The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Signs of our time

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Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected every aspect of life.

Most of the time, when kids aren’t in school, they can just go to the park to play. But, during this time of COVID-19, that is not an option. (B.C. Manion)

The global pandemic has caused thousands of deaths and has rocked the economy — with no clear end in sight.

The unemployment rate has soared; millions are out of work.

School campuses are closed and parents, teachers and students are adapting to distance teaching and learning.

Businesses have suffered huge losses. Some have shuttered temporarily. Some don’t expect to be back. Others are trying to hold on by changing the way they do business.

Roller-skating at Eddie’s Roller Rink, on State Road 52 in San Antonio, will have to wait — until the pandemic passes. (Christine Holtzman)

Grocery stores have signs on shelves, limiting the number of items patrons can purchase, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, eggs, canned fruits, bread and others.

More customers are ordering groceries online and having them delivered.

The threat posed by the deadly virus has halted social gatherings, shut down parks, and closed gyms and libraries. It has forced movie theaters to go dark.

Churches, synagogues and other religious centers have had to find new ways to share their faith.

Sanders Memorial Elementary School offers an upbeat message on its school marquee, encouraging everyone to be strong and stay healthy. (B.C. Manion)

Efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in nursing homes closing their doors to visitors. Hospitals have imposed strict visitor policies. Large gatherings for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and even funerals are being postponed, or skipped entirely.

People in some states, including Florida, are being ordered to stay home when possible, and to wear masks in public places.

In the midst of the upheaval, there are those who offer hope, humor, optimism and help.

And, there are some offering encouragement, too, such as Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes.

Its sign reads:  “Stay safe and healthy.”

Published April 15, 2020

Hungry Harry’s, a mainstay in Land O’ Lakes, is still serving to-go orders pit-side. Call ahead for faster service. (Christine Holtzman)
The school community of Countryside Montessori wants its Cougars to know that they’re missed. (B.C. Manion)
This signs informs patrons that the CrossFit facility in Lutz is closed due to the governor’s mandate, relating to COVID-19. (B.C. Manion)

Working with animals is this woman’s passion

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Gina Botticello can’t remember a time in her life when she didn’t love animals.

It wasn’t because her house was full of them, though.

Her dad was allergic to cats.

So, officially, there weren’t any cats in the house.

But, Botticello admitted: “I would find a kitten and hide it in my room.”

That didn’t last long, though. “That was not OK,” she said.

Still, even when she was very young, she knew she wanted to work with animals.

“I feel very fortunate that I always knew what I wanted to do. And, I always loved it. I think that’s a blessing.”

And, her work at Pasco County Animal Services also has resulted in bringing honor to Botticello and her department.

Gina Botticello was named Supervisor of the Year by the Florida Animal Control Association. She said she was humbled, and surprised, by the honor. (Courtesy of Pasco County Animal Services)

Recently, she was named Supervisor of the Year by the Florida Animal Control Association.

She was humbled by the selection.

“There were some really accomplished nominees, so it was very surprising and very exciting.”

Her path to the honor began when she was 18 and she began working at Bayonet Point Animal Clinic. Then, as she got older, she became interested in working in the not-for-profit industry.

Then, she became interested in working for an animal shelter.

“A lot of people told me that would not be a good direction. They felt that it would make me very sad.

“But, whoever listens to advice, right?”

So, Botticello joined the team at Pasco County Animal Services.

“I ended up taking a massive pay cut. I left Animal Coalition of Tampa as a technician and came over (to animal services) as an animal care tech, which is the entry position.”

She was willing to take less pay and begin at a lower level to get her foot in the door.

“It was the best thing I ever did,” she said. “So, the leap of faith really paid off. The pay cut. The fear. All of that second-guessing. It really paid off,” Botticello said.

Over time, she worked various positions and was named Pet Services Supervisor in 2017.

To her, it’s more than a job. It’s a mission.

“We’re wearing a lot of hats, and that’s a challenge throughout the day — to shift gears, from placing kittens in foster; to organizing a transfer of an aggressive animal; to solving a customer’s need.

“It’s not an 8 to 5. It’s not, ‘Oh, it’s 5 o’clock, I’ve got to go.

“You want to do more because you believe in it. You know you can get a result. You know you can help. And, when you are able to accomplish what you need, it feels amazing,” she said.

She’s quick to credit the roughly 400 rescue partners, the volunteers and her colleagues at Animal Services for the success the agency has achieved.

“It takes a village, and we have an amazing one,” Botticello said.

The shelter is a Save 90 shelter, which means its goal is to save 90% of the animals that arrive there.

