The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Do you know the ‘Muffin Man? How about your muffin pan?

By

I am always looking for quick, easy, unique recipe ideas – this time I had a convenient source of inspiration. I just reached into my kitchen cabinet and pulled out a common baking pan – the muffin pan!

The beauty of cooking in a 6- or 12-cup muffin pan is that recipes become individual, pre-portioned servings, that are very portable (grab and go) and can easily be served. Some can even be frozen for reheating/eating at a later date.

You can make appetizers, breakfast, main dishes, side dishes and even desserts.

The muffin pan is a very versatile pan that produces its own unique shape. The pan comes in mini (12 or 24 wells), standard (6 or 12 wells), and jumbo (6 wells).

Of course, I have them all.

The pans are now produced in silicone, as well as the traditional metal pans — which also come with a nonstick finish.

In the past, I primarily used my pans in various sizes mostly for a wide variety of muffins and cupcakes.  However, I did branch out at times to line them with corned beef hash with an egg in the center of each cup and for mini-meatloaves. But, that was about as creative as I got.

Since retirement, I have had more time to participate in family reunions and covered-dish community events, so I have been experimenting a little more.

My old family favorite recipes, such as crustless sausage quiche for breakfast, and baked macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs easily can be converted to muffin pan cooking.

Recipes can be created to use up leftovers and will save cooking time because of the smaller size.

At this time of year when kids are starting back to school, these kid-friendly recipes will come in handy.

Betsy Crisp is a Professor Emeritus, UF/IFAS Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences.

Recipes 

Cheesy Broccoli-Rice Cups
(Use standard 12-cup muffin pan)

 Ingredients

  • 2 cups brown rice (or white), cooked
  • 2 cups broccoli (fresh or frozen – thawed and patted dry), chopped
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese (mild or sharp yellow), shredded and divided by 2
  • ½ cup ranch dressing
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan
  • In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients (retain 1 cup of cheese) until well-mixed
  • Divide evenly into the 12 wells and top with the remaining cup of cheese
  • Bake for 25 minutes to 30 minutes or until edges of cheese start to brown
  • Remove from oven and run a knife around the edge of each one to remove easily and cleanly

Yield: Makes 12 muffins. (2 muffins = 1 main dish serving)

Note: Cooked/canned chicken could be added to increase protein.

This is what the Tuna-Tomato Melt looks like after baking. (Betsy Crisp)

Tuna-Tomato Melts
Ingredients

  • Olive oil cooking spray (or butter/margarine to grease wells)
  • 3 light whole grain English muffins, split in half
  • 2 cans (7 ounces each, or three 5 ounce cans) light or Albacore tuna, packed in water and drained
  • 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ small lemon, zested and juiced
  • 3 Tablespoons spring onions (scallions), chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 teaspoons, dried)
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded or 6 slices of cheese (sharp cheddar or Italian Blend/mozzarella)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Spray each well with cooking spray
  • Press half an English muffin into each well
  • In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayo, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion, parsley, Italian herbs, and pepper. Gently stir to mix.
  • Evenly divide tuna mixture into each well on top of English muffin
  • Top each with a slice of tomato and a slice of cheese
  • Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and starting to brown

Yield: 6 servings.

Crusty Loaded Mashed Potato Cups
(Use a standard 12-cup, nonstick muffin pan)

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (or margarine)
  • 4 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated
  • 8 Tablespoons Italian breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup light sour cream
  • 1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh chives (or scallion tops), chopped
  • 3 tablespoons precooked bacon pieces (or approximately 3 strips cooked and crumbled)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups leftover mashed potatoes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Mix parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs together
  • Grease each well with butter/margarine. Divide breadcrumb mixture evenly into each well, and press on bottom and up sides to form a crust.
  • In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream
  • Add cheese, chives, bacon, pepper, mashed potatoes, and mix well
  • Divide evenly into the 12 wells (cups)
  • Bake 30 minutes or until the potatoes begin to pull away from sides of the pan and cheese is golden brown
  • Let the potatoes cool for 5-10 minutes in the pan. Slide knife blade around the edge to help loosen before removing and serving

Yield: 12 servings.

