The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Lutz students strive to protect wildlife

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Diminishing waste in local oceans is an important mission for third-grader Lilly Kate Paban.

In fact, she has been motivated to start an afterschool program at her Learning Gate Community School, in Lutz, to both educate fellow students and to get them to go outdoors to take action.

She was first inspired when her then-science teacher, Christopher Bell, explained to the class the plight animals face when they mistakenly consume plastic littered in the sea.

Lilly Kate Paban, 9, displays one of the seven laptops donated by the Tribridge tech company for a new club at Learning Gate Community School. The club, conceptualized by Paban and her three schoolmates, will educate other kids on keeping oceans clean for animals, plus going outdoors to take action. (Courtesy of Joelle Paban)

Lilly Kate has always loved animals, especially dolphins. In fact, her dream came true when she got the opportunity to swim alongside one.

Her care for wildlife compelled her to help in some way, and she asked three of her friends at school for support.

“I gathered my friends and was like, ‘we should start a club to help the environment.’

“Our goal is to clean up most of the plastic in the oceans so that none of the animals get extinct,” the 9-year-old explained.

Once the girls devised a plan for an environmental club, they approached their principal with the idea, which was met with approval.

In building support, Lilly Kate recruited her mother, Joelle, as a club volunteer.

Joelle admitted she was shocked at first, unaware of her daughter’s good cause, but willing to help.

“How can I say no to my kid?” Joelle responded with a smile. “I’m going to support any endeavor my child wants to do.”

While the club is in the early stages, plans are already being established.

The girls have decided their target audience to join is second grade to seventh grade students.

They would also like to collect membership fees in order to fund group trips and  further their cause in protecting wildlife.

Lilly Kate attributes her independence and go-getter mindset to her mother, who takes her and her younger sister, Stellie, to school.

Joelle has her own executive assistant business. On their commute, the girls often hear their mother on the phone discussing her company.

That business savvy helped Lilly Kate and her friends form the blueprint for the afterschool program.

“I couldn’t be any more proud,” Joelle stated. “This is something that they want to give back to nature, and do their tiny part in this world.”

However, the girls’ efforts were just beginning. They sent a handwritten letter to the Tampa tech company Tribridge – asking for whatever support it could offer.

The letter reached the company by Friday, May 10 and that following Monday, the girls got quite a surprise while in school.

Pete Loach, IT manager at Tribridge, personally donated seven laptops to help move the club forward.

“Just what a tiny letter can do, can make a big change,” Lilly Kate mentioned.

Joelle and her husband, Mario, also extend gratitude to Bell for helping spark their daughter’s interest in environmental awareness through his class.

Both parents attested to the teacher’s dedication toward his students.

“This guy’s life [is] these children,” Joelle said. “He brought passion.”

Now with new laptops, the group can conduct proper research and track the oceans’ red tide, Lilly Kate said.

She added that there are plans to do summer beach cleanups before the program officially starts next semester.

With the initiative of several third-graders, many kids can learn to carry the mantle for a cleaner and safer tomorrow.

Published May 29, 2019

BayCare’s plans for new Pasco hospital are uncertain

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The Florida Legislature’s decision to drop the requirement for a Certificate of Need review for new hospitals is causing BayCare Health System to reconsider its plans for a hospital in Pasco County.

The hospital chain had received a preliminary OK on its Certificate of Need request for a 60-bed hospital on a 111-acre site at the northeast quadrant of Interstate 75 and Overpass Road.

It was pushing ahead with planning for the new facility, despite a challenge filed by AdventHealth’s hospitals in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City.

A hearing on the appeal had been set for August.

But, the repeal of the requirement for a Certificate of Need has created a wide open market for the establishment of hospitals.

The repeal is causing BayCare to take another look at its plans, said BayCare spokeswoman Lisa Razler.

It’s still too early to say how the change will affect the health care system’s plans, Razler said.

“We have a whole new lens to look through,” Razler said. “We’re going to have to take a step back and re-evaluate because with that new legislation, anyone can put a hospital anywhere.”

The health care system was disappointed by the Legislature’s action, Razler said.

“We believed in the planning process,” she said.

Proponents for axing the Certificate of Need requirement said the repeal would promote more competition.

Razler said the issue is more complicated.

“It’s not straight up supply and demand, when it comes to health care, because of all of nuances involved,” Razler said.

