The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Improvements expected at U.S. 41-Sunset Lane intersection

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Traffic heading west on Sunset Lane in Lutz often stacks up, as motorists who want to turn left onto U.S. 41 wait for their chance to do so.

Sometimes they’ll be stuck there for several light cycles, and the traffic behind them backs up on Sunset Lane.

Hillsborough County is addressing a need to improve traffic flow at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Sunset Lane in Lutz. (Brian Fernandes)

Hillsborough County and the Florida Department of Transportation have come up with some proposed improvements, and the county held an open house on July 31. There, the public could ask questions, as well as share concerns and ideas.

Plans call for rebuilding the traffic signals.

A second left-turn signal from Sunset Lane onto U.S. 41 also is being considered.

Currently, Sunset Lane has a left-turn lane, a through lane and a right-turn lane.

Sidewalk improvements also are being considered, including pavement markings and ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

On the opposite side of U.S. 41, Sunset Lane turns into Crystal Grove Boulevard, which is also expected to have some upgrades.

Design and construction costs for the improvements are estimated at more than $1 million.

Construction is set to begin in early 2021 and wrap up by early 2022.

Published August 21, 2019

Boy Scouts build a new pathway at Lutz Nature Park

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It was the break of dawn, and while many were spending their Saturday sleeping in — members from Boy Scout Troop 12 were hard at work at Lutz Nature Park.

Equipped with rakes and shovels, the youths were building a new sidewalk, under the direction of Luke Romesburg, a 15-year-old leading the effort in his pursuit for the rank of Eagle Scout.

Luke Romesburg, of Lutz Boy Scout Troop 12, decided to give back to the community in an effort to obtain his Eagle Scout medallion. Romesburg and fellow scouts, on Aug. 3, helped construct a new sidewalk at the Lutz Nature Park. (Brian Fernandes)

The Lutz Nature Park recently had constructed a sidewalk connecting its pavilions, but there was no pathway leading to the parking lot. So, the teenager decided to address the need.

He reasoned: “Originally, they (patrons) could not get the wheelchairs out here to the existing sidewalk. If someone that was handicap came out here and wanted to go through the park, they would have to go through the grass – and that’s just not safe.”

Before the project began, the Boy Scout received the go-ahead from Terry Donovan of the Lutz Nature Park, as well as Travis Hancock of the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department.

After learning about the scout’s community efforts, Jeff Potvin of Coastal an Oldcastle Company, donated stacks of the concrete blocks for the project.

The county dug out the existing grass, going 4 inches deep, where the concrete blocks would be placed.

While this was Romesburg’s project, fellow troop members rallied around him to help out, donning their signature red shirts.

The boys came early on Aug. 3, unloading the blocks, one by one, and strategizing how to make them fit, stay level and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Troop members were sure to fill in the open crevices of the blocks with dirt and to pack down sod in the shoulders where the blocks meet the grass. They did that to  help ensure the new sidewalk will remain sturdy.

Lutz Boy Scout Troop 12 rallied around fellow member Luke Romesburg in developing a new sidewalk to help disabled people at Lutz Nature Park. The new pathway connects the pavilions to the parking lot.

Nicholas Evans, senior patrol leader for Troop 12, was one of the many, hard at work .

Romesburg and his dad recently helped him to complete his Eagle Scout project, and the patrol leader was eager to return the favor.

Evans noted: “I think that it’s good that it’s helping everybody. It’s just a really positive impact. Troop 12 has been here for over 85 years, and we’ve always given back to the community.”

The scouts have been a fixture in Lutz, contributing to its Fourth of July Parade festivities, assisting other organizations and helping at various community events.

They also pick up trash along U.S. 41 every month.

Paul Evans, Troop 12 scoutmaster, said in addition to benefiting the community, these projects also benefit the boys.

“There’s a lot of personal growth that the boys develop as they do outdoor activities,” he said.

“The boys are actually doing the work. It’s a legacy that we’re giving, and that will continue on for years and years,” the scoutmaster said.

