The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

New program aims to alleviate hunger

By

The Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger (TBNEH) has launched a new Holidays On Wheels program, to deliver a full holiday meal and toys to transportation-disadvantaged and homebound families with children in Tampa Bay, during the months of November and December.

The program was developed in partnership with Metropolitan Ministries, to help ensure that every family has a nutritious and joyous holiday celebration.

This season, the TBNEH will be helped by more than 300 volunteers to deliver to families that have no access to a working, or reliable vehicle.

For families who have transportation, Metropolitan Ministries again will host its annual drive-thru Holiday Tent.

Registration for the Holidays On Wheels’ program is open now to all households with children that are transportation-disadvantaged living in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas counties.

Households that qualify include: those with children 0 to 18 years of age who are not able to get a ride from household members or others for life-sustaining trips; medical, grocery, work, job-related training/education and other vital services (or do not have access to their own working or reliable vehicle); and/or households led by an adult with a disability or illness, with children 0 to 18 years of age. The head of the household must pass a background check and someone must be home to receive the delivery.

The Holidays On Wheels’ deliveries will take place on Nov. 17 (Thanksgiving meal ingredients) and Dec. 16 (holiday meal ingredients and toys for children) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The deadline to register for the Thanksgiving delivery is Nov. 5, and the deadline to register for the holiday delivery is Dec. 7, online at NetworkToEndHunger.org/holidays.

To volunteer, visit NetworkToEndHunger.org/volunteer. Driving routes for volunteers will take about an hour to complete.

To make a donation to the hunger network, visit NetworkToEndHunger.org, or call (813) 344-5837.

Published October 28, 2020

New beer seeks to pitch Pasco tourism

By

Pasco County’s tourism marketing arm is trying a new approach — using a new brand of beer to market Florida’s Sports Coast.

The Sports Coast Pilsner is a new beer created to help promote Florida’s Sports Coast, which is how Pasco County brands itself in its tourism marketing efforts. The beer is the result of a partnership between the tourism organization and Escape Brewing Company. (Courtesy of Florida’s Sports Coast)

Florida’s Sports Coast is the name of the county’s destination management organization (DMO), which is in charge of Pasco’s tourism marketing efforts.

The DMO has teamed up with teamed up with Escape Brewing Company to create a beer called the Sports Coast Pilsner, according to a county news release.

A public event to formally launch the beer is set for Nov. 5 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Widow Fletcher’s, 4927 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey.

Those attending will have the chance to meet the co-owners of Escape Brewing, John McGregor and Matt Thompson, and members of the Florida’s Sports Coast team.

There also will be special giveaways.

Beer will be available for purchase, to anyone age 21 or older.

The Sports Coast pilsner is a light, crisp beer with notes of citrus that is best enjoyed responsibly, the release said.

“It’s like sunshine in a can,” McGregor said, in the release.

The artwork for the can was done by local Pasco artist, Veronica Steiner, the lead designer for the brewery.

Published October 28, 2020

Check out this drive-up food fair

By

You can indulge in locally baked goods and gourmet specialty items from the comfort of your car and help small businesses — during the drive-up SMARTstart Vendor Fair.

The event will be on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Pasco Extension One Stop Shop, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Superfood Bakeshop, Chef Sweets – Luminous Sweets, Nutoriously Good and other local incubator businesses will be ready with their most popular offerings – ranging from shortbread to organic, gluten-free items packed with superfoods, according to a news release from Pasco County.

Just drive up and you’ll receive online menu access to place an order that will be delivered to your car.

The event is being co-hosted by UF/IFAS Pasco Extension and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc.’s SMARTstart program.

Published October 28, 2020

Does an apple a day keep the doctor at bay?

By

Stories involving apples abound.

Some say it was the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

An apple purportedly fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head, inspiring him to discover the properties of gravity.

And, did you know the apple is often associated with fertility, peace and love?