BayCare will need to review its plans “to determine what’s the best option, given the new landscape,” the hospital spokeswoman said.

BayCare had been pursuing the hospital in Pasco because of the dramatic population growth and increasing demand for health services.

The construction of the hospital was expected to create 300 jobs, and once it became fully operational, it would need about 300 team members, hospital officials told The Laker/Lutz News in previous interviews.

BayCare had planned to provide these services at the new hospital:

  • Emergency services for adults and children
  • Intensive care services
  • Obstetrical care services
  • Diagnostic lab imaging
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Behavioral support services

Hospital officials previously said it typically takes about three years from the time a hospital is approved until the physical structure is operating.

At this point, it remains unclear, whether those plans will be pursued.

Published May 29, 2019

Complacency kills: Get ready for Hurricane Season 2019

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Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced their 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season outlook on May 23.

They predicted nine to 15 named storms, including four to eight hurricanes – and, two to four that could become major hurricanes.

Hurricane Michael devastated communities in Florida’s Panhandle. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council)

That compares to Colorado State University’s hurricane research team’s forecast in April, which predicted 13 named storms, including five hurricanes and two which will become major hurricanes.

Remember: No matter what the experts predict — the bottom line is that it just takes one disaster to hit that is so destructive it will have devastating effects for years.

So, if you haven’t already done so, begin making your preparations now — and ramp them up, as the threat level increases.

Remember, as the old saying goes: “Better safe than sorry.”

To help you prepare for Hurricane Season 2019, we’ve put together some checklists. Look through them and use them to improve your personal preparations for the season, which officially begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

Before a hurricane, protect your property:

  • Keep your trees and shrubs trimmed.
  • Clear out clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Store outdoor furniture, windchimes, garbage cans, decorations, potted plants and other items that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • If you have a boat, determine how and where to secure it.
  • Cover windows with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters.
Pasco County didn’t feel the full fury of Hurricane Irma’s wrath, but some other communities were less fortunate. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council)

Protect yourself

  • Assemble an emergency kit: Be sure it has enough food and water to last at least three days.

It should include 1 gallon of water per day per person for drinking and sanitation.

It also should include nonperishable foods that are easy to store and prepare, including protein bars, dried fruit, canned pastas, soups, canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, raisins, beef jerky. (Be sure to include a can opener in your kit.)

  • Don’t forget the baby formula and baby food.
  • Pack paper cups and plates, plastic utensils, too.

Safety and sanitation

  • Your safety kit should include filter masks to protect your mouth and nose
  • Medications
  • A first aid kit
  • A whistle to signal for help
  • A battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Moist towelettes for sanitation
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

Shelter

  • Have a sleeping bag for each family member.
  • Duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting (for shelter-in-place)
  • A wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

Protect important family documents

  • Put valuable documents in a waterproof container and store it on a shelf, or take with you if you evacuate. Those documents should include bank account records, marriage certificates or divorce decrees, driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, titles, deeds, income tax information, trusts, wills and birth certificates.
Generators can keep things running when the power goes out, but be cautious when using them. If used improperly, they can kill. (Courtesy of The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute)

Prepare an emergency kit for your pet

  • Your kit should include: sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or a carrier; pet food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter, a litter pan; pet health records, current photos of your pets, in case they get lost; pet beds and toys.

Have a plan: Should you stay or should go?

  • Know your zone and be prepared to leave, if authorities tell you to do so. Particularly vulnerable areas include mobile homes, high-rise buildings, coastal areas, near rivers or inland waterways and land below sea level. No matter where you live, you should evacuate if you feel unsafe.
  • If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone, prepare an evacuation plan that includes transportation routes and destinations, and considers all family members and pets. Know which hotels and motels along your evacuation route accept pets. Ask if no-pet policies can be waived in an emergency.
  • If you plan to shelter in place, notify out-of-area contacts of your decision to stay. Be sure you have assembled your emergency kit and have a safe place to stay in your home.
  • If you are staying in place, fill up bathtubs or buckets with water to use for cleaning and toilet flushing.
  • Stay informed. Listen to an NOAA weather radio, or regularly check local forecasts and news reports.
  • Keep your vehicle’s gas tank three-quarters full at all times and have cash on hand.