Published August 21, 2019

All kids deserve same academic opportunities, Browning says

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Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was addressing The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and he was on a roll.

“Every child needs to have those same academic opportunities as kids in affluent neighborhoods,” Browning said, during the chamber’s breakfast meeting last week.

“If we intend to educate our kids and really meet up with that whole idea of college, career and life readiness, we have got to look at every child in this district.”

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said setting high expectations is essential because students will rise to the occasion. (B.C. Manion)

It’s not an easy feat, the superintendent added.

“It takes a lot of effort, it takes a lot of resources, for the teachers in our district to really tailor education for every one of the students they touch,” he noted.

Things aren’t the way they were in the past, he continued.

“It used to be you had 25 kids in a classroom — either you got it or you didn’t get it.

“We’ve shifted from all of that. We are really looking at individual kids, cycling back in, picking those kids up, reteaching things that need to be retaught — because at the end of the day, it’s not just about completing seat time, it’s about making sure that after 180 days our kids can master those standards — that they are college, career and life ready.

“And, I mean life ready. This life will chew them up and spit them out if they’re not ready,” Browning said.

Students must be challenged — and  high expectations lead to better performance by all kids, not just smart kids, Browning added.

“Let kids do the problem solving. Let them do the critical thinking. Let them own their learning,” Browning said.

“The research shows if you put grade-level assignments in front of kids, they will struggle — but guess what — they will learn it,” Browning said.

He talked about the district’s efforts to introduce the Cambridge curriculum into more of its schools. It’s academically challenging, but can yield 100 percent Bright Future scholarships from the state, for students passing seven assessments, Browning said.

He talks about encounters he’s had with parents  when he has been out and about in the community.

“I’ll be in Publix, pushing my cart in the produce section, filling it up.

“They’ll say, ‘Are you Superintendent Browning?’

Browning: “I am.”

(Parents) ‘I want you to know we had our daughter in Cambridge. She’s not going to be in Cambridge when she comes back from Christmas break.’

Browning: “Why not? Cambridge is a great program.”

(Parents) ‘It’s just too hard.’

Browning: “I’m going, ‘Really. It’s too hard. Life’s hard.

“If everything is easy and simple, then where’s the learning? Where is the learning.

“You struggle in school. You’re supposed to struggle.

“It’s not supposed to be about proms and homecomings and football games on Friday night. “That’s part of the experience.

“What it’s about is making sure you are ready to get out in this very, very tough world and survive,” Browning said.

“If I have kids that can’t survive, then I have let you down. I’ve let this community down, and that is the message we’ve been preaching, over and over and over again.

“If anything is worth having, it’s worth working for,” the superintendent said.

Of course, Browning added, such high expectations requires teachers to think about the way that they’ve been delivering instruction in their classrooms, the superintendent added.

And, that begs the question: “Are our kids worth it, to ensure that they get the very best education?

“I’ll tell you what the answer to that question is, ‘Absolutely, yes, they are worth it,’” Browning said.

At the same time, excellence in teaching should be rewarded, Browning said.

“We’ve got some of the most talented teachers in the state and they work tirelessly. My goal is trying to find more money to pay them a higher salary, so we can keep the very best.

“I keep going to Tallahassee. I keep talking to the legislative delegation. We have got to pay teachers more, in order to keep great teachers here,” he said.

The superintendent updated the crowd regarding ongoing construction projects, plans to introduce more rigorous programs in some West Pasco Schools, efforts to expand mental health services and ongoing work regarding school security.

Published August 21, 2019

Skills training program led to White House trip

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Patrick Pinnone was wrapping up a five-year stint in the U.S. Marines when he heard about a training program offered by Home Builders Institute (HBI) — an educational arm of American Home Builders.

It was exactly what he was looking for, as he prepared to make the transition to civilian life.

But, there was a problem.