The green apple is one of 7,000 varieties of apples. The fruit offers a broad range of flavors and textures, and can be enjoyed in many forms, such as a caramel apple, a candy apple, in a cake, as a pie, freshly sliced or baked. (Courtesy of pixabay.com)

In one superstition, a girl cuts a long single apple peel and drops it to the floor. Whatever letter the peel looks like is said to be the initial of her future spouse.

There also is a story from ancient Roman times involving apple seeds. According to that tale, a person would toss apple seeds into a fire, while saying the name of his or her heart’s desire. If the seeds popped loudly, the love would be returned; if the seeds silently burned, it would not.

Apples also have been given as traditional gifts, and it is widely known that teachers receive apples from appreciative students.

Ever wonder how New York got its nickname as ‘The Big Apple?’ Well, it turns out that happened because big apples were given as prizes at New York horse racing events in the 1920s, or so the story goes.

The apple also is often used symbolically in logo designs and business branding, including for one of today’s largest technology companies.

You may already be familiar with some of these stories involving apples, but did you know that  fruit has an entire month devoted to it? That’s October.

And, there’s a National Apple Day, too. That’s Oct. 21.

So, is the old adage true. Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

After all, that’s what it said in an 1866 Wales publication.

As in many things in life, it may not be entirely true, but it’s not altogether false, either.

Keeping the doctor at bay requires lots of healthy choices and a variety of foods. But, eating two to four servings of fruits and vegetables daily is recommended, and after all, an apple is a fruit.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to enjoy apples.

There are more than 7,000 varieties of the fruit, according to The Farmer’s Almanac.

They offer wide a variety of color, taste and texture — pleasing to many palettes.

Some apples are sweet; some, tart. Some are super juicy and others, not so much.

They can be eaten whole, dried, baked, sauced, and converted into juice or cider.

Here are some ways apples can improve your health:

  • Eat the whole apple, including the peel, to add fiber to your diet, to help lower cholesterol.
  • Carry one with you, they provide quick access to a healthy snack, reducing your hunger and helping you to avoid junk food.
  • Use applesauce to replace fat, when baking cakes and muffins.
  • They help with allergies. Research published by The National Institute of Health says quercetin, an antioxidant in apples, can prevent histamine release.

By Shari Bresin

Alisa Boderick, Pasco County Extension intern, contributed to this column.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

So, now that cooler weather is here, you may be baking more often.

Here’s an apple pie recipe that you might like to try.

Crust ingredients
2 cups non-rising flour
3 to 4 Tablespoons of cold orange juice
Pinch of salt
⅓ – ½ cup of solid Crisco shortening
About 3 to 4 Tablespoons of water (don’t want it runny, just so that the flour turns into a solid)

Filling ingredients
5 to 6 apples, Granny Smith works best
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon of cinnamon
Small pat of butter
Pinch of salt
Pinch of flour

Directions
Put the flour, orange juice, water, salt and shortening into a bowl.
Use a pastry blender to mix ingredients to create a dough, and avoid touching with hands.
Once mixed, split dough in half (one for bottom crust and one for top).
Put each dough between two pieces of wax paper and roll it out using a rolling pin, about the size of the pie pan.
Carefully remove wax paper and put bottom half in pie pan.

Peel and cut apples into small pieces (or slice if you prefer).

Marinade the cut apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, salt, and flour in a bowl for as many minutes as you’d like. This is optional, but makes the pie juicier.

Place in bottom crust and then place top crust over it. Add a couple of small holes in the top crust so steam can escape.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Published October 28, 2020

Scammers targeting online DMV services

By

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for scammers who are fooling people through websites that look like those used by state departments of motor vehicles.

The scammers are exploiting the opportunity created by an increasing number of people who are turning to online offerings from state DMVs, during this time of COVID-19, according to information provided by the BBB.