“That can be a challenge because a lot of the animals coming through our door are sick or injured,” she said. They don’t have a family claiming them, so they may be unaccustomed to positive interactions with people.

“The animals that come into our care, they need help,” said Botticello, noting most are a “bit broken” when they arrive.

“There are days when you walk up and down the rows, and your heart is breaking,” she said. “The animals are shaking. Some of them are growling. They don’t know where they’re at, and that’s their defensiveness.”

The flip side of that scene, however, is “to see that same animal walking out of the door, with their tail wagging and relaxed body language. They’re not scared anymore.”

And, they’re on their way to someone’s living room, or a veterinarian, to get the help that the shelter cannot provide.

Botticello greatly appreciates the shelter’s volunteers.

“They are an extension of us,” she said. “They have the deepest love for these animals. They go home from the shelter and they work all night, posting animals on social media to get them help.

“To me, they’re almost like family.”

Being able to adapt, especially when facing challenges, is crucial, Botticello said.

“I definitely think you need to be flexible and creative, and just take things in stride,” she said. “If it’s not a hurricane, it’s a pandemic, or a hoarding case of 400 animals that are coming.

“You just have to have that ‘hit the ground running’ approach, and work together, because one person certainly cannot do the work. It takes a team.”

Botticello said the department always is looking for ways to serve both the animals, and the public.

“We are a public service. That’s a mentality that is saturated in all that we do,” she said.

“We embrace suggestions, ideas.

“Anyone that has any kind of time or energy to give us information, I have time to listen to it. I don’t want to disregard anything,” she said.

When she received her award, she said, it felt odd to be standing there alone.

“Nobody accomplishes this much, independently,” Botticello said.

Under Gina Botticello’s leadership

  • 1,650 animals were sent to rescue partners (a 120% increase over 2017, and a 45% increase over 2018)
  • Dozens of animals that would have been automatic euthanasia decisions in years past are now being transferred to willing rescue groups and veterinary partners.
  • Animal services has pulled animals from Polk, Hillsborough, Hernando and Levy counties, and it has worked closely with Pinellas, Marion and Citrus counties in life-saving efforts through rescue program development and partnership growth.
  • Achieved a save rate for cats exceeding 90% in August of 2019, the first month the shelter ever accomplished that

Published April 15, 2020

Protect your vehicle while it sits unused

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Many cars will be parked in the driveway or garage for at least another month, as a result of the statewide Stay-At-Home Order urging residents to shelter in place, unless they are making essential trips, as outlined by the executive order.

According to a news release from AAA-The Auto Club Group, state figures show that residents already are driving less, in an attempt to ‘flatten the curve.’

“Leaving the car unused for an extended period of time could leave it vulnerable to problems with your battery, brakes and tires,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman, in the release.

“There are a few simple things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready to roll when it’s time to hit the road again,” Jenkins added.

The auto group offers these tips for longer-than-expected parked vehicles:

  • Battery boost. Start your vehicle every couple of days to keep the battery at a full state and prevent deterioration. Let the engine run for a few minutes to recharge, then turn it off.
  • Tire pressure. Add 10 psi of pressure (more than usual) to each tire to prevent flat spots from forming on the tires. You can also move the vehicle a couple of feet periodically.
  • Windshield wiper placement. Prop up the wiper arms so the blades are off the windshield. This way the wipers will not get stuck to the glass.
  • No parking brake. Do not use the parking brake when storing the vehicle. The brake could become frozen, and the brake pads could rust the rotors or the brake shoes could distort the drums. For an automatic transmission, simply put the vehicle in park. For a manual transmission, put it in first gear or reverse gear and use wheel chocks to help hold the vehicle in place.
  • Sun shade. If your car is always outdoors and exposed to the sun, use a sun shade to prevent UV rays from deteriorating the dashboard and steering wheel.

Published April 15, 2020

Stepping forward to help, in time of need

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These are not normal times and the community is responding to surging needs in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and Firefighters Charities of Pasco joined together to purchase $10,000 of nonperishable food items, as well as toilet paper, tissues and paper towels — to help Pasco County seniors.

Helpers in a food drive effort sort out food. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

The two groups collaborated with Pasco County Senior Services’ center based in Land O’ Lakes, to ensure seniors in the Central Pasco community are helped during this unique time in the history of the United States.

The Land O’ Lakes senior center serves 84 seniors, Monday through Friday.

The food drive organizers also partnered with a local food pantry operated in the Angus Valley community of Wesley Chapel, by Life Church. The pantry is located at Life Community Center.