Patrick Pinnone, of Dade City, back row, left, was invited to attend an event in Washington D.C., after completing an HBI training program. Others pictured are Gustavo Ramirez-Rodriguez, back row right; and front row, from left, Cullen Clebe; Greg Ugalde, NAHB Chairman of the Board; and Champagne Smith. (Courtesy of National Association of Home Builders)

The program wasn’t being offered at Camp Lejeune, the Marine base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he was stationed.

It was available at Fort Bragg, an Army base just west of Fayetteville, North Carolina, two hours away from his chain of command.

Pinnone was not dissuaded.

“I had to jump through hoops to get my chain of command to approve it,” he recalled.

But, he was persistent and gained approval — and became the first Marine to complete the HBI training.

And, the efforts he put forth during training led to an invitation for a trip to the White House.

He went to the nation’s capital to attend a follow-up ceremony to the July 2018 Pledge to America’s Workers.

That pledge was signed by President Donald Trump and many trade organizations, including the National Association of Home Builders and its workforce development arm, HBI, to show their commitment to create new jobs through apprenticeships, training programs, continuing education and so on.

Pinnone, who lives in Dade City, enjoyed the event.

“It was surreal. I never expected I would ever get a chance to go into the White House,” he said, adding he couldn’t believe he was in the same room as numerous top-ranking government officials, including the president and Vice President Mike Pence.

The president was there for the ceremony, but left quickly after it ended. Pence stayed longer, circulating around the room to shake hands and pose for photos.

Pinnone said he also was impressed by HBI’s training program.

He said students in the program learned skills required for residential construction work, including carpentry, foundations, siding, painting, roofing and drywall.

After finishing the HBI program, he picked up three jobs — including one with Lyle Bleachers Inc., which builds bleachers for gymnasiums and athletic fields throughout Florida.

David Lyle, president of Lyle Bleachers Inc., said the HBI training served Pinnone well.

“I think it definitely prepared him for working in our field, which is a construction-type industry,” Lyle said.

He applauded HBI’s efforts and said he’d like to see an increase in such programs.

“We need hands-on skilled laborers in this country,” Lyle said.

Pinnone said the value of the experience went beyond the skills he learned through the training.

His main takeaway? “The initiative you put out, will pay off in the end,” Pinnone said.

Pinnone, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, is now enrolled at Saint Leo University, where he is studying accounting.

Published August 21, 2019

New River Branch Library to close for remodeling

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The New River Branch Library will be closing Oct. 1 to prepare for an extensive makeover, according to a Pasco County news release.

Instructor Bonnie Birdsall, far right, leads the class in a Tai Chi move called ‘Swimming Dragon’ during a class at the New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. Shown in the back: Margie Gordon, left, and Olympia Coleman. In the front: Joleen Patane, left, and Bonnie Birdsall. The library will be closing on Oct. 1 for an extensive makeover and is expected to reopen in Summer 2020. (File)

The renovation is being paid for funding provided through a general obligation bond approved by voters in November 2018 to upgrade Pasco County’s seven branch libraries.

Voters also approved general obligation bonds to pay for improvements to the county’s parks, to expand the county’s fire rescue services and to build a jail expansion.

The New River Branch Library project is expected to be completed by Summer 2020. The Centennial Park Branch Library in Hudson will be closed for renovations at the same time.

The library projects will include updated technology, new outdoor spaces, more accessible parking, updated furnishings, high-efficiency air conditioning systems, high-speed internet and makerspaces.

Library staff will be at alternate local venues to provide continued services and programs.

Please visit the Pasco County Libraries website, PascoLibraries.org for updated program information.

Published August 21, 2019

Students need more than paper and pencils

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Once again, the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office is participating in the new shoes and socks collection campaign, “Two Good Soles,” to assist local students and families in need.

A collaborative effort between Pasco County government and the school district, the campaign is in its fourth year, and is looking to collect as many new pairs of shoes and socks as possible.

Shoes are primarily needed at the middle and high school levels, although shoes for elementary school students will also be accepted.

The school district reports that the sizes most in need are children’s shoe sizes 9 and higher, adult shoes of all sizes, and socks of all sizes.

It is recommended that sneakers, shoes and socks be of a neutral color, but all new donation items will be accepted.