During the storm

  • Close all interior doors. Secure and brace exterior doors. Take refuge in a small interior closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
  • Stay away from windows and glass doors.
  • Don’t be fooled by a lull in the storm. It could be the eye of the storm and the winds could resume.
It’s important to know if you live in an evacuation zone and, if you do, what route you will use if evacuation becomes necessary. Make a plan in advance. Can you stay with friends? Will you need a shelter that accepts pets? Do you have any special medical needs? (Courtesy of The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute)

After the hurricane passes

  • Stay aware of threats from flooding and tornadoes.
  • Do not drive into water when you can’t see the bottom of the road; avoid flooded areas.
  • Do not walk in standing water; it may contain contaminants, it might be deeper than it looks; it may have a strong undercurrent; or, it may be electrically charged with a downed wire.
  • Be careful about the foods you eat. If the power is out, your food may be spoiled.

If you have a cooler, be sure to have lots of ice and freezer packs to help foods stay cool longer.

  • Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, tents, garage, vehicle or fireplace. Do not use gas-powered generators indoors or in a garage.
  • If you’re using a generator, be sure to give it plenty of room for ventilation. Place it outside and away from windows, doors and vents to prevent poisonous carbon monoxide from coming indoors.

If you have damage

  • Call an agent.
  • Take photos of the damage.
  • Make emergency repairs to avoid more damage and keep receipts for tarps, lumber, etc.
  • Keep alert to potential scams.

Published May 29, 2019

Bay Area writers display their literary works

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The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library had an even larger volume of books stacked up as it held its annual Authors’ Fair on May 18.

The event featured 20 writers from the Tampa Bay area showcasing their works across many genres.

Author Keith G. Laufenberg, of Hernando Beach, speaks to a small group of people about his previous occupation as a middleweight boxer. The U.S. Marine veteran is the author of 23 books and screenplays. (Christine Holtzman)

It was an opportunity for Pasco County residents to discover local literature, speak with the authors and purchase signed books.

Deborah Cameron had her booth set up just outside the kids’ play area in the library.

It was a suitable location to display her children’s novel, “The Mel Monsta” which she co-authored.

The story features Mel the Monsta whose encounter with a friendly girl, helps Mel become more soft and gentle.

The idea initially came from Cameron’s journey in becoming a better person to herself, and others.

“We thought, ‘what can we do to help children with this?’” she and her co-author thought. “It’s to encourage children and adults to look beyond race, gender [and] who you love in life.”

With the books neatly laid out on the table, Cameron also had a stuffed animal of Mel the Monsta for kids to marvel at.

In the past, she has donated the books to sick youth at Shriners Hospitals for Kids as a way to encourage them.

Cameron said she plans to write literature geared toward helping kids with autism.

Booths like hers is what intrigued Beth Smith to come out to the fair.

Author Gladys Vanesa, of Wesley Chapel, left, holds a copy of her book ‘Historia del Sofrito Puertorriqueño,’ as Deborah Cameron, an author from Land O’ Lakes, hugs a plush version of the title character from her own book, ‘The Mel Monsta.’

She enjoys combing through children’s books she can read to the youngsters in her family.

“I have nieces and nephews, so I deal with them,” Smith said.

Other authors’ works caught her eye as well, especially a book on cats.

“I’m an animal lover,” she explained with a smile. “I picked up a dog off the side road and still have him living with me today.”

She had her hands full as she exited the library with five purchased books.

Some authors present had work that was religiously inspired, such as Mary Perrone Davis.

Among some of her books displayed were “Mary Loves to Sing” and “Mary’s Butterfly Garden.”

“It’s a series of books about a little girl’s growth and her relationship with the Lord,” Perrone Davis explained.

The picture books are geared towards children between ages 2 to 6.

However, the school nurse had no intention of writing until 2002 when she had a unique encounter with a butterfly.

Her relation with nature, coupled with prayer, inspired her series, she said.

“I think that people tend to underestimate a child’s ability to understand the spiritual,” Perrone Davis reasoned.

She added that she wants to use the books to further inspire her seven grandchildren.

“I love to look at local authors’ work,” said attendee Lynn Landseadel. “I think we should buy small and support the community.”

An avid book reader, the Spring Hill resident was present at last year’s fair as well.

This year, she said she was impressed by what writers had to offer.