Note: Using this same three-ingredient “crust recipe,” you can substitute your favorite baked macaroni and cheese recipe for the potatoes mixture. Just be sure to make a little more of the crumb mixture to sprinkle on the top!

Published August 29, 2018

Enjoying nature’s grand displays

By

Any time that Lillian Cucuzza and her husband, Dave, want to take in a nature show, they just look out their back window, step out into their backyard or walk around the cul-de-sac to a pond near their yard.

Lillian and Dave Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoy daily nature shows in their backyard.(B.C. Manion)

The Land O’ Lakes nature lovers enjoy a visual feast every day.

They see hummingbirds, Carolina wrens, cardinals, red-shouldered hawks and all of the birds of prey.

There are birds that come by to grab a bite from a feeder, enjoy the nectar from a plant, or make a snack on insects.

“If you want to attract the really nice birds, get the golden safflower bird feed,” Lillian advised. “It doesn’t sprout. The black birds and doves and pigeons — they don’t like it because it’s bitter to them.”

“We get our bird feed from Wild Bird USA,” Lillian said. “It’s nonsprouting, so it doesn’t grow weeds.”

She also noted: “We used to put out a hummingbird feeder, where you had to put the sugar water out. But, you have to change it almost every day, otherwise it’s not good.

This male pileated woodpecker was in the woods, chopping the wood to get to the bugs. (Courtesy of Lillian Cucuzza)

“I’m like, ‘I’m not doing that.’

“We also have a suet feeder out there that we get from Wild Bird. It’s the suet dough. It’s not greasy. We get a lot of the woodpeckers and different warblers,” she said.

Dave’s in charge of stocking the feeders.

Some birds hang out in a birdhouse out back or in the nearby woods. Others make their home in a pair of palm trees near the couple’s front door.

“We get little cardinals. They make little nests in there,” Lillian said.

Besides observing wildlife in their backyard, the couple also enjoys sightings of deer,

blue herons, ibises, white egrets and other winged creatures in or near a pond, on a neighboring property.

“There’s a little gator in there,” Lillian said. “I saw it recently. A little 3- or 4-footer.”

When she was waiting for the gator to make an appearance one day, a trio of deer showed up.

This blue-gray gnatcatcher was in the Cucuzzas’ backyard snacking on whatever gnats or bugs he could get. These birds are tiny — only about 4 inches from the tip of their beak to their tail, and they’re quite quick — catching gnats mid-air.

Some pointers for creating your own backyard habitat
If you’d like to make your yard a welcoming place for birds, butterflies and other creatures, here are some pointers from Lara Milligan, a natural resources agent at Pinellas County Extension. She provided these tips during a seminar she gave earlier this year at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park community center.

“We’re exploding with development and construction, leaving less opportunities for our native wildlife to live and exist,” Milligan said. “Any little bit that we can do in our yards, or in your community or neighborhood, is helpful and beneficial for wildlife.

“Just like us,” she reminded the audience, “wildlife need food, water, cover and space.”

When it comes to creating conducive conditions to attract wildlife, it’s important to think big, and small, she said.

“We often think of wildlife as some of these bigger creatures, but it’s really important that we’re also attracting the little creatures. If you don’t have the little guys, we’re not going to be attracting anything else,” Milligan said.

Here are some of her tips.

Tip No. 1: Limit the amount of lawn that you have. Turf grass doesn’t do much for wildlife. Consider providing alternative ground covers, such as beach sunflower or sunshine mimosa.

This Carolina Wren was sitting on the bird feeder baffle. They are small birds with a big sound.

Tip No. 2: Increase the vertical layering in your yard. You want stuff to be at all levels, from the ground level up to the tops of trees. When planting, think about what the plant will look like at maturity. You don’t want giant gaps in your landscape.

