office would be called to a scene and make initial contact with someone who was in the midst of a mental health crisis — and that individual might be arrested or submitted for an involuntary mental health evaluation (Baker Act).

From there, it was left to others to address the problems.

But, the law enforcement agency discovered that many struggling people end up going back to square one — spiraling into their various issues, without knowing how or where to turn for help, he said.

“The sheriff kind of took the reins, ‘Hey, we’re going to create a unit, we’re going to be that ‘somebody else,’ and we’re going to follow up,” said Irizarry, who’s held various roles in his 20 years with the law enforcement agency, including patrol deputy, K-9 deputy, and vice and narcotics detective.

Meanwhile, the high-level officer noted that less than 20% of service calls are related to criminal complaints, so the majority of calls are related to non-criminal matters such as mental health and substance abuse problems, among others.

“A lot of our time is spent doing things other than arresting people and taking people to jail,” Irizarry said. “It’s trying to get people help, and use resources in the community or in the area.”

That seems more important than ever, as many individuals and families have been struggling through layoffs and furloughs due to COVID-19.

Recently, the sheriff’s office has been partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to deliver hundreds of meals to families at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

It’s about making the county “a better place for everybody to live,” the captain said.

“In this day and age with the pandemic, a lot of people are laid off, so they don’t have the money to pay the bills or pay the rent or pay for food…so there’s a lot of things that the sheriff’s office does to help the community.”

Published September 02, 2020

Creating peace of mind, through estate planning

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As the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic continue to create uncertainty, an attorney from Tampa Palms spoke recently about the value of using estate planning to help reduce anxiety.

Myrna Serrano Setty, of the law firm Myrna Serrano Setty PA, shared her expertise during a WOW-TOO Zoom meeting, arranged by the North Tampa Bay Chamber, on Aug. 19.

“I know that you’ve probably seen some of these infographics in recent months, tips that are out there from therapists and counselors, about reducing our COVID anxiety. I feel like our nation is still coming to grips with a new normal,” said Setty, who also plans to open an office in Lutz, in September.

Attorney Myrna Serrano Setty specializes in helping families with estate planning, probate, elder law and guardianship cases. She shared her expertise recently with members of WOW-TOO, which is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber. (Courtesy of Myrna Serrano Setty)

“My perspective for you today is not coming from a place of fear and doom and gloom. It’s more of a way of reassuring you, with some ideas for things that you can control, through some of the tools that we have in estate planning.

“Focus on the things you can control. Lean on the right people to get that help and get that guidance,” said Setty, whose practice helps families with estate planning, probate, elder law and guardianship cases.

There are tangible ways to make sure that if you’re in a health crisis, the right people are informed and the right people are in charge, she said.

It’s possible to designate someone to be authorized to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf, if that becomes necessary, to be sure the bills are paid, legal issues are addressed and so on, she added.

By planning now, she said, “we can make the best of a hard situation.”

She offered those taking part in the Zoom meeting some food for thought.

For instance, she asked those listening: “Who are your health care decision-makers?

“In Florida, we’re able to legally document who our health care decision-makers are — and what those decisions should be in those end-of-life situations — by using tools like a designation of health care surrogate and a living will,” she said.

A designated health care decision-maker can act on your behalf when there’s an emergency and doctors don’t think you’re going to get any better, and there’s a choice to keep you on life support or withdraw your care, Setty said.

It is important to keep those documents up-to-date and to make sure the person you have designated is still the person you prefer, and that he or she remains capable and willing to act on your behalf.

Another document that’s helpful is a durable power of attorney, Setty said.

That document allows someone you know and trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf.

“One of the ideas that’s out there that’s a myth is that if you sign a power of attorney that you are losing your power. That’s not true,” Setty said.

Choose that person wisely, she said, but added that you always have the power to change or revoke it.

The durable power of attorney can be especially helpful if someone has elderly parents, who need help in managing their finances, she said.

Setty said that parents should consider legally naming guardians for their children.

As a parent of two young girls, herself, she said:  “I want to have that peace of knowing that if something happened to me and my husband, that I’ve already legally named the people that I want to be able to raise my girls and take care of them.

“It’s a big gift for your family to have those things settled,” she added.

“You’re able to legally nominate guardians for your kids in a will, or a stand-alone document that is filed with the court,” she said.

Be sure documents are up-to-date
Setty also encouraged the audience to be sure to organize their documents, so that they’re easy to find, and up-to-date, in case someone needs to intervene.

Be sure the beneficiaries you have on any policies or accounts match up with your current desires, she said. They also should be compatible with the intentions outlined in your will, she added.

“Getting a handle now, on who is on your life insurance, or who’s on a bank account, that’s going to make a big difference during an emergency,” she said. “If you get really sick, or something worse happens, you don’t want your family to have to sift through all of that.”

Reviewing these documents also can help you to catch things, and make corrections or take necessary actions, she said.

“I can’t tell you how many cases I’ve had when someone comes in and they thought they were on the house with their husband and they weren’t. That can have huge consequences, financially and otherwise,” she said.

Setty also explained the differences between a will and a trust.

“A will I think of as kind of like a roadmap, as to who gets what, if you pass away.

“A trust is a way for you to manage money, or a property for someone else’s benefit.

“I think of it like a bucket. Whoever is holding the handle of that bucket — they’re the trustee, and the stuff you put inside is things like accounts, or other properties for someone else’s benefit.

“The reason they should be updated is because, over time, your life changes, your relationship changes, your planning goals might change and also the people that you want to put in charge, change.

“We want to make sure that these types of things change, as we change. So, that when they have to be used, they’re really helping. They’re helping our family. They’re really fitting our situation,” she said.

She also touched on the topic of probate.

“Through your lifetime, you’ve made sacrifices and you’ve acquired things. Some of those things can automatically pass to your family, if you were to pass away.

“And, some things don’t. They have to pass through the court system.

“I think of probate as kind of like a highway that can have mandatory stops, and sometimes twists and turns that we don’t expect.

“If we have a will, it directs who is supposed to inherit at the end. Some things go through probate, some things don’t.

“For example, life insurance or a retirement account, those things can pass to our family members or other people we have chosen as beneficiaries through beneficiary designations. But, other things like real estate or certain bank accounts, they do have to go through the court system,” she said.

“My role is to guide you as to what to expect,” she said. “When we do a good job planning, things are just more smooth for everyone.”

If you would like to reach out to Setty, her email is . Her office number is (813) 902-3189.

Published September 02, 2020