Author D.A. Plotkin, of New Port Richey, smiles, as she candidly speaks about her journey through years of infertility, detailed in her memoir, ‘Wishbone.’

As a fan of mystery and psychological thrillers, she was attracted to J.C. Gatlin’s booth.

Gatlin is known for his murder-mystery novels and was eager to showcase his most recent project: “Hangman (spelled H_NGM_N): Murder is the Word.”

He attributes other authors of similar genres in sparking his interest.

However, some writers draw from their own trauma to put words to paper.

Loren and Lisa Murfield were present to promote their collaborated efforts as co-authors.

“The R.O.I of Compassion” was published in 2010 and was inspired after the couple’s son, Caleb, took his own life in 2007.

“He was the life of the party,” explained dad Loren. “He had a Robin Williams, razor-sharp wit.”

What added inspiration for the writing was when Caleb’s sister said at his funeral that the family “can’t let his life be for nothing,” Loren recalled.

The book not only opens up about the grief Loren and Lisa were going through, but how they were able to pick up the pieces of their lives to move forward.

While the book is a means of helping those suffering trauma, it is also a guide in helping employers better sympathize with their grieving employees.

This aspect of the book was in response to Lisa being laid off from her job shortly after Caleb’s passing.

She described her subordinates as being insensitive in their approach, given what she had just experienced.

“I started to think ‘how do employees handle it in that type of a situation?’” Lisa contemplated.

In the book, she and Loren address steps that employers should consider in reaching out to their workers, and being more invested in their mental well-being.

“There is a better way,” Loren stated. “We argue that compassion is the best business model.”

The couple added that the book’s title “R.O.I” – Return on Investment- is what employers will see when having a deeper connection with their workers. When an employee feels wanted and respected, it will show through their work ethic.

Their most recent book, “Leading with the Power of Compassion,” also delves deep into appreciating people on a whole and learning to care for an individual on a human level.

The event’s range of genres and personally-inspired writings showed the relevancy of literature for all age groups and backgrounds.

Published May 29, 2019

Moffitt Cancer to open Wesley Chapel treatment center

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Moffitt Cancer Center and AdventHealth have announced they are working together to open an outpatient cancer center on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, located next to the hospital on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The outpatient center is expected to open in the fall of 2020.

Rendering of Moffitt Cancer’s planned treatment facility in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

“We strive to provide world-class cancer care close to where people live and work,” said Alan F. List, MD, president and chief executive officer of Moffitt Cancer Center. “Expanding Moffitt’s brand of oncology care, treatment and research in Pasco County helps us accomplish this goal. Moffitt also is responding to the growing incidence of cancer in Florida, as the state’s population continues to grow and age.”

The new Moffitt outpatient center at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel will provide medical and radiation oncology service. It is being designed to accommodate 20 exam rooms, 22 infusion stations and two linear accelerators. Cancer screenings and survivorship programs geared toward patients who are post-treatment and in remission will also be available.

“This is just the beginning of our partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center and our joint commitment to finding new ways to bring innovative cancer care to the Pasco community,”  said Mike Schultz, president and chief executive officer of AdventHealth West Florida Division.

“Our partnership allows us to strengthen our network of care by expanding the type of health care services we can provide to our communities, and gives cancer patients greater access to the country’s leading-edge research, clinical trials and cancer treatments at Moffitt,” he said.

Moffitt Cancer Center is a Tampa-based facility and is one of only 50 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education.

AdventHealth is a faith-based, nonprofit health care system that uses leading edge technology and innovation to deliver its brand of whole-person care. Pasco facilities include AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Central Pasco ER.

Published  May 29, 2019

Hundreds walk for a meaningful cause

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Hundreds gathered at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, for the March of Dimes’ biggest annual fundraiser event on May 11. The Suncoast March for Babies, a 3-mile walk through The Shops at Wiregrass, raised more than $40,000 for the March of Dimes. This year’s ambassador was Chloe Rose Gray, a 4-year-old Tampa Bay girl who was born prematurely at 28 weeks, and spent 96 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. Funds raised from the walk help the March of Dimes on their mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Walkers make their way down Paseo Drive at The Shops at Wiregrass, during the March of Dimes’ biggest annual fundraiser event, the March for Babies. (Christine Holtzman)
Wearing a superhero cape, 1-year-old Isaac Coutant, of Lutz, walks with his mother Brittany Tremblay, left, and father Steven Coutant, during the March for Babies event. The walk is special to the family because when Brittany was 32-weeks pregnant, she gave birth to Isaac following a traffic accident. The youngster spent the first 35 days of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit.
A butterfly memorial garden table offered a packet of seeds to anyone who had lost a baby, to ceremoniously plant a ‘butterfly flower’ in their memory.