The campaign will not accept flip-flops or open-toe shoes.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano said, in a release, “It is heartbreaking to know that children come to school without socks or shoes in good repair,” and he encourages everyone who is able, to stop by one of the offices to leave a donation.

The tax collector’s office locations will be the collection sites for donations between now and Oct. 25.

For office locations, visit PascoTaxes.com.

For information on the “Two Good Soles” campaign, call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179.

Published August 21, 2019

How to stay safe while enjoying the water

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Although summer is winding down — being safe around water is a year-round pursuit.

Practical tips to help avoid danger, in or near water, can make a difference for both experienced and non-experienced swimmers.

In fact, infants are being encouraged to get acquainted with swimming before learning to walk.

“The earlier you start, the better,” said Maggie Mueller, site manager at the Seal Swim School in Lutz. “Just being in swim lessons can help prevent drownings from happening.”

At the Seal Swim School, even infants can learn proper breathing control while in the water. (Brian Fernandes)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the No. 1 cause for unintentional, injury-led deaths among children between ages 1 and 4.

For ages 5 to 9, it is the second-leading cause for unintentional, injury-led deaths.

To help reduce these cases, organizations like the Seal Swim School have implemented classes for infants to adults.

With several branches spread throughout Tampa Bay, the school’s Water Babies course allows little ones to get familiar within a pool setting.

At 6 months old, they can transition into a new class that helps them learn proper breathing control in water. This entails gradually raising infants up overhead, then briefly dipping them underwater.

“Once they have their breath control down, then it comes to learning their balance and buoyancy,” Mueller explained. “Once you get all three of those together, they’re able to swim a little bit on their own.”

Babies have the capacity to learn these swimming techniques within a matter of weeks, she said.

How to keep safe
One common misconception is that skilled swimmers are fine if left alone in the water. However, they, too, should have someone else present.

Parents are more likely to leave their child unattended if they have swimming experience, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

The organization reported that nearly half of those from ages 10 to 17, who drowned between 2005 and 2014, were reportedly trained swimmers.

As long as the swimmer is within a clear field of vision, the observer can be inside or out of the pool.

Mueller also suggests not using floatation devices when training a child in a home pool. This may give the child a false sense of security.

She noted that, “if they’re used to wearing a life jacket or puddle jumpers, they don’t know the difference – whether that’s on or not. If they get access to the pool, they’re going to run, jump in and think they can [float].”

Another false notion is that if a child is struggling in the water, they will always scream or splash, making a scene. However, many sink to the bottom without notice.

In some cases, the descent may be so quick, that the child may not have time to react.

This is why vigilance in the water is always a good idea.

What to do during an incident
Aside from precautions, there are methods that can be used during an incident.

At Seal Swim School, kids are taught to “get the wall” if they accidently fall in the water.

With this, children are drilled to immediately turn around and clutch the edge of the wall they fell from.

If they cannot grasp the edge or need time to breath, they are shown how to roll onto their backs and float facing upward.

Alex Delgado is the Aquatic and Programs director at the YMCA in Zephyrhills.

There, he and his staff also provide helpful techniques, such as Jump-Push-Turn-Grab.

“If you fall in, you push off the bottom, it gets you back to the top, then you grab the edge and climb out,” he explained.

YMCA students practice this drill by diving into the water and going through the steps, in cycles, to become more accustomed.

In a situation where a victim feels helpless, the reaction may be to fight the water, said Mueller. However, she suggests that the best thing to do is “relax, take a deep breath, roll on your back and float.”

By doing this, the individual will maintain buoyancy while preventing water from filling the lungs.

Because these techniques do not come instinctively, Mueller and Delgado stress the importance of taking swimming classes to sharpen those skills.

When tending to a victim in the water, one should still be tactful in the approach.

If a child should go missing, the search should first begin at any large body of water, whether a pool or a nearby lake, because time is crucial. Any objects obstructing a clear view should be moved out the way in order to scan the bottom of the water.