They are using these lookalike websites to steal money and personal information, according to reports filed by consumers on BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Here’s how the scam works: You need to change your car’s title, get a Real ID, or perform another service that you would normally do at your local DMV. Instead, you visit what you think is the DMV website to learn about their new COVID-19 procedures. Your state may now allow you to complete the transaction online, or you may need to schedule an in-person appointment through the DMV website.

Before you enter any personal or payment information, double check the site’s URL to make sure it’s the real deal.

Also, be sure to make online purchases with your credit card. Fraudulent charges made on a credit card can usually be disputed, whereas that might not be the case with other payment methods. Unfortunately, there is no way to get back the personal information you may have shared, the release says.

There’s also a similar scam involving change of address services.

If you have been the victim of this or another scam, you can help make others aware by filing a report on BBB.org/ScamTracker.

Published October 28, 2020

In-person jury trials to resume in Pasco

By

A modest schedule of trials is on the calendars at the courthouses in east and west Pasco beginning on Nov. 2, according to a news release from the Office of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller.

To optimize the safety of those coming to the Pasco Judicial Center or Robert Sumner Judicial Center, the center will be:

  • Limiting the number of jurors called to allow for social distancing in each Jury Assembly Room
  • Spacing out the days of the week on which jurors are summoned
  • Requiring face coverings
  • Installing Plexiglas barriers
  • Locating hand-sanitizing stations throughout each courthouse
  • Frequently disinfecting common-area surfaces

Details may be found at PascoClerk.com/260/Jury-Services.

The resumption of in-person trials is occurring under the direction of state Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady for Florida courts to pursue a safe return to more traditional operations. Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino recently instructed courts in Pasco and Pinellas Counties to begin preparations for Phase 2 functions, clearing the path toward restarting trials with in-person jurors, the release says.

Published October 28, 2020

Cancer forces retirement of police dog

By

A cancer diagnosis has forced the retirement of one of the Zephyrhills Police Department’s police dogs.

Zephyrhills Police Department K9 Oscar was recently diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a blood vessel cancer. The 4-year-old yellow Labrador is officially retired and now in the care of handler Officer Morgan Upchurch. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Police Department)

It was a somber moment inside the Zephyrhills City Hall chambers when Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer on Oct. 12 officially retired 4-year-old K9 Oscar, amid what he called “an aggressive form of cancer, which is quickly spreading.”

The more technical term of K9 Oscar’s cancer is hemangiosarcoma, whereby malignant tumors are derived from the cells lining blood vessels.

“Unfortunately, he’s starting to exhibit signs of rapid decline in his health, and at this time we think it’s best for him to retire,” said Brewer, who was noticeably choked up.

With the retirement, ownership and care of the dog has been transferred from the city to his handler, Officer Morgan Upchurch.

K9 Oscar— a yellow Labrador from England— joined the city police department in 2018.

Brewer detailed how the canine in two-plus years completed 163 narcotics searches (yielding 134 findings) and 86 arrests. In those findings, K9 Oscar recovered methamphetamines, opiates, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and other prescription pills.

Zephyrhills Police Department K9 Oscar with his handler, Officer Morgan Upchurch. The 4-year-old yellow Labrador was recently diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a blood vessel cancer. Oscar had been with the agency since 2018.

“His value to us is going to be well-missed,” Brewer said. “I just want to tell you how much Oscar has meant to all of us, and none more than Morgan (Upchurch), and it’s a shame that he’s only 4 years old, and already suffering these types of issues, and we’re going to miss him a lot.”

The law enforcement agency operates with three police canines, with a long-term goal of working with four. The police chief later told The Laker/Lutz the agency plans to find K9 Oscar’s replacement “as soon as possible,” but added there’s not yet a set timetable “because many factors go into purchasing a dog.”

A slew of law enforcement officials and K9 units attended the retirement proceedings as a show of support for the Zephyrhills Police K9 team. A video tribute of K9 Oscar also was played for the audience at the meeting.