The donated food bags include pasta, yellow rice, black beans, fruit cups, applesauce, tomato sauce, cereal, oatmeal, tuna, fruit snacks, animal crackers, white kidney beans, chewy bars and cookies.

The pantry items, which are in large bulk, include tuna, pasta, animal crackers, fruit cups, ravioli, beans, cereal and pasta sauce.

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Firefighters Charity of Pasco teamed up to feed the hungry, to help ensure that elderly people and those suffering from financial hardships have access to food during these trying times. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

Goodwill Industries Suncoast Inc., also is stepping forward to help collect food during this record time of unemployment. They are collecting food for Feeding Tampa Bay’s community food outreach program.

All Goodwill-Suncoast retail stores in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be collection points for nonperishable food donations.

Items most needed include canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and canned chicken.

Those wishing to help are asked to leave donated items in carts outside of the stores.

The food drive is being conducted April 15 through April 30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., on Sunday. For store locations, visit Goodwill-suncoast.org/store-locations/.

While some groups are focusing on food needs, volunteers from the GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club are making masks for first responders.

Numerous members are involved with picking up and dropping off supplies they can find, to allow the mask production to continue.

Meanwhile, employees of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are making a point to purchase items at local businesses to help them weather the financial blow the pandemic has caused, and Sheriff Chris Nocco and members of his team are featured in department videos, offering suggestions intended to help people through the crisis.

Volunteers with the GFWC Woman’s Club of Wesley Chapel are working around the clock to make masks for first responders. Shown here are some of the masks they made. (Courtesy of GFWC Woman’s Club of Wesley Chapel)

“We don’t know how long this will last. I know people are frustrated being at home. They’re frustrated by being on the couch, and especially for parents having those little ones constantly running around.

“But, please continue to follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. Stay at home. Keep social distancing. If you’re sick, stay inside and quarantine yourself,” Nocco said. “We have to do this to flatten the curve because it’s not going to be over next week. It’s an extended period of time.

Nocco also informed the public that they will be seeing deputies wearing masks.

“They have the option, like you, to follow the CDC guidelines. Please understand, it doesn’t mean they have symptoms of COVID-19, nor the person they are interacting with has symptoms of COVID-19.

These are some of the volunteers from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Firefighters Charity of Pasco who helped in the food drive to feed the hungry. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

“They’re just taking precautions like they want to, like you can, following the CDC guidelines.

The sheriff also encouraged parents to keep a close eye on the social media their children are using.

“Be nosy. Get involved,” he urged parents. “Unfortunately, we’ve found incidents where young girls, under age, were meeting up with adult males. So, please get on those social media sites. Know what they are doing.”

The sheriff’s office also has videos featuring department employees talking about the issues of maintaining mental health and de-escalating stressful situations during these difficult times.

To find out more, visit the department’s Facebook Page and click on the videos tab.

Local sources of help include:

Feeding Tampa Bay
Visit the website to find a pantry: FeedingTampaBay.org/find-a-pantry/

Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood Drive, Wesley Chapel
Services available include:

  • Laundry and showers for the homeless by appointment. Call (813) 994-0685.
  • Drive-thru hot meal Tuesday, from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Limited access to printing and faxing as needed. Call (813) 994-0685.
  • Food ministry/pantry drive-thru, Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Emergency food boxes on case-by-case basis. Call (813) 994-0685.

TelePals

  • Free program that provides telephone reassurance to seniors
  • If you enjoy, value and love our seniors, if you love listening to their great stories or heartfelt advice, if you love engaging in conversation and knowing that you are bringing happiness to a senior simply by listening and caring on the phone – this may be just the volunteer opportunity you’ve been seeking.
  • Go to TelePalNow.org to apply to be a TelePal (A person who makes a phone call) or a TeleClient (A person who receives a call).
  • Training, a background check and monthly crosschecks are required for all participants.
  • Volunteers must be at least 18 for this program, which operates in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Want to help?
A new effort has started in Pasco County that’s part of a national initiative.

The Pasco chapter of the Frontline Appreciation Group, FLAG2020Pasco, is raising money to hire local restaurants to prepare meals for frontline employees working in intensive care units in hospitals.

“You know it brings a smile to our frontline workers and it helps our local restaurants in these challenging times,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who is calling attention to the effort.

To find out more, check the Facebook Group, FLAG2020Pasco.

Published April 15, 2020

Local home store helps during crisis

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Furniture retailer Ashley HomeStore announced in a news release that it is donating 250,000 meals to Feeding Tampa Bay, part of the national Feeding America network, during the current crisis.

The donation aims to help Feeding Tampa Bay’s programs and ensure neighbors in need have required food and resources.