Instructors also tell students to “reach or throw, don’t go.”

This encourages throwing a floatation device, or extending a long object to a struggling victim.

They suggest the rescuer lay on his or her stomach while using an object, like a pole or foam pool noodle, to draw the victim to the edge.

“You never want to jump in and try to save somebody unless you’re a 100 percent sure they cannot overpower you,” Mueller advised.

The rescuer should be at an advantage, such as an adult tending to a small child.

Even if CPR has been performed successfully, call 9-1-1 just to be on the safe side.

Even when someone remains conscious after a near-drowning incident, it is still important to seek medical attention.

Early warning signs to watch for include:

  • Someone positioned vertically instead of horizontally while underwater
  • Age: The very young or elderly may need more vigilance
  • A swimmer not removing hair from his or her face, could signal they’re having trouble staying afloat
  • Someone struggling to cling to nearby objects

It’s always a convenient time to learn how to swim, and the measures in reducing danger.

To find a local Seal Swim School branch, visit SealSwimSchool.com.

To find a nearby YMCA class, visit TampaYMCA.org.

Stay safe while enjoying the water.

Follow these precautions:

  • Never swim alone; always have at least one other person present.
  • Avoid jumping into water known to be shallow.
  • Require kids to ask adults’ permission before going into water, to be sure that someone always knows where they are.
  • Avoid going into water if you are tired or drowsy.
  • Keep track of large groups in pool by doing a head count.
  • Avoid rough play or bearing weight on another in water.
  • Become trained and certified in CPR.
  • Avoid eating or chewing gum while in water.
  • Keep home pool fenced off from small kids.

Warning signs a swimmer might be in trouble:

  • Someone positioned vertically instead of horizontally while underwater
  • A swimmer not removing hair from his or her face, could signal they’re having trouble staying afloat
  • Someone struggling to cling to nearby objects

Note: Very young and elderly swimmers may need more vigilant supervision.

Source: Seal Swim School and Zephyrhills YMCA

Published August 14, 2019

Pasco Sheriff’s employee earns statewide honor

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A longtime Pasco Sheriff’s Office civilian supervisor has earned a statewide honor from the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA).

Gina Youmans has dedicated her career to helping crime victims and their loved ones, as a supervisor of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocates Unit.

The 28-year veteran of the law enforcement agency is being recognized for her work.

Youmans is the recipient of the inaugural FSA Civilian of the Year award. This award, sponsored by the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund, “recognizes exemplary service above self by a civilian employed at a Florida sheriff’s office.”

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, left, congratulates Pasco Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocates Unit supervisor Gina Youmans, right, for being the recipient of the inaugural Florida Sheriffs Association Civilian of the Year award. This award ‘recognizes exemplary service above self by a civilian employed at a Florida sheriff’s office.’ (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

Youmans was officially named the 2019 Civilian of the Year at the FSA Summer Conference banquet in Tampa; she was nominated for the award by the sheriff’s office command staff.

Youmans said winning the award was “humbling,” adding it was also nice to see the agency’s victim advocates unit recognized as a whole.

“I’m just proud of the agency. It’s a big deal,” Youmans said.

“I can’t be happier. It’s a wonderful thing,” she said.

Youmans took a circuitous route into the criminal justice field and victim advocacy.

A native of Long Island, New York, Youmans followed her family to Florida shortly after graduating college.

She originally planned to work in banking or as a paralegal, but a friend told her the sheriff’s office was hiring civilian staff for the 1990 opening of the Land O’ Lakes jail.

“I was like, ‘All right,’ because I wasn’t able to find anything,” Youmans recalled.

Youmans was hired as a receptionist at the jail in 1991.

Within a year, Youmans was transferred to the agency’s fugitive warrants unit, where she worked for the next dozen or so years, handling the paperwork and logistics for extraditions, processing inmates and so on. “It was actually really cool,” Youmans said.

In 2005, Youmans transferred to the agency’s victim advocates unit at the behest of a co-worker, who put a request in for her for an open advocate position. Youmans worked her way up to unit supervisor in 2015.