Tip No. 3: Keep those dying and diseased and knocked over trees in your landscape, unless they pose a hazard to your house. Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters rely on these snags for shelter. Screech owls can’t excavate their own cavities, so they rely on woodpeckers to do that for them.

Tip No. 4: Keep brush piles in your yard, but not next to your house. They provide shelter for the smaller organisms, which are an important part of the food chain.

Tip No. 5: Provide water. Any source of water you provide in your yard will benefit wildlife.

Tip No. 6: If you have a birdbath, remember to keep it filled at 2 inches to 3 inches of water. Birds won’t use it if the water is too deep. Also, keep it clean and don’t use chemicals to clean it. A sturdy scrub brush should do. It’s also important to keep the space around it clear so birds can see potential predators.

This female northern Cardinal caught a bug in the yard.

Tip No. 7: Plant native plants in your yard. They resist pests and diseases, and generally require less care. If you want butterflies, be sure to have plants that are appropriate for caterpillars and for butterflies. Create a small moist area of sand in your yard. Butterflies will suck water out of moist sand to give them the minerals and nutrients they need.

Tip No. 8: Add bird feeders. The diversity of bird feeders that you install will increase the diversity of birds that you attract. The same goes for seeds. Be sure to keep your bird feeders clean.

Tip No. 9: Manage your pets. Cats and dogs can have a really huge impact on native wildlife species.

Tip No. 10: Seek natural solutions to pest problems. Being vigilant can help nip pest problems in the bud. Often, spraying pests off with a hose can solve the problem. If pesticides are needed, use sparingly.

Attracting butterflies to your backyard

These plants will help

This fuzzy flower is a magnet for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. (File)

Nectar plants

  • Firebush
  • Pentas
  • Salvia
  • Dwarf powderpuff
  • Jatropha
  • Firespike
  • Blanket flower
  • African blue basil
  • Beautyberry
  • Ironweed

Host plants

  • Native, not tropical milkweeds
  • Dutchman’s pipevine
  • Passionvine
  • Cassia
  • Partridge pea
  • Wild lime
  • Plumbago
  • Frogfruit
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Fennel

Published August 29, 2018

Hillsborough County files ‘opioid’ lawsuit

By

Hillsborough County has filed a lawsuit in the 13th judicial circuit court in Hillsborough County against 14 manufacturers and distributors alleging they have played a role in the opioid epidemic in the county.

The county has hired a national team of lawyers to represent them in the lawsuit, with attorney Mike Moore as the lead litigant. Moore, a former Mississippi attorney general, is now handling a number of similar suits on behalf of local and state governments nationwide.

Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandra Murman

The list of defendants in the county’s lawsuit includes Purdue Pharma, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, McKesson Corporation, CVS Health Corporation, Walgreens and nine others.

At a news conference announcing the lawsuit, Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandra Murman said, “Today is an important day, but today is just like every day in Hillsborough County. There’s a baby being born that’s substance exposed because the mother was on drugs. We have many children every single day being removed from their homes, put in foster care because their parents are substance exposed and addicts.

“We have young people every day that are dying of opioid overdose,” Murman said.

The county’s lawsuit “alleges that manufacturers of these drugs misrepresented the risk of opioids and marketed the drugs for chronic pain, when in fact, there’s not one single valid scientific study that supports the use of opioids for treatment of long-term chronic pain, Murman said.

The county intends to prove that drug distributors shipped excessive amounts of pain pills into the community, flooding county streets with pain pills, the commission chairwoman added.

The opioid epidemic is widespread, crossing socioeconomic boundaries, she said.

“It affects our seniors. It affects adolescents. Children. Families,” she said.

There have been 1,072 opioid overdose deaths in Hillsborough County since 2012, Murman said. The county also has seen a 24 percent increase in opioids over a period of five years.

“That’s a direct result of the fraudulent marketing of the drugs and the excessive amounts of drugs shipped into our county by these defendants,” Murman said.

“Hillsborough County is leading the state in the number of babies born addicted to opioids,” Murman said. “That is totally unacceptable.”

There were 579 cases of babies addicted to opioids reported in Hillsborough County in 2015, she said.