“It’s heartbreaking that such a young dog has to go through this,” said Zephyrhills City Council President Charles Proctor. “My heart goes out to Officer Upchurch. I can’t imagine. Having to put down one of our beloved dogs is always incredibly hard, so my heart goes out to him and the entire police department for their loss.”

Published October 21, 2020

Pasco County approves tourism marketing study

By

The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $48,000 for an economic impact study related to tourism.

During the board’s Oct. 6 meeting, commissioners approved a consulting services agreement with Downs & St. Germain Research Inc. (DSG), to perform the analysis.

The company, a market research firm based in Tallahassee, specializes in developing marketing and strategic recommendations from survey results and focus groups through tourism studies such as visitor tracking, potential visitor research, branding research, event research, return on investment research and other methods, according to agenda backup materials.

A second-floor mezzanine area offers a bird’s-eye view of all activity inside the 98,000-square- foot indoor complex at the Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The consulting company has substantial experience in Florida tourism market research.

Commissioners previously approved an agreement with the market research company, known as DSG,  on Jan. 23, 2018, to conduct the county’s first Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Study of Tourism.

Since then, the research company has partnered with several events organizations, tourism attractions, venues, and short-term rental accommodations to run face-to-face, phone and online surveys to Pasco County visitors. As a result of these interviews, DSG has been able to profile visitors coming to our destination and quantify the economic impact that the tourism industry brings to Pasco County, according to the agenda item.

In addition to providing a venue for tournaments, the new Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus also creates new opportunities for area youth and adults — who have access to the field house during weekdays, with the opportunity to participate in recreation leagues, camps and clinics.

The market research company has provided visitor profile and economic impact studies, and the reports have provided insight on the demographics and geography of Florida’s Sports Coast visitors, activities while in the destination, trip planning behaviors, satisfaction with the destination, spending behaviors, the importance of vacation attributes, and the

best approach for attracting new visitors, agenda materials say.

The information has been used by the county’s Destination Management Organization (DMO) to develop marketing strategies and establish a blueprint for a marketing plan to increase visitation, visitor satisfaction, and marketing effectiveness.

The county’s DMO considers the tourism research work to be in the best interest of the Pasco tourism industry to keep annual track of our visitors and the economic impact that this industry is generating to the county in general, the agenda material adds.

In recommending approval of the agreement, county staff characterized the study as an important tool to “identify the right audience as well as when, how, and where to allocate marketing dollars to promote a destination.”

Published October 21, 2020

Artists’ handiwork displayed on hay bales

By

People who enjoy viewing public art might want to check out six hay bales — painted by artists of various ages — that have been stationed around locations in Dade City.

The display is the Dade City Center for the Arts’ kick-off project, since being revived in July 2020.

This painting of a scarecrow’s face was done by Morgan Turgeon and Ethan Wiley, students at Pasco High School. The painted hay bale is at Price Park. (Courtesy of Dade City Center for the Arts)

Hancock Farm & Feed Co., provided and delivered the hay bales.

Those wishing to view the works can visit these Dade City locations:

  • Hardy Trail at Church Avenue, 37856 Church Ave.
  • Hibiscus Park, Seventh Street and Bougainvillea Avenue
  • Price Park, 37415 Magnolia Ave.
  • Agnes Lamb Park, 14200 Ninth St.
  • Naomi Jones Park, 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd.
  • Watson Park, on Main Avenue, between 17th and 19th streets

The paintings have been well-received, said Lucy Avila, of Dade City Center for the Arts, in a news release.

To find out more about Dade City art, check the art center’s website at DadeCityArts.com.

The center also has other projects planned to enhance downtown Dade City.

The arts center is headquartered at Out of Our Hands Gallery, 14245 Seventh St., in Dade City.