Ashley’s contribution not only will help cover people that the Feeding programs already serve daily, but it will help others at risk, too, including:

  • Children who are out of school and will have no access to school meals or after-school meals
  • High-risk seniors and others who cannot reach food
  • Families experiencing higher expenses and lower wages who would not normally need their services

Due to recent events, the size and scope of these populations are now significant and Feeding Tampa Bay’s response reflects that growing reality.

“We are in the midst of a time when more people than ever before are facing challenges in getting food and supplies they need,” said Thomas Mantz, president and CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay.

“Ashley HomeStore is standing with Feeding Tampa Bay, giving us the ability to direct these crucial resources to our neighbors who need them most,” Mantz said.

As COVID-19 continues to impact the Tampa region, Feeding Tampa Bay has seen a 40% increase in need for their services, the release states.

“At this time, there are a lot of needs that must be met both in our communities and around the world,” said Greg Kammer, executive vice president of retail and sales operations, Ashley HomeStore.

Kammer said it’s important “for us to do our part, spread positivity and remind everyone that we are in this together.”

Published April 15, 2020

Some news you can use

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Prevent the spread
Help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily.

Source: Florida Department of Health

Get lawn and garden advice
Working on the yard? Expert advice for lawn or garden issues is now just a click away thanks to new Virtual Plant Clinics with UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service. Meet online with a master gardener on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at bit.ly/pascoplantclinic. Master Gardeners can help with pest identification, weed control, spring growing tips and more.

Don’t cause plumbing headaches
If you’re using wipes to clean surfaces in your home and office, be sure not to flush them.

Flushing wipes, even those labeled as “flushable,” can create a costly plumbing mishap in your home later. Visit HCFLGov.net/DontFlush for more information.

Food pickup points
The YMCAs of the Tampa Bay are teaming up with community partners to feed families and fight food insecurity during these unprecedented times. The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, YMCA of the Suncoast and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg are working with Feeding Tampa Bay, local school districts and other organizations to help provide fresh food to families across Greater Tampa Bay.

FEEDING TAMPA BAY MOBILE PANTRY
Anyone can receive a free pre-packaged box of groceries in a drive-thru type model.
Mondays, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the James P. Gills Family YMCA, 8411 Photonics Drive, Trinity.

PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS
School buses deliver free bags of food, which include breakfast and lunch for five days for each student.
East Pasco Family YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills
Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
For additional food pickup locations and information, visit the Pasco County Schools website (Pasco.k12.fl.us) and the Hillsborough County Schools website (SDHC.k12.fl.us).

Top scams
Con artists are trying to take advantage of the uncertainty and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Better Business Bureau urges you to protect yourself from these common scams:

  • Phony cures and fake masks: The BBB Scam Tracker has received numerous reports of people receiving emails and messages claiming that, for a price, they can buy products the government is supposedly keeping secret – ways to prevent or cure coronavirus. Medical experts are working hard to find a coronavirus vaccine, but none currently exists.
  • Economic impact payment (Stimulus Check) scams
    As soon as stimulus packages were announced and approved, scammers quickly got to work sending out fake economic impact checks and asking consumers to pay fees to get their money earlier than what the IRS has promised. These claims are false and open consumers to the risk of identity theft and outright theft of the funds in their bank account.
  • Phishing Scams
    As more people work from home, con artists have stepped up phishing scams. They may claim to be from an official department of the employer to offer IT support or claim the company issued computer has a virus. They may use scare tactics, stating the computer will crash if you don’t act immediately, all in an attempt to gain access to your computer remotely, or to your personal or company’s information.
  • Government Impersonation
    Another common phishing scam brought on by the coronavirus pandemic is fake emails and text messages claiming the government needs you to take an “online coronavirus test” by clicking a link they provide. No such test currently exists, but if you click on the link, scammers can download malware onto your computer and gain access to your sensitive personal information.
  • Employment Scams
    Many people are looking for work online in the wake of coronavirus shutdowns. Fraudsters find ways to take advantage of this by posting phony work-from-home jobs promising remote work with good pay and no interview required. These cons often use real company names and can be convincing.

After you are “hired,” the company may charge you upfront for “training.” You may need to provide your personal and banking information to run a credit check or set up direct deposit. You may be “accidentally” overpaid with a fake check, and asked to deposit the check and wire back the difference. Or, you are asked to buy expensive equipment and supplies to work at home.