Wesley Chapel sewage repair still in progress

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Pasco County is repairing the sewage pipeline that runs along Northwood Palms Boulevard in Wesley Chapel.

The construction, which began in early April, came in response to a routine inspection, which determined that the pipeline was fractured.

The Pasco County Utilities Operations and Maintenance Department discovered that the corrosion allowed for road debris to build up within the sewage system.

“Through some little depressions in the road, there may have been some infiltration going into the pipes,” explained Jason Mickel, director of Pasco County’s Operations and Maintenance.

Current construction is along the stretch of Northwood Palms Boulevard that intersects with Breakers Drive.

Breakers Drive goes around in a loop, connecting with Northwood Palms Boulevard at two intersections.

This loop is the best detour to avoid the sewage repair before turning back onto Northwood Palms Boulevard, the director stated.

The construction zone is not in a residential area, so there is no interference for motorists entering or exiting homes off the road.

The work schedule is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with signs posted to direct motorists.

Drivers are encouraged to use Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, if possible, as opposed to Northwood Palms Boulevard, as an alternate route when traveling either from East County Line Road or State Road 56.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has had a presence near the construction site off Breakers Drive for the past month.

Mickel cautions motorists to abide by the speed limit on Breakers Drive, as tickets have been issued frequently since construction began.

Pipe realignment is still in the early stages. The project, estimated at $3 million, is expected to be completed in September.

Published May 29, 2019

Hurricane supplies sales tax holiday starts May 31

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Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a taxation bill that establishes May 31 through June 6 as the Hurricane Supplies Sales Tax Holiday.

The tax exemption provides an opportunity to purchase items intended to help residents and business operators to prepare for, or respond to, a disaster.

Items exempted from the sales tax include:

  • Flashlights, torches and other self-powered portable light sources costing $20 or less
  • Portable radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios costing $50 or less
  • Tarps or other waterproof sheeting, and tie-down kits costing $50 or less
  • Gas or diesel fuel tanks costing $25 or less
  • Batteries costing $30 or less
  • Food coolers (nonelectric) costing $30 or less
  • Power generators costing $750 or less

Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.

Published May 29, 2019

Pasco seeking temporary ban on new mini-warehouses

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The Pasco County Commission is expected to soon consider an 180-day moratorium on new applications for mini-warehouses and self-storage facilities.

Alexandra LaPorte, senior planner with the county’s planning and development department, said the intention of the 180-day moratorium would be for county staff to work on proposed regulations relating to that type of land use in the future.

Pasco County soon could enact a 180-day ban for new applications for mini-warehouse and self-storage units. The county’s planning staff wants the time to develop new regulations regarding this type of land use. (Christine Holtzman)

“This temporary moratorium would allow the planning and development department to research best practices for the development of mini-warehouse and self-storage facilities within the county,” LaPorte told commissioners, at their May 7 meeting.

“It would also allow us to analyze whether additional standards relating to these uses should be incorporated in the land development code, and it would allow us to make sure those standards would support design standards to preserve and enhance visual and functional characteristics, as outlined in the comprehensive plan,” she said.

LaPorte also noted that similar ordinances have been adopted in Tamarac, Miami-Dade and Collier County, in Florida, as well as in other places across the country.

The board approved LaPorte’s request for public hearings on the matter before the Pasco County Planning Commission, on May 23 at 1:30 p.m.; and before the county commission on June 4 and June 19.

Commissioner Mike Moore applauded the county’s action on the issue.

“Thanks to the team for bringing this. I know you worked hard on this. I think it’s important that we move forward with this,” said Moore, who has made no secret of his concerns about mini-warehouses popping up on land he thinks would be better utilized for uses that generate jobs.

“What we’re doing is losing the possibility of major employment centers on that land,” Moore said. “I’m glad you brought it forward. I think it’s the right thing to do. I would assume we will have board support on this.”