“For me, it’s personal.,” Murman said. “My sister, who was addicted to painkillers, committed suicide.”

At the news conference, Moore said he was involved in helping to resolve the BP oil spill.

“What we have here is a pill spill,” Moore said. “Close to 40,000 people in your county are opioid addicts.”

Moore characterized the problem as a “ticking, ticking time bomb.”

“We want these companies to pay to clean the pill spill,’ Moore said.

Moore challenged a perception that some may have about the types of people who die from opioid abuse. It’s not just a problem faced by people who live on the streets, he said.

“It’s somebody’s 19-year-old college student.

“It’s a 35-year-old lawyer.

“It’s a housewife,” Moore said.

State attorney Andrew Warren, who also spoke at the news conference, agreed: “It’s a public health crisis. It does not discriminate.”

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, weighed in, as well. He put it like this: “We must dry up the supply. This is not an epidemic we’re going to arrest our way out of.”

Hillsborough’s lawsuit follows a national trend for local governments to fight against the distributors and manufacturers of opioid medications.

The Pasco County Commission voted in January to become one of several plaintiffs in litigation that seeks to replicate the kind of payouts attorneys won in the late 1990s against the tobacco industry.

Pensacola-based Levin Papantonio is representing Pasco County. The law firm is part of a consortium that is pursuing lawsuits in several states including West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

In 2016, Pasco County had 165 drug overdose deaths, and 120 were related to opioids.

Published August 22, 2018

Annual school photos capture moment in time

By

Those annual photos that parents, grandparents and friends take on the First Day of School are a fun way to mark the beginning of a new year of learning.

They also offer a way to record changes in height, hair styles and fashions, over time.

Taking a First Day of School photo is a tradition for many families and, as the years roll by, they become miniature time capsules — offering a visual reminder of the children that were, and the young adults they’ve become.

Thanks, to our readers, who shared their First Day of School photos with us.

Julia O’ Connor on the first day of school. She is a first-grader at Sand Pine Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of George O’ Connor)
Baylor Frisco, wearing a gray shirt, on his first day of his senior year at Sunlake High School, along with his brother, Cannon, who is in his freshman year at the school, located in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of the Frisco family)
Nicholas Chapman heads to his first day of third grade at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Kimberly Chapman)
Kate Murdock has her photo taken near the sign at Learning Gate Community School, in Lutz, on the first day of the 2018-2019 school year. (Courtesy of Betsy Murdock)
Nathan Crowder and his little sister, Delanie Hadley, give each other encouragement as they head to fourth grade and kindergarten, respectively, at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Sarah Crowder)
Thirteen-year-old Colin Mendoza and 10-year-old Kayla Mendoza on the first day of school. Colin is in eighth grade at John Long Middle School and Kayla is in fifth grade at Seven Oaks Elementary School. Both schools are in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Rowena Mendoza)
Liam Perkins, of Zephyrhills, on his first day as a sixth-grader at Stewart Middle School. (Courtesy of Amanda Perkins)

 

 

 

 

 

New traffic signals aim to improve safety

By

A new traffic signal has been installed and is now operating at Eiland Boulevard and Handcart Road, and another traffic signal installation is underway at Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road.

A ribbon cutting for the traffic signal at Eiland and Handcart is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 9 a.m.

The installation of that light was completed in time for the 7 a.m. start of the school year on Aug. 13.

“It’s been a very dangerous intersection,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley.

A new signal is expected to be operating at Eiland and Geiger by late November.

The traffic volume along Eiland Boulevard has been increasing as the county experiences more development, Oakley said.

The Eiland and Handcart intersection is among three that Oakley said were priorities.

In addition to the Eiland traffic signals, a third one is planned at Chancey Road and Coats Road. That signal will be operating in late October.

And, along with the traffic signal, Eiland and Handcart had other improvements, including guardrails and road resurfacing.

Pasco County completed a 30-day traffic operations study at the intersection to collect traffic data.