Youmans admits she wasn’t really familiar with the unit beforehand. “I was like, I don’t even know what that is,” Youmans said of victim advocacy. “I read the description and was like, ‘Oh, that sounds interesting.’”

Helping people at difficult times
Youmans later learned she beat out 100 other applicants for the role.

To this day, she still recalls one question during the hour-and-a-half interview for the job that stuck out: “Could you hold a dead baby?”

It’s those types of difficult circumstances victim advocates must navigate regularly, Youmans said.

The victim advocates unit assists in major cases — homicide, suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, robbery, burglary, and crimes against elderly, among others.

They’re on-call 24/7.

Generally, advocates offer victims information, emotional support, and help finding resources and filling out paperwork. Sometimes, advocates go to court with victims and speak on their behalf.

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocates Unit supervisor Gina Youmans, right, and Pasco Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Sgt. Michael Rosa speak to a child as part of a crime investigation. Youmans is the recipient of the inaugural Florida Sheriffs Association Civilian of the Year award for her work in victim advocacy. She is a 28-year veteran of the law enforcement agency.

So, say there’s a homicide in the middle of the night, the unit responds “to be there” as liaisons for the decedent’s survivors, Youmans said.

“We form a rapport and help them, and let them know that if they need us — to reach out and we’re here,” Youmans said.

Advocates guide victims through the investigation process, too.

Youmans explained: “We’re there to explain why forensics is there, why the detectives are there, why the medical examiners are there, shield them from the media, but explain to them why the media is there, explain the entire process that is going on and accessing their needs the whole, entire time.”

Youmans said the toughest part of the job is death notifications — the delivery of the news of a death to another person, usually a family member or spouse.

Of the thousands of cases the unit responds to each year, suicides are the most common call out for the unit, Youmans said.

Youmans put it this way: “Like you see on television, you ring the doorbell, knock on the door, and you know as soon as they open the door, they’re going to know. People know when they open the door and they see a uniformed person and another sheriff’s office member there,” Youmans said.

“Anytime you deal with citizens and victims, they will guide you in the direction of where you go. There’s no certain way to deliver the message on death notifications or anything else, they guide you in the direction of where you go next,” she said.

Youmans supervises a six-member unit, which includes five other advocates and a victim services technician. She also oversees two unit volunteers and interns throughout the year.

Youmans said soft skills are a must for advocates, more so than formal education credentials.

“Approachability is so important. That’s what counts in the end,” she said.

She added, “It takes a unique person to do this position and I’ve always known that. A special kind of person has to do it, and I have six really special people that are truly passionate about it, and leaders in their own right, and hungry and want to learn.”

Through her own experience and early mistakes on the job, Youmans has a list of what she calls her ‘Do Not Says’ for her unit when they’re responding to victims and families of traumatic events.

They go like this:

  • Do not say, ‘Hi, how are you?’
  • Do not say, ‘I know how you feel.’
  • Do not say, ‘Time will heal.’
  • Do not say, ‘It’ll be OK.’

Instead, Youmans said, “It’s just reading situations and reading people. That comes from my experience of doing it. Some victims are good with the closure words. Some aren’t. It depends. Most aren’t. There’s no closure to them.”

The victim advocates unit supervisor acknowledged the job can be emotionally and physically taxing, at times.

But, a passion to help others keeps her going. That — and a Metallica heavy metal playlist has helped, too — she said, in jest.

“For myself, I’m just doing what I love,” she said. “I truly feel blessed to have been placed in this position.”

Her fellow advocates also keep morale up, when times get stressful.

“We are like family. I’m not trying to be cliché, but we’re truly there for each other. It’s an amazing thing to see,” Youmans said.

Published August 14, 2019

Baseball and softball school approved in Wesley Chapel

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A request to allow a private baseball and softball school in Wesley Chapel has gained approval from the Pasco County Commission.

In granting the request, commissioners overturned a decision made on Feb. 21 by the Pasco County Planning Commission.