Published October 21, 2020

Who knows? The owl knows. This painted bale, located at Agnes Lamb Park, was created by Patty Resse and daughters, Cassidy, Delaney and Alissa Ross.
This painted bale, near the Hardy Trail, was created by Kevin Taggerty, a retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, and his daughter, Ryah, a first grade teacher at Lacoochee Elementary.
This symbol of Halloween and all things autumn is located at Naomi Jones Park, and was painted by Casandra Moua and Kevin Taggerty.
This painting of a butterfly was done by Russ Taylor and can be found at Watson Park.
This truck hauling pumpkins was painted by Diego Grant, a senior at Pasco High School. The artwork is located at Hibiscus Park.

Pasco County’s COVID-19 cases surpass 10,000 mark

By

As Pasco County’s COVID-19’s positive cases surpassed the 10,000-mark, local officials continue to consider their best responses to the threats.

The Pasco County Commission and the Pasco County School Board were both scheduled to take up the issue during their meetings on Oct. 20, which occurred after The Laker/Lutz News’ deadline.

Pasco County commissioners were expected to hear an update on local COVID-19 conditions, from the health officer for Department of Health-Pasco County, during the board’s morning session.

Efforts continue to come up with a vaccine to provide protection from COVID-19. The United States has recorded nearly 8.1 million positive cases and more than 218,000 deaths. (Courtesy of metrocreativeconnection.com)

During a September update, Mike Napier, the public health officer for Pasco County told the board he realized there was significant interest on when it would be appropriate to lift mask mandates and social distancing restrictions.

At that time, he told them the best time would be when a vaccine was available, or medication was available to treat it.

From a practical standpoint, though, he told commissioners that the positive cases would need to be lower — and he said he would report back in October.

Napier also told commissioners that he’s on regular conference calls with health officers and county officials around the region, and they were leaning toward trying to come up with a regional response to the issue of face coverings.

The idea is to come up with a consensus on the numbers and benchmarks to use, and to consult with academics to determine the approach, Napier said.

Presumably, the presentation at the board’s Oct. 20 meeting provided an update on those issues.

Meanwhile the Pasco County School Board was set to take up the issue of masks and other personal protective equipment during its afternoon workshop on Oct. 20.

Board members were expected to consider a proposed rule change that would require mask or face coverings for everyone on a school campus, through the end of the 2020-2021 school, in the interest of protecting the health and welfare of students, staff and visitors.

The proposed rule also calls for observing social distancing, washing hands frequently and using other personal protective equipment, as may be necessary.

The workshop session is a discussion only, the issue will come back for a formal vote at a later meeting.

The local government boards are considering these issues at a time when Pasco County reported 10,238 positive cases and 224 deaths, as of the latest information available on the morning of Oct. 19.

Pasco’s public school district reported 170 student cases and 68 staff cases, requiring 3,225 students and 338 staff members to be quarantined, as of the same time.

Also, Hillsborough County reported 45,290 positive cases and 751 deaths, and its public school district reported 741 cases, including 337 staff cases and 404 students.

Meanwhile, the number of positive cases across Florida stood at 756,727 cases, with 747,183 being Florida residents. The death count stood at 16,021 resident deaths and 201 non-residents, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Nationally, nearly 8.1 million positive cases have been reported, with 218,511 deaths recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wear a mask
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you wear a mask in public settings, when you are around other people and not able to maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet.

  • Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  • Wear the mask over your nose and mouth, and secure it under your chin.
  • Masks should be worn by people age 2 and older.
  • Masks should not be worn by children younger than 2, by people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance.
  • Do not wear masks intended for health care workers, for example, N95 respirators.
  • CDC does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face covers is ongoing, but effectiveness is unknown at this time.

The CDC also recommends you choose masks made of two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric. Be sure your mask completely covers you nose and mouth. Be sure that your mask fits snuggly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps.

The best prevention is to avoid exposure.
Older adults and people with underlying conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, are at greater risk of a severe illness from COVID-19

Reduce your risk of becoming infected by wearing a mask, staying socially distant and frequently washing hands your hands with soap and water.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Published October 21, 2020