The analysis showed that the traffic signal was warranted “based on Handcart (Road) southbound approach volumes and the amount of left turn vehicles turning east onto Eiland Boulevard.”

The study also found that two crashes occurred from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013. The crashes “may have been prevented with the installation of a traffic signal,” the study found.

From Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014, the study also documented two angle crashes that occurred at the intersection.

However, the number of crashes alone didn’t indicate a “historic trend,” or meet national standards of five or more angle crashes that could be prevented by installing a traffic signal.

The Pasco County Commission approved the design plans for the project in 2016. Construction began in March 2018.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 22, 2018

Local entrepreneur creates healthy desserts

By

After tiring of drinking the same old protein shakes, James Doyle decided to brainstorm some new ideas.

He figured there was a way to turn his protein powder into a dessert.

So, the 29-year-old Wesley Chapel man began experimenting.

Inspired by how Jell-O works, Doyle developed FREEZINda, a liquid and dry mix product that transforms any whey protein powder into an ice cream-like, frozen dessert.

Wesley Chapel resident James Doyle is the creator of FREEZINda, which turns whey protein powder into an ice cream-like, frozen dessert. (Courtesy of James Doyle)

Throughout a lengthy trial period, Doyle estimates he tested more than 100 different ingredients and about 3,000 pounds of frozen dessert in his kitchen.

Doyle’s friends and family members — even his dog, Buddy — taste-tested recipes.

As he toyed with countless combinations early on, his taste-testers were brutally honest.

“I had my dad try one of the formulas, and he straight up told me, ‘It tastes horrible,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, man! It (froze) right, it had the right qualities, it looked good,’ and then we tasted it and it was like, ‘No!’”

He said it took approximately 19 months “to get the formula down.”

Eventually he found what he considers the ideal combination of mixing agents that bind together to form a texture that mirrors a sweet icy, syrupy sorbet; with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, erythritol (sugar alcohol), guar gum and xanthan gum, and just a gram of sugar per serving.

FREEZINda officially launched last November and is now offered in 21 stores across the United States. It is non-genetically modified, low sugar, fat free, lactose free, gluten free, low glycemic (low net carbs) and vegetarian friendly.

Preparation is easy. Mix any whey protein powder with a cup of water or milk — like a protein shake — then add the FREEZINda liquid and dry mix, and place in the freezer overnight.

Doyle’s favorite concoction? Mixing in just about any type of chocolate mint whey protein powder, specifically the flavor made by Adaptogen Science.

To further customize the high protein ice cream dessert replacement, Doyle recommends adding nuts, fruit, sprinkles and so on.

Doyle noted: “It definitely does satisfy your sweet tooth and your cravings that you would get, so once you eat it, then you’re like, ‘OK, I’m good.’”

And, there’s no question he’s a fan of his own product.

For about eighth months straight, Doyle said he ate about 2 pounds of FREEZINda each day.

“I still eat it,” he said, “but not 2 pounds a day.”

Computer specialist turned entrepreneur
Doyle was born in New York but went to high school in Leesburg, right outside The Villages.

He later settled in Wesley Chapel with his older sister, to attend and graduate from the University of South Florida.

After college, Doyle worked as an IT specialist locally.

He was forced to quit his career as lingering vision issues prevented him from staring at a computer monitor all day long.  “It was pretty tough,” Doyle said, of having to give up IT work.

FREEZINda contains mixing agents that bind to form a texture that mirrors a sweet icy, syrupy sorbet. It includes such ingredients as vegetable glycerin, erythritol (sugar alcohol), guar gum and xanthan gum, and just a gram of sugar per serving.
To prepare, mix any whey protein powder with a cup or water or milk — like a protein shake — then add the FREEZINda liquid and dry mix, and place in the freezer overnight.

Not sure where to turn next, the concept for FREEZINda suddenly popped in his head while he basked in the sauna at the New Tampa LA Fitness one spring day in 2016.

“It’s kind of weird how, like, when doors close, another one opens,” he said.

Once he had the idea, the next step was to figure out how to get it to market.