Planning commissioners had denied the request , despite a recommendation for approval by county planners, who said the request was consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan, as conditioned.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite appealed the planning commission’s denial, on behalf of her clients, Ryan A. and Elizabeth J. Prior.

The approval allows the school to operate on 5 acres, on a property 320 feet south of the intersection of Hadlock Drive and Elkmont Lane.

The rules governing the appeal hearing, which was held Aug. 6, barred the introduction of new testimony, so Wilhite explained her clients’ request by outlining the conditions contained in the original request.

Among other things, those conditions included:

  • Limiting the number of students on the property on any given day, and at any given time
  • Limiting the hours of operation
  • Prohibiting outdoor speakers and public address systems
  • Keeping balls within the applicants’ property

The main issue during the planning commission hearing dealt with access to the site, Wilhite said.

One proposed condition dealt specifically with improving the road, but the attorney noted, “ultimately, the neighbors objected to anything being done with that road.”

Wilhite also pointed out that during the planning commission hearing, the county staff testified the road was accessible.

Wilhite characterized the planning commission’s action on the request as being confusing.

“It ended up being a 3-2 vote for denial. Interestingly enough, that swing vote was the person who recommended approval and moved approval,” she said.

The motion for approval “didn’t get a second,” she added, “and then that person ended up being the swing vote for denial.”

Wilhite also cited testimony by Denise Hernandez, of the county’s planning staff, who told planning commissioners that another baseball school had been approved on land with the same zoning category about 2 miles away.

“The record was very clear, and your staff was very clear that this was a compatible use,” Wilhite said.

Elizabeth Prior also spoke to commissioners.

“Obviously, myself and my husband are the applicants for this special exception.

“The neighbors that are objecting, we bought the house from them. They had full knowledge of what we wanted to do before we bought the house from them.

“My husband does private clients, it’s one on one, maximum of four at any one time.

“The staff at Pasco County approved the application, with conditions,” she said, adding that two staff experts testified that the road was sufficient.

She told county commissioners that Planning Commission Michael Cox’s motion for denial appeared to be based on “opinion” rather than the record.

Attorney Dave Smolker, of the law firm Smolker Bartlett in Tampa, represented the Dion family, who own property next-door, during the appeal.

“The Planning Commission got it right. This use is simply too intense for this particular location. Sometimes that’s the way it is. It’s a square peg in a round hole,” Smolker said.

He also attempted to introduce information that was not part of the record during the planning commission meeting, which was met by objections from Hernandez.

Smolker told commissioners there was no basis for overturning the planning commission’s decision.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley asked Hernandez to compare the conditions for the current request with the baseball school that was previously granted.

Hernandez said the conditions proposed for the Priors’ application were stricter.

Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Mike Moore spoke in favor of overturning the planning commission’s denial.

“I’m kind of shocked that this was denied,” Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said.

Commissioner Mike Moore agreed. “I’m going to support overturning this,” he said. “I think this is ridiculous.”

Beyond overturning the planning commission’s decision, board members also called for reducing the restrictions on the baseball and softball school.

For instance, they increased the allowable hours of operation, and they removed a condition relating to road improvements.

Published August 14, 2019

Health and Wellness Fair focuses on the elderly

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A free community Health and Wellness Fair, held recently in Land O’ Lakes,  focused on services that are available to the elderly, as they face changes in mind and body.

The Aug. 1 event was hosted by Keystone Place at Terra Bella, 2200 Livingston Road, which offers residential options for independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Bryan D’Onofrio spoke at the event on behalf of the North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital. The Wesley Chapel facility serves people who are suffering from issues such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse, by providing in-patient and out-patient services – including a geriatrics unit.

Local organizations in the Tampa Bay area gathered at a Health and Wellness Fair held at Keystone Place at Terra Bella to inform the public about various services available to help the elderly. (Brian Fernandes)

Many of the elderly patients who are admitted are dealing with depression,  D’Onofrio noted.

“As we get older, things don’t work like they used to,” he said. “As those things hit us, we can suffer some depression.”