  • Shortage Scams (price gouging)
    Supplies such as hand sanitizer, face masks and toilet paper are selling out in stores across the U.S. and Canada. Scammers take advantage of this situation and stockpile items in high demand. Then, they seek out potential clients, online and in person, and sell the products at extremely high prices. Price gouging is illegal and high demands for products can lead to con artists selling products that are used, defective or otherwise mishandled. In some cases, scammers will con people out of their money by accepting payments for products that don’t exist.

This has been an issue with face masks. Masks are sold out in most local stores and major online sellers. Instead, consumers are turning to unfamiliar online shops. Unfortunately, phony sellers abound. These scam online retailers take shoppers’ money – as well as personal information – and never deliver the masks.

Prevent mosquitoes
As people spend more time at home and outdoors, during the pandemic, these tips from Hillsborough County’s Management Services, may be useful. Following them can help reduce the population of mosquitoes on a property, and reduce the potential for being bit. Here are the pointers:

  • Empty water containers at least once per week
  • Wear long sleeves, long pants, and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
  • Properly apply an approved repellent, such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon-eucalyptus or any other EPA-registered repellent

For more information about mosquito protection and breeding prevention, visit HCFLGov.net/Mosquito.

These websites offer a wealth of information:
Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.: PascoEDC.com
North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce: NorthTampaBayChamber.com
Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce: GreaterPasco.com
Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce: ZephyrhillsChamber.org
Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce: DadeCityChamber.org
Hillsborough County government: HillsboroughCounty.org
Pasco County government: PascoCountyFl.net
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC.gov
Florida Department of Health: FloridaHealthCovid19.gov
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity: FloridaJobs.org
U.S. Small Business Administration: SBA.gov
Pasco County Schools: Pasco.k12.fl.us
Hillsborough County Schools: SDHC.k12.fl.us

Published April 15, 2020

Library services still available, in a different way

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Hillsborough County libraries have a number of online services and resources available to support and enhance student eLearning.

With schools closed at least through April and teachers doing lessons remotely, online traffic to the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative’s website has surged.

These are some of the offerings available to help students learn from home:

  • Tutor.com: Take the guesswork out of homework with a live tutor. One-to-one help is available daily from 2 p.m. to midnight.
  • Call the library: Got a question? Call (813) 273-3652, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Ask a librarian: Chat with a librarian from your computer or mobile device about homework or educational needs. The service is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To access more educational online resources to support student success at home, visit the public library website at HCPLC.org.

Published April 15, 2020

Finding creative ways to express faith at Easter

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Instead of having thousands of members arriving for Easter services at Idlewild Baptist Church, in Lutz, Senior Pastor Ken Whitten expects they’ll be tuning in instead.

The church’s 15,000 members will be able to watch on Vimeo, Facebook or Idlewild.org the services, which will be presented in English and American Sign Language, and translated into Spanish.

First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes will be livestreaming its Easter service. Many churches are using different approaches this year in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (B.C. Manion)

Those presenting the service will be social distancing, Whitten said.

“We’ll be 6 feet apart. From the praise band to the camera people and myself, there’s never any more than 10 people,” he said.

COVID-19 has presented unique challenges, the pastor said.

“In all of my life, I’ve never ever experienced anything like this. We’ve had hurricanes, where we’ve missed two Sundays, but this will be our fourth Sunday doing online church,” Whitten said.

Being unable to connect in person is difficult for people, Whitten said.

“God made us for relationships, and God made us to want to be together.

“So, there’s something inside of us — I think an ache — inside the whole world right now,” he said.

Legally, the church could hold its large gatherings, because despite a Stay-at-Home order issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, religious assemblies are deemed an essential service.

“We might by law be able to congregate,” Whitten said. “Here’s the question, ‘Is that even the right thing to do?

Jesus said the two greatest commandments are “to love the lord thy God with all thy heart, mind and strength” and “to love your neighbor as yourself.

“I don’t think you can fulfill that second commandment and be a vector of infection, and bring a disease to people you are saying that you love,” Whitten said.

“The reason we’re not meeting is because we’re trying to do our part.

“Keep in mind, the church is not the only one who has been asked to stand down. We have no sports. We have no NASCAR.

“It doesn’t matter, no matter what you are normally used to, (it) is not there.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church created a more personal touch for its online services, by asking parishioners to submit photos of themselves, so the officiants can look at them, while saying the Mass. (Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)

“There’s no Master’s. March Madness didn’t happen. It became March sadness, didn’t it,” Whitten said.

COVID-19 has created a medical and economic crisis.

In the midst of that, Whitten said, “I think the message we need to give people right now is this: Live one day at a time, with trust, trusting that God’s got this. That he hasn’t taken his eye off us. He knows what tomorrow brings.

“The best thing we can do is to continue to put our trust in him and continue to be an encouragement to the people around us that need that trust,” Whitten said.