Doyle leaned on a minor degree in entrepreneurship, as well as advice from several family members who own businesses to help FREEZINda off the ground.

“I kind of figured out my way from there,” he said.

As a sole entrepreneur, Doyle works from his Wesley Chapel home office, where he can facilitate supply chain duties between a commercial kitchen in Oldsmar, and a co-packer and fulfillment center in Texas.

He’s had to learn how to navigate other aspects, including patents and trademarks, and ensuring the product is compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

He’s also had to figure out innovative ways to market his product and generate more sales.

“There’s quite a bit to owning your own business,” said Doyle, who works six days a week. “There’s so many different areas, from fulfillment to marketing. There’s so many different areas, it’s unreal.”

FREEZINda is offered in retail nutrition and mom-and-pop stores as far away as Texas and California. It is also sold in Florida.

Locally, it can be found at Total Nutrition USF, 2720 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa.

It’s also available on Amazon and several other nutrition-focused websites.

Next month, Doyle plans to introduce new packaging and a new FREEZINda formula that’s sugar-free, and substitutes sea salt for baking powder.

He’s searching for a food broker, too, to help promote FREEZINda to additional chain wholesalers, retail stores and independent wholesalers.

“I’m hoping to pick up more traction, with better retail boxes and a little more enhanced formula,” he said.

He also dreams of appearing on the hit Emmy Award winning reality show “Shark Tank.”

He applied in January and made it through a couple rounds of casting interviews before talks dried up.

While Doyle  aims to be successful in business, he also wants to help people to become healthier.

For more information, visit Freezinda.com.

Published August 22, 2018

Voters head out to polls in Florida’s primary election

By

Voters will be heading to the polls on Aug. 28 in Florida’s primary election.

Statewide, voters will decide who will represent the Democrats and who will represent the Republicans in a number of seats, including the race for governor.

On the local front, voters will cast their ballots for districts one, three and five of the Pasco County School Board.

The winner of those school board races could be decided, if a candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote. Otherwise, the winner will be selected in the Nov. 6 general election.

Voters also will be choosing judges and selecting candidates in a number of primary races.

Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley is not anticipating a heavy turnout.

“Generally, with elections, the best indicator is history, so when we’re talking about previous times, the most recent thing to go back to would be the last midterm, which would be in 2014.

“It pains me to report that the turnout was less than 15 percent.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll do better, we, as the electorate, but only time will tell,” Corley said.

“Midterm primaries are generally lackluster turnout,” he added.

There has been a slight spike in registration, but only about 5 percent, he said.

Corley also noted that “there has been a lot of anecdotal evidence of a youth voter surge, between 18 and 29 year olds,” but he said, he has not been seeing it.

“Compared to the same time in 2014, it’s about on par. That really, really surprised me,” Corley said.

Pasco County has slightly less than 347,000 voters, making it 12th largest in Florida. Of those, there are 134,824 registered Republicans, 108,520 registered Democrats, 100,637 registered as No Party and 2,791 registered as Minor Party.

Corley said there has been substantial interest in election security.

“If someone would have told me prior to the 2016 election, we would spend pretty much every waking moment since that November election focusing on, intensely, becoming hyper-vigilant on all things security — both physical and cyber — I would have said, ‘No, you’re crazy.’ But, here we are.”

Recently, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election, made national headlines by saying that Russia had penetrated Florida’s election systems.

Corley said it is difficult to respond to Nelson’s statement.

“It’s really, really challenging because I’m not sure exactly what Senator Nelson is alluding to. I know the Department of Homeland Security has sort of publicly refuted his comments. Of course, far be it for me to correct a senator on the intelligence committee. I just know of no information.”

Corley went on to say: “We have worked extensively with our state and federal partners. We’re talking about the FBI, even the National Guard, but particularly the Department of Homeland Security.”

He also noted that in 2017, the elections were declared critical infrastructure.

“We now have a seat at the table right next to nuclear power plants, for example, because how much more critical can you be than the underpinnings of our democracy?” Corley said.