At the behavioral health hospital, patients engage with a psychiatrist, therapist, social workers and licensed mental-health counselors, to receive the right treatment.

Patients also partake in group therapy to keep social, and recreational therapy, such as board games, yoga and other exercises. They are encouraged to continue activities when released home, to help them stay positive, D’Onofrio said.

Bayada Home Health Care and Bluestone Physician Services also participated in the event.

These companies offer mobile services — providing medical care to residents in assisted living facilities, such as Keystone Place at Terra Bella in Land O’ Lakes.

Tyler Patrick, marketing manager at Bayada, said that the goal of this type of care is to help prevent the need for hospitalizations.

Patrick added that, “If you’ve got a resident that has a disease that’s becoming exacerbated, the doctor may want an RN (registered nurse) checking in on that resident two, three times a week to monitor [and] make sure the medications are working. Our nurses can come in and do that.”

Assisted living facilities also provide a safe and secure environment for those known to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

Amanda Wood, a program manager at the Alzheimer’s Association, shared information that help individuals, or their loved ones, identify the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association, offers this list of 10 early warning signs:

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble understanding visual images
  • Difficulty with speaking or writing
  • Misplacing things and difficulty retracing steps
  • Decreased or poor judgement
  • Withdrawal from work or social activities
  • Changes in mood or personality

“One of the best things to do for noticing these signs, is to talk about it,” Wood said. “Go talk to your primary care physician.”

She emphasized the importance of initiating the conversation, whether it’s the individual exhibiting the signs, or a loved one witnessing them.

That person’s doctor can then refer them to a neurologist for further analysis.

An ongoing consistency in these signs may be a red flag that can differentiate them from usual memory loss, Wood said.

When a current or potential Alzheimer’s patient is living at home, it is also important to plan ahead for emergencies.

Teresa Haver, of the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, gave a demonstration on how the Wanderer’s Reunification Program is set up. This personalized kit can be useful in helping locate an Alzheimer’s patient gone missing.

Teresa Haver stood at the Alzheimer’s Family Organization booth and showed visitors one preparation technique – the Wanderer’s Reunification Program.

This is a free kit made up of sterilized equipment used in helping locate a missing patient.

“What you do is take the sterile pad and rub it on your loved one to get their scent, put it in the jar [and] seal it up,” Haver explained.

The jar is then placed on top of the refrigerator and is good for seven years.

Should the person go missing, the local sheriff’s department has already been trained to look for the jar on the fridge. Deputies then use blood hounds to search for the scent on the pad.

Haver also said the caregiver should familiarize themselves with the patient’s dominant hand, because they tend to wander in the direction of that hand.

She also recommended that a caregiver place an identification bracelet on the patient’s wrist and to have door locks that are higher than the patient’s reach.

Wood said there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are lifestyle choices that may help the brain age well.

Those include exercise, staying socially active, challenging the brain and a proper diet.

“Every time our heart beats, 25 percent of that blood goes to our brain,” Wood explained. “If we’re getting exercise, we’re getting more nutrient and oxygen-rich blood up to our brain.”

Exercise can include such things as walking up stairs and dancing, she noted.

Social activities, such as playing strategic games like chess, can help preoccupy and strengthen the mind, she said.

Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are good alternatives, Wood noted.

These heart-healthy choices consist of nuts and grains, as well as foods high in protein and low in sodium.

The Rev. Virginia Walsh, of Unity North Tampa Church, also shared her knowledge at the health and wellness fair.

Proper nutrition can help lead to effective meditation practice, Walsh said.

Before doing a meditation session, participants should drink plenty of water.

They also should eat foods rich in protein, and stay clear of foods high in carbohydrates, processed sugar, flour and starches.

Walsh conducted a meditation class during the fair, offering participants tips they could apply at home.

“Meditation can help us think more clearly, be able to focus, and also has shown to often improve memory,” the reverend said. “Being mindful helps us to cope better with what happens in life.”

This in turn, produces more peace and may lead to a healthier brain, she said.

Published August 14, 2019