The moratorium would not affect anyone who has already had a pre-application meeting on this type of development, Moore noted.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agreed with Moore’s position, saying she doesn’t want to see storage facilities taking up space that could be used to attract businesses offering quality jobs in Pasco County.

Published May 29, 2019

Hazel Wells’ mission: To help the less fortunate

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Hazel Wells views herself as a “second mother” to disadvantaged residents living in East Pasco County.

And, her years of community outreach throughout Dade City, Trilby and Lacoochee are evidence of her commitment.

Hazel Wells stands alongside her brother, Robert S. Perkins, in the church sanctuary, which he pastors: Faith Fellowship in Jesus Christ. Through the Trilby church, Wells has been able to form meaningful relationships with the less fortunate and provide them access to their basic needs. (Brian Fernandes)

She attributes her charitable drive, partially, to a wish that she’d been more engaged with her own children, as they were growing up.

“I realized that I wasn’t the greatest mother in the world,” Wells said. “I wanted to make up for all that I didn’t do.”

The Trilby resident said she witnesses the poverty that many in her region live with on a daily basis.

And, she has formed a bond with many of the young people in the community — particularly those attending her brother’s church, in Trilby.

There, she came across a young man who is paraplegic and has trouble getting to church.

Seeing that situation spurred Wells to make an appearance before the Pasco County Commission to request additional sidewalks around the building.

She has also noticed that some children attending her brother’s church lack proper clothing.

She doesn’t have the financial ability to expand their wardrobe, but she does pass along clothing donated by friends.

Both parents and children have been grateful for the help, Wells said.

Kids also drop by her home to visit, and for advice.

She said they know they are welcome there.

Wells offers a simple formula for developing a strong relationship with youths.

All it requires, she said, is “just loving them and listening to them.”

It’s typical to find Hazel Wells preparing a hearty meal for attendees of the Faith Fellowship in Jesus Christ church, in Trilby. Wells has been a longtime advocate for helping the disadvantaged people of East Pasco County.

As she passes along precepts she’s learned in life, she’s also had a chance to learn from the youths.

She’s had a chance to observe many youth during her time as a Pasco County school cafeteria worker and on her job at a juvenile detention center.

Seeing troubled youths in the system made her realize that they lack much-needed love, Wells said.

To provide more opportunities for kids, Wells is on a quest to gain support for improvements to the Trilby Community Center.

Wells would like to use space in the center, which is currently closed, to engage youths in arts and crafts, sewing, crocheting, cooking and other activities.

She’s already made one appearance before the Pasco County Commission, and is encouraged by the support she’s received from other local women.

Another one of her initiatives was to persuade a barber to provide free haircuts for some of the area’s disadvantaged kids.

She said she’d also like to collaborate with Pasco County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ziegler, who is known in the county as “Officer Friendly.”

Wells said Ziegler has been a strong advocate for youths in community outreach efforts.

Wells doesn’t limit her help to area youths.

She’s also involved in helping disadvantaged adults.

Wells and friends have helped distribute food, blankets and hygiene items to homeless people living within Dade City, Trilby and Lacoochee.

Her church has provided boxes of food, and a local Dade City restaurant has provided soup she can give to people on the streets.

Wells also has brought attention to people in the community who dedicate themselves for others.

For instance, she held a ceremony to honor the African-American instructors who taught her at the Moore-Mickens Education Center in Dade City.

She also presented certificates to Pasco County Firefighters, to honor them for their sacrifices.

One of her longtime friends was Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison, of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, who was slain in 2003.

Wells was involved in the renaming of 11th Street in Dade City, to honor Harrison.

Besides providing recognition for her friend, the renaming reduced confusion for first responders.

The city previously had two 11th Streets and the renaming created clarity, she explained.

“I think Bo is still saving people’s lives,” she added, with a chuckle.

More recently in 2018, Wells worked with city officials to have June 1 proclaimed as Capt. Charles “Bo” Harrison Day.

Her future plans include rebuilding her nonprofit organization, Dade City Widow’s Mite.

Established in 2004, the organization relies upon community funding to provide financial help in times of emergency, help with home maintenance and educational resources.

And, as Wells continues her quest to improve community life, she wants to make the best use of her time.

“I want to do what I can before I leave this world,” the Trilby woman said. “I want to leave a legacy of honoring people and giving children a voice in this community.”

Published May 22, 2019