The Department of Homeland Security has offered a myriad of services for advice, counsel and assistance.

“I can’t tell you, for obvious security reasons, and so that’s the balance, trying to reassure voters that we’re doing everything that we can to fortify the elections and letting them know there’s always a Plan B.

“For security reasons, I can’t tell my wife. I can’t tell my dog. I can’t tell anybody” he said.

Corley also noted that Pasco has added three new early voting locations.

“Early voting clearly has become very, very popular,” he said.

“We added Alice Hall. We added the Florida Hospital Ice Center complex. We jokingly say we literally and figuratively have the coolest early voting site. We added the Odessa Community Center,” he said.

Vote by mail is popular, too.

“We have record numbers of Vote by Mail. We’re almost at 70,000 vote by mail ballots that went out.

“There are literally, tens of thousands of ballots, sitting on coffee tables or on kitchen tables. All they have to do is fill out a few ovals and shoot it back to us, and it could change any race,” he said.

“What’s the old adage? ‘We get the government that we deserve,’” Corley said.

“Everyone remembers the infamous 2000 election. Everyone remembers, it came down to Florida,” he said. With 6 million votes cast, Bush had a lead over Gore of 537 votes.

Corley said what many people don’t realize is one fact that he “almost couldn’t make up.”

The number of Pasco voters skipping the presidential race that year was ‘1776,’” Corley said, adding “#Irony.”

Ride to the polls for free
Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) is offering free bus rides to the polls on Aug. 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This service is being provided to Pasco residents through a partnership between PCPT and Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley. Just present your valid Voter Information Card.

Published August 22, 2018

Bexley seeks permit for on-site borrow pit

By

Bexley by Newland Communities won approval from the Pasco County Planning Commission to operate a borrow pit at the master-planned community, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

Approval also is required from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swiftmud, and the matter also needs approval from the Pasco County Commission.

If approved, the conditional use permit from Pasco would allow up to 1 million cubic yards of sand and dirt to be excavated and hauled away over four years.

The borrow pit would be reclaimed afterward.

This rendering shows the master-planned community of Bexley by Newland Communities, at State Road 54, east of Suncoast Parkway. (File)

The infill dirt is for internal uses at Bexley. However, some portion of the dirt would cross over Tower Road, a road used by the public.

The borrow pit site is south of Tower Road, west of Sunlake Boulevard, and about half-mile east of Ballantrae Boulevard.

“The fill dirt is being removed and will be used for development of the office portion of the project,” said attorney Andrea Zelman.

Though some trucks will cross over Tower Road, all of the dirt will be used as part of the Bexley development, Zelman said.

The borrow pit’s operating hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will not operate on Sundays or holidays.

Once work begins, signs will be posted to alert motorists of trucks accessing Tower Road.

Bexley is a master-planned community with about 1,700 acres located on the north side of State Road 54, east of the Suncoast Parkway, and on north and south sides of Tower Road.

The community is approved for up to 1,200 single family residences and 520 multifamily dwellings, as well as about 94,500 square feet of commercial and retail, and about 563,000 square feet of offices.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 22, 2018

Food trucks get the go-ahead

By

Pasco County is close to rolling out the welcome mat to food trucks as a dining option.

The Pasco County Planning Commission approved a proposed food truck ordinance at its Aug. 9 meeting in Dade City.

Next, the Pasco County Commission will consider the ordinance, which establishes regulations on food trucks, as well as “veggie vans.”

Members of the county’s Food Policy Advisory Council helped craft the proposed ordinance. The advisory council also helped create the county’s first ordinance on community gardens.

Food trucks currently operate under regulations for special events, such as the Kumquat Festival in Dade City.

The Pasco County Fairgrounds is exempt from the ordinance because there already is a food venue agreement in place for that site.

If the ordinance is approved, no permits or registration would be required.

The ordinance aims to encourage more food truck events, including food truck rallies.

Other state agencies, including the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, already regulate food truck operations for health and safety.