Others using technology to share Easter services include NorthPointe Church, 19862 Amanda Park Drive; Bay Hope Church, at 17030 Lakeshore Road; St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17512 Lakeshore Road; and, First Baptist Church of Lutz, 18116 U.S. 41, all in Lutz.

Land O’ Lakes churches using that approach include Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church, at 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., and Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will be using technology, too, but to make it more personal, the church has placed enlarged photographs of church members on chairs within the church.

Meanwhile, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, at 2018 Reigler Road in Land O’Lakes, will be having Drive-In Church on  April 12 at 10:30 a.m.

Members of Grace Community Church will be celebrating together, while staying apart, in drive-in church services on Easter. (Courtesy of Grace Community Church)

“You will simply drive into our parking lot and tune in on an FM channel (which will be displayed on our slide truck) and worship with us from the comfort of your own car.  We will celebrate communion together with commercially purchased, prepackaged, individual communion elements and collect our offering in free-standing receptacles as you exit the parking lot,” the church’s website says.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the county, Grace Community Church also will be having  drive-in services.

Normally, members would arrive in their Easter finery, celebrate their faith together and pose afterwards for family portraits, said Pastor Jeff Olsen.

But, this year, they’ll drive to the church 7107 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, and they’ll stay in their cars — for either the Sunrise service at 7:15 a.m., or the 10:30 a.m. gathering.

Instead of spending a couple of minutes at the beginning of the service greeting each other personally, they’ll take out their cellphones to text or call other members who are there; or reach out to church members who couldn’t make it to the service.

Jessie Koschman and her family, left to right, Jessie, Kaylei, Christopher and Greg, pose for a selfie inside their car. This will be a new twist on a traditional Easter family portrait at Grace Community Church in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Jessie Koschman)

Then, at the conclusion, instead of posing for family portraits, they’ll whip out their cellphones and take family selfies.

Even though the service could be livestreamed, Olsen said he prefers having the congregation there — even if they need to stay in their cars.

“It seems like there’s more that can be done when we’re in a common space,” the pastor said, noting the church has already tried out this model and it seems to be working well.

Olsen said the central message of the sermon he plans to deliver will be something like this: “Because the grave is empty and Jesus is alive, we have living hope — even when things seem hopeless.”

Others are adapting services, as well.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills will have its 35th annual Easter Sunrise Service online, instead of on the hospital’s lawn.

The service will be streamed online on Easter Sunday, April 12 from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and will be available for replay on the hospital’s Facebook page, according to a hospital news release.

Pastor Dennis Harmeson, of Awake Wesleyan Church, will deliver this year’s sermon and Darling Giordani will provide a musical selection.

The shift to online breaks an East Pasco tradition that dates back for more than three decades.

It was done, according to the hospital, “out of an abundance of caution to protect the safety and well-being of the community due to the spread of COVID-19.

“AdventHealth is committed to caring for the community – body, mind and spirit, as we live out our mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ,” a release says.

At St. Joseph Catholic Church, at 38710 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, videos of Holy Week and Easter services, featuring the Rev. Allan Tupa, will be available on the church’s website.

On that website, the pastor told parishioners, “Your safety and health are my primary concerns as we confront the sobering and unsettling realities of this pandemic.”

He added: “This severe moment that is unfolding throughout the world enables us to see the profound truth underlying the season of Lent: Life is fragile, and our flesh is weak. Yet scripture assures us in Psalm 46 that God is ‘an ever-present help in time of distress.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Church, at 7333 Adventist Church, at 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills, will continue to hold online-only services through April 30.

Published April 08, 2020

Passover to have a different look this year

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This year’s Passover festivities will be celebrated unlike any other.

Amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, area synagogues sit mostly idle, with limited or no in-person religious services or activities.

Yet, Jewish groups have found other ways to salvage the celebrated holiday, which this year runs from April 8 through April 16.

Northdale-based Congregation Kol Ami has turned to virtual programs and services, amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. (Courtesy of Congregation Kol Ami)

That includes using the Zoom online video conference platform to connect and serve congregants, albeit virtually.

Northdale-based Congregation Kol Ami on April 9 will use Zoom to stream a virtual second night Seder with Rabbis Denise Eger and Max Chaiken. They’ve also set up “Seder in a Box” meal kits that families can preorder and pickup. Other local temples, such as Congregation Beth Am and Congregation Mekor Shalom, have similar arrangements in place.

It’s all something that Kol Ami has become accustomed to since the coronavirus outbreak hit the United States.

For the past few weeks, the synagogue’s rabbis have been streaming daily prayer, various classes and Sabbath services to members to view from the comforts of their own homes. Even Kol Ami’s Sisterhood group have held needle-working activities online.

As far as program offerings, it’s pretty much “business as usual,” Kol Ami executive director Mitchell Weiss said. “We’re doing everything virtual, but we’re doing everything in the right way to accommodate what our congregants need,” he said.

Weiss is the only person still working from the Kol Ami facility. He’s staying busy checking up on congregants with personal phone calls and seeing if families or seniors have any particular needs, whether it’s help with getting meals, medications and so forth.

Interestingly, Weiss has noticed more people engaging services — even if only online. He noted a recent Saturday evening service on Zoom was particularly lively with “singing and dancing, and everyone’s up and around.”

From a spiritual perspective, Kol Ami is trying to stay positive in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“During this time of crisis, you really see the passion of people coming together and, I guess, doing the right thing,” Weiss said.

Alan Stern, who operates Congregation Beth Chavarim in Land O’ Lakes, is likewise searching for positives in the wake of the nationwide health scare.

What he’s found is reconnection with family and neighbors.

“The silver lining of this is that you’re getting to know your neighbors, from a distance. You’re getting to spend more time with your family,” Stern, 76, said. “They never really had time for anybody else, because they were so stressed out with the day-to day-activity, so it’s like we’re getting to know them.”

Stern had to cancel a planned Passover gathering slated for April 20, instead advising members to celebrate the holiday with a Kosher meal with their families.

That’s more or less the approach Chabad at Wiregrass is taking.

Rabbi Mendy Yarmush closed the facility through at least April, which means the synagogue won’t hold its annual community Passover Seder.

Instead, the rabbi encouraged members to conduct Passover festivities from home with family. To help with the transition, he’s organized a pre-Passover Zoom class, provided resources, including the Haggadah — the guidebook to the Seder, and offered matzah and wine. (Since Chabad at Wiregrass doesn’t use electronics on the Sabbath or the holidays, they won’t stream Passover online.)

Yarmush acknowledged the transition is “definitely a challenge” because “people will be on their own” for the holiday.

However, Yarmush noted congregants for the most part have maintained positive spirits.

“I think most of the families are taking it well, and trying to adjust to the new temporary reality,” he said.

“I’m hearing a lot of people finding the silver lining in it. A lot of people are enjoying their time home with their families that they don’t usually have. At the same time, I’m very concerned and fearful about what’s going on, but we’re trying to appreciate on the good parts of it and not focus on the negative.”

More on Passover
The Jewish holiday of Pesach, or Passover, is an eight-day festival celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan.

This year, it runs from April 8 to April 16.

Passover commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Following its rituals allows the Jewish community to relive and experience the freedom of their ancestors.

Observances: Passover is divided into two parts. The first two days, April 8 and April 9, and the last two days, April 15 and April 16, are full-fledged holidays. Holiday candles are lit at night, and holiday meals (Seders) are usually enjoyed for one or two days. The middle four days are referred to as Chol Hamoed, or semi-festive “intermediate days.” To commemorate the unleavened bread that the Israelites ate when they left Egypt, Jews don’t eat chametz, or leavened grain, from midday of the day before Passover until the conclusion of the holiday.

Seders: The highlight of Passover is the Seder, typically observed on each of the first two nights of the Passover holiday. The Seder is a 15-step, family oriented tradition and ritual-packed feast.

Focal points of the Seder include:

  • Eating matzah, which is unleavened bread
  • Eating bitter herbs to commemorate the bitter slavery endured by the Israelites
  • Drinking four cups of wine or grape juice to celebrate the newfound freedom
  • The recitation of the Haggadah, a liturgy that describes the story of the Exodus from Egypt. It begins with a child asking the traditional “Four Questions.”

Symbolic Seder foods:

  • Maror—bitter herbs, usually horseradish, to serve as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery
  • Saltwater—symbolizing the tears of the slaves
  • Charoset—sweet paste made of fruit and nuts, symbolizing the mortar the slaves used to build the Egyptian pyramids
  • Zeroah—shank bone, representing the Passover sacrifice
  • Beitzah—hard-boiled egg, symbolic of life and birth associated with the spring season
  • Karpas—a leafy green vegetable, usually a piece of lettuce, symbolizing hope and redemption
  • Some traditional Ashkenazi Passover dishes include gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, brisket, tzimmis (sweet carrot and fruit dish), and macaroons and sponge cake (made from matzah meal) for dessert.

Local synagogue information 

• Chabad Jewish Center, Trinity: Call (727) 376-3366, or visit ChabadWP.com.