“Qualifying mobile food operations will be those having obtained all required permits and licenses from the State of Florida,” according to the county’s ordinance.

The county would, however, impose special regulations to operate a permanent food truck “court.”

Those venues typically have multiple food truck selections in one location, and provide amenities, such as restrooms, seating, trash cans and play areas.

Football tailgaters don’t need to fret that the barbecue ribs, chicken, hot dogs and burgers served up from the back of their trucks will be governed by the new ordinance.

“It doesn’t regulate folks doing private tailgating,” said Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator. “This is for public consumption (of food) being sold to the public.”

The history of food trucks dates back centuries to when street vendors sold their wares from pushcarts. Charles Goodnight gets credit for the first chuck wagon that trailed along with cowboys during cattle drives in the West in the mid-1800s.

The more recent food truck fad started several years ago, and has become a permanent feature of the food industry.

Operating hours for food trucks generally would be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, a location abutting residential would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Food trucks would not be able to park overnight. If they operate from one location more than 90 days, the county would consider the operation permanent. Other regulations would then apply.

The ordinance also allows county departments, such as parks and recreation, to reach individual agreements for temporary food truck operations on county-owned property. A reservation fee, to be determined by each department, may be required.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 22, 2018

‘Clear the Shelters’ makes both pets and people happy

By

Mark Martin, of Zephyrhills, left, and his wife, Amber, pose for a picture with the dog that they adopted during the Clear the Shelters event on Aug. 18 at Pasco County Animal Services in Land O’ Lakes. Amber said she knew ‘Charlie,’ a Jack Russell mix, was the one for them because he was very timid, and he appeared to need extra patience and love to trust people again, which they are happy to provide. (Christine Holtzman)

Pet lovers had a chance to add a new member to their family without paying adoption fees during a “Clear the Shelters’ event at Pasco County Animal Services, at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’Lakes.

The animal shelter, along with the nonprofit group Friends of Animal Services Inc., hosted the event as part of the national pet adoption drive.

The drive, launched four years ago, is spearheaded by the television media company NBC Universal, and sponsored by Cat’s Pride and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Shelters across the country taking part in the event either reduced or waived pet adoption fees.

Pasco County dispatch operator K.c. Pearson, of Port Richey, cuddles the kitten that she will soon officially adopt during the Clear the Shelters event. Pearson plans to name the kitten Psi. She already has a cat named ‘Zeta’ that she previously adopted from the shelter.

The Pasco shelter waived the adoption fee for the dozens of available cats and dogs, and required only the purchase of appropriate licensing for a new pet.

Normally, adoption fees are $70 to $85 for dogs and $40 to $50 for cats, which includes spay/neutering, vaccinations, microchip, heartworm testing for dogs, and FIV and feline leukemia for cats.

Rachel Stever, the education and outreach coordinator for the shelter, said this was the second year the shelter participated, and she expected about 300 people to attend.

Hanging out in the Feline Showroom, 12-year-old Mikaylah Chimara, of Zephyrhills, left, holds a kitten named ‘Flash.’ Her 8-year-old sister, Bella, center, holds ‘Shy,’ and her 10-year-old sister, Alicia, cuddles with ‘Rocket.’ Their mother Nicole, who brought the girls to the event as a surprise, said that they would be taking ‘Flash’ home.

People began lining up two hours before the doors opened and, by the time it did, a crowd of about 100 had gathered, Stever said.

During the first two hours of the event, 16 adoptions had occurred and 11 were pending, she added.

Pasco County Animal Services became a “Save 90” shelter in 2012, meaning that its goal is to save 90 percent of the animals that are brought to the facility.

In addition to getting adoption fees waived, those attending the event could pick up swag bags provided by Pet Supplies Plus, complete with pet food samples, treats and coupons, and a spin the wheel game for a chance to win a prize.

Friends of Animal Services, the nonprofit support group of Pasco County Animal Services, was there, too, showing off its memorial tree. Those making a $100 donation receive an engraved leaf on the memorial tree. All donations support the shelter.

By Christine Holtzman

Published August 22, 2018