• Chabad at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel: Call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

• Congregation Beth Am, Tampa: Call (813) 968-8511, or visit BethAmTampa.org.

• Congregation Beth Chavarim, Land O’ Lakes: Email ">.

• Congregation Kol Ami, Tampa: Call (813) 962 6338, or email .

• Congregation Mekor Shalom, Tampa: Call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

• Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue, Wesley Chapel: Call (813) 760-3269, or visit ShoreshDavid.org.

Published April 08, 2020

 

Deadly COVID-19 virus poses challenges on all fronts

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Florida has joined the ranks of states across the nation that have issued Stay-at-Home orders in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a 30-day Stay-At-Home executive order effective April 3.

His action came just days before U.S. Surgeon Gen. Dr. Jerome Adams warned the nation that “this is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment. Only it’s not going to be localized, it’s going to be happening all over the country,” Adams said to Chris Wallace, during a Fox News program over the weekend.

The death toll from the COVID-19 virus continues to rise.

As of the afternoon of April 6, there were 330,891 cases in the United States and 8,910 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statewide, there are 13,324 confirmed cases, including 399 non-residents; and, 236 deaths.

In Pasco County, there have been 110 cases, including four non-residents. There have been 22 hospitalizations and two deaths.

In Hillsborough County, there were a total of 571 cases, include 15 non-residents. There have been 86 hospitalizations and five deaths.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the CDC has consistently recommended that people maintain a 6-foot distance between themselves and others, and to stay at home as much as possible.

Recently, it changed its guidance regarding masks. Before, it recommended masks only for those who were sick to ensure an adequate supply for hospital staff.

Now, the CDC recommends “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”

Meanwhile, at the local level, governments are responding to the economic and medical threats posed by the deadly virus.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore organized a virtual meeting on March 31 with regional leaders from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and the cities of Tampa and Clearwater to discuss how the region can respond to the unprecedented challenges being posed by COVID-19.

The meeting didn’t yield any immediate solutions, but the leaders shared information about issues such as hospital capacity, availability of medical supplies and concerns about economic impacts from COVID-19.

Moore asked regional leaders for their thoughts about transporting patients to other counties, if the need arose.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor responded, “I think it would probably be more beneficial just to make sure that you have that overflow capacity, just in your particular area.”

Other regional leaders agreed.

Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard said his primary interest would be in working together regionally to figure out a way to share best practices, so individual governments don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

While Moore was reaching out regionally, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey arranged a virtual Town Hall meeting featuring panelists including Summer Robertson representing U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, and Shahra Lambert representing Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried. Others on the panel included Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and representatives for several county offices.

During the town hall, the speakers gave overviews on issues such as the federal government’s $2 trillion stimulus package; the school system’s current status; and, a variety of services that are available — or unavailable — at this time.

Commissioner Starkey offered words of encouragement.

“It is such an unusual time. I know when I talk to my fellow workers in government that we have never been busier. I cannot keep my phone charged,” Starkey said.

She added: “It certainly is a challenging time for all of us, but there will be an end to it, and we’ll be able to get back out and enjoy our beautiful county.”

Practical Information

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended foreclosure and eviction enforcing laws for 45 days to provide temporary relief to Floridians.
  • Pasco County Public Transportation has waived fares and increased frequency of buses on the busiest routes — U.S. 19, State Road 54 and U.S. 301, to provide financial relief for those in need and increased services for workers who need to get to grocery stores, hospitals and other essential services for their jobs.
  • Pasco County parks and playgrounds are closed, so residents are encouraged to find ways to exercise in their neighborhoods — while practicing social distancing.
  • Some stores are opening an hour early on some days a week, to give those age 65 and older a chance to shop for essential items. Check store websites for more information.
  • The deadline for paying federal taxes has been delayed until July 15. Go to the IRS website for more details.
  • Pasco County senior centers for congregate meals and social activities are temporarily closed, but there are drive-thru and delivery services available.
  • School campuses are closed, but school districts are providing “to go” bags for children 18 and younger. To find out more details, visit local school district websites.

Recreational options

  • Suncoast Trail is open. Suitable for biking, walking and rollerblading. It is 42 miles long, including 22 miles in Pasco County.
  • Starkey Boulevard Trail and Starkey Gap Trail are open; Pinellas Trail as of last week was still open. Trails next to U.S. 301 and State Road 56 also are open.

Please be prepared for no public access to restrooms or water fountains.

Please maintain social distancing.

Avoid bicycling in packs.

Do not use trails if you are exhibiting symptoms of illness.

Published April 08, 2020